Romer House Waikiki

The pool was so cold, and getting a drink there was a gamble: the bar was sometimes closed when it was meant to be open, and when we asked at 4:30, we were told service had stopped even though it closed at 5:00. We were directed to the downstairs bar, which opened at 5:00. Because the pool bar attendant was rude, we chose not to spend any money at the hotel. We won’t return or recommend it to family or friends. Our deluxe king room was small, with a little wardrobe, no drawers, and nowhere to store our suitcases. It was on the third floor at the front of the hotel, above the smoking area, so the noise made sitting on the balcony unpleasant. Our only view was of the hallways across the street and some apartments. The bathroom was tiny with no storage, and the towels wouldn’t dry. The hotel is no longer adults-only, though not every website has been updated. Check-in was slow, and they took a $100-per-night deposit, then used it for resort fees at checkout. That deposit felt ridiculous and unnecessary; they should just charge the resort fee. I would never stay here again.

Location is hard to beat, and the front desk team made my three-night solo break at Romer House feel like home. They greeted me by name and were warm and great with guests. The room was clean and comfortable, and breakfast was tasty and filling. I’d recommend the place and come back for another bit of me time.

I wish I’d listened to my instincts after seeing the mixed reviews. There were other hotels that looked much nicer and cost less, even without being on the beach. Live and learn. To me, this is definitely not a four-star hotel. It felt overpriced, with good marketing and very few amenities. The location is walkable, there’s a large shopping plaza about half a block away, and the area felt safe. The front desk staff were very nice and did their best in their jobs. But the rooms cost too much for their size and quality. The “pool” felt like a large, very cold spa, too short for laps and definitely not heated as advertised. The hotel hasn’t been adults-only since 8/25, which I discovered when I came across a toddler. Lanai kings have very small balconies over a busy side street, and that detail isn’t in the room descriptions. They seem made for just one person, and dumpster trucks woke me at 7:30 am. Housekeeping isn’t daily, which I wouldn’t expect at a four-star hotel. The gym is a 10 minute walk away, and beach equipment rental is another 10 minute walk. It looks nice superficially, but I noticed outlets that didn’t work, loud bathroom fans, and dark, depressing hallways. You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.

The location was excellent, and the staff were nice, but this hotel was a big no for me and put a damper on my Hawaii trip. It wasn’t completely horrible, but you get what you pay for. The rooms were tiny, smaller than any I’ve stayed in while traveling around the world. Housekeeping only came once, so we kept going to the front desk to ask for towels. Our room wasn’t as clean as I wanted and felt extremely dated. The pool bar was lackluster, and the manager wasn’t welcoming at all. There are better choices nearby. I wouldn’t recommend this hotel; I’d spend a little extra to stay somewhere nicer.