Originally Posted by Delta3MM

The Marriott Waikiki is very "business like" in it's upgrade program. Plats usually (depending on availability) get upgraded to an "ocean view" room, but not suites. I have on every visit. You can then upgrade to a suite, but at a cost of $$ per night.

The JW also upgrades, but there you might get a suite, but again, depends on availability. I've had better luck there when there was something wrong with the room - like air conditioner or almost anything else you can find. Their solution to room problems is to fix it or move you up to a better category room.

The Waikiki one is more like a normal room - the rooms in the JW are huge to start off with. however, as the other poster has said, it's really more of a choice of being isolated 45 min from Waikiki or being on the edge of downtown.

If you stay downtown, you can do without a car. You could do that at the JW, but you'd have to eat on property which is expensive. And both places charge an arm and a leg for parking. I like the JW very much, but often I stay in Waikiki because it's less expensive and many more food options.

Billy