The Royal Hawaiian Hotel

, Honolulu, United States
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The Royal Hawaiian Hotel

, Honolulu
4 star

Rooms: 528

2259 Kalakaua Ave - Honolulu - Hawaii - 96815 - United States | 808 923 7311
789 Traveller

Reviews - The Royal Hawaiian Hotel

Historical Traveller Reviews of The Royal Hawaiian Hotel

Incredible experience

from Love2runSeattle
We were there for our 25th anniversary and cannot say enough about the friendly, exceptional and impeccable service. The food was terrific at the outdoor areas, and the staff at the Mai Tai Bar was fun and prompt. The beach and pool staff were also wonderful. The grounds of the hotel really take you away from the shopping street, but that was the best part, so close to shops, people watching, etc.

The historic hotel keeps its charm without the dated feeling many older hotels have. Loved it!

Being a runner, easy access to good running spots.

Graceful elegance, with outstanding customer service

from Javagirl08
We stayed for a week in an oceanfront room. The view was amazing, as one would expect for this price level.

Check in - amazing foyer and reception area! This hotel has managed to keep an exotic Hawaiian feeling to it, with beautiful artwork and decadent wooden furniture (koa wood, I believe). Our luggage was handled for us, as we sat at the desk for check in. Cool towels, lemonade and leis were presented. Nice way to start! Check in by Marc was courteous and fast. The Concierge showed us to our room (ocean tower) and explained the amenities (have bills ready for tips! ). Fresh banana bread was waiting in our room. Note to management - it would help to 'air out' the rooms before arrival, as our room was musty and not very welcoming. Plumeria would be great!

Meleni at the front desk is amazing - what customer service! She is a beautiful lady.

Room - the room had two double beds, which unfortunately I found hard and uncomfortable. The linens however, were lovely. The lanai was nice, though the bird droppings detracted from the ambience. The room safe and mini fridge were very handy for keeping snacks and drinks. The room also had cofee and tea (and kettle) which was appreciated. The carpets appeared new and furniture was average (large dresser which was great). I had a concern when shown our room, because our room was right in front of the elevator. We were told the floor/wing was quiet but unfortunately we were routinely disturbed by the loud elevator (ding ding!). I would recommend asking for a room away from the elevators, unless management has fixed this problem. Another note about the elevators - twice we were caught in the doors (once with my young daughter). The doors closed on us hard. We hope this has been fixed, as it was extremely dangerous.

Bathroom - large, with marble fixtures. The tub looked dirty and dingy, though it actually needed reglazing. A lot of decadent, pink fluffy towels. Excellent lighting and hairdryer.
Good water pressure.

Houskeeping - fresh towels twice a day, with turn down service. The water and chocolate left every night was a nice touch. The housekeeper was fabulous and hard working but I would suggest that the floors be swept daily, as they tend to attract sand and hair easily. I left a daily tip, as he worked very hard for us.

Restaurant - we ate breakfast daily in the outdoor restaurant. I found the service a bit inconsisent, though bearable. The food was usually pretty good, though my eggs benedict one day was cold and unappealing. Watch out for the pigeons - they are annoying! One flew up on our table and we had to re-order breakfast because of all the flying feathers. Despite this fact, we weren't given a rush and waited another 25 minutes for the new breakfasts (my daughter had long finished her meal).

The fresh fruit juices were so yummy!

Pool/beach attendants - fantastic! The Pool Manager and Max (?) were super with the customer service. I didn't mind tipping for the friendly and helpful service.

Beach - roped off section amidst chaos. At the time we were there, we had no problems in getting our lounge chairs and umbrellas. I was told it was never a problem though if the hotel was at full capacity, I would question how they could accommodate everyone. The Mai Tai bar was fantastic (pricey, as they all are). We had beach service which was great (food and drinks). On a subsequent day, when I inquired about beach service at the Mai Tai bar, I was told they don't usually have beach service and the guy looked at me like I was crazy. I was told that guests could enjoy alcohol in the roped off area because it was private property of the Royal Hawaiian. Perhaps management should look at whether they consistenly offer beach service or not.

The swimming is good, and we even saw some snorkelling.

Ocean tower concierge desk - 3 computers set up to check emails. Snacks, coffee and tea set up throughout the day. We even had fresh baked cookies! We were told they come out at 3:00 pm. The 100% kona coffee in the morning was very welcome. They will set up your excursions. A limo is also available, if it is within a two (?) mile radius and booked in advance.

Lanscaping - I found the grounds beautiful. The property was immaculate and we felt like we were wandering in paradise. Love the orchids!

Parking - self parking is $ 20/day and is at the Sheraton next door. Valet was $ 29/day, if I rememeber correctly.

The location is right across the street from the International Market and numerous restaurants. I would recommend booking dinners because it is so busy. The Hula Grill and Dukes is right next door.

We fell in love with this hotel and would return again without a doubt. In fact, this is probably where we would stay every year. The history of the building could be felt in the details. I loved the sweeping hallways, arched windows and scenary. It truly felt like an oasis. The room wasn't spectacular, but all the extras made our stay very enjoyable. We felt spoiled! A beautiful way to spend a holiday.

Very Pleased - One of the Nicest Places I Have Ever Stayed At

from turquoisekitty
Absolutely beautiful hotel. Nice tucked away location off the main busy street but still quick access to local conveniences, not to mention the luxury shopping mall. Staff was excellent. Very tasteful. GREAT MAI TAI BAR ON THE BEACH!

Total Luxury

from justice12
We just returned from Oahu in Feb 09 and stayed at the Royal Hawaiian. It was beautiful, splendid, luxurious, clean, well appointed room, maids exceptionally friendly and kept rooms spotless. We had a suite that had just been refurbished. In fact, the entire hotel had just reopened from extensive remodel. The landscaping was beautiful. The location was the best. The hotel is located on Wakkii beach, no doubt the best area. For bring home shopping there is a market two blocks from the hotel where you can pick up pearls, sterling silver, caps, tourist toys, etc, etc. cheap. There are ABC stores on nearly every corner to pick up cold drinks, tooth brushes and those sorts of things. You can shop retail such as Ralph Laren, Coach, Juicy Couture, all the name brand items. This is a very up-scale area. There is one hotel after the other and retail shopping one right after the other. . The 30th floor of the Sheraton hotel which is right next to the Royal Hawaiian, has a buffett on Sundays with a post card view. Can't say the buffett was that great but the view was. The Royal hotel has wonderful breakfast by the pool with superior service. We went into several of the hotels to view them, the Royal was by far the best.The staff is wonderful, helpful, and friendly. The beds are so comfortable.
Great place for sunning and just getting away. We would recommend this hotel and would stay there again for sure. Make sure you see the memorial that has been erected over the ship Arizona which is located in Pearl Harbor. It is a graveyard for over 900 people. It is quite a place to remember our soldiers. This is a very sad place but truly interesting to visit. Of course, the north shore has the worlds best surfers. The waves are so high. Not much to eat around that side of the island though.Very seedy looking. Would not want to stay anywhere in that area. There is Turle Bay at the north shore point where there is a Hilton Hotel located there, but it is old and not very pleasant. You want to make sure you stay in the Wakkii Beach area.


The Morgans from Texas

A Calm Oasis in the Midst of the Big City

from SunsetKakes
We recently spent 3 days at the newly renovated Royal Hawaiian. Although my husband's meeting was held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, he wanted to stay here because of the history behind the Royal Hawaiian. The renovation is beautiful, and they are still working on the landscaping. The lobby area is large and airy, with the back of the lobby opening up to a lawn and the ocean beyond. It truly is a stunning sight. We were warmly welcomed to the hotel upon our arrival, and given a room in the original part of the hotel (not the tower) overlooking the gardens. The room was somewhat small, but very comfortable. Our only complaint here was the extremely small bathroom, only one person could fit in there at a time. Not to mention the location of the toilet paper, which got knocked into the bowl several times (thank goodness for extra rolls and a nice housekeeper!) We will be laughing about that one for a long time. I am not sure if the bathrooms are set up like this in every room, but we did have a room next to the bather's elevator, so this situation may be unique to this room. The breakfasts at the hotel restaurant were excellent, costing approximately $25p/p from freshly squeezed OJ to the breakfast itself and side items. We did not eat at Azure, but did have a drink at the outdoor bar, which was nice, unless it rains. As mentioned in a previous review, there is no indoor bar (maybe you could have cocktails at Azure?) so, when it rained, we went elsewhere for a drink. Speaking of rain, which we saw alot of during our stay, be very careful walking on the wet floors and steps in the lobby - they become very slippery. How do I know - because I slipped and nearly fell by the concierge desk. The staff immediately ran to my assistance to ensure that I was okay. Housekeeping did all they could to vacuum and sweep off the water, but it is a hazard. Services at the Concierge Desk were inconsistent, although I think at the time they were in the process of training new staff. The pool is nice, and the beach is great, with the staff providing chairs and towels. I think you have to appreciate the Royal Hawaiian for its history and years on Waikki Beach, now morphed by the super sized chain hotels. It stands alone, regal on the beach in all of its pink splendor. And for its uniqueness and charm, as well as the renovations, it is worth staying here.

fabulous old hotel with grace and style

from bossladyCalifornia
All of the common areas are upgraded and are fabulous. The hotel has been brought back to it former grand condition. Great lobby. The restaurant Azure is beautiful, but they put cabanas in front of the windows and if someone draws a drape--there is no view. They did not put an inside bar anywhere which is bad when it rains. Their nightly entertainment starts too late--6:00 is way too late. The rooms are done and upgraded with flat screens and granite but the furniture is Ikea quality or less. There are no bureaus and there are no shelves in the bathroom or room for anything. They were just finishing up for the Grand Reopening and it was quiet and close, but we had two stoppages and our drapes fell off! We took this with a grain of salt. Their housekeeping department is dismal. The first two nights we didn't have turndown even though we asked for it early--they did try to come real late though. Food choices and quality were excellent. I felt that there were so few things that needed to be done before the opening that it was a true miracle. If you stay in the tower rooms there is a concierge floor. The only give you sweet rolls and at night olive tapanade, but they have two computers there and they are convenient and no charge. We have stayed there 28 years and I believe if time allotted..we will be there another 28 years. Great location and wonderful employees.

Beautiful hotel!

from martlay
My husband and I came from Montreal Canada to spend a few nights at the royal hawaiian. We had an ocean view room. The hotel has just been renovated but kept its vintage style. The rooms, the service and the hotel was great. The only thing is that most of the people staying at this hotel are retired and since we are in our 20s we did'nt make too many friends.

Will Not Stay Again

from Banaltra
I chose to stay here because as I child growing up on Oahu, it was my dream. Since I am turning 60 this year, it was on my "bucket list" to do. It is now done and I will not attempt to repeat the experience. It was filled with disappointment and disillusionment that I am writing to the Starwood Hotel group about. I will say that the remodel was not complete. the grounds were still be worked on and the spa was not open, even though I called before arrival and was told that everything was done, open and operational. Be careful in what your expectations are for a waterfront room, too. Be sure and clarify what this means. Looking over a roof with stacks of plywood and white plastic buckets was certainly not what I pictured. The greatest asset to this hotel is it staff (housekeeping, room service, bell staff, curbside) who are the most gracious and cordial group of people I have ever encountered. I was always greeted with smile and a warm aloha. They are what kept me from checking out and moving to another hotel. If you have any dealing with room service, ask for George. He is a delight! Overall, it was not the experience I was expecting or hoped for and that was a sad disappointment to me. I will try other hotels on my future trips to Oahu.
Management Response from RHManager
Mahalo for your feedback regarding your stay at The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort. We strive to extend exceptional service to each of our guests and are pleased that you had positive comments regarding our ambassadors. It truly is our talented team that makes our magnificent resort such an icon in Waikiki. We are pleased you felt their extension of Hawaiian hospitality on your return to Oahu.

Thank you also for sharing the challenges you faced and it is unfortunate that your experience with us was not as you expected. Staying at the Pink Palace is a lifelong dream for many of our guests and your frustration is understandable. Moving forward I can assure you that Abhasa Spa is open and offering an array of indigenous treatments to our guests. Also, our Coconut Grove landscaping and the other finishing touches to our public areas have been completed. I truly hope that you are able to return to see for yourself the culmination of our tremendous efforts in bringing The Royal Hawaiian into an era of luxury.

Thank you again for bringing these issues to our attention and for your patronage. I would be very interested to hear further comments or answer any questions you have about our resort and I can be reached at 808-931-8863 should I be able to provide further assistance.

Mahalo,
Kimberly Lottig
Revenue Manager

A Royal Experience

from wen0314
My boyfriend and I had the most amazing vacation in Honolulu. We stayed at the Royal Hawaiian. The hotel has been under a major renovation and is set for the grand reopening in March. However we were too anxious to go on vacation so we booked it in February. The hotel holds special memories for my boyfriend and I wanted to celebrate his Birthday and Valentines Day doing something very special. We booked our trip and although some of the ammenities in the hotel were still going through their transformation you would never know it. The Royal was still the beautiful pink palace. The staff, the exquisite grounds, the restaurants, the beautiful rooms were tops, I believe we had the best room ever, ocean front with a view of Diamond Head and the beautiful beach in front of us what more could anyone ever ask for. With special mention to the incredible concierge who went above and beyond, who were so very accommodating..."Charles and Wendy" are the most amazing people. They made our vacation so lovely and perfect. We will have the special memory of our trip to last forever and new friendships as well. The Royal Hawaiian was truly a royal experience.

Remodel is wonderful

from Keesha99
We live in Kona and have stayed at the Royal Hawaiian frequently for over 15 years. We were thrilled that it would reopen in time for our annual trip to the Pro Bowl. The remodeled rooms are beautiful, clean and fresh, not nearly as pink, and for the most part have kept their Hawiian feel. The exception to this was the bathrooms. While they were beautifully redone, the granite and glass look reminded me of a Hyatt.

The pool is finished, and we were pleased to see the addition of the new 'family' pool shared with the Sheraton Waikiki. I consider RH pool an adult 'dipping pool', while the new one has slides and waterfalls, making it much more fun for older kids (we came with 3). The new beachfront restauant was not completed yet, so breakfast was served by the pool where the old snack bar style place was taken out and replaced with tables. The beachfront bar is open with lots of delicious new pupus. Living in Hawaii we are accustomed to resort prices and felt that by this standard the food and drink were a good value.

Check In is now done at desks, with a cold towel and glass of juice provided during the process, and the concierge station has also moved to large stations in the main lobby which is large and airy overlooking the garden. Our pre arrival requests were all perfectly in order.

The staff was as always, gracious to a fault, and went out of their way at every level. The valet's were a particulary fun group, tossing the fottball with our boys while we waited for a cab to the game.

The only strange thing I encountered were a few new rules at the beach. Alcohol was no longer served beyond the bar gate (soft drinks are still allowed), and there was no food or drink service there, we had to walk up to the bar and order. I was also told I needed a coverup over my bathing suit while sitting at the bar, which I found absurd. This rule appeared to change when a group of 'cheerleader' types arrived!

We had two rooms on this trip. Ours was a corner room with a large walk in closet and very comfortable bathroom. In our sons room, the closet was tiny, not really a problem, but the bathroom was so small that it was actually difficult to use. My husband is 6'5" and could barely sit down, and I see no way a heavy person could be at all comfortable. I'd definately recommend checking this issue out when making reservations.

All in all I'd give the Royal Hawaiian my highest review, it's regained it's place as the Queen of Waikiki!

Top Local Tips for Honolulu

SUNSET DINNER CRUISE/CIRCLE ISLAND TOUR A MUST The Sunset Dinner Cruise and Circle Island Tour are recommended. Do Circle island Tour at first or second day of arrival, so you can take rent-a-car back on your own to places you like. We took rent-a-car to Hanaouma Beach 1/2 hour from Waikiki, snack bar, $1 parking, $5 entrance, to beach, great snorkel beach, brought our own snorkel equipment, long steep hill down to beach, we walked down and yes! we walked back up, there is a trolley that goes up and down steep hill for .50 cents down, $1 each time back, or $2.00 per person ride trolley back and forth all day, snack bar at top of hill so have to walk or take trolley, we didn'[t spend one dime on trolley! When we paked up to leave, there wasn't enough room on Trolley for us and we were impatient, didn't want to wait 20 minutes for next one so we walked up grueling hill, it was good for us but tough. Bring your bottled water or soda and snacks to beach because no snack service at beach, you have to go up steep hill to get to snacks

Friday Band Concerts The Royal Hawaiian Band has free concerts at noon on the Iolani Palace grounds. They play for one hour: marches, modern Hawaiian, and old Hawaiian music. Then we adjourn to Legend's seafood in Chinatown for dim sum.

Pearl Harbor site Book a tour for this as they can negotiate the long lines that form for this memorial; they will pick you up early (6:15 A.M.)at your hotel and if you have an excellent tour guide like we did, you will get an interesting history lesson in the bargain. We did "GoHawaii" Tours and our guide was a native Hawaiian who had a wealth of information, not only about Pearl harbor, but Hawaii in general.

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Other names for The Royal Hawaiian Hotel

  • royal hawaiian hotel
  • royal hawaiian honolulu
  • royal hawaiian
  • Address: 2259 Kalakaua Ave - Honolulu - Hawaii - 96815 - United States
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