Waikiki Garden Villa

AWFUL place! We booked from WA state and were sent the address and photos for one hotel, but when we arrived they said we’d be staying a mile away. That really disrupted our plans. The place we ended up in looked like a renovated parking garage in a much less desirable part of town. They don’t clean at all, and it isn’t part of the service, so I’m not sure what all the fees were for. At night, a car was parked about a foot from our door because the spaces were so tight. Parking was cash only at $30 a night, which didn’t seem legit. This felt like bait and switch.

I couldn’t stay at Waikiki Garden Villa because of the global COVID-19 crisis, but the management was incredibly understanding while I canceled. Their policy only offered a 50% refund for cancellations, yet they worked with Expedia, the agency I booked through, to give me a full refund. Once all this craziness dies down and I can finally get to Hawaii, I’ll definitely stay here.

The location is superb for getting around the city and shopping. Room 204 was nice, with a bathroom, kitchen, and king size bed, and the staff accommodated our requests. It’s more like an Airbnb than a hotel, so keep that in mind if you book. Check-in late at night was a bit bumpy, but the manager answered our call at 11:30pm and guided us in. I’d recommend it with those expectations.

I’d paid for five nights for a trip planned in early March 2020, but COVID meant travel wasn’t possible and everything was locked down. I asked whether I could get a refund or even credit to use when it was safe to return to Hawaii. They refused under their pre-pandemic policy and kept all the money. That felt really inconsiderate. I’d never book here again.