Luana Waikiki Hotel & Suites

The location is the one real plus, close to the beach, restaurants, and malls. But I was hit with a $200 amenity fee at check-in that hadn’t been disclosed when I booked, which felt like a rip-off. Housekeeping is only offered for stays over four nights, and not every day. The bathroom fan doesn’t work, so it stays damp after showers. The old tub and sink weren’t very clean. There’s no soundproofing, so hallway noise carries into the room, and loud construction was going on next door with no warning. The air conditioner made loud, sharp noises in the middle of the night and kept me awake much of the night. There’s no microwave, just a toaster oven. For the money, it felt like a $60-a-night motel in a good location.

It’s not too noisy, and the location is great, within walking distance of bus stops, Waikiki Beach, and Hilton village. The room is spacious, though some of the furniture is outdated. Service was good. I asked for replacement towels, and they cleaned my room.

The common areas are very nice and well kept, and the Monday, Wednesday, and Friday meet-and-greet with drinks, cheese, crackers, and traditional music is a sweet touch. Our suite had a complete kitchen, and the apartment-style setup was well stocked with the essentials. We loved the balcony views and the surrounding area. The hotel is about 10 minutes from the beach, with lots to see and visit on foot. It’s a bit old, and the room was quite dusty. The elevators were annoyingly slow, and I wouldn’t really recommend the pool for kids because it’s deep and slippery. The bathroom area by the pool smelled strongly of sewage.

Our suite gave us a useful extra living room and kitchen, though it wasn’t fully equipped. We brought salt and pepper, then bought foil and a cookie sheet to use the oven. The hotel is just outside Waikiki’s shopping district, about a block from the beach, with parks and green spaces nearby. The road out front is busy, but our room faced the back and was quiet. Staff were friendly and accommodating. Valet parking is convenient, but at $40 a day it’s expensive. Lots of people don’t rent cars when staying in Waikiki, but having one worked for us.