Oahu is probably my favorite Hawaiian Island, but Waikiki is undoubtedly my least favorite part of Oahu. However, it’s tough to avoid when trying to use points and many people love its unique “Hawaiian Vegas” appeal.
My wife had a conference last year in Honolulu, and one of the shuttles to the convention center picked up right in front of the Hyatt Regency (HR). Like many US HRs, I’d heard that this one was showing its age, but cash rates were pretty good (and actually within her per diem), so we decided to give it a shot…and were both pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed our stay.
Hyatt Regency Waikiki Bottom Line Review
The Hyatt Regency has a great location in Waikiki, across from the beach on Kalakaua Ave. The hotel itself is a fairly unremarkable Hyatt Regency and is an older property that’s showing some wear. However, the standard rooms are spacious, the ocean views are lovely and the award price is good most of the time…especially when compared to its neighbors. All-in-all, the Hyatt Regency Waikiki is an appealing option, especially given the location. Thumbs Up
- Price: The hotel is a Hyatt Category 5 and costs 17K/20K/23K points per night depending on whether it’s at off-peak, standard or peak pricing. Since my wife was there for work, we paid $239 per night (or ~$280/night including taxes/fees) by using my Hyatt Leverage code. The regular member rate would have been closer to $350 while the award price would have been 20K/night.
- Value: Paying less than $300/night for a full-service hotel right on Waikiki Beach was a great deal during our dates. The award price was 20K and, when compared to the member rate, was just above our value for the average redemption of Hyatt points of 1.7 cents each. This is one of those Hyatt properties that often seems to hover above two cents per point, making it an excellent value.
- Location: The hotel is located smack dab on Waikiki Beach, just across Kalakaua Ave. It’s walking distance to essentially anywhere in Waikiki. Central Honolulu (where most of our favorite restaurants are) is a fairly cheap Uber/Lyft ride away.
- Room: We booked a standard room with one king and were proactively upgraded to a nice ~435sq ft, ocean view king room, which we both enjoyed quite a bit. The size of both the room and bathroom were great, and the ocean view balcony was a terrific place to work during the day and then watch the sunset from before going for dinner.
- Parking: Not cheap. Valet is $70+tax per day, while self-parking is $60+tax. It can be possible to find free parking within a 5-10 minute walk on the side streets between Ala Wai Blvd and Kuhio Ave and closer to Honolulu Zoo. If you find a spot make certain to read the signs so that you don’t park illegally. There’s cheaper paid parking near the marina, but that’s also a longer walk to the hotel.
- Resort/Destination Fee: $49+tax. Includes:
- Two re-useable water bottles
- One re-useable tote bag
- Biki Bike bicycle ride sharing service ($4 per person credit, two people maximum, one time credit)
- Discounted surfing lessons and rental of beach equipment from Billabong
- Resort interactive cultural activities ( lei making, hula lessons, ukulele lessons)
- Gopro usage
- Use of beach amenities and chairs
- Use of beach toys for children
- Long distance and international calls up to 60 minutes per day
- Unlimited local and 1-800 calls
- Sunrise Yoga Classes
- Blue Hawaiian Retail Credit of $25 with a Blue Hawaiian helicopter tour booking
- Internet: Excellent inside the hotel, restaurants and lounge.
- Service: Absolutely nothing about the service was exceptional…either for good or for bad. This is a massive hotel with over 1,200 rooms and the staff efficiently manages the masses – just don’t expect a heaping plate of aloha.
- Turndown service: Nightly.
- Dining:
- Na Lei Aloha Luau: The hotel offers a luau daily between 5:30 and 8:00 PM. Prices start at $179 for adults or $99 for children and a sample menu can be seen here.
- SHOR/The Buffet at Hyatt: Buffet restaurant located in an open-air space that overlooks Kalakaua Ave and Waikiki Beach. It’s confusingly called “SHOR” for breakfast and the “The Buffet at Hyatt” at dinner. Breakfast is served from 6am-11am and is currently $42.99 for adults while dinner is between 5:30 and 9:30 and is $84. In both cases, it’s 50% off for children 6-12 and free for kids 5 or under. There’s live music on Friday nights.
- SWIM: All-day a la carte restaurant located on the opposite side of the pool from SHOR. Breakfast is served from 7-11am and then the same menu is served for both lunch and dinner until 10pm. There’s live music nightly and a happy hour from 4-6pm when drinks actually approach the (still expensive) prices found outside the hotel.
- Spa: Located on the 5th floor with a beautiful view of Waikiki, the Na Ho’ola Spa is open from 9am-5pm daily offering a broad menu of massages and treatments.
- Fitness Room: There’s a decent-sized fitness center on the lobby level with copious cardio machines, some weightlifting equipment and an area for stretching and yoga.
- Hyatt Globalist Benefits:
- Room Upgrade: We booked a standard room with one king and were proactively upgraded to a nice ~435sq ft, ocean view king room.
- Free Breakfast: Served at the beach-view Regency Club, which is open from 6am-9pm serving a progression of breakfast, snacks, evening hors d’oeuvres and desserts. Drinks can be had between 5pm and 9pm. The breakfast wasn’t anything exciting, but there were a couple of rotating hot dishes daily and it was enough for a full meal.
- Club Lounge: The Regency Club here is sizeable, and has a terrific wraparound outdoor lanai…and it needs it because, man does it get busy. It’s open from 6am-9pm and serves a progression of breakfast, snacks, evening hors d’oeuvres and desserts. Drinks can be had between 5pm and 9pm. There’s one major drawback: the birds that hang out above the lanai looking for a free brunch are aggressive. Any food, plates or cups left alone for even seconds will immediately draw an avian crowd. During breakfast, the staff walk around with batons that they beat the railings with in an attempt to scare the birds away. Like most folks, the birds tend to disperse after breakfast ends.
- Late Checkout: We were automatically given a 4pm checkout.
- Welcome Amenity: A box of chocolate-covered macadamia nuts.
- Would I stay again? Absolutely, for where it is, it’s a comfortable hotel and a good value on points.
Pros
- Great water vistas from the ocean view rooms.
- Standard rooms are quite spacious.
- Superb location across from the beach, within walking distance of hundreds of restaurants, bars and shopping in Waikiki.
- Decent (and open) Regency Club with a spacious, water view lanai.
- Good elite recognition.
Cons
- The property is showing its age and is a bit dated.
- It’s a 1200-room property and busy. There’s nothing intimate or personal here.
- The birds stalking the club lounge lanai and swooping in at the smallest opening have to be seen to be believed.
Image Gallery
Hyatt Regency Waikiki King Ocean View Room
Hyatt Regency Waikiki Regency Club
Hyatt Regency Waikiki Pool Area
Hyatt Regency Waikiki Fitness Area and Grounds
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Pretty much a “spot on” review. I stay here every other week for work. Yes, the elevators sometimes get crowded (especially when the escalators are being repaired), but the staff are super friendly and service is generally pretty good. The lounge and valet staff are excellent IMO. I’ve never not received a late check out or an upgraded room.
The only real compliant I have is their just plain awful self-park garage. I gave up on that effort long ago. I now just “bite the bullet” and use the valet.
Hi Tim, what makes Oahu your fav island in the state?
This property is an overcrowded dump. When I was there I called the Globalist line and begged to cancel the weeks stay. Then I went to the Ritz Carlton and had a wonderful stay.
turn down service? You must have lucked out. This globalist hasn’t received turn down service there in years and I stay there every year or two.
I love Hyatt, but I also don’t love Waikiki. I wish there were more options around the island to stay on points. I really love Kailua beach, but there’s nowhere to stay in that area.
Great review. I stay here 7-8 times a year for work (usually 4-6 days at a time) and I agree with everything you wrote. My only complaints are the exorbitant rates for parking (even on my expense account I try to avoid it because its ridiculous…I miss Covid when they made parking free for Globalists at this property)…and essentially every single time I’ve stayed here over the past 3 years or so I have to fight for a 4p checkout, usually having to move rooms on the last day, its a huge pain.
I assume as a Globalist, you also didn’t pay the resort fees.
Hmm. Is there any particular reason why Waikiki is your least favorite place of Oahu?
IMO Waikiki is better than Honolulu China Town (or other sketchy places of the island)
I agree! Waikiki beach is one of the best for families. The beach has a huge breakwater, so small waves. It always has lifeguards! I have lost count of my trips to Hawaii and I always include a stay in Waikiki. It’s easier to get award flights to HNL then the other islands. Interisland flights are inexpensive. I could go on and on…
I’ve stayed there twice. Both times were great. Location is hard to beat at the price charged.
One time, and I don’t know how it happened or why, but we were treated like celebrities.
I was contacted ahead of time and asked if we needed anything upon arrival. I casually mentioned a “ride from the airport?” They picked us up.
Upon arrival, they had leis waiting.
I had mentioned that we were returning after honey mooning there and could we possible get the same room that we had so many years ago. I emailed them a picture of my wife standing on the balcony with Diamond Head in the background so they could get an idea where we had originally stayed. Upon arrival in the room, we were greeted by that same picture I had emailed to them, sitting on the dresser , printed out and framed!
And I ran into the person who was responsible for all this and she asked how things were going and I said great and thanks so much. She asked if there was anything else we needed. “A ride to the airport?” One was waiting for us upon departure! I have no idea if they got us confused with someone else, or this individual who was responsible for all this was new or what. But it sure was fun.
The only negative we found was that were were staying on higher floor and it seemed like it took forever for the elevator to get to the ground floor. There were even times that we had to prevent people from trying to crowd in from the lower floors. I guess they are used to being packed into their trains and subways. 😉
We visit regularly, now we even live Waikiki. Spot on review. The coffee machines in the Club have been greatly improved-major plus. Your room really affects your impression of the hotel. Get at least partial ocean view. We prefer the Diamond Head Tower.
*love Waikiki