If you have ever booked a Waikiki vacation rental, you know the secret: parking in Waikiki is brutal. Most condos charge $35 to $50 per night for valet, and street parking is essentially nonexistent. For a 5-night stay, that is $175 to $250 in parking alone — money that should be funding shave ice and plate lunches, not a concrete garage.
Why parking matters in Waikiki
Waikiki is dense, popular, and built on a narrow strip of land between the ocean and the Ala Wai Canal. The hotels and condos were designed for guests who arrive by taxi from the airport and never need a car. But if you want to actually explore Oahu — drive to the North Shore for shrimp trucks and big surf, visit Diamond Head Crater, hike Manoa Falls, or just escape the tourist strip for a local meal in Kaimuki — you will want a rental car. And once you have one, you need somewhere affordable to put it overnight.
Our pick: Ilikai 1707
Our Ilikai 1707 condo is a 17th-floor one-bedroom on the cooler, quieter side of the Ilikai building — and the nightly rate includes one secured parking spot in the building garage. That saves you approximately $45 per night compared to renting parking separately, which adds up fast:
| Stay Length | Parking Elsewhere | Parking at Ilikai 1707 | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 nights | $135 | Included | $135 |
| 5 nights | $225 | Included | $225 |
| 7 nights | $315 | Included | $315 |
| 10 nights | $450 | Included | $450 |
The condo sleeps 4 (king memory-foam bed plus a double pull-out sofa), has a full kitchen with all the cooking essentials, and opens onto a 120 sq ft private lanai with mountain views. The Ilikai has a large resort pool, and Duke Kahanamoku Beach is a 3-minute walk. On Friday evenings, the Hilton Hawaiian Village fireworks launch right next door at 7:45 p.m.
How Much You Actually Save Booking Direct
Airbnb and VRBO charge guests a service fee of 14 to 20 percent on top of the nightly rate. On a $200/night condo over 7 nights, that is $200 to $280 in fees alone — before you even factor in parking. Here is how the numbers compare:
🏡 Book Direct with QTStay — Save Up to 25% + Free Welcome Gift
City view, free parking included, steps from Waikiki Beach. View the Ilikai 1707 — Waikiki →
Reserve Direct — No OTA Fees ↗| Booking Method | 7 Nights at $200/night | OTA Service Fee (~17%) | Parking (7 nights) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbnb / VRBO | $1,400 | $238 | $315 | $1,953 |
| QTStay Direct | $1,400 | $0 | $0 (included) | $1,400 |
| Savings | $553 |
That is over $500 back in your pocket for the same condo, the same host, the same welcome gift. Book direct here.
What Is Walkable from Ilikai 1707
The Ilikai sits at the quieter western end of Waikiki, steps from the Ala Moana end of the beach strip. Within easy walking distance:
- Duke Kahanamoku Beach and Lagoon — 3 minutes on foot, calmer water than the main Waikiki strip
- Fort DeRussy Beach Park — a wide, uncrowded stretch of beach with free public access
- Waikiki Beach Walk — open-air shopping and dining promenade
- Hilton Hawaiian Village — pools, restaurants, Friday fireworks at 7:45 p.m.
- Ala Moana Center — 15-minute walk to Hawaii’s largest shopping mall and the excellent Ala Moana Beach Park
- Don Quijote (24-hour grocery) — nearby for affordable groceries, snacks, and local finds
Day Trips Worth the Drive
With free parking at the Ilikai, renting a car just for driving days makes real financial sense. Here are the best Oahu day trips from Waikiki:
North Shore — about 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic. Home to Haleiwa town, famous shrimp trucks (Giovanni’s is the classic), Waimea Bay, and in winter, the world’s biggest rideable surf at Pipeline and Sunset Beach. Go in the morning to beat the traffic.
Diamond Head Crater — only 10 minutes from Waikiki. The 1.6-mile round-trip hike to the summit rim takes about 45 minutes and delivers panoramic views of the south shore. Arrive early (before 8 a.m.) to beat the crowds and the heat. Parking reservations required — book at the Hawaii DLNR website.
Manoa Falls — 20 minutes from Waikiki through lush residential Manoa Valley. An easy 1.7-mile round-trip hike through tropical rainforest ends at a 150-foot waterfall. Muddy but beautiful. Wear shoes you do not mind getting dirty.
Lanikai Beach and Kailua — 40 minutes on the windward side of the island. Lanikai is consistently rated one of the most beautiful beaches in the world — pale turquoise water, fine white sand, two offshore Mokulua Islands. Kailua town has excellent cafes and boutiques. Drive early, as Lanikai has very limited public parking.
Pearl Harbor National Memorial — 30 minutes from Waikiki. The USS Arizona Memorial requires a timed entry reservation (book far in advance at recreation.gov). The Battleship Missouri and Pacific Aviation Museum are nearby and equally moving.
Getting Around Without a Car
Not every day requires a car. Waikiki is very walkable within its own strip, and TheBus — Oahu’s public transit system — is surprisingly good. Route 20 runs from Waikiki to downtown Honolulu and Chinatown. The A Line (City Express A) connects Waikiki to Ala Moana Center, downtown, and Pearl Harbor for $3 per ride. Rideshare apps (Uber and Lyft both operate extensively on Oahu) are practical for shorter trips.
Tips for Renting a Car on Oahu
- Book as early as possible — Oahu rental car inventory sells out, especially in peak season (December through February, and June through August).
- Consider economy or compact — Waikiki streets and the Ilikai garage are tight.
- Use your condo parking as base and only take the car on driving days.
- Fill up before returning — airport rental return areas have the most expensive gas on the island.
- Check your credit card for rental car insurance coverage before paying for the rental company’s collision waiver.
Best Time to Visit Waikiki
Waikiki has two seasons: summer (May through September), which is drier, hotter, and more crowded; and winter (October through April), which brings more rain but also the famous big surf on the North Shore and better whale watching in the channel. The sweet spot for most visitors is April to May or September to October — shoulder seasons with good weather, lower prices, and smaller crowds. December through February is peak season (and peak prices) due to the winter escape crowd from the mainland.
Book direct and save more
When you book Ilikai 1707 direct through QTStay, you skip Airbnb guest service fees, receive a free welcome gift, and can save an additional 3 percent when paying via Zelle, Venmo, or PayPal. Combined with the included parking, you are looking at hundreds of dollars in savings compared to booking the same property on an OTA.