I have walked by this Courtyard by Marriott Waikiki Beach about a thousand times visiting various places along Kuhio Ave. Since I just finished a Kuhio Ave walking tour video I figure it’s about time I completed a full review.
If you want to be in the heart of it all in Waikiki and are not looking for a resort then put this hotel on your list. I know many visitors just want to get out, do activities on O’ahu, and need a clean, safe place to sleep at night.
Here is my experience staying here during the busy summer season.
Unique Features
This is not a resort by any means so keep that in mind, consider this more of a “home base” before launching out to do things.
I was surprised that this location had 9 hole putt-putt golf course, I didn’t use it and didn’t see anyone else using it but it was definitely unique in the heart of Waikiki.
Onsite laundry is probably not the “unique feature” you were thinking about but packing lighter, and keeping those swim suits clean and fresh is a simple request that is not so easy in Waikiki. There are a couple of public laundry locations but having one at the hotel is extra convenient.
Booking
I booked this directly through Marriott to get my points and elite night credits and recommend you do as well. If you are just looking for the cheapest rate I did find something a bit less on booking.com so double check. If the rate isn’t some special promotion don’t forget to ask Marriott for a rate match and get benefits from both sides of the aisle.
There is no resort fee at this location! Ye….Hold on, there is a $35/day destination fee instead. This covers the following – bike rental, GoPro rental, complimentary sunscreen, beach towels (they advertise them as sand-free, lol, I would hope so!), beach candy credit, and FiT classes at ‘Alohilani Resort & Spa.
My elite status was recognized, early check-in was given for 12:30pm, late check-out was offered for 2pm, and I got a one category room upgrade, nice!
Room
I ended up in room 801 which was a one-room category upgrade from what I booked and got me a simple corner room. I feel the Courtyard Waikiki delivered on their brand expectations with a clean and properly furnished room
A large bed, I think king sized, ample plugs and ports throughout the room, and everything that was supposed to work did. I enjoyed the small window at my desk, where I wrote this review, that looked down Kuhio Ave.
There was a small lanai that looked down on Kuhio Ave. but also had a unique perspective of the Ritz Carlton Waikiki, especially during sunset.
You can’t tell when looking at the hotel from Kuhio Ave but there are actually 2 towers here, if you want to be a bit removed from the street noise make sure to book the “back” tower.
Bathroom
Clean but very small, almost felt like I was in an airport micro-hotel, well not that bad. The Paul Mitchell bath products took me back a few years and overall everything worked as it should.
I was impressed with water pressure which some hotels just don’t seem to have, including some of the luxury brands. The stand-up shower though was so tight I could only wash my hair when facing a certain direction. All good in the end.
Dining at Courtyard by Marriott Waikiki Beach
When I checked in they offered me 500 points or a $10 onsite dining credit. Besides the snack area, I was a bit thrown off until they told me that the Kalo restaurant had the ability to charge back to the room, nice.
Ali’i Coffee Co. Waikiki
A great place to get a cup of coffee before starting your day in Waikiki or beyond. The coffee shop has a small seating area with tables and chairs but during the morning rush, they are all used for people waiting.
Open from 5:30am to 1:00pm daily.
Kalo Hawaiian Food by Chai’s (Closed)
This restaurant is now permanently closed.
I hope the replace this restaurant with a fun and unique concept because the location is central in Waikiki and offers some great people-watching opportunities. Will keep an eye on it and update as needed.
Kalo Hawaiian Food by Chef Chai is a fairly new restaurant in Waikiki that serves traditional Hawaiian cuisine with a modern twist. The restaurant is owned by Chef Chai Chaowasaree, a well-known chef in Hawaii who has won numerous awards for his cooking. I remember when he had his restaurant down in Aloha Tower.
The menu at Kalo features a variety of Hawaiian dishes, including kalua pork, laulau, poi, and poke. There are also a number of fusion dishes that combine Hawaiian ingredients with flavors from other cultures, such as the Chai Style Poke, which is made with a spicy Korean chili dressing.
The restaurant has a casual atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating. It is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Pool
There are actually 2 pools here, one is near the lobby and the other is at the back tower. The back tower pool is a warm salt water pool and from what I read it is also used for some spa treatments.
The main pool was in a nice area that had a hot tub, a waterfall feature, and lounge chairs. Perfect to cool off or work on your tan without having to walk to the beach. It’s behind the main building so most of the noise from Kuhio is blocked off.
They had a nice lemon water station with hand towels and sunscreen to keep you hydrated while lounging.
Parking at Courtyard by Marriott Waikiki Beach
Ahh parking in Waikiki.
We are a small state but we compete with the big boys when it comes to daily parking. The hoops I have seen visitors jump through to avoid a parking charge should be an article on its own.
The Courtyard by Marriott Waikiki Beach only has valet parking at $55 per day (update: 3 months later it is now $58 per day, Waikiki parking is just crazy) and as space gets tighter I see more locations going valet only.
You can’t turn left on the road that accesses the valet entrance from Kuhio Ave. (Royal Hawaiian Ave.), you will need to pass the hotel or turn left right before. If you turn left before the hotel it will be on Lewers St. and then right on Manukai St. and finally right on Royal Hawaiian Ave. If you pass the hotel on your left, turn left on Seaside Ave., then left on Manukai St., and finally left on Royal Hawaiian Ave.
You will see the sign on your right to enter the valet area, lots of one-way streets in Waikiki so take your time and don’t stress about taking the long way.
Fitness Center
The fitness center is tucked behind the pool and seemed to have all the basic covered with treadmills, ellipticals, free weights, and exercise balls. I checked twice during my stay and it was never too busy and always had fresh towels and water.
There is a spa located right behind the check-in desk and they offer a variety of massage and other services. I did not try them out but they seemed well presented and organized.
Business Center
Located right next to the snacks, nice, and near the main lobby reception area. Not an ideal area for quiet work with the water fill station nearby but hopefully you are just using it to print something up on the printer.
Final Thoughts
At this price point, I can only think of one other Marriott hotel in Waikiki that provides similar value, The Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, so I would compare the two if considering them.
I also forgot to mention that there is a classic souvenir store on the property that has every square inch loaded with nick-nacks and some cool cruiser bikes available for guests.
If you are looking for basic accommodations in Waikiki and plan to spend most of your time hitting all the best things to do on O’ahu then this is probably a hotel you should consider.
