Resorts in Honolulu

"The Rainbow Tower is quite new and the rooms are decent, but the elevators are incredibly slow. With over 1000 rooms sharing just 5 elevators, you're looking at nearly a ten-minute wait every time. I'd advise against booking an ocean view room because you won't really see much ocean; it's mostly lagoon. For a true ocean view, you'd need to book an 'oceanfront view,' and even then, it depends on the front desk's mood – they might give you a low floor where you still can't see anything. My room was on a very low floor with virtually no view, plus there was construction going on downstairs, which was very noisy. The hotel's location is a bit out of the way for Waikiki; it's over a 15-minute walk to the main area. However, it's only a 15-minute walk to Ala Moana Shopping Center. Also, if beach quality is important to you, don't stay here. The beach is full of coral fragments, which hurt your feet, and the water is murky. The towel counter closes at 6 PM, so there's nowhere to return towels after that. Additionally, they don't offer complimentary beach chairs or bodyboards, unlike Marriott where they're free. Overall, it's not really worth the price."

"The hotel's location is excellent, but the room was tiny. There were no slippers provided, which was quite uncomfortable for me walking around barefoot. The American breakfast was pretty terrible for a Chinese palate, and this hotel was no exception. Of course, as long as Americans like it, that's what matters, considering it's in the U.S. The hotel has its own parking lot, which costs $55 per night."

"This is a great hotel, very convenient for Waikiki Beach. The service is excellent, there are plenty of activities, and it has its own pool and beach chairs."

"We were given Room 08 in the Ewa building, and the balcony view was exactly as pictured. Even though we were on a high floor, we could still faintly hear the lively party music at night, but it didn't bother our sleep. I'm not sure if it would be an issue for lower floors. Getting to the beach was super convenient – just cross the street, turn right, and you're there. The waves on this part of the beach are very gentle and consistent, so I'd recommend renting a board and heading out. The hotel providing beach towels and chairs was a nice touch and very convenient. The room itself was quite spacious, and while it felt a bit dated, the restroom and bathroom had been renovated with updated fixtures, including a Japanese toilet. The only downside is that the bathroom space felt a bit cramped."

"This hotel named as “the First Lady” in Waikiki and the heritage building attracts you deeply and looks very nice. I think I was a bit misled by the platform about the “private beach” as it actually refer to a very small area that the hotel renting some umbrella for their guest and make it as a “private area” instead of a real private beach. However, the location is excellent located in the center of Waikiki beach with very close walking distance and we enjoy the time in the beach very much."

"The hotel is nice for the price of low $223 but they charge $45 per day of activity fees but I never used. The location is about 10 minutes walk from the central Waikiki area but is OK. The breakfast buffet is good and includes in the room package. The only problem is that they only have valet parking for $60 per day. It took them 45 minutes in the morning to get my car down on day 1 and we missed the tour. The other days were 10 to 15 minutes. I guess they don’t have enough parking so they have to double park and triple park. I tried to park at the adjacent Banyan lot but all full after 8pm. There are no other viable option other than valet parking in the hotel."

"My stay didn't live up to expectations. When I went for breakfast in the morning, I was told it wasn't included, even though I'd specifically confirmed it was when booking. That immediately soured my mood. Thankfully, I contacted the platform's customer service, and they resolved it quickly and offered compensation. The hotel's incredible sea view made up for the shortcomings. I really hope the platform and the hotel, especially one with such a rich history, can avoid such communication errors in the future to ensure a truly excellent guest experience."

"I stayed for several days in a row, and I wouldn't really recommend it. We had a balcony room with a partial ocean view, and the sea was quite beautiful on a nice day. However, the biggest issue with this hotel is how incredibly noisy it is due to the constant flow of people. If your room isn't on a high enough floor, you'll be facing the third-floor pool downstairs, and in the afternoons, the hotel blasts very loud, high-energy music, which is incredibly disruptive. The hotel is located in the Waikiki area, but this specific part generally feels less safe than the core shopping center area where Waikiki Target is located. At night, there are strange homeless people walking the streets, some of whom smell quite bad. You'll also occasionally catch the smell of ********* wafting through the hotel lobby and hallways. The cleanliness is just okay; because the hotel is quite old, there are some mottled spots on the walls. The towels aren't as plush as those at Hytaa, and while housekeeping does come daily, it doesn't quite make up for the other issues."

"The hotel's location is excellent. You can easily walk to Ala Moana Center and the Duty Free shop downtown. The hotel environment is also quite good. Highly recommended!"

"This hotel was perfect for my trip. [Room] - Spacious - The sink was large. I was able to spread out all my amenities. The large mirror and magnifying mirror made applying makeup easy. - Excellent shower pressure. - The toilet flushed smoothly. - The bathroom had a large luggage storage area with over 10 hangers. I brought folding hangers but didn't use them. I was able to easily fit three inflatable swim rings and a suitcase. - There were plenty of chests of drawers, so I was able to store all my clothes. - There was a large mirror behind the sofa, making it easy to get ready. - There were also multiple outlets on the side beds, so charging my phone was easy. - Two adults and a small child could sleep comfortably on the king bed. There was also a sofa bed, but we didn't use it. - The housekeeper always cleaned the room well, and there was no sand from the beach. - Plenty of towels and tissues. - The coffee machine, paper cups, and drinking glasses were always kept replenished. [Pool/Beach] - You can go directly to the beach from the pool. There were plenty of beach chairs reserved for the hotel, so it was easy to find a spot. You could leave your towel and luggage there, play in the pool, then play on the beach and then return to the pool empty-handed. Duke's staff are always wandering around the poolside checking for orders, so you can order from the menu on the spot. You can even drink alcohol while swimming in the pool. Floor rings are allowed in the pool. Beach bags are provided in the rooms, so you can use them. They're large and sturdy, and I often saw people carrying them around town. I didn't need to bring my own. Water bottles are also provided. There's a water dispenser by the pool. [Overall Hotel] The staff were friendly and helpful. The staff helped me with my luggage as soon as I arrived. I arrived at 12:30, but they allowed me to check in early without asking. My luggage was delivered to my room promptly, and after I told them where the safe was, they left the room saying, ”Enjoy!”, so I almost missed a tip. While there aren't many Japanese people and none of the staff speaks Japanese perfectly, I was able to get by with just a few words. Security is tight, as you can't get on the elevators without a hotel card. Conveniently, there's a Hula Grill and Duke's just down the street from the lobby. For a late breakfast around 9:00, Hula Grill was open, and I was able to get a great beachfront seat without a reservation. I got a cheap city view room on the first floor, but I was more than satisfied with the ocean view from the lanai. The location is great, with the International Market Place right across the street. There are also plenty of shops downstairs. I forgot to buy souvenirs the day before my final day, so I popped into Honolulu Cookies, which is open until 10:00 PM, in my pajamas. It's right in the middle of Waikiki Beach, so both the Royal Hawaiian Center and Waikiki Beach Walk are within walking distance. I was very satisfied, but as other reviews have said, it can be noisy at night. Street music can be heard until late every night. However, I enjoyed it because I thought, ”Everyone's so cheerful. It feels like I'm overseas.” There were days when I could hear something that sounded like opera, and it felt like I got a good deal. It's strange that there are so few Japanese people there, considering the location and service are so good. There are almost no Japanese people there, so it feels like I'm abroad."