Its hard to get a bad room here. Theres a saying on the Waikiki strip that lots of hotels have great views of the Sheraton, but Sheraton guests have views of the beach and Diamond Head all to themselves; a whopping 1,200 rooms have some sort of ocean view, and 650 rooms overlook Diamond Head. The rooms are large, with big lanais to take in those magnificent views; other amenities include minibars (if you want to store your own food and drinks, call housekeeping to clear it out), safes, and coffeemakers.

For the budget-conscious, the Sheraton Manor Hotel occupies a separate adjacent wing and offers all the services and beachfront of the main hotel. The views arent the best--overlooking the porte-cochère--and the air-conditioned rooms are small (two people, max) and modestly appointed (no lanai).

Dining/Diversions: Restaurants range from the open-air Ocean Terrace for casual buffet meals to the glamorous Hanohano Room for gourmet dining in a spectacular setting (take the glass elevator just for the view). Theres a nightclub for dancing, drinks, and entertainment, and the pool area features snack counters and a bar.

Amenities: Sheraton is the "king" of amenities, with 24-hour room service, concierge, coin-operated laundry, 20 shops, multilingual staff, business center, fitness center, and two freshwater pools--including one of the biggest and sunniest pools along the Waikiki beachfront. Free kids' programs include a candy lei on arrival, plus activities ranging from catamaran sailing to nightly movies; activities for those over 12 include free cooking demonstrations, Hawaiian arts and crafts, complimentary fun runs, aerobics classes, and a historic walk of Waikiki. You "play and charge" at Waikiki's other Sheraton hotels as well as at the Makaha Golf Club's golf and tennis facilities.