With 1,695 rooms (!!!!), the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel is the largest structure in Waikiki. And it's a classic example of the kinds of traps that await unsuspecting travelers expecting Hawaii paradise. The Expedia description notes that hotel rooms are undergoing renovation and will be completed at the end of 2006. (The description also notes as an "insider tip" that the hotel is next to the main departure point for tour buses -- that would be a massive parking garage next door). Any note about renovations should be a massive red-flag. Old rooms in the Sheraton are more like

ancient, with painfully dated decor, ratty carpets and ugly bathrooms. (Note the bizarre divergence of TripAdvisor reviews). The newer rooms, which I've seen firsthand, are quite nice. They skip the heavy-handed tropical accents (gee, another floral print polyester bedspread?) in favor of more stylish neutral tones and extremely comfortable beds. So caveat emptor. Make sure to insist on a newer room and ask if there will be ongoing construction on your floor. As for the beachfront status of the Sheraton? Well, there's a tiny pocket beach off the corner of the hotel that's not appropriate for young children (too rough and too deep). The nearest kid-friendly beach is next door in front of the truly iconic Royal Hawaiian Hotel, which could easily be a 15-minute walk from you room. It is a wonderful beach. And the Sheraton is not a bad property. We love the Hanohano Room which sits 30 stories up, has a great menu, divine views, and a martini menu that will lead you to ruin. The Sheraton is in a dynamite location and totally convenient. The new rooms are sublime compare to most of the rooms in Waikiki. So your mileage at this hotel may vary considerably from room to room. We'll do more of this going forward as we suss out Waikiki and other hotel areas in Hawaii for you.

—Alex, 07/03/06