The Laylow Waikiki, Autograph Collection — Hotel in Honolulu

Made us sick!! There are some positives to this hotel such as the proximity to shopping and the beach. The front desk staff were very friendly and helpful as well. Overall, I think the negatives outweigh the positives though.

First of all if you are wanting a quiet place to stay, this is not it. The AC in our room was very loud. We heard music and loud people from the restaurant late into the night and another loud banging noise which I believe was people dropping weights in the gym. (Although our room was close to the gym, I would be surprised if we were the only ones able to hear it because of how loud it was.) I assumed it may be a bit more noisy because the restaurant has a bar and live music but it was so loud inside our room that we could clearly hear what song was being played.

Second, I have stayed at a lot of Marriott’s and this one definitely had the least amount of amenities. There is not a coffee machine, tea kettle, or microwave in the room (there is a microwave on the first floor) which isn’t a deal breaker for me but may be for some, and is included in the other Marriott’s I’ve stayed at- even without the Autograph collection status that this Marriott claims to have. There is also no hot tub which was disappointing for us. I understand being in Hawaii a hot tub may not be necessary because of the climate but again, it is something that has been at the other Marriott’s I’ve stayed at and was something we wished they had. There was no bathtub in the room we stayed in as well so if you have kids that are easier to get in a bath or you want to take a bath, this might not be the place. Most of the Marriott’s I’ve stayed at also get bed sheet changes daily(unless otherwise requested) and this hotel did not do that. They change sheets every 7 days as stated on their welcome letter. Might be an issue for some. There was also no table in our room. There was a desk and night stands but nowhere to eat. Probably because they want you to eat at their restaurant.

The restaurant had pretty great food but I felt like the price point of the food was too high to be able to get what we wanted with the $50 breakfast credit- especially keeping in mind that they don’t have the coffee or tea in the rooms so you do have to buy it with your breakfast.

Lastly, our room made us very sick. At first we thought we had just come down with something but after getting out we realized that both of us felt almost completely better after not being in the hotel room for most of the day. Then coming back and having symptoms hit hard again whenever we were in the room. We did stay in a cabana suite right next to the pool, so I’m not sure if the room had hidden mold in it due to staying very humid all the time or if it was the AC. I don’t think it helps that the bathroom fans are definitely not strong enough for the humidity. There was an earthy, musty smell when we first got in but we didn’t think much of it. We didn’t make the correlation of being so much more sick in our rooms until the last day so unfortunately we didn’t get the chance to switch rooms and give it another chance. Maybe a room higher up wouldn’t have had the same effect? But it did make our stay extremely uncomfortable and we did not enjoy being at the hotel because we felt awful...

We’ve been trying different Waikiki hotels just because. The Lay Low (part of the Marriott Autograph Collection) was our digs for three nights during the Labor Day 2025 weekend.

LOCATION: Right in the heart of Waikiki! Next door is the International Marketplace, a block away from Royal Hawaiian SC and right behind Stix food hall, and close walking distance to other popular spots. Very convenient!

PARKING: Valet-only parking was included in room rate, like how it should be everywhere! The entrance is on the left side of the hotel and you have to deal with pedestrians on the main sidewalk so be careful. Exiting was easy via a traffic signal. They park most cars in the International Marketplace garage so wait times can be a bit if you don’t call ahead for your car.

CHECK IN: Cy was awesome! Very friendly, welcoming and professional. He easily helped us get a higher floor.

LOBBY: Their restaurant and small pool greets you as you ascend the escalator. The tiny front desk, activities desk, business center and fitness center is all here.

ROOM 615: The room is a spacious corner suite with king bed, daybed tucked away in the corner, sofa that’s really a second daybed, small dining area & table, and two balconies.

Views are of the backside concrete wall of the International Marketplace and a parking garage from the other. The hotel isn’t too tall so I’m not sure if there’s views from the top either.

The bed was one of the most uncomfortable I’ve slept on as it was too soft and bowed in the middle. The pillows also got flat quickly. I slept on the sofa/daybed on night 3 and got a little more rest but the pillows suck!

Air conditioning was strong. One of the two balconies sported 2 chairs and a tiny low table, but sitting out there would come with wafts of restaurant exhaust fumes and noise.

Overall noise was very quiet.

BATHROOM: Single basin, standard toilet and spacious shower. Water pressure was adequate but the hot water seemed to run out when showering late (around midnight). Water temperature was good in the mornings and early evenings. The bathroom sliding door had no lock.

AMENITIES: All the usual bath amenities were available, including a much appreciated big bottle of lotion.

Safe, iron & board, mini fridge, ice bucket and free & strong WiFi rounded up the package.

We had a welcome basket consisting of 2 pairs of slippers, tote bag, 2 water bottles, dark chocolate, a postcard and a rubber ducky.

The hotel’s sole ice machine is located in a hallway on the lobby level along with a still & sparkling water dispenser.

HOUSEKEEPING: They provide daily refreshing such as making the bed and replacing towels, but actual cleaning and changing of bedding is done only every 7th day. The room was clean but the two balconies were filthy with dirt and bird droppings.

DAILY FEE: It’s either non existent or included in the room rate, like how it should be everywhere!

RESTAURANTS: We didn’t eat here.

CHECK OUT: TV check out is available.

OVERALL: Love the location and wanted to love the hotel, but the bed &...

This place is not worth the amount of money they charge to stay there. The best thing about this place is that it’s next door to the shopping mall.

Rooms- they are alright, nothing too fancy but also not bad at all. The bed was comfortable. Views here are terrible, they charge as if they are great. On top of that, my AC BROKE TWICE. Two days in a row I had to get dressed in the hallways because it was too hot in my room. They had engineering come up; it was fixed the second time. What they didn’t do is offer me any type of compensation for the mishap happening TWICE. I also had to take the vacuum from the housekeeping cart they leave in the hallways to vacuum my room. I have pictures to prove it.

Service- service was okay for the most part. The night time staff at the front desk were not the best. I can’t say everyone though, one man did go out of his way to help me find a store that I couldn’t find. The first person gave me ver vague directions. I think that could’ve just been a misunderstanding though. I did have one staff member tell me I could call to ask for ice and I be brought up to my room & when I did the person at the desk said “you can go down and get it yourself from the ice machine” I laughed because I have no problem doing that. But the only reason I asked was because it was offered to me by a different staff member. They should probably get on the same page.

Location- location is overrated. You can spend less and stay in a place with better views while still Being able to walk to the ABC store right next door & the Dining Plaza. It’s really hectic out front with the uber and valley situation. Sometimes you’ll catch some edgy raunchy people walking around there. One guy punched out my friends uber drivers car side mirror on Saturday morning June 21st because he was blocking the street I guess. He must’ve been on drugs though because most people understand that sidewalk in front of the Laylow is kind of a loading area that is unmarked.

Overall disappointed with the stay. If the price point was less it would be fine. The pool is subpar, there was no jacuzzi at the time I was there. The gym is barely functional but you Can do what you need. And the food is okay. The best part is the bar and you can get coffee from there in the morning. AND THE FACT THEY DIDNT OFFER ANY KIND IF COMOENSATION FOR A BROKEN AC IS RIDICULOUS. Also, take pictures of your room Before you leave as I did & watch your card after you leave because they will try to charge the 500 room charge. I blocked my card and saw they tried to charge it and 2AM while they thought I was on the plane. I’m very glad I am respectful and mindful enough to take pictures just in case I had to dispute that. It’s really unfortunate this trip made me say “I don’t think I need to ever go to Oahu again” when I was actually really excited for this trip since it was my first time as an adult. Pictures below of how I put the towels in one pile and put all my trash in one place.. I can add the picture of me...