Jul 25, 2010

Where to stay in Waikiki ~ New Otani Hotel

Where to stay in Waikiki ~ New Otani Hotel  

New Otani Hotel General description: 

New Otani Hotel

 

Kaimana Villa hotel has two different towers or buildings erected in the middle 60′s. It has an open lobby and front desk, restaurant and bar.

• It is located on a small stretch of beach at the end of Kapiolani Park next to the Waikiki Natatorium (old salt water swimming pool built in the 50 next to the ocean) and behind the Waikiki Aquarium, this beach is called “Queen’s” and it is considered the primary gay and lesbian beach of the Island of Oahu. Both buildings are old but kept in good condition over the years with regular maintenance; no major renovation was performed lately.
• Parking is extra like in Waikiki and there is no free street parking close by unless you are willing to cross to the other side of the park about 3 blocks away.
   

What we like about the New Otani Hotel: 

• The New Otani Hotel is situated far from the Waikiki area and with the back against Kapiolani Park and the front facing the ocean, is a quieter hotel than most Waikiki properties.
  This is probably one of the least expensive beach front properties on the island of Oahu (please remember than “least expensive” does not mean inexpensive).

What you may not like about the New Otani Hotel: 

• The location is beachfront but quite far from the center of Waikiki (about 30 minutes walk form the International Market Place, no other restaurants or shops are in the vicinity but the ones belonging to the New Otani Hotel so you will not be able to benefit from the normal price competition among restaurants and shops that the rest of Waikiki offer, especially for food.
• Even though crime in the area is not particularly a problem, and because of the proximity of Kapiolani Park, the population density in the area is quite low and you will not find many people walking in the area, especially after dark.
• If you plan to go to Waikiki to enjoy all that it has to offer, it is far enough so most people do not want to do the walk more than once, a taxi will cost you less than $10 and there is no public transportation close by since buses either turn in Monsarrat or Kapahulu Ave. If you are driving and you are going to Waikiki it will be cheaper to take a cab since parking in the area is extremely expensive and very scarce.