On our 2009 visit to Oahu, we stayed in the Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber. The resort was so fresh off its $12 million renovation that, while we were there in February, the hotel was blessed with a traditional Hawaiian blessing.
The Location
The Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber is located on the mauka side (mountain side) of Waikiki’s most vibrant street at 2300 Kalakaua Avenue. It’s centrally located and in posh company with the Royal Hawaiian Center and the Royal Hawaiian Resort located directly across the street. International Market Place is right next door. More importantly, the hotel is only a block from Hawaii’s iconic Waikiki Beach.
The Rooms
Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber’s spacious rooms are nicely decorated in a retro tropical design. The style of the furniture reminded me of a sleeker version of furniture you would have seen in the 50’s or 60’s. The vintage poster art also added to the retro look. Here are some of the features of the rooms:
| – 32″ LCD televisions | – Coffee maker w/Hawaiian Coffee |
| – Granite counter tops | – In-room safe |
| – Mini-refrigerator | – Free wired high-speed Internet access |
| – Lanai with table and 2 chairs |
The bathroom had a unique half bathtub/shower combination. It was large enough for a small child to take a bath but too small for an adult. I don’t normally have the time to soak in the tub while I’m in Hawaii, so it didn’t bother me. I’d much rather be on the beach than in the bath.
Views from the rooms include ocean views, Honolulu and mountain views, and some peeks at Diamond Head.
The Amenities
The Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber offers quite a few amenities that make the hotel a special value. For example, here’s what guests can enjoy during their stay.
| – Fitness center (photo) | – Free local and long distance calls to U.S. & Canada |
| – Pool and sundeck (photo) | – Free Waikiki Trolley rides on the Pink Line |
| – Hot tub | – All valet parking for $18 per day (not bad for Waikiki) |
| – Free local newspaper | – Free high-speed wireless Internet access in the lobby |
The free Honolulu Surfing Museum is on site. You’ll also find gift shops as well as a Polynesian-themed show here, too.
Final Thoughts
We found everyone on staff — from the valet to housekeeping to the front desk — to be friendly. The Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber is a very solid three-star hotel, in my opinion and an excellent value starting at $119 per night valid through January 4, 2010.
See all the photos we snapped during our stay at the Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber.
Have you stayed at the Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber? What did you think?
Note that when we stayed at this resort is was under management by OHANA. Some amenities and pricing may have changed under the Holiday Inn management.
For additional reviews, read these TripAdvisor reviews.
Sheila Beal
