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The W Hotel
Rating Details »
Diamond Head
2885 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96826
(808) 922-1700
2885 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96826
(808) 922-1700
- Price Range:
-
$$$
30 reviews for The W Hotel
We had a great time at the W. We took advantage of their buy 2 nights, get the 3rd free deal and ended up with a cool room in a great location at semi-affordable rates.
Pros: private balcony - look left and see diamondhead, look right and see the water, extra service perks like the cleaners leaving fresh ice in your bucket and two hershey's kisses with the weather report and local shows, free newspaper every morning, etc., location quiet and relaxing away from the crazies, street parking available nearby, free car service with your reservation (you can take out one of their cars for 5 hours and go anywhere). We loved the concierge dudes -- they rock!
Cons: Room itself was good but not over the top impressive; room service not great - I only tried it once but the steak cut they served me was NASTY; no pool or spa facilities. Small, weird lobby with nowhere semi-private to sit and talk; $13-20 cab ride down to the spas in the main drag.
So, as of January 9, this is no longer a W, FYI. And not surprisingly.
The minute I stepped into this place I didn't get that "W" feeling. It wasn't chic or modern like you'd expect from a W, but it definitely wasn't dingy either. The lobby decor was kind of stale and a bit awkwardly placed. It seemed that the only thing that differentiated this hotel from any other hotel on the island was the W signs plastered all over the place. Oh, and NO POOL, like many other reviewers mentioned...that irked me a bit. The beach is literally a stones throw away, but still...a pool would have been nice. And no spa, either.
In any case, the hotel was still ok; I'm going to go with a 3.5 here. The rooms were pretty nice...again, not "W" at all, but they were clean and the bed was super comfortable. Every room has a large balcony which is very relaxing to sit on and appreciate the island breeze.
I'm not sure which company is taking over after the 9th, but if everything stays exactly how it was when we stayed here, I'd say it's worth no more than $200ish a night, definitely.
Oh, and one more thing...I really got the "island feeling" here with the staff, because everyone was incredibly laid back. They rarely picked up the front desk, housekeeping or room service phones which became annoying.
i always enjoy a good hotel, and a great bar, but every time i end up here at this W in Honolulu, i never seem to enjoy it as much as any other W I've been to. Either way... it changed from a W to the Lotus. Its 3 star on most review sites, and you need to experience to understand. the photos will not show the reasons... either way, still a beautiful spot in the world near the base of Diamond Head. The accommodations are comfortable, and the property is well maintained.
We spent a wonderful two nights at the W Diamond Head - as with all the other W hotels I've stayed at, this location did not disappoint!
While the rooms are not as "trendy" as your typical W hotels on the mainland, they are large, comfortable and lush none the less. My boyfriend was slightly sad that there wasn't a flat screen TV to watch - but I gently reminded him that you don't go to Hawaii to watch TV.
I enjoyed the fact that the W was well away from the insanity that is the Waikiki strip, and our view of Diamond Head off the lanai was breathtaking!
The location is close to all the touristy crap of Waikiki (if that's what you're into), but far enough away so you don't hear drunken mating calls of desperate navy dudes on leave at 3 in the morning (and yeah, that gal you're hitting on really isn't a gal!!! - SURPRISE!!).
Service, as is typical with the W chain, was impeccable!
4 stars for the W Honolulu Bar (3 if I had to pay the cover of $15). The dressed-to-impress crowd is predominantly mid-20s to mid-30s. Thank goodness it doesn't take much for me to get drunk because the cheapest beer is $6! There goes tomorrow's plate lunch.
There's 2 rooms to bounce back and forth in when you're still sober, and the decent-sized dance floor is there when you've got enough liquid courage. The girls are gorgeous (too bad I don't sway that way), but the guys--I know I'm a genetic mutation at 5'8", but couldn't they be any taller?
Nevertheless, I can't wait to go back. This place is way more sophisticated than the high school hoedowns at O Lounge or ghetto get-togethers at Dave & Buster's.
Wow I can't believe I never reviewed the W.....
Okay so first thing is that the Yelp star average for this listing is skewed by the fact that people write reviews for the nightclub in the hotel under this listing. I have never been to the nightclub and have nothing to say about it but if you are considering staying in the hotel disregard the average stars and just read the reviews for the hotels.
An important thing to understand about this hotel is that it was not built as a W. Starwood took this hotel over and remodeled it into a W. So don't expect quite the same level as other W hotels in terms of the building - cut the them some slack and know that they did the best they could with what they had to work with. They still have those amazing beds, all sorts of nice little touches and a top-shelf staff.
Okay, done with the disclaimers : )
This is the place to stay in Honolulu.
You are away from the craziest part of Waikiki by the park and the Outrigger Canoe club. It is quieter, greener, has great views of Diamond Head and only a short (pretty) walk to the busy part of Waikiki.
Other Waikiki hotels in this price range go big on the lobby and impressive exterior and then have rooms that are only meh.
The W has a low-profile but the rooms are much nicer than almost all other hotels. And the beds are so comfortable it is nothing short of heaven.
The staff have somehow escaped that jaded "I work in the tourist industry in Waikiki. What?" attitude that is Everywhere (yes even in the most expensive hotels, restaurants and bars). The W Honolulu staff are truly welcoming, friendly, sweet and helpful.
PS One last thing - Do Not accept a room below the 4th floor on a Friday or Saturday night! The sound insulation is less than perfect between the 2nd floor nightclub and the other floors.
Date & Time: Summers and Winters
Company: Michael
Crowd: Diverse Mix of Locals & Tourists
Atmosphere: Carefree, Relax & Party
Decor: Chic High-end Resort
Service: Friendly, Warm and Personable
Bar: Quite the hoppin' place with two rooms of dancing packed with Asian locals and tourists alike
Restaurant: De Rigeur W
Notes: Share a private beach with the hotel next door and lounge chairs are available with the receptionist. When you first arrive, you are welcomed with fresh fruit juice and you can lounge in the lobby sofa or better yet the bed.
I loved this hotel merely because it didn't have the multitude of kids that seem to infest the other hotels in Waikiki (is that spelled correctly?).... This place is pretty remote from the action ----WHICH IS A PLUS---it is a great walk (along the ocean) to the main action of Waikiki (is that spelled correctly?).... You can easily get to the main action, but if you want to retreat, you can retreat to your hotel room a 15 minute walk away ......
This place has some of the perks of the W hotel chain, but it doesn't have a flat screen HD TV in the room. But it does have a car you can use if you reserve it or if it is available.....what a great bonus! My partner and I took the car out (it's free!) 2 days in a row and drove around the entire island of Oahu! What a great thing!
Plus, we really, really, really loved the staff of this hotel -- they're young, laid-back, and super nice. I'll stay here again just because the staff is so damn cool, nice.
I was not impressed by this club.
Can we say overrated?
There is no club in Hawaii that is worth a $15 cover charge.
If I have to say one positive thing about this hotel--*fine...since you're pulling my arm and everything.. the interior leading up to the club is quite classy. (We're not talking about "neon-lights-gold-lions-at-the-foot-of-the-entranc e" type classy like Zanzabar.. that's a whole different animal. ba dum bum.) Marble floors, tasteful art and a "waiting area" furnished with deep burgundy silk sheets and pillows. If I didn't know any better, someone strategically put that there in case someone got lucky.. -.- or maybe just in case people get too wasted and can't walk out the door. Which ever.
There are two rooms. The room to the left is what I like to call the "reject room".
You only hang out here if you're too wasted and you need to take a breather. This room resembles what can be described as a prom night gone awry. With an empty dance floor and people sitting or standing along the outskirts of the room, they wait for an unsuspecting victim to make an ass of themselves on the dance floor.
They wait.
Someone dressed in an outfit that looks like a Jekyll and Hyde combination of LL Cool J's pants and Flava Flav's outlandishly hideous t-shirts "c-walks" on to the floor.
In his mind he's the greatest thing since grape jelly.
What everyone else is thinking: omg. stop. please. my stomach's hurting from all the gut-busting laughter.
To say the least, that was the most entertainment I got the entire night. The bar--a table with sodas and wine bottles placed on a table is considered a bar these days.. was small, very limited in choices of alcohol and they don't give you much for $9. A $9 chamboard 7?? On top of that it was watered down.
The room on the right, or "the hot spot" isn't what it's cracked up to be. Obviously, if you want to be seen, this is the place you go to. Beautiful people, a large elaborately decorated bar, and people taking pictures left and right of all that is fabulous about the "W".
Or at least that's what they want you to think.
The dance floor is smaller than what you perceive it to be when you're at the entrance of the room. People are jam-packed like sardines on one end of the bar, and on the other it's very sparse. If you notice the behavior of club go-ers, they move around like school of fish. They "swim" or in this case they dance to an area where they must full fill their obligation as being the hottest group you see every which way you step. Even if it meant stepping on some toes. like mine.
Maybe I should have unleashed my Korean temper that night.. but no. I resisted yet again.
No thanks. I can do without all the hot air. Leave me be at the other end of the bar where a person isn't 5 inches away from my personal space.
Oh and let's not forget. I haven't experienced this myself as I usually send a friend to go to the bar for me.. If you're not hot, don't expect the bartenders to pay any attention to you. Those f'ers cater to 1) guys who are coerced into racking up $100 tabs for hot chicks.
What he's thinking: I'm going to get her number.
What we're thinking : I didn't have to pay $12 for a (______) enter name of drink here...What was his name again?
In most cases we only want the drink. But it's very much appreciated.
2) girls who are so hot that the bartenders are drawn to them like moths to a flame. They may not tip well, but the bartender's are probably thinking: gaah. yur purdy.
The music was mediocre. There was a visiting dj/rapper that flew in to bless the dance floor that night, and I'll give them a star just for that. Talented musicians deserve the respect. The rest of the night played out with the same old booty music thrown into rotation, terrible mixing and a limited variety. I think it's a crime to hear the same song twice within 40 minutes. 3x in an hour and I probably won't be back. *and I haven't since.
Overall I was over it before it even started. In three words the "W" was "woooah.woooah.woooah."
Good DJ in main room, All the girls standing in the line for the bathroom...you know that song, yea its about this club. But other room has smooth hip hop, and some soul...should be more danceable instead of a display of Dj's underground knowledge, yes you are a DJ, you have eclectic and old school music knowledge....Crowd well dressed, good age range, good drinks but a little $$, because they do consider themselves upscale...
I'm not rating the rooms at the W. Rather, I'm rating the dining and nightlife. These are the two best things about most W hotels. They always have great food served in a hip and chic environment, and so are their lounges.
The location is far enough off Waikiki beach that you don't get the traffic and noise, but close enough for you to walk over if you want to lay on the beach or surf. This gives this W a low-key island pace, which you may not have encountered at their locations in NY, LA, or SF. They have no private beach to lay on, but if you are adventurous you can wade out in the lagoon and check out the rocky areas for snorkeling. It's not great...kind of boring and lackluster in this area, but it's good exercise, if nothing else.
Even so, this W will always hold a special place in my heart. I was here on 9-14-01, my first flight and trip post 9-11, and my friends and I drank and danced ourselves into oblivion, or pretty close. No, it's not the greatest reason to remember it, but it is was it is.
This is where I stay every time I'm in Hawaii and I want to get away. I love opening the sliding doors and letting the sun and ocean breeze fill the place. With views of the ocean and diamond head from every room, you can't go wrong.
Less than 50 rooms. I hardly ever see other guests. Impeccable service.
The club goes off, very off the beaten path, mostly local.
Of all the W Hotels I have been to, this place is sure lacking. I made a reservation here one day and canceled as soon as I stepped into the room. I thought the room was rather boring and dated. I could not believe that they had upgrade me too. The only difference was that the room was on the corner and had two lanais. Not really anything special.
The bed was plain. It was not like the beds I have seen at the W San Diego, SF and LA. The room had a Bali decor. It looked like they got all their furniture from Pier One Imports. No kidding. The bathroom was very boring. It was very outdated and only had a shower. The towels were not the standard W towels. It was actually a mix.
The TV was very outdated. Most W Hotels have LCD TV's and the amour was old. Yes, it had two lanais. One was large enough to sit out and look at the view of a parking lot! Oh, and it only had one chair and table. The other lanai was only big enough to step outside and your view was of other condos.
The restaurant/club is okay. It is fun to go to like maybe once or twice. Usually a very diverse crowd and the same music. I have included a few pictures of the club and the lobby. I thought the drinks were fairly priced for a W Hotel. As for the cover charge, I have never had to pay for a cover at the W in San Diego. I used to go there all the time. I never been to any of the other W clubs so I am not sure that they charge a cover. I believe the club is promoted by an outside activity so they are not connected to the hotel in any way.
The staff at the hotel was nice when I checked in and did not make a big fuss when I decided not to stay there. I guess they are used to it.
This W Hotel was going to close its doors earlier in the year (2007). It was not doing to well. I think Starwood should convert the hotel into a Four Points by Sheraton and change the restaurant/club into an attractive bar/brewery. It has potential.
The hotel looks more like a lower-class hotel. Like a Days Inn or something. I appreciates Starwood's attempt at making a w Hotel in Waikiki, but there are many other properties in the heart of Waikiki that would fair much more success.
A Starwood property which means beaucoup style and beaucoup bucks. However, there are so many gorgeous properties in Honolulu that this might not be an obvious choice to most.
Nice restaurants too!
Very nice modern decor. I guess all the W Hotels are that way.
A nice little hotel with a view of beautiful Diamond Head...
The staff...his name was Guy, he was really helpful, and he made our stay more wonderful.
Knocking two stars off for disappointing us with their club though.
The girl at the entrance who collects cover charge was very rude.
I think they wanted $10 a person (there were 5 of us and two were the hotel guests and each guest can get one more person for free,,,which means we paid 10 to get in in the end). But all this was talked without a smile or positive attitude. She was just rude from the beginning to the end.
I have been to San Diego's W and they have really nice space/club at night. But the Honolulu's W doesn't come close to that at all. The place was empty (it was about 10pm on Saturday night) and the bar itself (interior, music, or the set up) was not good. It doesn't match the rest of the hotel,,, I thought. I regretted that I didn't check the place out before we went. I just simply thought it should be good based on the San Diego experience. They really should have a better club since nothing else is around there to give us more choices... After a couple of drinks we decided to go to the Waikiki area. The drinks and the service were fine.
I hope I never have to see the day when I would get disappointed with this hotel chain. This is one of their pricey locations, but it's well worth it.
The last time we stayed here, they inadvertently assigned us a room that looked like it was still being cleaned. I called the front desk and they immediately upgraded us to an ocean view room, one floor below the Penthouse.
This is how we like to roll! We definitely got a roooooooooom. Fantastic experience.
I visited this strange location for a well-renown hotel with my girlfriend, Cheri Isabella just to chill out in the lounge area and hopefully grab a bite to eat. This hotel has a Bohemian atmosphere . . . free Granny Smith apples . . . Bali furniture, Peter Maxx, Andy Warhol . . . very coool!
Sadly, when we ascended the winding staircase, the bar/restaurant was closed, so that is why I am giving it 4 stars because the restaurant should have been open for lunch at least serve something! I did read the drink and cuisine menu . . . very stiff, escalating pricing!
Um-the hotel accommodations are very pricey, so if you're on a tight budget, I do not recommend staying here . . . this hotel will break you into weee bits! But, if you do stay here, the rooms are plain Jane, nothing to Yelp about if you get my drift . . . Still, there are the wonderful pluses staying here at W Hotel is Sans Souci Beach is directly behind W Hotel and the Sans Souci Condominiums.
Doh! I shot a video of the W Hotel, so I wish YELP would allow me to download the video I shot of the W Hotel to show to other Yelpers considering staying at this Hotel . . . 24 P! Get that Yelp Tube goin' YELP!
What is Hawaii with no beach and no pool to lounge at? It is located near the Outrigger Canoe Club so if you know someone with a membership it is conveniently located but again no real beach just a lagoon area with boats. Ok there is a small little beach that was accessible but is was not inviting.
I love the W Hotels but not for Hawaii I would not recommend it.
Starwood Category 5
When I originally researched hotels in Honolulu, The W in Diamond Head was my top contender. Because of the time we vacationed, it became to pricey. Since I love the decor at all the W Hotels, I had to visit this hotel to view the property. The decor was a bit less than what I expected. The hotel was a bit dead since it was a Monday night. But, I heard it is pretty busy on Saturday nights.
FYI - It is my mission to stay in every W Hotel!
No longer called the W; now it's Lotus (not to be confused with Lotus soundbar). A classy joint. The crowd was very slow on a January night. Everyone was nicely dressed, even met some friendly locals. Come here on Friday or Saturday night and you will be fine. The parking is plenty. Bartenders are friendly. I would come back here again.
The best Asian parties in Honolulu are at the W Diamond Head Hotel. Too bad it's not conveniently located near Waikiki. Catching a cab on the way home takes a while.
R.I.P.
As of January 9, 2009, it will no longer be a W Hotel, as managment is pulling the plug. No big loss; it was mediocre at best and sort of a blemish on their brand.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/31/2008
Uh, don't stay here. Not on the beach. No pool. No in house store of any sort. No in house… Read more »
This review is for staying at the hotel - not the restaurant or night club......I agree with the other reviewers, the best thing about this hotel is the secluded feel you get, and lack of crowds and screaming children is a definitely plus. Although you dont get a full ocean view, you do get a pretty amazing view of Diamond Head, and the hotel is a quick and very scenic walk to Waikiki and everything happening there. Also much, much quieter than other hotels I have stayed in here due to its location a bit off the beaten path........ Yes, it is not as technologically updated as other W locations (no flat screen TV) - but who wants to watch TV when you are in Hawaii anyway? Aloha........
Perfect Hotel for Business Travelers to Honolulu. No screaming kids, no crazy tourist masses... on the water. Drive up to the Quick valet. Nice rooms. Lemon water when you check in... I didn't go to the club or the restaurant so I can't rate those... but the room service is typical Starwood fare... but the fish is fresher. I usually stay at the Royal Hawaiian or Mona Surfrider... but this is much more chill than those. Definitely more romantic too. Ask the front desk where you can go for quick eats (if you have a car)... they will have you go up the hill a bit... and the food is a fraction of what it costs on Waikiki... and it's local stuff.
Spent our wedding night here and it was really nice. It's off the main Waikiki strip at the foot of Diamond Head, so it's quiet and there's not a lot of foot traffic nearby. Hotel itself is small and intimate and not as bustling as other W hotels I've been to, which is a good thing. Room was beautifully decorated and bed was supercomfortable...hehe.
Understaffed, but the staff that is there kicks some serious ass, and are super cool. The lobby and front dest area is dope. I want a living room like theirs, but the actual rooms are pretty plain. The elevater decor made me noxious. It was kinda like a purple coffin with drapes. The lounge/disco on the weekends was way tired. Doesn't it just get old? Not worth the price. 50 buck more could get you into the Halekulani. More quality, less hype. 3 stars for the personel.
My stay here was excellent. The staff here are attentive and willing to help. This is the quietest neighborhood in Waikiki, and there is the Pacific on one side, Diamond Head in the background, and a large park on the other side. There could not be a better location to arrive at after a long flight. Since jetlag isn't a problem for me, I'm not quite sure how it feels. However, after spending 3 days in the Hong Kong airport (compliments of United Airlines and an earthquake in Tokyo), this hotel was just what I needed! If you have jetlag, this is your hotel (at least for the first few nights) Book one of the rooms on the middle floors, and you're guaranteed a peaceful stay!
For a W I'm less than impressed w/ this place. It lacks the cutting edge touches most W's are known for. It has no real beach and the view of Diamond Head is nice, but that's about it. There are better places in Honolulu to stay for less money, better views and nicer rooms. My fave is Mauna Loa Sheraton.
The hotel was OK! It's totally hip and cool but we had to walk to the beach...i was thinking it was going to be beachfront....oh well...they beds were super comfy though! it is nice and peaceful not as crazy as the waikiki strip!
Its a nice property, but found the location to be inconvenient. It takes about 15 minutes of walking one way to get to the Waikiki beach area. would recommend staying at the Sheraton if you want to stay at a Starwood in Waikiki. Also, the beach area near the hotel has very rough sand and it's not nice at all. We had to again walk 15-20 minutes carrying our chairs and towels to go to a more "beachy" area. This is not something you want to do after flying 10 hours...
