In Hawaiian, Oahu means “gathering place.” But you’ll find out it could also mean “something for everyone.” Foodies, discover hot new flavors in Kaimuki and Chinatown. Trend spotters, shop till you drop at our eclectic fashion boutiques. History buffs, tour the memorials at Pearl Harbor. Swimmers, surfers, snorkelers and SUP-ers, play at any of the famous shorelines of Oahu.
One thing’s for sure, no matter what direction you head in you’ll find a scenic drive with views you can’t replicate anywhere. Keep the relaxation going and head to the beach with a shave ice or acai bowl. Waikiki, Pipeline, and Lanikai are known for their postcard famous white sand beaches. Perfect for sinking your toes into and forgetting everyday worries. Here on a short trip? We’ve got just the itinerary for the perfect day in Oahu’s North Shore.
Look no further, you have found the perfect hotel!
Laura C
(Apollo, Pennsylvania)
Congratulate yourself on having found the perfect hotel for you and your family. This is by far the best hotel I've ever stayed in. All staff (especially Cindy) treated us like royalty. Housekeeping does an amazing job. Room is heavenly. Spacious and well equipped with everything you might need including a full kitchen,washer and dryer, private furnished balcony and just steps from a gorgeous beach. All that plus free parking, pool, hot tub and outdoor grilling area.
Piece of Heaven!
flyboyarl
(Seattle, Washington)
We reserved the 2 bedroom/2 bathroom Ocean view unit and it was definitely worth it! The unobstructed view from the huge lanai and the full window screen doors from the master bedroom provide an incredible view, whether it be unwinding for the day, or waking up to it. With some covid restrictions and inconveniences during our mid-Aug stay, the lanai provided a great place to dine in. The spacious living room and dining room, the fully equipped kitchen and washer/dryer made for an incredible stay. The hotel is more of a condo hotel, so it doesn't have the huge welcoming lobby. The lobby was quite small and undergoing renovation while we were there. The staff was incredible, providing welcome beach bag, with water bottles for all the guests, as well, as beach toys for the kids, and topped off with a box of chocolate. Tip: Make sure you get on a floor 30+, otherwise, there is another hotel obstructing your view.
Location can't be beat. While it doesn't sit on the beach, you walk across the street to it. There is also a hotel outdoor shower you can wash off before entering the lobby. The only downside to this hotel was the pool was on the 4th floor (I think) with most of it sitting in the shade during the day due to the building aforementioned above that not only blocks some views but also the sun. Not very appealing so we never used it, but being so close to the ocean, we preferred that to the pool anyway.
Lastly, the hotel also offered a communal A/C room to rest up and even use their showers while you're waiting for a later flight.
One of the best hotels I have stayed in!
msmendoza2020
(Palo Alto, California)
You will have such a wonderful stay here! My husband and I came to celebrate our anniversary and the hotel made our stay so special and all of the staff were just lovely. We will definitely come back and stay here on our next trip!
Best Vacation Ever
stephanate
(Seaside, California)
We had an amazing time here. the greeted us with a lei, valet parking every time we moved the car, sent up comp bottle of champagne and chocolate, staged the bedding with robe & slippers. we loved it.
Great place to stay!!
mtremain2021
(San Francisco, California)
Have stayed a number of times and it’s always been great. Love that it’s just right across from the beach. Hotel staff is amazing and alway willing to help. Great place for families that don’t want to cook out every night.
The hotel is definitely showing its age. The room was well care for. The pool deck was a hazard. I slipped just by normal walking to the stairs. I saw a couple of kids slip and fall. I don’t bounce as well as I used too, so I am more careful
Our first time at the Ilikai
731benson
We liked it very much. We made use of the full size refrigerator, microwave, dishes, and silverware. A pleasant surprise was the availability of beach chairs that we could check out, and return as needed.
We will stay there again when we go back to Honolulu.
Classic Waikiki high rise
Triciapedia
(Washington DC, District of Columbia)
One of the first skyscrapers on Waikiki, the Ilikai is well recognized by any viewer of shows based In Hawaii.
The location is convenient to downtown, Waikiki, and Ala Moana. You’ll have to walk a bit to get to the beach, more so than the neighboring Hilton property, but it’s not far and you’ll likely appreciate the cost savings on the room rate. There are two pools, plus a handful of helpful shops and restaurants right in the building.
The suites are comfortable and spacious, with the Ocean View absolutely delivering. Of course there are some other buildings in the way, but that’s just Waikiki.
I found the kitchen to be clean, modern and pretty well appointed, same with the bathroom. A dishwasher would have been nice, but it certainly wasn’t promised. Laundry is available on each floor.
Some of the furnishings looked their age, but overall a pleasant experience.
Fair rating
jasminekahale003
Hotel is clean, rooms are clean, most staff are friendly to guests (but not all are friendly to locals), valet was WONDERFUL, the elevator wait time was horrible but it’s a popular hotel so expect the wait time. Love the full kitchen and the spacious rooms! We love staying here!
Great Location/Refreshed Decor
bruschettagirl
(Portland, Oregon)
We stayed in an oceanview/sunset view room on the 25th floor, which was lovely. It had almost a full-sized kitchen with new appliances and the decor otherwise was refreshed (art work/carpet/bed and bed linens/bathroom/etc.). The sunsets from our lanai were lovely. With the ABC Market across the street, you can buy breakfast/lunch items for the refrigerator and enjoy these meals on your lanai. There is an interesting small pool on the 2nd floor level/terrace, that they are trying to have as "Adults Only", but sometimes that worked in theory, not practice. That pool had large plastic lounge chairs in it, for even more relaxation.
We always enjoy staying with you at the Waikiki Sunset. Staff makes us feel welcome and always friendly. The 2 bedroom was affordable and clean and when we requested service, it was fast. We will stay again.
Thank you!
The always quirky Sunset
ktodd139
(North Wales, Pennsylvania)
We have been spending our Hawaiian vacations at the Sunset for many years. There are many great things about the building, including great views of the ocean and Diamond Head, great location to beach, restaurants and shopping, and always friendly staff. That said, there are always weird and quirky things occurring. Elevators were covered with board on this trip, which my Grandson referred to as "the cardboard elevators", maid service was almost non-existent (due to pandemic) and pool use was by reservation only.
Outstanding service at Aston Waikiki Sunset - Penny
Prosthodontist
(Houston, Texas)
We could not thank Penny enough for treating us like her own family! She listened, solved our small issues, and made us feel so special during our stay. She is a type of person who would “under promise and over deliver’, with her quality customer service. We felt valued as Aston guests because of Penny. She cared so much and her compassion made our stay so memorable! Also, Ka’ahele is another very kind front desk we came across. We thank you!
I took my 3 girls and mom for a trip to Hawaii after the loss of my father. Aston is the only hotel my husband could find that has 2 bedrooms with kitchen and it is in a great and safe location. He could not join us due to work. It is a short distance to Waikiki beach, restaurants, diamond head, attractions, etc. Parking is convenience and reasonable price. We stayed at Aston brand hotels whenever we visited Hawaii and happy to get to know Penny during this trip, she is truly an asset to Aston!
Over priced
pilarsilva91
(Fresno, California)
Antiquated hotel, over priced. I had a two bedroom suite, the rooms are very small you barely had room to get around the bed. Never staying here again. The furniture was very old and scratched up. I stayed 5 nights and my room was never cleaned during my stay.
SPEND YOUR HOTEL
DOLLARS ELSEWHERE
Jeremiah C
(Kansas City, Missouri)
SPEND YOUR VACATION STAY DOLLARS ELSEWHERE. While I completely understand COVID issues and how that has changed the hospitality industry (I am a small business owner in the service industry), when it came to this part of our much anticipated vacation, we were disappointed and honestly quite fed up with the Aston Waikiki Sunset at every point along the way.
Some of the issues we encountered:
* The rooms are just “meh”. ESPECIALLY for paying over $3k to stay here for a week, I expect an overly clean room, plenty of blankets and towels, cookware, usable balcony space, solid interior doors (not ones that have slats in them and can be peered through), working windows, hot water, open and accessible amenities as advertised, and the list goes on.
Additionally, these items were also ridiculous and or need attention:
* griping at people to pull up a mask while their security staff weren’t wearing one at all.
* telling guests they must reserve an OUTDOOR POOL time, but failing to answer the phone when guests attempt to call to make said reservation. (And also sending your pool Bouncer to boot people out when there was NO ONE ELSE THERE, if the “time had expired”.)
* allowing only 5 people at the pool, and only for an hours time, to then require 30 minutes after to sanitize. How bad are your chemicals that they aren’t working in the first place? Also, do you not think that we are all swimming together in the ocean, right next to each other? ALSO.. having us sign our life away in a waiver to swim in your pool would negate your liability should someone “contaminate” your pool.
* the trash, dirt and grime in and around your building needs to be addressed. I understand you can’t do anything about the homeless community hanging out, but if you don’t take care of the outside issues, how can you not expect them to
Use it as a garbage can also?
* The “market” in the hotel is basically an offering of a smelly replica of a third-world open air market. Had almost nothing, crazy over priced (as expected), and I’ve honestly had better experiences in actual third world countries with markets.
*your parking pass system is in dire need of streamlining. You should simply add a daily charge for parking to the room for the duration of a guest’s stay rather than having someone attempt to navigate through a broken stall with different directions from whomever is working that shift on how to insert one ticket, but grab another, but pay for the last hours you were there, but you need a new ticket when you come back, but also it’s prorated when you come
Back so you’ll need an additional ticket. What the heck.
All in all, if I could do it again, a thousand times over I would stay somewhere else. I’ve been to Oahu before, but this was by far the most disappointing.
This is our second time staying at the Aloha Surf. It isn't fancy at all but it is comfortable and clean. The staff is super helpful and friendly. It's location on the Ala Wai canal makes it a very quiet place to stay but it is only one block from the action on Kuhio and three blocks from the beach. We didn't rent a car this trip so it was nice to be so close to the bus stops on Kuhio. If you are looking for a resort experience don't stay here but if you are looking for a place to sleep after a long day of fun on Oahu this is the place to stay.
Not worth it
dylanhN9004PK
I will get the only positive part of my experience out of the way first. The concierge was the nicest person I’ve ever met. That was it. We were swayed by low rates for this hotel. (~$400 for 7 nights). After all the taxes it came out closer to ~$750 dollars. Still a really good deal for 7 nights in downtown Honolulu on Waikiki strip. When we checked in the the first night we realized we were staying in something worse than a motel six but paying twice as much. We decided it wasn’t worth it and we would pay double what we payed to stay somewhere else. Checkout and cancellation was smooth until the debit hit my account. Over $200 dollars in hidden fees for staying one night. It literally can’t get worse than paying $125 dollars for a cleaning fee where we didn’t even do anything other than use the bed to sleep in. Not to mention a $65 dollar “room charge” like we didn’t already pay for the room ??? All in all I dropped 300 dollars to stay in a rundown, wanna be motel 6 for one night. If you thought that was bad enough, they have the nerve to ask for $30 dollars a night for parking underneath the hotel that holds 15 cars max for a hotel that I would assume could have well over 200 people in one night. Never again would I pick this place to stay, even if they offered me to stay there free.
Great location, comfortable and friendly place
ksuzuka
This is an older building and not fancy but it is clean and comfortable and the staff were very friendly and caring. It was perfect for my post-travel self-quarantine and came to feel like home away from home.
This place sucked
AlexWebb69
Of all the places in Waikiki I could have picked to stay at, I made the mistake of choosing this hotel. The rooms were gross, the furniture was stained beyond belief, I had to put a towel down on the couch before I sat on the crusty cushions. Security is a joke, my car and another were broken into in the hotel parking garage and the "guard" had no clue it happened and provided barely any help. The rooms were not cleaned during our stay because of covid, even though every other hotel was still providing maid service although they did take out the trash if you left it outside of your room. I will never recommend this hotel to anyone and I will never stay anywhere near this place if I ever return to Waikiki.
Nice place to stay to enjoy the island!
tka002
This hotel is affordable and clean and staff are helpful! It’s small and doesn’t have many amenities, but we were just looking for a place to sleep and rest as we spent the days out exploring the island. If you’re looking for amenities or a fancy place to stay this is not for you, but if you need a good and affordable place to stay this is a great choice!
The rooms are newly renovated .The linens are clean. The hotel is just across Waikiki Beach and Hawaiian Village with many restaurants to choose from. It is also located a few blocks from Ala Moana shopping mall where there are also a lot of restaurants. For a boutique hotel, it had all the convenience offered for a restful night and convenience of a block distance from Waikiki beach. Depending on the reservation , youmay have a room with a great view of the Diamond head and partial ocean view all in one balcony. I highly recommend staying here for those who would like to stretch their budget, have extra dollars to spend for vacation needs and leisurely activities on top of hotel room fees. It makes vacation to Hawaii more fun and enjoyable.
Great location and easy access from the garage to the rooms.
Dombeekee
(Wailuku, Hawaii)
A larger sign to indicate the location of the hotel. We had to drive around the block to maneuver the driveway. Also notice in advance to say that you would need to drive into the garage to check in. The room was very clean and comfortable but the pool was directly below our sliding door and even with the door closed and locked we could still hear the other guests laughing and playing marco polo in the poo;.
Good price - Great location
iskandar2015
(Paris, France)
Just missing a restaurant for the breakfast and diner. I had a room on the main street which can be noisy sometimes. Otherwise great location for a really good price.
I will come with my family the next time.
Infested
Sasha R
(Atlanta, Georgia)
Me and my fiancé went to Waikiki for a family vacation a week ago. While staying at the AP we saw and killed 4 roaches in our room! The hotel appeared to be old and gave motel vibes, not as we expected.
This was our first time in Hawaii and the hotel just didn’t meet our expectations.
A little disappointed
P1204H
(Atlanta, Georgia)
We booked a partial view not realizing we would literally be able to see a very small view across the street between other hotels of the ocean. As someone stated in an earlier comment the hallway is slanted and weird and the rooms were a little dated. The carpet in our room had a red stain in it (hopefully it wasn't blood). Last, the morning of checkout, the sanitation workers came at day break to dump the toilets in the receptacle and woke us up. The sight of the toilets and soiled mattresses when you walk by the hotel which is on the maintain strip was a eyesore; there must be a better way to hide the trash prior to trash day.
The hotel is definitely showing its age. The room was well care for. The pool deck was a hazard. I slipped just by normal walking to the stairs. I saw a couple of kids slip and fall. I don’t bounce as well as I used too, so I am more careful
Our first time at the Ilikai
731benson
We liked it very much. We made use of the full size refrigerator, microwave, dishes, and silverware. A pleasant surprise was the availability of beach chairs that we could check out, and return as needed.
We will stay there again when we go back to Honolulu.
Classic Waikiki high rise
Triciapedia
(Washington DC, District of Columbia)
One of the first skyscrapers on Waikiki, the Ilikai is well recognized by any viewer of shows based In Hawaii.
The location is convenient to downtown, Waikiki, and Ala Moana. You’ll have to walk a bit to get to the beach, more so than the neighboring Hilton property, but it’s not far and you’ll likely appreciate the cost savings on the room rate. There are two pools, plus a handful of helpful shops and restaurants right in the building.
The suites are comfortable and spacious, with the Ocean View absolutely delivering. Of course there are some other buildings in the way, but that’s just Waikiki.
I found the kitchen to be clean, modern and pretty well appointed, same with the bathroom. A dishwasher would have been nice, but it certainly wasn’t promised. Laundry is available on each floor.
Some of the furnishings looked their age, but overall a pleasant experience.
Fair rating
jasminekahale003
Hotel is clean, rooms are clean, most staff are friendly to guests (but not all are friendly to locals), valet was WONDERFUL, the elevator wait time was horrible but it’s a popular hotel so expect the wait time. Love the full kitchen and the spacious rooms! We love staying here!
Great Location/Refreshed Decor
bruschettagirl
(Portland, Oregon)
We stayed in an oceanview/sunset view room on the 25th floor, which was lovely. It had almost a full-sized kitchen with new appliances and the decor otherwise was refreshed (art work/carpet/bed and bed linens/bathroom/etc.). The sunsets from our lanai were lovely. With the ABC Market across the street, you can buy breakfast/lunch items for the refrigerator and enjoy these meals on your lanai. There is an interesting small pool on the 2nd floor level/terrace, that they are trying to have as "Adults Only", but sometimes that worked in theory, not practice. That pool had large plastic lounge chairs in it, for even more relaxation.
Great place. Clean, with a friendly staff and great central Waikiki location. I was able to walk to many places and the beach was right across the street. The rooms are small but have everything you need. I would definitely stay there again.
Great location
funkton
(Arizona)
The Aston Circle is in a great location - directly across from the beach. The rooms / beds are comfortable but might be a little small for big / tall people, especially the bathrooms. The hotel was clean and we enjoyed it. There are no frills; it's not a resort. The balconies offer a nice view of the beach / sunrise / sunset. The restaurant associated with the hotel is good but the wait can be long so go early.
Nice for what it is
Here2TellU
(Anaheim, California)
Rooms are small, so reconsider if there are more than two or three of you. A family of four is fine the kids are little, but there is very little floor space for everyone to move around with 2 beds in the room. Hotel is old, but in decent shape. Tiny shower and the water never got very hot, but that was okay after being out in the heat and humidity of Oahu.
nice little hotel
fyrmnjim
(Waynesville, Ohio)
The Aston Waikiki Circle hotel is not the westin or hilton, but for the money it is an excellent option. The location is absolutely unbeatable. The photo says it all. The rooms are no frills. Two double beds, a bathroom and a small area with refrig and coffee maker. There is a little restaurant on the ground level and an underground parking garage. A few beach and water toys are avail, but some are trashy.
If you are seeing the island on a budget, but want to be on the beach. This place is unbeatable
Can’t wait to come back!
deboerjudy
This was my third time to have the pleasure to stay at the Circle Hotel. I look forward to staying there again. The location, the friendly and helpful response from all the staff was exceptional. Everyone made us feel like family. Aloha until we meet again!!
Excellent service, beautiful room, clean and posh! I will definitely stay here again and recommend staying here to locals who want a night on the town! Close to all the restaurants and night life. Or just order in and enjoy the views! Love this hotel, thank you!
The Best Ever
Auntiealoha
We are fortunate and grateful for this aston.
The location was very convenient for us, as it was close to the hospital. longs is right downstairs, as is 7-11.
The front desk staff IS truly terrific! They go above and beyond to help your stay be comfortable and convenient. The security is professional and on it!. ( That's hard to find nowadays) For those like us that did not have a car, they can quickly get a cab for you.. So, the next time you need a comfortable, clean, convenient place, call the Aston Executive Centre. They will make your stay a pleasant one.
excellent accommodations
msturman11
(Chicago, Illinois)
we had a one bedroom suite. very comfortable and close to my daughter's college. Staff were kind, welcoming, professional, and helpful, I would highly recommend this hotel if looking for a downtown location.
Room and Management was excellent
GaryE1397AB
Restaurant still not operating so it made getting something to eat at later times an issue. Management/security very friendly and room had a comfortable bed/clean bathroom/clean kitchenette and a great view.
Underwhelming to say the least
ccrouch2021
(Salt Lake City, Utah)
Questionable neighbors sleeping on the street, pay for parking that was on the uppermost floor of garage, no information on where I should park or where the garage was located. I needed to call the hotel. Out dated finishes in lobby, corridors and room. The room smelled like smoke so much I would have changed rooms but I checked in too late. No gym. Pool area not acceptable. I would not return or recommend.
This hotel is our favorite when we come to Waikiki. The room is comfortable and has everything that we are looking for when we are on vacation. The staff are remarkable. Three staff members stand out to us on our most recent trip, namely Randy, Cliff and John. They are very friendly and always looking for a way to make our staff better. THANKS to them, we will be back next year!
Super Loud, Annoying music from other hotels in area
jocanadian59
(Canada)
21st Floor of Aston Waikiki Banyan, super loud music from some hotel/club a couple blocks away toward the beach, Can hear with the doors closed and A/C unit running loud. Super ridiculous - I truly don't want to hear this crappy music all night long. Will not be back to Waikiki as seeing the reviews, there doesn't seem to be any hotel within a few miles where this noise pollution does not reach. Hotel staff can't deal with it. Honolulu - will not be back - so many other places in the world to travel where annoying club music is not a factor. Incredibly Disappointed. And an easy fix if you want repeat visitors who are older than 25.
Nice place but misleading on bed type
deanneperkins
(Orem, Utah)
Overall, the room was nice with a beautiful view of Waikiki beach. I thought we would be getting a room with a queen bed. In actuality, it was two twin beds pushed together with queen size bedding. I feel this is misleading considering it is advertised as a queen bed.
Absolutely Filthy establishment
Tour191233
I was absolutely horrified at the condition of our condo we reserved from September 20-27, 2021. Upon arrival we refused the 1st assigned room it was filthy, The 2nd room we slept in 1 night and the bathroom, was so dirty I refused to take a shower but washed up. I was again moved to a 3rd condo. It was cleaner but I will never recommend this establishment to anyone. We were given a $100 credit which I felt was an insult.
I will never recommend or stay again at Aston Banyan Waikiki Beach or any of their locations .
Absolutely filthy rental property.
Amazing staff
santarelligillian
(Fresno, California)
The staff was very accommodating and allowed us to stay till 9pm since our flight was at 10pm. We were traveling with our 4 month old and didn’t knew where we would stay while waiting for our flight. The staff was amazing and very pleasant!
We really enjoyed this place. It was in a great location and the view is incredible. The space is just what you need when you’re staying for a short term. The staffs are friendly and helpful. Highly recommend:)
Vacations in Waikiki
suepD1032GW
Call for reservations and Joseph is the hotel reps that was very friendly, giving tips of how and where to visit , explaining to me how to get around Waikiki area and nearby attractions, Joseph was very helpful and friendly he make sure to explained to me what I need to do for check in and how to get to Aqua Skyline. Overall my stay is an excellent stay , the night view is amazing, will surely come back to visit again.
Very good
likuonetupouata5
(San Bruno, California)
Was surprised about the location close to everything shops, restaurants, including the beach, loved that the parking was in the same building the room was very nice and very clean the staff was very friendly n the check out was great which I did on a touch of the button
Loved it!
tyspencer808
Conveniently located. Nice rooms. Overall great stay. Went with my family, and will definitely be staying there again when returning. Friendly staff. I really like that there is security that is there 24/7.
Pace Graduation Vacation
Anita B
Fantastic Service by the Front Desk Personnel..Especially Jaime! Great Location to all sites . Mini Mart on the 6th floor..The Panaramic view is awesome...Rooms are spacious...I highly recommend as this is our third time staying at this location ..
Staff were pleasant, mannerly and accommodating. Relaxed environment.
Towels were available for beach.
On-site parking available with in out access. Hotel is walking distance to beach and stores.
I stay here anytime I am in waikiki.
Having kitchenette with fridge makes it handy to have breakfast and cook a lunch without always going out. Great place for family with children.
Good value for moneyespecially in waikiki where a budget can get out of hand quickly.
Fav hotel
dakinediane
Fav hotel near the zoo and swimming in the park and restaurants and entertainment and bus
Great views, park free near Kapahulu fire house , walk in park, test Waikiki Shell, walk to beach bars restaurants, take bus to airport nearby.
There's lots of better options
Jessica S
I booked Ewa since it was one of the cheapest options that still had a kitchen and a balcony and that was a mistake. The kitchen was unusable, the burners did not get hot on the stove, there was no spatula, the burners were tilted, and there's no room to do anything. I would have been better off with just a microwave and mini fridge, which comes in most hotel rooms anyways. The balcony was okay but incredibly loud and windy and it's looking directly into other people's rooms across the alley. Neither the tv remote nor the remote for the AC worked at all. There was also a surprising lack of outlets, which made charging difficult and inconvenient.
There was also an unexpected $15 a day "resort" fee as well as $30 a day parking. Not sure what the resort fee goes to since there are literally zero amenities. The hotel itself felt incredibly dirty and the elevator smelled so strongly of urine it was almost unbearable. On my last day here they were doing construction on my floor (there was no warning) at 8 am. The rooftop would have been nice had the area been better maintained. The only benefit of this hotel was the location, but honestly I'd recommend something that is just a bit deeper into the town since this is on the edge of everything.
Service and hotel appearance
jsecmf
(Oro Valley, Arizona)
Service is good. Parking is ok, however daily charge of $30 is quite pricey.
Hotel rooms appear to be old, need to upgrade kitchen appliances, bathrooms need vent and new amenities. Hotel room door looks old. Curtain inside hotel rooms are dirty with stains.
Bed is comfortable. AC works well, not too noisy.
Great Hotel and Staff
35luism
(Lakewood)
A wonderful hotel managed by great staff. Unfortunately we encountered noisy tenants in the adjacent room. This scenario was not resolved. I do strongly recommend this hotel due to its affordability as well as location.
I hate writing bad reviews. But I try to keep all my reviews fair and genuine.
Overall, a sub-par experience.
Positives - every employee there is incredibly helpful and they do their best with what they’ve got.
Negatives:
1. We used to stay at the Kahala, Halekulani, or Trump whenever we visited Waikiki. I have to say this section of Main Street is meaningfully worse. Within 3 min of walking in the alley behind the building, 8 out of the 10 people I walked past were either high or homeless. Also saw a drug dealer dealing in broad daylight. This is not an exaggeration.
2. The hotel is super small. One unit per floor and only 9 units. The rooms are tight and you feel like there are no amenities. You can schedule the pool for your own family, but the “pool” is maybe the size of 5 jacuzzis.
3. Breakfast is the worst I’ve had in North America. My prior worst was in Italy, but this was really sad. We went once and didn’t bother going the next two days.
4. Second day, pressed the “Clean room” button as we left at 10:30 am. The room was not cleaned six hours later when we returned.
5. When I checked in, I told them that I’d like to see if I can check out at 1 pm. They didn’t really give an answer, though they booked the return car at 1 pm. They also booked a surfing lesson for my kids from 9-11 am the day of our departure. When I returned after dropping off my kids at 9:30 am, they told me I need to be out by 11 am because someone is checking in at 4 pm. This is completely understandable because they really run a tiny operation (only 9 rooms). But it does raise the issue of a small operation. They have no wiggle room.
I purposely didn’t want to stay at Trump this time around. But sadly I’d have to say I will not return to Espacio even if it was free.
This side of the main street is REALLY BAD. No joke. There were homeless people laying on the ground within 20 seconds from the door every single day.
The best hotel I have ever stayed in! Made our Hawaiian trip memorable!
elsvetteb
Everything was A+++++++ with this hotel. Every staff member was cordial, helpful, and sincere. I love the doormen, as they treated us like friends!
The room: It was so spacious and the amenities were top notch! The bed was super comfy and the bathrooms were luxurious, even the blow dryer was DYSON! I was about to bring my Dyson but nice to know they had that as their standard hair dryer. The toiletries were the best quality and they offer free sunscreen!
We were able to use the kitchen to make meals and even BBQed upstairs. The appliances were like what we had at home, super high end and made the stay comfy.
The view is beautiful and the private jacuzzi was used every night, while every morning we used our private deck. One thing though, do not expect quiet, it is on a busy tourist street - we didn't mind this since the windows were well isolated. If you're looking to jacuzzi in your private deck in quiet, that won't happen.
Location: TOP NOTCH! Walking distance to the beaches, shops, and restaurants. Mugen, the restaurant downstairs was such a memorable and delicious dinner. It's easy to get to places from here and they provide a car with free parking!
Amenities: The pool and spa upstairs was super private, we didn't even see another guest when we visited. The view from the pool is stunning! We also felt covid safe with all the wipes and hand sprays. FYI, there's so many amenities, I can't list them all! EVEN SLIPPERS!
Service: Best in industry. From greeting, housekeeping, service and doormen, they were all so gracious and kind. We love the friendly and sincere smiles. They also offered us the chairs and beach towels that made our beach visits so comfortable. It was superb! I can't rave enough about this place.
I will be back!
Best design and style in Waikiki
JOE J
(Tokyo, Japan)
World leading restaurant in building, gorgeous rooms with elegant style. An instagrammer's dream or a relaxing polished paradise. Hotel staff seemed out of practice and was not able to accommodate many of our requests, and were not able to accommodate some of the advertised amenities. Hopefully they will get back into the swing of things soon.
Totally worth the money!!!
bifannybi
(Castro Valley, California)
You get what you pay for! This hotel is amazing. The design are way over expectation and they use all top of the line appliances. The view is unbeatable and the services are way exceptional! All the staffs were extremely professional and friendly. We can’t wait to come back!
New favorite hotel in Honolulu!
megandG2842GF
Having stayed in a Four Seasons property the night before I checked in to ESPACIO, my standards were high – and ESPACIO far surpassed them. From the moment I arrived to the time I departed, the entire staff provided a seamless experience that left me impressed over and over again. The hotel’s butler, Wesley, was more thoughtful than I could have imagined, arranging an incredible in-room breakfast that delivered on even the smallest of my preferences. Then there are the rooms – expansive suites that cover an entire floor complete with a roomy private balcony and outdoor Jacuzzi. I woke up to the most incredible view of Waikiki Beach. It’s amazing how you can feel so relaxed and at peace while situated in the middle an incredible, cosmopolitan city. Don’t miss the rooftop infinity pool (there is a spa on the same level) and onsite dining at Mugen – all very worthy of a visit. , I’ve never been to a hotel with more thoughtful, personalized service and amenities. Considering there are only 9 rooms, I feel very lucky to have secured a reservation and can’t wait to come back.
Watch big wave surfing on North Shore Oahu at some of Hawaii’s most famous beaches, Waimea Bay and Ehukai (Banzai Pipeline); then grab a tasty cone of chocolate Haupia (coconut) shave ice at Matsumoto’s.
Hike the easy, scenic Lanikai Pillboxes trail in Kailua. The path leads to Lanikai beach, the perfect place to trade your hiking boots for a bathing suit and cool down.
Everyone loves paradise, and that can cause a bit of traffic congestion. Try to avoid the freeway between the hours of 3 - 5 p.m.
We can’t overstate how important it is to pay attention to the signs on the beach about changing weather conditions and strong currents.
Yes, shark sightings do exist. But more than feared, sharks are of important significance in Hawaiian culture, as they are believed to be guardians and family protectors known as aumakua.
Must Do
Culinary
Bite into a sweet, doughy, crispy malasada and savor succulent pork that has been slow roasted for over 8 hours above an Imu - fire pit. Ono! (Delicious!) The local cuisine is a great journey for your palate as well as your soul.
Water-Sports
Learn to surf where the locals do at Hans Hedemann’s surf school in Honolulu, then hit up the calm waves at Laniakea and world class surf at Ehukai beach. If stand-up paddleboarding is more your speed, go to the local favorite, Kailua beach. Want to experience something new? Snuba, a supercool hybrid of scuba and snorkeling, allows you to experience the thrill of scuba diving without any lengthy lessons or certification.
Hiking
Trek to the top of Diamond Head trail to see a panoramic view of the city and ocean. If you are seeking a more challenging trail, hike Kaena Point to view tiny pools of crustaceans and other small fishes.
Hawaiian History and Culture
See Iolani Palace, the last residence of Hawaiian monarchs King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani, until the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893. The palace was reopened as a museum in 1978 and features important Hawaiian cultural and historical artifacts.
Kalani S.
“Oahu is a mix of urban life and a tropical paradise. We’ll check out a food festival in town then hit the surf for a sunset session all in the same day”
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