Holiday Inn Express Waikiki is one of the cheapest all-in stays in Waikiki: free hot breakfast for everyone in the room, a $33 daily fee that is low for the area, and self-parking at $49 + tax. It is worth booking if you want a budget base with a pool deck for the kids and you don’t mind walking about 12 minutes to the beach. Skip it if you want ocean views from a lanai, a quiet boutique feel or a beach you can see from the lobby. As of November 2026 the fee is $39.17 a night with tax, rising for bookings made from January 1, 2027.
Holiday Inn Express Waikiki: Verdict (November 2026)
- Best for: budget-minded families, groups and IHG One Rewards members who want free breakfast, a pool deck and a car they can self-park.
- Fixed extras: a $33 daily fee ($39.17 with Oahu’s 18.712% tax) and self-parking at $49 + tax ($51.31), first come, first served.
- Book before December 31, 2026: reservations made by then keep the $33 fee even for 2027 stays; later bookings pay $37 + tax ($43.92).
- Best room to book: a Partial Ocean View or Ocean View room, and ask for a high floor; the Deluxe Ocean View rooms sit on the 43rd floor of the 44-story tower.
- Pay more for the beach if: you want to be on the sand in two minutes. This hotel is at the Ewa end of Kuhio Avenue, about 0.7 mile from Waikiki Beach by the hotel’s count.
Compare Holiday Inn Express Waikiki With Nearby Hotels
Price, Amenity Fee, Parking and Tax in 2026
The hotel’s quick-facts page lists a daily service charge of $33 plus tax per room, per night, and its FAQ calls the same charge a Daily Amenity Fee. Oahu’s 18.712% lodging tax (11% state TAT, 3% Honolulu TAT and 4.712% GET) applies to it, so you pay $39.17 a night. Our Oahu hotel tax guide shows the math. Parking is taxed at the 4.712% GET only.
| Cost item | Amount (as of November 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Daily amenity fee | $33 + 18.712% tax = $39.17/night | Applies to reservations made on or before Dec 31, 2026 |
| Fee from 2027 | $37 + tax = $43.92/night | For reservations made from Jan 1, 2027 |
| Self-parking | $49 + tax = $51.31/day | Covered garage, in-and-out privileges, 179 spaces, 6 ft 3 in clearance, not guaranteed |
| Pets | $150 + tax (1–6 nights), $250 + tax (7+ nights) | Up to 2 pets under 50 lb each, in a pet-friendly room |
| Check-in / check-out | 3:00 PM / 12:00 PM | Minimum check-in age 21; noon check-out is an hour later than at many Waikiki hotels |
Source: Holiday Inn Express Waikiki quick-facts and FAQ pages, checked November 2026. Tax at 18.712% on the fee, 4.712% on parking.
What the $33 amenity fee includes
| Included item | Details from the hotel | How useful it is |
|---|---|---|
| Sky Deck access | Fifth-floor pool and jet spa, poolside cabanas, 9-hole mini putting green, table tennis, foosball and a game room with TVs and a Nintendo Switch | High for families: this is the hotel’s whole recreation area |
| Fitness center | Open 24 hours, overlooking the Sky Deck | Medium |
| Unlimited filtered water | Refill station in the lobby | Medium: bring a bottle |
| Golf rate | $180 per person at Kapolei Golf Club ($130 after 1:30 PM) | Only for golfers; the course is about 22 miles away |
| Dining discount | 15% off at the Kapolei Golf Club restaurant and Golf Shop and at Favorite Son | Low |
Source: Holiday Inn Express Waikiki quick-facts, FAQ and amenities pages, checked November 2026. Inclusions are subject to change.
Free Wi-Fi and beach towels (8 AM to 5 PM) are listed separately; beach chairs and parking are not part of the fee. At $39.17, the charge is well below what Hilton Garden Inn, Hyatt Place, Hyatt Regency or Hilton Hawaiian Village charge with tax ($49.86–$65.29); see our Waikiki resort fees list for every hotel.
Self-Parking Is Not Guaranteed
The garage has 179 spaces for a 600-room hotel, and the hotel says spaces are first come, first served and cannot be reserved. The clearance is only 6 ft 3 in, so tall vans and lifted SUVs will not fit. If you arrive late in the day with a rental car, have a backup: the front desk can point you to nearby garages.
The Free Breakfast
Every guest gets the complimentary hot breakfast buffet, served daily from 6:30 to 9:30 AM in The Great Room on the lobby level. The hotel lists pancakes, eggs, bacon, fresh fruit, pastries, juice and coffee, and it repeats the brand’s “kids eat free” line. Two practical details from the hotel’s pages: you need one breakfast voucher per person to enter, so make sure you have one for everyone in your party, and coffee is available 24/7 in the breakfast area.
- Crowds: Booking.com guest reviews often mention a busy breakfast room. With 600 rooms and a 9:30 AM cutoff, go early or late in the window.
- Indoors: unlike at Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach, where it is served by the pool, rain does not matter here.
- Value for families: a family of four skips 20 restaurant breakfasts over five nights, which is the single biggest saving this hotel offers.
To compare this breakfast with the alternatives, see our list of Waikiki hotels with free breakfast.
Rooms: What to Book and What to Expect
The hotel opened in 2017, after a $30 million renovation and rebranding of the former Maile Sky Court. At its opening it was billed as the largest Holiday Inn Express in the United States, with 596 rooms; the hotel now lists 600 rooms and suites on 44 floors, including 43 accessible rooms. It does not publish room sizes, and its room pages do not mention lanais, so don’t count on a balcony.
| Room type | Beds | View | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waikiki City View | King, two doubles or two queens | City | The usual entry-level room |
| Partial Ocean View | King or two queens; King suites available | Partial ocean | Microwave, mini-fridge, Keurig and a 50-inch TV |
| Ocean View | King or two doubles | Pacific Ocean | Best value if views matter |
| Deluxe Ocean View | King | Diamond Head and ocean | On the 43rd floor, with a wet bar and marble-topped bathroom |
| Ocean View King Corner Suite | King | Corner ocean view | Separate living area and a large wet bar |
Source: Holiday Inn Express Waikiki rooms and quick-facts pages, checked November 2026.
- In every room: microwave, compact fridge, Keurig coffee maker, in-room safe and free Wi-Fi.
- Families of four: ask for two queens, not two doubles. Double beds are narrower, and the hotel lists both setups in its city-view rooms.
- Groups: rooms do not connect. The hotel will try to place your rooms near each other.
- Housekeeping: limited daily service, with a full clean every three days.
- Common complaints: Booking.com reviews most often mention small rooms and slow elevators.
Sky Deck, Pool and Other Amenities
The fifth-floor Sky Deck is what sets this hotel apart from other budget picks. Besides the outdoor pool and jet spa (open 8 AM to 10 PM), it has a 9-hole mini putting green, outdoor table tennis, shuffleboard, foosball, a life-size chess set, cabanas, a game room and a snack-and-drinks bar. A 24-hour fitness center overlooks the deck. There is also self-service laundry on the third floor and a lobby market. HAWAIʻI Magazine readers ranked the hotel No. 8 among Oahu’s best-value hotels in the 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, after No. 7 for value and No. 10 for families in 2025.
Location and the Walk to the Beach
The hotel is at 2058 Kuhio Avenue, at the Ewa (western) end of Waikiki. The hotel lists Waikiki Beach at 0.7 mile, about a 12-minute walk, while Booking.com says about 9 minutes. On OpenStreetMap, Fort DeRussy Beach Park is roughly a third of a mile away in a straight line, but you walk around blocks, so plan with the hotel’s safer 12 minutes. Other distances from the hotel’s own guide: Royal Hawaiian Center 0.4 mile, Ala Moana Center 0.9 mile and the Honolulu Zoo 1.5 miles.
This end of Waikiki suits travelers with business at the Hawaii Convention Center, which the hotel describes as just steps away (its quick-facts page says 0.7 mile), and shoppers heading to Ala Moana. Our Kuhio vs Kalakaua guide explains the beach-for-price trade-off. The airport is about 8.5 miles away. There is no hotel shuttle; the hotel suggests SpeediShuttle (about $20 per person one way), and TheBus W Line costs $3.25 cash. Our airport-to-Waikiki guide compares every option.
IHG One Rewards: Points vs Cash
IHG prices Reward Nights dynamically, so there is no fixed points price to quote. Two rules shape the math. First, we found no published IHG policy waiving resort or amenity fees on Reward Nights, unlike Hyatt and Hilton, and Chase’s IHG card terms say cardmembers are responsible for mandatory resort fees where hotels charge them. Budget the $39.17 on points nights too. Second, Chase’s IHG One Rewards Credit Card gives the 4th Reward Night free on four-night points stays (Chase says the benefit will require $5,000 in yearly card spend from 2027).
| Illustrative example | Cash cost avoided (rate + 18.712% tax) | Points | Value per point |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200 rate vs 40,000 points, 1 night | $237.42 | 40,000 | 0.59¢ |
| $250 rate vs 40,000 points, 1 night | $296.78 | 40,000 | 0.74¢ |
| 4 nights at $200, 4th night free (3 × 40,000) | $949.68 | 120,000 | 0.79¢ |
Source: our calculation with Oahu’s 18.712% tax; points prices are hypothetical because IHG uses dynamic pricing. The fee is left out because you pay it with cash or points.
Our rule of thumb: redeem IHG points here only at about 0.6¢ each or better, usually with a high cash rate or the 4th night free. Otherwise pay cash.
5-Night Cost Example
A 5-night cash stay at an illustrative $200 nightly rate (not a quote; 2026 booking-site snapshots started at roughly $190–$215), before and after the 2027 fee increase:
| Line item (5 nights) | Booked by Dec 31, 2026 | Booked from Jan 1, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Room, 5 × $200 | $1,000.00 | $1,000.00 |
| 18.712% tax on the room | $187.10 | $187.10 |
| Amenity fee with tax | $195.85 (5 × $39.17) | $219.60 (5 × $43.92) |
| Total without a car | $1,382.95 | $1,406.70 |
| Self-parking with tax | $256.55 (5 × $51.31) | $256.55 |
| Total with a car every night | $1,639.50 | $1,663.25 |
| Breakfast for the whole room | $0 (included) | $0 (included) |
Source: fee and parking from the hotel’s quick-facts and FAQ pages, checked November 2026; tax at 18.712% on room and fee, 4.712% on parking. The nightly rate is illustrative.
For other hotels that keep the all-in cost low, see our ranking of cheap hotels in Waikiki.
Holiday Inn Express vs Hyatt Place vs Hilton Garden Inn
Three brand-name value hotels: two include breakfast, one has self-parking.
| Holiday Inn Express | Hyatt Place | Hilton Garden Inn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Ewa end of Waikiki (Kuhio Ave, near Fort DeRussy and the Convention Center) | Diamond Head end of Waikiki (Paoakalani Ave, near the Honolulu Zoo) | Central Waikiki (Kuhio Ave, across from International Market Place) |
| Price level | Budget | Mid-range | Mid-range |
| Best for | Budget-minded families, groups and IHG One Rewards members who want free breakfast and self-parking | Families and World of Hyatt members who want free breakfast and a quieter Diamond Head-end base near the beach | Hilton Honors members and couples who want a central, mid-priced base near International Market Place |
| Pool | 5th-floor Sky Deck pool and jet spa (8 AM-10 PM) | 3rd-floor outdoor pool and sun deck with fire pit (10 AM-10 PM) | Small 3rd-floor outdoor pool and sundeck with Shaka's pool bar |
| Beach access | About 0.7 mile (12-minute walk) to Waikiki Beach, per the hotel | About a 3-minute walk (one block) to Kuhio Beach, per the hotel | About a 5-minute walk (0.3 mile) through International Market Place to Waikiki Beach |
| Resort fee | $33 + 18.71% tax per night ($39.17/night total); $37 + tax ($43.92) for bookings made from Jan 1, 2027 | $42 destination fee + 18.71% tax per night ($49.86/night total) | $42 + 18.71% tax per night ($49.86/night total) |
| Parking | Self-parking $49/night + tax ($51.31), 6 ft 3 in clearance, not guaranteed; no valet listed by the hotel | Valet-only $60/night + tax ($62.83); oversized vehicles $80 + tax; no self-parking | Valet-only $58/night + tax ($78 oversized); no self-parking |
| Check-in / out | 3:00 PM / 12:00 PM | 3:00 PM / 11:00 AM (per booking sites; not published on the hotel's site) | 3:00 PM / 11:00 AM |
| Rates | Check rates | Check rates | Check rates |
To isolate the extras, here are 5 nights at the same $220 example rate at all three. Real rates differ by date, so this is not a quote.
| 5 nights, $220 example rate | Room + 18.712% tax | Daily fee + tax | Total without car | Parking for 5 nights | Breakfast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holiday Inn Express Waikiki | $1,305.85 | $195.85 | $1,501.70 | $256.55 (self) | Included, hot buffet indoors |
| Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach | $1,305.85 | $249.30 | $1,555.15 | $314.15 (valet) | Included, served by the pool |
| Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach | $1,305.85 | $249.30 | $1,555.15 | $303.65 (valet) | Extra |
Source: each hotel’s official fee and parking pages, checked November 2026; tax at 18.712% on room and fee, 4.712% on parking.
- Choose Holiday Inn Express for the lowest fixed extras, self-parking, the Sky Deck games and the noon check-out, and accept the longest walk to the beach.
- Choose Hyatt Place to be one block from Kuhio Beach with breakfast still included, and for larger Specialty rooms with sofa sleepers (Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach review).
- Choose Hilton Garden Inn for a central spot across from International Market Place and Hilton points, with beach-gear credits instead of breakfast (Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach review).
Is Holiday Inn Express Waikiki Worth It in 2026?
Yes, if you are a budget traveler who measures value by the total bill. With free breakfast for the whole room, one of the lower daily fees in Waikiki, self-parking and a Sky Deck that keeps kids busy, it beats most hotels on cost. What you give up is the beach on your doorstep, a lanai and a calm, small-hotel feel.
Pros
- Free hot breakfast buffet daily for every guest
- Low daily fee: $33 + tax ($39.17), locked in if you book by Dec 31, 2026
- Self-parking at $49 + tax, cheaper than most big-hotel garages in Waikiki
- Fifth-floor Sky Deck with pool, jet spa, putting green and game room
- Noon check-out and self-service laundry
Cons
- About 0.7 mile (12 minutes) to Waikiki Beach, per the hotel
- Room sizes not published; guests often call rooms small
- Busy breakfast room and slow elevators in a 600-room tower
- Parking not guaranteed and limited to 6 ft 3 in
Who should book, and who should skip
- Book it: budget families whose kids will use the Sky Deck; groups who need many rooms; road-trippers with a standard-height rental car; IHG One Rewards members; Convention Center visitors.
- Pay more for the beach instead: couples on a romantic trip; anyone who wants to roll out of bed onto the sand; travelers who need connecting rooms; guests who want a lanai or a quiet boutique hotel.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Holiday Inn Express Waikiki have a resort fee?
Yes. It charges a daily amenity fee of $33 plus tax, or $39.17 a night with Oahu’s 18.712% tax, as of November 2026. It covers the Sky Deck, the fitness center and filtered water, and it rises to $37 plus tax for reservations made from January 1, 2027.
Is breakfast free at Holiday Inn Express Waikiki?
Yes. A hot breakfast buffet is included for every guest, daily from 6:30 to 9:30 AM in The Great Room on the lobby level. Each person needs a breakfast voucher to enter.
How much is parking at Holiday Inn Express Waikiki?
Self-parking costs $49 plus tax per day ($51.31) with in-and-out privileges. The garage has 179 spaces, cannot be reserved and has a 6 ft 3 in height limit.
How far is Holiday Inn Express Waikiki from the beach?
About 0.7 mile, or roughly a 12-minute walk, according to the hotel. Booking.com lists about 9 minutes, and the nearest sand at Fort DeRussy Beach Park is closer than central Waikiki Beach.
Does Holiday Inn Express Waikiki have a pool?
Yes. An outdoor pool and jet spa on the fifth-floor Sky Deck are open 8 AM to 10 PM, and access is part of the daily amenity fee.
How we checked this guide
We checked this review in November 2026 against Holiday Inn Express Waikiki’s own quick-facts, FAQ, amenities, rooms and explore pages, the 2017 opening announcement, Chase’s IHG card page and OpenStreetMap for distances. Rates change daily and the prices here are examples, not live quotes. This review is research-based: we have not stayed at the hotel.
Sources
- Holiday Inn Express Waikiki: quick facts (fee, parking, check-in)
- Holiday Inn Express Waikiki: FAQ (amenity fee, 2027 increase, breakfast, laundry)
- Holiday Inn Express Waikiki: amenities and Sky Deck
- Holiday Inn Express Waikiki: rooms
- Holiday Inn Express Waikiki: explore page with distances
- Opening announcement: Holiday Inn Express Waikiki, the former Maile Sky Court (April 2017)
- Chase: IHG One Rewards credit card benefits and terms
Photo credits
- Photo: Frank Schulenburg / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Tony Webster / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Tony Webster / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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