The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, Waikiki

Our stay at the Royal Hawaiian was amazing. The property is nothing short of spectacular. The first impression on arrival was very cool. It’s hidden behind modern buildings that reveal this absolute gem of a place as you pass through the historic gates and through the gorgeous front lawn. The service was first rate and our ocean view room on the 15th floor of the tower was perfect. Breakfast at Surf Lanai each morning was really good and the tropical drinks from the bar in the evening were delicious. You can’t get a better place to stay on Waikiki Beach than the Royal Hawaiian. It’s the perfect location for the beach, shopping, dining, and relaxing.

Another great stay. Louise at the front desk went out of her way to make it extra special. We love the location for our family. While a larger resort may feel a little more happening for (older) kids at night, the location just off Kalakaua in the heart of Waikiki gives us access to everything. The hotel is a perfect break from all the action - anytime we want a little peace and quiet or to get away from the crowds, it's just steps back to the hotel. Lots of other reviews offer insight into what to know about the hotel, the area and making the most of your stay, but my #1 piece of advice is to plan your beach/pool seating ahead of time. Meaning, reserve your beach chairs with Waikiki Beach Services (either brown or pink umbrellas), reserve a cabana at RH, or use your hotel access to reserve spots at the Sheraton (young kids like that pool) -- all ahead of time. It's never been crazy competitive where you need to book when reservations open up - just advice to look into this BEFORE you arrive, and I recommend sooner vs. later. It'll make your stay that much more enjoyable. Over the years, that's the self-optimization we've made to make our trips to the RH more enjoyable.

First Impressions: The original architecture is gorgeous. Stunning Porte Cochere and elegant entry with a covered terrace looking into a court yard garden. Entering into the hotel you feel transported to another time in a cloister away from the hustle/bustle of downtown Waikiki. The hotel has an old school feel to which we were drawn. Check In: The staff at the front desk gracious. The pink wrist band key—brilliant. Up the elevator in the historic wing to our 6th floor room. Hit in the hallway with the cloying synthetic scent of gardenia—-a diffuser spotted by the elevator bank—migraine alert—skin starts to burn—-not a good sign. Completely UNNECESSARY with clean ocean breezes wafting thru hotel!! Thankfully the hotel, after I complained, was successful temporarily pausing the fragrance dispenser on our floor. The door to the room—gorgeous original carved. Thank goodness preserved. The spacious room has an epic view of the ocean. The room furnishings which I did not immediately appreciate have grown on me as my eye has adjusted to the dark browns, greens, beige and pops of pink. The Frette pink robes and the complimentary pink water bottles are very appreciated! The bathroom is a little lacking and really needs two sinks. For the room decor I would suggest getting rid of the carpets and put in hardwood floors (may already have hardwood under carpeting) with area rugs. Beds and linens very comfortable. Plenty of closet space. Common Areas: Gorgeous spaces that could use a little tweaking. The covered porch looking into the garden is lovely. The tables and chairs perfect for morning coffee but WHERE is the complimentary morning coffee that one expects in a five star hotel? The bakery concession on the porch has tacky refrigerators that are completely inappropriate for the venue. The whole area cries for a simple yet elegant hotel lobby bar. A couple of tables for mahjong in the lobby would be a very nice amenity!! The open lobby spaces are so inviting that you want to have a drink handy to enjoy the tranquility. Much appreciated—-the Flow Water Dispenser in main lobby—A+ Activities: Wonderful yoga class. Great instructors. Thank you. Staff: To a person the staff have been warm and welcoming. Security: The elevator bank in the historic wing should be key code protected. Anyone can wander into the hotel particularly from the main shopping drag allowing one to access upstairs quickly and easily—very porous. Conclusion: The hotel with a few additional details could be truly spectacular. We are enjoying our stay and appreciate the kind service from all of the dedicated staff.

Beautiful resort, nice people however not relaxing! Don’t book here unless you like to spend your vacation waiting in lines. You have to be in line at 6am to even have a chance of being able to pay $85 for a beach chair, gym is sub par, wait for breakfast is at least 30 minutes, bakery has a huge line and then just closes at noon.Had a voucher for Daly muffins but unable to use for this reason.

An absolute must for anyone interested in history and having the resources. We stayed in the historic, original hotel. Room was nice and vintage…but not run down. We had the “resort view”, which was fine. Just on thing would have been nice….a microwave in the room. We are out a lot, no surprise, had leftovers which would have been much more palatable if heated. I thought the $700/night was a little steep…but major splurge for our family. You only live once!