Beach Villas at Ko Olina

The Beach Tower villas were a little larger and more private, with an easier walk to the beach, wading pools, hot tubs, and the small Tikki Bar by the lagoon. That tower has two elevators serving all its villas. In the Ocean Tower, figuring out which of the eight elevators reaches your villa can be a challenge, even when you know the floor. We rented a three-bedroom in the Beach Tower and one in the Ocean Tower. Check-in can be hit or miss in either building since each villa is separately owned and operated.

The villa had everything we needed for the week, from cookware and kitchen utensils to beach chairs and boogie boards. It also came with a washer and dryer, and even detergent, so we didn’t lack for anything. My family and I loved staying at Ko Olina Beach Villas. The calm lagoon right by the beach felt beautiful and safe for swimming and relaxing, without worrying about sharks or other creatures. The staff were so friendly and made us feel at home. We’d come back to Hawaii just to stay here again. It made our vacation unforgettable.

The lagoon is a lovely place to catch the sunset, and the walkway lets you stroll past the Disney resort to the Four Seasons, or the other way. Sunrise is on the other side, but there can still be nice colors in the sky, and morning yoga is a nice reason to get up early. The property has plenty of activities, including sunrise yoga, other yoga, and Pilates, though they aren’t all aimed at little kids. There was a movie that the younger kids seemed to enjoy. The three hot tubs have different rules about kids: one allows them, another doesn’t. The pool area and beach are the resort’s strong points. Its beach is dedicated to the resort instead of shared with other properties, though the four lagoons are clearly manufactured and look alike. It’s pleasant, but not the open-ocean Oahu beach experience you might picture. You can drive north to other beaches, but expect to see a lot of homeless people hanging out there. This isn’t Waikiki. The standard rooms booked outside the vacation club are decent in size and have refrigerators, though the views feel cramped. I wouldn’t bother with a room upgrade; I didn’t find one worthwhile. Penthouse rooms cost only a bit more, and since they’re just top-floor rooms with higher ceilings, that may be the best deal for the small increase. This is a pretty isolated spot. Without a car, the experience is more like a vacation club stay than seeing Oahu. Early check-in and late checkout are unlikely. I managed to get an extra half hour, until 10:30 instead of 10. The good thing is that you can request a key card to keep using the facilities afterward, and your car can remain in the parking lot so you can come and go. There are lockers and showers too, which makes it easier to use that last day before a flight or while waiting to check into another hotel.

Not much of a romantic getaway, and it doesn’t have a luxury feel. The rooms are mediocre and dated, and the staff didn’t seem happy. I can see it being fun for families with kids, though.