The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, Waikiki

I would like to express our sincere gratitude for the truly wonderful stay and the exceptional hospitality extended to us during our visit.

When choosing a hotel it is really important to know what you need from it. This hotel was perfect for us because what we needed was a room that was clean and safe with a comfortable bed in a great location. This hotel fit the bill. We were warmly received at check in and the process was seamless. We had booked a package through Costco which included all of our fees so there were no surprises. Instead of plastic room key cards we were given pink wristbands, which I loved having. No matter if you are going to the beach, or just walking to dinner, it makes keeping the room key very handy. The first night we arrived we shared appetizers at the Mai Tai bar and enjoyed the live music. The umbrellas were well placed together so even though it started raining we did not get wet. Our room was in the main building. They gave us insulated refillable water bottles and the water station and ice machine were right down the hall. We would fill them each day before heading out for our activities. This hotel is connected to the Royal Hawaiian shopping center and it was very convenient to walk to dinner and shop. We loved being able to walk to so many places. We also enjoyed walking around the historic hotel and reading through the artifacts in the little mini museum. Yes, this is a historic hotel and the rooms are small, but we were not there to stay in the room. We grabbed coffee and sausage rolls from the bakery each morning on our way out and we greatly enjoyed our stay.

There is so much here to unpack. This hotel is anything but Luxury. It is MAYBE a Courtyard Marriott type of place at best, but not a Luxury Collection. First and foremost, there is no room services here whatsoever. They stopped providing room service after the pandemic. WHAT? How is that luxury? Any hotel that starts their room rates at $700 a night should at a minimum provide room service during day hours. There are no coffee shops, convenience stores, or lobby bar onsite, so if you run out of water or snacks, you will be forced to door dash. The "bakery" they have onsite, is only open for a couple of hours in the morning, so do not rely on that. The Mai Tai bar and Azure restaurant are outside the hotel right on the beach, and they are always overcrowded and overwhelmed, so do not count on that either. I will give them the prime location and kind hotel staff, but none if it justifies $1000 dollar rooms at what is a VERY old and tired property, in need of a complete remodel. The rooms are old and small, the bathrooms are tiny and outdated, and the lobby desperately needs air conditioning. The gym is filthy with sweat stains on treadmill and bike screens that do not get wiped down daily. Due to this being an ancient property, the valet driveway is very old and narrow, and cars are piled on top of each other. I think the worst part of this hotel though, is the Mai Tai bar and Azure restaurant. They are extremely overcrowded and the staff looks annoyed and pissed off. Service is super slow, if any. While we were there, one Thursday the bar completely closed and we were stuck on the beach with no water or food. We purchased the beach chairs at $75 a set and could not leave even if we wanted to. AGAIN, for $1000 a night hotel, you expect better. You expect some sort of amenities and service. I don't know what Marriott is thinking by classifying this place as Luxury, but trust me it is not. It got so bad, that we decided to just leave early and move to the Ritz Carlton Turtle Bay, which was also $1,000 per night, but was an incredibly luxurious place. I really encourage you to not buy into the hype of the "history" and location of this place and go to an outrigger next door which will cost you $200 and you will get more.

The hotel provides no meaningful advance notice of the construction, nor are guests properly informed at check-in. Major construction work is currently taking place on the top two floors of the tower, seriously compromising what guests reasonably expect from a stay at a luxury Marriott property. Guests pay a substantial premium for a standard Marriott room with a balcony and a view, yet the balcony is effectively unusable because of the constant, extremely loud drilling. The surrounding pool areas are similarly difficult to enjoy due to the noise. Construction crews and equipment are also regularly present in the elevators—hardly the experience one would associate with a luxury hotel. The accompanying photographs speak for themselves. Given the extent of the disruption and the significant impact on the facilities and experience for which guests have paid, the hotel should be making appropriate arrangements for affected guests, whether through substantially reduced room rates or meaningful compensation that reflects the level of inconvenience endured. At a minimum, guests deserve to be told about this work before arrival so they can make an informed decision about whether the hotel represents reasonable value during the construction period.

Hands down my favorite hotel experience anywhere. Hard to put into words how beautiful this property is. It’s a destination unto itself. The view that greets you when you walk in and look straight out to the ocean is breathtaking. It’s got a historical elegance about it that made us feel like we were transported back in time in the best way. Service was personal, prompt and friendly. The valet staff were especially helpful - full of good tips about where to eat, what to see, and the best times to go. We stayed in the historic side and enjoyed a big room with a separate sitting area which was great for relaxing after the little one’s bedtime. Waikiki feels a bit like high school Spring Break at times but not here. It’s a quiet oasis right in the middle of everything. The pool is a little small but hard to complain with the ocean right there. Plus guests are invited to use the Sheraton’s larger pool next door which our little one loved. This review is long overdue but I look back fondly on our time at the Royal Hawaiian and can’t wait to go back.