When comparing Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort Vs. Hilton Hawaiian Village it is immediately worth mentioning that the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort is confusingly named as it isn’t actually on the beach. It’s across the road and down the street from the beach, and while some of the rooms have ocean views, you cannot avoid walking and crossing the road to get to the beach.
Hilton Hawaiian Village is a huge hotel that is set on the beach. Granted that your room may be set some way back from the beach and there may still be a walk to the beach, but most rooms are considerably closer to the beach if you stay at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, and there are no busy through roads to cross.
Neither hotel is our number one choice in Waikiki. If you can stretch to it we love the Halekulani and Royal Hawaiian in Waikiki and the Four Seasons Oahu beyond Waikiki.
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1. Location
The Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa is located just a short walk across the road from Waikiki Beach.
Unfortunately, this location is set back from the beach, so you have to cross the road to get to the beach. The location also means that the rooms with oceanfront views also look down on the road and are slightly further from the ocean than the oceanfront rooms at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. However, due to their height, the ocean rooms at both hotels have amazing views.
The Hyatt Regency Waikiki is more central to the action, with attractions like the famous Dukes Waikiki restaurant and the International Market Place all within a few minutes walk. All the major beachfront hotels, like the Halekulani and the Royal Hawaiian, are close to this Hyatt and are easy to walk to.
Hilton Hawaiian Village is Waikiki’s only true resort destination. It is located on the widest stretch of beach in Waikiki. This expansive resort is a destination in itself, with its own lagoon, multiple pools, and a variety of restaurants and shops on-site. It is some way from the center of Waikiki if you are walking.
You can take an open-air trolley around Waikiki for an easy way to get around from the Hilton Hawaiian Village, but if you want to pop out for a quick drink or bite at one of the main luxury hotels in Waikiki like the Halekulani, you are quite some walk from the action.
While both the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach and Hilton Hawaiian Village are great hotels, the Hyatt Regency Waikiki is not directly on the beach but is in the center of the action. The Hilton Hawaiian Village is right on the beach but further from the action.
The Royal Hawaiian or Pink Palace is a great choice for both beach and action. We also love the waterfront Halekulani. Although this hotel doesn’t have much beach, it is on the waterfront and has a magnificent pool and grounds.
If you want the best hotel on the island of Oahu, it has to be Four Seasons Oahu which is one of the best Four Seasons on Hawaii and is not to be missed. Four Seasons Oahu is not in or even near Waikiki, but it is on a glorious beach in a beautiful setting.
Four Seasons Oahu Vs. Ritz-Carlton Waikiki Vs. Halekulani Vs. Royal Hawaiian
Which is the best hotel on Oahu Beach? Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina Vs. Ritz Carlton Waikiki Vs. Halekulani Vs. Royal Hawaiian. These four hotels are in quite different locations. Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina is not in Waikiki or Honolulu. Four Seasons is in Ko Olina, which is a good hours drive from Honolulu, depending on traffic. So if you want to explore Honolulu and Waikiki, then Four Seasons isn't a great choice. What Four Seasons does have is larger grounds, a better beach, a more stylish pool area, and a fantastic tropical resort feel.
2. Accommodations
Hyatt Regency Waikiki features modern and comfortable guest rooms and suites, many with balconies offering ocean or city views, although the ocean views are set back from the beach as this resort is set behind the beach. The accommodations are well-appointed and designed for both leisure and business travelers. The grounds here are limited and rather concret-y set afew floors up.
Hilton Hawaiian Village offers a wide range of accommodations, including hotel rooms, suites, and villas spread across five towers and various low-rise buildings. Options range from standard guest rooms to luxurious suites with oceanfront views. And these really are oceanfront. This hotel is slap bang on the beach.
3. Amenities
Hyatt Regency Waikiki is smaller in scale of facilities compared to Hilton Hawaiian Village and offers amenities such as a pool, fitness center, on-site dining options, and a convenient location near Waikiki Beach. The pool at the Hyatt is small and concret-y. If you want a decent pool, your best choice has to be the Hilton Hawaiian Village as the pool at the Hyatt is disappointing.
Hilton Hawaiian Village boasts an extensive list of amenities, including multiple swimming pools, water slides, a saltwater lagoon, a full-service spa, a fitness center, a wide range of dining options, shopping boutiques, cultural activities, and water sports rentals. And let’s not forget that the entire resort is spread out along the beach.
10 Best Hilton Hotels In Hawaii
Which is the best Hilton hotel in Hawaii for a family vacation or a honeymoon? Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort Vs. Grand Wailea Maui A Waldorf Astoria Resort Vs. Hilton Waikoloa Village Vs. Embassy Suites by Hilton. If you fly into Honolulu (HNL), you will probably head straight to the resort of Waikiki for your stay in Hawaii but don't miss out on the other islands as there are some fantastic Hilton Honors hotels in Maui, Kauai, and Big Island too.
4. Atmosphere
There is less to the Hyatt Regency Waikiki. It lacks the resort vibe of the Hilton Hawaiian Village and is instead a well-located hotel near lots of things.
Hilton Hawaiian Village is a proper resort hotel, so much so that you don’t need to leave. It has a beach, tropical grounds, great bars and restaurants, and is known for its bustling and lively atmosphere.
This resort caters to families, couples, and travelers of all ages, and if you have kids, being right on the beach has to be a major advantage, and crossing busy roads to get to the beach has to be a major disadvantage. So the Hilton Hawaiian Village wins for families.
Best Hyatt Hotel In Hawaii: Andaz Maui Vs Grand Vs Regency Vs Centric
Which is the best Hyatt hotel in Hawaii for earning or spending your World Of Hyatt points? Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort Vs. Grand Hyatt Kauai Vs. Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa Vs. Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa Vs. Hyatt Centric and Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach? Best For Views: Hana-Maui Resort and Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa Ocean View Rooms (pictured above) Best For Beach: Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa and the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort Best For Pools: Grand Hyatt Kauai followed by the Hyatt Regency Maui.
5. Conclusion
Hyatts and Hiltons tend to be similarly luxurious. In Waikiki, the Hilton Hawaiian Village is iconic for its rainbow tower. It is the better hotel overall because we love the direct oceanfront access, the beachfront bars, the greenery (and penguins) in its tropical grounds, and the way the resort hugs the edge of the golden sand Waikiki beachfront with its calm waters.
We especially love the bar at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, which sits on the beach’s edge. It is the perfect place for a sundowner cocktail.
The Hyatt Regency Waikiki is set within the concrete jungle of Waikiki and is brilliantly located across the beach and in the center of the action when compared to the Hilton Hawaiian Village which is further from the heart of Waikiki. The Hyatt also has a decent club lounge.
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