OUTRIGGER Reef Waikiki Beach Resort

"Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Both of Waikiki’s Outrigger hotels are a good value, but this one is a little bigger and a little quieter. It’s right on the beach, just north of the main resort cluster, and though a short walk to the middle of the action, far enough to feel out of the fray. The hotel itself is a quintessential Hawaiian family resort—big and friendly, with an unmistakable good-time vibe, old-school Polynesian decor throughout, and any number of activities on offer. The pool is set back from the beach and nothing fancy (no waterslides, no swim-up bar, and up against a giant wall), but it’s large enough for a serious game of Marco Polo, and there are plenty of lounge chairs to go around. Perhaps the best reason to stay here is the beach—a fairly narrow but sparkling white strand with more elbow room than its sister beaches; the rocky bottom may have something to do with that, but it’s a good place to learn to surf and a great place to catnap in the sun. One warning: the hotel lobby may feel overly commercial to some, what with a row of gift shops and a hard-to-miss timeshare desk, but it’s easy enough to ignore, if you wish."

"Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Both of Waikiki’s Outrigger hotels are a good value, but this one is a little bigger and a little quieter. It’s right on the beach, just north of the main resort cluster, and though a short walk to the middle of the action, far enough to feel out of the fray. The hotel itself is a quintessential Hawaiian family resort—big and friendly, with an unmistakable good-time vibe, old-school Polynesian decor throughout, and any number of activities on offer. The pool is set back from the beach and nothing fancy (no waterslides, no swim-up bar, and up against a giant wall), but it’s large enough for a serious game of Marco Polo, and there are plenty of lounge chairs to go around. Perhaps the best reason to stay here is the beach—a fairly narrow but sparkling white strand with more elbow room than its sister beaches; the rocky bottom may have something to do with that, but it’s a good place to learn to surf and a great place to catnap in the sun. One warning: the hotel lobby may feel overly commercial to some, what with a row of gift shops and a hard-to-miss timeshare desk, but it’s easy enough to ignore, if you wish."

"Breezy and Beautiful on the Beach In Honolulu , just a couple blocks off Kalakaua Avenue sits the Outrigger Reef on the Beach hotel. The open-air lobby with several shops on the ground floor and a tropical garden near the entry make this hotel a quieter and beautiful place to stay in Waikiki. The rooms are comfortable and the property sits right on the beach. Outrigger has a variety of properties to choose from on Oahu and throughout Hawaii (but this one remains my favorite)."

12 Must-Do Experiences in Honolulu

"Following a $110 million renovation, this Waikiki resort has spanking-new rooms, three new restaurants, an expanded spa, and a rebuilt pool and deck. The revamped lobby is adorned with Polynesian canoe art, handpicked by historian Herb Kane. Rooms and suites face onto the ocean or toward Honolulu, and come equipped with flat-screens and Nintendo systems for easily-distracted kids. All of which frees you up to go to the spa for a couple’s Lomi Lomi massage or catch live music with a tropical drink in your hand at the Kani Ka Pila Grille."