Location: This almost-new 38-floor, 307-room luxury resort is few streets back from Waikiki Beach behind Tiffany and Co. A new concept for the Ritz-Carlton brand, all the residences are privately owned but the majority are rented back to the resort as hotel rooms. A second tower is under construction, due for completion next year. Once this is open there will be more than 500 rooms on the property, making it the largest Ritz-Carlton in the world.
Check-in experience: In the water-inspired arrival court at street level guests are greeted with an orchid lei and escorted to the touch-screen pad that operates the elevator. There are no buttons inside the lifts — once you have your room card, they're all operated from these external pads. Once I reached the fragrant lobby, I was quickly checked in and given a quick tour.
Room: A Deluxe One-Bedroom Suite, with a sofa bed and generous floor-to-ceiling lanai (balcony). In fact, the entire suite was very generous — with a desk, two huge smart TVs (with Netflix buttons on their remotes — you have to sign in with your own password), a dining table for four, a large well-equipped kitchen with premium appliances and a washer and dryer. The property also has studios, two- and three-bedroom suites, a two-storey four-bed, five-bathroom suite, and penthouses available. All rooms face the ocean.
Price: Studio rooms start from US$599 a night. That 4-bedder will set you back US$12,000.
Is there anything bad about this place? It's not beachfront, which can be good or bad depending on your preference. You have only to walk about five or so minutes to get to the water.
