Hawaii - Waikiki: Surfrider vs Trump vs Edition

Two of us (guys in our 20s) are traveling to Waikiki for four nights. I'm looking at the Westin Surfrider ($1100 for tower partial ocean), Waikiki EDITION ($1200 for ocean view), or Trump ($1400 for ocean view studio). Which would you go with? Westin looks like it is in the middle of the action but not quite as nice, step down in service, less view and a battle for beach/pool chairs. EDITION looks super cool but bad location away from the action. Trump looks like it has a tiny pool and not on the beach but great rooms.

First question, what is your purpose of your trip? There are plenty of nice hotels on the Avenue. I am partial to the Moana Surfrider. My last three trips to Oahu, my wife and I spent our time there. The Moana Surfrider is the last hotel that is on the main strip of Waikiki Beach. Depending on when you go, the beach may be wide or narrow. Currents at different times of the year either remove the sand or add it. That said, you could always move down somewhat. There is a webcam located at the Moana Surfrider.

Remember this, most of the hotel pools and their respective decks are small because they focus on the beach. As for the lounge chairs, yes, they can be a ..... to get. That said, my wife and I never had a problem getting one in the afternoon. The sun will burn the snot out of you if you are not prepared. Even if you are on the pool deck, the reflection of the sun off of the deck will burn you if unprepared.

What I do, no matter where I travel, is to use tripadvisor.com and read the reviews. I take them for what they are. That said, I take the average response and make a descision. So far, knock on wood three times, I have yet to make an error regarding hotels my wife and I have used over the years.

Are you a couple? The Moana Surfrider is very romantic - we've stayed there about 10 times (we used to live in Kailua, and sometimes would go spend the weekend down there at Waikiki). It was our favorite hotel. We loved the service, and they used to have an incredible brunch (and we love their musicians). It's old, but remodeled so it's still lovely. The pool is small, but it's true the focus is the beach. Lots of honeymooners come there.

Trump and Edition are new. Trump is more central I think. If I were inclined to do that, I'd look at the new Embassy Suites (right near there) as it would cost a fraction.

I have no idea of nightlife - we're not into that. We're up early and sleeping early! If you want a fancier pool and staying in Waikiki the only resort with a bigger pool is the Hilton (which I've stayed at a few times, not my favorite but it's huge). Otherwise, the only other really great pool that I've seen is the Marriott Ko Olina (40 minutes west of Waikiki - but if you want nightlife don't even go there as it's not got that like Waikiki does).

The beach is widest at the Hilton - sometimes almost nonexistant anymore at the Moana (but softer there).

I guess it really depends on what type of resort you want - romantic, hip, new and clean, good enough for just sleep and shower (you're not going to be in the room much anyway?), etc...

Two of us (guys in our 20s) are traveling to Waikiki for four nights. I'm looking at the Westin Surfrider ($1100 for tower partial ocean), Waikiki EDITION ($1200 for ocean view), or Trump ($1400 for ocean view studio). Which would you go with? Westin looks like it is in the middle of the action but not quite as nice, step down in service, less view and a battle for beach/pool chairs. EDITION looks super cool but bad location away from the action. Trump looks like it has a tiny pool and not on the beach but great rooms.

Only three hotels have direct Waikiki beach front (what I mean by that is - walk from pool/bar/restaurants - right onto Waikiki beach/ocean) on central Waikiki - and all right next door to each other - the Westin Moana Surfrider,and next door is the Outrigger and the Royal Hawaiian. (other hotels of course have beach access or beach front - but again talking main Waikiki beach) The SR and RH are both Starwood properties and so is the Sheraton Waikiki on the other side of the RH. (The Sheraton Waikiki has no beach front - one has to walk down in front of RH) The Trump as you have determined is further down tucked in behind the Halekulani and Outrigger Reef next to the Debussy Park beach and then comes the huge Hilton Hawaiian Village complex (which is also a beautiful beachfront). The Edition is a cool hotel. Have been their for cocktails, but is in Ala Moana area not really walking distance to Waikiki.

Two guys in their 20's?-- yes all the nightclubs, bars, with music, dancing, socializing - are on Waikiki's main drag, Kalakaua or a block or two either way -- either in hotels or seperate establishments -- so you might want to conisder the walk. The Trump would be walkable to main Waikiki. The three above mentioned would be in the heart of the action. fyi -- if you stay at the Royal Hawaiian - RH guests can use the pools and amenities at the Sheraton Waikiki. The grounds of both hotels adjoin. The Sheraton Waikiki has a big family pool with slide and then an adults only pool. Yes, pools at the MS and RH are small, but the aqua blue ocean is steps away.

Beach/pool chairs/umbrellas? We have stayed at the RH and MS -- you can have a beach staff reserve chairs for you in advance. ($) The RH also has lovely cabanas ($) that you can reserve in advance that are just steps from the beach. Never stayed at the Outrigger Waikiki inbetween, but same drill there for Beach/pool chairs and umbrellas. If you don't want to fork over cash -- then yes it is first come first serve for the loungers and umbrellas at both hotels. Frankly, at both the MS and RH when we tip the beach/pool staff in advance when we first arrive -- they have taken excellent care of us.

Now if you don't have to stay right "on the beach" there are lots of hotel choices on Waikiki's main drag - several just right across the street from the beach. If you want to see exactly what the beach access of a hotel is use google earth or bing views. You can see exactly what you are getting. Good luck guys. Have fun. :cool:

I was faced with a similar decision when in Waikiki for a few days on my own in November. I was deciding between the Trump and the Edition; I went with the Edition.

If you are looking for a hotel that has a hip pool vibe, its own nightclub and a trendy restaurant, then the Edition is it. It is a typical Ian Schrager hotel - think Mondrian or Delano in Waikiki. The crowd was very similar to what you would see at either of those hotels in South Beach.

The Trump has a better location in the center of Waikiki, but it is a bit more staid and full of honeymooners/families/people looking for a "luxury" experience in a condo hotel.

My main complaint about the Edition was the 20 minute walk to central Waikiki. The hotel is by no means isolated and is surrounded with options, but if you want to get to the area of the Moana and Trump you will need to walk 15-20 minutes or take a taxi. In the end I was really happy with the Edition, which offered a mix of both quiet and fun.

Thanks for all the help. I am attending a convention spread between the Hawaii Convention Center, Hilton Hawaiian, and Ala Moana, so the Edition would be better for me. My friend is tagging along. However, I'll probably end up doing more non-conventioning anyway. There is a free shuttle to the convention sites from all the hotels that runs about ever 20 minutes. As far as entertainment, I'd like to hike Diamondhead and see Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial. Not really interested in going to the North Shore since I will be going to Kauai after Oahu and could care less about a pineapple plantation. My agenda will mostly be:

Mornings: attend convention activities
Afternoons: beach, hiking, Arizona Memorial
Evenings: cocktail hour, dinner somewhere good, maybe a club one or two nights

I'll be there for 4 nights total. Any other ideas or tips would be appreciated. If I do end up switching to the Edition, is it possible to rent a beach chair close to there? Thanks again.

Thanks for all the help. I am attending a convention spread between the Hawaii Convention Center, Hilton Hawaiian, and Ala Moana, so the Edition would be better for me. If I do end up switching to the Edition, is it possible to rent a beach chair close to there? Thanks again.

Yes, there is beach chair/umbrella rental on the Hilton Hawaiian Village/Ft.Derussy Beach Park beach. I jog along this route from Waikiki when we visit and when you first come on to the beach from Ft. Derussy Park and turn right (NW) heading to the HHV -- on the sidewalk almost immediately you will see a stand that rents the above and surf boards, snorkel equipment, boggie boards, etc. This stretch of beach from that point to the HHV lagoon is beautiful. If you walk the other way towards the Outrigger Reef and Halekulani -- I am sure there is another rental stand or two, but the beach is smaller/narrow. Aloha.

Thanks for the help everyone. I booked a deluxe ocean view at the EDITION for four nights for $1200 including a $50/night resort credit through Costco. Any ideas for restaurants or must sees around there? Is it worth walking over to the Ala Moana mall to eat?

Thanks for the help everyone. I booked a deluxe ocean view at the EDITION for four nights for $1200 including a $50/night resort credit through Costco. Any ideas for restaurants or must sees around there? Is it worth walking over to the Ala Moana mall to eat?

Well there is Morimoto's which is at the EDITION. Good food, but not great service. Next door at the Ilikai is Sarrento's/Top of the I. Pretty decent food. They recently updated the menu, and views at night are amazing. I would say there are better choices in the main Waikiki drag though.

Must sees.. Not really. Basically, behind the EDITION you have the Ala Boat Harbor, so there is nothing much to do. But you can easily walk to the Lagoon/Beach behind the Hilton or the other way to Ala Moana Park.

As others have said, the best thing about the EDITION is the vibe in the club and around the pool.

Flying into HNL just after 9-11 I left the HNL Main terminal and headed to the Interisland terminal for a 5:30am flight. I did not have enough time to get downtown to sleep. Not realizing interisland closed after the last flight, I tried to re-enter the main terminal but did not have a valid ticket by then.

After returning to the Interisland terminal, I found a stone bench and laid down with my gym bag near me. Overhead the recorded nnouncement kept saying how I needed to watch my baggage for security reasons.

While I slept, military guys with big guns walked back and forth, guarding me.

You choices of places downtown, great. My choice of sleeping locations that night, PRICELESS!

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Wherever you end up, I hope you have as great a story to tell.