Hotel Review: Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk

We were invited guests of the Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk on this trip. The hotel did not require that I express a particular point of view, and I always strive to present a fair and balanced review regardless of who is paying the bill.

When I heard that we'd be staying at the Embassy Suites in Waikiki, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Afterall, the classic Embassy suites, a tower built around an interior courtyard pool, doesn't make a lot of sense in Hawaii.

The kids relax in the lobby of the Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk

From the moment you drive up and enter the indoor-outdoor lobby, you know that this Embassy Suites property has been reinterpreted to work in Waikiki. Two tall towers are connected by a huge patio with an outdoor pool, a dining area, and a lanai.

Pool at the Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk

One and two bedroom suites are available (there are no "studio" rooms). We like to stay in suites hotels when we travel, the extra room lets us either split up kids who are preventing one another from going to sleep and gives us a place to work or read in the evenings after the kids are asleep. In the morning, early risers can play in the living room while late sleepers doze in the bedroom. A good suites property gives you the benefit of two separate hotel rooms without the expense.

Breakfast is included in the room rate, just as it is at every Embassy Suites property, and this one includes fresh fruit, made to order omelets, Japanese items like miso soup and fish, pastry, and of course POG juice (pineapple-orange-guava).

Fresh fruit at the Embassy Suites breakfast buffet

Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk breakfast buffet

One of our favorite tricks is to bring the earliest riser down for breakfast so that he or she doesn't wake up the other kids, and the Embassy Suites outdoor Lanai worked especially nicely because there was so much space to run after breakfast was finished!

I don't have to tell you what the kids favorite thing was, though, do I? This pool isn't the sprawling affair that you would find in more remote parts of the island, but the kids loved the shallow splash pool and the not-too-deep main pool. There's enough shade in the late afternoon to swim here without being overly obsessive about sunscreen.

The kids enjoy the afternoon shade and the pool at the Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk

In the early evening, we walked the block to the beach and played in the sand as the sun set.

Father and Son enjoy the sunset on Waikiki Beach

Our room was decorated in a light, airy style, and everything was very clean and modern feeling. The bedroom fit our two queen beds and had it's own small lanai. The living room had plenty of space for a sofa, a dining table (which doubled as a desk), a wetbar. There was plenty of space for the kids to spread out their toys and play in the mornings or as we wound down for bed.

Eilan eats and runs at the Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk

1. Free Wi-Fi included
2. Breakfast included (high chairs available)
3. Poolside meals and room service available
4. ABC market across the street sells everything from sunscreen and aloha shirts to snacks and drinks
5. Wetbar, refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker in every room
6. Cribs at no additional cost
7. Bellhops have pool/beach toys to lend
8. No children's program
9. Evening manager's reception
10. Avoid 4th floor rooms which have lots of foot traffic to breakfast and the pool
11. Central location close to Royal Hawaiian Center, lots of restaurants
12. One and two bedroom suites available
13. One block to beach
14. This area is bustling at night and feels very safe to walk around. Related Links
    City Guide: Honolulu, Oahu with Kids
    

    Filed Under: hotel-reviews

    4 comments | Posted on October 5, 2010 | Save to del.icio.us
    
    

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    Comments

    1. Marina K. Villatoro on October 5, 2010 at 7:48 a.m.
       

       I think I would enjoy staying in this hotel.

    2. Lisa @ Oahu Mom on October 5, 2010 at 5 p.m.
       

       Living here, I know a lot about things to see and do but I don't know much about the hotels in Waikiki. There are so many and I've only stayed at a couple of them. This sounds like a good one to recommend to people, especially those wanting a suite.

    3. wandermom on October 7, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.
       

       Y'know you can get POG at QEC in Seattle right?
       And if you save up the tokens on the carton, you can send away for Poglodytes. Honestly. We have two. Something tells me that E + D will love them.
       Hugs,
       M

    4. Debbie on October 7, 2010 at 9:31 p.m.
       

       I've been shopping @ Central Market lately & they have every variety of Hawaiian juice! I'll have to watch for those tokens