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The Royal Hawaiian Sheraton
Rating Details »
2259 Kalakaua Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 923-7311
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 923-7311
- Price Range:
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$$$
30 reviews for The Royal Hawaiian Sheraton
Was scheduled for an alum mixer here & excited to check it out after hearing ppl gush. From the outside, I don't care too much for the pepto bismal colored paint but the lobby is fantastic--vaulted ceilings & open air with traditional throw rugs and inviting leather chairs/couches.
The event was hosted on the Coconut patio (I think that's what it was called?), that was basically on the beach. We sipped wine and had great snackie cakes surrounded by tiki torches and a beautiful sunset over the ocean. There was a band playing nearby in the bar which created a wonderful ambiance.
Service--they were almost over-staffed for the # of ppl present. There were 3 men in white chef outfits serving turkey or ham, a bar tender, and several wait staff mingling to offer drinks or clear tables.
Parking--they share pkg w/the Sheraton which was pretty packed by my 5:30ish arrival time. I winded up 4 stories before I secured a space. And while I had validation, I still had an $8 fee for 3 hrs.
We all had a really wonderful time that night and I'd definitely recommend hosting social events here!
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Best place to stay in Honolulu, hands down. Don't forget about the Friday night fireworks. You can see them from the beach.
You should know I haven't been here in nearly 14 years.
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This place is wonderful. Yes, the Mai Thai is great too. Spending the whole day in ocean is the best ever. Sitting by the pool is great too. Though, get a private cabana. The food is great the drinks are great. The help is fun and quick to laugh with you and help you. We wish we could go there every year but wish in one hand and squeeze a pineapple in the other and see what you get.
My grandfather was stationed in the Navy there years ago. He said that back then the Royal used to have a fountain that flowed pineapple juice that the returning GI's could come and get a glass and drink from it. Sounds wonderful.
If you get the chance go.
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Always pink, always beautiful, always a class act and hard to follow.
Yes, I have stayed here several times till I got to the point that I needed a bit more "gayness" in my stays in Honolulu.
This is the best hotel on the island, in my point of view. First class all the way...always, always stay in an ocean front room...this is a given. Always have breakfast on their outdoor terrace...the small birds will actually fly and land on your table in hopes of getting a crumb...their food is wonderful...and for dinner, it is hard to beat but really, really expensive...use your black AMX card and you will have no problem.
When I go to Honolulu, now, I always stop by this grand old lady...stunning, absolutely stunnning.
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This wonderful pink hotel was amazing. The staff was very friendly and helpful. When you check in you get a flower lei or kukui nuts and in your room there was champagne, chocolate covered strawberries and fresh banana bread. ( I don't know if that happens for every room but it did for mine). I had a garden view room in the old tower with a large window that opened to a lush and vibrant view of one of the gardens.
The decor in the room was a little dated, but stayed true to the older feel of the building. The room also gets bonus points for being a little larger (large enough to fit a couch and a dining table in the room) than a standard hotel room and for having extra high ceilings.
The bathroom had a clothesline for hanging wet bathing suits and shorts, which was much appreciated as well.
I found that wi-fi signal did not extend into my hotel room. But, I'll admit that having to sit outside in a garden (with a few others on laptops) in order to check e-mail, wasn't so bad, and frankly I felt a little spoiled. I try to disconnect when I'm on vacation anyway.
I went with kids, so I also found that the hotel was accommodating for the Keiki's (Kids). We utilized the valet service (Thank Goodness) and It was truly amazing, They were helpful and kind in assisting with loading and unloading the kids for any outing.
The true selling point of the hotel is it's proximity to the beach, It is literally right there. The Royal Hawaiian has a private beach with chairs and umbrellas to lounge under. It is also right next to the famous Mai Tai Bar of the Royal Hawaiian. If you go early enough, you can stay all day comfortable on the busy beach of Waikiki with a view of Diamond Head. There is also a pool with chairs or cabanas for rent for those who are a wary of ocean swimming.
Overall, the Royal Hawaiian made my Hawaiian Vacation great. I would recommend it for a true vacation vacation and not business trips. When I travel, I usually try to stay away from the tourist areas, but this time I am glad I didn't.
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The Royal Hawaiian, a Sheraton Hotel now part of Starwood is a "reasonable" place to stay if you find yourself on Waikiki. It's an older hotel with a lot of history, and it has a nice feel to it. It just falls short of what I consider a fine resort/hotel. I understand they are doing extensive renovations soon, and this may bring them to their former glory. It's certainly not a bad place to stay, and Waikiki really doesn't have much to choose from if you're looking for some class (exception: The Halekulani which is truly a first-class hotel, probably in the top fifty in the world).
I think my only real objection to the hotel was the lack of it feeling special. For example, the bar at the beach just didn't have the right feel to it. Not an unhappy place, but just not a happening place. The beach itself was always crowded and felt "tight." And typically, people were reserving there spaces at the beach as early as six in the morning. I hate that!
The Royal Hawaiian is well-located and a good choice, especially if you like the Waikiki type experience. My druthers though would be to head straight to Lanaii and hit the Manele Bay for a beach resort experience or the Lodge at Koele for healing one's soul.
The Royal Hawaiian. If you must do Waikiki, you could do much worse...
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If you like pink, this is the hotel for you. The color reminds me more of San Juan, Puerto Rico than Hawaii, and so does the architecture. It is situated in the most prime real estate location on Waikiki Beach. If you're not staying here, this is still the beach and bar to hit to watch the sun set into the Pacific. It's also a good place to meet people, because most everyone knows where it is.
At the hotel's beach, you can tell who is a guest and who is not, mostly because of the pink and white striped beach towels. Sorry guys, on my last visit, there was no other option...everybody gets pink and white stripes....pepto bismol pink, that is. For those men who might have an issue with this, buy your own towel at an ABC store or adjust your male ego accordingly.
I suggest a sunset drink or meal at the beach bar. It doesn't get more island-vibe than that...touristy island vibe, that is.
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This hotel is very nice. I will have to give a fair warning though. It could be hit or miss. I have stayed here many times. I have stayed in their standard garden rooms as well as their suites. As for the garden rooms, make sure you get a good room. They are small. The hotel was built back in the late 20's. If you really want a more up-to-date room, try the tower rooms. They are a bit larger and have a really nice view of the pool and ocean.
One thing you have to know when visiting Hawaii hotels is that you pay for the view. It is nice to wake up to the ocean just outside your window, but if you are a thrifty traveler, try a city view room. All the room are pretty much the same.
As for the Royal, it is one of those properties that has character. Yes, it is not one of the many cookie cutter hotel you see in Waikiki. It was the second hotel in Waikiki. The first was the Moana Surfrider, now under the management of Westin Hotels. That hotel was built in 1901. The royal was built 25 years later. The hotel had a lot of land back than and still does. Not much has changed in the 80 plus years it has graced Waikiki. The only update was the tower.
If you want a really good drink head over to the famous Mai Tai bar. yes, this is where both "Trader Vic" as well as "Don the Beachcomber" introduced the Mai Tai. Who was first is unknown. Either way, it is my favorite drink and you can find it at any hotel/bar in Waikiki. My favorite Mai Tai on the island is at the Halekulani and the Hau Tree Lanai at he New Otani Hotel. Yummy!!!
Back to the Royal, like i said earlier, it is hit or miss. Make sure to tell the front desk of your preference. The hotel is expensive so plan on spending at least $200-$300 a night. Is it worth it, well if your a history buff like me and appreciate older hotels, than yes. If you are the cookie cutter, i just want a bed to lay in, than no.
For those of you that are experienced travelers and only stay at Ritz or Four Seasons, no luck in Oahu. The best recommendation I can give you in Waikiki is the Halekulani. Other options outside Waikiki are the JW Marriott Ilikai and the Kahala Resort.
I hope this helped you out. I have submitted photos of my room.
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The Royal Hawaiian is a landmark hotel in Hawaii and it is beautiful. We booked a room here and both of us were familiar with the hotel but never stayed here and looked forward to coming to this icon hotel. We checked in, the people working there were fantastic.
Why only 3 stars? We got to our room and the carpet was pink, the walls were pink, the bedspread was pink, and the towels were pink. I like pink but the only thing missing in this place was pink Pepto Bismol. We couldn't do it. We ended up immediately checking out and checking in at another hotel.
I love the outside but all the pink inside was unsettling.
I think they may have non-pink rooms in the new building but there was a wedding party at the hotel and all the suites were occupied.
Starwood Category 5
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Review for only breakfast at the Surf Room. After being spoiled eating breakfast at the Westin Surfrider hotel just the day before, this one couldn't match it at all in view or quality of service. I was excited to eat at the "Pink Palace" since it's so historical but the food was only ok, a little above a Denny's and the view wasn't of the pretty beach and waters, it was of a lot of beach goers, some leathery in skin color, others burnt to a crisp already. The benedict was mediocre compared to the kalua pork one at the Westin. And the prices were about the same, too.
Having just gone to the website to remind myself of the menu items, I just read that the hotel will be CLOSED from June 1 - Dec. 31 of this year for renovations. So maybe the quality went down due to them shutting down for 6 months in a week? Not sure, but we were kicking ourselves we didn't just trust our guts and get up after being seated and go back to the Westin.
Even the rooms which haven't been renovated and smell a bit damp are great. This hotel makes you feel special.. and it should since it is pricey. .. but truly it is a gem on the strand.
Things I love about the Royal Hawaiian
Sunday brunch with 80 bajillion crab legs
Mai Tais all day , all night
Wendy getting "pineapple but" from drinking too many Froo froo drinks served IN a pineapple
The pink and white striped pool towels
The aloe vera in the sundries basket in your room each day
The banana bread (with nuts if you have allergies don't eat it!) left for you upon your arrival
Having your family staying in the Royal Suite and throwing a party on the lanai with lots of beer in the sweet Hawaiian sunshine.
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I owe this hotel a long overdue apology: I'm sorry for bringing sand inside everytime I hunt for a restroom. It's very hard to look dignified when you're wet and have sand up your butt...
Really nice, really classy, really expensive.
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I give 5-star because when i was a kid who couldn't swim and afraid of the ocean, the ocean in front of this hotel was my savior. They pave the sand so that you can go into the water 100 feet in. In the other areas, there is no way you can be above the water and walking beyond 10 feet.
I basically went to the beach everyday for a week because I felt like I could "swim" far into the ocean.
The service and everything else was something I was too young to understand. But I remember the hotel rooms being nice, and I didn't understand why this ugly looking pink hotel was so expensive.
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There's just nothing in all of Waikiki like sitting on the beach in front of the Famous Pink Hotel eating a Royal Hawaiian burger.
Delivered right to your beach spot .
Nice outside bar.... tropical cocktails with lotsa pineapple affixed to
your glass. Love that !!
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I had a great time at this hotel. It was very clean, a lot of space, the service was amazing and the restaurants and bars were great. I especially enjoyed the designated beach area for hotel guests and if you get there early, you can get a spot for the entire day :). It is walking distance from everything...I will return, hopefully, soon.
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What a beautiful, historic hotel! Greeted with a lei upon check-in, the lobby, courtyards and shops are stately and serene, much more calm than some of the behemoth hotel lobbies nearby. T. drank SEVERAL Mai Tais during our stay in their bar and they were always accomodating for making me specialty virgin drinks (as I was 6.5 months pregnant during our stay!) We enjoyed three nights of sunsets at their Mai Tai Bar - heavenly!!
The "private" beach is fantastic, though service is spotty on the beach - you'll save time to walk up to the little cafe or the bar yourself to order - but I'd recommend heading down early if you want to get a lounge chair with a table and/or umbrella.
We had both their breakfast buffet and Sunday brunch in the Surfside room, which were fantastic - Sunday brunch is a real treat with crab legs and sushi galore - with views overlooking Waikiki beach while sipping guava juice, iced coffee or champagne. My recommendation for brunch is to make a reservation (it opens at 11am) or arrive sometime after 11:30 as their biggest rush was when they first opened their doors. They also have a laua on Mondays and a Seafood Buffet at the Surfside on Fridays which we'll have to try next time.
I would have liked to have a balcony in our room, but that is a very minor request (I believe their tower rooms have balconys, but we stayed in their historic building) in terms of all of the other niceties this hotel has to offer. Peaceful, serene, great service, and pink! What more can you ask for?
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Great for vacation right on the beach nice view of the ocean. We made sure we stayed in the new tower since we heard the old tower is very ..old. We went across the street to the Sheraton to work out in the gym. That was a great facility. We took the local bus to Diamond Head it was better than getting the tourist trap.
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Great location for a historic hotel... right on the beach (the Pink Palace). When you walk up the stairs to the lobby to check in, they crown you with a refreshing lei before guiding you to the reception desk. Some visitors may enjoy "modern" facilities as opposed to this historic hotel, furnished with rosewood furniture from early Hawaii. I normally stay at the Sheraton (modern), but stayed here because it was fully booked. On two separate visits, they upgraded me to a "modern" room with an ocean view and, the other time, one of their suites. The staff give you the ohana feeling that I miss so much. Great place for a romantic getaway or weddings as there are numerous scenic locations for the ceremony/reception.
Argueably the best Mai Tai in all the world (except my cousin's, love ya Rach!). Although, would anyone argue about Mai Tais? I went here based on a recommendation from a friend that lived in Hawaii for a couple of years. I watched the sun set while sipping their magnificent Mai Tai on their outdoor deck. It's a must if you visit Waikiki.
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I'll probably never stay here, but I'll tell you - I have NEVER felt cooler than I did sitting at the Mai Tai bar looking out over the beach at the Royal Hawaiian with my new wife.
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It's the little pink hotel on Waikiki Beach just behind the Sheraton Waikiki. The place is charming and romantic, and the hula dancing on the lawn is fantastic. They have a luau on Monday nights now. Don't forget...location, location, location!! This will always be one of my favorite hotels!
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The best Mai Tai's on Waikiki. And yes, this is tried and true!
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I will always love this place. The outside pool bar along the beach is quiet and sanguine without a whole lot of hustle and bustle. There is a relaxed feel to the place that makes you believe there is nothing else in the world. The interior is very old fashioned with plenty of charm. The outside gardens are nice too. Unfortunately, it will be closing the first week of June for renovations and will be closed until December. Supposedly, the hotel will re-open with a "redefined luxury". In other words, no one knows what to expect. I truly hope they don't spoil what has always been one of my favorite hotels.
My review is on the Mai Tai bar by the beach. This is a pretty cool place. Great drinks, points off because of the price, but hey, you're paying for paradise there. You're drinking a cocktail right by the beach, with all the beautiful women in Waikiki walking by. You gotta love it.
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This is a great place to stay. Beach is right there and they have a great pool. I will always remember this hotel for I got so burnt on the back of my legs that i had to not go in the sun for a whole day. Yea.. and we had to go to a luau that night in the lobby outside area and sit for ages. NOT my idea of fun when i could barely touch the backs of my legs.
I'm only reviewing their Mai Tais. Specifically, sitting out on the beach behind the Royal Hawaiian, 10 meters from the silver sand, sipping on a fresh 'world famous' Mai Tai. It was perhaps worth the $14 or something I paid for it, but the best part was the fresh pinapple that the bartender cut for me and my drinking partner, and then they had this plum salt/sugar mixture that was borderline addictive. I'm not sure what was in it, but it hit the spot. Quite the destination, even if you don't get a room!
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Our flight was not till midnight, so husband and I had a few drinks at the Mai tar bar ( we stayed at the HGVC) so this was a good walk in the beach from our hotel. I love pina colada and Mai Tai Bar serves this LAVA FLOW, pina colada with swirls of strawberry. This was good! It just had the right amount of rum. I can't wait to go back and have my lava flow while watching the sunset.
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We stayed at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel on Waikiki Beach for 6 days/5 nights. They upgraded us to the tower, ocean view room for an extra fee. The employees were very friendly and helpful. The valet got my car very quickly. There was complementary champagne and banana bread. The room was very clean and the view was awesome. I liked the private beach area. Seats were not hard to come by even at mid morning. The location of the hotel was great. Right where all the shopping is. Not loud at all.
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I've stayed here for 7 nights and 8 days a couple of years ago. The only pink hotel in Waikiki was just a classic! The minute you step foot on the premise, you just know that you're in Hawaii. This hotel is so timeless....once you get to the open air sitting area right in front of the pool, you start to feel so relaxed. The rooms were a bit out dated but they were pretty roomy. The hotel is just right across the street from International Market as well as the surrounding little shops and high end boutiques. One night we checked out the Mai Tai bar, which i thought was fun. They have great drinks and appetizers and a live band to go with it! I like how you can only hear the sound of the ocean while dining. One morning, we also had the breakfast buffet at the Surf Room, it was just ok, nothing remarkable, actually I was bit disappointed considering how much it was per person ($28 - check out surf room review). I loved how the hotel was right on the beach. The downfalls about this hotel is that the beach area was waaaaay too crowded for my taste, and it was hard to get a pool chair next to the pool. Your best bet is to come down early in the morning to reserve a pool chair. All in all, the hotel was luxurious, I don't think I would stay here again, seems like it was more for the older crowd.
I'm with Cheri A. It gets a 2 from us. We are currently traveling on Starpoints from Starwood. This is listed as a Category 5 and 12000 points per night. We stayed one night. The bugs in our bathroom, trucks under our window, 60 year old furniture in our rooms, and pink drove us two doors over to the Sheraton Moana Surfrider which just kicks ass over this pile. The Sheraton Waikiki next door also looks better for the same money and points. I wouldn't stay here again if there are rooms available at either of the other Sheratons.
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