Waikiki Beach Condominiums — Hotel in Honolulu

Over the past 35 or so years, my husband and I have, individually or jointly, travelled to Waikiki some 10 or 11 times. In comparing this unit with the others we have used, this was the WORST condo rental experience we have ever had, here or almost anywhere else we have traveled. ||||Starting with being put into a “standard” unit when we had rented a “deluxe” model; to being told by the so-called manager that we were being “upgraded” (gee, thanks for giving us what we paid for!); to having to wait two days to get into it (they comped the days only AFTER I called them out on the error); to arriving at the new unit only to be told we’d have to wait another 12 hours to get into it (WHAT???), which took away another day of our getting-shorter-by-the-minute vacation; to, finally, landing in the unit only to find it was grossly substandard by all measures of reason. ||||Our "improved" unit was quite dirty (sand in the couch cushions, food smears in the fridge, carpets that turned our feet black, unwashed flatware and dishes, some with actual food still on them, stained face cloths and towels, and soap scum covering the “newly cleaned” sinks and tub); but, since we were provided no cleaning materials during our stay, we had to buy our own just to feel safe and comfortable (another day gone). The Internet, TV, and remote sporadically malfunctioned. The insulation and old-style metal louvered windows let in every sound possible, from the nightclub just below our unit to the drag racers that ran up and down nearby Kuhio St. all night long, to the garbage trucks that woke us at 5 am each morning. The sealed windows left the room hot, necessitating the round-the-clock use of the A/C (not so eco-friendly). The old rusty dryer left permanent burn marks on our clothes, so we just stopped using it. The pool deck was under construction for our whole stay, so we were treated to the sound of drills and hammers while trying to enjoy some moments of solitude. There were multiple flyers around the unit reminding us of all the draconian rules we had to follow, but not one that helped us to understand how things functioned. The closets were pre-crammed with unit items (such as extra beds we didn’t want or need), leaving us no room for our own things, like suitcases and shoes. The furniture was bulky and dated and, in many cases, marred or broken (no handles on the bottom drawers of our bedside tables!). And forget about the usual niceties that other condo associations provide, such as bath supplies like shampoo, kitchen basics like salt and pepper, liquid soap to hand wash dishes, or recreation and beach gear (not even suitable towels!).||||Aside from “Jeanie” the manager, who repeatedly lied to us and blamed her staff for the wrong unit debacle (called them “unprofessional” and “negligent”), the housekeeping and maintenance staff were friendly, responsive, and very accommodating. They are very likely underpaid, overworked, and underappreciated. ||||But, if none of this brothers you, then you can enjoy a spacious lanai overlooking the International Market, with peekaboo views of the ocean; a rooftop pool with sweeping views of the mountains and surrounding city, and that offers the chance to see glorious sunsets; free parking, which is a rarity in Waikiki; and spacious accommodations at a reasonable price. ||||Enjoy!...

Just left here after staying 4 nights in a one-bedroom condo. Overall, the place was just alright.

The worst thing by far was the "check-in process," or more accurately, the total lack thereof. I received no instructions on how to check in, arrived, and was met with only a locked front door. Someone exiting let me in, only for me to find no one at the receptionist's desk. I called the number on my booking, only for someone to answer with only her own name (no mention of the business) and give me instructions I couldn't hear. Shortly later we were told by a building security person that our room had been double booked, and we had to be moved somewhere else, where we were directed toward but couldn't get in without a key, so we had to find security again to let us in. It was all around a very stressful experience and we felt pretty helpless and lost.

Anyway, besides that:

Pros: Great location, very easy 5-minute walk to the beach and lots of shops and restaurants nearby Free parking, although the garage has a very low clearance. Our rental Jeep Wrangler would not fit, and it was a big hassle trying to work with them to find us somewhere else to park Full kitchen, with dishes, silverware, and cookware It seems that most views on high floors will be quite nice, either of the beach or the canal Washer and dryer in-unit

Cons: Air conditioning is just two tacky window units that are very loud Only one small TV awkwardly high up and far away, no TV in bedroom Our TV remote didn't work at all and we couldn't change channels The wifi just stopped working randomly The furniture is very outdated and there's simply too much of it, making for an awkward, cramped feeling The bed is incredibly firm. If you like firm beds, you're in luck, but for the rest of us, it's little different to sleeping on the floor The place seemed clean enough, but just generally pretty worn The washing machine works very poorly and may take several cycles to get clothes visibly clean...

We booked this last minute because a vacation rental didn't work out. The site we booked through didn't give a name, so all we knew was free parking and a kitchen in Waikiki. Expectation was pretty low for a last minute unknown, but WOW!||When we arrived I couldn't remember the check-in process so Rachel, the security guard, helped us settle in. ||I am all about the view, so I immediately opened the curtains and was greeted by a panorama of the Ala Wai canal and green golf course. We spent so much time on the lanai relaxing, eating and watching life below. I even sat out there for an online work meeting!||The inside of the condo was nicely decorated with granite counter tops and wood furniture. The bed was comfortable and there was plenty of room. We had the junior suite and it was more than fine for my husband and myself. The kitchen was in a separate space and had full size appliances, including a dishwasher. The dressing and bathroom area were large and had a washer and dryer. Oh, and there was air conditioning!||This place was so nice we invited our friend who lives locally over for dinner.||Jeannie in the home office was so kind and made accommodations for us. She was able to give us a later check out, which was nice with our 9pm flight.||She also let us look at the other units, including a one bedroom and ocean view. The one bedroom was very spacious and had alot of closet space. The ocean view was nice, but I prefer the canal/golf course. ||If you do want an expansive ocean view it is a short walk through the International Marketplace to the beach. The location for the price just can't be beat and free parking!||We have been to Oahu several times and each time I search for a beautiful view, great location, free parking and a kitchen for a reasonable price. Usually I have to make at least one concession, but now I will just return to Waikiki Beach...