Hotel Review: Hyatt Regency Waikiki (with Oceanfront Suite Upgrade)

Hotel Review: Hyatt Regency Waikiki (with Oceanfront Suite Upgrade)

My wife and I recently stayed at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki, and it was great. Let’s state that right away. There are a few things that could be improved, but the hotel overall has a lot of strong positives. Let’s take a look at our stay to learn more about the location, amenities, staff, and our upgraded room.

How We Booked

The Hyatt Regency Waikiki is a category 5 hotel, so it costs 20,000 points during standard pricing. It’s 17,000 points during off-peak periods and 23,000 points during peak periods.

Since this is a category 5 property, it’s out of reach for category 1-4 free night awards you can get from your Hyatt credit card or the Brand Explorer perk. However, I had a category 1-7 free night award as a milestone award from staying 60 nights with Hyatt last year.

Even though this is just a category 5 property, and I had dreamed of really maxing out this category 1-7 free night award, we went to Hawaii at the last minute. I couldn’t find availability for any Hyatt property on any other islands during our trip, so we decided to scrap plans for Maui, and our new plan included a night here before going to the big island. Plus, this award was set to expire in April 2022.

The standard room rate for World of Hyatt members was $234 during our stay. This is for a “1 king bed, city view” room. Ocean view rooms cost $306, while oceanfront rooms with club access cost $414. Suites cost $630 (1 king bed family ocean suite), $720 (Penthouse suite), or $1,000+ (Ambassador and Presidential suites).

We were upgraded to a “1 king bed family ocean suite”. My redemption value on a free night worth 40,000 points is not great against the standard room rate: 0.6¢. Against the 20,000 points if you pay that way, it’s a value of 1.2¢. However, we were happy to save the $234 and got outsized value from our upgrade.

Resort Fee

Note that there is a daily resort fee of $49.55 per room. Since we were on an award stay, this was waived. It’s also waived on cash stays for Globalist members.

RELATED: Resort Fees On Award Stays – Which Hotels Charge Them?

Location of Hyatt Regency Waikiki

The Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort and Spa is located right on Kalakaua Avenue, the main shopping street in Waikiki, and has direct views to Waikiki Beach. In fact, from our room’s balcony, we could look down at the famous status of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku on the beach.

The Hyatt Regency is also located near numerous restaurants, shops, stores, and bus stops in Waikiki. It’s a block away from the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani (review here), which we stayed at the previous three nights. The location puts the Hyatt Regency within walking distance to numerous attractions and stops for the hop on / hop off bus. Because of the centralized location, we didn’t see the need for a rental car during our stay.

RELATED: How to Visit Oahu Without a Rental Car

Prior to Arrival

Four days before check-in, I received an email from the Executive Assistant to the General Manager/VIP Relations thanking me for being a Globalist member and providing updates on the latest Covid requirements for travel to Hawaii. The email also included information about activities and amenities at the hotel and a form letter from the hotel manager to all guests.

Before receiving this email, I had already contacted my Hyatt Concierge to ask her to reach out to the hotel. Since we were going to Hawaii to celebrate my wife’s new job, I asked each hotel in advance to ask them to put a note in the room congratulating her. (Spoiler alert: 1 of 3 hotels managed to successfully do this) My concierge corresponded with the hotel to set this up.

Check-In

We arrived on foot, since we were coming from another hotel a block away. While there are multiple entrances to the ground-floor lobby/atrium, we went around to the main entrance, since we weren’t sure exactly where the lobby is located.

It’s a good thing we went this way, since the lobby is actually on the 2nd floor and requires following multiple signs to get there. Go up the escalator first.

Hang a left here to go to the check-in area on the 2nd floor.

When we arrived in the lobby to check in, there was a big line. I came back to take this picture later, so I wouldn’t be taking a picture of strangers’ faces. I counted 5 families in line to check in. Luckily, there is a separate line for World of Hyatt elites on the left. I went there and was the only person in line.

A friendly agent called me over to help us check in and requested our IDs and proof of exemption from quarantine. We provided our green checkmarks from the Hawaii Safe Travels program and proof of vaccination.

While I was checking in, my wife went to look around the giant atrium/shops/lobby area. I took this opportunity to ask about the “congratulations” note I’d requested and also asked about upgrades. The woman at the front desk had no clue about the note, and it seems like this request had disappeared into a Black Hole. She didn’t see anything about it in the computer, so I just let it go. Oh well.

Waiting for our room

The friendly woman at the desk said two suites were available for upgrade, but she needed to find out if they had been cleaned yet. She asked us to sit down and wait on some benches nearby. We took the opportunity to scope out the surroundings.

There’s a really nice waterfall and pond in the big, open atrium in the center of the hotel, located between the two towers of guest rooms.

We also watched people setting up for the twice-weekly farmers market. This happens Mondays and Wednesdays inside the hotel atrium from 4pm-8pm.

Once she was ready, the woman from the front desk found us waiting in the area she had indicated. She presented our guest keys and walked us through some information about the farmers market, Regency Club access, amenities, and our room.

While the check-in was a bit slow, the final outcome left us happy. We got an upgrade to an oceanfront suite on the 34th floor of the Diamond Head Tower.

Hyatt Regency Waikiki Amenities and Public Areas

The hotel has a lot to offer, and I want to highlight these.

What’s Included with the Resort Fee?

So, what do you get for that $49.55 daily resort fee charged to each room?

• Premium WiFi in guestrooms and public areas
• Two re-usable souvenir Hyatt water bottles (with water stations located on each floor)
• One re-usable Hyatt Regency Waikiki tote bag
• Biki Bike bicycle ride sharing service ($4 per person credit, two people maximum, one-time credit)
• Delicious frozen treats provided poolside
• Discounted surfing lessons and rental of beach equipment from Billabong
• Resort interactive cultural activities (lei making, hula lessons, ukelele lessons, by appointment only)
• Stayfit Gym access
• GoPro usage
• Use of beach amenities and chairs
• Use of beach toys for children
• Chromecast service for in-room television viewing
• House slippers and personal amenity items pre-set in guest room
• In-room coffee and tea
• Long distance and international calls – up to 60 minutes per day
• Unlimited local and 1-800 telephone calls

Thoughts on Resort Fee Amenities

I think some of these could be great amenities–if you want them. You can use a GoPro for free, free beach chairs and toys for kids, popsicles by the pool, and the ability to connect your Chromecast to the room TV. Cool. Having these if you want them is awesome. Paying for things you don’t care about is how hotels make money on breakage.

Other items are ridiculous to charge customers for: in-room coffee and tea (many budget hotels provide these for free), cultural activities (people can sign up and pay if really interested), and then there’s the laughable stuff like having the robe sitting in my room when I arrive.

I also have to point out that the fee includes my having the ability to book a discounted price on something. Glad I didn’t have to pay this resort fee, because it’s more silly than useful.

Pool, Gym & Spa

We didn’t visit any of these, since we stayed only one night. The pool area was quite popular, though, since we could see it from the balcony of our room. The pool is located on the 3rd floor overhang, above shops on the ground floor and near the overhang which provides space for the Regency Club.

Water Stations

While a benefit of World of Hyatt membership is free daily bottled water, I prefer the approach the Hyatt Regency Waikiki is using. Each room had reusable water bottles (covered by the resort fee) and water stations around the property, near elevators. You can use these to fill up or fill up from the tap in your sink.

Parking

There is parking available in a garage across the street from the main entrance. Valet parking is $60/day, while self-parking is $50/day. Ouch.

Restaurants

There are several restaurants: SHOR (breakfast), SWIM (poolside bar, with light meals), Furusato Sushi, Kai Coffee, Kirin (Chinese + dim sum), and Tucker & Bevvy (salads, sandwiches, smoothies, and açaí bowls.

Regency Club

When staying in a room with Club Access or if you are a Globalist, you can access the Regency Club. At the Hyatt Regency Waikiki, this is on the 3rd floor, behind the SHOR restaurant.

Using your room key, you can tap to enter. Since we arrived in the afternoon, we went to check out the afternoon snacks.

There wasn’t much available during snack time. There are bags of gummies, some pieces of fruit, and drinks.

The outdoor area is where it’s at. This area sits on the 3rd floor above Kalakaua Avenue and has views right over to Waikiki Beach. It was super empty in the afternoon but packed during breakfast.

Elevators in the Diamond Head Tower

I really liked these elevators. The insides are super cool.

They have a wood shack / grass hut motif. My wife and I both said “wow” when we walked in. Props to the person who had this idea.

Our Room – Suite on 34th Floor of Diamond Head Tower

We stayed in a “1 king bed family ocean suite” at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki. This family suite comes in the form of two rooms with separate entrances. Thus, we had rooms 3459 and 3460.

34th Floor, Diamond Head Tower at Hyatt Regency Waikiki

While the elevators and the downstairs waiting area had a great vibe, the waiting area near the elevators on the 34th floor has…pretty much nothing.

The layout of the guest rooms on the 34th floor is an octagon.

From the map, you see that our room entrance was exactly opposite the elevators, with the stairwell in the middle. We could go left then right or right then left to get from the elevators to our room.

There is also a small room with an ice machine near the elevators.

Family Ocean Suite, 1 King Bed

The Family Ocean Suite has two options: 1 king bed or 2 queen beds. The setup for either is comprised of a master room and a 2nd room with a Murphy bed and living room.

The two rooms are joined by connecting doors, and each room has its own entrance to the hallway.

Master Room

The master room has a spacious layout. Along the wall on the right, there’s a large desk with a chair, then a dresser/cabinet under a TV on the wall.

There’s a mini fridge, coffee supplies, and a small safe inside part of the dresser. On top of the phone, there’s a phone and multiple outlets for your devices.

We really liked the minimal approach to the artwork and clock on the wall. Attractive, not huge, and adds to the room without creating an eyesore. I liked the clock style a lot.

The bed was really nice. It was comfortable, and the sheets were great. Pillows were mediocre but not as bad as other places we’ve stayed recently. They didn’t disappear into nothing when you put your head on them.

Each side of the bed had a night stand with USB and power outlets for your devices, plus a lamp and an alarm clock.

Bathroom in Master Bedroom

I wouldn’t classify the bathroom as “big”, but it also wasn’t cramped. When you first walk in, you pass the shower on the way to the sink and then the toilet. Interestingly, there is one light switch for the shower/closet area, and then there’s another next to the sink for the sink/toilet area.

The sink was not large, and I was a bit surprised that there wasn’t more counter space. However, it was sufficient and came with the standard toiletries. Above the sink, there’s a large mirror, while a makeup mirror sits on a stand on the counter. Under the sink, there are spare towels and a hairdryer.

The toilet has a built-in warming system to avoid cold seats and spry that is controlled by the remote control on the wall.

The shower isn’t anything special. It has an overhead or hand-held option, plus a tub option. It feels similar to what you would get at a basic hotel along the highway. However, it worked as expected and had good pressure.

Next to the shower but inside the bathroom area, there is a closet. It has hangers, a spre pillow, luggage rack, and an iron and ironing board.

2nd Room / Living Room

The other side of our Family Ocean Suite at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki provided a great area for sitting around. Since we stayed only one night, we decided to not use this space, so housekeeping wouldn’t need to clean it. Staying longer, I would absolutely hang out / work on this side and sleep on the other side.

There’s a large L-shaped sofa and glass coffee table on the one side of the doors to the balcony. A small chair flanks the other side of the doors.

Across from the L-shaped sofa, there is a dresser that matches the one in the master room and a TV above it. Next to that is a night stand with drawers, phone, and a lamp.

The bed in this room is a full-sized Murphy bed. I felt like the bed blocks the path from the master room a bit and tried to put it up into the wall.

When I tried to put the Murphy bed into the wall, it hit some resistance. Yes, I had taken the pillows off. From the noise and the pressure, I worried that I would crack the wood paneling or break something, so I gave up and put the bed back down.

Second Room Bathroom

Interestingly, the bathroom area in the second room has the same features but in a different layout. The sink has the same items underneath it but a bigger counter, bigger mirror, and this stuff is outside of the “bathroom”, where the toilet and shower sit inside a small room with a door. However, the shower and the toilet are the same as in the master bathroom.

The closet in this room is next to the sink. It’s actually bigger than the closet in the master bedroom and has shelving that the master closet lacks.

Views from Oceanfront Room at Hyatt Regency Waikiki

Both rooms have a balcony, which you access via sliding glass doors. Each balcony has 2 chairs and a small table; you cannot walk from one balcony to the other, though. They are separate.

The views were excellent. We sat 34 floors above Waikiki Beach and had great views toward Diamond Head on the left and toward the city on the right.

We enjoyed sunset from our balcony and watched early morning surfers the next morning.

Overall Thoughts on the Room

Our room at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki was excellent. The Family Ocean Suite set up is interesting, since I’m not sure if the hotel would really sell the “second room” to someone for a night, but you could theoretically separate the rooms for different guests.

The rooms both felt spacious, features worked as advertised, and the views were fantastic. The bathrooms weren’t special and weren’t large, but they got the job done and left extra space for the bedrooms. The internet in the room worked without issues, as well. Great room.

Breakfast at the Regency Club

While we saw only one other person during the afternoon snacks visit the day prior, breakfast at the Regency Club in the morning was a different story. It took us a minute to find some open seats.

Breakfast was buffet style, and it had a lot of options. French toast, eggs of a few styles, several kinds of meats, fruits, and cold cuts sat on the main buffet. To the side, a separate counter had several types of breads (sliced, bagels, muffins) and individual cereal containers. A big fridge had tons of containers of milk, soy milk, yogurt, butter, and cream cheese.

Behind the buffet, you can see the drinks station. Coffee, cappuccinos, hot tea, several kinds of juices and more were available. There was also a station with miso soup, which I had never thought of as a breakfast food before.

There were tons of options for breakfast in the lounge, and the price (free!) was excellent. While it was very busy and full of people, we didn’t have to wait long in line and didn’t find anyone being rude or pushy in the buffet line.

Check-Out

We spent the morning walking around in Waikiki and then returned to the Hyatt Regency when it was time for our van to the airport. Check-out was super easy. There was no line, and we had no bill to pay. The friendly woman at the front desk confirmed that everything was at 0, since we had an award booking and waived resort fees.

She offered to call for our car from valet, to speed things up. It was a nice touch, but we didn’t have one, so we merely went down the escalators to meet our van outside.

The valet area was really busy with lots of activity. However, multiple employees still thanked us for our stay as we passed, even while busy with other tasks. It was a friendly send-off to wrap up a really positive stay.

Final Thoughts on Hyatt Regency Waikiki

Would I stay here again? Definitely. That’s the best evaluation you can give a hotel, I think.

Not everything was perfect: some disorganization at check-in and the failure to deliver on the note (which my Hyatt Concierge later showed me a screenshot of the hotel confirming they would do this). However, those were minor in comparison to a great room, amazing views, central location, and a comfortable bed to sleep in.

If you’ve got Hyatt points to burn or some free night awards to stack up for a future stay, the Hyatt Regency Waikiki is a deserving spot for your next trip to Hawaii.