With a balance of beach and an active city life, Waikiki is a perfect destination for families and well known brand Embassy Suites Waikiki is an ideal place to stay.
Getting to O’ahu with kids in tow can be draining. Embassy Suites Waikiki invites you to take a load off at their seated registration desk. It may sound like a small thing but you’ll appreciate sitting in a comfortable chair while filling out your registration form. Being greeted by light refreshment during registration is another delightful welcome. My kids loved the light fruit flavoured beverage, especially my youngest. The desk staff was so attentive they even brought my daughter a second glass after she enjoyed her first one so quickly.
Embassy Suites is an all-suite hotel, offering guests either a one or two-bedroom rooms. Our one-bedroom gave us a living space with a small dining area (including microwave and mini fridge) plus a seating area with television. The couch pulled out into a Queen size sleeper sofa. The main bedroom is located in a separate room, with two queen beds and a second television and the bathroom was just by the door so everyone had access to it.
Beyond accommodating our sleeping needs, having a separate living room and bedroom gave us a little space to breath. We love to travel together but everyone needs a little downtime once in a while. We could catch the news (or a nap) in our room while the kids watched cartoons or practiced the hula in the living room. The Embassy Suites Waikiki makes having a little space affordable for families than booking adjoining rooms. There was more than enough room for our family of five but if you need more space you can book the two-bedroom suite. It comes with two bedrooms, a common space and two bathrooms.
My favourite feature of our room was the view. Although we weren’t right on the beach, we had a wonderful view of the ocean view to the South, a view of Diamond Head to the East and mountain ranges to the North, all from our extra long balcony. I loved just enjoying a drink and savoring the view. If only I had taken a moment to capture the view to share, instead you’ll have to enjoy this shot courtesty of Embassy Suites. They must have taken it from my floor since this is exactly the ocean view I enjoyed.
The space isn’t the only thing families will enjoy at Embassy Suites Waikiki. Like all Embassy Suites hotels, your room rate includes a hot made-to-order breakfast. The small buffet included standard fare like eggs, french toast, yogurt, cereal, fruit, and pastries, but the big draw is the made-to-order omelets. You can choose your fixings, such as green peppers or maybe some sausage, and the chef masterfully cooks your meat and veggies then adding the egg to cook on top. Add a little cheese (should you desire) fold over and voila, a hearty omelet.
As parents we know breakfast is an important meal but it can sometimes seem like a big expense to eat out, especially when you’re watching you vacation budget. We prefer to save our dining out for dinner so having breakfast included is a nice bonus. Beyond just filling our bellies for the morning, the staff were so delightful to talk to. They greeted us each morning and let us in on secret routes and locations within the city. That’s how we heard about the best time to shop at the Aloha Swap Meet (one fo the 3 shopping picks from our Jr Style Blogger). We loved our routine of heading down to breakfast on the outdoor patio every day.
Of course being in Hawaii means a little swimming and the Embassy Suites has a nice outdoor pool on the 4th floor, same floor the breakfast buffet and manager’s cocktail receptions occur. A fourth floor pool means you’re not bothered by those just passing through the hotel. The pool is perfect for families too with the depth all around being about 4 feet. For smaller kids there is a shallow mini pool attached to the main pool. I also liked the water bench, giving you a chance to actually lounge in the pool, though my kids liked to lay down there.
I enjoyed a cocktail, poolside, but you’ll also find fruit infused water available by the pool, making it easy to keep the kids hydrated when out in the sun. In the early morning on some days you can limber up with some yoga just beside the pool. I never tried but it seemed like a popular activity with some of the adults when we were visiting. Unlike other hotels, the yoga sessions are free, another nice perk to the Embassy Suites Waikiki.
The location of the Embassy Suites is perfect. Although not directly on the beach, the public pathway is right across the street. And if surf and sand isn’t your thing, the fabulous shops, dining, and entertainment of the BeachWalk is right outside your door.
From spacious suites, cooked to order breakfast, and easy access to both the beach and vibrant nightlife, Embassy Suites Waikiki offers families a perfect place to settle in for vacation fun with the service and attention to detail we’ve come to expect from an Outrigger managed hotel.
Thanks to the folks at the Embassy Suites Waikik and Outrigger for giving us the opportunity to visit.