Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: hotel (54) pool (29) room (27) great (22) beach (21) stay (21) area (17) staff (17) location (15) Waikiki (14)
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  • 2/5 Randy O. 1 year ago on Google
    Very average hotel. The rooms are great and have a small kitchenette with a microwave which saves you money on eating out. The pool area is beautiful (but very small) and the employees are very nice. Also, they lend their guests beach umbrellas and chairs. Now on to the cons. They charge a $25 daily hotel fee, but, they only come clean your room once per 7 day stay. If you pay for the parking, be prepared to be frustrated. The parking is tiny, they definitely have more cars than they should in there. To park or to leave, you'll like have to drive back and forth multiple times before you can safely park or exit the lot. Even when you park perfectly, you'll barely have enough space to open your door and grab your belongings from your vehicle. The cramped parking spaces will put your vehicle at risk of being dented/scratched. This hotel is promoted as a "family hotel" but I did not get that feel from the atmosphere. Also this hotel is not very convenient for families as it does not have an elevator. To get up to your room, you'll have to carry your luggage up 2-4 flights of very narrow stairs. Lastly, the location of the hotel is not ideal; there are always homeless people, drunks, and smokers hanging out in the vicinity of the hotel. Almost impossible to not breathe in second hand smoke when walking toward the entrance. I always felt like I had to have my guard up when walking in. My time here was okay but wouldn't really return. I'd just to just spend the extra few hundred bucks and stay at a better hotel
    8 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Julie T. 2 years ago on Google
    PROS | 1. Friendly staff. 2. Nice atmosphere 3. Bar is lovely but closes by 10 pm so it becomes quiet again 4. They have 4th night free specials 5. Secret hot tub in the back but it did make my husband itchy. Not sure why. Still, very secluded and nice. CONS | 1. You have to pay to have your room cleaned; never heard of that before. 2. There a $25 resort fee even if you never use any of the hotel services, but this is true all over Waikiki. 3. The sheets made me itchy and the bed was not very comfortable. 4. You just feel nickle and dimed a bit with the fees. 5. About ~7 minute walk to beach
    8 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 R M. 2 months ago on Google • 93 reviews New
    Cute little hotel in squeeze in between other buildings. Parking is tight. Staff is super nice. The swings at the outside bar are cool. The rooms are spacious w mini area with sink, microwave & refrigerator. The price is approximately $200 a night.

  • 5/5 Kendra B. 2 years ago on Google
    I got a travelzoo deal on this hotel and I was so glad I did! This place for perfect for me - it wasn’t a bells and whistles resort like the fancier and more expensive hotels in Waikiki but it is a redone older hotel with a ton of cute touches! The pool area is really cute and the bar has swings! The restaurant is really good, and is a sister restaurant to Fete (a really good restaurant in Chinatown). Thus, the food was really good, and the travel deal came with a 40 dollar food and drink credit. The room was really comfortable and clean but my main complaint is that there was no coffee or tea in the room! And I was trying to stay on my early bird CA time schedule. Luckily there was a Starbucks around the block that opened at 4:30 am and I was there every morning. It’s a good location and quick walk to everything - I would definitely stay here again!
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Anna S. 1 year ago on Google
    We loved the retro/tiki vibe of this hotel. There are no elevators but we didn’t find it to be difficult to carry our luggage up the stairs. It is truly a hidden oasis in the bustling Waikiki. The swings at the bar were so cute! We found the location to be very walkable to local shops, restaurants, and the beach. We only had a few nights here but we will definitely be back! We loved the food and drinks at heyday. Mason is a great bartender, we loved hanging out with him!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Michelle R. 7 months ago on Google
    I absolutely loved staying here. Such a cute quaint retro hotel. Feels like you are walking in to a different era as soon as you step into the breezeway. Super friendly staff, clean facility and close to the beach and plenty of shopping. We were never there in time to eat from the heyday but saw some people's plates and it looked delicious. The tiki bar is very cool too. Can't wait to come back and stay here again.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 BxE B. 1 month ago on Google • 65 reviews New
    A hidden gem. The facade looks dingy but the inside is where it’s happening. Friendly attentive staff, decent sized rooms with king bed . Pool and outside bar area are great to relax in and around. A quick walk to many restaurants and shopping. Room 8😉

  • 5/5 Rob G. 2 years ago on Google
    Our home base was exactly what we needed. A little gem in the middle of high rise central. It's your private little oasis amongst the hustle and bustle of Honolulu. Great pool area. We stayed in the poolside rooms and would happily stay again. The staff is amazing, attentive and interested in helping you enjoy your Hawaiian vacation.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Trevor K. 2 years ago on Google
    Would stay hear again! It feels very separate from the street. Great bar and pool area. Staff is fantastic. Room is spacious comfortable and clean. Love the theme of the entire place. Not too far from beach, bars and shops.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kaitlin D. 1 year ago on Google
    Can't say enough great things about White Sands. We stayed for 4 days on our honeymoon to Oahu. From the moment we arrived nothing but a great experience. Staff were very helpful making food recommendations across the island for us as we explored. Coffee at the reception was delicious and reasonably by Hawaii standards. We were treated to an upgraded room which was so nice. The room was clean and had a fun Retro chic vibe. Free rentals of beach chairs and umbrellas were very useful and good qualitym Lastly the hotel pool/restaurant was great. I was worried about it being loud in the room not at all. The food was great and there was live music every night we stayed We had such a good time in the evenings at Heyday we didn't even want to explore other night time entertainment. Thanks for making our trip so memorable!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jason C. 1 year ago on Google
    Did not stay here, only came for a pool party. The service was very fast and soooo nice. I had my first adult shave ice (alcohol in the syrup)! I highly recommend it. The ice was shaved so fine it was soft and melted instantly in your mouth. The pool was clean and had plenty of space to hang out. The hotel is very conveniently located in Waikiki. I would definitely stay here in the future just for the fun of it!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Brittany F. 1 year ago on Google
    It's a very cute retro hotel but they are CONSTANTLY doing events at the pool area. Tons of people with loud DJ music. If you are trying to relax, this is NOT the place. It's definitely a place for people who like to party. Also they have zero parking and if you email them regarding questions, it takes them several months to get back to you...
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 A 1 year ago on Google
    Location 5 stars. The only thing about this hotel that made me not wanna come back is the noise. Ton of bars and loud people at night and walls are PAPER thin. You can literally hear everything. Even someone’s alarm and phone alerts. If you want to sleep, avoid staying here. The noise level is absolutely ridiculous. Otherwise it’s a cute boutique hotel well designed for its price and rooms are quite comfy. Location is excellent as well.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 TZSK 5 months ago on Google
    Stayed at White Sands for our 30th Wedding Anniversary. Everything was perfect at this hidden oasis. Close to beach, shops and restaurants. Staff was awesome and room was perfect with nice balcony. Already planning to return to White Sands. Bar and pool area was great. Don't take negative reviews seriously, didn't have any problems what so ever.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Madhumitha R. 2 years ago on Google
    This was a last minute book, but pleasantly surprised. The interior and the room was clean and pleasing. But the building itself is so old, and the management is doing a good job by updating it and keeping it clean. The check in was easy and they have a beautiful pool by the bar. The location of this hotel was close to everything. I would stay here again.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Maddie S. 5 months ago on Google
    The idea of this hotel is very cute. The swing bar and pool area is super cute, the staff is very friendly. Parking is first come first serve in their tiny parking lot. The reason for the low review is the rooms were very dirty. We only stayed in Honolulu one night and the morning we woke up we saw 2 cockroaches crawling around the chairs in the room.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Peter V. 1 year ago on Google
    Very sensitively furnished hotel/resort. The nice retro style is really original. The place is very quiet and even in the evening productions end around nine - ten o'clock. For the number of guests, the hotel has a very small pool and few sunbeds. There is no elevator, housekeeping is only after 4 days and there are few electrical plugs in the room (no USB) - and none at all on the bedside table. The oddly placed wardrobe in the bathroom was practically unusable. From the balcony we had a nice view of the pool and the bar with palm trees, but in the evening there was no light on the balcony. We had a bad impression at the end when an employee knocked on our door before checking out and asked if we were leaving.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Joe S. 2 years ago on Google
    We loved this hotel. Yes, it’s not as nice as the big hotels right on Waikiki Beach but the price was very affordable for such a beautiful property. Great central location. We had zero noise issues like some other reviewers. the room was clean and everything worked as expected. The grounds are beautiful with waterfalls, gardens, a lovely pool,and a brand new bar that just opened. The service at the White Sands was amazing. We stayed in the one room suit and highly recommend it. We will stay here again on our next visit to Waikiki.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 F H. 1 year ago on Google
    This hotel is uniquely creatively decorated. Stunning common areas. Rooms decor is also beautiful. Perfect location! A few steps from the main Avenue in Waikiki; and walking area to the beach. Friendly and attentive staff. Awesome pricing deal! The hotel looks like it was a low budget motel once, which has been outstandingly re-decorated… I loved their Pool and lounge area; definitely a classic chic movie type. It is a budget hotel; that is why amazing Hawaii views should not be expected… I would’ve given five stars if room cleaning was provided everyday; and if their pool was heated.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Victoria F. 11 months ago on Google
    This hotel was located within 5-10 minutes walking to beach, shops, and eateries. The rooms were nice and clean. The hotel has a lovely atmosphere with live performances poolside. There was a centralized bar near pool, which is right outside every room. Vegetation is used nicely for coverage and separation so you don't see the pool.

  • 4/5 Ibanez T. 1 year ago on Google
    Such a beautiful hotel! Really lovely and perfect for young couples. The pool was gorgeous as was the bar and Zac was an excellent bar tender! We loved our stay and will definitely visit again. Not sure if we missed the fine print but cleaning isn’t done daily which we weren’t aware of which is fine with us but just would’ve been nice to know earlier :)

  • 3/5 Ruby C. 1 year ago on Google
    Good location as it was easy to get around and easy to walk to the beach. Great outdoor pool and bar area. The room was spacious but there were no kitchen ammenities- only a mug, teaspoon and 2 plastic cups. When I asked for a bowl, this was not available. There were a lot of booking fees and ammenities fees which were not made clear prior to booking so be careful when figuring out your budget for this place.

  • 4/5 Fabian H. 5 months ago on Google
    Great place to stay in Waikiki on a budget but still want to have a great location. Room cleaning happens every other day which we actually liked in order not to wash towels all the time (eco footprint). The rooms are a little run down / older. The fan in the bathroom is extremely loud. We liked the fact that you have a sink with tea cooker and fridge as well as a balcony. Best thing about the hotel room is the bed. Extremely big and very comfortable, we slept like babies. Great location as you have hundreds of food options around the hotel. Hotel bar and pool area are very nice and staff is super friendly. We would come back as price value is very good.

  • 5/5 SS 4 months ago on Google
    I’m so happy I found this hotel so random on an interisland stay! For the price (under $200) you can’t beat it. Location is great, the two bars are fun and unique and customer service from any person I talked to was amazing! I had a middle room, and barely heard people outside unless they were loud. The rooms are huge, outdated and old but satisfy every need you have for a hotel room. I saw some families at the hotel but to me this is more of a young crowd hotel. The burger at the bar was 10/10 and I’m looking forward to coming back soon!

  • 5/5 Derrick D. 4 months ago on Google
    The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. I wouldn't be surprised if the front desk manager was also the owner, he was that friendly. The property is a bit dated but upgraded with all the modern luxuries giving it a retro Tiki vibe. The location is amazing too.

  • 5/5 Robert M. 5 months ago on Google
    To all the 1-Star readers: The hotel has significantly changed. We enjoyed an absolutely great stay at this hotel - even after our check-out. The pool area is one of its kind with super comfortable sun beds, delicious drinks (Happy Hour from 12-6) and laidback music. Rooms: The room was very spacious and contemporarily decorated. Yes, it‘s not a brand new hotel but tastefully renovated and the entire place gives you a great idea of how the old days in Honolulu once were. Location: The location couldn’t be better. Waikiki beach is 5 minutes away, delicious restaurants, shops and malls are just at a stones throw from the hotel. Well, there is a ho(s)tel next to it which might produce nightly noises but far from what I‘ve read in the other reviews. Service: The service is exceptional from reception to the bar tender. One of the few times I really enjoyed tipping. Parking: We did not have a car but there are about 15 slots on the property and plenty of free slots on the street (we went in October, maybe this time is not as busy as during summer). All in all a place I‘d recommend to young and old (even my parents) with great value for money. Plus: I highly recommend the „Special Drink“ 🍹

  • 5/5 bobby t. 6 months ago on Google
    At some point staff makes mistakes but what is important is how it is addressed. I brought up an issue to Josie and the Hotel Manager Kaile and both made me feel heard. Zero pushback and was very professional all the way thru. It’s quite evident that the Hotel Manager cares about this property and the guests. More women like her should be in leadership positions. She gave a Master Class on how to immediately deal with an issue before it boils over. Good Points: Kayla and Randy at the front desk. Very personable and great Ambassadors to this hotel. Rooms are spacious with a micro wave and fridge that actually keeps things cold. Free use of beach chairs, towels, boogie board . Awesome location to restaurants, car rentals, and stores. It’s an older hotel but tries very hard to make sure your stay is as comfortable as one can be.

  • 5/5 Brooke B. 2 months ago on Google • 4 reviews New
    My husband and I stayed at White Sands Hotel for our elopement and had an excellent experience! The staff was very thoughtful and upgraded our room. The hotel location is prime with easy walking access to the beach, shopping, and restaurants. We were additionally able to quickly access other incredible sites such as the Koko Head trail, Eternity Beach, and others with a quick 20 - 30 minute drive. Additionally, the hotel has several thoughtful features such as a pool, routine live music, complimentary games, beach chairs and towels, and on-site food/beverages. We would highly recommend White Sands Hotel!

  • 2/5 Kat K. 1 year ago on Google
    I wouldn’t do it again. While the overall aesthetic is fun with thoughtful retro design details, the rooms are dingy and dirty. We booked a travelzoo deal and read lots of positive reviews prior to staying. The reality is that the bathrooms are filthy with mold and poor ventilation. The carpet is extremely dirty and there are TWO types on ant infestations in the room we were staying in. The front desk staff knows next to nothing and one of them acted like we were bothering her if we ever approached her. They say they have a long list of beach equipment that they loan out as part of the resort fee. What they actually have is a couple of straw mats and exactly one large beach umbrella thats tattered, rusty and held together with random strings. On the positive side, the design of the bar is cool with actual swings and interesting eclectic poolside furniture. If it wasn’t for the pink mold on all the loungers, I might actually hang out at the pool. The bartenders/servers were cool and work super hard. The drinks were good and they have fun live entertainment some nights. This makes it fun to visit but not to stay overnight.

  • 5/5 Richard M. 1 year ago on Google
    We found this place on a whim and could not have been happier! The open concept is very boutique and cool, with a great bar by the pool and friendly service everywhere. Americanos in the morning were fantastic and the vibe of this hotel was flawless. You're within walking distance of tons of awesome shops and restaurants, as well as the beach. Beyond that, the price was extremely reasonable! Couldn't recommend this place more highly!

  • 5/5 Casey W. 2 years ago on Google
    Really cool design, great vibe, friendly staff, rooms were a tad bit small but good for the price. Great location, entire design was really cool. People were pretty cool as well.

  • 5/5 Alex G. 1 year ago on Google
    A lovely little hotel just down the street from the heart of Waikiki. Was a great place to stay, with an awesome cozy and vintage vibe, and a great little oasis of pool and bar serving as a little getaway from the big tourist feel of the rest of the area. Can't wait to come back and see what it's like, as it seems they are working on expanding and modernizing the place even more than they already have. Also, special note to the employees, as everyone we interacted with was an absolute delight. Just an all star team!

  • 4/5 Susan C. 1 year ago on Google
    Great location, nice room, friendly staff. Pool is clean, somewhat small but entirely adequate for a dip and pleasant. Price is reasonable for Waikiki. Only downside is no elevator, so request a first floor room if you have mobility issues. Parking is limited on site, $35/day. If full, there's a lot a block away same price. Would definitely stay here again. Booking direct may open a free night after 4.

  • 5/5 Celina G. 2 years ago on Google
    My stay at the hotel was simply wonderful. The staff was very helpful and informative about local happy hour and authentic Hawaiian bites. Tysuga is a true blessing to the hotel! He was able to help me and my family with a room error. He was able to accommodate us last minute and it allowed our family to have stress free vacation.

  • 5/5 Adrienne K. 2 years ago on Google
    Such a great vibe! Chill music playing throughout the shared spaces. Stayed in a off the pool room. Older rooms yet understand how to make an impact in their decor and thoughtful touches. Makes mingling with other guests easy as it’s got a friendly boutique feel. Easy access to all city has to offer. Would highly recommend!

  • 4/5 Barbara D. 2 years ago on Google
    We loved this place! Such a great retro, chill vibe right in the middle of the craziness in Waikiki. We were here for 5 nights and would fully recommend over the big hotels. Staff were all so friendly, especially Tufuga! Thanks for the hospitality 🤙

  • 5/5 Ciera M. 2 years ago on Google
    Great service, cute rooms, and the bar is a fun addition (it is also open to the public, not just hotel guests.)

  • 5/5 Emily C. 2 years ago on Google
    Cozy + quaint, perfect spot for a getaway. I came with three girlfriends to staycation and celebrate my birthday. The staff was so accommodating, the pool + bamboo bar a delight, and everything beachfront is steps away. Tons of great food options nearby and an in-house cafe coming soon! 🙌🤙

  • 5/5 Chris W. 2 years ago on Google
    Friendly staff and affordable rates. Room was cozy and clean. Great central lounge area with pool, private jacuzzi, and bar area. Limited parking on site, but there is a larger garage across the street that has discounted ($35/day) parking for White Sands guests.

  • 4/5 Cris J. 2 years ago on Google
    Great hotel just 2 blocks from Dukes and walking distance to Waikiki beach. Pros: not as crowded, beautiful outdoor scenery and bar and great customer service. Also, a lot cheaper than some of the bigger resorts. Cons: the walk to the beach can be far while carrying beach stuff, the hotel doesn't have an elevator and there's 3 stories, and parking is limited.

  • 5/5 Jacqueline C. 2 years ago on Google
    First time in Hawaii and my reservation was here,may I say it's a very good hotel to stay at. A bar,pool, jacuzzi plus restaurant's nearby what else could you ask. The beds are so comfortable.Waking up here is a beautiful experience.

  • 5/5 jim t. 2 years ago on Google
    The white sands hotel in Waikiki beach is a little slice of heaven in between all the hustle and bustle.. The staff and bartenders are amazing and super friendly. We love the new renovation done to this hotel. The tiki bar was phenomenal and our favorite thing was the hot tub!!!


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