The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach

Went here past November and I felt like I got the true Ritz Carlton experience from arrival to checkout. The staff was tremendous, room was amazing, and the distance to the beach is just a short walk away. With so many stores nearby, the walk didn't feel long at all. Looking forward to returning the next time I find myself in Waikiki.

We had to check into this hotel for 20 days because we were “in between homes” and they made us feel relaxed and welcomed during a difficult transition. They really went out of their way to help us out. The suites are spacious and ours had two full bathes. Our lanai was huge and faced the ocean and the Friday night fireworks. There are two pools one for the family and one for adults only. We used it as much as we could. The location is great too. Very walkable to restaurants and shopping. There was a great little market underneath too that allowed us to get cheap delicious dinners and ingredients to cook in our little kitchen. The hotel even provided us with a rice cooker upon request. We really liked that they had an in-unit washer dryer too. Really helped us during our stay. We enjoyed talking to all of the folks that worked there. Even the pianist at the restaurant chatted us up. He was funny and kind. My only critique is that the restaurants on site and mandatory valet parking is a bit insanely expensive. After 20 days it really got expensive to park 2 cars. Inside the room, we felt they could have offered more options on the TV besides Netflix but then again it is fine for a short stay. The shower was the one thing I kind of didn’t understand. It was one of those wet rooms and the shower grout kind of grossed me out at times but they always came and cleaned as much as we requested. They are also pet friendly so we really really appreciated it. Special thanks to Noe and Tyler. We love you guys and will definitely recommend you to anyone that is looking for a hotel in Waikiki.

This stay was part of our year-end vacation. There were two families with 8 of us travel together. We had a very good and enjoyable stay at this property. The facility and service are both top notch. Location of this property is walking distance to a variety of shopping centers and restaurants. We took advantage of the grocery credit given to stock up enough for breakfast for the duration of our stay. Special thanks to the front desk manager Sarah Lorenzo. Initially 8 of us were given 5 rooms on 3 different floors. Sarah was able to help us optimize our room counts down to 4 (but with a larger suite) on 2 different floors. In the process, she was able to help us cancel one room and adjust another room (from 1-bedroom to 2-bedroom). This made our stay much more comfortable.

This property is more like a glorified Marriott than a 5 star hotel. First and foremost it is packed with children so if you are looking for a couple's retreat, this isn't it. The AC in our suite didn't work properly and the "stand alone bathtub" only fit someone 5 ft 8 or shorter, it was laughably small and should not be marketed as an amenity. Room service was nothing special, the restaurant was expensive and average. Worst of all is the noise from outside. Locals "cruise" the street in front of the ocean facing units and the "sound proofed" windows are not that at all, we heard the revving of engines and loud music 21 floors above until the wee hours.

I just returned from a three-night stay at the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach and came away very impressed. I was not quite sure what to expect since this is a residences property rather than a traditional hotel, but in hindsight I actually preferred this format. The extra space, residential feel, and overall comfort made the stay feel more relaxed and elevated. I originally planned to book the entry-level suite but decided to upgrade to a Grand Ocean View Suite based on the photos on the hotel’s website. When I checked in and reached my room, something felt off. After reviewing the website photos again, the suite I was placed in looked identical to what was shown as a standard suite. Thankfully, I returned to the front desk and the team handled it very well. They moved me to a different suite in another tower that matched exactly what I had booked and what was shown online. Interestingly, they mentioned the original room was also categorized as a Grand Ocean View Suite, though it clearly looked different from the website images. My advice to future guests is simple, pay close attention to the room category and compare it carefully with the photos and description to ensure you receive what you expect. Service throughout the stay was outstanding. Every interaction, from valet to concierge to front desk to pool staff, was warm and professional. Housekeeping was especially impressive. I rarely saw them, yet the room was always perfectly maintained, and the thoughtful touches, like leaving an eyeglass cleaning cloth for my reading glasses, really stood out. The pools are somewhat small, but perfectly adequate for a Waikiki property. I rented two side-by-side cabanas and was very pleased with both the service and the value. Immediately after this stay, I flew to Maui and spent five nights at the Grand Wailea, where cabanas were three to four times the price of a single cabana at the Ritz-Carlton Waikiki, making the value here even more noticeable. While Oahu has always been my least favorite Hawaiian island due to the urban feel of Waikiki, the overall experience at this property, especially the value of the cabanas and quality of service, has made me reconsider how I plan future Hawaii trips. I will very likely include the Ritz-Carlton Residences Waikiki again, even if it means fewer nights on another island. Highly recommended.