Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Guam

We had a great five-night stay in mid-February with our three kids, ages 10 to 19. Construction was happening, but it didn’t get in our way. We could swim and snorkel at the beach, though there was nowhere to rinse off afterward. The wave pool wasn’t running while we were there because a part was being flown in. The kids were disappointed at first, but they could still swim in it and were fine. We also liked playing ping pong downstairs while doing laundry, and the hotel shop was handy for basics. The water park was a big hit, especially the lazy river, where we spent most of our time. It never felt crowded: there were plenty of tubes and no line for the slides. The hot tub was properly hot, and having a covered pool was nice when we wanted a break from the sun. The staff there were very friendly. We got bitten by bugs, so bring spray. The roaming chickens were cute, too. We named them and looked forward to seeing them each day. One especially loud one, Gerald, woke us up most mornings, even on the 20th floor, but we didn’t mind. A couple of small things could be better. At happy hour, we couldn’t take our already-open sodas with us when we left to catch the Chamorro cultural show at the water park, so we had to throw them out. I understand the rule for alcohol, but tossing soda seemed wasteful. We only went once since we don’t drink and didn’t find it worth the time. More food choices by the pool would help, too. The kids wanted to spend most of their time there, but nearby food options are limited as well. Our main frustration came when we wanted to extend our stay. The price they quoted was more than double what we’d paid per day, even higher than the online rate. Booking online meant checking out at 10, maybe leaving bags at the desk, then checking in again at 4, even for the same room type. That felt like a missed chance to keep guests who were enjoying the resort. We went somewhere else, which was disappointing. The airport shuttle schedule didn’t cover every flight. We had to pay for a Stroll car when the Honolulu flight arrived, though there was a shuttle for our afternoon departure. The posted times meant it wasn’t a surprise, but I hope they can cover more flights in the future. None of these issues spoiled our vacation. We had a wonderful time and hope to come back. Thanks to everyone who made it memorable!