One of the things that bothers me when I travel to Hawaii is the high resort fees.
Many services are not really necessary, yet they cost 6,000 to 8,000 yen per night….
If you are OK with resort fees because it is your favorite hotel or a hotel you have always dreamed of staying at, there is no problem, but if you want to save a little money on your trip, the high resort fees are not worth it.
We have compiled a list of hotels in the Waikiki area that do not charge resort fees.
Please use this list to help you find hotels that do not charge resort fees!
Resort fees are subject to change. Also, hotels that did not require resort fees may now require them. Please be sure to check when making hotel reservations.
List of hotels near Waikiki without resort fees
Even if resort fees are not charged, in some cases the hotel cost is very high to begin with.
We recommend a hotel with a 3 or 4 star rating for a good balance.
Halekulani’s sister hotel, Hale Puna Waikiki by Halekulani, is close to the beach and the Royal Hawaiian Center, and is not too expensive.
It also has high guest review ratings on Booking.com and Expedia!
| Hotel | Rating |
|---|---|
| Halekulani | |
| The Kahala Hotel & Resort | |
| The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach | |
| Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa | |
| Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani | |
| Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club | |
| Ala Moana Honolulu by Mantra | |
| Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Waikiki |
Hotels with resort fee in Waikiki
Here is a list of hotels that charge a resort fee.
Most of the hotels are around $40 to $60.
The Royal Hawaiian Luxury Collection is in the middle of Waikiki, beachfront, prestigious, and super stylish, so I would stay at this hotel even if it charges a resort fee.
| Hotel | Rating | Resort Fee |
|---|---|---|
| The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort, Waikiki | $49.55 | |
| Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach | $58.99 | |
| THE MODERN HONOLULU | $41.29 | |
| Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach | $41.29 | |
| OUTRIGGER Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel | $47.19 | |
| Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk | $47.19 | |
| Courtyard Waikiki Beach | $41.29 | |
| Queen Kapiolani Hotel | $58.98 | |
| Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort | $58.98 | |
| Polynesian Residences Waikiki Beach | $20 | |
| Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa, Waikiki Beach | $49.55 | |
| Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort | $61.34 | |
| Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa | $58.98 | |
| OUTRIGGER Waikiki Beach Resort | $53.08 | |
| Aston Waikiki Sunset | $41.29 | |
| OUTRIGGER Reef Waikiki Beach Resort | $53.08 | |
| The Twin Fin Hotel | $60.16 | |
| The Laylow, Autograph Collection | $35.00 | |
| Shoreline Hotel Waikiki | $35.39 | |
| DoubleTree by Hilton Alana – Waikiki Beach | $41.03 | |
| Prince Waikiki | $49.54 | |
| Park Shore Waikiki | $56.62 | |
| Coconut Waikiki Hotel | $34.21 | |
| Vive Hotel Waikiki | $34.21 | |
| Ilima Hotel | $44.77 |
What is the resort fee for a hotel in Waikiki?
This is a fee charged in addition to the room charge for the use of the hotel’s facilities and services.
Many hotels in Hawaii have introduced this fee.
In addition to the resort fee, it is sometimes referred to as a destination fee or amenity fee.
The following is the notation for each international hotel reservation site.
What is included in the resort fee?
Multiple services are included and provided, including WiFi access, mineral water, GoPro (action camera), and unlimited local calls.
Some of the resort fees at The Royal Hawaiian Luxury Collection are listed below for reference.
- High-speed Wi-Fi in room/shared areas
- Two 500ml bottles of drinking water (replenished daily)
- Complimentary one-day rental of GoPro camera (per stay/per room)
- Unlimited local/long distance/toll-free/international calls
- Cultural activities & ceremonies (lei making, yoga, ukulele lessons)
- Sea ceremonies, weekly hikes to Diamond Head, etc.
- Buy 1 Sea Life Park ticket, get the second one free
- 15-minute surf instruction (demonstration on the beach)
- Fitness classes
- Welcome amenity of specially baked goods from Royal Hawaiian Bakery (one per stay/per room)
- Complimentary meals for children (12 and under) at Surf Lanai restaurant (one child per paying adult)
To be honest, there are a lot of things, but many of them are “I don’t use a lot of them and it’s a waste of money”.
However, you can’t refuse to pay the resort fee, so you have no choice.
If you are not comfortable paying resort fees, then again, choose a hotel that does not charge resort fees.
Do I need to pay resort fees for Vacation packages?
Hotels that do not charge a resort fee do not charge a resort fee, even if you book your trip with a vacation package.
Hotels that do charge a resort fee will also charge a fee for the vacation package.
Is the resort fee per person or per room?
Resort fees are charged as “how much per room per night”.
Below is how the amounts are indicated on the reservation screens of major international hotel reservation companies before booking.
Agoda is inconvenient because you cannot check the amount of the resort fee before booking.
| Booking Site | Example |
|---|---|
| Booking.com | Resort Fee: $82.58 ($41.29 × 2 nights) |
| Expedia | Resort Fee to be Paid on Site: USD 80 |
| Hotels.com | Resort Fee: USD 39.79 per night, per accommodation |
| agoda | Not specified |
Summary
Resort fees in Hawaii come with a variety of services, but there are quite a few that are “not really necessary”.
If you are not particular about hotels, it is recommended to select and book a hotel that does not charge resort fees (free of charge) to save money.
Alternatively, we recommend choosing a package tour that includes resort fees so that you don’t feel like you’re losing money.
You can save as much as possible and use the money to pay for more meals or activities!
