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We traveled to Kauai for only five days to celebrate a friends birthday. Poipu Kai was almost next door to where they stayed. I called ahead of time when I realized it was 3 stories and no elevator as hubby is disabled. They assured me a ground floor unit. We were upgraded to a beautiful 2 bedroom house. Very Clean, staff was wonderful...would love to stay there again.
Quite, close to beach
SipeSipeTeam
(Glendale, California)
The pools were small but there were several scattered around the property. Very close to beach and a few good restaurants. Beaches were very crowded however, but a quick hike down past the Grand Hyatt and you were on a seclude beach all to your self.
Family vacation
TracyDunson
(Colorado Springs, Colorado)
This was the third Aston property that we stayed at in our island hoping adventure. When rented two rooms. Property isn’t maintained like most of the resorts in Hawaii. They do not have typical air conditioning units in the room. They have portable units that they want turned off when you are not in the room. One room had a great kitchen and flooring. The other not so much. The carpet was old and crunchy and stained. The rooms really smelled bad..
Comforts of Home, Beauty of Poipu
CandiM37
We loved our time at Poipu Kai. Our one-bedroom condo unit was immaculate and equipped with everything we needed and then some! A well-equipped kitchen, large bedroom with plenty of closet room and dressers, a roomy bathroom and a well furnished living room/dining room. And then there was beach towels, beach chairs, snorkel masks, beach reading and even a guidebook that helped us explore. The office staff was friendly and the grounds were always being "buffed up". The pool overlooks the beach (for those of you that don't love sand!) and never had more than 5 people there. Great location to walk to the beach, 2 great casual restaurants or over to the Grand Hyatt. I can't recommend this spot enough and we are already planning our next trip.
Poor quality
Peter W
(Ajax, Ontario, Canada)
We had a one bedroom booked for a 4 day stay. When we arrived we were told a one bedroom wasn't available and they gave us a 3 bedroom unit. (Unit 420) As it was just the two of us the larger unit wasn't a concern. The photos you see on the web site are not what you get. As this is a VRBO managed by Aston; the rooms will vary widely. The poor quality is a result of the property management not enforcing room standards that are made available for rental. There is no air-conditioning and it is far from the beach. What was a concern was the quality of the refrigerator which was rusting and bubbling paint. (See photo) The unit is not air-conditioned and was hot. The bathroom shower cleanliness wasn't very good. Overall this was condo complex built in the 80s and it really shows. The bed mattresses were the soft squeaky kind you get in a cheap sleazy motel. They let kids with diapers swim in the pool so there were feces in the pool. Disgusting. The customer service in the office was just appalling. Not to mention they charge a $150 US cleaning fee upon checkout. This vacation condo rental is not recommended at all.
We recently stayed at the Aqua Bamboo for 4 nights in suite 807. We loved the fact that there was a kitchen (eat in if you like) a beautiful pool and the location can't be beat. It is about 1 1/2 blocks from the beach, near Honolulu Zoo, the bus route and lots of great restaurants. The hotel also offers beach towels and chairs. I would definitely recommend this hotel.
Staff were great but
Extraordinary827904
We stayed for 8 days. The rooms were neat. Our first room was good size but opened up to the broncs neighbours. Moved up to high floor on opposite side of building which was smaller room but heaps better view and less racket. Rooms are quite when doors closed but the air conditioner was old and very noisy. Noisy with street traffic if doors open. Location was okay.
Good Location, friendly staff
premkala16
(Medford, Oregon)
We booked this hotel through an Air BnB because the pictures of the pool were so inviting and the location to Waikiki Beach. Unfortunately the pool was closed for refurbishing when we went but we did sneak a peek and it is a beautiful setting. The rooms and the hotel interior is very dated, like many of the hotels in Waikiki. The rooms, elevator and lobby are small. Many of the rooms look out onto the busy street or an alley with a brick wall. Ask for a pool view. Location is fantastic for quick and easy access to the bus ( right outside the door) or the beach ( a very easy 5 minute walk). You are about a block and 1/2 from the international market which is pricey but a nice place to walk around. There is a car rental agency within a 3 minute walk of the hotel but no parking on site. We realized that parking for rental cars is almost more than the daily rental. Often 20 to 30 dollars for over night. close Restaurants are mostly local Hawaiian plate or asian food. Burger King and McDonalds are a few minutes walk away for those who want a quick cheap meal. This hotel is for the budget minded who want a nice pool retreat when not at the beach.
Nice
C3495ZTmarias
Priced well, great location. The parking filled up and we had to park next door. Not super inconvenient but a bit of a drag with luggage. Stayed for 4 nights and only had room cleaned once. They didnt give us fresh towels or replenish toiletries. Just made the bed and took out trash. No breakfast, the pool was under construction while I was there, not enough washers and dryers, also the washers and dryers are old and coin operated ones and I'm not sure how "clean" they really made my clothes. All in all it's a great spot for the price in the center of Waikiki/Honolulu. I was comfortable in my room and enjoyed my stay. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Keeping in mind this is by no means a 5 star hotel I would still recommend it as a place to stay if you want to be close to Waikiki beach. A few suggestions I have are updating the air conditioning to central air or something, the overall smell of the building was musty and they try off setting it with ALOT of what smells like off brand fabreez but that's just in the lobby area and elevators not I the actual rooms.
Nice place
anul644
(Kangasala, Finland)
Place is nice, but the staff never smiled. Few times I got smile from younger boy. The man who took care of the yard was very nice and polite.
Even if you did not need any cleaning in your room, they make sure that you pay anyway the cleaning.
We ended up changing our minds and staying here instead of at another hotel closer to the mall. The reasons we ended up staying here was for the view of the water/harbor, they offered rooms that had a full fridge and kitchen area, and it was not quite in the heart of the mall/shopping area.
We have a great experience overall. The staff was very friendly and very helpful from the front desk to the little ice cream shop to the mini market to the spa/massage area. The staff that handles the valet/parking situation is great as well if you rent a car. They get you in and out fast with no limit on how many times you can leave and come back.
My only gripe is that the beds were really firm.
Loved Ilikai
shazza_lc
(Salisbury, Australia)
We stayed at the Ilikai for 10 nights and booked direct. We arrived early and dropped our bags off while we walked down to Ala Moana Shopping Centre. We got back around 1.00 pm and had access to our apartment. The apartment was spacious and had views of the marina. It was a great location and we used the complimentary shuttle a couple of times. Staff could have been friendlier. We went to Cinnamons for dinner and didn’t rate it. It was easy getting the shuttle to the outlets from the guy out the front of the hotel under the umbrella. Definitely would stay here again
Review for a Rental of a privat Unit 1942 in the Ilikai Building
USASUN
(Zurich, Switzerland)
We rented this Unit through Waikiki Beach Rental. Booking process was easy.
Ilikai 1942 - Great location, really central, comfortable, clean and just like the pictures, the check-in was easy. Loved the view, beach access and the amenities of the Ilikai building. For 4 people the bathroom was a bit small, there were not enough towels and towel holder for drying. We had a perfect stay in this appartment. We would definitely stay here again!
Best end of Waikiki
Janine45
(Wellington)
This is our third stay at the Illikai. We love everything about it. the location and its proximity to restaurants and Ala Moana Shopping Mall and the beach and the public lagoon, and the views from the balconies..The list could go on.
It is a bit dated and an old establishment but many of the rooms are uodated and its clean.
We will always choose this hotel/condominium establishment.
Surprised
kruuza
(Auckland, New Zealand)
Our accommodation was cancelled last minute due to the new private home letting rules. We wanted a full kitchen and view
This was a great find on the 25 floor nice big rooms bigger than most with a small kitchen and good views. It was quiet and clean
Yes this on old hotel struggling but we no problem with any of the staff and the service was great
It was also great to be away from the downtown Waikiki
Travelled to Hawaii for the first time, with my sister. Ohia is in such a great location, close to shopping, food, block and a half from Waikiki beach, fabulous!
The staff were so friendly and efficient and although the bathroom was a little tired, the room was big enough, quiet enough and (a big surprise for me) the beds very comfortable and very clean. Would highly recommend the Ohia for price and proximity.
Aqua Ohia Waikiki Studio Suites
Os480
(Phoenix, Arizona)
Overall this was a decent room, friendly staff, and great location. The only issue we had was that housekeeping disregards the do not disturb sign. They entered our room while we were away even though we had the sign on. Make sure to rent a small car as the entry to their parking garage is really tight but the parking attendants are very nice
Very small rooms
rsegura85
(Gardena, California)
There is no swinging door for the bathroom l, just a sliding door that still stays a little open so there is no exclusive privacy. There were little bugs in the shower. The room itself was clean, but small.
Great experience overall.
mdchu7
(Orange County, California)
Not much to complain about. I understand it was an older hotel. Staff was friendly. Aside from the AC smell ling like filter was old when first walking into the room, everything else was clean. I don't notice the smell once you're inside for a bit though. Overall great experience.
Parking and dirty
Meander55068106291
Roaches everywhere, parking was terrible. We found several roaches in our room, and the parking was very very limited. They told us we can leave out car keys and double park for now, which I didn’t feel comfortable with cause it’s my rental and responsibility for damage to the car.
The Hotel was good and close to everything awesome little coffee shop in the lobby which we loved! But the staff in the hotel (There was one nice lady) were so grumpy especially the older man in the restaurant he was terrible, it was so unbelievably we nearly laughed, it’s ashame the staff bring down this place
If Snakes on a Plane were a hotel
Ben N
Sometimes something is so bad that it makes it comically good, thats almost the case here and then you realise that you did actually pay money to stay here so its not that funny. On the positives - it is relatively cheap for the area, it is located close to the beach and the room did have a bed in it.
Thats about when the good parts of the experience end - I cant speak for all the check in staff (so there might be some good ones), the one we had was just particularly surly (always a top trait for someone that works in hospitality), there is the $25 a day resort /amentie fee which is of course a joke as you have no option to pay it (just include it in the room price ffs) but this is a standard gouging across Hawaii so I wont blame this hotel specifically for that, however where it does get amazing is when you do look at the amenities - the gym aka "Exercise Area" which is a single broken wieder multi gym sitting outside the lobby, Im not sure if you could legally describe it as something safe to exercise on, Ive added a photo as I found it particularly amusing - note the fact that if you did roll the dice and actualy use that machine it is located almost in the lobby and next to the vending machines adding to the special ambiance they have created. The rooms have a bed, TV and bathroom in them, we were concerned the bathroom door was going to fall to pieces in our hands every time we touched it but it did manage to survive our stay (win!), the use of PS3s as inroom DVD players is an interesting one I guess you could look at that as a positive. The air conditioner definitely worked you had a choice of either OFF or MEAT LOCKER COLD, we chose to dance between the two settings throughout the evening to keep things interesting.
A few reviews have mentioned the breakfast and they are reasonably spot on, the angry greeting by the woman cooking pancakes is a bit of a low light but then the pancakes themselves are somewhat of a highlight of the whole hotel experience so its a real roller coaster of emotions throughout breakfast. It is served in an Asian buffet restaurant complete with large fishtank and ornate oval tables which does make for an interesting touch.
If you are looking for a cheap hotel close to the beach and can overlook getting any sort of pleasure out of the hotel you are staying at on holiday then this is a fabulous choice, if not perhaps spend a few more dollars and keep hunting around
No Aloha at the Aloha
Chale14197
(Menifee)
We stayed here through VRBO and the Ali'i beach rentals. The property is a bit dated, but pretty nice overall. The staff, however, is what I'd call apathetic and unfriendly. They are often also unavailable. They have a hotel where they have regular guests, Airbnb, and VRBO all staying under one roof. They freely admit they treat their guests differently than the VRBO or Airbnb. Understand you only need staff for onsite issues like parking and use of facilities. Seems easy right? These guys sold our parking space while we were still parked in it! They couldn't tell my wife where the swap meet is? You live here, right? They refused us pool towels causing a trip all the way back to the 16th floor? Like we wouldn't bring them back. Worse than all of that, they are flat out rude. Their apathy is obvious and they are unapologetic about it saying we are here staying with their competitors? Just wow. If they had treated us equal they may have gotten good reviews. Heck, I may have considered them as an option next time I come here, but after this experience I never would. Ali'I beach rentals are thoughtful and listen to their guests. I'd use them again just never to stay here!
Boutique Hotel to Avoid
LTibbs3
(Auburn, Washington)
We stayed at the Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki on our recent vacation in Honolulu. It wasn’t a pleasant experience. During our first night our air conditioner put out a horrible moldy smell all night. We complained and were moved to another room. All the rooms are very cramped and old looking. The breakfast buffet provided isn’t very good. The person running the buffet each morning is grouchy with guests and rude. My wife complained to the hotel of the way she was treated by this person. She was told that it was t run “officially” by the hotel, but was contracted. No excuse! I wouldn’t recommend this hotel.
8/10
159charlottem
(Reading, United Kingdom)
The hotel was clean with free breakfast buffet every day. Good laundry facilities and we loved the hire towel system. Spa on site but pricey, mind you, so is everywhere in Waikiki. This hotel was in a fantastic location- which did mean we could hear a lot of traffic from our room. There was a car park in the basement (very tight considering everyone has enormous trucks here) which is expensive at $30 a day. Remember they chuck a resort fee at you too- $25 a day to include everything you could ever want... NOT (free water in lobby, a newspaper, tea and coffee in room- ours didn’t have any)
The staff weren’t quite up to scratch. Seeing as I work in hospitality, I do always expect a nice welcome- ours was far from it. I detest when they take your credit card as a ‘bond’ and automatically charge it when you check out, despite making it clear that I actually wanted to use another card. This caused big and unnecessary issues for us!! They also don’t explain anything about resort fees or parking when you arrive. I did hear a colleague say to the woman who checked us in ‘Don’t be so down about it, you can always try again’ so she was clearly having a bad day- which turned into a bad week for the whole time we were there. I did feel bad for her, however ...her bad attitude shouldn’t have been put onto me & her customer service.
I stayed at this cozy hotel in the heart of Waikiki from 6 August to 13 August 2019 with my wife and two daughters. Upon our arrival we were greeted by Olivia who ensured our holiday began in good spirit.
Being in great location everything is at footsteps. The free shuttle to and from Ala Mouna through out the day is an extra bonus.
They have a nice little pool, concierge, breakfast area by the pool where the continental breakfast is served everyday.
All the staff members including house keeping, reception specially Olivia and Rachel were really amazing.
Wouldn't mind staying here again if I happen to visit Hawaii again in the future.
The best staff on Oahu
Lloyd G
I stayed at the Aqua Oasis for 42 days while I looked for a house. Not only are the military friendly...they are friendly in general. For anyone moving to the island on TLA take advantage of this gem. The location is great, continental breakfast is free every am and parking is free. If you get a room with burners you still receive full per diem. I want to give a S/O to Maria, Olivia, Mike, Mark, Stephen, Josh, Yuta, Rachael and anyone else that I missed. You guys helped make my stay in Waikiki a memorable one.
Room 801
Fantastic location and service in the heart of Waikiki!
hayleyep
(Sydney, Australia)
While there seem to be some other negative reviews on this place, I have to say having stayed there for a week, this place was excellent for a stay in Waikiki. Not only is it loacted in the perfect place for city transport, shopping, restaurants plus walking distance to the beach, the service here was outstanding! Maria (?), Rachel and front door man Mike were genuinely lovely, and helped us with any issues we had. They had free breakfast, a concierge service with Diana (who was fantastic) and the rooms were spacious and comfortable.
The only one suggestion I would have is to provide a kettle instead of a drip coffee machine and tea for those Australians who like tea as an alternative to drip coffee.
I would recommend and would stay here again on a trip to Waikiki. Thanks!
City motel - avoid unless the suites fit you!
ErikandSandya
(Colombo, Sri Lanka)
Location is decent, 10 mins walk from Waikiki beach and in the midst of malls and food courts. Building is dated, but bathrooms etc. are renovated just enough to make it manageable.
Cannot judge about the normal rooms. Can judge about the facilities downstairs, really dismal for this price. A stamp size pool surrounded by concrete walls hence hardly sunlight. And a 'continental' breakfast where even a motel would feel ashamed of: cereals, milk, bread/bagel, some fruits and juices. Nothing for the bread except butter and jelly (no meats/cheese etc), no yoghurt. Only served 7-9 AM, and apparently one of the reasons why they dare to charge a Resort Fee of USD 25/room/night on top of the room prices!
However for us the price/value of the junior suite was good enough to book, and an on the spot free upgrade to a full suite of 700 square feet made it a lot better. All praise for the room and huge balcony, floor 11 is called the Penthouse floor for a reason. But might not have done even this had we known better about the pool and breakfast...
Made a stressful time easier
Maps583125
My family and I stayed here for 10 days while moving. This was one of the only hotels in Waikiki that would allow our family of 5 to stay in one room. It was comfortable and clean. Having access to a full sized refrigerator was extremely helpful. It was centrally located and easily accessible. All staff we came in contact with were courteous, professional, and helpful. Olivia at the front desk was especially amazing. From talking with her over the phone while making the reservation to the day we checked out she made me feel at ease and answered every question I had. I would definitely stay here again, especially for an extended stay.
My daughter and I stay in a hotel 7 nights,the rooms was clean,the hotel staff tried very hard.Only inconvienience-early morning 7.30am constructions,the noise from the jard,I understand Waikiki geting new look,everything else perfect and worth the money.Best Regards from Vancouver,thank you Pacific Monarch,Agnes&Natalia
Fantastic service
637nancyc
This place is fantastic everything you need at a reasonable price and close to everything from buses, shops, restaurants and beach.
The service and help from amazing staff at the desk is outstanding especially from Cherly and Keiko. They always greet you with a smile and go over and beyond to help in whatever you need. Definitely recommend
Convenient Location & Affordable Price
Charles S
(Canberra, Australia)
This hotel met our budget requirements when staying on Honolulu for 10 days. We spent most of our time touring around the sites of Hawaii and a basic clean room was all we needed. It is only a block or two back from the beach and walking around was a breeze. If you're coming in on a red-eye flight from Australia, pay for the extra night's accommodation, give them a call and let them know you'll be checking in mid morning when your flight lands. They had baggage check in but no real lounge area where you could spend a few hours waiting for check in time. There is parking on site at about $30USD per day. I would stay here again when visiting Honolulu. It is about a 15 min taxi ride from the airport and about $50USD in fare. You can walk to Alamo for rental cars in Honolulu easily if you wanted to get a car locally instead of jumping behind the wheel at the airport after a red-eye flight.
Great for families
fiziorach
Excellent value for money if you’re travelling with younger school age kids. Friendly, helpful staff. Awesome location, so central, we got away without hiring a car for our entire two week stay. The kitchen has a large refrigerator and oven and a good supply of cooking utensils. Very clean. We will definitely stay again next trip!!! Thank you for having us.
PS there is currently a lot of road work outside the hotel. It didn’t bother us at all because we were out all day, but if you’re a complainer, stay elsewhere.
Great base on Oahu
Suzanne G
(lafayette, United States)
This hotel is in a great location, easily walkable to Waikiki Beach. The condo was quite small for 4 people but fine for 2. It was well equipped with beautiful views and very little noise. We enjoyed the rooftop pool as well. The lobby is minimal but the staff was quite helpful.
It’s my second visit at the hotel.
I find it to be pleasant near shopping,restaurants and a short beach walk.
Rooms clean
The parking is kinda of cramp
The pool is small,for us anyway
4-5 people and that’s it full
But honestly for
For a family with a budget it’s ok
Can’t go wrong
Ohau, Hawaii
Sharmila P
(Wellington)
Loved our stay in Hawaii. It was so central to big malls, beach, shops, eateries, cultural centre, activities.
Hospitality comes to mind; like one big family.
Fresh fruit available at reception, with water and hot drinks.
We took a few trips in our short stay.
The Chiefs Luau was spectacular. Buffet with island specialty in its true island style outdoors in the evening. This was held at Wet n Wild location. We were bused to this location; great way to see the rest of Oahu with commentaries all the way. On arrival, we received cocktail and got to try out making headbands from coconut frond, fresh coconut tasting and other activities.We were greeted with Hawaiian leis which we were able to take away as souvenirs.
The performances followed the buffet. So amasing with all the different islands doing their traditional performances and relating their ancestral stories. The world champion fire dancers lining up the waterfall was truly spectacular.
So memorable.
We also took a sunset cruise. Another great evening with amasing buffet, cocktails and the amasing performances; truly hawaiian hula! Wow; unforgettable time in Hawaii......
Affordable Honolulu Hotel
toshijuki
(Tokyo Prefecture, Japan)
I stayed here 3 nights and liked front staffs and complimentary coffee. Moreover there is a famous restaurant IHOP next to Aqua Palms. I could go to Ala Moana Center on foot. Totally it’s a convenient hotel. If you can’t stay at Hilton Waikiki Beach, please choose here. You’ll get a comfortable stay:)
Two Night Stay
mechanic1987
(Anniston, Alabama)
The property was very clean and the room was good size our had the Partial view of the ocean which was good for our first time to Hawaii. the shuttle service leaves alittle to be desired. we took and UBER and it was very reasonble compared to the Shuttle to Pearl Harbor. They charge per person for the shuttle. the free shutlle only goes to a few places. But the Hotel was great and the staff.
Get what you pay for
kaykaystar
(Braintree, Massachusetts)
We stayed a night after our cruise. Was cheaper compared to other places. The rooms were average. We found hair in our shower and a big stain on the floor near the bed. Smelled musty. The parking was reasonable. Not great but not horrible.
I decided to do a staycation in Waikiki with my mother and 2yr old. We are local Kama'aina but we haven't stayed in Waikiki for over 8yrs. This location was perfect for us! Off the loud noisy Waikiki hustle and bustle and in walking distance to International Marketplace and Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center.
Staff was very friendly upon check-in they accommodated me with a slight early check-in because my daughter was throwing a fit in the lobby! (Nap Time)...we enjoyed the nice cool room at end of the night and even though we stayed for just the weekend we wished we stayed one more night!
We will definitely come back and stay again and explore Waikiki!
Great Hotel and Great Staff!!!
Glennjacirach
Had the pleasure of staying at the Aqua Skyline Hotel during a recent conference in Waikiki.
Great amenities such as the pool, jacuzzi, and store on the 6th floor.
Such great facility staff!
Highly recommend if you need a great place to stay!
Back to school
zachary k
Mahalo to the staff and management of Aqua Skyline at Island Colony. Took my family for the last weekend of summer. Upon check in, the front desk was very pleasant and helpful, providing us helpful tips and towel service for the use at the pool. We immediately got settled and headed to the pool. How relaxing in the hot tub and how much fun my girls had in the spacious sized pool. We swam till dark. More swimming in the morning and returned to a nice clean room with fresh towels and a tidy room. What a wonderful weekend. We look forward to our next staycation at the Aqua Skyline at Island Colony.
Mahalo, Ohana Kaai
All You Need
K-town74
Located in the heart of Waikiki. Three minute walk to the International Market Place, ten minute walk to the beach, shopping and food galore, and a great place to stay. Friendly, knowledgeable staff that treat you like family. 5 Stars!!
Nice clean room
famvacMontreal
(Lachine, Canada)
Nice 2 queen beds room. Good service. Nice pool, chairs and day beds. Provide beach towels and beach chairs. Near the canal. Close to bus, stores and restaurants. Can walk to go to Waikiki Beach or Honolulu Zoo
We loved the Papakea resort. We booked thru Homeaway. As others have said the grounds are beautiful and very well kept. The staff does an amazing job. They have a few activities at the resort. We did lei making and that was really fun. The pools were nice and had many bbq's. We would swim and bbq our dinners...great fun! No beach, but the condo right beside it does have a small beach and we enjoyed swimming there. The unit we had was very well equipped with an ocean and pool view. Lovely. But it did not have AC and it was hot and humid in Maui when we were there, which mean the condo was hot and sweaty! Choose a until with AC if going in the summer months. Loved the location. Easy access north to beaches and south to Lahaina. When the traffic was good it only took about 35 min to the airport area. In traffic it took an hour, so just be careful of that. Highly recommend this resort. Would stay there again (in an AC condo in the summer or the unit we stayed in in the non summer months).
Family Friendly
497eliseb
We rented our unit through VRBO. The unit was updated and clean and had a great view. It appeared that most units would have a pretty nice view based on the layout. The resort was immaculate. We watched workers clean and scrub the pool, jacuzzi, and grills every morning. The landscaping is beautiful and they pay attention to every detail. There is a food truck park open at night, a supermarket, and a few cafes right across the street. Good snorkeling beaches and the town of Lahaina are a close drive. For people that like to have pool and grill time some nights, this place is quiet and family oriented.
Loved it!
708lanaf
(Redding, United States)
An older but well kept resort. The lobby was undergoing renovations so we didn’t get to see it.
The staff is friendly and the grounds are gorgeous.
Our room had been updated and had an ocean view. It was just a few steps from the beach. Our daughters two bedroom needed a bit more updating.
You can wade out in the water area but not great for swimming. There is s beach right next door that you can use for swimming.
Papakea has tennis courts, shuffleboard and nice barbecue areas. The teen kids really had a great time. We would definitely stay there again.
The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars was due to a bit of updating some rooms needed.
Photos below were taken from our room.
Don’t do it!!!!
saraheI1988TK
(Maui, Hawaii)
Pick any other hotel then this one!!! It was horrible. First off, our kids could not wait to go to the pool. Well the fun lasted about 1 minute. No floaters, no jumping, no “Marco polo”, no carrying anyone, no one on your shoulders= BORING!! There are no shades by the pool so you are in direct sunlight. We booked a “two bedroom/2 bath” Oceanview suite. Disappointed again. Our room was actually one room and a loft. There was only one air conditioning unit in the living room. Our room had a ceiling fan only. We had to sleep on top of the covers with the door open to get any relief from the heat. We were responsible for washing our pool towels but we given 1 detergent for 7 days. When I called for me pool towels, not bath towels, I was told they had to call Aston to see if that is okay. Seriously, every other hotel nearby gives you day use towels no questions asked. There is no restaurant or bar either on the property. They make you walk next door to their other property to eat/drink. Plus, the front desk staff is not helpful at all because they don’t “own” the property, just “manage” it. So any issue you have requires them to call Aston. Every single time!! I am sad that we wasted our money on this crappy establishment. Beware.
Location is everything
burney-jones
(Nashville, Tennessee)
The sunset every night was spectacular. From our deck on the third floor we had views of the mountains and the crystal clear water. The sound of the ocean at night was amazing. The location of our condo was near the ABC store and across the street from the grocery store as well as various restaurants. The pool and grounds were well-maintained. The grills Located in the pool area was very convenient and we used them several times. I would definitely consider this property again.
This place has a lot of potential. It’s in a decent location and the building has common areas that show its former class. But the hotel needs a complete remodel. When I saw the bathroom tub - I immediately thought of the Brady Bunch. The place is clean and comfortable. The beds and linens are nice and the views are great. But a small investment in updating this place would make a world of difference. It feels like a 1980s hotel inside and its 2019. Time for a much needed remodel for the price. I won’t return without a remodel.
Beautiful views and Comfy accommodations!
kdooka
(Wailuku, Hawaii)
After staying here numerous times, i am so happy to say this was my best stay. I requested a room with double beds and happily the request was fulfilled. Upon arrival i was greeted with the reception knowing my name.. that was impressive. The room was beautifully decorated and updated to the nines! I hope i can get that room again! Thank you Aston Executive Center!
Beware. Terrible “Hotel”
MV-Luv
(Marion, CT)
We stayed here due to its proximity to NCL Cruise pier. It is an urban hotel that is really a set of condos. Arriving at 9 pm there were already numerous homeless people on the street in close proximity to front entrance, which is an escalator. Our Uber driver told us not to walk around after dark. The woman at the front desk told us, yes, there were numerous homeless out there, but “if you leave them alone, they won’t bother you.” Not the Aloha welcome we were expecting. So the location, other than being close to pier, is really bad and should be avoided.
To make bad matters even worse, the hotel is just a set of condos managed by a management company and is not managed well. I agree with other reviews that their employees don’t care because it’s not their property, a common issue with like properties. They know nothing of the rooms. We upgraded to a water view and I posted a photo of the view. Hardly any water and lots of industrial equipment. The rooms are suites, but there is no curtain on the French doors dividing the bedroom from the living space. So it cannot be used as a suite, as someone cannot sleep while your partner is watching TV or even reading in the living area. The room was sparse with nothing to sit on except a low quality pull out couch that slid when you sat on it. No rugs or carpet, our room looked more like a dressing room in Macy’s than a hotel room. The air travel above hotel is very loud and disturbing, and our room had a steady set of loud thumps that came on a regular basis, also very disturbing. As a added bonus, if you stay on the weekend, the restaurant is closed. Not even a coffee bar in the lobby with muffins. Nothing! Instead they give you a map to venture among the homeless outside to find a nearby Seven Eleven or Starbucks. The TV operation is also incomprehensible to operate with a explanatory card providing numerous sets of codes to just turn it on. It didn’t work the first five times we tried to turn it on. The simple on/off switch on the remote does not work normally.
In short, I would avoid this “hotel” as it is not a hotel at all and is not safe at night. Need to take Uber to dock anyway do I would recommend staying at a real hotel in a safe area that has basic amenities that this place lacks.
I wish that the room was like the photo
guy d
(Hamilton, NZ)
We stayed here as it is closer to the airport than most hotels in Honolulu. Unfortunately we found that the rooms are run down. The walls in the rooms are in poor condition and the bathrooms are extremely dated. Our suite was very clean and the carpet had been shampoo'ed recently. A large bed as advertised. There are some good restaurants in the neighborhood (10 minute walk). The pool is very basic.
Terrible stay with staff that don’t care and can’t even apologise
T4127SMjohnc
(Sydney, Australia)
Paid for a corner suite with a king bed, get in the room, has two singles. When we raised it with the staff we were told not there fault, they don’t know what are in the rooms.... got moved to a room which was half the size with half the features and no compensation... told we would be called if a room matching our reservation came up (we were staying 4 nights) guess what no calls... I would of let it go if the staff could of admitted the fault and apologized, instead all I got was it’s not their fault and they don’t know what’s in the room... clearly not true! Would not recommend booking here... no guarantees you will get what you paid for! At least our friends on the same booking did... half right!
Decent stay. The location was awesome. Probably the best part of staying here all together. We were able to walk to most places to eat and drive about 5-10 minutes to other places. The beach was right across.
I love that they have a covered parking area, we didn’t have to put the top of our Jeep on until we got there late one night and had to park on the top floor of the garage. That only happened once though.
Housekeeping was okay. They barely made it to our room, they came at such odd hours. Would show up at 2/3 when normally we would be back at the room to rest.
Front desk was very helpful and welcoming.
It was a nice place, great location.
Good Location and Safe
PickyNONsmokingMom
(Lees Summit Missouri)
Good: covered parking is an option; Studio condo apartment was clean; Had a mini-fridge with mini freezer, microwave, dishes. Lots of channels on tv. Good views. Short walk to restaurants, beach. It is set back from the road so its quiet at night.
Not so good: Water pressure in shower was DISMAL--as was the temperature (we had to run the shower for about 5 minutes to get it to be something other than icewater). The AC unit was on its last legs as it took a good 40 min to get where we wanted the temperature at our first arrival. WE booked this through VRBO and dealt directly with the owner, so no problems checking in. However, when we went to the front desk, the personnel were extremely unhelpful, so I was glad our owner gave us all the check-in information ahead.of time.
Overall, it was a good centrally-located place to stay without the expense of Lahaina.
Pay attention to the office hours
grossi1Vigevano
(Vigevano)
My wife, my teenager and me arrived one Friday night a few minutes past eleven. Sadly reception closes at that hour. Even if two guys were inside, nobody looked at us. Nobody gave us any direction and stayed outside to call our tour operator...
In a metter of 10 minutes a security man on charge told us to take the phone outside to talk at a call center. And we did, the lady made us open a safe and found inside an envelope. Inside direction to go to our suite. “Well done” I said, but then he keys didn’t work... So I went back to the phone. Another lady answered, controlled and told me the room was not 203 but 205. Back again to my family hoping this time is the right one: no, the 205 room doesn’t exist. Now I’m upset. I called the call center once again, explained to another girl what happened. She said she would check what happened and call me back. It was 1 am. I called again and again. Nothing happened. I told my family to prepare to sleep in the car. But when our hope was about to vanish, something came true.
The security man finally had his boss’ ok to let us enter the room 203. At 2 am!!!
The room was comfortable but old fashioned. Bathroom little but the suite was large. Noisy air conditioning directly from the ‘70 (conditioning was on all day long and turned off at night but we used fan to sleep).
At this moment you probably asked yourself what was ok... well directly in front of the resort you find Kamaole beach II, one of the best in Kihei. Let’s think about this.
Nevertheless Maui was a great holiday. We didn’t let Aston ruin our vacation.
Please consider to arrive before 11pm if you choose Aston Maui Banyan.
If you like condos then a reasonable option
Goldrichie
(Melbourne, Australia)
We do not like Condos, but in Maui, in Kihei they are about your only real option unless you stay in a splurge hotel. The room we had (310a) was small, but tastefully decorated in an albeit bland way. We were a little surprised because we thought we had a room with a kitchenette, but that is locked away in the rest of room 310. Check that if you are counting on such. Car parking is onsite (but you only get to use unreserved spots on a first come first served basis), as are good swimming pools. Wifi worked well, but a noisy through the wall old style AC unit was obnoxious to the point we turned it off - but without a ceiling fan it got a bit clammy overnight. The beach is right over the road as there are good restaurants a short walk or drive away. This part of Kihei has lots of life (unlike nearby walled off Wailea), and that is Kihei's saving grace - despite the bland condos...
Great Stay
Cassandra T
(Toronto, Canada)
We stayed here for 10 days in the middle of June. We had a one bedroom condo with two bathrooms. The room was spacious and clean. We had a kitchenette which was a great way to save money and take a break from eating out. The grounds were maintained and the location was amazing. You are walking distance to many restaurants and beaches. The staff were friendly. I recommend booking excursions with the Expedia rep in the lobby, he was super nice and helpful. I would definitely recommend staying here if you are planning to visit Maui.
We are here at the moment in the middle of a 12 night stay. Our daughter us just beginning her study at University of Hawaii so have made this our holiday. Fantastically located in Waikiki, we are on 32nd floor with great views of the ocean and the mountains.
The staff have been extremely friendly and helpful. The rooms are clean, functional and the beds comfy. Great pool area on the 6th floor with loads of loungers. It was a long journey from the UK but glad we are staying here as it is so close to everything. Beach is literally 2 minutes away. Definitely recommend.
No room, no contact, no concern
voyagers51
(Ballarat, Australia)
We were booked into this accommodation for 10 days by a very reputable travel company only to discover upon our arrival that there wasn’t any condominiums available! We weren’t given any explanation for this other than the front desk person telling us that they had “lost” some inventory. Asking why they didn’t contact me the reply was that they didn’t have our details. Why wouldn’t they have contacted the travel company to inform them of the conundrum?
Very unsettling and disappointing to find out that you have to scramble to find accommodation elsewhere even though you have paid for it months in advance!
After several phone calls to our travel consultant in Australia to inform her of our situation, we were eventually directed to a property for our stay some 3 hours later.
No real concern was shown by the Manager but we were thankful that we had a great consultant back home that came to our aid.
Great Location and Nice Condo
329rebekahr
(Sydney, Australia)
I recently stayed at the Banyan in May 2019, we had a 1 bedroom condo with an ocean view on the 7th floor, the room was clean and comfortable with all the amenities including a washer dryer on each floor. Cant wait to get back in November 2019. Its close to everything Waikiki has to offer.
Beware -- Confirmed Reservation with Deposit doesn't guarantee you a room!
Michael K
(Brisbane, Australia)
We showed up at 9PM after a long day of travel with a small child, with a reservation that had been in place for months and a deposit paid, and were told there was no room for us!
Due to an 'overbooking' our reservation had been switched, without any notice or consultation, to another hotel on the far other side of Waikiki. We had been in touch with the hotel as recently as five days before our arrival, and there had been no mention any problems. The staff people had no information about the alternate hotel or what kind of room we had.
With no time to research alternatives, we had to schlep our stuff back outside and wait for another cab. The Banyan said they would pay for the cab (how generous!), but they underpaid the route, leaving us with an ugly situation with the driver on the other end. Now we're spending our vacation in a hotel we had no input in selecting, on the end of Waikiki we didn't want. (We had chosen the Banyan in part for its location near the zoo and its tennis court.) We've stayed at Aston properties literally a dozen or more times. Never again.
Disappointing
Freedom816789
(Idaho Falls, Idaho)
Our room was old, outdated and uncomfortable! Nothing like the photos show. The only things they have going for them is location, price and the pool deck. We arrived at 2:56 and were told we had to wait until 3 to check in because our room wasn't ready, it took more than 4 minutes for the actual check in but whatever. Upon check out they tried to charge me for a roll away bed and when I said we didn't use one they made me wait for someone to physically check my room like I was lying! No ice machine but there is a bucket, the rental kiosk wouldn't let return my movies so here's hoping they don't charge me for those later because I had to return them at the desk and so far they proved to be pretty incompetent!
The facility is essentially condos rented out by the owners. We rented a 2 bedroom unit on the top floor of tower 1 and was absolutely gorgeous. It had a fully equipped kitchen stocked with everything from cooking equipment to a coffee maker and the decor was wonderful. It also had a lanai that extended around the 2 sides of the unit. Beach and pool access are convenient and the rental for umbrellas and chairs is very reasonable.
Parking is free. Downtown Lahaina is a very short 10 ride away.
We ahve stayed in various other facilities in the area and Walaia and its safe to say this is the best bang for the buck that you will get on Maui.
Sad and Disappointed...
jsrmck
(Delray Beach, Florida)
My husband and I have been vacationing at The Whaler since 1993.
We considered it our Maui home away from home. Unfortunately, things at home have gone downhill.
Our recent stay was in unit 518. There are some maintenance issues that need to be addressed. I am not talking about the decor, but the upkeep.
In no particular order, the issues are, worn and stained draperies. Suspicious stain on the upholstery of the easy chair (we did not want to use the chair). Faded cushions on the dining room chairs, stained and worn marble on the bathroom sink vanity, a tub in serious need of reglazing and worn marble in the tub surround.
Also, due to a really sloppy paint job, there were flecks of paint all over the floor in the kitchen, bath, and hall area. I kept thinking it was sand which needed to be swept up.
The bathroom sink was clogged with an enormous amount of hair when we arrived at the unit. That was taken care of promptly. But that seemed to be the only thing that was easily solve able.
And now you are probably all asking why I didn't ask to be moved. We did not ask to be moved due to an interaction with the desk clerk during check in. The desk clerk mentioned an upgrade. Silly me, I thought we were being upgraded because we were repeat customers. No, he was offering to let us pay $345.00 per night for an upgrade to ocean front, effectively doubling the cost of our stay. After that little conversation, my feeling was that no one would be willing to assist us unless we paid extra for it.
We have never paid for a premium room, and have always found the units in which we stayed to be in very good shape. This was the exception to the rule, and a very bad one it was.
Plus, Spectrum cable was upgrading the modems the week we were there and we got kicked off the wifi in our unit and had to wait for service to be restored.
And don't get me started about the pool and the chaise lounges. The rules are clearly stated about reserving chaise lounges, yet we were never able to find chairs after 9 am, due to the fact that many guests came at 7 am, dumped their towels on the chairs and hogged them all day. I did complain to the front desk about the lack of available lounges at the pool, and I was told that they could do nothing about it. If I had an issue, I was told to speak to the pool concessions and pool security and point out who it was that was hogging the beach chairs. Absolutely not! It should not be up to the guests to police the use of the chaise lounges.
The only reason I am rating it average and not poor is because of our great sentimental attachment to the Whaler.
Add to all this, the erosion of the beach directly fronting the Whaler, and I think it is time to say Aloha and Mahalo... Sigh.
Awesome time at the Whaler unit 869
jeff722016
(Camas, Washington)
If your thinking about traveling to Maui and wanting to know where to stay the Whaler is your place. It is nice because it is more affordable than the resorts that surround it and offers spacious units, large lanai’s, wonderful views in the best location on The island. We stayed in unit 869 and rented on VRBO. The owner is great to work with and the unit met all of our needs. Kaanapali beach is one of the best in the world with great snorkeling, swimming, and a safe fun beach walk that is conveniently located next to awesome shopping and restaurants. We have come here for years and will definitely be back for some more memorable times.
Love the Whaler. We have stayed there for the past 10 years.
Marshall P
We book through VRBO and a private owner. Best place on Kaanapali beach, close to shops and restaurants and the best view of Black Rock. The place is very clean and has a great pool, friendly staff and you can walk in both directions to other hotels along the path.
A home away from home.
J W
(Georgetown, Texas)
This condo was exactly what I would expect from an excellent facility. It is a condo complex in a resort location. It is not a resort in itself, i.e. no restaurants on the property, only a small pool, etc. What you do get is very large rooms, comfortable beds with quality sheets and towels, very clean with daily service, an excellent kitchen with all the required extras to make the kitchen complete, a very large outside patio which was ideal to see the ocean at a 90 degree angle, beautiful birds which would visit us (my wife was even able to hand feed a few of them), an excellent outside area with cooking grills, private underground parking, and a very good concierge service in the lobby for booking various activities. The staff was extremely friendly and always kept hot coffee and fruit flavored tea available from early morning to late afternoon.
This is what we wanted. We felt like this was our home for 6 nights. A mall was only a five minute walk away, convienent for incidentals and shopping if that is your thing. A wonderful Safeway was only a short drive away. So if a condo is what you want and not a disney type resort, then I highly recommend the Whaler. We had no concerns, but I feel the staff would address any problems that might surface.
We stayed in unit #161, which is ground floor and has an ocean view (building is diagonal to the beach. We are a family of four, with two 12 year olds. Next year we probably would have to rent two units, but the pull out couch worked for the kids this year.
The room has a king sized bed, a pull out sofa, table with two chairs, patio table with two chairs, mini fridge, microwave, and basic silverware, plates,ironing board, two boogie boards, two beach chairs, two beach towels, coffee maker, two coolers. The ice machine is nearby in the building front and to the left. Bring extra t.p. and paper towels or buy them at foodland.
There is no laundry service at the condo but there is one about a mile away next to foodland. The machines are huge so you can do a weeks worth of laundry for four people for like 8 bucks in one machine. Foodland is cheaper than the other stores nearby and if you register with your phone number you get the discounts. We saved 30 dollars just buying a few things.
The condo is a perfect location to do the backcountry adventure tubing, rainbow kayak adventures, sleeping giant cafe (fantastic food), lava lounge, and smith family luau. The kayaking actually shared the parking lot. Use my itinerary for a great trip, stay here, then book the tubing, the kayaking, the luau, see ke'e' beach and snorkel there and poi poi beach, and take the island helicopters tour of the napali coast.
If you plan to drive to the napali coast and see Ke'e' beach it takes about an hour to get there. Don't forget to make reservations on line 2 weeks in advance of the day you visit if you want parking.
Coconut grove shopping center is within easy walking distance and has free shows twice a week in their pavilion area. There is an ABC store, clothing stores, and shave ice right there as well. Groceries were expensive, drive to foodland.
The beach is beautiful, it's on the east side of the island so it's not recommended for swimming due to rip currents. It is very close to lydgate beach which has a lava rock protected area to swim and snorkel, I recommend this for kid learning to snorkel.
The pool is nice, has a bar and a hot tub. It also has three grills. Hit up costco and grill everynight.
Keep the AC on dry setting for a more comfortable stay. THere is one blanket for the bed and one for the pullout as well as sheets and 4 pillows.
Hostile reception
Jills56
(Sydney, Australia)
The moment we arrived at the hotel we could tell it wasn’t going to be a good experience. Susan on reception was so incredibly rude. She must have been having a bad day because the next day she was trying hard but that was too little too late from the way she behaved when we arrived.
budget friendly and very well located
FrogsAndNewts
(East Meadow, New York)
Kapaa is an excellent location on Kauai for excursions -- going east or west is a breeze and you can find yourself in the canyon or at the beaches within only a short drive. The hotel is right on the beach -- my ocean view room was mere steps from the water, though I wouldn't necessarily swim at this rocky location. The front desk staff were entirely helpful and lovely. A situation occurred with my room and they solved it before I even arrived. No restaurant on site, but there is a shopping center across the parking lot with choices. The pool is tiny, but it was lovely to sit next to sipping a cold drink listening to the local musician at evening. I'm used to swank resorts and this is not one, but it is well kept, well priced, well located, and entirely lives up to what it needs to do.
Not a bad place
CaliKlines
(Yorba Linda, California)
We booked the Aston Islander thru Costco, and it was inexpensive and a decent value. Rooms were clean and cold.We were in the Maui building...not a great location on the property, but we were mere steps away from the beach. We enjoyed the proximity to the Island Market (ABC Store) and to the Lava Lava Beach Club in the Kaua'i Shores hotel next door. It was a great place to eat right on the sand. We also ended up using their pool and hot tub, as the water felt less chlorinated. To hit a good beach, you really have to drive. Not far, but not right out your door either.
Average
Luciano S
(Harlingen, Texas)
The resort is conveniently located near the Lihue airport and is indeed on the beach. After that, it's kind of what the title says. The place is dated and in need of a face lift. The rooms are kept clean and have the bear necessities amenities. However, the bathrooms are small. I can, however, see this place blossom with adequate renovations. The beach is narrow and very rough. I'd recommend water footwear if tempted to dive in the ocean. The best part of it are the grounds that are kept pristine clean and cosmetically attractive. The pool, hot tub and pool bar are cute in their own way. As far as I'm concerned, it fit the bill for a short, one night stay.
I booked 3 two bedroom/ two bath, and 1 studio with ocean views (um sure, if you lean over the railing. Pay the extra hundred bucks for oceanfront if they have them. The rooms were tired, old & dated. Air conditioning bearly worked, and many of the days they skipped cleaneing even though it was supposed to be ever day. There are so many choices on where to stay in Maui, but I do not think we will ever book here ahain...
Needs some TLC
Sightseer20449
(San Diego Area, CA)
Stayed in a 2 bedroom 2 bath for a week. Found our unit to be old and worn and in need of some TLC. While not dirty, it didn't feel clean due to rusted fixtures, missing base boards, dirty windows and broken light fixtures. If the quality of the room had matched the views it would have been a dream unit to stay in.
Great 4**** hotel
Mimsi007
(Vienna, Austria)
The image on the website looks better than the reality. But altogether the hotel is really nice. We would come again.
It is a big ugly and old-fashioned building, but you find anything you need.
The kitchen is fully equipped.
The sofa bed for the kids not comfy.
The restaurant has a small but authentic menu and food quality is great.
The beach is just a small strip, often flooded. Don't buy the beach chair combos they are trying to sell you. Those can be flooded easily.
Towel exchange is easy.
Housekeeping is depending on the person in charge sometimes with room to improve. But everything is clean. Staff is very attentive and friendly. Parking is limited.
Loved my stay here
Safari682942
(Los Gatos, California)
I’ll be honest, after reading all the reviews I was nervous that my family vacation in Lahaina would not be as great as I had hoped but it was so wonderful. The staff is amazing, my view was fantastic and the beach was perfectly fine.
We are a family of 4 with two boys ages 6 and 15. A 1 bedroom ocean view suite was just perfect for our 10 night stay. The boys crashed on the couch bed and my husband and I took the bedroom. We had a great view of the ocean from the bedroom and the balcony. For the parents.... the walls are concrete ;) Check in and the stay went smoothly and so I have no complaints.
There are 2 pools both are fun for different reasons and the kids really enjoyed them. We would go from swimming in the ocean to swimming in the pool every day. The pools are clean and weren’t over packed with people. We were able to play volley ball with the beach ball given to kids at check in without bumping into people.
The beach has sand, however, I was told if a strong storm comes in it can wash the sand away. We didn’t experience that though. There are rocks in the water but it’s the ocean. There were a couple says we had some fun waves too. Mostly, it was pretty calm. Snorkeling was fun here too and you don’t have to go very far. We saw so many fish big and small. Also, my brother in law saw a sea turtle. You’ll want to explore all the near by beaches because they are all good for different reasons. The best snorkeling we found was at Kapalua Bay Beach just a few minutes up the road. Go to Boss Frog’s on the way to rent snorkeling equip and underwater cameras. They had great prices and were super cool about us keeping the equipment until we left. We also rented a life jacket from the resort. They were just as cool about us keeping for our entire stay. Just a few minutes in the other direction is Kaanapali beach and Black Rock beach (large rock to jump off of). The waves here were so fun to play in for the grown ups. I do think the best beach for the younger kids (my sister who also stayed here has a 4 year old and a 5 year old) the one right outside of the hotel. Really, it was calm and shallow most day’s.
Thank you Kaanapali Shores for an amazing stay. My family will remember our trip forever.
The Kollross Family (we were room 911)
Great setting
jbborks
(Arlington Heights, Illinois)
The only reason this gets 4 starts is the lack of its own beach. It has a small area you can get into the ocean from for snorkeling or swimming but little to no room for towels for laying out. However, the property itself was beautiful, the rooms clean, large, big kitchen with a large grocery store across the street to stock up. It had two pools, one more kid friendly, a large yard for games like bag-o,etc. There were water filling stations, easy towel exchange, a good restaurant on the property. Beach access to all other beaches and restaurants were easy via the beach walk nearby. The concierge was very helpful with excursions and there was plenty of parking. There were hours for the pool so it was not too loud too early or too late.
Wonderful but could have been exceptional if only for the king size bed!
calikat2
I love to travel and my two important requirements in a place is cleanliness and a comfortable bed. This time we Decided to spend a bit more money since it was the first time at the Big Island. We got condo 210 a two bedroom Two bath oceanfront condo. The king size room had the ocean view and the twin size bedroom had the view to the Open air hallway and mountains.There was a shower next to the king size bedroom and a shower tub combo in the twin size room. The Lanai off of the living room area and the king size bed area were amazing. The kitchen had a large refrigerator, microwave, electric stove/ oven, Electric can-opener, dishwasher, full set of dishes and bowls, paper towels were provided, everything you would think you would need even salt and pepper. The condo had a stackable washer and dryer that worked well located off the kitchen area.
Tips: buy your own laundry detergent. We got a small bag of the tide pods. If you want to use the dishwasher get some dishwashing pods as well.
There is no restaurant on site you have to drive north for like 5 mins. There is a liquor store two doors north of the condo. Walkable.
I would recommend getting a car for the Big Island. It is huge compare to the others and not much of any mass transit.
Know were your food shopping stores are the local farmers markets close around 5 ish.
Go to the beaches early because they get full quickly and parking is hard.
Much of the local restaurants weren’t that good but the Kona brewery was awesome!!!
Pro:
The view!!!!
No resort fee for us (booked with Costco travel). Or any crazy cleaning fee’s. We did pay a daily housekeeping fee but it was under $13 a day.
The condo was clean and plenty of room for our two kids. Felt like a home instead of a hotel room.
We loved that the bedrooms were divided by the living area.
Housekeeping made our beds and gave us fresh towels everyday. Took the trash out. Even gave us 6 beach towels that were clean and thick.
Free parking in a covered parking garage under the condo. They had a luggage cart available to use.
Security was good you could only use the elevator with your key card.
They provided free movie rentals and or video games two a day like a redbox rental. Playstation in the living room area.
The staff was always friendly.
The grounds were immaculate.
Had a wonderful salt water pool right next to the shore.
Had some beach toys like boogie board left in the twin size bedroom closet. Looked like it was left by previous guests.
Cons:
The king size bed was very uncomfortable. It was very hard and seems like it was an old mattress. The bed frame would make A creaking noise every time you would go into or out of the bed. We asked for a mattress pad or something from the front desk and they got us some foam yellow mattress topper. It made it a little bit more comfortable.
The king size room only had a partition to separated from the living space.
The furniture was a bit outdated like the sofas but they were very comfortable.
Beautiful views, comfortable and well appointed apartment
janelizpin
(Auckland, New Zealand)
Gorgeous views of the sea and the pool. It is not a big hotel so the pool was never crowded. Rooms very comfortable. Very effective dryer and washing machine for use. Dishwasher. Snorkels supplied in the room (and even golf clubs, if you wanted to play golf) plus coffee and a coffee machine. Large kitchen. A very short drive to town. Room regularly serviced. Really nice apartments. Pool towels and room towels supplied
Condo, not a resort
cmhall123
We came to the Big Island after a fantastic week on Waikiki. While the views were spectacular, we were expecting a resort, not a condo. The property is older, although the unit itself is quite large. Having a bathroom and a half is also nice. The biggest drawback is that the entire condo is carpeted - shag! There is no ceiling fan in the bedroom and they all face the street, thus air circulation is poor. The carpet was filthy - more a product of being old as opposed to not being clean. The "beach" is sand bordering the real beach. You can not swim in the ocean due to rocks. Again, beautiful to look at and listen to.
When we arrived, the women at the "desk" took our name, looked it up, handed us some paperwork and sent us on our way. We were supposed to be upgraded, given gifts etc based on an online package - nothing. When we entered the room there were all manner of rules about how the "residents" were to behave. Again, clearly not a resort. We also encountered a few "pests"...
If you are looking for a condo to spend a week in that is quiet with fantastic views and a place to relax in - this is it. This is no frills - you are on your own. The furniture in our unit was not comfortable and the carpeting was a problem with Asthma. The kitchen was nice -- again minimum appliances, and the washer was nice. You can also park your car with no fee.
Parking anywhere to go eat in Kona, however, is a royal pain.
Excellent condo
Vam56006
(Huffman, Texas)
This was the best place we stayed on our trip to Hawaii. They provided pool towels in your room so you did not have to stand in line to get one. They had bbq grills by the beach. It is an oceanfront property. You can hear the waves from your room. There are a lot of lounge chairs by the ocean. The pool was a nice size. The rooms were very large and had a nice kitchen. Everything was very clean. The staff were very friendly. Would definitely come back here to stay. It was also convenient to a lot of shops and restaurants and convenient for sightseeing.
Kona by the Sea
Philip S
Stayed here for a week with the family. While the building is a bit dated, and shows it's age here and there, it was a great experience. My kids loved the fact that the master bedroom had a bed that was a little too firm for my liking. I ended up in a twin bed in the other bedroom. The view is amazing and with the ocean front room.
Incredible stay with an absolutely breathtaking view!
RFK I
(Los Angeles, California)
Oceanfront room on 10th floor. Large studio with full kitchen and living room area, private balcony, very quiet except for the beautiful sound of ocean waves... Vai and Karen at the front desk were WONDERFUL. Very sweet and accommodating. Truly felt like my home away from home for nine glorious days. I will absolutely return and highly recommend for anyone who's looking for a serene, tropical escape. No restaurants or bars in hotel, which keeps it peaceful, but plenty within a very short walking distance into town or down ocean boardwalk to several other resorts. This property appears to be closer to the ocean than any of the other hotels which make the floor to ceiling views of the water, sky and sunsets truly breathtaking. Every room has an oceanfront view. This was my first visit to Maui and so thrilled I found such a gem. Mahalo Aston Mahana :)
Stayed 9 nights in Aug 2019
Great stay!
LizVilchock
(Sparta, New Jersey)
We had a great time in Maui and loved our stay at the Aston Mahana. The condo style rooms were great for buying food and storing in the fridge for meals you want to have on hand as well as doing laundry and hanging out in more space than just a room.
Excellent place to relax!
Horses79
(California)
Aston Mahana is a condominium complex. We have always stayed at a Resort before, but this time we decided to stay at a Condo. This place is RIGHT on the beach. Every room has a view and what a view! They have studios, 1 bedroom, and 2 bedrooms. We had a Studio ocean view room with King-size bed. The room had a full kitchen, a washer and dryer, and daily maid service. We were able to stay 6 nights with only carry-on luggage, since we had our own washer and dryer. The room was decorated very nicely and we had coffee everyday in our room. The one thing I found out is that each condo is owned by a different person, so each room can be decorated differently and have different amenities. My only complaint was the bed in room 812. It was kind of lumpy. I think the owners need to purchase a more comfortable bed. The pool was gorgeous and right next to the beach. The Aston Mahana was definitely a great place to stay with awesome service! We would definitely stay there again when in Maui!
Beautiful
Tom and Della E
(Fontana, California)
Wish I could give it more that 5 stars! My husband and I stayed in Unit 406. It was beautiful. The view walking in through the door is breath taking. It was a perfect place to spend or 50th Anniversary. Furnishings are great, and bed is very comfortable. It is a privately owned condo, you can rent through Virbo. Highly recommended this condo.
View. Peaceful. All boxes checked.
richellec332
(Langley, Canada)
Stayed in unit 202 for a week, booked as part of a package through Costco. Chose this particular hotel as every unit has a full ocean view, condo-style with cooking and laundry, and balance of quiet location not too far from beaches, activities, and restaurants. Felt safe and comfortable at all times.
We chose a premium studio unit which meant upgraded furnishings, linens, etc. While there were a few paint chips and some older fixtures, I would say in general it lived up to the definition of upgraded. There could have been more in the way of bowls, etc for cooking and could have used more basics (such as salt & pepper shakers). The kitchen is galley style and a bit of a tight fit but worked just fine for two people. Newer appliances and all in great working order.
The AC worked great which was important !!
Others have mentioned amenities such as snorkel equipment, beach chairs, etc. We didn’t have these but I guess it varies based on owner and/or what previous guests leave behind. Lots of places nearby where you can buy or rent.
Loved the idea of an included DVD rental system but couldn’t get it to work despite following the provided instructions. Lots of tv channels and easy to relax in the unit after a day of fun and sun.
Front desk staff ranged from apparent disinterest and moving in slow motion to very friendly and efficient.
The pool and grounds were very well kept. Housekeeping, landscapers, and maintenance staff did a great job.
Well-maintained grills and nearby seating available.
Absolutely loved the view though if I stay again will ask for a higher floor. It was so nice having breakfast on the lanai with one of the best views in the world before our eyes.
Free parking right out front, and lots of it.
The hotel makes it clear in advance that they don’t have a restaurant on-site and that the beach directly in front of the hotel has been eroded. These things are very minor issues in my mind as a quick walk or drive will provide many excellent options for both.
Full range grocery store and a lot with food trucks a block away.
We didn’t partake but they invite you to a breakfast hosted by their concierge to introduce you to the island and provide ideas for activities. They make it clear that it’s not a timeshare sales pitch and are not pushy at all.
The pictures and online description were very accurate with respect to the unit we stayed in.
Unit had everything needed for a comfortable stay. A fully stocked kitchen with everything needed to cook a homemade meal, the one bedroom unit has two full sized bathrooms, huge living room with plenty of room even when the sofa bed was in use, air conditioning in the living room & bedroom was much appreciated.
Beautiful Maui
lynnharris1
(Derby, United Kingdom)
We stayed at the Aston for 5 nights in a 2 bedroom condo and were pleasantly surprised. Our condo was on the second floor and yes there are a few steps to take your luggage up but this didn't pose a problem. The Condo was spacious and beautifully furnished with 2 balcony's, one off each bedroom. The staff are incredibly helpful and the General Manager was able to offer us a room to shower and change in due to a late evening flight.
The location was excellent, we took a daily walk along the beach to the shops and restaurants.
The BBQ area by each block were very clean and well maintained.
Great location!!
runorb
We stayed at the Aston Maui Hill for a week using our Hilton Grand Vacation points. It's a beautifully maintained resort in a perfect location. It's an easy walk down to the beach ( 5 minutes) and the beach has great snorkeling, tidepools, and the water is crystal clear. Sure, the furnishings are a little dated, but it was clean, the staff was great and we had no problems. The pool is beautiful and so are the grounds. I would recommend.
A vacation to remember!
RyanSamosir1
At first reading the reviews the resort seemed like it was a love or hate. Complaints about noises from upstairs, old furniture, no ocean view, etc. On the other hand my experience was excellent. I got the check in early for free! I got room 88. At first I was worried that room 88 would be a downstairs unit but actually it was an upstairs unit, so no need to worry about noises. Once I walked in, I was impressed. Full kitchen (microwave, stove, dishwasher, etc) there was even silverware! (Plates, forks, spoons, etc, even pots and pans to cook. So the unit I booked was a 2 bed 2 bath. And indeed I got that.. I think they were queen size beds. With clean sheets and pillows. Bathrooms were clean, one tub and one shower. The unit had all the amenities you needed. Lotion, shampoo, cable, free high speed Internet (Spectrum). All rooms had TVs and some were smart TVs. In a closet next to the entrance there was boogie boards, surf boards, and a donut to use in the pool. And since were talking about a pool. The resort has the one of the nicest pools I’ve ever seen. A whale made of tiles at the pool floor. Absolutely beautiful. There is room service everyday. A dining table, a nice and big couch. Tons of puzzles for and books in the storage cabinet below the tv. There was even two balconies with seats and a table. There was also many more amenities that I didn’t get to try. But overall such a great place to stay. The resort is near many beaches and restaurants and shops. Such a great place to stay. Definitely recommend this resort. But one thing is that the room service always opens the door before saying they’re there, at least have the decency to knock on the door, before opening. But I do recommend this place but good luck if you get a downstairs unit. Oh and should I mention that we’re also a laundry combo washer and dryer in the unit!
Very pleasant stay
JCandNC830
(Peoria, Illinois)
We book at 2 bedroom condo. We asked the manager ahead of time for ground level due to traveler medical issue. The staff was wonderful and help at every turn with anything we brought attention to. Very nice pool. This is not a 5 star condo. It was clean and had a/c ( though not central air). We would stay again. My only real issue was the terrible t.v remotes.... but if that's my only quip....they did I good job...if you want a good location and nice people. Its definitely a good place to stay.
This hotel has no air conditioning. They charge you a cleaning fee that is not refundable. The room was not clean when I arrived. do not supply you clean towels . You have to pay a fee or wash them yourself. No complimentary breakfast. No coffee . The only plus's was I had ocean view.
Nice visit
Teresa C
(Nampa, Idaho)
No airconditioning but as humid and hot as it was during this stay it was totally fine in the evening when we were back in the room and opened the doors. It was very convienent to lots of places to eat and visit. Absolutely oceanfront ! The room was clean and well stocked with dishes and supplies for cooking in. Very easy free resort parking and Promise and Leonard were great hosts. Definately would book again as price was great for ocean front ! Saw turtles right off the balcony.
Wedding
Janice L
(Sacramento)
We stayed in rm.#306.The view was wonderful but needed updating. The area rug was frayed badly as were the curtains. Couldn't change the fan speed in the 2nd bedroom. Won't go back to this place again. No AC which was miserable in August. The tubs in both bathroom drains were rusted. No Paki Maui ever again. This visit was our third and last.
Paki Maui is terrible
Rebecca S
Except for the location, this hotel was terrible and I would not stay there again. I thought my room was already paid for but when I checked in I was informed I had to pay a $150 cleaning fee. This was not disclosed to me when I booked the room. When we complained about the sketchy ethical practices the person at the desk made no attempt to look into the matter. When we got to the room we discovered there was no air conditioning! Because of the temperature of the room, falling asleep was not possible until well after midnight. Plus there were tiny little bugs in the kitchen...not sure what they were. Do yourself a favor...if you want to stay in a place with an amazing view, find a different hotel
Measure what you gain....
desmondc714
(Hayward, United States)
....there is NO air conditioning BUT there are offsetting gains:
1) Kitchen facilities
2) Safe reef protected beach away, in the morning, it is low tide. Reefs prevent sharks from coming in (shattacks have occurred in Kaanapali Bay). Bottom is sandy with no coral. Can explore tide pools which have small fish. Outdoor shower off facility on hotel property. Not a lot of tourists or locals. Sandy beach is minimal but the hotel has outdoor grills and chairs if you just want to sit around.
3) There is a Times supermarket within a 3 block walk. Across the street is a take out fish taco shop and a local plate lunch shop. About 2 blocks away towards the Times Supermarket is another plate lunch takeout by an local ABC store (it has a gas station) for various sundries
Coin operated laundry facilities. A clean restroom in the lower "basement". Parking is free.
The front desk closes at 9 pm with NO security or housekeeping staff on site. There were a couple of "drunks" arguing on the first floor and another guest has to "request that they quiet down". Check in is at 4 pm. Old style keys to the room and safe.
If you have an ocean view (I was fortunate to get one), you hear the surf at night if you open the glass doors to the lanai...I found that very soothing
Property is about 10 minutes south to Lahaina and other major shopping centers. Costco (gas is the cheapest here if you are a Costco member), Target and WalMart are in Kahalui and that is about 25 minutes across the island.
I booked this trip through Costco, so I expected a nice resort. What I got instead was a completely outdated run down resort. The first night I turned on the lights on the restroom only to find cockroaches crawling around. I wasn't able to use the bathtub because the paint was peeling off. I found other people's trash inside the kitchen cabinet. There was old fake floral arrangements that were placed throughout the room, that were very dusty and dirty. The patio outside was dirty and dusty, with bird poop all over the patio furniture. On top of what you pay to stay there, the day you check in they charge you $150 cleaning fee along with 10% gratuity added on each day, and yet no one came to clean the entire time we were there. I ended up leaving early and booking a room at the Hilton across the street. Payed more than expected on this trip, never again will I stay at this resort, big mistake on my part for not doing my research and trusting Costco.
loved our time at this place
glendq
(Kelowna, Canada)
we enjoyed a very nice week here and liked the beaches nearby.
the room was large enough for 6 of us in this condo.
there was plenty to do nearby.
the surrounding grouds were beautiful.
the pool was clean and not too busy.
really enjoyed it.
Aston Staff Are Superb & The Grounds Are Wonderful
yes2travel
(Atlanta, Georgia)
I must begin by giving high marks to the Aston desk staff. Jenny Tolentino knows her business and how to make customers happy. I spoke with her before and during my stay and she went over the top to make things wonderful. If you stay here through an Aston booking don't hesitate to ask for her assistance if needed. You will not be disappointed.
Our unit was a 2BR Garden View. The unit size was terrific and the balcony out of this world wonderful. The unit itself is privately owned and was very dated. There were patch marks on the walls, worn out cabinets and a general "1970's" type furnishings, sinks etc. The kitchen appliances and furnishings definitely need replacing and from something more upscale than Wal-Mart. Regardless of the shabby room disappointment we had a lovely time and will definitely return to the resort in the future. (Albeit requesting a different room.) The pool and grounds are fantastic. The tennis courts very well maintained. It is lushly landscaped and very quiet. Access to Waikoloa restaurants is easy and the nearby hiking trails wonderful. Wish I was there right now!!
Beautiful, gated community that felt like home
Janie4359
(Round Rock, Texas)
This is a lovely, gated community and the Aston management property employees were extremely friendly and helpful. Hailey was very nice and helpful with our check-in process. There's even a free movie rental box in their office to take some movies to your unit. We got lucky and were placed in a Villa (#18). Villas are grouped 4 together; 2 upstairs units and 2 main level. We scored an upstairs villa that had nice furnishings. Since these are privately owned properties, each unit will be different. The villas have a carport for one car for each villa. 2 separate carports for the building of 4 villas. If you can be lucky enough to get placed in a villa, you will have an ocean view overlooking the golf course. The lanai was very large with a table for 6, a couch and even had access from the Master bedroom as well as the 2nd bedroom. Each night we were treated to a beautiful sunset. This was a 2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath condo. The extra 1/2 bath came in real handy with 4 of us getting ready. Both bathrooms were large with the master having a large, 2 headed shower and the other bathroom having a garden tub and lovely shower. Both bathrooms were double vanities. There's a safe in the master closet. You are close the the Kings Shops and Queens Marketplace as well as the Blue Hawaiian Helicopters. The only minor issue was some pesky sugar ants which the management company were quick to come and spray. Central air so it was very comfortable. We will definitely return here on our next visit.
Redoak1977
Redoak1977
(Jamestown, Pennsylvania)
We spent a week at the Shores. It was clean, roomy, and comfortable. A wonderful condo with beautiful grounds. The staff was very helpfull and friendly. If you are going to be on the Big Island, I highly recommend staying at the Shores.
This is a wonderful location and selection for families. They provide everything to enjoy your stay. I would stay here again. The staff is warm and friendly. Free valet parking. Free towels for beach across the street (of course you must return) Excellent location on the Waikiki part of the Beach. It is totally worth staying here. if you are on the lower floors and on the beach view side, you will hear some noise, but overall it's not bad.
Great location
kkdeacon
(Copenhagen, Denmark)
Nice spacious flat with great views. Nice gym but small pool and not a very cost atmosphere around it.
The room wasn’t ready when we were there for check-in but the staff was very apologetic wasn’t really a problem. However, when we eventually got into the room the cleaning had obviously not been down very well - there were very clearly Cheerios on the floor next in one of the bedrooms.
Wouldn’t call it a 5 star hotel but a good solid 4 star.
Fantastic place only disppointment was the very unhelpful Kuhlani who manned reception
tlc2312
(Kew East, Australia)
· Location is perfect. 2 Bedroom apartment was very spacious and it was great to have a very well stocked kitchen with all appliances you could need and washing machine and dryer. Housekeeping staff were fantastic. View from the 29th floor over the beach was super, definitely worth the extra for an oven front apartment. Beach right across the road was easy to access and have a supply of free towels at the hotel was a bonus
· We arrived early from a long overnight flight from Australia. We had requested an early check in prior to our arrival. Although I was aware that it is never guaranteed I have always found most hotels are accommodating and do there utmost to get you into your room earlier than normal checkin. On arrival at Aston Waikiki we were greeted by a man call Kuhlani was very unsympathetic at the fact we had been up for 24hrs and our 3 children were extremely tired. He told us that checkin time was 3pm and we would have to wait unless we wanted to upgrade to another room. Having already paid $10,000 AU we weren't happy to do that. We went off for a few hours and had some lunch and came back at about 1pm as we were hopefully he may have found us a room. Again we were greeted with a 'check in time is 3pm '. So through exhaustion we sat in the hotel foyer to wait for our room. At approximately 2pm this same man asked my husband 'by the way are you over 50 years old". When he said yes we were told that we were eligible for a room upgrade and therefore a room actually was available. We were then taken to our room which was on a higher floor than we had booked which was great. Unfortunately at this point we were thinking our stay at the hotel was going to be disappointing. Thankfully the rest of the staff at the hotel were lovely always greeting you when you went out or returned. Even the men and ladies at the car parking desk were extremely welcoming. Again the only person that never engaged with you was the same man that had checked us in. We were lucky that we didn't have to have much interaction with this person again, but he definitely didn't seem to follow the same philosophy of the rest of the hotel staff.
Amazing place for family vacation
Ann L
(Santa Barbara, California)
We were so pleasantly surprised by this stay. Our expectations were pretty low because we stayed in a budget Aston in Maui during our honeymoon 18 years ago. BUT... Everything about our apartment here was amazing - the design, furniture, views!!! But especially the service. Everyone was so nice. And the location is 100% perfect - the best part of the beach is right there, can walk everywhere - beach path is awesome, fabulous shopping and restaurants. I would move in permanently!
Wondeful place for a family vacation!
Daydream49897086751
The view is absolutely stunning. The location is right in the heart of Waikiki. The beach is right across the street and there is plenty of restaurants and entertainment nearby. The room is unbelievably spacious with a full kitchen and nicely sized bedrooms. The staff was fantastic. You won't regret spending a few extra bucks for this amazing location.
It is located down the street from the beach with an ABC store on the way. The hotel is in definite need of an update. The shower fixtures need to be replaced (old and crusty). We stayed in a one bedroom suite. The sofa bed was hard but the actual beds were good. Good views of Diamond Head. Pool and bbq area have good views. This hotel gets the job done if you don’t intend to stay in the hotel the whole time. Overall, it’s ok but needs to be upgraded and updated.
Convenient!
chee2s
(Los Angeles, California)
This place is located near the beach. Walking distance from the city bus. It has 4 elevators some reviews said that elevators were always packed and took a long time, but I didn’t have no problem with that. The AC worked fine
The kitchenette is fully stocked if you plan to cook. The pullout bed on the living room was a bit to squeaky the bed was comfy I was at the 11th floor
Second Time, Same As First
fred1140
We stayed at the Aston Waikiki Sunset twice, the latest in April 2019, the first in September 2016. Both stays were pleasant, rooms were clean and quiet. The location for us was convenient, as I have family in Upper Manoa Valley. We stayed in the upper floor rooms, which all have great views. The 2016 room gave us an ocean view, and the 2019 stay a mountain view. I enjoyed the mountain/valley view as much as the ocean view. We learned from a maintenance worker that the entire facility was condos, with quite a few occupied with permanent residents. The only downside was the surprise "amenity" fee of $25 plus $1.18 tax per day. We reserved through Costco Travel, and I failed to read the fine print about additional fees. Parking of $25 a day was expected. If you drive, the traffic in Honolulu has gotten a lot worse. All in all, a nice experience at the Aston Waikiki Sunset, especially if you like to have a kitchen in your room.
Great Location and great views
tonywV5794YR
We stayed for 6 nights just been with our 2 year old. We stayed in a deluxe ocean view room which had an amazing view and were on the 36th floor.
Positives:
-Location close to the family part of the beach as well as the zoo
-Kitchen was great to use
-Staff were very lovely and really helpful
-Mini Mart on site was super handy
Negatives:
-Only a few lifts so during the busy periods it can take a good wee while to get to the top
- A bit dated
- Loud air conditioning unit
All in all it was a great pleasant stay. We knew it was going to be a bit dated so were prepared. Great location with only a 3 min walk to the beach and the Waikiki trolley stop just down the road.
Also we used Aloha sitters for baby sitting and they were amazing, great for us to head out as parents and leave the boy with the sitters.
Great location
614barryf
(Tauranga, New Zealand)
Positives are location, good sized room, excellent kitchen, comfortable bed, nice pool, DVD player, minimart and helpful staff. Negatives are loud air condition Unit, poor internet and the property is a bit dated. The resort fee was annoying. If it isn't optional, just put it in the price. Overall we had a good stay.
My daughter and stayed at the Colony Villas in August. This is not a hotel but indivudual condos. There is no restaurants or bars on the property but it is a great place to stay. We had a large, well appointed 2 story, 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo. The master bedroom is upstairs and well appointed with a walkin closet. The bed was comfortable. The downstairs had a well appointed kitchen with a dining and sitting area. The second bedroom had 2 single beds and a cot in it. We were situated very close to the family pool.
It is peaceful. The resort is gated. The grounds are wonderful. The only challenge is that you have to drive if you want to eat out.
My experience being in a large group on this resort, is to go to Costco and get your food and drinks. By the time you get done with the day, you are ready to slow down for the evening. This place does have BBQ in the pool area and you need a key to get into the pool/BBQ area and a key to get out.
All in all, I would recommend this resort to couplees with children or to anyone looking for peace and quiet.
Quiet community and great location, some maintenance issues
joysclind
(Wrightwood, California)
My family stayed here for a week booked through AAA. Nice place but had some issues
Pros - great location convenient access via rental car to area. Staff pleasant upon check in and phone calls were answered promptly. We had booked a one bedroom with sofa bed and since the condo didn’t have a sofa bed were given a second bedroom with two twins that worked great for my kids. My kids loved the pool. And hot tub. A lot ! 🏊♀️ Very close to our unit. Coffee and tea was provided daily with phone call requests as advertised.
Cons - ANTS 🐜 in the upstairs bathroom. Called staff the next morning nothing was done that I am aware of as there were still ants the next night. Since our family was staying the following night at volcanos national park overnight I asked for the bugs to be treated. So came back on day 4 to an upstairs that smells of insecticide but not more ants. Cont open a window to ventilate due to heat outside and no upstairs fans. Turns out on day 6 the ants reappeared in the downstairs bathroom. 😵
Downstairs bathroom toilet occasionally runs - probably some slow leak internal (?) we saw nothing leaking external. Annoying but can deal with it. Upstairs bed hard as a rock. No mattress topper. Worst bed ever. Kids beds were fine. This condo only has AC that you cannot set below 74 and one fan in the main area so the bedrooms get very stuffy at night. I hope for future travelers they install ceiling fans or something in the bedrooms since you really can’t open the windows due to humidity and heat outside. No view to speak of just looking at other condos. No golf course view. We were in 1901
Parking sucks. Most spots are reserved and there was not a designated spot for our unit so we had to frequently park further away. No shuttle and most things are over a mile away or more so have to drive or taxi.
Additional notes not good or bad just FYI - pool and bath towels and bedding were provided as was the daily coffee and newspaper on request. Plenty of dishes and and full kitchen. But no spices, condiments, etc. no day passes to the Hilton or other pools as other reviews had mentioned. No beach toys as other reviewers encountered.
Not sure if we would return here. Kinda on the fence for us on that one
Almost perfect... but not so clean
filalex17
(London, United Kingdom)
We really liked staying in this place for so many reasons :
- great location: close to the beach, shopping centre, food court... & don’t miss the sunset at the lava lava beach club !
- nice, quiet (when we were there) and clean pools
- spacious villa
- excellent customer service : we had an issue with the AC in our first villa. I called the office, 20 minutes later an engineer was here. Unfortunately he wasn’t able to fix it, 15 minutes later the office called me back offering to relocate us in a bigger villa and they offer us a discount
However small things made I don’t go with 5 stars:
- cleaning : I am not the only complaining when I read the comments. The cleaning is really imperfect and must be improved : dirty towels, dirty floors (hairs, dust...).
- equipment : understanding we are in a villa we can’t except to have everything but small thing like sponge, kitchen towel, salt & peppers... would be appreciated.
- don’t forget it’s not a villa dedicated to be rent, this is someone’s house so you can have some pictures of them in the bedside table... quite strange sometimes...
Hopefully they will improve these points, if they do this place would be a real nice place to stay !
Beautiful
Chautauquan
(charlotte)
This was a great area to visit. Our condo had a pool pass to the Hilton complete with a lagoon for snorkeling. The condo was well equipped and spacious. We frequent Hilton Head and it reminded us of a newer pacific version of HHI.
Great looking place but poorly maintained and furnished
relouie
(Tehachapi, California)
We just got back from a week in Waikoloa and wished the unit was better. We booked our trip through Costco, hoping it would be a well maintained unit. We stayed in a 3 bedroom, Unit 605, and figured renting the larger one would mean it was a nicer one as well. I even called the office at Aston a couple times before we got there, to make sure we would have a cleaner unit, with one of my grand kids beginning to crawl. We checked in later in the day and within an hour of my granddaughter crawling on the living room carpet, her knees and feet were black from the dirty carpet. Based on many other reviews, we thought that beach gear, chairs and other items would be available for our use, but there was nothing in the unit like that. We went to sweep the tile floors and there was no broom. We decided to use the vacuum that was in a closet but the tank had been removed, so we couldn't use that either. There are also no dish towels or sponges, so make sure you bring your own.The garage, several kitchen cabinets and some of the closets were locked so we had to access to those. It appears the owners and property management company take very little care of this unit and Costco will be made aware of this. I hate writing bad reviews but I also want to protect others in the future. As far as the complex goes, it is very clean and the pools are well maintained. We did have to pay a cleaning fee, which is pretty ironic.
I checked in here as me and a friend were going out for a night of drinks and did the responsible thing and got a room to avoid a DUI. So we checked in and out the door in 5 minutes. This morning when we woke up I found BLOOD ON THE WALL and a chair has a dent on it!! Like someone had a party before I checked in. I better not be charged for this as I reported this things. I was told housekeeping will be up.. No housekeeping ever came. I felt disgusted looking at blood on the wall and no one coming I showered in case there are more blood in the area. With having the feeling that this isn’t important to them I checked out and reported to the gentleman in the front. His excuse was “maybe they were waiting for you to check out” so to tell me you rather wait for someone to have contact with blood that can contain viruses that can survive 1 week outside of the body. Didn’t have the feeling they cared enough with my complaint as I wasn’t yelling and remain calm and respectful.
Side note. Hotel runs out of parking quickly so be aware and get parking early. Room was nice and good. Except the main complaint above. Hotel is a bit hidden but value was great. Great place for the price but customer service isn’t their strong ability.
Awesome budget hotel
Mitchhawaii
(Kealakekua, Hawaii)
This is one of the better budget hotels. It is also an older property but the amenities, especially for Kamaaina's makes It a great deal.
The staff is extremely helpful and friendly, and you bet I'll be staying here again, versus Pagoda or Ambassador Hotel.
I stayed her for 6 nights for work, so needed parking. The day I checked in, parking was sold out, so they recommended the zoo which is close by.
My room had a comfortable bed, and room was clean. Shower was clean, and water hot. AC cool, no problems at all. My only complaint is one elevator, but it is an older hotel.
Kamaaina use their website for specials because it is an Aston Hotel property.
The person I interacted with the most is Justin at the front desk, who was very friendly and helpful.
I read all of the reviews on another review site, and it's like people pay cheap and expect high class. In this hotels case, you get way more then you pay for.
Midweek staycation
danatsuchitori
(Honolulu, Hawaii)
This may not be a high-end resort like the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach, but their staff, especially hotel manager, Maryknoll, made sure my requests were followed through. Upon my arrival, I had no complications whatsoever like I had at Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach. My room with a king bed was ready on a high floor at the end off the hall, just as I requested with hotel manager, Maryknoll, day before my arrival. Upon my checkout at 12noon, hotel manager, Maryknoll, sincerely apologized for no late checkouts, because of a group arrival, and extended her arm with her business card and said if you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to call me. Overall, this hotel may not be a high-end resort like Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach, but their staff and manager just know how accommodate their guests needs without complications.
Suited our purpose
Nomadgirl1946
(Batehaven, Australia)
Staying here beginning and end of May to break the trip between Australia and the US and Canada and return to Australia we found the motel handy to the shops and Waikiki Beach and surrounds.
First stay found us in a clean and comfortable room with lanai. Staff friendly. However, lift was broken for 1 day which meant carrying our bags up 4 flights of stairs.
Return visit we were placed in a very small room adjacent to lift - part of an adjoining suite I assume as there was a locked door in room and we could hear the voices and TV of next room. Felt very uncomfortable with little walking space and one partner had to get out of bed by climbing to the end of bed as it was against the wall. Tap on bathroom basin faulty and we worried we might be held accountable if it completely failed. Not acceptable. We requested another room and the staff obliged.
Our biggest problem was the $15.00 per day service fee which includes US Today (overseas visitors have no topical interest in this paper), water in the foyer (why would you bother sitting in a small foyer to drink water), replenish coffee in room daily (this is normally a part of motel service and the coffee sachets only allow for 2 cups a day), shuttle to Ala Moana shops which one would only use once in a short stay of 3 days and local phone calls which most US motels provide as a part of room costing. This fee also allows for Internet access and in room safe which most motels provide free of charge anyway and additional inclusions (whatever that means). One has to pay this fee but in my opinion it is a form of "made up greed" for more money.
An old motel but clean and tidy overall.
Needs a Face Lift ASAP
m0anikeala
(Kihei, Hawaii)
Location is great, but don't think your getting the best of the best. Front desk desperately needs a new desk, roof, furniture, clean windows, etc. As for the room, I didnt even want to stay here after witnessing nothing but stains, nasty vents, shower was moldy, and room smelt of mold. Stove looked outdated MAJORLY, and the room just smelt out. From what I was told from an employee, they weren't able to get an update on the resorts, cause their sister resort needed to get done BEFORE this one. In my opinion, this resort should have been the TOP one on my list to get replenished and fixed! BEWARE!!
Ms. Martha was so much help, room was clean. Unfortunately lack of privacy on balcony.
Ohanalovealways
Stayed here for a quick romantic retreat before island hopping. Ms. Martha always had our questions answered about beach towels and places to walk near the hotel for food and fun. Always smiling and happy to help. The rooms were clean and tidy. The bell staff Mr Jase never kept us waiting. Thank you for the aloha service. The only downside that became a nuisance was the lack of privacy & 2nd hand smoke from the divider on the balconies (new but poorly designed). Huge see through holes make it impossible to have private conversations and moments. Romantic buzz kill for sure. Hope the whole hotel won’t install these dividers on every balcony. We could literally see netflix movies on the next balcony’s smartphones. See photo. Aloha everyone!
A good place to stay
Arawatbuwan
(Los Angeles, California)
Good location. Short walk to the beach. ABC store across the hotel. Free beach towels just use your towel card. Free cold water at the lobby. Plus is the fish hook cafe which is located right down at the hotel.
Booked thru costco travels. Got $100 dining credit plus $10 each person credit from Luana which totalled $150 which we used for Fish Hook Cafe.
Stayed in a studio with kitchenette. Basic things needed are there. You may cook simple foods if you want to. Features are old though, faucet in the kitchen is leaking, bathroom handle wobbly, but otherwise everything else worked good. We had one bed and one pull out bed. Would have been better if we had 2 double beds but they said they only have pull out beds. Room was cleaned daily which is really great, new towels everyday, clean room everyday. Kudos to the housekeeping staff who work hard everyday. There is a shuttle going to Ala Moana mall fr the hotel too.
Walking distance to the beach, international market, marukame udon, abc stores. We had the street view but still a good view bec we were at the 10th floor.
They said you can see the Hilton fireworks fr the pool area but do not watch fr there bec you will only see half of the fireworks, not a good place to see the fireworks if you want to enjoy it. Go somewhere else.
Lobby people are friendly.
This place is recommended as a good place to be while in Waikiki.
Great stay for long term!!
JDondunay
Check in was quick and easy. Love coming back to my room clean and spotless from an exhausted day at work. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful especially Martha at the front desk, James the bell and valet Jesse, Chet and Jawaiian. They have that Aloha spirit you hear before coming to the islands. My days are coming to an end and I’m glad I chose to stay at the Luana.
Quiet location w/ view of beautiful Fort DeRussy Beach Park
Y5494OHheidik
(Santa Clarita, California)
If you want to be in Waikiki, but away from the central hustle & bustle, this is the hotel for you. The lobby and mezzanine have been recently renovated and they are starting on the floors with guest rooms now. There is a lovely wine and cheese reception on the mazzanine floor on certain evenings, free yoga classes, and free beach towels/chairs/boogie boards. The hotel is close to bus stops, is a short to moderate walk to shopping, restaurants and my favorite...the beach. They even have pet Betta fish that you can adopt for the day! The hotel gives you $10 vouchers to use at the Fish Hook Cafe on the 1st floor of the hotel, fantastic! There are comfortable cushioned rocking chairs and benches curbside for you to wait for your excursion shuttle pickup. All the hotel staff are very friendly and helpful. My only 2 complaints are 1) I was in a non-smoking room but the person in the room next door was smoking on their patio. This smoke was being drawn in through our room air conditioner at 2:30 a.m. I complained later that morning and was told that management would place a letter under the smoker's door. I don't know if they ever received it, because the next morning the guest was smoking in the patio again. When I mentioned this to the front desk, I was given an e-mail to correspond to. I submitted an e-mail including photos of the offending cigarette packs. Nobody ever responded to my e-mail or offered to move us to a different room. 2) Although we had a room refrigerator and coffee maker, it would have been nice to have a small, simple microwave.
Feels like home
kryst252
I booked a studio with kitchenette for a multiple-month business trip. Easy reservation and check in process. The staff here makes it one of the better experiences I've had in an extended-stay situation. I had a rental car shared between my coworkers, and they never gave us a hard time for leaving a key at the front desk in case one of us wasn't in the hotel and needed the car for later. We used the valet for the first two days and then switched to the Hale Koa parking for the long term rates. The workers at the front desk even recommended it, which shows that they care more about folks having a great experience than charging for their valet. They're never too busy to listen to concerns or make recommendations. Most of my interactions have been with the afternoon staff. Martha and Alexis have been particularly excited to hear about what adventures I have planned for the few days off I get. When my trip got extended, the thought of going to a condo crossed my mind, but this workforce has been so great and accomodating, it wasn't worth the risk to have more space, but less service. They really have made this hotel feel like a home away from home.
The studio kitchenette had an ocean view facing Diamond Head. You can also see the main road the hotel is on. On the weekends you can get a great view of all the catamarans. It doesn't have a direct view of Friday night fireworks, but I could see them from the stairs on the ocean side of the hotel just fine. July 4th was great! Didn't have to leave the hotel and fight the tourists. I had a two-stove burger and a mini-fridge that made it easy to store leftovers and small frozen desserts (think pint-sized ice cream carton). I asked for a queen sized bed and sofa pull-out. The mattress is definitely on the firmer side of a box spring, but I'm usually exhausted by the end of the day. Some of my coworkers have found them uncomfortable . I remedied any discomfort by bringing my own body pillow and standard pillow. I don't expect everyone to want to do this on their vacation, but since I was staying long-term, it was the easiest for me to just drive to walmart and spend a few dollars. Never had a problem with housekeeping. Even if I didn't want my room cleaned, I could always count on my Auntie to ask if I'd like fresh towels, coffee or tea when she'd spot me in the hallway, even at the end of her shift. Any cleaniless issues were solved within 12 hours.
I chose a hotel rate without amenities, but can comment on what my coworkers who were paying for amenities had too. Without amenities, you're still able to get free beach towels that you can return when you're done at the front desk. There's also dvd rental and a PS3 in the room (I didn't use these as I brought my own gaming system with streaming services). Ice machine was on the first floor. The laundry room is on the first floor (coin-operated, but I think it has a drop-off service that I haven't used), along with a gym and pool. As most of the shorter-staying folks are also roomed on that floor, it can get a little crowded, so it's best to try and do laundry when most families are out of the hotel. With the amenities fee, my coworkers received a $10/day coupon for the Fish Hook Cafe, with I opted not to. The hours are from 7a-2p, but I could really only go on Sundays due to my schedule. The hotel also has a shuttle that goes to the other hotels in Aqua Aston chain and to the mall, which is great for those trying to grab food or shop without a vehicle.
As mentioned before, if you're bringing a car, the Hale Koa parking garage is the closest public parking to the hotel. You get a better rate if you're a government / DOD employee. Access to the beach is great and walkable in about five minutes or less. The lagoon behind the Hilton and the part of Waikiki Beach are very tourist-friendly. If you're into military history, there's a lot of statues at Fort DeRussey park and also an Army Museum nearby. Since I've been here, the hotel has been promoting that our room key can be used for free admission to the Bishop Museum and discounts at other local attractions. There's also an Expedia agent on site for those who don't want to hassle with the vendors on the street selling excursions. I booked round trip transportation with my one-day adventure tour at Kualoa, and the pickup point was within a 10-minute walk from this hotel. The Waikiki Trolley, The Bus, Biki bikes, and Hui car shares are close by. Uber and UberEats have been great transportation and food delivery options. The Ala Moana mall is about a 20-30 minute walk depending on your pace. The area is very pedestrian friendly. The greatest hazard are tourists with biki bikes riding on the sidewalks and trying to weave in and out of walkers.
We just spent a week at this property, it may be a bit dated but I felt it was better than the huge resorts near it. Pool area was great and there is a smaller quieter pool with no kids. Beach is amazing, beautiful water and we could always find a shady spot. we rented beach chairs and snorkels at the resort so we could go check out different beaches, you have to go to Kapaula Bay, just about 10-15 up the road. Location is great, just minutes to Whalers Village and maybe 10-15 to Lahaina. We did have an upgraded room with a loft, if you want privacy this is not the unit for you. We would stay here again for sure but would want more privacy.
Quiet resort on beach in maui
richardpaulh2017
(San Leandro, California)
A great resort to stay right on Kanapali Beach, with very comfortable rooms with kitchens and balconies. We had a Gardenview ground level which was awesome. It’s a short walk right to the beach, beautiful sunsets and strictly paradise. I would recommend staying here, they have a shuttle that goes to four different places for free, and you can walk down the beach to different resorts. I felt the price was not as high as some of the larger results also.
Great for location
Mahalkita7878
Our room 155 looked dated with 1980s decor and is garden view, but we were lucky enough to have a patio view of the ocean because there is a vacant lot there for sale. The lobby is quite nice and security good. We saw the security guy giving lots of parking tickets to cars in no parking zones or in handicapped space without tag.
The landscaping is superb and the walk is maybe 5 min to the public beach. I don't like beaches here, even this one. They are very steep with quick drop so no shallow waters here at the resort or most of the beaches here. I did not feel safe with son here and he can swim. No lifeguards.
The room was dated, waters not shallow, orange sand so waters not crystal clear turquoise waters, need car and we came from East coast so party of 3 with rental car $4800.
Gorgeous drives on 30 to resort. Staff good. Pools not modern or pretty, but landscaping very nice. Pools and rooms should be updated by owners. Laundry room ok. We had 3 loads for 6 days'worth So $2.50 a load. $15 in quarters. Bring pods.
Hawaii is pricey with having to pay for parking,$20 tips to tour hosts/waiters, tours, $20 a day resort fee, etc. Probably spent $7000, including luau, helicopter tour, dinner cruise, aquarium on this trip, but not likely to return. Would have been nice if room was updated for price we paid.
Location rocks
AmandaMQueen
(San Diego, California)
This property has a great location with super easy beach access and minimal crowds. Go for the condo properties that are closer to the water. The staff here is friendly and the grounds are very well maintained.
Nice stay
KentCandy01
(East Peckham, United Kingdom)
We had a lovely stay at this hotel, the room had everything we needed, although the air conditioning was very noisy when trying to sleep, the pool was nice the beach and amenities were all nice , I used the gym which is Nicely equipped .
Friendly staff, modern décor - we stayed twice at the beginning and at the end of our holiday - we were upgraded to an amazing suite the second time around and loved it. They also have complimentary sunscreen and a beach bag which you can use during your stay - original and very useful
The Surfjack
imapiggy
Our stay at the Surfjack was phenomenal. The staff was amazing, every step of our trip was seamless and easy. The valet team was especially helpful, I really will miss them. They provided tips for where to go and what to do. Some of their suggestions ended up being the highlights of our days. We enjoyed the adjacent coffee shop and restaurant; the baristas and bartenders were quick and very friendly and the drinks were delicious.
Overall, you can tell the hotel has old bones and is a bit creaky, but the recent renovations are really beautiful. You feel like you're in a trendy, tropical oasis, perfectly instagrammable in every way. The pool was clean, well-sized and never too crowded; we spent a lot of time there. We were lucky to get a balcony overlooking the pool and enjoyed nightly snacks and drinks there while people-watching—the silent disco was especially entertaining. Nightly local musicians really added a nice ambience to the evenings.
Mahina & Suns had delicious fries and cocktails at very reasonable happy-hour prices and was conveniently located near the pool. Their dinner was expensive, but with our $10/night credits we got a good meal with some drool-worthy pizza and a tasty sampler of their more popular menu items. I definitely suggest the pizza...and the fries. I do wish we had tried brunch.
Olive & Oliver is really trendy—those little illustrated coffee cups!!!—and I loved looking at all the beautiful things they sell. Everything was a bit too expensive for me, but fun to look at while waiting for my espresso to extract. The pastries at the coffee shop were amazing—the banana bread in particular. I did wish they had some Hawaiian-grown and roasted coffee on tap.
Some gently suggested improvements (because overall we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and these were minor things we noticed that would have put our experien over the top):
-Serve coffee earlier; ideally at 5:30 to get the early-risers trying to catch the sunrise.
-Consider adding white noise machines? (Lots of stomping in the room above.)
-Hangers / storage for wet towels, clothes, and sandy beach stuff outside
-A full-length mirror in the room
-Allow kids to swim later. We definitely would have enjoyed many drinks (and fries) by the pool in the evening while our daughter swam.
-Recycling in the room / facility
-Beach toys for rent (big plus for sustainability.)
Lastly, if you meet the zebra dove with only one toe on each foot, his name is Deuce and he likes the fries.
Delightful stay - couldn't be any better!!!
Discover802692
(Dallas, Texas)
We really enjoyed our stay at the Surfjack. Tiki at the front desk is so incredibly helpful and attuned to customer service. From our original booking on the telephone to check in for room selection to check out - Tiki was the kindest most helpful that we could have asked for. Our rooms were wonderful and the pool was lovely after a day of sightseeing.
We had pizza and salads in the restaurant and it was very very good. We would stay here again when visiting Honolulu. Very pleasant experience in every way. Close enough to the beach and shopping but not in the craziness of Wikikki Beach - so very many people it was not relaxing. We enjoyed the laid back atmosphere at Surfjack -- just great!! Thank you for a wonderful stay!
Nice rooms!
jay22200
(Honolulu, Hawaii)
Nice boutique hotel. They staff was friendly. Served you complementary refreshments while waiting to check in. Room was spacious and clean! Walk in shower. Great location, felt safe because it was close to busy traffic area.
Good time we had
Kyoko3009
(Kumamoto, Japan)
We were really enjoyed to stay surfjack.
We requested 'pool view and upper floor room' and we stay room 944, it was very nice.
Morning coffee at pool side was very good.
We hope we will visit again in near future.
From the booking with Lisa ANDERSON, to arriving and getting greeted by Allan Smith and Olympia, there was some confusion but staff including Owner Cory worked it out. The guides were great too , especially Micheal, Adrian, and Anthony kept it fun.
Great property and amazing place to see wildlife
Bert S
(West Hartford, Connecticut)
Our stay at Crocodile Bay was amazing. Crocodile Bay caters to two kinds of guests: fishing and Eco tourists. We didn’t fish, but we did go on Eco tours. My main goal was photography. We spent 8 nights there and went on 5 eco tours.
Rooms:
The rooms are large and nice – nothing fancy, but you don’t go to the jungle to be fancy! The WiFi was fantastic – better than most hotels. There are no TVs in the rooms but, we were able to stream Netflix. The shower was great – lots of hot water and water pressure. The air conditioning was fantastic – something we really appreciated, as it was hot and humid outside. The bedding as a bit above average.
Staff:
The staff was always ready to go the extra mile for you. If you’ve read any of the other reviews, you’ve undoubtedly read about Olimpia. She’s a real gem. She really makes you feel at home. All of the other staff was equally nice and helpful.
Food:
We can’t say enough about the food. If you like seafood, you’ll LOVE dinner here. As a fishing resort, and as a resort on the water, really fresh fish is abundant. Breakfasts and lunch were equally good. Some days you ordered from a menu; other days it was buffet-style. The food quality and preparation were superb.
Bar:
All of our food and soft-drinks were included, but alcohol isn’t. There’s a nice bar, where you can go to have a drink after a long day touring.
Pool:
The pool area is very nice. You can sit in the sun or find shade. While sitting by the pool, you can watch scarlet macaws and other exotic birds come and go. There’s a small swim-up bar by the pool, but it wasn’t open when we were there.
Eco Tours:
The staff doing the Eco tours is amazing. They found the most amazing animals and birds. They could spot wildlife that we would never have seen. As a photographer, I appreciated their understanding of light and composition. They were always thinking about the best angle to photograph.
Although there is much wildlife around the property (lots of scarlet macaws, toucans, etc.), most Eco tours take place outside the property. You’re generally taken by a Land Rover-type vehicle over very bumpy roads. On one trip (the Rainforest/Monkey tour), we saw all four species of monkeys, along with 4 type of owls, scarlet macaws, sloths, and many birds. The tour provides lunch on a gorgeous secluded beach (Matapalo). It is a full-day tour and is amazing.
The "jungle night walk" tour is great. It takes place on the property after dark. You go with a guide with flashlights looking for night wildlife. We saw multiple frogs, spiders, etc. It’s a great way to see wildlife that you can’t see during the day.
We went to the Osa wildlife sanctuary. This tour takes you by boat to a sanctuary on the other side of the bay. On the way, you look for whales and dolphins. We saw one humpback whale and MANY spotted dolphins. The sanctuary rehabilitates injured animals while providing a home for injured animals. The animals are in cages, but it gives you an opportunity to see some animals that you wouldn’t normally see (ocelot, kinkajou, etc.). You get an opportunity to feed some of the animals, and even go into their cages. We went into the Sloth cage, and fed the 3 sloths. It was an incredible experience to get up and close with these incredible, gentle animals.
Weather:
We were there during the "green" season, which is cooler and rainier than the "dry" season. But almost every day was sunny up until around 3pm, when it gets cloudy, and "sometimes" rains around 4 to 5pm. It didn’t rain every day, and most days were beautiful. Out of 16 days in Costa Rica, it only rained mid-day once.
Photography:
Shooting in the rain forest is difficult because its so dark. Most wildlife is under the canopy, so there’s very little light. I shot with a Nikon SB-800 flash unit with a Magmod wildlife kit. This kit magnifies your flash output, so it reaches much further. I shot with flash exposure compensation of -2EV, so the use of flash wasn’t obvious. There are other brands of products that do the same thing. I highly recommend any of these. I rented a Nikon 500mm/f5.6 PF lens. This is a very light and small lens, and I shot most images with this. A focal length longer than 500mm would have been better, but this was the best alternative. I tried a 1.4x teleconverter with it, but at f8, there wasn’t enough light to focus on the dark subjects. I brought a 105mm macro lens – great for frogs – and a 300mm/f4 lens. I only used the 300mm lens for some close-up work (e.g., snakes that I didn’t want to get close to!).
Crocodile Bay is a hidden gem. About 7 different photographers have workshops there, but, unless you’re looking for instruction, the Eco tours provide everything you need for an incredible photographic opportunity.
Paradise in the Tropical Rainforest
Judi N
(Rockford, Illinois)
Just spent a week at this beautiful resort - wonderful setting located in a tropical rain forest. The rooms are very clean and well serviced. The food is great, and the dining staff make you feel that you are part of their "family". Everything is run very professionally, but with the feeling of enjoying a new home. Wildlife tours are amazing with chances to see monkeys, tree frogs, snakes, birds, lizards, etc. up close or running around the area.Tour guides are knowledgeable and always aware of safety. If you are a photographer, you couldn't find a better location.
Thrills and a trip of a lifetime
james t
(Ottawa, Canada)
My wife & I recently spent 7 days at the Crocodile Bay Resort. Visiting Costa Rica & fishing the Osa Peninsula has been on my bucket list for many, many years. Our adventure at Crocodile Bay did not disappoint & the experience at the resort was absolutely fabulous & needless to say, a dream come true. Eco tours, spa treatments for my wife, stunning flora & fauna, knowledgeable, friendly & courteous staff, quality food, quiet & comfortable accommodations & top tier fishing both inshore & offshore encompassed an experience which has created lifelong memories. Special thanks to Lisa Andresen from Lynch Creek Travel who organized the travel arrangements both smoothly & professionally. Furthermore, she calmed any concerns which I might have had in a prompt & courteous manner. In addition, Captain Humberto & first mate Charlie were a fantastic team & put us on fish repeatedly for four days. I've fished in multiple locations & they are easily the best fishing guides I've ever had the privilege of fishing with. The smallest fish we caught was 20lbs & the largest was 90lbs which included multiple Roosterfish, Sailfish, Jacks, Mahi Mahi & Bonito. We also had multiple bites from Snappers but were unable to land them this time around. The prize catch was a 70lbs Roosterfish which tested every muscle in my body. If you have the chance to fish at Crocodile Bay, ask for the team of Humberto & Charlie. You will not be disappointed. Other highlights include our visit to the Osa Sanctuary, seeing humpback whales & porpoises while fishing, the visit to the chocolate farm with our friendly guide, Michael, howling monkeys jumping on our roof in the night, the gladiator tree frog and all the wonderful flora & fauna on the premises of the resort. Thank you for the memories Crocodile Bay Resort. They will last a lifetime.
James
Rainy season
81UTaustingrad
(Georgetown, Texas)
We could see the rain all around but never got wet. Really quiet time of the year, good for me. Tail end of bill fish season, we did not pull one in but another fisherman managed to hook 4. We caught 2 tuna offshore and 2 roosters inshore along with a small blacktip and jack fish.
The accomodations were very clean and comfortable, large rooms. Food was prepared fresh and made to order, very nice.
We fished off the dock, swam in the pool, ziplined and went to the beach. Had a great time.
We just arrived home after 10 fabulous nights in this 3 bed town house, we all loved it. We stayed here two years ago and liked it so much we returned and it didn’t disappoint.
Check in was super quick and easy, on arrival at the house the carpets were still a little damp as the whole upstairs carpets had just been cleaned so the house smelt clean and fresh and they dried in no time so not a problem.
The only downside was the fully equipped kitchen was actually barely equipped, there was a kettle, toaster, microwave, coffee machine, super large oven / grill but no utensils, not even a baking sheet or spatula/ wooden spoon. So couldn’t cook a home made meal, had to use a carving knife to take a pizza out of the oven!
On the plus side it’s great having a large washing machine and drier.
It’s a lovely little gated community, there is not much outside space just a tiny paved area at the back but no garden furniture, it was too hot on our visit so we were happy indoors with the aircon.
Great pub/ restaurant 5 mins walk away Millers also a Chillis, Publix 10 mins walk and a pharmacy.
The traffic was a major problem during our stay, Disney is 20 mins drive but took 90 mins!!! The I4 is super congested at this junction for no obvious reason. We took lots of different routes to try to avoid.
Overall loved it and would stay here again.
Great place!
Jennifer B
We stayed for a dance competition/convention and the unit was exactly as described and pictures were accurate. I must say some of the reviews concerned me a little but we arrived and were pleasantly surprised at how nice it was. We stayed in unit 8125, which was very close to the pool, clean, and had everything we could have needed for our stay! Arrival and access was easy, communication was perfect! Thank you for the beautiful property to help ease the stress as we created family memories!
Summer 2019 Vacation
ASHW31
(Fort Worth, Texas)
This was our second stay at Fountains at ChampionsGate, first stay was June 2018, and Nicole and Stephanie at the front desk made sure that I would return next year! Upon arrival I was not happy with my unit I was given as the initial smell of it was not appealing and the carpet with the regular wear look was just not getting it for me, then on the next try I wasn’t happy with the appearance of the couches, on the third try it was a beautiful unit 8205 butttt it was a three bedroom and I needed 4 on my 4th try yes I’m picky and yes they did everything in their power to accommodate me and my family I was given my very first unit I had on my first trip 8112. I love the property and everything about it I definitely feel like it is beautiful and with a little touch up paint on some areas where the wall was a bit dirty from people rubbing against it and buffing of the carpets this could easily be a 5 star experience.
Fantastic holiday but requires complete rest when you get home !!!
whaurnoo
(fae Fife)
This was a family vacation with our son, daughter in law and our 4 year old grandson.
Everyday was hectic - of course we knew this before our visit -- but this beat anything that we thought we were prepared for !!! The Fountains resort was only a short distance from the Disney and Universal resorts but it still took us about 30 minutes to drive to any of the resorts. Don't think GRID LOCK is far away !! The Fountains was our escape from the hustle and bustle every day and it is only a short distance from a supermarket and restaurants. The townhouses at the Fountains resort were excellent and the outdoor pool was just what we needed. We were glad that we chose March to visit Orlando as each day, except one, was in the 80s. Quite warm for a Scot !!!! The reception staff were very helpful and directed us to our Townhouse. The resort itself was very tidy and the small lochan on the site had the necessary sign to make us aware that there may be alligators in the water. Luckily nothing showed up during our visit !!
Nice resort but check your bill
Timothy K
(Isanti, Minnesota)
First of all check in girl was too busy on phone to even talk to me for over 5 minutes, check in was supposed to be at 4 and they didn't finish cleaning our unit until 5:30. Was a nice unit and it was nice that it was in a gated community. I believed that my entire bill was paid for when I booked through Delta airlines only to find that they billed me an additional $188.43. I wonder if Delta vacations is aware they are doing this. Don't know if I would use this facility again knowing this.
I just got back from Tuscana today. I have to say that I was dreading which apartment I would be given as it sounds a little like a lottery. I had an apartment in building 3, on the ground floor.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a little balcony/outside area.
There was so much space and it meant both of my children could have their own double room- and at 10 and 8 years old this was invaluable.
Overall, Tuscana isn’t a 5 star hotel, but a spacious base for you to use throughout your holiday in my opinion. As long as your expectations are for that, you’ll have no worries. The swimming pool is great, the condos are big, the staff are helpful (our washing machine stopped working and they got straight on this) and having the ability to wash your clothes and make breakfast before you head out for the day was something that we really loved.
The cocktails and food at the pool (at the weekend only) were reasonable and we didn’t really use any other facilities so can’t really comment.
I wouldn’t go back as we have now ‘done Florida’ but this is a good base from which you can enjoy your holiday.
Top tips:
Go to the reception to collect towels for swimming, daily.
Travel to Target to buy a decent shop for the duration of your holiday.
Millers restaurant there has some good hearty food.
The pool is manned so watch your little ones- oh and if it’s storming they don’t stop you. Swimming in the rain is lovely.
Look out for the local wildlife- we loved watching the raccoons and a crazy squirrel who are foraging for food! Made us smile!!!
The pool seemed to be really quiet in the morning before 11 if you fancy a swim before you head out for the day.
Sarah
Sarah34608
I often make family trips to the Orlando area because of the water and them parks. Needless to stay I have stayed in many different hotels. By far this was the worst place I have ever stayed at. The room was not equipped with basic necessities such as towels, bathroom paper nor paper towels in the kitchen. We requested these things from the front desk and had to wait 24 hours before anyone delivered them although we were assured they would send someone right over with them. We ended up buying our own toilet paper towels and paper towels. The corridors steps and the rooms were dirty. On our first night there we were greeted by two water bugs. The bathroom in the master suit had black mold above the shower. The people at the front desk could not supply us with dish liquid nor garbage bags because they claimed that things were moved and they did not know where they had been put. Many of the other guest at this hotel seemed to have questionable characters. They is only one supermarket fairly close to the hotel and it closes early as many if the local restaurant. I could not in sound mind recommend this place to anyone. I would not even allow my dogs to stay in a place like this. I was super disappointed and disgusted by this place and the quality of customer care.
Amazing Experience!!!
love_life90
This place has become our to go spot anytime we travel to Orlando, FL. It all begins with their sales agents Leticia went above & beyond to find what we needed and explained in full detail of what to expect when we arrived. Arriving the resort is located in a area where you have ample places to go for eating or shopping personal items. The resort is located in a gated community very beautiful landscaping the rooms are very spacious. Couple of times we had dinner there where it felt just like when we have dinner at home!!! My kids ENJOYED there stay they loved the pool they loved all the rooms had flat screens, I mean this place makes you feel just like you’re at home!! I have been recommending this to coworkers, family, and friends. Best rates as well. Make sure to call and book with Leticia very sweet and efficient young lady!!! We’re returning for Christmas Break!!!!
A beautiful place, quiet and close to everything
Fernando A
A beautiful place, surrounded by nature, quiet and staffed by very friendly people, is close to all the main attractions and tourist attractions of the area, the apartment is comfortable, clean and adequately equipped.
2 weeks stay
ArmstrongP-NI
We had a fantastic 2 week stay and we all wish we didn’t have to leave. A cracking set up for a family and we had 2 en suite rooms with a great living area, kitchen and full laundry.
A lovely pool and surrounding area coupled with staff who couldn’t be more helpful!
Looking forward to our next trip
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