The 7 Best Beach Resorts in Oahu for Your Hawaii Vacation
I could take a Hawaiian vacation multiple times per year, if I had the time and money. Just writing this post about the best beach resorts in Oahu is making me want to book a return visit.
Oahu is a great destination for relaxation, adventure, and experiencing Hawaiian culture. On my recent weeklong trip, I went horseback riding, snorkeled, laid on the beach, ate a ton of local food, and even saw Jurassic park.
In addition to having a ton to do, Oahu is home to many stunning luxury beach resorts. I reached out to some travel blogger friends for their favorite places to stay on the island.
If you are wondering where to stay in Oahu Hawaii, keep reading for this list of the top resorts in Ko Olina, Honolulu, and the North Shore.
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Top 3 Picks – Where to Stay in Oahu Hawaii
✅ Disney character meet and greets and dining
✅ Perfect combination of a Disney vacation and relaxing beach trip
✅ High-end luxury amenities and service
✅ Tranquil beach that’s great for swimming and snorkeling
✅ Large resort with 5 pools and beach access
✅ Walking distance to world-class shopping and restaurants
1. Disney Aulani
Recommended by Dr. Rachel from TheRxForTravel
Hotel Brand: Disney
Approximate Price Per Night: ~$600 and up (depending on time of year, room view, and room type)
Location: Ko Olina
Disney’s Aulani Resort and Spa is located in Ko Olina, Oahu about a 30 minute drive west of Honolulu.
Away from the hustle and bustle of city life like Honolulu, Aulani is a beautiful, secluded, and quiet property settled right on the beach.
In usual Disney fashion, you can spend the entire time at the resort if you so choose, and you would have plenty to do.
There’s the Aulani Character Breakfast, the traditional luau at night, and during the day waterpark style water slides or lazy river, character experiences, beach activities like snorkeling, or immersive activities for kids like playing ukulele and making leis. Disney magic and service is at its best here.
Visitor’s Tip: There is basically one major highway going to and from Disney’s Aulani to Honolulu. If you intend on doing other activities in the city center area of Honolulu, be prepared for quite a bit of traffic especially on weekdays during commuting hours.
2. Four Seasons Ko Olina
Recommended by Lauren Neves from laurenslighthouse.com
Hotel Brand: Four Seasons
Approximate Price Per Night: $1,200
Location: Ko Olina
When we stayed at the Four Seasons Oahu, we were wooed at every turn. From check-in to check-out, the brand representatives and staff members made it their priority that we would always remember our time there and our bright interactions.
The Hawaiian spirit and hospitality was more than ever-present, and everything that makes Four Seasons the brand that it is was found at this property.
Dining was top-notch, whether it was at La Hiki for breakfast or Noe and Mina’s Fish House for dinner. I had some of my all-time favorite cocktails at these restaurants!
Unwinding was the easiest thing to do at Four Seasons Oahu. Whether it was lounging at the beach or stunning pools, doing some laps at the spa lap pool or letting out some steam at the tennis courts, or getting pampered at Naupaka Spa.
The spa facilities were incredible! And as much as I loved my massage and foot scrub, I could’ve spent a whole afternoon soaking in my relaxation in the zen garden, sauna, steam room, hot tub and plunge pool.
As much as the dining, relaxing and resort facilities were top notch, my absolute favorite memory was getting out on the water in a traditional outrigger canoe sail with Hawaiian Ocean Adventures right from the resort’s lagoon.
It was the perfect way to end our stay on the morning we checked out. We highly recommend you book yourself a tour with them before leaving!
Read a more detailed Four Season’s Oahu review from Lauren
3. Hilton Hawaiian Village
Recommended by Marcie Cheung of Hawaii Travel with Kids
Hotel Brand: Hilton
Approximate Price Per Night: $300-$400
Location: Waikiki, Honolulu
If you’re looking for a HUGE resort in Waikiki, you’ll want to check out the Hilton Hawaiian Village. It’s the resort that was featured in the Hawaii Five-O reboot and a lot of other TV shows. I’ve stayed here with my family and we all had a great time.
There are a bunch of different towers where you can stay. I recommend the Rainbow Tower because I think it has the best view.
It’s also located next to a few of their amazing pools as well as their iconic saltwater lagoon. This is where you can rent water trikes to cruise around!
You definitely won’t go hungry here. This resort is connected to an outdoor shopping/dining mall with tons of great restaurants and places to get snacks, drinks, and treats.
But, there are also plenty of places to get food without leaving the resort. They even have an on-site luau!
One of the main features that I like about the Hilton Hawaiian Village is that it’s a stop on the Waikiki Trolley. This makes it easy to get around parts of Oahu without renting a car.
Check out Marcie’s full Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort review.
150+ Best Captions for the Beach on Instagram
4. Turtle Bay
Recommended by Jessica Sproat from nextupadventure.com
Price Per Night: Starting at $500/night and going up to $3000/night depending on room type.
Location: North Shore
It is impossible to talk about the best beach resorts in Oahu Hawaii without mentioning Turtle Bay Resort. The grounds are breathtaking and are perfectly set up for all types of travelers.
Turtle Bay Resort has 3 pools – the main resort pool, an adults only pool, and a Keiki pool (kids pool) complete with slides and kinds of splashing fun.
In addition to the pools, the resort has incredible access to the most beautiful beaches in Oahu. There are 7 beaches, some with calm shallow waters, some with tide pools, and some that are great for surfing.
These 7 beaches are all within walking distance of Turtle Bay Resort and all of them have the incredible turquoise water your Hawaiian dreams are made of.
The resort features state of the art fitness facilities with one fitness class per day included in your stay, multiple options for dining including the pool bar which is a personal favorite spot to take in a sunset.
If you are wanting to truly immerse yourself in nature, there are multiple hiking trails on the resort to the beaches as well as many hiking trails close by including the Ehukai Pillbox trail which leads to stunning views of the entire North Shore.
Turtle Bay is away from the hustle of Waikiki and the region is home to many species of wild life including Humpback Whales and the endangered monk seal.
It is so fascinating to see and learn about these creatures all while admiring from a distance!
5. Alohilani Resort
Recommended by Marcie Cheung of Hawaii Travel Spot
Hotel Brand: Alohilani
Approximate Price Per Night: $300-$350
Location: Waikiki, Honolulu
If you’re looking for an Instagrammable hotel on Oahu, look no further than the Alohilani Resort. We stayed here with grandparents, kids, and teens and everyone had a great time.
It features a huge aquarium in the lobby plus it has a rooftop infinity pool. There’s usually music playing and it has a total party vibe. I suggest renting a cabana or at least the pool loungers to really treat yourself!
It’s also hard to beat the location. While it’s on the quieter end of Waikiki, it’s right across the street from the beach and just steps away from all the action. Plus, there are some great views of Diamond Head.
But, you won’t be bored if you choose to stick around the hotel. There are lots of on-site restaurants (including one from celebrity Chef Morimoto) as well as an ABC store in the lobby. The hotel also offers some cool hands-on activities like lei making.
Parking can be a little tricky, so I suggest taking advantage of their valet service. Check out my full Alohilani Resort review.
6. Marriott Ko Olina
Recommended by Eleanor of Elevate Your Escapes
Hotel Brand: Marriott
Approximate Price Per Night: Standard rooms typically range between $500-800 per night.
Location: Ko’Olina
The Ko’Olina Marriott is a gorgeous resort located in the Ko’Olina area of Oahu. This area has beautiful lagoons with calm, clear water.
This resort-filled, gated area is a peaceful place to stay, located about half an hour west of Honolulu.
The Ko’Olina Marriott is a highly-rated four star hotel and my experience lived up to that level. It has a gorgeous beachfront with loungers, three outdoor pools, seven hot tubs, a high-end fitness center, and on-site spa to make your vacation complete.
The resort has regular guest rooms, in addition to villas. All the villas have full kitchens, while the guest rooms have kitchenettes with a mini-fridge, microwave, coffee maker, and sink.
This is a great feature for those like me who prefer to make their own food sometimes while traveling. The hotel has two restaurants and a pool bar.
Plus, the showcases the Fia Fia Polynesian Dinner Show with traditional Hawaiian food, music, luau dancers, and fire-knife dancing on Tuesday nights.
This hotel is a bit pricey but it’s a treat when vacationing in Oahu or stopping over while between other Hawaiian islands like Maui.
7. The Royal Hawaiian Resort
Brand: Marriott
Price per night: $400-$600 per night
Location: Honolulu
If you’ve ever dreamed of a vacation where the sands are as golden as the sunsets, the Royal Hawaiian Resort in Waikiki could be just the ticket.
This place isn’t your run-of-the-mill resort; it’s a slice of Hawaiian history painted in the most stunning shade of pink you’ll ever see. It’s where the world’s elite have vacationed since the 1920s, and it’s easy to see why.
If you can swing it, get a room that gives you a front-row seat to the ocean. There’s nothing quite like sipping your morning coffee on a balcony while listening to the sound of the waves.
The dining is superb, but you’re in Hawaii—adventure is the name of the game. Step outside your comfort zone and explore the local cuisine. A fresh poke bowl from a hole-in-the-wall spot might just be your next fave.
Be sure to try their mai tais. They are one of the best in Hawaii! Just be careful, they can pack quite a punch after spending all day out in the sun at this beachfront property.
Staying at the Palace also ensures you’ll experience some of the best sunsets on Oahu!
The Royal Hawaiian is an experience you’ll remember. It’s not just about the luxury or the views; it’s the warmth of the staff, the whispers of history in the corridors, and those little moments of unexpected experiences that make it stand out.
It’s where aloha isn’t just said; it’s felt. So, pack your bags, but leave space for memories!
Other Great Oceanfront Hotels in Oahu
- Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort
- Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort
- Sheraton Waikiki
- Kahala Hotel and Resort
Map of the Top Oahu Beach Resorts
Summary of the Best Beachfront Resorts Oahu
No matter where you stay, any Oahu resorts on the beach will have amazing views of the beautiful waterfront. If you can afford it, I highly recommend selecting an Ocean View room so you can wake up to the views every day.
In addition to staying in a great resort in Oahu, be sure to also explore the island. Some of the top things you cannot miss are snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, visiting the North Shore, and trying a bunch of local food.
Overall, Oahu Hawaii is one of the best places for a relaxing beach vacation and I’m sure you’ll have a great time.
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