MY WAIKIKI VACATION: Royal Hawaiian Hotel

On the spur of the moment yesterday, I thought, why not spend a weekend in Waikiki.  Play tourist without having to fly to Hawaii.  

So I called the Waikiki Sheraton about what a Kamaaina (local) rate would cost on Saturday night.  The best price I could get was something close to $850/night because they were just about booked.

This shock inspired me to contact the Starwood Executive Club, to further inquire.  They were very accommodating, as for 16,000 points (I have more than 100k) I  learned that I could get a room on Saturday at the Sheraton, plus for $180 and 15,000 points, a room at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel for Friday and the Westin Moana Surfrider on Sunday.  I also got credit for three stays, which I'm accumulating to maintain Platinum status.  Then I was asked why I wasn't using my suite upgrades. Suite upgrades?  Apparently I had ten on my record and some were beginning to reach the deadline.  So, for those same rates mentioned, I got all upgraded to suites.  These are generally the last to go because they cost so much.  Thus, this will be a review of the best Starwood Waikiki suites.

All three hotels charge a $30 resort fee, which means free parking, and for me breakfast, free internet, and, at the Royal Hawaiian, a bottle of sparkling wine.  The Sheraton and Westin are yet to come.

Checking in was a breeze.  The Royal Hawaiian suite was quite large.  One TV set did not work, but I have two.  A lamp was broken, which is dangerous because the bulb is hanging out of the socket, and you can't see this as  you reach for the switch. The ice machine on this floor was broken.  The shower is very badly designed, and, can be lethal. The view was into a garden, and when I opened the curtains, the window was blemished with a gigantic bird crap.  They must be following me.  Click on my experience on Lanai two weeks ago.  The Royal Hawaiian Hotel is known as the Pink Palace of the Pacific, or Pink Lady, because it is pink, first opening in 1927 and updated three years ago.  Tripler Hospital is also called the Pink Lady, for they share the same color:

Well, I also got a certificate for a Mai Tai at the Mai Tai Bar:

This bar claims to have invented the Shirley Temple Cocktail when she stayed here in the 1930's.  Chasen's of Beverley Hills is generally given this credit.  The drink is a non-alcoholic mix of ginger ale (sometimes lemon-lime soda is used), splash of grenadine and topped with a maraschino cherry.

I've never seen Waikiki Beach so crowded.  Tourism must, indeed, be doing well.  My table bordered Waikiki Beach, and the surf was up with a hundred surfers:

And I didn't realize that the foot of Diamond Head had so many coconut trees.

For dinner I went to Restaurant Suntory, a few minutes walk away, mostly to check if my bottles of Yamazaki single-malt and Tanqueray gin were still there:

My favorite bartender, Daryl, who has worked here since 1990:

The original owner of Restaurant Suntory, who has since passed away, has bottle #1.  The recently deceased Senator Daniel Inouye had bottle #2.  I have a number adjacent to them.  I ordered an ochazuke with maguro (yellow-fin tuna) and an individual teppan-yaki with angus beef:

This was the most satisfying meal I've had in some time.

As mediocre as my stay was here, the staff was wonderful.  When I asked to remain in my room until 4PM, the concierge said my suite was already taken for early check-in, but they would just set up another room for me if I wanted.  Return tomorrow for the Waikiki Sheraton and La Mer.  Then Sunday at the Moana.

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