Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Review: The Budget Way to Do Waikiki on Points
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BOTTOM LINE
The Sheraton Princess Kaiulani is the least expensive Marriott in the heart of Waikiki, which makes it one of the cheapest ways to earn and burn Bonvoy points a block from the sand. It is not beachfront and it is not a resort in the way the name suggests, but if you want a clean, central base and a low points rate, it does the job. Best for value-minded travelers who plan to spend their days out and about, not poolside.
I have stayed at almost every Marriott in Waikiki, and the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani is the one I keep coming back to when the goal is value. It sits one street back from Waikiki Beach, directly across from its sister property the Moana Surfrider, which turns out to matter more than you might think. On this trip I booked with Bonvoy points and came in as a Titanium Elite member, so I got a good look at what the loyalty perks actually deliver here.
This is a big, older property with two towers and around a thousand rooms, so it moves a lot of people. The location is the real draw, because you are steps from the International Market Place, dozens of restaurants, and a short walk to the beach. My take is simple: manage your expectations on the "resort" part and you will be pleasantly surprised.
Booking the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani
The reason to choose this hotel is the math. Among Waikiki Marriotts, the Princess Kaiulani consistently runs the lowest cash and points rates, often in the range of the 40,000s to 60,000s per night, which makes it one of the cheapest ways to both earn and redeem Bonvoy points in the neighborhood. If you are working toward elite status or trying to stretch a stash of points, that low rate does a lot of work. On my stay in the video, I paid under $200 a night in Waikiki during a very busy stretch for the hotel — for a two-double room with a little balcony looking out at the Moana Surfrider and the pool, I had no real complaints at that price. Just remember there is still a resort fee on top, so factor that into the math.
Plan for a daily resort fee in roughly the $35 to $50 range plus paid parking if you drive, so factor that into your comparison against a "free" award night elsewhere. Elite perks here include a continental to-go breakfast, possible room upgrades within availability, and late checkout when the hotel can offer it. Do not expect club-lounge access or big suite upgrades. The value is in the low base cost, not the luxury extras.
Best cards for booking
To get the most from a stay here, the cards I would reach for are the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, and the Amex Platinum.
Location
The Princess Kaiulani sits on Kaiulani Avenue, one block inland from Kalakaua Avenue and the beach. From Daniel K. Inouye International Airport you are looking at roughly a 25 to 40 minute drive depending on traffic, and a taxi or rideshare is the easy call if you are not renting a car. Once you are checked in, you really do not need a car for Waikiki itself, since everything is walkable.
What makes this spot work is that it is central without being on the water. The International Market Place is directly across the street, so shopping, a food hall, and a grocery run are all a two minute walk away. You are also within easy reach of the Royal Hawaiian Center, Duke's, and the beach path that runs the length of Waikiki.
One thing I always tell people is how easy this location makes the rest of Oahu. You can catch TheBus a couple of blocks away, grab a rideshare to Diamond Head or Hanauma Bay in minutes, and be back for dinner without any hassle. The property is named for Princess Kaiulani, whose family estate once stood nearby, and there is a nice sense of history to the street even though the building itself is modern.
Lobby and Check-In
The lobby here is functional rather than grand, which fits the property's positioning. It is a big hotel that processes a lot of arrivals, so it can feel busy at peak times, but the staff kept my check-in quick and friendly. Checking in as a Marriott Titanium, my recognition came as a nice view over the pool — this hotel does not really have suites, so I was not expecting a suite upgrade — plus free breakfast for two, which we took to-go from the Splash Bar each morning.
As a Titanium member I was recognized at the desk and assigned a room in the newer tower. Set your expectations to "solid, well-run city hotel" rather than "grand resort arrival" and the first impression lands just fine.
The Room
The property is split between the older Kaiulani Tower and the renovated Ainahau Tower, and where you land changes the experience quite a bit. As a Titanium member I was assigned a room in the newer tower, which felt fresh and comfortable with a refrigerator, premium bedding, and a private balcony. Rooms here run city or partial ocean views, and a true ocean view is the exception rather than the rule given the inland location.
The rooms are not large and they are not flashy, which fits the budget positioning. What I appreciated was that the newer tower rooms felt current and clean, not dated. If you get placed in the older tower and it feels tired, it is worth a polite call to the front desk to see what else is available.
A few practical notes. The refrigerator is a real plus for a Hawaii stay, since it lets you keep drinks, snacks, and leftovers from the market place across the street, which cuts your food spend over a week. Air conditioning is standard, the beds were comfortable, and the balcony is a nice place for morning coffee. Just know that a microwave and a rollaway bed each carry a daily charge, so ask before you assume they are free.
Pools and Amenities
Here is the part people get wrong. The Princess Kaiulani is not on the beach, and the name "Sheraton" plus "resort fee" can create the wrong picture. There is a pool on property, a fitness center, and the usual amenities, but this is a city hotel in resort clothing. If beachfront lounging is your priority, this is not your hotel. From my tour: the pool is genuinely small for a hotel of this size, the chairs were all claimed early in the morning, and the pool deck is easy to access directly from the street — there is no real gate keeping the general public out, which is worth knowing if quiet poolside relaxation is what you are after. On the plus side, the Splash Bar overlooks the pool and handles to-go food and morning coffee.
The clever workaround is the sister-property arrangement across the street. Guests can access beach chairs and services at the Moana Surfrider, though the good loungers are typically paid, so budget for that if you want a prime spot in the sand. The upside is that you get the beach experience of a far pricier hotel while paying the Princess Kaiulani rate. I used this on my stay and it made the "not beachfront" issue much easier to swallow.
The pool on property is fine for a quick dip or letting kids splash, but it is not a destination pool with slides or a swim-up bar. The fitness center covers the basics, and the fitness and yoga classes are folded into the resort fee, which is a small silver lining on that charge.
Food and Drink
On property you have casual dining and a coffee spot, and you are surrounded by some of the best food in Waikiki once you step outside the doors. The International Market Place food hall across the street alone could feed you for a week, and Kalakaua Avenue is lined with everything from ramen to steakhouses. I rarely ate at the hotel because the options nearby are so strong.
As a Titanium Elite, my breakfast benefit showed up as a continental grab-and-go rather than a full sit-down spread. It was a to-go bag with the basics, useful for getting out the door quickly but not a lavish buffet. If a big elite breakfast is a make-or-break perk for you, know that this property delivers a lighter version of it.
Coffee lovers will want to note that the food hall across the street opens early and has better options than most hotel lobbies. I got in the habit of grabbing my to-go breakfast, then walking over for a proper coffee before heading out. It sums up how this hotel works best: use the property for what it does well, and lean on the neighborhood for everything else. The sister-property network is the hidden perk here: the Moana Surfrider is directly across the street and the Royal Hawaiian is right next door, and you can charge purchases at both back to your room. And while the hotel dates to the 1960s, I think they have done a great job renovating it — the lobby even used to feature an open-air aviary, though the birds appear to have moved on.
Service
Service here is efficient and friendly rather than white-glove, which is the right level for the price. The front desk handled my requests without fuss, and the staff were helpful with directions and local tips.
This is a high-volume hotel, so do not expect the personalized recognition of a small luxury property. What you get is a reliable, professional operation that keeps a big building running smoothly, and for a value stay that is exactly what matters.
Who Should Stay Here
Great fit if
Look elsewhere if
You want the cheapest Marriott points rate in central Waikiki
Your vacation is really about the pool and the sand outside your door
You plan to spend your days out exploring the island
You want a beachfront setting and big-resort amenities
You are earning or burning Bonvoy points and value a central address
You expect club-lounge access or large suite upgrades
✈️ WORK WITH ME
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani on the beach?
No. It sits one street back from Waikiki Beach on Kaiulani Avenue. You can reach the sand in a short walk, and guests can use beach services at the neighboring Moana Surfrider, though the prime chairs are usually paid.
How much are Marriott points per night here?
Rates move with demand, but the Princess Kaiulani is consistently among the lowest points redemptions of any Marriott in Waikiki, often in the range of the 40,000s to 60,000s per night. That low rate is the main reason to book it on points.
Is there a resort fee?
Yes, there is a mandatory daily resort fee in roughly the $35 to $50 range, and parking is extra if you drive. Factor that into any comparison with a nearby award night before you decide.
What do Marriott elite members get?
Expect a continental to-go breakfast, room upgrades within availability, and late checkout when the hotel can accommodate it. There is no club lounge, and big suite upgrades are unlikely at this property.
Which tower should I request?
Ask for the renovated Ainahau Tower for fresher rooms, and pay up for a higher floor if you want a partial ocean view. The older tower can feel dated, so it is worth a polite request at check-in. For reference, we drew room 420 — right next to the elevator, on the small side, and with a tiny bathroom that clearly had not been renovated (the full-size mirror was its best feature). If you are noise-sensitive, asking for a room away from the elevator bank is a smart move here.
Who should stay here?
Value travelers who want a central Waikiki base, people earning or burning Bonvoy points, and anyone who plans to spend their days exploring rather than at the pool. Beach-focused travelers should look at a beachfront property instead.
Bottom Line
The Sheraton Princess Kaiulani is not trying to be a luxury resort, and once you accept that, it becomes an easy recommendation for the right traveler. You are buying location and a low points rate, and you are getting a clean, comfortable room a block from one of the best beaches in the world. The beach workaround through the Moana Surfrider softens the biggest downside, and the elite perks, while modest, are a nice bonus on top of an already cheap night.
If your Waikiki trip is about doing things and stretching your points, put this hotel on your short list. If it is about pure beach-resort indulgence, spend a little more and go beachfront. Either way, know what you are booking and you will come away happy.
