The Royal Hawaiian

The Royal Hawaiian, affectionately known as the "Pink Palace of the Pacific," stands as an iconic and historically rich luxury resort on Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, and is recognized as a Michelin Key Selected property. Guests consistently praise its unique charm, prime beachfront location, and the serene oasis it provides amidst the bustling Waikiki area.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for The Royal Hawaiian is overwhelmingly positive, with many guests describing their stay as a "dream," "serene experience," and "wonderful." It boasts a high rating, often lauded as one of the best and most historically significant hotels in Waikiki. The property's distinctive pink aesthetic and Spanish-Moorish architecture contribute significantly to its elegant and immersive atmosphere.

2. Key Highlights

Guests are particularly drawn to several key aspects of The Royal Hawaiian:

• Design & Ambiance: The hotel's iconic pink facade and historic charm create a truly unique and luxurious atmosphere, often described as stepping back into a bygone era of Hawaiian elegance.
• Location: Its direct beachfront access to Waikiki Beach is a major draw, offering stunning ocean views and a sense of being a tranquil oasis despite its central location. It's conveniently located near Kalakaua Avenue for shopping and dining.
• Amenities: Highlights include the exclusive Malulani Pool, private cabanas and chaise lounges on Waikiki Beach (though some mention a fee), and access to the Helumoa Playground Pool at the neighboring Sheraton Waikiki for families. The Abhasa Waikiki Spa, set in a tropical garden, also receives praise for its luxurious treatments.
• Service: Many reviews highlight the exceptional and personal service, with staff often going above and beyond to accommodate guests. Warm greetings with leis upon arrival are a common positive first impression.

3. Room Quality

The Royal Hawaiian offers rooms in two distinct sections: the historic building and the newer Mailani Tower.

• Historic Building Rooms: These rooms are characterized by their classic elegance, featuring custom dark wood furnishings, luxurious bedding, and a design that nods to its Hollywood-era heyday with bold fabrics and pineapple print wallpapers. While charming and spacious, some historic rooms have been described as having an older, more basic, or even dated look, with potentially undersized bathrooms. Guests often appreciate the "palace" feeling these rooms evoke.
• Mailani Tower Rooms: These offer a more modern and contemporary decor, with the ocean view being the primary feature. A significant advantage of the Mailani Tower rooms is that they all boast private lanais or balconies with breathtaking ocean views.
• Across both wings, guests are treated to luxury Frette linen, small coffee makers, organic bath amenities, and signature pink cotton bathrobes. Complimentary bottled water and an in-room refrigerator are also typically provided. Some guests have noted issues like thin walls in older rooms affecting privacy.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel offers a range of appealing dining options:

• Surf Lanai: This is the main breakfast restaurant, famous for its "Pink Palace Pancakes," which are frequently lauded as delicious and photogenic. It offers an upscale buffet and a la carte items in a relaxed, island setting with ocean views.
• Azure: The resort's flagship fine dining restaurant, Azure, is perched along the Waikiki beachfront and specializes in fresh seafood and local produce, often featuring a four-course tasting menu.
• Mai Tai Bar: An iconic outdoor bar located steps from the beach, it's renowned for its cocktails, particularly its eponymous Mai Tai (which some sources credit the Royal Hawaiian for popularizing in Hawaii). It also serves food and offers live music.
• Royal Hawaiian Bakery: A popular spot for coffee, pastries, and sweet treats like their famous sweet bread. Guests often receive vouchers for use here.
• The Aha'aina Luau offers a cultural dinner feast. Guests can also charge meals from sister resorts (Sheraton Waikiki, Moana Surfrider, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani) to their room.

5. Service & Staff

The Royal Hawaiian consistently receives high marks for its service and staff, with ratings often around 4.3 out of 5. Guests describe staff as "super kind and helpful," "exceptional," and providing "true quality customer service." From warm greetings with leis upon arrival to attentive pool staff and personalized touches like turndown service with chocolates, the hospitality is a strong point. Some reviews mention slow check-in processes as a minor inconvenience.

6. Location & Accessibility

The Royal Hawaiian boasts an "unbeatable" and "prime" location directly on Waikiki Beach, offering a vast ocean expanse for swimming and water activities. It feels like a serene paradise tucked away from the main road, yet it's just minutes on foot from Kalakaua Avenue's vibrant shopping and dining scene. Iconic sites like Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, and Hanauma Bay are within easy reach, making it an ideal base for exploring Oahu. The hotel offers wheelchair-accessible parking, dedicated accessibility rooms with features like roll-in showers, and wide pathways with ramps and elevators throughout the property.

7. Value & Pricing

The Royal Hawaiian is considered a luxury property with prices to match, often described as expensive. While many guests feel the splurge is "absolutely worth it" for the unique experience, history, and prime location, some acknowledge that the rooms, particularly in the historic wing, might be considered basic for the high price point when compared to other five-star hotels internationally. Rates can start from around $287. Factors like ocean views significantly impact the cost.

8. Common Complaints

While largely positive, some recurring criticisms include:

• Room Quality (Historic Wing): Some guests find the historic rooms to be basic or dated for the price, especially the bathrooms which can be small and lack bathtubs.
• Beach Chair Fees: A notable complaint from several guests is the additional cost (around $200 per day) for renting beach chairs and umbrellas on the hotel's section of Waikiki Beach, which some find surprising given the overall room rates.
• Noise: Rooms, particularly those facing the outdoor patio area or with thin walls, can be subject to noise from other guests, cover bands, or the bustling Waikiki scene until late in the evening.
• Slow Check-in: While staff are friendly, the check-in process can sometimes be slow.
• Mailani Tower Elevators: In the Mailani Tower, the elevators can be slow and lead to long waiting times, especially during peak seasons.

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