The Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii is absolutely the best beachfront hotel I have ever stayed in looking back on all my trips to Honolulu. The stunning historic Pink Palace still sits in its original location on Waikiki Beach after opening in 1927. The hotel has been well maintained over the years and has undergone a complete refresh from 2008-2010 when the hotel joined Starwood’s Luxury Collection. The Queen of Waikiki still overlooks a small grove which is much smaller in size compared to the coconut groves that Waikiki use to be, but this small grove still helps maintain the hotel’s classic feel. Next door, alongside the historical wing, the hotel offers the beautiful modern Mailani tower which is truly a self-contained hotel inside a hotel with 100% unobstructed ocean views.
(Mailani tower Above, Royal Hawaiin classic hotel below)
For my stay 2 night stay at the Royal Hawaiian, I was placed in room 800 in the Mailani tower. The room offered stunning ocean and Diamond Head views and to my liking was an end unit. The room was good size for Waikiki, was decorated with the spirit of aloha in mind, and had tons of extra features to make the room comfortable for all guests from both the West or the East.
The hotel offers fantastic experiences for everyone no matter what their adrenaline levels may be. You can wake early morning and take part in a Hawaiian sunrise ritual, relax by the pool, or hang out with the beach boys and learn to surf or rent a outrigger and ride the waves in true Hawaiian style!
The Royal Hawaiian also offers some fantastic dining experience that are not to be missed. First the Mailani tower offers its own complimentary breakfast and heavy evening appetizer buffet along with complimentary mimosas in the morning, and beer and wine in the evening hours, along with coffee and espresso machines available to guests all day long.
Next door at the Royal Hawaiian the Mai Tai Bar is a must, even for those not staying at the hotel! The Mai Tai bar features several different type of Mai Tais, paying all respects to Trader Vics original recipe, but also hosting several uniquely delicious Mai Tais created just for the Mai Tai bar. In addition, the bar hosts the Royal Hawaiians very own Royal Mai Tai using Trader Vics original recipe created just for the Royal Hawaiian hotel in 1953!
Another must have at the hotel is the newly introduced breakfast buffet and al la cart breakfast at Surf Lanai. The breakfast buffet offers gourmet offerings that Chef Colin Hazaman has created to satisfy even the pickiest of taste buds! From the al la carte menu, the Pink Pancakes are a must have! And the best part is, the pancakes have no food coloring, but are instead pink due to the use of guava and beet flower!
The Royal Hawaiian and Mailani tower offer a five star hotel and dining experience which makes for the perfect escape for your next trip to Hawaii. Do not overlook these extravagant hotels which can be booked for as little as 20,000 spg points per night! Experience Historical Honolulu and breath and taste the today’s modern luxuries!
This trip was part of the Virgin America’s LAX – HNL Inaugural and was sponsored by Virgin America, Starwood Hotels, and the Oahu’s Visitors Bureau
