The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort, Waikiki

A++++++ best hotel we've stayed at in Hawaii. Amazing ambience and staff were so friendly and helpful. Luau was incredible. So much history. Will definitely stay again!!

First the Pros - beautiful historic resort overlooking Waikiki Beach, large rooms, daily maid service, comfortable bed & nice shower, quick elevators, tucked away from the busy street but still located near restaurants and shopping, offers lots of free daily activities (few examples: Aqua Zumba, historic tour of the hotel, craft classes), Garden View rooms are quiet and cost less. Happy employees. Free concerts and entertainment and a nice Spa. Great coffee machine and fridge. They are only 9 miles from the airport but it takes about 30 to 45 minutes due to traffic (taxi's about $60 & Shuttles run about $20). Cons - small pool on sight but you do have access to the hotel next doors pool, if you want to sit on the beach in front of the hotel in 2 lounge chairs it cost $75 a day, restaurant options are pricey, Fitness Center is small, no microwave and they have a daily resort fee of $52 and $55 for parking.

We stayed in the historic part and the room was awesome and the ocean view was AMAZING! We paid to have breakfast which was excellent.

You should have to pay extra for a beach chair when the rooms are pricey all ready.

It is everything you can imagine an iconic property like this to be. It was perfect

The Royal Hawaiian has a stunning outdoor setting and an unbeatable Waikiki location—steps from restaurants, shops, and the beach. Pros • Location: Excellent—close to dining, shopping, and direct beach access. • Atmosphere and history: Beautiful historic details and artifacts that give the hotel real character. • Dining: The Mai Tai restaurant was enjoyable. Cons • Room assignment: We requested a king bed for our 30th anniversary but were given a room with two doubles; a small plate of chocolate-covered strawberries and cookies was a nice gesture but didn’t replace the bed we asked for. • Room size and condition: Rooms are very small and feel dated. The bathroom was the smallest I’ve seen in a hotel. Bed was uncomfortable and drapes were torn. • Outlets and convenience: There are too few electrical outlets and no USB ports; we had to use the bathroom outlet to plug in a kettle because the cord was too short. • Pool and beach setup: The pool is small with limited seating. Beach chairs and umbrellas are expensive and often unavailable without advance booking. • Service: Staff seemed tired and not especially helpful. • Bakery: The on-site bakery was disappointing with nearby coffee shops. We recently stayed at the Miami National Hotel, another historic property, and it highlighted what the Royal Hawaiian is missing. The Miami National successfully blends historic charm with modern conveniences—larger, more comfortable rooms, updated bathrooms, and thoughtful preservation that doesn’t sacrifice comfort. By comparison, the Royal Hawaiian feels more like a preserved museum piece: beautiful to look at but lacking the practical updates that make a stay comfortable for modern travelers. Overall: The Royal Hawaiian offers a gorgeous location and memorable historic charm, but the rooms and some services need significant updating while preserving the hotel’s history.

Still great location and atmosphere

Didn't get the same level of service as in previous stays

Location Slippers provided Surf lanae restaurant

Air conditioner in room was extremely noisy Either too hot when off, too cold when on

The location of the Royal Hawaiian was exceptional! It allowed us to navigate and explore the area around the hotel. The use of the beach was great. We enjoyed it very much!

But we didn't like about the property was that dining at the hotels facilities were very expensive and we often found ourselves using the eateries on the perimeter of the hotel. We believe you should offer competitive pricing so that your guests can stay and partake of the dining that's available. We also were unable to use the beach, umbrellas, again. They were very expensive and we were not able to use them.

I absolutely loved the atmosphere of The Royal Hawaiian. From the moment I first walked in, I felt an immediate sense of calm and serenity. The lobby was spacious and quiet, with a pleasant scent and gentle background music. Compared to the general loudness and busyness of Oahu, the hotel truly felt like stepping into another world. Simply walking around the property was a beautiful experience in itself. The architecture is stunning, and the signature pink aesthetic creates a uniquely elegant vibe. We stayed in one of the historic rooms, and it was completely worth it—perhaps even more so than staying in the modern tower. The room was spacious and enhanced the whole “palace” feeling of the hotel. The hotel’s location right on the beach was perfect. It was easy to go in and out of the water, and the ocean in front of the hotel has many shallow areas, which made swimming feel very safe—even for someone like me who worries about currents. We were even lucky enough to see turtles swimming nearby. The waves were a lot of fun, and the on-site bodyboard and surfboard rentals made it even better. The cocktails at the hotel bar were exceptional, beautifully crafted, perfectly balanced and so tasty. Each drink was so well made that we just couldn't stop ordering more. The bakery deserves a special mention. The coffee, pastries, and overall atmosphere were outstanding. Having breakfast there felt peaceful and genuinely enjoyable—I would happily spend every morning at the bakery if I could. If I ever return to Hawaii, this is the only place I’d want to stay.

The only things that bothered us: - it was surprising to find that the beach chairs cost an extra 200 dollars to rent for the day. Maybe it's just uncommon for Europeans but we are used to such things being included in the hotel price. - there were some roaches in the bathroom, we saw 1-2 almost every day - my husband was bothered by the fact that the TV didn't work properly - it was slow and lagged all the time. Although in my opininion TV doesn't matter when you're on such a vacation - but may be important to know for some people