This is one of my absolute favorite hotels. One thing that most of the tour and guide books don't tell you is that many hotels throughout the state of Hawaii are very old. There is very little new construction because of the cost of importing materials. Call it good recycling.
The Hilton Hawaiian Village has done a good job of maintaining their older Towers (they have 5...not including the timeshare condos), and building new ones.
The Hilton Hawaiian is sprawled over 20 acres at the the end of Waikiki beach. The five towers are scattered throughout the property.
If you plan on spending your time primarily at the hotel, and on Waikiki beach, then I recommend the Rainbow Tower. It's the oldest, but it's right on the beach. If you can talk the desk into it, get a corner room high up, above the 19th floor. You get double balconies, one with Mountain-city views, and one with Diamond Head-ocean views. We opened both of our patio doors at night, and I swear it felt like we we were flying.
If you plan on hitting the shopping and the hustle and bustle of Waikiki/Honolulu, I recommend the Kalia Tower. It's the newest, being built less than 5 years ago. New bedding, fridge in the room, and the Hilton HHonors lounge is on the 25th floor. However, it is on the street side, so if you are looking for a real ocean view, this aint the Tower for you.
If you're a Silver, Gold or Diamond VIP in the HHonors program, you should get breakfast for you and anyone else in your room. The options they offer may vary depending on your Tower. If you are in the Rainbow Tower, you may get certificates for continental breakfast at the buffet.
If you are in the other Towers, it may be breakfast certificates or access to the Kalia lounge. For my money, opt for the lounge. They serve nearly all day. In the morning their is your standard continental breakfast fare, then about 10am they put out cookies and such. During the lunch hours it's finger sandwiches and light items until 5pm. I believe their is wine after 5pm.
If you are looking to save some money, you could get at least two meals out of the lounge for free.
Speaking of budget, if you are looking to save some money, make sure to get the ENTERTAINMENT BOOK for Hawaii. It's primarily Honolulu/Oahu, and it always has 2-for1 coupons to some of the Hilton's on-site (expensive) restaurants. You can buy it for about $30 HERE.
Other money saving Tips for staying at the Hilton Hawaiian Village;
1. Get your clothes laundered nearby. Their is a Laundromat who will wash and fold for you inexpensively (or wash it yourself).
2. Get some snacks at one of the ABC stores within walking distance. ABC stores are the generic bodega or corner store in Hawaii. They sell everything from souvenirs to clothes to food.
3. Eat breakfast at McDonald's or elsewhere. McDonald's is on Ala Moana within one city block form the Hilton. Or look for one of the many restaurants within walking distance of the Hilton. Many traditionally non-breakfast restaurants do serve breakfast in Honolulu.
4. Eat your big meal at lunch. For most people, this wont be a problem, because of the time difference. It's a 6 hour time difference from theEast Coast!
4A. Eat dinner early. If you are going to eat dinner in Honolulu/Waikiki, then you'd better get to the restaurant early. If you are driving, this is especially true. This area becomes a madhouse, especially on weekends, when the tourists are joined by the locals enjoying a night out. Lines and parking can get atrocious.
5. Eat at the Mall. The ALA Moana Mall has one of the most diverse food courts around. They serve everything from Ilalian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Hawaiian, Pizza, Korean BBQ, Deli, Burger King, etc. There is also a Bubba Gump Shrimp company, California Pizza Kitchen and a bar with live bands upstairs.
6. Rent a car. You will not see the "real" Hawaii on any of the islands (especially Oahu) without getting away from the cities. Honolulu is a city of 2 million (plus several million visitors). However, the pace slows down considerable when you visit some of the small towns or drive through pineapple fields that go as far as the eye can see.
7. Drink tap water. I know some of you have been brainwashed into believing that bottled water is the only water you can drink, but Honolulu in particular has the best quality tap water of any city in America. It tastes better than most bottled waters.
8 . Go in the off season. When it's hot, go there. The prices of hotels as well as the flights, will be exponentially cheaper. Plus, the King Kamehameha day parade is in June.
1 comment:
Great tips!
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