Sheraton Waikiki vs. Hyatt Regency 2026: Your Guide to Oceanfront Stays

Hawaii Oahu Waikiki Hotels

Sheraton Hyatt Waikiki Beach Resort Booking Tips

© Written and photographed by Minha Hae

It seems like when most people visit Oahu, they always pick accommodation

in the Waikiki area to get around!

Since car rental parking can be quite pricey,

I decided to rent a car for just one day to explore the island's outer areas.

For the rest of my trip, I planned to stay right in central Waikiki, where everything is walkable,

and rely on the trolley buses and tours that offer convenient pickup services!

But since this trip is for our honeymoon, giving up on an ocean view was just not an option!

So, I've been eyeing two fantastic spots with stunning Waikiki beach views:

the Sheraton and the Hyatt. And guess what? A special accommodation deal is opening up just next week,

so I absolutely had to share this exciting news with anyone looking to book! >,<

Comparing Sheraton and Hyatt Waikiki Resorts

If an ocean view is a must-have for your Waikiki stay,

these two resorts are by far the most popular choices!

(Keep in mind, even 'value' hotels in the city that claim an ocean view might have the beach looking quite far away.)

Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort

Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa

After comparing both Sheraton Waikiki and Hyatt Waikiki,

I found that the price difference between a city view and an ocean view

is roughly ~$69 to ~$138, no matter which resort you pick!

But since I'm already comparing these two incredible resorts, having previously considered city views in more budget-friendly hotels,

there was no way I could pass up that amazing ocean view!

I'd recommend the Sheraton for those who love making the most of hotel pools

and prefer a less crowded atmosphere!

The Hyatt, on the other hand, is literally right across from Waikiki Beach,

making it perfect for beach lovers! Plus, the car rental spot is conveniently located

right out front, which is a huge bonus if you're planning to rent a car.

While the Hyatt was a bit cheaper for my travel dates,

I noticed that the additional costs like resort fees, parking, and breakfast ended up making it slightly more expensive overall.

Since I only plan to rent a car for a single day (and return it the same day),

and I'm not typically one to splurge on hotel breakfast,

I decided to go with the Hyatt Waikiki for its slightly more appealing overall price!

Booking Your Waikiki Resort

🔎 For the Sheraton

The standard price for an ocean view in January is about ~$469.

🔎 For the Hyatt

The standard price for an ocean view in January is about ~$345.

As it's right in front of Waikiki Beach,

I looked for rooms with an ocean view!

Do you need a rental car in Honolulu?

Honestly, putting aside the accommodation costs,

the parking fees were so expensive that I was genuinely worried.

So, what I found after some research was the Trolley Bus.

It's a bus that goes around the tourist attractions on Oahu Island,

and it's much cheaper than booking a rental car.

The biggest perk? No parking fees!

There are currently 5 lines that cover tourist attractions

quite comprehensively, so I figured renting a car for just one day

and then using the trolley would save a lot on parking fees!

Ocean View Line: Blowhole, Highway 72, Koko Marina

Honolulu Line: Iolani Palace, Chinatown

Diamond Line: Diamond Head, Kahala Lookout

Ala Moana Line: Ala Moana Center, Waikiki Area

Kaka'ako Line: Ala Moana Center, Farmers Market

▼ Check out the official website below for more detailed routes ▼

Tickets are divided into single-line and all-line passes,

and since I was going to use it anyway, I opted for the 4-day multi-line pass!

Buying in advance is much cheaper,

and you can exchange and use it at Waikiki Shopping Plaza!

To survive affordably in expensive Hawaii,

there's so much information to know that it makes my head spin a bit, haha...

And another pro tip for saving on parking fees is​

🔎 Hawaii Activities

to check if pickup service is included when booking activities!

For activities like turtle snorkeling, Kualoa Ranch, surfing, etc.,

Hawaii is a water activity paradise, but some places don't include pickup,

and in those cases, the Uber fees or rental car costs (plus parking fees)

can end up costing more than the activity itself, so be careful!

Lately, all I can think about is wanting to go on my honeymoon soon ^.^

I have many friends who've been to Hawaii, and they always say it's paradise,

but also that it costs a lot of money – I've heard those two things countless times.

So, I'm planning to save where I can, splurge on activities or where it counts,

and prepare for a really fulfilling trip :)

If there's anyone out there planning their Hawaii honeymoon (=me),

I hope this helps you with your bookings! ♥️​