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JW Marriott Ihilani Ko Olina Resort & Spa
Categories: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Beauty and Spas Nail Salons Hotels, Nail Salons
92-1001 Olani StKapolei - Oahu, HI 96707
(808) 679-0079
Announcement
Visit http://bit.ly/ih4PHw and experience exclusive offers at JW Marriott Ihilani Ko Olina Resort & Spa.
- Price Range:
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$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Valet
- Wi-Fi:
- Paid
- By Appointment Only:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
108 reviews for JW Marriott Ihilani Ko Olina Resort & Spa
Review Highlights
"the private lagoons were gorgeous."
(in 28 reviews)
"Had a fabulous ocean view room for a week."
(in 11 reviews)
"What a complete change of pace from Waikiki."
(in 39 reviews)
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108 reviews in English
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Review from Jessica B.
Beverly, MA
12/28/2011
Amazing experience here!
I cannot say enough positive things about the JW. The staff was beyond helpful with every single thing we could possibly need. My husband and I had never been to Hawaii before so we had a lot of questions and the staff couldn't have been better about helping us. The concierge was great, but beyond that we got local restaurant and beach tips from everyone from the towel guys to the valet.
For a chain hotel, I really think this was an exceptional location. We only ended up eating at the main restaurant in the hotel, but it was fantastic; breakfast lunch and dinner.
The rooms were gorgeous and we had an amazing view from our lagoon view room. I highly recommend upgrading to one if you can. Seeing that view everyday is something we will never forget.
The lagoons on site are awesome! Buy some snorkels and snorkel around. We saw sea turtles and a million different kinds of fish.
I have every intention of coming back here my next trip to Hawaii. -
Review from Ashley J.
1/10/2012
We stayed at the JW Marriott the week of Christmas while the rest of our family was staying at the Ko'Olina beach club down the road.. Absolutely beautiful! Our room was gorgeous, and the view was breathtaking (our view was ocean/sting ray/hammerhead shark pools). HUGE bathrooms with double sinks/vanity areas- big tubs, showers. Their complimentary toiletries were also very nice for hotel products..
Service: One of the most accommodating hotels I've ever stayed at. The guest service reps were so pleasant to work with, and went above and beyond to make sure our experience was topnotch. Also- their valet guys were AWESOME.
Food: They have a huge breakfast buffet overlooking the pool, as well as menu service for those with a smaller appetite.
Pool: Small pool, but since you're so close to the beach- why not hang there?
Location: Ko'Olina is such a cute little area tucked away on the West side of Oahu. It's not touristy and very walkable. The beaches are very nice, well maintained, and are protected by break walls so you can do lots of swimming and snorkeling. Also, there is an ABC store (local convenient store) right across the street so you can stock up on beverages/snacks/gifts/fresh fruit/etc.
Their gift/pro shops are very cute and well stocked with many gifts for others (and yourself!)
Cons: I can't remember the name, but I wasn't a fan of the Japanese restaurant at the hotel. The service was SUPER slow, and it wasn't that busy. I actually had to walk up to the bar to get silverware after waiting for our waiter to return before my food got cold... Also- there was a light that needed to be changed and it was flickering throughout our whole dinner- which isn't a huge deal, but it got to be real annoying.
Conclusion: I definitely recommend the Ko'Olina Marriott for those who are looking for some quality time R & R. Because of the small pool, I wouldn't recommend for kids- but check out the Disney Hotel next door if you are planning on traveling with kids. -
Review from Christina B.
Placentia, CA
1/7/2012
My husband and I stayed over x- mas and new years eve week and had an amazing time! The resort staff is super accommodating and the rooms are very clean with excellent views. There is an ABC store within walking distance which makes it easy for snacks and drinks. The rooms have refrigerators so you can keep water and soda nice and cool. The paradise cove luau is within walking distance but I encourage you not to make the same mistake we did and save your $$. The only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is due to the limited bar area ( the only 1 open during the day is in the pool area, which is very small) Ironically we had to go to the disney resort next door to get a good stiff drink LOL! Also, they only have 1 small pool, which may be a big deal for some although they do have excellent accesss to the beach area. The sushi restaurant is very good ( we only went to the sushi bar). I also recommend that you visit the bar at Azul if Chris is working. Chris is so knowledgable about the island, he knows every hike and well...every nook and crany of the island! I don't recommend Azul for dinner...Chris is the only gem there. Don't bother going to the bar above the pool (open after 6pm) they are always overwhelmed and somewhat rude...stick with Chris at Azul.
We will definatey be back! Wonderful resort...I recommend for families and couples. -
Review from Kyle H.
The fiancee & I stayed at the JW Marriott Ihilani for the very first time a couple of weeks ago. The property had recently finished a top-to-bottom room renovation and we were eager to see what staying at the property would be like. I do not know what the old rooms were like, though, so I am not able to make a comparison.
From the very beginning, we had great experience. When we checked-in, the person assisting us was friendly, courteous, and personable. Immediately after checking in, I headed over to the Marriott Vacation Club desk and chatted with the timeshare representative for a bit. Although they will most likely try to sell you a timeshare, this stop is a must, as you are given a free discount card to use for the duration of your stay. The card is good at various shops and eateries in the Ko'olina resort area. Besides, even the person at the timeshare desk was courteous, friendly, and not pushy at all.
After the stop at the timeshare desk, we headed up to our deluxe ocean view room on the 16th floor. Upon entering, the thing that stood out the most was the sheer size of the room. Ihilani's standard rooms are massive! 640 sq/ft is the standard size and all rooms feature separate deep soaking tubs with separate glassed-in shower stalls; dual vanities; a separate toilet room; coffee maker, refrigerator, and safe in the entry foyer; king or two double beds with backlit headboard; chairs with table facing 42" LCD HDTV with connection panel, a large work desk with lamp and comfy office chair; and a truly massive balcony with lounging sofa, two chairs, and a table.
Our room was, of course, very clean and comfortable. The bed was a little stiff, but was still comfortable. Next to the bed, there is a touch screen panel to control your room and even make reservations, call the front desk, and act as an iPod dock and alarm clock. The toiletries provided were good quality, but nothing special. The water pressure and temperature was also excellent, but that is to be expected at a hotel of this caliber.
Unfortunately, the fiancee & I had only a single night to enjoy the property, but we made the most of it. For breakfast, we decided to stay in and ordered room service. The fiancee had an excellent crab & spinach eggs benedict, while I ordered the equally good spinach, mushroom, and swiss omelet. My only gripe was that the potatoes and the omelet could have used a bit of salt. Oh, and the room service attendant was awesome as well. She was very friendly, courteous, and was a pleasure to chat with as she setup our meal.
After breakfast we packed up and left. I can't tell you how the check-out process is here, as we were in a hurry to get to a party and opted to do the express check-out over the phone. Needless to say, we can't wait to stay here again!Listed in: Best Staycation Hotels
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/8/2011
Went to Ihilani for the first time about 3 weeks ago for a wedding site tour with the fiancee.… Read more »
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Review from Jason P.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Having lived in Hawaii when I was a youngster, and then traveled back several times since then, I can say no experience has felt more like paradise than staying here with my family.
We stayed in the Deluxe Spa Room, so we had our own private jacuzzi on our l
Patio, what needs to be said about that...
The grounds, beach, pool were all breathtaking.
It's not so much a place for the beach activities where you need big waves, but you can get that on other days.
This is a romantic place to just relax in Paradise. -
Review from Antonette H.
Mililani, HI
12/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Rooms were GORGEOUS, and location was so awesome. The on site restaurants rocked, and the food was fantastic.
The only downside was the staff/service.
They weren't the friendliest.
They lost our bags for about an hour after we dropped our car off with the valet man, who said he would bring them right up. We called down to the lobby a few times when we started to worry, and they gave us the run around, telling us they'd call us right back when they knew what was going on...they never called back, we had to keep calling and asking what the deal was..
Also, we needed a crib,but when we were down in the lobby they insisted we had to go up to our room, and call down to request a crib, ummm, ok....a bit wierd...When we did call down for a crib, they tried to give us the run around on why they might not have one, again, odd and rude, anyhow, it took several phone calls, and a long time for the crib to finally arrive.
Lastly, we check in on Friday and out on Sunday, and our room was NEVER tended to by the cleaning ladies. Not cool. -
Review from Justin L.
10/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
After a week in Waikiki, we shifted over to the Ihilani for a couple nights. What a complete change of pace from Waikiki. Ko'Olina is so non-touristy in comparison.
The grounds at Ihilani are beautifully maintained. Our huge oceanfront room provided awesome views of the Pacific. The room was very spacious with dual vanities, shower and soaking tub. The room controls are pretty high-tech in that they are all controlled through this touch-screen phone computer system.
Pool area is very nice with plenty of lounge chairs. Private lagoon beach area was also very serene and spacious. After experiencing the crowded beaches of Waikiki, the beach here felt utterly empty. The sounds of the ocean were only interrupted by occasional screaming children. This was due to the fact that the Ihilani does share the same beach as the Disney Aulani. The noise level was actually not bad at all...I'm just nitpicking. Our friends with kids stayed at the Disney Aulani and we stayed at the Ihilani. This lodging combo proved very convenient for meeting up. Although I definitely would recommend eating at Ihilani over Disney. As my friend put it, dining at Aulani is no better than eating at Disneyland with even worse prices.
If you are trying to escape the crowds of Waikiki, book yourself a room at the Ihilani in Ko'Olina.Listed in: Hawaii 4evah
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Review from Sonja B.
10/10/2011
Fantastic place to stay while on the island of Oahu. We had an oceanview room - which was so beautiful. We were greeted with a special "welcome" gift. Our kiddo loved the stingray and hammerhead shark pools. We loved walking the lagoons (there are 4 total). We also appreciated their events - in particular, the lei making class was a blast.
And most importantly - close enough to Waikiki to enjoy the shopping; far enough away to not deal with the overcrowded beaches and sidewalks constantly.
I will say, for a negative, that their TV selection is not that good. Then again, do you really want to watch TV in Hawaii? I didn't think so. -
Review from Simon M.
Chicago, IL
12/22/2011
Not the JW standard I have experienced before.
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Review from Bo K.
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
9/1/2011
I love this place!
The JW Marriott Ihilani is an excellent get-away resort & spa. If you are tired of the busy, on-the-go Waikiki area, I suggest a more relaxing resort like the JW Marriott. I believe it's about 30 minutes away from Waikiki, just far enough from the chaos, but close enough for Honolulu's night life..
We had our wedding here on 06/24/11. The ceremony was held under the cabana which seated approximately 40 guests. It wasn't too crowded. However, some of our friends and family mentioned they were bitten by some type of small flying insects. Ouch! Needless to say, the cabana is placed right over a coy fish pond. Great view! Also, there was a bridge from the cabana that lead us to our banquet room.
The food was excellent...according to our guests. I didn't get a chance to eat anything, so I'm not able to rate it.
Our room was upgraded to a very nice suite, which overlooked the ocean and the lagoons. It was very clean and large.
For our one year anniversary, we are planning on revisiting this resort & spa. We can't wait to go back! -
Review from Joe W.
A friend had a wedding reception at the Ocean Ballroom at the Ihilani this past Sunday. This review is more about the Ocean Ballroom and Ihilani's catering/venue services.
Venue: Classy and picturesque!
Despite the long distance from my house, the picturesque setting and delicious catering made this event a great experience. The Ballroom's outdoor reception area overlooked a garden and pond and was complete with white pillars--perfect for a wedding reception! The indoor space was roomy and well-lit with chandeliers and round tables seating 10. Two sets of bathrooms were available, one upstairs and one downstairs, both with marbled granite counters and private rooms (i.e. not the partitions that leave a foot of space at the bottom so you can identify people by their shoes!).
Catering: Great variety and nothing was overcooked!
The catering was generous and well-prepared. The food items didn't taste "mass-produced" and included seasoned steak, rice with sundried tomatoes, chicken, and cantalope; mahi mahi in a cream sauce; a tomato and onion in balsamic vinegar salad; tender teriyaki chicken, baked potatoes, and muscles, clams, and shrimp in a seafood broth. Desserts included some kind of crunchy mocha cheesecake, which was sooo good they actually ran out, cake with lilikoi frosting, and caramel flan. There was a little issue where the catering captain said to go ahead with the program because the food was ready, but then the emcees had to stall for about 10 minutes because it turned out that the food was not actually ready. No biggie.
Table service: Friendly and professional.
Our water glasses were always full and plates that we were finished with were bussed away very quickly.
Bar: Great service, but I wish the bar had been fully-stocked.
My friend and I wanted to sip down some whiskey and act like Madmen, but all they had was Jack Daniels. The bar lacked variety in liquor brands in general, but had what they needed for the typical mai tai, rum and punch, etc. When we ran out of drink tickets and had to switch to cash, we were pretty astonished to find out that beer was an expensive $9 a bottle!
Parking: Don't forget to validate!
As always, I forgot to validate my parking ticket until the last second. Luckily, we could go up to the front desk and they validated my ticket for me. I'm so glad we did, because when we first put out ticket in, the price came out to be $29!! But then the validation kicked in and we got out for free. :-)
We had such a great time at this wedding. I definitely recommend this as a venue for classy celebrations. I don't know what the price is, but I bet it's not cheap. -
Review from Eric F.
7/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I attended my friend's wedding here and I was blown away by how absolutely gorgeous the venue is. The views were breathtaking and the entire ceremony and reception was well-coordinated with no hiccups. The buffet-style catering that included grilled steak, poi, lomi salmon, chicken, poke, fish and banana bread was DELICIOUS and one ridiculously pleasant surprise as I've never had buffet-style food exceed mediocre status.
Easily the most beautiful wedding I've been to thus far and props to my newlywed friends for choosing such an amazing spot for their big day! -
Review from Victoria A.
Kapolei, HI
8/2/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Renovations are definitely impressive. I stayed here maybe 3 years ago and the Ihilani needed a few "updates". Technology advances frequently, but that doesn't mean that a hotel such as this could still hold onto the old square-boxed televisions. I was pleased to see that they had updated to the flat-screen 32" TVs.
I prefer the Marriott Ko Olina Beach Club's pool over the JW Ihilani's boring pool.
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(I am a local or "Kama'aina" and the hotel rate I received was $210/night however, parking was still $30/night)
The room I got was for my parents 25th Wedding Anniversary. They stayed at the Ihilani for 2 nights and my siblings and I threw a surprise dinner party at the Roy's Restaurant nearby.
We tried to utilize the facility as much as possible. The boys played at the basketball court. We enjoyed the lagoon but, I must admit... with the Disney Aulani Hotel opening in a few weeks, I cannot imagine how crowded the lagoon will be. My parents dined at Azul's restaurant and ate out on the lanai.
Overall, the Ihilani is a beautiful hotel. Although it is family-friendly, it's peaceful and laid-back atmosphere is very welcoming for couples of any age. -
Review from Jack D.
Las Cruces, NM
6/12/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Great place to stay, expensive, they charge for everything. Save your points and money! The private beach is great as well as the pool. The non-buffet restaurants (why would you eat at a buffet???) are very good. All of my martinis were prepared properly with Chopin vodka. This is my second stay here and I enjoyed it very much. A great place for the family to rest and swim. There are a lot of honeymooners and families staying on the property.
Rent a car, cabs are very expensive and it gives you the ability to explore off property. It is cheaper to rent than cab. Four Dupas (the only reason I did not give it five Dupas is because they charge for everything and I mean everything including wifi). -
Review from William M.
San Francisco, CA
8/29/2011 6 Check-ins Here
Well what sets this hotel apart from the others??? A lot!!! First of all if you're looking for more of a getaway from the hustle and bustle of tourists, this is the place to go to.
Here's pretty much what we did and what the Ihilani has to offer.
After waking up in the morning, we open up the doors to our lanai exposing the morning view of the ocean and morning sunlight. What a way to wake up. Our room was located off to the right of the hotel if you're facing the ocean. A bit more quiet than if your room was overlooking the pool. We headed downstairs to the cafe and got our morning coffee. There is this one local guy who drives up to the hotel to get his morning paper and coffee at the cafe. Kinda cool.
So not too many touristy things here. Just pretty much local things. Down the freeway is Kapolei. Kapolei has restaurants, a movie theatre, Longs, Baskin Robbins, and a Costco. If you're in Kapolei, I recommend the poke stand at Costco and KOA Pancake House. Simple local grinds.
Also off the freeway is a water park. I haven't gone there but hear that it is fun.
So after breakfast, I signed my daughter up to feed the sting rays and hammerhead sharks and the hotel. Its free and is a unique experience that you can't find anywhere else for free. So the curator is actually the person who goes out in the ocean and brings back the fish to populate the ponds. So he is a hands on guy and has many stories of shark encounters and cute fishes that stings you and hurts so much.
Also in the morning, you can feed the fish in the cove. Feeding starts early in the morning. The fish swim up to the shores to be fed like ringing the breakfast bell. They give you some pellets to feed the fish with. That's cool.
And then there's the golf course right down the street, one of the better ones in Hawai'i and priciest. Also if you stay here, you need to go to Roy's Restaurant. If Roy's to a bit too much for you and the kids, there are some local restaurants within the Ko Olina area like Hawaiian Bar-B-Que or the ice cream shop.
You can always drive to Waikiki area, but is always good to get away. -
Review from Denise W.
Austin, TX
7/24/2011
We were looking forward to our stay at this resort after staying in waikiki and maui previously, especially given our familiarity with other JW Marriott properties.
After a 15 minute wait at the reservations desk (while they searched for a room for us even though we had a reservation) we were finally on our way to a room. The room was spacious, well-appointed, with ocean views and a full wall of windows with which to appreciate them, as well as a spacious balcony and great AC inside if you need it. The bathroom was roomy, but the shower was not clean - a considerable amount of mildew was present.
After 16 hours of travel, we were ready for a great meal. This property offers a shuttle to other properties closeby, including Ko' olina resort which features the excellent Roy's, where we had the best meal during our entire stay. After such a meal, imagine our disappointment when we went down for breakfast the next morning and were presented with your typical buffet (fruit, yogurt, eggs, breakfast meats, waffles (just say no)) for $19/pp. I chose to order off the menu, Steak and Asparagus and was presented with a piece of meat that was so rancid you could smell it before it arrived at the table. Absolutely appalling that this was served, let alone cooked by the staff. My husband and I both took a whiff and said no thanks.
They did take it back, and allowed me to help myself to the buffet, while removing the charge for the original item on our ticket. I served myself fruit and yogurt only to discover a moldy strawberry on my plate. After this, we were done.
We did not eat at the resort again. Fortunately, we had a rental car, but what does it say when your guests drive AWAY from your resort to eat???
We would not stay here again, and would definitely suggest to others to find somewhere else to eat. A kitchen that was willing to risk a guests health for convenience, is not one worth your money no matter how beautiful the views. -
Review from Kalani C.
4/6/2011 2 Check-ins Here
What a beautiful and relaxing hotel! If I were a tourist, I'd spend my time here rather than congested Waikiki. Well, that's if you can afford the steep room rates (nearly $3-400/night). We were lucky and cashed in some Marriott reward points.
Our room on the 5th floor had an amazing view overlooking the pool, the first lagoon and the ocean. Don't upgrade to an oceanfront room as those are awkward and seemed more cramp (well, the ones our friends ended up getting, anyway).
The room was tastefully decorated, clean and large. The lanai itself is priceless. We especially liked the central control where you can turn off all the lights through one bedside panel, cool.
An amazing getaway as if you were on the outer islands.Listed in: Hawai'i 4-star
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Review from Margaret w.
Ewa Beach, HI
11/8/2011
This is for spa only. It is on the smaller size but still fabulous. The roman tub and cold plunge are my favorite part. You can use the steam room and sauna too. If you are not getting a treatment, you can pay $35 and use all the facilities, including the pool! The lap pool is on the roof and needs some updating but still a wonderful experience. So gald I got to go today. The sugar scrub was incredible and ultra relaxing. The staff was great.
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Review from Christine R.
San Francisco, CA
12/19/2011
This place is immaculate and truly a getaway from the hustle & bustle of the city. Hertz rental car is onsite, which makes it convenient for their guests who want to drive to the city for activities. JW Marriott is all about customer service and the ultimate R&R, staff were friendly and accommodating. Everywhere we went, they greeted us with a pleasant smile and recognized our son. I've watched them clean the pool every morning, and the on-grounds keeping is stellar. Double sinks in the bathroom; however, the other side needs a towel bar. The double beds are doable, but two queens are more realistic for a family. Only feather or foam pillows are available, nothing firm to offer. Their guest services directory should be updated, as the TV channels don't match & the check-out time is incorrect. The shuttle around the adjacent resorts and to the Marina was convenient with friendly drivers. Many weddings take place here, as we've seen about five in one week. You wake up to paradise everyday!!!
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Review from Gregg W.
Orlando, FL
8/22/2011
I stayed here a couple of nights on a business trip. I was able to have my family join me so this review is from a family perspective.
1st point is I was under the impression the J.W. service level is what made these properties stand out from the others. Two weeks ago I was at another J.W. in Asia and the service levels are not equal at all. The bellmen at Ihilani gave my son and I the impression that they could take the bags in but the check-in counter was just inside the door??? We ended up each taking a bag. My 19 yr old son even commented that it did not seem like they wanted to help us. Front desk just handed us the keys and pointed to the elevator leaving us to wonder what this resort offered. If you go to the Hong Kong JW they will fall all over you to help you to your room.
2nd point is that once exiting the 4th floor elevator you cannot help looking out onto the exoskeleton structure of the driveway which is totally covered in bird droppings. Everyone in my party commented on it. Keeping on the same note, our balcony railing had droppings but our neighbors railing was completely covered. The droppings went down the side of the building as well. In the open air coffee bar in the lobby, pigeons come and go walking on tables and chairs.
3rd point is, Internet was only existent if you plugged your one device into the wall. I needed to make plans for labor day and made three phone calls to the hotels support center. Neither a Windows XP, Win7 PC or an IPAD could be connected to their pay service for longer than 30 minutes. Sessions died in the middle of searches and commerce transactions. We ended up using our cell phone as a hotspot on the patio to finish our plans. I explained to Phill the front desk clerk the next morning that I really needed Internet and he asked me what I wanted him to do?? Really Phil, you work at a guest service desk? Later that day a wired network cable was laid out on the desk which was his only solution.
It is on a beautiful piece of property. My teenagers loved the paddle boards in the lagoon. The patio overlooked manicured gardens. We saw 2-3 weddings on Saturday make their way through the gardens one after another. The room was very nice, I have later learned that the separate marble tub and shower define the difference between a Marriott and a J.W. Hope this helps you make your decisions to stay at JW Ihilani Ko Lina resort. -
Review from Monica O.
Honolulu, HI
8/16/2011
Nice spacious rooms, amazing views, well-designed interiors and a very attractive property with Dickey-inspired rooflines, Halekulani-esque architecture.
Service leaves much room for improvement. We wanted to go straight to the pool and porter took 45 min to deliver bags -- note there was no one else checking in.
Getting wi fi for ipad and ethernet for laptop took 10 min via some off site call center and was an extra $25/24 hours. Boo.
Pillows as firm as sand bags with silky soft sheets?
Overall good value for the physical property room type with large luxurious bathrooms and large lanais. Nice amenities and smart personal touch with cookies and milk upon check in.
Would be fantastic if it improved in service level and little things like finding a decent cup of coffee and charging a few more dollars a night for decent pillows, coffee and free wi fi (p.s. Ihilani, its 2011!) -
Review from Kris K.
Seal Beach, CA
4/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
we had sunday brunch here for easter. I was debating between here or the kahala resort. i should have picked the kahala resort.
the resort is a bit outdated and a little run down. in my opinion. not as beautiful as the kahala. but then again...on a totally different luxury scale. the jw has it's plus. like the lagoon and location.
however, the buffet was pricy for being just ok. the quality of the food was ok. not bad. i the selection of food was ok. omelet station,prime rib, lamb, breakfast station, fresh fruit juice station, desserts, hot food, and sea food station. the display and the cleanliness of the food area was not great. a bit messy and most of time, out of stock on the dish. the salad bowl had no utensils and i didn't even know what type of salad dress was displayed. the fruit juice station looks like a huge mess. the juicer had fruit all over it...as if there was a college drinking party the night before. the fresh berries for the waffles were out for at least 30 minutes.
but the overall eating area and ambiance was not what i expected for such an expensive lunch.
it was over crowded, too many people, tables in the most awkward places (around the buffet), poor air circulation so it was very hot. the entire place was outdoors right by the pool.
if you're paying $50+ per person, you should expect better.
Tips for traveling with toddlers:
kids eat free under 4 years old. they had boosters with cool kid friendly cups for milk. no color tools. -
Review from Scott K.
4/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
AMAZING, is all I can describe it! Located on the west side of Oahu in the resort community of Ko Olina. About 5 years ago this was the only Hotel outside of Waikiki that has a 5 star rating. Originally developed by Herbert Horita this hotel has since changed hands to the Marriott Corporation.
Upon entrance, you will be greeted with service from the bellman. Something you would expect from a 5 Star hotel. Check in was fast and I was in my room within 15 minutes.
WOW is all I could say! The room was clean and large. The views of the ocean were breathe taking. Something that was interesting, the bathroom was hidden behind a sliding door. I like the design and the quality of materials. This is the perfect place to take a mini vacation away from all the stresses in life.
The Spa.....highest quality and one of the best massage places i've been to. Not only is this a world class spa but you have the option to stay all say to enjoy the pool, exercise room and spa facilities.
So....need that personal time to get away from it all? I would recommend that you book a room for the night and make a day of it out there. -
Review from Donna S.
San Francisco, CA
9/21/2011
Beautiful rooms, and I am a fussy traveler, however, room service way over priced. Service is excellent. Stay at hotel, eat elsewhere, lots of choices. I would stay here again. Disney is opening a resort next door, that will suck, crowd wise.
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Review from michelle t.
Manteca, CA
11/30/2011
While snorkeling in the lagoon we saw a sea turtle and some fish, it was the perfect way to end our stay at Marriott's Ihilani Ko Olina. The price for parking was ridiculous! Even if you did self park it cost the same as valet parking. The valet parking is on the lower floors of the same garage as the self parking. The room was nice. Be aware that there are a lot of birds droppings on your balcony, so lay out a towel before sitting or laying on the chairs. The grounds are well kept and beautiful. The staff was kind and helpful. Amazing vacation spot.
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Review from Rita I.
Oak Park, IL
12/4/2011
Beautiful, quiet location. Amazing view. Disney Aulani just opened next door so not sure if it will stay as quiet. But we were there in August and the beach was clean and empty. Hotel is nice but the pigeons are a major problem. They are all over the place and you can not enjoy the balcony attached to the room. It's full of pigeon crap. Definitely recommend if you want a quiet place away from Waikiki. It's easy to drive into the city.
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Review from Nikki B.
San Francisco, CA
4/1/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Hands down this is the chillest snorkeling spot on O'ahu.
I gave my man the local tour of the island, snorkeling everywhere from Hanauma Bay to Shark's Cove, North Shore and this was the place he wanted to return to over and over. We went to Lagoon 2 (Honu) and were in the water all day. There was a wide variety of fish and at least one sea turtle.
The property itself is gorgeous and the wedding chapel right on the lagoon is a beautiful locale to get married (although kinda creepy to have a bunch of half-naked tourists in your wedding photos).
I recommend getting there early as the parking lot is really tiny, unless of course you are staying in the hotel. -
Review from J P.
Honolulu, HI
8/22/2011
4 1/2 stars if i could.
i was fortunate enough to spend a fantastic, luxurious weekend here! i cannot wait to go back.
+ booked an oceanview room but since that had a lot of groups staying there that weekend, so we were upgraded to the PACIFIC SUITE with oceanview! SWEET!
+ SERVICE was excellent. quick check-in. helpful workers who answered every question (i had many!)...
+ one large living room, 1 bedroom with huge & comfy king sized bed, 2 full bathrooms/showers/bathtubs, 2 lanais, 2 large LCD televisions. one lanai had a small couch that you could lie on. it was so romantic laying out there. we were able to watch a wedding, sunsets, and the stars from out balcony.
+ free snorkel rentals for 1 hour per day for hotel guests.
lagoon 2 is shallow & best to snorkel in.
+ azul restaurant was great! we went there for dinner at around 8:00 with no reservations. i had the opakapaka, which was yummy. unfortunately, their garlic mashed potatoes tasted like the instant, just-add-water (which it was--- they serve that at their buffet).
-1/2 star for the food at the buffets... we went to naupaka terrace for their saturday night seafood buffet. it was okay. service was good, but the food was cold. at 5:30 pm, some entrees just sit out there... my crabcake was cold. not too much selection. however, i did like their prime rib & the chocolate pot to dip fruits! their chocolate hardens after you dip it!
overall for $50, i don't think it was worth it.
-free wifi in the lobby area--- wish they could extend it to all hotel rooms WITHOUT having to pay a fee.
-parking is $35 a day for self-park or valet. some kama'aina room costs include parking.
it was definitely an expensive weekend, but so worth it! relaxing, fun, romantic, AMAZING. i would definitely check out their spa if you get the chance... facilities are like no other on the island! eucalyptus steam room, sauna, jacuzzi (roman pool), cold water plunge, needle shower... you can use their facilities for the entire day you have a service. or pay a fee to simply use their facilities. -
Review from Todd A.
San Jose, CA
7/3/2011
[NOTE: Since I posted this review, I did escalate to the regional manager. I received a call, had a pleasant exchange, and feel my issues have been heard.]
THIS IS NOT A JW!! They continue to market it so, however it is not. If it were a standard Marriott, i'd give it two stars. Instead of leaving a formal review, I'll simply attach the email I sent to the GM. Yeah, it's a little wordy, however if you're looking to spend several thousand dollars on your trip, it may be helpful. Cheers!
Dear [General Manager]:
We arrived at the JW today. We were pleased that your staff upgraded us to room with an ocean view. As it faces to the West, we'll get 7 beautiful sunsets during our visit.
Unfortunately, we had to ask the front desk to make sure we were on the other side of the hotel, away from the jack hammers, working on the hotel's "beautification project." The noise will be interesting when we're at the pool/beach. We were NOT made aware of any construction on the company website, nor did we receive a call when booking this room many months ago. We had no idea how loud it was going to be, with the ground shaking, reverse beeping, etc. We're a little irritated about not being informed. I went to the Manager on Duty and asked him what he could do for us? He said, "Oh, we're basically tenants here, the Jackhammering occurs when they need to break sidewalk. Once the sidewalk is broken, they'll stop." I repeated, "What can you do for me and my wife?" He replied, "Well, luckily it only occurs between Monday and Friday during the day." This is not the response I was looking for. This simply upset me, as our SINGLE GOAL in being here this week was throwing money at your resort, cabanas, drinks, sleeping, recharging, etc, and that will be happening for us, Monday through Monday, during the day. Any sign of compassion or sympathy would have been greatly appreciated.
In fact, to see what your staff was telling your customers, we called the hotel, from the lobby, using our cell phones, during a rather loud jack hammering session. We spoke to concierge, and asked, "If we decide to book in the next few days, is there any issues at the resort? Is there any construction or loudness we need to be made aware of? She replied, "I'm sorry Ma'am (to my wife) I work in an enclosed area and can't hear anything. Funny, she was sitting 20 feet from us. Very poor messaging, I'd even say dishonest. My wife sat in a corner and cried in the lobby (as our room wasn't ready) becoming upset that we had planned so far in advance, to have this vacation away from our 3 children. She's afraid her 40th birthday week will be ruined, and challenging to enjoy our visit. Of course with our long distance planning, it's difficult to up and move to a nearby hotel as we don't want to stay in Waikiki and every other 4+star resort is sold out, or has rooms priced a little out of our budget.
I guess we're stuck here. I don't think you want your visitors to have this approach to a "resort" type visit.
The last issue, I care to share with you is that when we got to our room, it had a bed, a desk and a desk chair and a TV. There was no other seating in the room. We asked the bellhop, who brought up our luggage if there should be seating in the room. He said, "The room had been recently renovated and maybe a sofa was missing." He would call for us. We decided to call the front desk and ask about the furniture. We were told that they could bring 1 more desk chair, but that would be it. I went to Google, and found an image of an ocean room at your hotel, and the furniture to be included. I then had to take to your front desk to prove that there were 3 pieces of furniture missing from my room!!! This is ridiculous!!
Needless to say, we're a little deflated. The view is quite spectacular, and we're hoping we can settle into the sub-par "JW" signature Marriott. I stay at JW's all across the country from Arizona to Times Square. I'm completely shocked at the lack of surroundings, luxury and the experience that Marriott promises I'll have.
I understand I have a room upgrade, at a very good price. I'm very upset that my last moments before sleeping on my first night here is being spent calming my wife, and drafting an email to you. -
Review from Ric A.
San Diego, CA
7/28/2011
i now understand why folks travel to hawaii to have their weddings! just a real amazing & memorable experience.
CEREMONY SITE
wide open lawn space situated right next to the water. white chairs were lined up in rows, looking out towards the water, with a space for the aisle that led to the bamboo gazebo. very simple, but it was this simplicity that really created this very beautiful, picturesque setting, that almost makes you think it wasn't real. behind the chairs were a harpist & another person on a keyboard, playing music as guests arrived & mingled before the ceremony. half of the attendees were sitting under shade while the other half were exposed to the sun. the actual ceremony itself was very brief & very relaxing as waves crashing shore could be heard during that time. the location was very secluded; away from the actual hotel, so as to create this very quiet, intimate, & very private ceremony that i'm sure my cousin & his wife will remember for years to come.
RECEPTION
the attendees for the wedding totaled under 100 guests, & we were given Ocean Ballroom I. but before we were allowed inside the venue, we were required to occupy the foyer right outside the ballroom. again, a wide open space where guests can mingle & enjoy the drinks (both alcoholic & non) that staff was walking around with. hors d'oeuvres were also being served, with a variety of delicious items to choose from. the bar was set up at the back corner of the foyer.
FOOD
i cant remember exactly every dish they served, but one in particular was the seafood entree that included clams, mussels, & shrimp in a soup based dish. i just remember eating everything & thinking how delicious everything was prepared. service was great all night, & every single staff was very respectful, helpful, & friendly.
this was an overall amazing wedding to attend. this hotel's proximity & access to the water, the chance to watch the sunset, & feeling of total privacy really makes this location & venue the ideal place to hold a wedding. -
Review from Natalie L.
San Jose, CA
8/20/2010 7 photos
This place is super chill and about 30mins away from Honolulu/ Waikiki. If you wanna stay where the action is, still in Honolulu/ Waikiki. If you want to get away from it all and relax - stay here.
The hotel has a Hertz on site that never has any cars. If you need a rental get it at the airport. A taxi ride from HNL to the hotel is like $60. You might as well rent a car for that price. Or you can take The Bus but who wants to be on The Bus with all that luggage? Also the nearest Bus stop is like a 20-30 min walk.
There are quite a few restaurants none of which blew me away but were all decent. The Japanese place was closed the day I wanted to eat there. Good news though, there's a bar in the hotel where you can order food from a few of the restaurants so I got a sushi roll from the Japanese place and it was hella good. The bar is really nice and the staff there is super friendly and talkative which is nice when you're there alone.
The staff is really friendly and helpful. The rooms are okay, decent. The ocean view room is crazy beautiful! But the bathrooms need some updating. The bathtub where I was staying was kinda beat up and the sink faucet kept leaking.
The lagoons are awesome and never crowded so you can enjoy the warm water without people all up in your biz. If you take a short 5 min walk to the right of the hotel, you can see the sunset and there is nothing between you and sunset except the ocean. *sigh*
Overall, I'd recommend it if you wanna get away from the busy areas. -
Review from Guy J.
Salt Lake City, UT
11/21/2011
The JW Marriott and their events team put on the wedding of a lifetime for me and my new bride. Raymond and his entire team are amazing and I would highly recommend this property to anyone looking to put on an event. They go above and beyond to meet your needs. Some of the best snorkeling on the island is right in front of the hotel and the cabana service is amazing.
-
Review from Alysha R.
Brooklyn, NY
7/8/2010 9 photos
Stayed here for my cousin's wedding and I really loved this property.. It was my first time on O'ahu....and we had come up from 6days in Waikiki..... so this was a welcomed respite from the crowds and shopping.
Check in was smooth.....and our room was lovely... large balcony looking over the ponds/garden....immaculate room....large bathroom.....had a great soaking in their tub.....and room service was perfect... had an awesome breakfast on the balcony with my girls...that I still dream about.....my macadamia waffle was so light and delicious..hmm.....
Only stayed here for 2 days.. so I really didn't get to explore the property as much as I liked to....but the pool area was small/medium....staff offers you scented/cool towels for your refreshment.....nice touch... the private lagoons were gorgeous....and were not crowded.... and the shops on the lower level were very nice to peruse.... found some great soap items...and gifts for close family there...... My friend and I became addicted to the home made choc chip cookies in the gift shop!! OMG...... we came down 2x a day for them.... look for the big glass jars in front of the cashier.. you have to try them... we even came down on our last morning..for the first batch..to take on our flight home....lol....
My cousin's wedding was perfect in every way..... it was on the grounds of the property....in the afternoon......set up was flawless....and the staff were always around to assist....we danced till 2am....and walked barefoot back up to our suites....
I will definitely visit the Ihilani on my next visit to O'ahu for a few more days...so I can really stretch out and enjoy all of their amenities.....but for now...I only have good things to say about them!Listed in: Mahalo O'ahu !!!!!
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Review from Elmer T.
Corona, CA
1/24/2011 16 photos
I have to agree with others that, this by no way should have been labeled with the JW Marriott brand. The only thing that saves this hotel is the location and the activities.
We got a beautiful view of the ocean and the others in my party got the lagoon view which was not bad either. It is peaceful waking up to the cool sounds of the ocean waves. This place is far from Honolulu, so if your flight arrives late, you have to pay attention to signs as it is pretty dark. It is not scary driving at night and you get use to the place after a bit of driving.
The lagoon was pretty neat for the kids. Every morning they have an activity where the kids can feed the fish since they are use to being fed, they come up to the beach of the lagoon and come close to the people. Kids had a blast.
There was a free hour of snorkeling. This was an interesting experience. Could not really find any fish in the lagoon and there was no way I was experienced enough to go further out near the rocks. Last thing I need to get injured on vacation.
The pool area is alright. It is circular and a little bit odd, but a pool nevertheless. Kids do not really notice anyway. It was not really crowded either. The smoothies served in pineapple were really good but a bit expensive.
The property is beautiful and nice to walk around the hotel grounds as well as around the other lagoons. So if you find yourself disappointed at the hotel, look at it this way, you can complain, or you can take advantage of where you are, enjoy the views, enjoy the island, because you should not really be spending that much time in the hotel anyway.
The worst part about the stay is trying to book activities around the island. We did not get to see as much as we wanted to see because everyone else is trying to book with the Expedia concierge desk downstairs also. I would recommend you planning before you even get to the island.
I would prefer to stay in Kapolei region than Waikiki region any day, because it just feels more relaxing than staying in the city. But if you prefer the night life, Waikiki is best for you. Staying in the outskirts is not bad. A lot of the sites to go to, you can still go to. You just have to plan for traffic since they do have rush hour too, but just not as bad. -
Review from Alyssa K.
6/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
1 star service at a supposedly 4/5 star hotel.
The service here sucks! I think with Lanikuhonua nearby, they are too used to having wedding party guests that they forget that the work they do is forever a part of the bride and groom's memory.
I chose this hotel to stay at before and after our wedding because of all the good reviews on yelp. I was VERY disappointed at the lack of care and professionalism of many of the staff members.
Valet:
The valet guy at around midnight the evening of 6/6 was the worst. We were coming back from just getting married. We were wearing our wedding attire. Does he say congratulations with a smile? NO! He dragged himself out of the valet room like it was the biggest chore in the world and gave a crap load of attitude when my husband asked him if it was a problem that he lost his previous valet stub. NOT a nice way to feel welcomed back to the hotel after an evening of celebrations. NOT what you expect at an EXPENSIVE hotel.
Restaurant
Dinner service was excellent. I have to give credit to the guy who was waiting on us. He was very friendly, attentive, and professional. The food was good too.
Breakfast the next day sucked. I am pregnant and pretty much avoid all fish except for salmon. I opted to NOT get the breakfast buffet because it had some mystery white fish being served. Instead, I ordered the Japanese breakfast since it clearly said came with salmon. Well when it came, it was not salmon. I asked, and the waitress said it was mahimahi. So I had to reorder my food and wait like another 20 minutes for it to come. that sucked.
The following day I opted for the breakfast buffet because I thought it was just be faster to be served.
I noticed that there was a tip jar by the guy who makes the omlets. How tacky is that??? They charge $29 a head for breakfast, and they expect a tip for the wait service, and then there is also a tip jar for the omlets? give me a break!
Room:
One of the sinks in the room was clogged, and the floor underneath was rusty.
Parking:
It's $29 a day regardless of whether you choose to self park, or valet. That's so stupid.
Valet Part 2:
The day we checked out, it took valet 25 mins to get our car.
What the F man.
All in all, I will never recommend the Ihilani to anyone.
sure the grounds and beach area are nice, but seriously, go stay somewhere else instead. The service here sucks and it just feels like they try to milk you for all you've got without getting much in return. -
Review from Christina L.
American Canyon, CA
9/23/2010
Perfect for a quick get-a-way...away from the crowded Waiks. The rooms was beautifully equipped, and the lagoon and ocean view was spectacular. The shutters as balcony doors made it very "plantain" (if that makes any sense)-I liked the style.
The lagoons were filled with...nobody. I lie, but they were several families scattered along the beach on a Saturday and a Sunday. Maybe the drive is a bit far for some. And I kid you not, we must've seen 5 different weddings. So be careful of where you are situated around the hotel if you have kiddies with you. There was an outdoor wedding reception going on & we can definitely hear the music and emcee getting the crowd all hyped up.
Like I mentioned, location is far from Honolulu and you gotta make sure you don't want to be stuck in traffic if you're coming from that way.
We'll definitely stay here again--just lower the price a lil'...even for Kama'ainas. -
Review from Eunice L.
San Jose, CA
8/5/2010 10 photos
Beautiful hotel nestled in a very quiet area. The grounds are gorgeous, my bf and I enjoyed the shark and sting ray pond out by the pool. Walking distance to Paradise Cove Luau.
Spent 3 nights in Honolulu, and 2 nights in Ko Olina. My bf and I didn't spend too much time at the JW, we were running around to the Dole Plantation, Pearl Harbor, North Beach, Paradise Cove Luau, and Aloha flea market. We pretty much just slept here and did our eating and activities outside the JW. I like that the area is very quiet and more intimate (compared to the heavily congested Honolulu), almost too quiet. We didn't have time to swim in the lagoon :(
This hotel seems perfect for older couples, or honeymooners, or anyone who wants to stay at a very quiet, pretty, classy, non-congested hotel. -
Review from Rich T.
San Francisco, CA
5/31/2010
The hotel is good. Spacious room. Decor is not really modern, but definitely classy with a bit of an island twist. Automated lights and AC based on motion and door sensors was a nice addition.
I personally didn't like the bed. My back was hurting after a couple nights. I stayed in an ocean front room.
I stayed in an ocean front room on the 12th floor (there are 17 total) and the view from the balcony is spectacular. Double sliding screen doors let you fall asleep to the sound of waves crashing at night, which was great.
There is a convenient ABC store a short walk from the hotel.
The construction noise from the Disney resort was annoying. If you plan on spending any time by the lagoon, on your balcony, or by the pool, prepare to be disturbed from 8am-5pm.
The lagoon was never busy. If you are looking for a fancy getaway, this is the place to go. If I had the trip to do over again, I'd probably stay at the Beach Club instead. It is two lagoons over, a little busier, but a lot less noisy. -
Review from Jonathan I.
Honolulu, HI
8/31/2010 1 photo
My firm decided to have one of our company events at this resort recently, and seeing that I was going to drive out there from town to attend, I figured why not have a mini Stay-cation while im at it?
Well, although I have been to this place a few times before for conferences or events, I have never actually been guest, and I was actually quite surprised by the accommodations.
When I first got there, the evening of my Firm's event, I went to the front desk to check into my room. The employees working the desk not only helped me figure out where I was supposed to be going later that evening to attend the event, but they also graciously upgraded my room and included a free breakfast for each morning of my stay. Awesome.
Being that this was a Stay-cation, I really didnt have high hopes at all. Hell, I am on the same damn rock as I was this morning, just 40 or so miles away from my actual house. When I opened the door to my room though, I was sort of taken back by the size of it. It was actually a suite with separate rooms and a HUGE bathroom. The bathroom itself was larger than my office at home. The room was clean, smelled nice, and the view....wow. I was on a high floor overlooking th pool and lagoon. From out the sliding doors and balcony I had an unobstructed view of the lagoon and ocean.
Now, having lived in Hawai'i my entire life, I do tend to take the beauty of this place for granted I guess. I mean, I see the ocean everyday, but I must say, this helped me realize that yes, we are damn lucky to live here.
In all, my stay there was pleasant. A free buffet breakfast in the mornings and just relaxing on my balcony soaking up the view and enjoying the quietness. Ill admit though that I was working on my Mac while I was there....but it was still nice. -
Review from Keith A.
Bend, OR
4/11/2010 29 photos
Stayed here for the first time for our honeymoon and back then this was a solid 5 star hotel. One of the nicest places we have ever stayed and well beyond our means....at the time.
Since then, we have been to Oahu many times and although we've never stayed there until our anniversary last month (March 2010) we have utilized the lagoons on numerous occasions.
Over the years we've seen the property get built up. In it's hey day, there was only the Ihilani facility. With each successive resort and time share, we've seen the proportionate decline in it's pristine solitude. The worst being what is happening now with the Disney monstrosity being built just feet from the once idyllic Ihilani.
If we stayed in the room we had on our honeymoon, we would be very disappointed as it would be looking right at the construction of the Disneyland hotel. What amazes me is how close it is. Way too close if you ask me. Back home, my neighbors aren't even THAT close!
With so much to cover, different format for me on this review.
PROS-
Same outstanding staff...from the initial valet greeting "Yes...we were expecting you Mr. Anton" to the check-in desk, "We don't have your room quite ready yet (it was noon) but please have some lunch and we'll call you as soon as it's ready". For the record...we were in our room in less than an hour. They called before we had even gotten our order placed.
Our room was, in our opinion, the best. I hesitate to tell you which room exactly in case you try and book again at the same time we want to go again, but this is a review....so.....here it is.....320. Oh, it pains me to reveal that.
Why 320? As you will see from the pics, the view was out of this world. A room to the right and we would have looked at more of the Paradise Cove facility. A room to the left and people walking the grounds below would have stared right up at us. A room higher and you wouldn't have gotten that perfect "thru the palm trees" view of the ocean. And of course a room below and you just wouldn't have seen the ocean. It really could not have been better. I would request this EXACT room again on our next stay.
The bathroom is still as luxurious as we remembered with plenty of room to spare. (see pics) Love that oversize shower, separate tub, and separate "closet" for the toilet.
The bed, too, is very comfortable, albeit not as good as the signature Sheraton. (I do love those Sheraton mattresses!)
CONS--
Moving right to these because there are so many. And just as it pains me to reveal the perfect room, it pains me more to point out the flaws for the finest hotel we've ever stayed at.
Trying to find cause, I can only attribute it to the economy and lack of staffing. The grounds, although still stunningly gorgeous and peaceful are definitely lacking in the upkeep. I am sure years ago they had personnel in each zone to pick up any stray leaf or piece of debris that dared fall into their area. Not so anymore. We walked past several "things" that never would have been there in the past. (see pics) let alone for several days.
Little things, like the brass in the elevator....never would have been tarnished. (see pics) All a sign of the times.
Walking the lagoon path and seeing the trash cans filled the night before as we strolled the grounds after the sunset and then see them still filled to capacity the next morning at 9 AM. Never would have see that in the past. Very sad.
Unfortunately, somebody must have slipped and sued...there are now these ugly mats all around the pool. And three cones that never moved. From what I can tell they indicated a raised section of tile where someone might trip. By all appearances, these cones seem "permanent" and in the days gone by would have indicated something needing immediate repair.....and been repaired. Again, sad.
We were also disappointed to find Azul closed four days out of the week so as not to compete with another on site restaurant. Makes sense, but another sign of the times. We didn't WANT to dine at the other restaurant. We wanted Azul.
On a positive, we did end up ordering room service and had a wonderful dinner watching the sunset from our perfect room! (see pics).
Another positive is that we utilized the "hospitality room" for the first time since we had a red-eye flight at 10pm. It worked out perfectly. Leave your bags with the bell desk, do your thing for the day (for us we drove around the island to some of our favorite places) came back and used the room for 45 mins to shower and freshen up for our flight back home. It was ideal and we are very thankful for this service.
Some talked about the construction noise....and I would have to agree it is annoying if you are there during the week. Sorry, but the Ipod didn't drown out the noise for me. However, the weekends are still quiet and relaxing.
