Castle Waikiki Grand Hotel

This LGBT-friendly hotel is perfect for
beach lovers since it's only one minute from the shore. The property itself was
built in the 1960s, but it’s clean and well-maintained (though you may
encounter roaches and beetles since this is an island). The facade
looks a bit like you're pulling up to a retro South Beach hotel in Miami, and
the lobby is bright and airy with lots of off-white marble and tropical prints. A Buddha statue is offset by wooden furnishings and a random
grand piano also makes an appearance. Hallways have painted frescoes of Diamond
Head, while stunning views of the real thing are available throughout the
property. At the quieter end of Waikiki, the feeling here is more subdued than
that found at other properties, but there are plenty of activities to be reached within
minutes.

Situated directly across the street from
Kapiolani Beach Park and the Honolulu Zoo, this property is also only half a block
from the beach and within walking distance of Diamond Head trails. Downtown
Honolulu is just a few miles away. In other words, this location is pretty
much a perfect starting point for exploring the area. Many other restaurants
and shops are within walking distance as well and Honolulu International Airport is
less than 20 minutes northwest by car. 

The rooms here are definitely showing their age,
even though many of the privately owned domiciles have been updated. The good
news is that guest units are generally kept clean; the bad news is that you
will also have to keep them that way yourself during your stay as there’s no daily maid service. (Depending
on what room you book, cleaning occurs typically about once every three days.) Room
decor is minimal and floors are predominantly tiled. The beds are
serviceable but not super comfy and the linens/coverlets are a bit cheap. The
bathrooms are small, but most have shower/tub combos (though some have showers
only) along with hairdryers. Rooms include free Wi-Fi but connections
are slow. Flat-screen TVs are also standard. Because these units aren’t
standardized, there’s significant variability in amenities: While all rooms
have microwaves, refrigerators, and coffeemakers, only some have full
kitchenettes, balconies, and gorgeous views. Stand-alone air-conditioning units
keep guests cool, but they can be noisy. And all rooms are old-school in
that you'll actually have to keep track of a key to get in.

This property does have a small pool but it
doesn't seem to get much use. Nor does it have enough sun loungers for guests.
However, there is a 10th-floor sundeck with views of Diamond Head
where sun worshipers hang out if they aren't at the beach. Multiple coin-operated
laundry machines make it possible for guests to pack light. There’s no free
parking at the hotel, and the "reserved" spaces underneath the
property are pricey and sometimes taken even when guests have supposedly paid for
the spot. Teddy's Bigger Burgers --
the on-site burger joint -- is very popular and was even voted "Hawaii's
Best Burger" for five years straight. The venue’s open for breakfast,
lunch, and dinner every day. On the second floor you'll find Hula's Bar &
Lei Stand, which happens to be one of the area's most fun gay bars. For those
staying in this LGBT-friendly domain, that makes for the shortest commute home
ever after a night of living it up