Patrick Winston's Waikiki Condos

Description:

• Looking for a condo priced to fit a tight budget, with a hefty dose of old-fashioned aloha? Try Patrick Winston's rentals, located on a quiet side street. When this five-story condominium hotel was built in 1981, Winston bought one unit; he has since acquired 24 more, spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on refurbishment, and put his spacious suites on the market at frugal prices. Staying here is like having a personal concierge; Winston has lots of terrific tips on where to eat, where to shop, and how to get the most for your money, and he can book any activity you want.

  Three types of units are available: standard/budget rooms, one-bedroom suites, and ground-floor junior business suites. All have sofa beds, separate bedrooms, lanais with breakfast table and chairs, ceiling fans, full kitchens, and showers in the bathrooms; most have a washer and dryer. All are individually decorated. Eight units are "standard budget," which means the carpet has not been replaced or the walls need repainting, but they're otherwise a terrific deal. Waikiki Beach is just a 10- to 15-minute walk away, shopping is half-block away, and restaurants are within a 5- to 10-minute walk. This area of Waikiki is a little scary at night -- not totally safe for a single woman to be wandering about by herself. Also be aware there is no maid service (you are the maid) and that a one-time cleaning fee increases your total bill by $60.

• © Frommer's 2013