Holiday Inn Express Waikiki By IHG
A 44-story tower in Waikiki offering free hot breakfast, comfortable beds, and convenient walking access to the beach.
The verdict
Pick a traveller type to re-weight the scores and re-rank the rooms around what you actually care about.
This 44-story tower serves as a practical, family-friendly base located a 10-minute walk from Waikiki Beach and the International Marketplace. Guests appreciate the attentive staff, comfortable beds, in-room microwaves and fridges, and the free daily breakfast with pancake machines. However, rooms are compact with tight luggage space, internet can be unreliable, and guests frequently mention loud air-conditioning units and slow elevator service. 109141
Every line below traces back to something a traveler actually wrote — open a line to read the original sentence and follow it to the source.
What travelers noticed
- Staff receive widespread praise for their top-class customer service, greeting guests by name and assisting with large luggage. 2
- The complimentary morning breakfast is a major highlight, offering a reliable buffet of hot items, continental staples, and pancake machines. 910
- The location is consistently lauded as a convenient base within a 10-minute walk of Waikiki Beach, tour departures, and neighborhood ABC stores. 10916
- Guests reliably report sleeping well on the comfortable mattresses and supportive pillows. 2
The catch
- While guests on higher floors praise sweeping vistas of the Pacific Ocean, sunsets, and the Koolau mountains, others find lower-floor outlooks over the parking lot underwhelming. 96
- Some reviewers appreciate the modern bathrooms and bathtub space, whereas others complain about small counters with minimal storage and restricted showerhead angles. 1
Who it's for
- — Budget-conscious travelers and families
- — Guests wanting in-room microwaves and fridges
- — Travelers prioritizing walkability to Waikiki Beach
Skip it if
- — Light sleepers sensitive to loud AC or early morning noise
- — Travelers needing spacious rooms for lots of luggage
- — Guests frustrated by slow elevators during rush hours
Seen on camera
19 moments · 3 videos · Holiday Inn Express Waikiki By IHG
Each moment is pulled at the second a cited reviewer said the words. Play it here, or open the original video at that timestamp.
“the holiday and express is in a good location it's on the east side of Wy Key Beach and about two blocks or a 5-minute w…”
youtube.com0:41“the hotel has a total of 599 rooms they have four elevators servicing all of the floors and rooms so things always tend…”
youtube.com2:31“the feel of the hotel is is definitely holiday and level so don't get the idea this place is any type of Resort but the…”
youtube.com3:28“having said that this place is not even close to Resort they do charge you a $30 Resort fee per night the nerve”
youtube.com3:43“we did find the beds to be comfortable so that was a plus”
youtube.com5:35“the bathroom was very small with not much room to store your stuff on the counter but hey you're in Wy key and you shoul…”
youtube.com5:43“in terms of connectivity and Wi-Fi speed we found the wi if to be on the weak side most everywhere we tested it”
youtube.com5:55“Holiday Inn is located in Waikiki and it's near everything literally everything Ala Moana mall the beach international m…”
youtube.com0:30“the beds are a bit taller than usual I like that some people may not like it actually the kids or if you have kids it's…”
youtube.com2:47“the reason for the hotel this time is I got a pretty good deal on points and if you have the Chase ihd credit card you g…”
youtube.com0:20“the daily rate was actually fairly high so it was a good use of points the daily rate was upwards of 150 plus tax a nigh…”
youtube.com0:42“well yeah it's pretty expensive to stay in Waikiki but I would say Holiday Inn Express is one of the more affordable one…”
youtube.com0:44“all of the rooms are quite small and there's a little option for room upgrades across the 599 rooms just the higher floo…”
youtube.com4:21“this is a holiday in express which means you get free breakfast have to say it was decent but also super crowded”
youtube.com6:27“the room is compact clean and just well thought off I bet you can look like a bigger room but I just booked that promo w…”
youtube.com2:33“for their bathroom it's also compact but comfortable enough because you have a space for your bathtub so that's really g…”
youtube.com3:57“my favorite part of the bathroom which they thought off is the lip mirror it's awesome because you can see yourself well…”
youtube.com5:00“there's free breakfast every day it's a content aisle so you have your tray you put on your food and then and like this…”
youtube.com5:18“we had views over the parking lot and then out toward the ocean but really nothing spectacular to write home about”
youtube.com5:26Frames are citations: each one links to its second in the source video, attributed to the creator who filmed it. Nothing here is supplied by the hotel. Creators who want a moment removed can ask and we take it down.
How to book
Score breakdown
How the 74/100 is built, category by category — each one with the strongest thing travelers actually said, and the source it came from.
Bathroom
86- “for their bathroom it's also compact but comfortable enough because you have a space for your bathtub so that's really good” 13:57
- “the bathroom was very small with not much room to store your stuff on the counter but hey you're in Wy key and you shouldn't be spending too much time in your room anyway” 165:43
Food
90- “He doesn't see it as just a free generic breakfast. He wants to serve only the best quality food, and it showed. There are pancake machines! It's literally the only time in my life I've ever seen a pancake machine. The omelets were excellent.” 10
- “The dining hall was spacious and we especially like the outdoor seating area.” 6
Location
84- “The Holiday Inn Express is perfectly located in the center of Waikiki. It's an ideal, affordable base for families. From the hotel, it's only a 10-minute walk to the beach, 10 minutes to the new International Marketplace with its stores and excellent restaurants, and 15 minutes to parasailing.” 10
- “Holiday Inn is located in Waikiki and it's near everything literally everything Ala Moana mall the beach international marketplace and the Kalakaua shopping district” 10:30
Noise
86- “The area around the hotel is quiet unlike the city center. I think it is better to avoid the Ala Wai Canal because it is not safe.” 2
- “Noise is the most commonly mentioned downside: some guests report loud air-conditioning units or hallway noise, and given the tower's size and urban setting, light sleepers may want earplugs or to request a higher-floor, non-connecting room away from elevators.” 9
Room
69Service
83- “Thank you to the staff at Holiday Inn Express Waikiki for restoring my faith in the concept of perfect family-friendly service!” 10
- “We've flown home from vacations before feeling disappointed, and realized a lot of the time that it had to do with never really feeling welcome. We most definitely felt welcome at the Holiday Inn Express Waikiki! The staff members of the hotel were amazing, and it started before our arrival.” 10
Bed & Sleep
78- “The room is small, but the beds is comfortable. Personally I liked the hardness of the pillow, and I was able to sleep well with a soft and sinking feeling.” 2
- “The room is small, but the beds is comfortable. Personally I liked the hardness of the pillow, and I was able to sleep well with a soft and sinking feeling. The mattress is a little hard and the bed was relatively high.” 2
Where it is, how to reach it
Details checked 2026-09-09
Where it sits
Holiday Inn Express Waikiki By IHG and the 20 other hotels we cover in Honolulu. Hover a marker for the hotel; click to open it.
Stay value
How this property reads against the hotels we cover alongside it. Measured on review evidence, not on a nightly rate.
Falls short of what $$ usually buys
Scores 13 points below the mid-range median of 87, across 529 hotels in the same bracket. In Honolulu it sits 10 points below the local median of 84.
- This hotel
- 74
- Bracket median
- 87
- Index median
- 88
Based on 529 comparable hotels.
Which room to ask for
What reviewers say about where to sleep inside this building — by room number where one is named, and otherwise by floor, wing, aspect and position. Every line opens onto the quotes behind it.
- 1 mention
- 1 mention
Where travelers agree — and don’t
The topics reviewers split on most. A wide bar means your experience depends on which room you get — or whose opinion you trust.
View the 79 things travelers said behind this verdict▾
Quotes run exactly as travelers wrote them — spelling and all. We trim for length, never for tidiness.
- “The dining hall was spacious and we especially like the outdoor seating area.” 6
- “The hotel did a great job with the menu.They actually managed to change the menu selectionsdaily.” 6
- “Since free breakfast is a major value driver here, it pays to start your day early; going right at opening or slightly after can help you avoid the longest lines and the busiest dining room.” 9
- “Tasty meals, incredible beds, top-class staff.” 15
- “We had a little balcony and could see the ocean. They sent us over to Jimmy Buffet's in the morning, however, and it was the only bad breakfast we've had anywhere except at a truck stop in Bismark South Dakota in 1976.” 12
- “Breakfast is served buffet-style and generally includes a mix of hot items and continental staples; while menus change and specifics aren't guaranteed, recent guests consistently rate it as a reliable, money-saving start to the day.” 9
- “this is a holiday in express which means you get free breakfast have to say it was decent but also super crowded” On camera166:27
- “there's free breakfast every day it's a content aisle so you have your tray you put on your food and then and like this really it's a common table it's very very cute I like the setup it's not lavish it's just ordinary not the healthiest option as well” On camera15:18
- “Many things to mention - perfect rooms, phenomenal staff, fresh food.” 15
- “Start your morning off with a cup of delicious Hawaiian coffee and an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet featuring our famous cinnamon rolls.” 14
- “He doesn't see it as just a free generic breakfast. He wants to serve only the best quality food, and it showed. There are pancake machines! It's literally the only time in my life I've ever seen a pancake machine. The omelets were excellent.” 10
- “Edited October 27, 20223 yr by jsn55 wording Thanks for the information. We stayed at the HIE Waikiki after our cruise early last month. Excellent staff, good room and breakfast.” 12
- “Next to the closet there was a microwave, a cafe corner and a fridge. I was happy about having a microwave in the room. It was nice because I could buy a boxed lunch at the convenience store in front of the hotel and warm it up.” 2
- “The room seen from the window side. As the room was small, it was hard to enter the bathroom when the suitcases were on opened up on the floor.” 2
- “Edited October 27, 20223 yr by jsn55 wording Thanks for the information. We stayed at the HIE Waikiki after our cruise early last month. Excellent staff, good room and breakfast.” 12
- “The room was very clean with the necessary amenities such as a coffee machine, a safe box, and a refrigrator.” 6
- “Rooms are comfortably furnished with air conditioning, free high speed internet and an in-room safe.” 13
- “the room is compact clean and just well thought off I bet you can look like a bigger room but I just booked that promo which is great for me and I kind of like it” On camera12:33
- “refrigerator and coffee maker. This 44-story hotel provides breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and Koolau mountains, delivering an unforgettable experience.” 9
- “Inside facing room with a perfect bed and modern bathroom” 15
- “all of the rooms are quite small and there's a little option for room upgrades across the 599 rooms just the higher floors have better views” On camera164:21
- “As the building itself is quite tall with 44 floors, the view looks better as you go higher. I thought that it would have been nicer if there was a balcony.” 2
- “Thai style hotel with nice furniture in the rooms.” 15
- “The staff had a nice feeling, and the customer service was great. When I checked in, the staff at the entrance paid attention to the large luggage.” 2
- “The attention to detail from the staff when it came to cleaning and sanitizing the tables after each guest was impecable. Kudos to the hotel and staff!!!” 6
- “the feel of the hotel is is definitely holiday and level so don't get the idea this place is any type of Resort but the staff do try hard to take care of things” On camera163:28
- “Edited October 27, 20223 yr by jsn55 wording Thanks for the information. We stayed at the HIE Waikiki after our cruise early last month. Excellent staff, good room and breakfast.” 12
- “And literally, every other employee, from the front desk staff to the housekeepers, was quick with an Aloha whenever we passed by. We were always aware that we were in Hawaii - which is a great thing! And it never seemed forced.” 10
- “Thank you to the staff at Holiday Inn Express Waikiki for restoring my faith in the concept of perfect family-friendly service!” 10
- “While I have not stayed in the hotel I have been inside, it is a perfectly fine no frills hotel..nice lobby and clean rooms.” 12
- “For others reading this topic ... we stayed at the HI Waikiki and liked it very much. Basic, attractive, good staff.” 12
- “Exceptional service and a well-maintained pool onsite.” 15
- “Everyone was very nice, friendly and helpful. The staff at the breakfast venue asked how my meal was which was very kind.” 2
- “Many things to mention - perfect rooms, phenomenal staff, fresh food.” 15
- “Tasty meals, incredible beds, top-class staff.” 15
- “The staff were always warm and knew their area.” 15
- “Tidy property, extremely helpful staff. They made my stay nice.” 15
- “Many recent reviewers highlight the front desk, breakfast crew, and housekeeping teams as welcoming, efficient, and consistently helpful, which goes a long way in a busy high-rise hotel.” 9
- “We've flown home from vacations before feeling disappointed, and realized a lot of the time that it had to do with never really feeling welcome. We most definitely felt welcome at the Holiday Inn Express Waikiki! The staff members of the hotel were amazing, and it started before our arrival.” 10
- “having said that this place is not even close to Resort they do charge you a $30 Resort fee per night the nerve” On camera163:43
- “Breakfast is included, so I think it would save if you think of eating out every morning in expensive Hawaii.” 2
- “the daily rate was actually fairly high so it was a good use of points the daily rate was upwards of 150 plus tax a night” On camera70:42
- “the reason for the hotel this time is I got a pretty good deal on points and if you have the Chase ihd credit card you get the fourth night free” On camera70:20
- “well yeah it's pretty expensive to stay in Waikiki but I would say Holiday Inn Express is one of the more affordable ones it's not that cheap because nothing is really cheap here in Waikiki” On camera10:44
- “Pet-friendly, free breakfast, and a great price make this a perfect spot for budget travelers and families.” 14
- “In the Waikiki context, Holiday Inn Express sits in the "affordable but not bare-bones" tier: it's rarely the absolute cheapest option, but when you factor in free breakfast, Wi-Fi, and the amenity-rich Skydeck, many guests feel they get strong value.” 9
- “I just booked this for our trip in September, great price and mostly good reviews” 12
- “On the flip side, there's no beachfront access, no on-site full-service restaurant, and the daily service fee and paid parking can push the overall cost higher than the nightly rate suggests.” 9
- “We are planning to stay in Holiday Inn in Waikiki. After reading some reviews people say it smells damp, some dirtiness etc. Though it looks nice on the pictures and the price is great.” 5
- “Rooms and public spaces are generally described as very clean and well-maintained, with modern finishes that feel fresher than some older Waikiki properties in the same price bracket.” 9
- “You hold the card key up and enter the room. There was a strange smell when I first entered the room. It looked like an expensive business hotel, but it was cleaned very well.” 2
- “Overall, though, rooms get strong marks for cleanliness and updated finishes relative to the price point.” 9
- “Book the package or contact us for assistance with customizing your vacation at the Holiday Inn Express Waikiki - we are offering great prices!” 14
- “The comfortable Holiday Inn Express Waikiki By Ihg Honolulu enjoys a great location about 5 minutes' stroll from Longs Drugs and offers 591 rooms with views of the sea.” 15
- “The Holiday Inn Express Waikiki offers a prime location in Honolulu with easy access to beaches and attractions.” 9
- “Holiday Inn Express Waikiki is an affordable hotel in a prime location opposite the King David Kalākaua Statue and Waikīkī Gateway Park.” 13
- “For day trips, the hotel's proximity to key bus routes and easy rideshare access makes it straightforward to reach Pearl Harbor, downtown Honolulu's historic sites, or, with more planning, the North Shore and windward beaches.” 9
- “Strong location within walking distance of Waikiki Beach, shopping, zoo, and bus lines.” 9
- “The Holiday Inn Express is perfectly located in the center of Waikiki. It's an ideal, affordable base for families. From the hotel, it's only a 10-minute walk to the beach, 10 minutes to the new International Marketplace with its stores and excellent restaurants, and 15 minutes to parasailing.” 10
- “the holiday and express is in a good location it's on the east side of Wy Key Beach and about two blocks or a 5-minute walk from the beach” On camera160:41
- “You can use a credit card as well. You need to walk a little from the city center, but I think the location around the hotel is not bad. There is also an ABC store in many parts of Hawaii, and after a short walk you will find shops such as Tommy Bahama Restaurant and Longs Drag.” 2
- “Holiday Inn is located in Waikiki and it's near everything literally everything Ala Moana mall the beach international marketplace and the Kalakaua shopping district” On camera10:30
- “Many tours depart from here and the resort is conveniently located near many of O'ahu's most popular attractions.” 14
- “The hotel was located nearby Waikiki Beach.It was about 10 to 15 minutes walking from the hotel which made it a prime location without all the crowds.” 6
- “Recent guests consistently praise the location as "close enough" to the beach and shops while being slightly away from the most congested part of Kalakaua.” 9
- “Noise is the most commonly mentioned downside: some guests report loud air-conditioning units or hallway noise, and given the tower's size and urban setting, light sleepers may want earplugs or to request a higher-floor, non-connecting room away from elevators.” 9
- “The only issue was the rooster in the park across the street from the hotel. He would get rather vocal and loud early in the morning. 😬” 12
- “The area around the hotel is quiet unlike the city center. I think it is better to avoid the Ala Wai Canal because it is not safe.” 2
- “the beds are a bit taller than usual I like that some people may not like it actually the kids or if you have kids it's probably harder to have a taller bed but then since it's just me it's pretty much comfortable” On camera12:47
- “The room is small, but the beds is comfortable. Personally I liked the hardness of the pillow, and I was able to sleep well with a soft and sinking feeling.” 2
- “The bed was fine, so we had a decent stay.” 15
- “The room is small, but the beds is comfortable. Personally I liked the hardness of the pillow, and I was able to sleep well with a soft and sinking feeling. The mattress is a little hard and the bed was relatively high.” 2
- “the bathroom was very small with not much room to store your stuff on the counter but hey you're in Wy key and you shouldn't be spending too much time in your room anyway” On camera165:43
- “As it was a bathroom without a bathtub, and the shower booth had a shower that could only change the angle. It was a little troublesome when washing my feet. The water pressure was so good. The shower booth was wide enough, but I was disappointed about the shower its self.” 2
- “for their bathroom it's also compact but comfortable enough because you have a space for your bathtub so that's really good” On camera13:57
- “An incredibly beautiful place with an exceptionally good view.” 15
- “We were upgraded to a higher floor room with great ocean view. We did really appreciate the scenic view especailly for the beautiful sunsets.” 6
- “From great breakfasts to panoramic views, every aspect is designed to make your trip exceptional.” 9
- “A sandy beach, pleasant view.” 15
What we still don't know
What we can’t tell you yet, said plainly. These close as we read more coverage of this hotel.
- No reviewer has named an individual room number here yet.
- Nothing reliable said about room types.
- Nothing reliable said about building or wing.
- Nothing reliable said about which side it faces.
- Noise rests on 3 sources — too thin to rely on.
- 13 sources carry no publication date, so we cannot tell how current they are.
Ask about Holiday Inn Express Waikiki By IHG
Answered only from the coverage cited on this page. If nobody has written about your question, it will say so rather than guess.
How much we read
Deep coverage · 59/100We read 17 sources for this property, and pulled 102 traveler insights worth knowing. Last checked 2026-09-09.
Watch this hotel
We keep reading Holiday Inn Express Waikiki By IHG. Tell us when you're staying and we'll follow it until then — you'll hear from us only when the verdict is rewritten, the score moves, or new reviews land. No daily mail, and the watch closes itself after your stay.
Sources
Everything quoted on this page, grouped by traveler insights, outlets, and video & podcast. Counts beside each group show everything we’ve read of that kind; no one kind can carry the score on its own.
6 of 6 summary lines above are traced to specific quotes. The rest summarise the read as a whole rather than any single document.
View all 17 cited sources▾
Everything quoted on this page.
- 5Holiday Inn Express Waikiki by IHG - anyone review plsreddit.comForum thread2025-07-08Recent1 quote used
“We are planning to stay in Holiday Inn in Waikiki. After reading some reviews people say it smells damp, some dirtiness etc. Though it looks nice on the pictures and the price is great.”
Read originalreddit.com - 13Holiday Inn Express Waikikiwaikikibeachstays.comReview site2023-12-02Ageing3 quotes used
“Holiday Inn Express Waikiki is an affordable hotel in a prime location opposite the King David Kalākaua Statue and Waikīkī Gateway Park.”
Read originalwaikikibeachstays.com - 10True Hospitality and the Holiday Inn Express Waikikitravelbabbo.comReview site2018-01-10Ageing6 quotes used
“And literally, every other employee, from the front desk staff to the housekeepers, was quick with an Aloha whenever we passed by. We were always aware that we were in Hawaii - which is a great thing! And it never seemed…”
Read originaltravelbabbo.com - 12Holiday Inn Express, Waikiki - Hawaiiboards.cruisecritic.comReview site2013-05-21Ageing8 quotes used
“Edited October 27, 20223 yr by jsn55 wording Thanks for the information. We stayed at the HIE Waikiki after our cruise early last month. Excellent staff, good room and breakfast.”
Read originalboards.cruisecritic.com - 1Best Hotel in Hawaii HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS WAIKIKI HOTELyoutube.comVideoDate not statedListened for quotes only7 quotes used
“the beds are a bit taller than usual I like that some people may not like it actually the kids or if you have kids it's probably harder to have a taller bed but then since it's just me it's pretty much comfortable”
Read originalyoutube.com - 2Detailed review & photos “Holiday Inn Express Waikiki”fishand.tipsReview siteDate not stated17 quotes used
“Next to the closet there was a microwave, a cafe corner and a fridge. I was happy about having a microwave in the room. It was nice because I could buy a boxed lunch at the convenience store in front of the hotel and war…”
Read originalfishand.tips
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