I'm spoiled forever
Written: Feb 03 '07
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Service, staff, food, pool, amenities, all of it!
Cons: Complimentary dinner with package was a pre-set dinner with no substitutions.
The Bottom Line: If you visit Waikiki, you must stay at the Halekulani. You have never been pampered more or felt so important in your life.
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| cpalma's Full Review: Halekulani |
My husband surprised me with a trip to Hawaii for our 25th wedding anniversary. Our first stop was Waikiki and The Halekulani. I don't think I've ever been treated with such pampering in any trip I've ever taken.
We were picked up at the airport by limo (additional charge/arranged by the hotel). We weren't renting a car and the amount of money it costs to be picked up was negligible compared to taxi/car service. We were greeted at the airport by a driver holding our names up on a sign. We were then driven to The Halekulani.
Upon arrival the bellman welcomed us, took our bags and pointed us in the direction of the reception desk. We were greeted and directly escorted to our room. No filling out papers, waiting in line at reception or taking credit card information. We were checked in, in our room. The associate that check us in, couldn't have been nicer or more accomodating.
We were there on the "Romance Package". Our room faced the ocean and the Halekulani's beautiful pool. The room was large with a king sized bed and sitting area. There was a fruit tray and bottle of champagne with two champagne flutes with the Halekulani logo (orchid) etched on them, waiting for us. The champagne flutes were a gift for us to take home.
The bathroom had any amenity that you could need including shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash, q-tips, emory board, sewing kit, and washing suds (detergent for clothes). There was, as mentioned previouisly, a flashlight and scale, as well.
The bathroom in this room was larger than my bathroom at home. A large tub and a large seperate shower, with bench were white tiled. There was a large marble vanity, which housed the sink, with a small stool in front and it had a lighted makeup mirror on top. To the right of the vanity were shelves to hold all your personal toiletries. Also, there was access to the closet from the bathroom. If you opened the closet doors in the bathroom and bedroom simultaneously, you could see the ocean!
The balcony held 2 chairs with a round table between and a chaise lounge. Each evening you could look down and see and hear a trio of Hawaiian musicians, along with a Hawaiian dancer doing various hula dances.
Our "Romance Package" entitled us to buffet breakfast every morning, and 1 dinner at "Orchids". The buffet breakfast was wonderful and fresh every day. One problem with buffet breakfasts are the pancakes and waffles sit too long in warming trays and get dry or soggy. This was not the case here. The other plus with this buffet is they had a different specialty each day. One day it was coconut pancakes. The next, french toast with taro root (one of the specialties of the island). And did I mentioned the coconut syrup?? Wow! I asked if it was bottled and was informed that it was made daily by the chef! Shucks!!
There was a chef cooking eggs to order, along with various cereals and fresh fruit. Juice and coffee was brought to you by the waiter. If you got up to go to the buffet, by the time you returned to your table, your napkin was picked up and folded across your chair arm, waiting for you. The wait staff couldn't have been nicer. You had your choice of sitting outside at umbrella'd tables or inside.
There was a problem with sparrows (small birds) though, if you left food on your table they would swoop in and try to steal it. The wait staff did their best to shoo them away, but I think they've become very brazen in their attempts to eat your breakfast.
We decided to try surfing. Neither my husband or I had ever surfed before. We went to the concierge to inquire about surf lessons and she recommended a private lesson. We were met at the agreed upon time by "Ty" our instructor ($80pp/2 hours). After a short lesson on dry land, we were led out into the water. Let's just say, it was an experience and if anyone ever wants to take surf lessons, especially in Hawaii, at least make sure you know how to swim fairly well. Surfing is a grueling sport. You need to be strong and not afraid to crash into huge waves! We must have been at least 1 mile out into the ocean and the waves were at least 6 feet tall.
A word about the concierge at the Halekulani. We were taken care of by 2. Both were the sweetest women and always greeted us by name. They gave us directions, got us a rental car (we wound up getting one anyway) and even on departure got me bubble wrap to wrap my complimentary champagne flutes.
We took a day trip to Pearl Harbor. We were given written directions (pre-printed on a Halekulani business-type card). On one side it took us from the Halekulani to Pearl Harbor. Turn the card over it gave directions from Pearl Harbor to the Halekulani. Nice touch.
We also took a day trip to North Beach, to see the surfers and explore the island a bit. We were sent off by the bellman with towels and bottled water and directions Also a nice touch not having to "steal towels" from our room or stop at a convenience store for bottled water.
Each evening we returned to our room to find a "present" waiting for us. The first night was a small wooden magnet, with the Halekulani's Orchid carved into it. This was in a small velvet pouch and left on our, turned down bed. The next night it was a few recipe cards with some of the hotel's specialties, clipped by a recipe card holder (with the Orchid printed on it) and 2 bottles of Kalua and 2 small aperitif glasses. The third night, was a beautiful, perfect sea shell, wrapped in tissue in a box with a gold elastic bow around it. There were various fruit trays and I can't even remember everything. The turn down service complete with fresh towels each evening was a plus. We did partake in the Manager's Cocktail hour evening as well.
I'm not sure my words (and there are plenty) can even prepare you for this resort. I have never been so spoiled in my life. We left the Halekulani and went to Maui, San Francisco, Napa Valley and Arizona. Nothing compared and as I said in my topic title...I'm spoiled. Every vacation from here on in will always be compared to the Halekulani.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
cpalma
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Reviews written: 4
Trusted by: 0 members
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