The Ambassador Hotel of Waikiki, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

After the rate mix-up was fixed, my family and I had a great stay at the Ambassador Hotel by Hilton. The room was spacious enough for my wife, our two kids, and our dog, with a great view and a nice wraparound balcony. We enjoyed the food and the live music on Friday and Saturday nights. I’d absolutely recommend the hotel to our military friends. There was a rough start: corporate upgraded my room without asking, raising the rate from the military rate of around $225 per night to about $550, far above my per diem. The hotel manager, Heeh, stepped in and sorted out the mess corporate had caused. I really appreciated that.

The staff are what set the Ambassador Hotel apart. During our 60-day stay, everyone from valet and front desk to housekeeping and security was kind and willing to make things comfortable. They truly embodied the aloha spirit. My husband, golden retriever, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. The location is hard to beat. We could walk around Waikīkī and to Ala Moana, and the park across the street was perfect for the dog’s potty breaks. The attached restaurant gives hotel guests a 15% discount, and worked well for morning coffee or a nightcap. I HIGHLY recommend staying here.

The family suite worked well for us, with a kids’ bunk room, a king bed for us next door, and two bathrooms. Rooms were modern, lovely, and had comfortable beds and pillows. The concierge was helpful and kindly allowed early check-in when my son had been airsick all the way from Australia. We enjoyed the pool, and the hotel provides reusable water bottles to fill with ice and water each day. There’s a Hui carshare facility in the back parking lot, which we used twice and found very convenient. Housekeeping was the odd part. They never refilled our soap, shampoo, or conditioner, even though I asked every day and was told they’d do it while we were out sightseeing. I’d have expected it when they came to straighten up the rooms. The hotel is near Fort de Russy beach and park, with trolley and bus stops right outside. I’d highly recommend it.

We ended up in the smaller room after accidentally booking the wrong one. The hotel tried to move us but had no availability. It was cute and cozy, with comfortable beds and enough space to unpack our things. My suggestions would be a better coffee setup, since the coffee was weak, and a better hair dryer. Ours worked poorly and sometimes started smoking, so I barely used it. The manager/director Earl was very kind and accommodating. We lost a vacation day to travel delays, and the hotel added a free extra day to make up for it. Staff were helpful and kind throughout. The location worked for us because we like walking and there are lots of stores around, though the beach is about a 10 to 15 minute walk. It’s an older building with a modern facelift. The hallways still feel like a vintage motel, but that wasn’t a big deal since you don’t spend much time there. We loved the pool vibe and really enjoyed our stay at the Ambassador Hotel of Waikiki.