Sheraton Waikiki Review: A $200 Million Beachfront Reset
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BOTTOM LINE
The Sheraton Waikiki is a massive beachfront resort that just came out of a $200 million room renovation, and it has become one of my favorite Marriotts in Hawaii. The standout is the pool deck, with an award-winning adults-only infinity pool right over the sand; the catch is the scale, since a 1,600-room property never feels intimate. I booked with Bonvoy points and scored a big suite upgrade as a Platinum member, so it is a strong pick for travelers who want a true beachfront resort with real points value and elite upside.
I have cycled through most of the big-name hotels on Waikiki Beach, and the Sheraton Waikiki is the one that surprised me most on my last stay. It is a giant, 31-story property with more than 1,600 rooms, and until recently that scale could feel a little dated. Then the resort finished a multi-year, $200 million renovation of every room and suite, and the whole place feels current again. I booked with Bonvoy points, arrived as a Platinum Elite, and walked away impressed.
The two things that make this resort stand out are its location and its pools. You are directly on Waikiki Beach with Diamond Head views, and the pool deck includes an adults-only infinity pool that regularly lands on best-in-the-country lists. Add a generous elite upgrade to the mix and you have a stay that punches above its price. Here is the full rundown on rooms, pools, dining, and how to book it right.
Booking the Sheraton Waikiki
The Sheraton Waikiki is a strong points redemption for a beachfront Waikiki resort, with award nights often landing in the range of the 60,000s to low 90,000s in Bonvoy points depending on the season. When you compare that to peak cash rates that can run several hundred dollars a night plus tax and fees, the points value is easy to see. I booked on points and felt the redemption was well worth it, especially with the suite upgrade on top. My exact numbers from the video: I paid 47,000 points a night, combining a 35,000-point certificate from one of my Marriott Amex cards topped off with Bonvoy points, versus a cash rate of about $475 a night including tax. The catch is the $50-plus-tax nightly resort fee, which you still pay on award stays even as a Platinum member — honestly the most annoying aspect of the Bonvoy program for me. Hate paying $50 for a free night, but the math still worked out well.
Plan for a daily resort fee in roughly the $50 range plus paid parking if you drive, so build that into your comparison. Elite benefits I saw as a Platinum included the suite upgrade, complimentary breakfast or a food-and-beverage credit depending on how the program is running, and late checkout on request. If you carry Bonvoy status, this is one of the better Waikiki properties to use it at. To set expectations from my stay: the Platinum breakfast works via a little certificate you hand the waiter, and it covers the continental spread — which, candidly, does not have a lot going on. You can pay to upgrade to the full menu at a small discount, but I found the upgrade price a bit steep for what you actually get.
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, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, and The Platinum Card from American Express.
Location
The Sheraton Waikiki sits beachfront in the center of Waikiki, right next door to its famous sister property the Royal Hawaiian. From the airport you are looking at roughly a 25 to 40 minute drive depending on traffic, and rideshare is the simplest option if you are skipping a rental car. Once you arrive, you are in the middle of everything with the beach at your doorstep.
Because it shares grounds with the Royal Hawaiian, you get access to the Royal Hawaiian Center's shops and restaurants just behind the property. The beach path runs both directions from here, so a morning walk toward Diamond Head or down to the Hilton lagoon is easy. For a resort this large, the walkability of the surrounding area is a real plus. As I mention in the video, the Ala Moana shopping center is a short walk away and is probably the highest-end shopping in the area, with a genuinely great food court — including Tim Ho Wan on the third floor, the Michelin-starred dim sum spot from Hong Kong that I think is absolutely fantastic — plus a luau-style show on the top floor in the evenings. Closer to home, there is a Honolulu Coffee Company right at the main valet for your morning cup.
The other advantage of the central location is how easy day trips become. You can be at Diamond Head for a sunrise hike, out to the North Shore for the day, or over at Pearl Harbor and back without much planning, since you are starting from the middle of Waikiki. If you are not renting a car, rideshares and tour pickups are simple from a property this well known. I like a base that lets me choose between doing nothing at the pool and doing everything on the island, and this one gives you both.
Lobby and Check-In
For a property this size, arrival is smoother than you might expect. The lobby is open to the ocean breeze, and even with the volume of guests moving through, check-in moved quickly and my Platinum status was recognized right away. That recognition set up the suite upgrade that followed. Specifically, I burned Suite Night Awards that were expiring at the end of the year — they can be really hard to use, but I have had decent luck on midweek one-night stays, and that is how I lucked into this one. The suite was huge, oceanfront, on one of the top floors of the 31-story tower, with the ocean out one side and mountain views from the corner — and since all 1,631 rooms were refreshed in the $200 million renovation, it felt brand new. That matters in Waikiki, where rooms turn over Vegas-style and get worn quickly.
A resort with more than 1,600 rooms could easily feel like an airport terminal, but the layout keeps the flow moving and the beach is visible almost as soon as you walk in. Take a minute to note where the two pools and the beach access sit relative to your tower, and the size stops being a hassle.
The Room
Every one of the resort's 1,636 rooms and suites was reworked in the renovation, and the difference shows. The new rooms feel clean and modern, with smart storage, refreshed bathrooms, and washlets added throughout. A large share of the rooms face the ocean, and a high-floor ocean view here is one of the best in Waikiki thanks to the building's height and beachfront position.
As a Bonvoy Platinum member I received a significant suite upgrade on this stay, which is not something I take for granted at a resort this in-demand. The extra space and the ocean-facing view turned a good stay into a memorable one. Upgrades always depend on availability, so I would not book expecting a suite, but the fact that it happened here as a Platinum tells you the property treats its elites well.
If you are choosing a room to book rather than counting on an upgrade, my advice is to weigh the ocean-view categories seriously. The building's height and beachfront position mean a high floor gives you a sweeping view down the coast to Diamond Head that is hard to match in Waikiki. For a family, connecting rooms and larger layouts are available, which makes this a workable option for a group.
Pools and Amenities
The pool deck is the signature feature and the reason a lot of people book. The adults-only Edge infinity pool is billed as one of the longest infinity pools in North America, and it hangs right over the beach with an open view of the Pacific. Sitting there at sunset with a drink from the adjacent Edge of Waikiki bar is one of those quintessential Waikiki moments.
Families are covered by the Helumoa Playground pool, which has a slide, a fountain, and water features to keep kids busy. The resort's pools have repeatedly ranked among the best hotel pools in the country, and after a day there I understand why. Beyond the water you get direct beach access, a fitness center, and the usual resort services. A detail from my tour worth knowing: there are actually two pools — the infinity pool is reserved for Sheraton guests, while the activity pool with the slide and hot tubs is shared with the Royal Hawaiian next door, so you get access to both. Even during a busy holiday stretch I could walk up mid-morning and find a chair, and everything sits right on top of the elevators, so you can pop down in your swimsuit and be back upstairs in minutes. There is something about having a drink in your hand in that infinity pool overlooking the Pacific that is just super special — though note that, like most Waikiki hotels, beach chairs on the sand are not included despite the resort fee. Some quirks and perks from the video: the ukulele store on the shop level actually offers free ukulele lessons as part of your resort fee, and there is a lounge with pool tables, shuffleboard, and family games that gets lively at night. Platinum and above members get a little gift bag at the store — anything you can fit inside without ripping or overfilling it is free, and I happily stuffed mine with drinks from the fridge. The fourth-floor fitness center is a fairly dark, view-free room, but it has plenty of machines, and the sheer bank of elevators is astonishing — you just press one button and the next car shows up.
What I appreciate about having two distinct pools is that adults and families do not have to compete for the same space. If you want quiet, the adults-only infinity pool delivers it, and if you have kids burning energy, the Helumoa Playground is a separate world. The beach directly in front is a good swimming and sunset-watching stretch, with catamaran cruises and surf lessons easy to arrange nearby. Between the two pools and the sand, you could fill several days without ever leaving the property.
Food and Drink
The Sheraton Waikiki has a solid lineup of on-site restaurants and bars, from beachfront dining to the pool-bar scene at the Edge of Waikiki. The revamped cocktail menu at the pool bar leans into Hawaii surf culture and is a fun way to spend a late afternoon. You also have quick coffee and casual options for grabbing something before you head out.
Because you are in the middle of Waikiki, the off-property dining is limitless, with the Royal Hawaiian Center and Kalakaua Avenue restaurants just steps away. I tend to mix a couple of on-site meals with plenty of exploring, and the location makes that easy. You will never struggle to find a good meal from this base.
For a special dinner, the beachfront restaurants here put you right over the sand with the sunset as the backdrop, which is worth doing at least once during a stay. If you would rather keep it casual, grabbing a plate to eat by the pool or on your lanai works just as well. The range from grab-and-go to sit-down oceanfront covers every kind of day.
Service
Service held up well for a resort of this scale. The staff recognized my Platinum status, followed through on the suite upgrade and late checkout, and handled requests without the runaround you sometimes get at a mega-resort. That consistency is a big part of why I rate it above other properties this size.
The front desk and pool staff in particular struck the right balance of efficient and friendly. When you are one of several thousand guests, that kind of attention is not guaranteed, so it counts for a lot here. If you hold Bonvoy status, a friendly note at check-in goes a long way.
Who Should Stay Here
Great fit if
Look elsewhere if
You want a true beachfront resort in the center of Waikiki
You want a small, intimate, boutique-style hotel
You have Bonvoy points or status to put to work
You do not collect Marriott points and would pay cash regardless
You love a standout pool deck and want both adult and family pools
Big, busy resorts with lots of guests are not your thing
You want the beach-resort feel without Luxury Collection pricing
You would rather avoid a resort fee and paid parking
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Sheraton Waikiki on the beach?
Yes. It is a true beachfront resort in the center of Waikiki, right next to the Royal Hawaiian, with direct access to the sand and strong Diamond Head views from higher floors.
What did the $200 million renovation cover?
The renovation reworked all 1,636 rooms and suites along with hallways, function spaces, and retail areas. Rooms got refreshed bathrooms, added washlets, and better storage, and the whole property feels current again.
Tell me about the pools.
There are two headline pools: the adults-only Edge infinity pool, one of the longest in North America, and the family-friendly Helumoa Playground pool with a slide and water features. Both have ranked among the best hotel pools in the country.
How many points is the Sheraton Waikiki per night?
Award rates vary with demand but often fall in the range of the 60,000s to low 90,000s in Bonvoy points. Against peak cash rates of several hundred dollars plus fees, the points value is usually strong.
Will I get an upgrade as a Bonvoy elite?
Upgrades depend on availability, but this property treats elites well. I received a significant suite upgrade as a Platinum member, along with breakfast or a credit and late checkout on request.
Is there a resort fee?
Yes, plan for a daily resort fee in roughly the $50 range, and parking is extra if you drive. Include those costs when you compare an award night here against other options.
Bottom Line
The Sheraton Waikiki went from a solid-but-aging beachfront giant to one of my favorite Marriott stays in Hawaii, and the renovation is the reason. You get a real beachfront setting, two of the best pools in Waikiki, and points value that holds up well against sky-high cash rates. Layer in a real shot at an elite upgrade and it is hard to argue with the overall package.
If you want the Waikiki beach-resort experience without stepping up to Luxury Collection pricing, this is my pick on points. Book a high floor if you can, request an ocean view, and give yourself an afternoon at the Edge pool. It is the kind of stay that makes the whole trip.
