The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, Waikiki

The Royal Hawaiian may have become my favorite hotel I’ve ever stayed at. From the moment we arrived, it was clear why this iconic resort is known as the “Pink Palace of the Pacific.” The property is absolutely stunning, blending historic charm with modern comfort in a way that feels both elegant and welcoming. What stood out most during our stay was the attention to detail. Every corner of the property felt thoughtfully cared for—from the immaculate grounds to the beautiful architecture and common spaces. The lush tropical foliage was incredible, with vibrant plants, towering palms, and colorful flowers creating picture-perfect views at every turn. It truly felt like an oasis in the heart of Waikīkī. The staff were exceptional throughout our stay. Everyone we encountered was friendly, welcoming, and genuinely seemed to care about making our experience memorable. That level of hospitality elevated an already beautiful property into something truly special. The beachfront location is hard to beat. The beach area was well maintained and offered stunning views of Diamond Head and the turquoise waters of Waikīkī. Whether relaxing on the sand or simply taking in the scenery, it was the perfect place to unwind. We also spent time at the pool in the evenings and really enjoyed the atmosphere. The pool area was beautiful, clean, and relaxing, providing a great place to unwind after a day of exploring while still being just steps from the beach. One of our favorite spots on the property was the Mai Tai Bar. The cocktails were excellent, and the food was delicious. Portions were on the smaller side, but the quality and oceanfront setting made it one of our favorite places to grab lunch and drinks during the day. I would be remiss not to mention one issue that occurred during our stay. My parents discovered multiple roaches in their room after returning from dinner one evening. After finding several insects within a short period of time, they contacted the front desk. To the hotel’s credit, the staff responded quickly and moved them to a different room that same night. We were very satisfied with how promptly and professionally the situation was handled. That said, because their original room was only a few doors down from ours, I noticed new guests checking into that same room the following day. While I can’t speak to their experience or what treatment may have been performed, it did leave me wondering whether enough time had passed to fully address the issue. Even with that concern, our overall experience at The Royal Hawaiian was outstanding. The incredible service, breathtaking grounds, beautiful beachfront setting, and attention to detail throughout the property made this a stay we’ll remember for years to come. The Royal Hawaiian delivers more than just a place to sleep—it delivers an experience. For us, it was one of those rare hotels that feels every bit as special as its reputation suggests. Would I stay again? Absolutely.

My 4th trip to the Pink Palace. I always love staying here, and will come back but have a few notes for the future. 1. The resort fee : I wish there were more amenities that I could use like a hot coffee bar in the morning, a beach umbrella for a day etc included in the resort fee. It is a hefty price, and I don’t necessarily care for the activities. I would love to get more value for $62 a day - which is essentially a meal ( and one I don’t get to choose ). 2. Room service would be great ! Being able to order hot coffee and breakfast vs. standing in line etc. same with the pool service, at the to go line I waited for 15 minutes and was never served. The food options are limited ; I wish there was another quick option without leaving the property. Otherwise everything else was great. I know the property is having renovations done and I look forward to seeing them the next time I arrive.

We recently stayed for a long weekend and honestly wished we could have extended the trip. From check-in through departure, the experience was exceptionally well done. The front desk team went out of their way to make us feel welcome, taking the time to ask thoughtful questions about our room preferences, views, floor, and layout to find the best fit. That level of care and personalization is rare and felt much more comparable to a true luxury property such as a Rosewood or Four Seasons than a typical large resort hotel. That same attention to detail carried throughout the stay, and it was clear the staff genuinely cared about the guest experience. As for the property itself, while it is an older resort, it is impeccably maintained and visually stunning. The large pink main building set against the beach and ocean creates an unforgettable setting. One especially unique feature—something really only found in classic grand hotels—is the abundance of spacious, varied sitting areas, lounges, courtyards, and quiet gathering spaces throughout the property. There are so many comfortable places to relax that the hotel almost feels like a destination in itself. It is honestly difficult to fully describe and really has to be experienced in person to appreciate. We attended the luau during our visit and there was a minor issue with the reservation. These things happen anywhere, but what matters is how they are handled. The staff addressed it professionally and graciously, invited us to relax with a drink while they sorted things out, and quickly accommodated us. We ended up having a wonderful evening. Breakfast each morning in the main restaurant was another highlight. The service was not only prompt and professional, but genuinely warm and friendly. Everyone seemed sincerely invested in making guests feel welcome, which unfortunately has become increasingly rare even at high-end properties. Even housekeeping stood out, always greeting us warmly and adding thoughtful touches during turndown service. One particularly memorable example of hospitality came from a bartender at the outdoor bar who took the time to recommend a nearby lounge that would suit both my interests and my wife’s preferences perfectly. The recommendation ended up being excellent and reflected a level of attentiveness and personal engagement that defines true hospitality. We spend a considerable amount of time in hotels and resorts, and this property stands out as one of the very few large-chain hotels we have visited in the past decade that genuinely delivers exceptional service consistently across the board. Credit is due not only to the employees, but also to management for clearly fostering and maintaining that culture of hospitality. We truly cannot think of anything the hotel could have done better. Thank you for a wonderful end to our vacation.

Would definitely stay somewhere else. Absolutely beautiful property and lobby and wonderful location but the rooms seem to have been forgotten. The only upside are the beds, as those are comfortable. I have stayed in hotels ranging from a motel 6 to the Ritz Carlton and Fairmont hotels. The rooms here are definitely at a best western/two star hotel standard. There wasn’t a single towel when we arrived and the towels they gave us are super thin and scratchy. Very outdated, small, and cheaply designed. The number one reason I wouldn’t stay here again though is because THE WALLS ARE EXTREMELY THIN. We can hear everything our neighbors are saying and we were woken at 6 am to the screaming kids next door. They continued to scream and bang on things for the next hour. Really, we can hear everything they are doing. For reference, we are staying in the tower with an ocean view room with lanai.

We picked this resort specifically so we could stay in the historic wing. The ocean view historic room we booked wasn’t available at check in, so they upgraded us to the tower instead. At the time I didn’t really care because I was tired and thought ok maybe the balcony and higher floor will be nice. But omg room 1706 was not an upgrade at all. Yes, the views were amazing. But the room itself felt pretty dated, the mattress had a huge dip in it, and despite being on the top floor it didn’t even have a real balcony — just sliding doors. Later when I was at the pool looking up at the tower, I realized this must be one of the few tower rooms without an actual balcony. The real issue though was the noise. There was this insanely loud vibrating/drilling sound that came and went intermittently throughout the day and night. It was SO loud. Was it the AC? Construction? A ghost? I honestly don’t know and neither did the engineer. Eventually they explained that the winds can cause vibrations on the upper floors. Whatever it was, by day three I genuinely couldn’t take it anymore. We finally moved to a historic wing ocean view room and omg it was better in every single way. The room actually felt special and like the reason you stay at the Royal Hawaiian in the first place. The windows overlooking the beach looked like a literal postcard. I just wish we had spent the whole trip there instead. I honestly do not understand staying in a tower room at this resort. There are so many other hotels in Waikiki in the same price range that are towers but with nicer rooms and actual balconies. The entire point of staying here is the historic room!! Other than that though, the resort itself is beautiful. It’s on the nicest beach, the location is great, and everything is super walkable. The drinks were delicious and the food was actually pretty good (for Hawaii). The pink pancakes at breakfast were cute but also like… $30. We had dinner at another resort nearby that looked much nicer but the food was terrible in comparison. It is expensive though. Even coming from San Francisco, I had sticker shock a few times. The service ranged from super friendly to kind of surly. I honestly don’t care if staff are overly warm as long as I’m getting what I paid for, which is why it annoyed me that nobody really offered much of a solution when we kept asking about the noise issue (not even earplugs.) To be fair though, our server at Azure was sooo nice and the pool drink service was really fast. Also, I have no idea what other reviewers are talking about with waiting forever for umbrellas or breakfast. We asked for a beach umbrella around 9:30am and got one immediately. And the pool is small, but that’s very obvious from the website photos. I prefer Maui or Kauai overall, but if I ever end up staying in Waikiki again I’d probably stay here again — but historic wing only.