Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa
After we picked up our luggage at the carousel, our daughter picked us up at arrivals area of Honolulu International Airport. After a 30 minute drive we pulled up to the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa. As I mentioned before, we’ve stayed at this property many times and made it our home when visiting family in Honolulu.
Introduction: Honolulu for Spring Break
Review: Hyatt Regency Santa Clara
Review: The Club at SJC
Review: Alaska Airlines Hawaiian Islands Coach San Jose to Honolulu (and back)
Review: Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa
Thoughts on Honolulu
Review: American Airlines Admirals Club / JAL Sakura Lounge – Honolulu
Review: Delta Sky Club Honolulu
The two imposing Hyatt Regency towers
Pull up valet
Escalator up to check-in
Major rehab of the Hotel was taking place during our visit
Reception Area
Front desk area
Room locations
With a little effort we made our way to the Hyatt elite check in area. The associate who checked us in, Melody, couldn’t have been sweeter. She acknowledged our diamond status, and then really took care of us over our 4 day stay. After our check-in she emailed us numerous times to confirm everything was to our satisfaction. It’s really high level touch and a job well done by Melody and Hyatt. Susan elected to take the in room amenity and let me select the chardonnay as a beverage. Our room was assigned as 3759, ocean front, and we took our keys and proceeded to the elevators.
Diamond benefits sheet
Welcome amenity
Up to floor 37
Floor 37 golden elevators
Down to 3759
The shape of the room is mostly a deep rectangle, with an angle slicing one of the inside walls. It’s spacious and roomy – this is only a guess but my estimate is 250sqft +. It’s decorated in soft ocean blue and natural woods for the furniture. There is a king bed and nightstands, elongated desk/TV console, and sitting chair.
King bed and night stands
Room entrance
TV console
Desk
Chair
Rollaway one night
Floor map
Delivered amenity
The bathroom is a medium sized single sink vanity next to an open closet. To the left is a tub/shower and commode private room. The bath amenities are by Na Ho’ola and have a decidedly Hawaiian feel to them. Thin robs that are easy to wear are included with the room.
Sink vanity
Closet to the right
Shower and commode room to the left
Bathroom amenities by Na Ha’ola
When considering just the 4 walls, carpet, and furniture its an ok and average space. Average, until you look at the slider and outdoor balcony.
The balcony looks directly out to the pacific ocean in a south westerly direction. Sunsets are beautiful and during the day you can gaze at all manor of sea going objects from surfers, to sailboats, to large vessels on the horizon. Stepping onto the balcony there is small table and 2 chairs, as well as views of Waikiki beach left, right and below. It’s a beautiful little space to relax on, and certainly the highlight of the room.
Look out through slider
2 chairs and triangular table
Looking right and up Waikiki
Looking left and down Waikiki
Beach area below
Evening sunsets
Having Diamond membership is the Hyatt Gold Passport programs allows you full access to the Regency Club lounge in the hotel. Regency Clubs can vary from Hyatt Regency to Hyatt Regency and generally speaking the ones overseas are nicer than the one in the US. The Regency Club at this hotel was a well setup operation and generally higher quality than at Hyatt’s on the mainland 48.
Located on the 3rd floor from the elevators you walk past the hotel’s SHOR restaurant to enter the Regency Club. In the morning the SHOR is setup as a buffet restaurant and seems to cater to large tour groups as it would normally just be a mob.
Once you enter the lounge you’re greeted by an associate at a small desk at the door. There is no checking of membership as they use the electronic key for the verification method of access. Once inside the lounge it is a large mostly square shaped space. To your immediate left are the sideboards and food presentation area, to the right is a small computer station for guests. The club has lots of daylight and is encased by two walls of floor to ceiling windows.
The main space opens out to an outdoor lanai with tables, seating and fire pits in the evening. This outdoor section sports impressive views looking over the Waikiki Beach and the Pacific. In the morning it’s shaded and very a popular location for enjoying breakfast. Both the morning and evening meal services where complete affairs with the club offering a nice assortment of food and beverage items. The associates working the lounge are VERY service and customer oriented (this is true of the entire property). It’s always a joy to interact with them during visits to the lounge.
Regency Club Lounge details
Entry into Regency Club room past busy SHOR restaurant
Looking back through SHOR restaurant
Inside Regency Club Lounge
Computer station
Additional seating
Main sidetable between serving times
Outdoor lanai
Side lanai facing city
Side lanai facing ocean
Main Regency Club lanai view
Evening bread table
Evening cheese table
Evening salad table
Evening veggies
Evening soup and hot items
Breakfast pastries
Breakfast cold cuts
Morning fruit
The hotel has a small indoor business center, as well as an decent sized indoor gym. Both are located on the 3rd floor.
Barely used indoor business center
Workout facilities close to 3rd floor pool facilities
Weight area
The Hyatt Regency Waikiki has a large outdoor pool desk on the 3rd floor. Most days it was pretty busy, we were visiting during spring break, but it’s spacious enough that seating was always available. The pool deck area looks over the beach and ocean. Next to the pool there is a restaurant called Swim where you can order medium fair, hamburgers, appetizers and such. There is also an elevated hot tub and for rent cabanas that are close to the view side of the deck. The rate at the cabana was $50 for half day which we thought was reasonable. You can checkout folding chairs and towels for use at the beach.
3rd floor pool area
Lounge chair area
Views toward the ocean
Raised hot tub area
In Summary:
Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa has become our standard spot in Honolulu when visiting our family. We are Hyatt loyalist and it’s difficult not to take advantage of the stay credit and extra treatment as Diamond members.
The hotel building and architecture is dated as it was originally built in 1976. The rooms, although updated, can’t get away from this original design geometry. If you can get past these items the hotel is a wonderful place to stay. During the last couple years almost all of the rooms have been modernized and refreshed. As you saw with my photo’s they’re doing that with the lobby and common areas now. The hotel staff is simply wonderful and you can expect professional and friendly treatment from this group.
The location is terrific. Many people would categorize Waikiki as touristy and no doubt it is. But it has also has it’s own unique culture, history, and local vibe. There’s a lot to do here. It’s also centrally located enough to visit the rest of the Honolulu, or Oahu itself.
If you planning on staying in the Honolulu area, or Waikiki in particular, Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa is a solid and easy choice.