Marriott's Ko'Olina Beach Club

We found the location a good balance: well away from Waikiki’s crowds, but close enough to shops, restaurants, and highways that the rest of the island didn’t feel out of reach. One of my favorite things was the path linking the lagoons. A sunset walk there is breathtaking, and Oahu’s west coast sunsets are hard to beat. The lagoon water was a little too calm for my older kids, who wanted more action, but it’s ideal for younger children who need gentler water. The pools look stunning, though we especially enjoyed unwinding in the hot tubs after exploring. The resort grounds were immaculate, with workers out each morning keeping every detail in shape. Everyone we met was friendly and helpful, so the whole trip felt easy. Our family room was spacious and comfortable, with cozy beds that made for good sleep. My wife especially liked the high-end Malie Organics bath products. A full kitchen and the outdoor community grills made it easy to cook and relax together instead of eating out every meal. We had an unforgettable stay at the Marriott Ko Olina Beach Club and will be back on our next Oahu trip.

The room was large and comfortable, and the whole resort is very well maintained. We had a great stay in a two-bedroom unit with a fully equipped kitchen. The beach is calm and lovely, with quite a few free chairs, though an umbrella costs extra. There are free loungers and some shade by the pool, and the free toboggan was a hit. We bought food at Costco and cooked instead of trying the restaurants. The resort also has complimentary BBQ areas. My main gripes are the lack of an affordable meal plan and the $45 nightly parking charge. Still, it was a great stay.

The resort is gorgeous, but it’s a 30-40 minute drive from Honolulu. We drove back about half the days for scuba diving and other activities. Since we visited over the holidays, we only hit the famously bad traffic once, but that time it took 30 minutes to go three miles. If you’re planning an active trip, expect to spend time in the car. If you’re happy staying at the resort, that’s less of an issue. Things close early and there’s little nightlife nearby, so it’s very much a family place. For a party scene, Waikiki would suit better. Ko Olina is a small resort community with Marriott, Disney, and Four Seasons, plus empty lots that could mean more resorts later. The west coast here is rocky, so the four sandy beaches sit in man-made lagoons. A pretty, short path connects the resorts and gets plenty of use as an exercise trail. You can also walk to a small shopping area with a few stores and restaurants, including a very upscale ABC store. Our two-bedroom villa was huge. One bedroom had two twin beds, which worked well for us, two adults and two teens who were adult-sized. There was laundry equipment and detergent in the room, something I wish I’d known before packing. The full kitchen and clean grilling tools by the bank of grills were great, especially since the on-site restaurants and bar were expensive and the food only okay. We tried a few activities and enjoyed the cornhole and poker tournaments. There isn’t a huge selection, and events fill up, so make reservations early if you want to join. I appreciated that staff enforce the pool-chair reservation policy. Even at full occupancy over Christmas and New Year, we could always find chairs. We loved our week at the Marriott Beach Club Ko Olina. I took off a star for service because our room wasn’t ready at check-in, then I had to argue for a slightly later checkout. It seemed fair to make up for the lost time at the start, and they eventually agreed. This is a timeshare property and you’ll be encouraged to attend a presentation. We skipped it and that was fine, though the beautiful property did make me think twice about buying in.

The peaceful surroundings, lovely ocean views, and calm, beautiful lagoons made this feel like a dream. Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club is clean, beautifully maintained, and a real escape. The staff were warm and helpful, which made the stay even more special. It was one of my most memorable experiences in Hawaii. I’ll definitely return and highly recommend it.