Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Waikiki Beach

Eight hundred rooms deep in the heart of Waikiki, the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani occupies the former royal grounds of Princess Ka'iulani, last heir to the Hawaiian throne — a provenance few hotels on Kalākaua Avenue can claim.

The property sits one block from the beach, placing guests within a two-minute walk of the surf without the premium rate of oceanfront addresses. The scale works in guests' favor: multiple pools, a variety of dining options, and round-the-clock check-out flexibility (noted midnight departure time) suit group travelers and families juggling flights.

Diamond Head and the Honolulu Zoo are reachable on foot; the Ala Moana Center, Hawaii's largest mall, is a short bus ride west. At three stars, the Princess Kaiulani trades luxury finishes for an unbeatable central position in one of the Pacific's busiest resort corridors.