Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa — Hotel in Honolulu

A non-vacation thing brought us to the Renaissance Honolulu, which is part of Marriott . I had no idea they existed but it seems they’re fairly new, possibly opened in 2024.

LOCATION: Located directly behind Ala Moana Center, it consists of two towers, one a hotel and the other a residences (Sky Ala Moana). I loved how close it is to Walmart, Don Quijote, tons of restaurants and Ala Moana Center.

PARKING: Valet only, $59/day.

RIDE SHARE: Pick up and drop off is at the main entrances.

SHUTTLE: The hotel provides a comp shuttle service to Ala Moana Center, Magic Island and the Waikiki Banyan tree every 2 hours.

CHECK IN: Chad was great. Very friendly and welcoming. He went over everything and walked us over to the elevators to give us a quick lesson on its digital operation.

LOBBY: Modern design that features the Sera restaurant & Paris Baguette bakery, front and concierge desks.

ROOM: 3706 is near the top. Views of the city and Ala Wai Boat Harbor are good. There is no balcony but the sliding door does open fully and features a safety window at the bottom half.

The room has two comfy queen beds & pillows, blackout curtains, ambient lighting, strong & quiet a/c, smart TV, clothes steamer, stacked washer & dryer, a kitchenette with sink, mini stove and hood vent, microwave, sizable mini refrigerator, original Nespresso machine and pods, hot water maker, pots, pans, utensils and glassware.

BATHROOM: Good-sized space with a single basin, bidet toilet, oversized shower/tub, strong water pressure, plenty of hot water and quick drainage.

AMENITIES: All the usual bath amenities were provided. Items such as robes, shower caps, shaving/dental kits are available by request.

Ice and water machines are offered on varying floors between 16 and 38.

A coin operated laundry room, pools, Sway bar, hot tubs, fitness center, BBQ pavilion and Nami Spa are all on floor 8.

Room service is available between 7am and 9pm and comes from the Sera restaurant.

HOUSEKEEPING: Daily service is a rarity these days and much appreciated.

RESTAURANTS: Sera and Paris Baguette, both serve B/L/D.

CHECK OUT: Both associates were great.

OVERALL: Really great service from everyone we encountered - bell staff, front desk, housekeeping. Staff riding in the elevators always greeted you as they exited.

Great location. Beautiful facilities, not overly crowded and we really enjoyed staying...

Misleading Views and Subpar Service – Disappointing Experience

I had a disappointing stay at the Renaissance Residence Oahu. We originally booked an 8-night stay, but due to multiple issues, we ended up leaving after just 4 nights, which was a major inconvenience for us.

We booked an Ocean View One-Bedroom Suite, expecting to enjoy beautiful ocean views. To our surprise, the room we were given had a clear city view instead, with no ocean in direct sight. We brought this to the attention of the front desk right after checking in, but they could not offer us a real ocean view suite. They did provide some credit for our stay, but that wasn't what we were looking for. I am sharing pictures of the view from the living room and bedroom to show the discrepancy—there was absolutely no ocean view.

Additionally, it’s surprising that a hotel in Hawaii doesn’t have any balconies, which seems very odd for a property of this type.

Another major disappointment was the service quality, which did not meet the standards of a 5-star hotel. The room cleaning was poorly managed, and our room was not cleaned to the expected level. We had to ask multiple times for room cleaning every day. Items like the dental and vanity kits weren’t replenished, and the coffee provided was only decaf, which I don’t even drink. Such a lack of attention to detail was frustrating.

The valet parking service was also a letdown. It was slow, and the staff were not as welcoming and friendly as we’ve experienced at other hotels in Hawaii.

Another issue we noticed was that the pool was shared with Sky Condo, which is primarily for Airbnb guests. This made the pool area feel more crowded and less exclusive compared to what you’d expect at a 5-star hotel.

On the positive side, the hotel is new, and the location is extremely convenient for shopping and dining. It’s very close to Ala Moana Center, which is a big plus if you plan to explore the area.

Overall, I would not recommend this hotel for a true 5-star experience, especially considering the misleading room descriptions, lack of attention to service, and shared amenities. I’m giving it a 2-star rating for the convenient location and new facilities, but they need to improve significantly in other areas to live up to the 5-star standard...

I’m a long-time Marriott Titanium Elite member, and I decided to give this new property a chance instead of my usual stay at the Waikiki Beach Marriott, where the staff consistently go out of their way to make guests feel valued. Unfortunately, this hotel has been the opposite experience so far — and I’m only on day two of an eleven-night stay, already seriously considering switching hotels.||From the moment I arrived, the tone was off. The front desk attendant was snobby and dismissive, offering no warmth or genuine hospitality. When I asked basic questions, the responses were curt and indifferent — hardly the “Aloha spirit” that Marriott prides itself on.||The amenities situation is equally frustrating. Want a normal cup of coffee? Be prepared to pay $8 at the café for a tiny cup. Looking to relax on the beach? Sure — but only if you pay their $45 per day destination fee for a chair. I also asked about heating up leftovers and was told there isn’t a single microwave anywhere on the property. It’s hard to believe a resort of this caliber would make it impossible to do something as simple as warming up food or making a cup of noodles.||As a Titanium Elite member, I didn’t receive an upgrade or even an acknowledgment of my status. That, combined with the “oh well” attitude from staff, made the lack of effort especially disappointing. To make matters worse, I couldn’t help but notice how the staff seemed much more enthusiastic toward certain guests, greeting them with cheerful “Aloha!” while giving me sideways glances or avoiding eye contact whenever I passed the front desk. It’s subtle but unmistakable — and it makes the stay feel unwelcoming.||At this point, I’m genuinely reconsidering my stay and may move to another Marriott property where guests — especially loyal ones — are treated with respect and appreciation. I really wanted to like this place, but unless things drastically improve, I’ll be checking out early and returning to the Waikiki Beach Marriott, where hospitality is second nature, not an...