The bosslady and I exchanged into the Waikiki marina resort. One word – Awesome!! This resort is a great base of operations. On Fridays the Hilton (next door) has fireworks. If you’re military – take advantage of the Hale Koa PX. The Hale Koa is next door to the Hilton and is about a 10 – 15 minute walk. We did our grocery shopping there.
Places we enjoyed the most:
- Pearl Harbor
- Makapuu point – the drive there is beautiful, and the point offers some pretty cool views.
- Pali Lookout – another great view.
- Waimea falls – another great view, worth the short hike.
- Dole Plantation – Pretty neat; but too touristy for my taste.
- North Shore – beautiful drive; got a bit crowded on the road, but a beauty of a ride none-the-less.
Unit Features
We stayed in a studio unit. The unit was well sized and absorbed the bosslady and I with no problems. The kitchen was fully stocked. There is no dishwasher, and maid service was on the fourth day of your stay. The unit seemed pretty well maintained. It’s definitely not a new building, but it is still comfortable.
The Resort
Location, Location, Location. The resort is located just off the famed Waikiki beach. Parking – sucks. The best deal is the valet parking, which costs an arm and a leg ($28 /day) but is very convenient. This resort is located right inside Waikiki. I would not recommend renting a car for the entire week. There is no official shuttle from the airport to the resort, I was told to take a cab for around $40. From the resort, there is a shuttle for around $15. I think next time we stay here, we will make arrangements to get to the resort from the airport, and rent a car on site if needed.
The bus line is an effective way of getting around. To get around the strip of Waikiki – use the pink line. $2.00 every time you board the bus, so max would be $4.00 p/person round trip, vice the $28 valet service + rental fees.
The staff were friendly and responsive to our wants. They had a soft push on the owner’s update – but one simple no and that was that. There were no onsite activities, as this is a a multi-use building. The pool was always busy; but we’re here for the beach and walked the beach daily. There are shops on the first floor, and reasonably priced.
Other Details: Free in room internet, laundry was onsite. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful.
We did not encounter any resort related problems while staying there.
I think this resort is – awesome! we’ll be back. I saw couples, families and singles all here.
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