Peter Greenberg: Waikiki Lodging

By: Peter Greenberg | Source: AARP.org | 2009-01-12

My husband and I, along with another senior couple, would like to go to Oahu, Hawaii, for one month in April 2009. We want to be close to the beach in Waikiki. We don't want to spend over $3,000 a month. A house, a condo, anything would work for us. Can you help us?
–Laura, San Francisco, Calif.

Finding the right accommodations for your holiday stay is rarely easy. There are a number of Web sites you can check out to find lists of condos and apartment rentals that are searchable according to your criteria.

After a quick search online, a few examples popped up:

Waikiki Grand Hotel offers a studio apartment for $1,895 a month during the off-season. Located in the heart of Waikiki, the unit features one queen-size bed, a sleeper sofa, one bathroom, and a fully equipped kitchenette.

The Waikiki Banyan offers a one-bedroom condo for $2,822 per month. The condo includes two queen beds, a fully equipped kitchen, laundry facilities, and is within walking distance of Waikiki Beach.

If you're willing to spend a little more, Hale Kawika at the Waikiki Landmark offers a two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo with panoramic views from the Koolau Mountains over the Pacific for the price of $3,900 per month.

For other options, some vacation rental resources are A1vacations.com, Homeaway.com, and Hawaiianbeachrentals.com. But don’t just trust the Web! Always make sure you speak with a human being and ask specific questions so you know exactly what you’re getting. If the owner claims a property is "just steps" from the beach, that could mean crossing a five-lane highway. Find out when the property was last renovated, what kind of neighborhood it's in, and what the cancellation policy is if you show up and aren’t happy with the accommodations.