Castle Waikiki Shore — Hotel in Honolulu

The location was on the beach at Waikīkī, just as advertised. It was the only thing about the condo that was as advertised. We purchased two KING bedroom suites for four adults for our family vacation trip. I wanted to splurge and provide my family with the best! Instead, the minute we paid for the vacation, they switched our reservation to double beds instead of Kings. They claimed they reserved the right to assign beds upon arrival. They clearly advertise a king or two twins. We got neither. I emailed them to request the king beds we paid for in the $5100 price per week. We received two double beds suites. The beds were at least twenty years old. They had SPRINGS sticking up in the mattresses, were lumpy, squeezed with every move, and were incapable of providing any sleep. We all woke up with backaches every day. They advertised AC. Our suite had none, although our kid’s room did. Awful. We sweated, and I woke up with a headache every day. They had no internet in our room, but the kids room did. After three days, they finally replaced the broken internet modem. They advertise dishwashers, but they had none. Awful. I cooked two meals every day for a week, and had to handwashing the dishes in a tiny sink, with about five inches to wash, with only COLD water! They SHUT the water off one day, but didn’t repair it. AWFUL! After 4 nights of our complaining about the AC being broken, they finally moved us to a KING suite, which is what we paid for. When I asked them to move our kids to a king suite also (for the third time) I was told by the front desk that they never give king suites to booking.com reservations, only to VRBO and Air B&B. I repeatedly asked for the king suites all week long, as that is what we paid for in our reservations, and Castle Waikīkī Shores refused to comply or help us. All week long, I contacted booking.com via written customer service on their app, who contacted Castle Waikīkī Shores which is the only reason they fixed the internet modem after 3 days, and moved us to what they called ‘an upgrade’ King suite because the AC technician they sent pronounced the AC dead. Thank you Booking.com. We requested a partial refund due to the awful beds incapable of providing a night’s sleep, through booking.com, who contacted Castle Waikīkī Shores for us who refused to grant ANY REFUND at all. Booking.com agreed our stay was awful, and apologized with a fifteen % refund from them, stating the Castle Waikīkī shores ought to be removed from their site with enough honest reviews. I’d NEVER EVER stay there again. They are dishonest—stating we never complained about the beds (which we did daily), nor the internet, nor the AC. So then why did they send the technicians to try to fix them? We’re in our 70’s and our kids in their 30’s, and have never stayed in such a dump before. I didn’t believe the one bad review I read that sounded like the one I just wrote because I didn’t want to cancel the reservation—wish I had! I was so embarrassed to have provided such a poor accommodation for my family vacation. The pictures in their website do not match what you will receive. They must have been taken forty or fifty years ago when everything was new. Now you receive a tired, broken down bed, ugly dusty decor, a fire trap with excess plugs in each socket. Oh, I forgot to mention the toaster that burnt our toast each day, and the coffee maker that broke on day four after blowing the circuit protector in the kitchen, and wouldn’t reset. DON’T STAY HERE EVER—YOU’LL REGRET IT, AND WASTE A...

Stayed a week in September. Our room was nice. Tile throughout, stacked washer/dryer, dishwasher, full sized fridge, table for four and pretty much everything you need in the kitchen cabinets, even duplicates, like cutting boards, in case you don't want to cross contaminate your veggies.

The sofa folded out and the boy was pretty stoked for such a big bed. He slept well.

The restroom is large and has a 5x5ft. glass shower box. Over head rain shower AND the wand on a hose! But no seat and only one small shelf. No worries travel sized shampoo anyway! Single sink, plenty of countertop and drawers we didn't use. The toilet has a bidet, just sayin.

The over the door AC didn't look promising, but it cooled us down right nice, too much at night in fact. Took a min to figure out the remote.

The bed was comfortable and the sheets were soft. Five pillows were all good, for us, your milage may vary. The headboard was already like that when we got here for real. Oh yeah, there was a room divider in the wall, like back in school, that you can use for privacy from the bedroom to living room.

There were two closets, one walk-in. More than we could use.

The washer/ dryer worked as expected, no issues. There was a Tide sample there, but allergic so got our own. This is an apartment sized unit. 3 towels, maybe 4. No bedding will fit, maybe a sheet. I didn't come 2k miles for laundry anyways hahaha.

Two elevators here. Kinda slow, but I may be impati.

Reception was nice, as you'd expect, nice waiting area.

Parking seemed adequate. The front lot was never full, didn't go downstairs. We walked or rode the bus no problem. Get a bus pass first day, they go everywhere and the wait between is minimal. Most tours pick you up.

The view is amazing here. 6th floor overlooking the Army Museum and park with big 'ol hotels all lit up on the otherside and around the perimeter with the beach on the left. The sun sets straight out your room sized sliding doors. Wall to wall glass offer hours of looking. They have a solid blackout curtain though because Sun hotter in Hawaii. The balcony is the entire width with 2 tables and 4 chairs.

Beach access is, first floor, walk towards water. Less than 5 min walk from anywhere on property to the water. Now hear this: There is coral in that there surf. We all got cut. There is sand for some feet then it drops into coral. Water shoes here for sure if your going out, but you're good up to you're waist here walkin after midnight.

Suggestions: Brooms and dustpans, or Swiffers... something because sand and tile floor don't get along. Maybe a shoe carpet for when you first get in. But hey, it's the freakkin beach in Hawaii, you'll live haha Also, a variety of sundries for purchase or gratis in the lobby would help. Most people traveled here so it would make it easier if you're allergic to some soap or something. Dryer sheets would be good. Toothpaste, shampoo, idk. Just a side note: I wasn't expecting the windows on the door side to be frosted glass slats and was concerned initially. Unfounded. We had no issues beyond wear and tear. Be aware of how much you open them or your across neighbors might get more than they bargained for.

There was a TV in room but we never turned it on, I assume it works.

TLDR: Good room, great view, close to everything, solid bathroom....

First of all, its location is everything! Just at the beginning of Waikiki with absolutely stunning unlimited views of the ocean, beach, morning rainbows, and Friday night fireworks. Accessible by up to 30 min of walk to everything from Walmart to Zoo. This is an apartment/condo hotel. And it's 1 room wide building. In other words, the entrance on the 1 side of the building and the balcony on the another one. The door to the room faces to the balcony like path with see through fence. We lived on the 11th floor. Views were perfect. I don't have a heights fobia but avoided to look down and hold my kid hand all the time walking to the room or to the elevator. Elevators are under construction. And 1 working elevator is definitely not enough for all tenants and staff with big bins. The staff although is very friendly, polite, helpful, and understanding. Our room had washer and dryer in the huuuge bathroom. And this made our stay with kid much easier. I was kind of surprised and dissapointed that there was no in-room services included in the cost. And if you need/want to get new bedding/towels or your room to be cleaned from ever-present sand you have to pay additionally. Maybe it's okay for short stay but we lived there 2 weeks. And I can't say the cost of it was low. At least small things, such as laundry detergent, trash bags, and toiletries were available for free by request. Overall, room was nice but a little bit outdated. Closet doors did not move properly so we didn't use it. But the bad was an issue. I was very specific booking a room with a single king size bad. And additionally noted it in the comments while booking and later in the email. Travelling with 2.5yo kid outgrown the regular cribs size, to have a good bad was essential. In fact we got 2 twin beds moved together with blankets covered the space in between. Which still kind of worked for us but being not heard by staff was hurtful. The beds were very noisy. I was force to put folded towels between their headboards and the wall to prevrnt them from squeking each time we turned from side to side. Definitely would be annoyed and mad for honeymoon trip! Kitchen had all you need for cooking from gas stove to pots/pans and even mixer. We actually didn't cook there but used microwave and kettle a lot. Be careful, tiny ants immediately appear if crumps are on the table. Kept all opened boxes and kids good in the fridge. Unfortunately, also met 2 cocroaches in the hall but only once. Front desk offered to send a person to spray the room but I declined because of kid. Fortunately, it didn't happen anymore. Summarised all the above, the views from lanai buy everything. Loved sitting there in the evening watching city lights and...