Ewa Hotel Waikiki

Tracey checked me in and made the whole arrival pleasant and easy. I recognized him from my last stay. This was my second time at the hotel and my tenth time in the area, and I like this place a lot. The location is good and the room is fairly priced for what you get. I'd definitely recommend it.

The location and price are hard to beat, so I'm definitely coming back. I'm pleased overall and would recommend it if you're on a budget, even though I was tempted to give it fewer stars. The room was big enough, the towels were clean, the shower was good, and the WiFi worked. There's a kitchenette and a decent-sized fridge. Parking is about $40. The AC wasn't in excellent condition, but I didn't need it. I suspect you might need it if you're on the 6th or 7th floor. There were a few small insects here and there, perhaps because people eat in the room or leave the window open.

The biggest issue was a mandatory $24.93 amenity fee that wasn't listed when I booked. If I'd known about it, I would've spent the money on a much nicer hotel. It covered the in-room safe, WiFi that didn't work, and one adult museum admission. For a place of this caliber to spring a mandatory hidden fee on guests felt outrageous. I knew I was booking a rough budget hotel, but I didn't expect the room to be this bad. It was spacious and fairly clean, except for a clump of loose hair on the shower's back wall, apparently left by a previous guest. The room smelled musty, and the walls were paper-thin. I heard people arguing and coughing all night. The bed was uncomfortable, and I tossed and turned with hip pain because I sleep on my side. As another reviewer said, don't try to save money like I did. Spend it on a better hotel.

We enjoyed our stay. It's a simple hotel rather than a fancy one, but things worked well and the staff were welcoming. They always had fresh towels for us. The location is very close to the ocean, and the price makes it great value for money. Free luggage storage before check-in and after check-out was a big help, since we could enjoy the beach without worrying about our bags. It's a good, affordable, convenient option in Waikiki.