I truly appreciate detailed reviews, so I’m going to share my honest thoughts about this property and our stay in Waikiki.
Our family of 5 had a wonderful time on the island of Oahu!
Our Host: 😁
Harmoni could not have been more attentive, both before and during our stay. She answered all our questions and provided a few little things we requested during our stay.
The Building:
The Waikiki Banyon (built in 1979), in my opinion, shows it’s age. I suppose that’s why this property is less expensive than many others in the area. It is a huge bonus to have an included parking pass on property. Honestly, though, the parking garage is cramped and crowded and there is no designated space for the unit so you have to remember where your new spot is each time you park (between floors 2-5). It is also quite dangerous for pedestrians. The washer and dryer are at the end of the hall and are very small. I was so happy we brought enough clothes that we did not require the laundry facilities. With 38 floors, be prepared to wait on elevators.
The Unit:
The condo unit itself is partially updated. The kitchen and furnishings are very nice and modern! The bathroom and flooring appear to be original. I appreciated being able to cook a few meals in the condo rather than eating every meal out, which is why I chose a unit with a full kitchen. The kitchen was well stocked. I would recommend this unit for a family, but not for 2 couples or a group of friends to share. There is virtually no privacy unless you are in the small bathroom (tub/shower, toilet) behind a closed door. Thankfully the toilet and shower are separated from the rest of the space with a pocket door, so someone can be using the bathroom sink while another is showering. For us, with 3 teens the size of adults, this unit was tight. The bedroom area with the 2 queen beds and bathroom can be partially separated from the living space if you slide the pocket doors, but the doors do not cover the entire space. The AC window unit is in the main living space, so if the bedroom were truly enclosed it would not have access to the AC. That AC unit sure got a workout and worked like a champ! It would have been very uncomfortable without it. There is 1 closet in the bedroom which is great for some clothes, but is not big enough for 5 people to share or to store the luggage, so our suitcases were stacked out in the main living area and our kid’s clothes were stored in the tv stand and under the coffee table. 1 of our kids slept on the futon which converts from a couch.
The Area:
Finally, Waikiki ended up being the area on the island we liked least and therefore spent very little time there. I would compare it to any other city with traffic, crowds, litter, unpleasant smells, poor behavior and lots of smoking. It just happens to border the ocean, but Waikiki beach is dirty and very crowded. It also doesn’t feel safe to me after dark. Thank goodness for the rental car! Everyday we explored the island and spent most of our time on the North Shore. The traffic all over the island is horrendous (and we live in Denver so we know bad traffic) so every time we left the condo we had a stressful drive ahead of us, but the destinations were worth it. We found quaint towns, beautiful unique beaches, amazing food trucks, gorgeous scenery and wonderful local shops.
Overall, this rental met our basic needs for a price that worked for us and we appreciated the very good communication with the host.