Royal Hawaiian- Waikiki- a travel agent’s view
Gardens
The “Pink Palace of the Pacific” is the name that made the Royal Hawaiian in Waikiki famous. The iconic pink buildings have been on the Waikiki beach front since the later 1920’s and just finished a multi-million dollar renovation in 2010 to bring the Pink Lady back to her status as one of the premiere resorts in Waikiki. As a part of the Sheraton brand’s Luxury Collection, the Royal Hawaiian is an upscale and elegant property for those guests looking for the best of what Waikiki can offer. My Vacation Lady viewed this property in late November 2011.
The Royal Hawaiian caters to an international, upscale clientele. Many are repeat guests who return yearly to enjoy the top quality service and amenities of this resort. From the enormous monkey pod tree in the gardens to the pink umbrellas on the beach, the Royal Hawaiian stands out among the resorts on Waikiki beach.
Historic Building- Garden View Room
There are 2 buildings – the historic building and the Tower- with vast contrasts between them. The Historic Building with its charm and hand carved doors is the original building, built back in the 1920’s when balconies or lanais weren’t common place- so you won’t see any in this building. The rooms are unique and cozy, with floral wallpaper and contrasting floral carpet. The rooms are elegantly decorated with compact marble bathrooms. We saw a garden view room (#549) which was one of the smallest rooms on the property. For those staying on a long vacation, it certainly would be a tight fit in the one closet and tight drawer space. For those who love the charm and history, this room might be perfect.
Tower Room
To contrast the rooms in the historic building, the tower rooms are all ocean facing, are chic and modern and all have lanais. The King sized beds all face the ocean and all rooms have large and updated bathrooms. You’ll get a view of the ocean from each room. While there are oceanfront rooms in the historic building, the tower rooms will typically be a tad higher in price.
The spa is unique with 5 open air garden cabanas as their treatment rooms. It is truly a tranquil location.
The pool is typical of the pools in the Waikiki area- very small but with the opening of the Sheraton’s water playground, the guests of the Royal Hawaiian are able to use the Sheraton’s pools. For those guests who want to relax by the Royal Hawaiian’s pool, cabanas are available at a whopping rate of $175 per day. On a wide stretch of beautiful sand, the Royal Hawaiian’s beach is lined with pink umbrellas and pink beach towers. It may not be the most masculine, but the beach is truly gorgeous with views of Diamond Head.
A luau is offered on Monday nights and might be one of the best, if not the most upscale in Oahu. It offers plated dinner and top shelf liquor. It’s likely to be one of the priciest at $130 ish per person (2011 pricing).
The Royal Hawaiian is a lovely resort in a prime area of Waikiki but it is not one that I would recommend for every client. My Vacation Lady sees this resort as one for an older, more sophisticated guest who is well traveled and is accustomed to high levels of service and amenities. It is wonderful for history lovers, who want to see the historic maps and furnishings in the lobby. For the younger crowd who wants action, they would be better off next door in the Sheraton Waikiki.
