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We’ve had so much fun sharing our days in Hawaii with you, and now I’m excited to share more about the hotels available in Waikiki!
From the time we landed on Oahu, to when we stepped foot into the hotel, it was a little over two hours. The hotels in the area are only about 22 minutes from the airport, but we had a delay at the rental car office, which took way longer than we expected. By the time we arrived at the hotel, we had lost that tropical island excitement and were more in the “show me to my room” kind of mood. That lasted no more than a minute after we were handed ice cold wet towels that had a light almond scent. Everything about this hotel was perfect, and the cold towel welcome was just the beginning of how they think of everything.
The hotel itself is in the heart of Waikiki. It is set back just a little from the main street giving it privacy, but still have an unobstructed ocean view. The lobby has a definite Hawaiian flair with fresh flowers throughout.
Check-in took maybe 3 minutes, and then we were lead up to our suite. This is one of the beautiful things about staying at a boutique hotel, the personal service is simply amazing and you feel like you are the only guest there.
We were not prepared for what our room was going to look like.
I had been to Hawaii a couple times before when I was younger, and even I couldn’t have imagined how breathtaking the view was.
Emmy isn’t one to hide her feelings, and I think this picture speaks volumes as to her delight when she ran through our suite.
Once we were in our rooms I went straight to the veranda. It was practically calling to me. We had views down to Diamond Head and up through Waikiki Beach. The balcony/veranda area had sliding doors that opened almost the full length of the wall. It was more like we had an outside addition to the room than a veranda per se. Waking up to these views will be something I never forget. I love my morning cup of coffee and drinking it while the sun rises is a memory I will cherish. Emmy joined me each morning and sat and watched the surfers going out into the water.
The other direction were these amazing city views. The girls had a window in their room and they gazed out this way at night. Maddie was in heaven with all the lights at night.
After I sat out on the veranda for a bit I decided to explore the rest of the suite.
We had a full kitchen, dining area, family room, two bedrooms and two full bathrooms. We also had a washer and dryer, which is the most brilliant thing to have on a vacation. The decor was a mix of relaxing and Hawaiian all rolled into one. The bed was a nice mix of firm and soft on top. The water in the shower was warm and the pressure great.
Each room comes with some drinks to enjoy… the mango soda was like a dream come true. So good!
We were even surprised with a treat for Pete and I, and chocolates for the girls!
This was the girl’s bedroom. The layout of the suite is really nice. The kid’s room is on one end and the master bedroom on the other. The family/common areas connect the two. They also had a full bath next to their room.
The full kitchen is perfect for storing snacks and even making meals. We don’t tend to use kitchens beyond snacking when we are traveling because we enjoy trying new restaurants and cuisines, but it was really nice to know it was there. We did stop for yogurt and other snacks at the ABC Store which was really close to our hotel.
I actually remembered the ABC Stores from when I was here years ago, and it was so fun to go back into one. If you are looking for snacks, toiletries, souvenirs or pretty much anything else you can think of, chances are ABC Stores will have it. There are many high-end shops with some fabulous goods to be had!
This master bedroom was perfection! It was roomy and the linens were high quality. But the most spectacular part was the view… did I mention this was one of the Penthouse Suites? We were on one of the top floors and the ocean view couldn’t have been better. I had someone refer to it like we were on a cruise ship, and it really did feel we were that close to the water. We towered over the beaches and the view was just pure Hawaiian blue and green waters. We mostly kept the sliding glass doors open to enjoy the sounds and breeze too.
There was so much space…
The bathrooms were lovely too…
The veranda was very big and stretched the length of the entire suite…
We didn’t even plan to visit the pool, because when you have a crisp and clear ocean so close the pool seems unnecessary, but Emmy has never seen a pool she didn’t want to swim in, so we spent a little time there one afternoon. I didn’t hop in, instead opting to gaze over the ocean. The views from every inch of this hotel thrilled me. They also have some game tables off to the side of the pool. I’d imagine those get a lot of use from teens who are visiting!
The beach is just across the street and there is a walkway to get to the street itself. After we came back from the beach, we were able to rinse off in the outdoor shower located in the walkway above. Beach towels are available at the valet and you just drop them off and pick up new ones as needed.
This is the beach closest to the hotel. There are shaded benches and tables and lagoons with calm waters for everyone to play in.
The girls all decided that they never wanted to leave… I totally agree!
On our last night, we were surprised with fireworks!
Completely unplanned, but our visit was timed perfectly to coincide with the biggest cultural celebration of the year. They had a huge parade, and then one of the best firework shows I’ve ever seen. It was literally right in front of our balcony. We all sat outside on our veranda and watched the huge display of lights. It was magical to hear so many people cheering from their verandas and the beach with each explosion of color.
Here is a video tour suite:
Our hotel had a refined luxury that is perfectly suited to luxury family travelers. Not so fancy that you are uncomfortable having your children there, but still luxurious. I can’t imagine a better place to stay to start our Hawaiian adventure.
Hawaii is one of our family’s favorite vacation spots! Will def have to check out this hotel it sounds perfect for families and that view is on point!
oh, my goodness! What a piece of paradise. I love the room. Looks so cozy and the view is breathtaking. Thanks for sharing!
Wow! This looks absolutely amazing! If I ever visited Hawaii, I would so stay there! Beautiful view!
We are a family of 4 who are planning to travel to Hawaii this Dec 2016 for 12 nights (from Australia), I am having so much trouble finding the hotel or condor that have 2 Bedrooms and 2 Bathrooms with this beautiful view available during this Christmas and New year Break!!!! Then I see your blog and see your family is so lucky to have such beautiful accommodation to enjoy in Hawaii recently. So I tried to book this hotel but it does not come up with 2 Bedrooms and 2 Bathrooms….they only have hotel room? Have I got it wrong?
Hi Spring,
This would be a great place for your family. The view was breathtaking! I just looked on their site and it showed the same accommodations are being offered, but I don’t know your exact travel dates so that might be the problem. They could be booked already as that is a very popular time of year. I would recommend calling them. They also have quite a few hotels in the area and they are all fantastic. They might be able to help you book a few nights at this one and the rest at one of their other resorts… or maybe all at this one. Either way I am sure you will enjoy your stay.