Jul 25, 2010

Where to stay in Waikiki ~ Ilikai Hotel

Where to stay in Waikiki ~ Ilikai Hotel 

I have stayed in the Ilikai Hotel many times, and I like that you can also jump on a bus right out side the front, and be in Waikiki in minutes. I also like the Ilikai Hotel because it feels more like you are staying at a friend’s condo not a hotel. When I travel, I often feel burnt out on Hotels, so the Ilikai Hotel is a very nice change. If you are asking yourself Where to stay in Waikiki, the Ilikai Hotel is a great answer.

The Ilikai Hotel offer both a hotel, and has timeshare, if you are going to stay in Hawaii often, when I stated often I mean once a year, or maybe every other year, a timeshare at the Ilikai Hotel  is a great investment.  I know that Shell Vacation Property offers the timeshare at the Ilikai Hotel and you should take a tour, even if you do not stay at the Ilikai Hotel this time, you will want to stay here next time. 

Ilikai Hotel General description:

Ilikai Hotel

• The Ilikai Hotel Built in 1960, when it comes to size, the Ilikai Hotel is an impressive structure of 26 floors, located at the entrance of Waikiki. Common areas are ample and it is an overall comfortable hotel. Please keep in mind that this is an old hotel and despite renovations made over the years, its age shows “everywhere”.
  Units are spacious and the proximity to the ocean provides for the potential of excellent views. You need to remember that like most hotels, not all units have views but all have a balcony to set up some chairs and enjoy the Hawaiian weather.
  There have been some renovation talks on and off but nothing has been decided yet that will change the above description other than some cosmetic maintenance renovation to keep the hotel units in working order.
  In the Ilikai Hotel you have a mix of hotel operated rooms, private condos with permanent residents and vacation rentals. Please be advised that the hotel units are in better shape than most of the vacation rentals and this review is based on the units and facilities run by the hotel operation.

What we like about the Ilikai Hotel:

• Since the Ilikai Hotel was built a long time ago, the rooms tend to be more spacious than other Waikiki hotels of the same category.
• The Ilikai Hotel is one of the few 3 star hotels that besides the regular hotel rooms, it has a good number of 1 and 2 bedroom suites with kitchens.
• The Ilikai Hotel is in very close proximity to the Honolulu Convention Center, which makes it a good choice for travelers attending events there.
• The Ilikai Hotel is also within walking distance to the Ala Moana Shopping Center, which makes it a good choice for those shopping-oriented visitors since the Ala Moana Shopping Center is the largest one in the State of Hawaii.
• The Ilikai Hotel has very easy access in and out of Waikiki which makes it a good choice for people coming for work who do not need to be “in the middle” of Waikiki.
• The best part of the Waikiki Beach is in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village which is within walking distance to this Hotel (about 12 minute walk)
• This area is also the closest to the Ala Moana Beach Park (about 10 to 20 minutes walk). If you are planning to stay within Honolulu to go to the beach, Ala Moana Beach is one of the nicest ones, has free parking, 2 food stands, restrooms, showers and due to the shape of the coral reef in the area, it has no waves which makes it especially good for children, (nevertheless adult supervision is always advised since the water eventually does get deep!). Keep in mind however that this beach is very popular with the local population therefore on Saturdays and Sundays it can be quite crowded.

What you may not like about the Ilikai Hotel:

• The Ilikai Hotel has been marketed as a 3 or even a 4 star rating, we believe that most people looking for a 3 or 4 star hotel may be disappointed with it. If you decide to book this hotel, just in case you do not like it, you may want to make sure that you can cut your stay short (after the first night) without penalty.
• Those travelers who are looking for 3+ star rating hotels tend to want to be closer to the beach, this hotel is close to the water but be warned that what you have close by is a marina and not a beach, the closest beach is a good 12 minute walk from this property.
• The rates at the Ilikai Hotel tend to be higher than other Waikiki hotels of the same quality, especially when you consider how far it is from the center.
• A great deal of money has been spent to keep this hotel in good shape but it is a fairly old building and in some areas it shows.
• As the Ilikai Hotel is at the beginning of Waikiki, the hotel is approximately 15 to 20 minutes walking distance from the centralized area. In order to experience the awe and splendor of the city of Waikiki one would have to travel either by foot, taxi or the city bus to access the main attractions, shops and eateries.