I'll start off by saying that this place is probably perfectly adequate if you're traveling for business, by yourself or for any other reason besides wanting to enjoy a family vacation. That's the only reason this is 3 stars instead of 2. For my family (3 adults and a baby), it put a damper on our time in Honolulu.
Pros:
- Located right next to a plethora of great food options
- Check in was easy
- TV was nice
Cons:
- Kitchen was minimal. No dishwasher, only the most basic utensils. Would have been difficult to cook a real meal.
- No functional windows. All windows were covered by exterior plastic blinds that let some light in, but you couldn't see out of them. Not that the views were anything to behold, but it made it feel pretty dungeon-y.
- Laundry is located outside at the back of the building and costs $4 to run a load all the way through.
- There are ant and cockroach traps in every room. We were visited by a 3" cockroach in the living room one of the nights.
- Cleanliness was mediocre. All the "essential" things were clean, but there were cobwebs and a layer of dust on the less obvious surfaces like cabinets, and the top of the fridge was disgusting. I didn't feel comfortable having my baby touch any of the surfaces. Dishes were spotty and assuming the previous occupants had hand-washed them.
- No cleaning tools, not sure what we would have done if we needed to sweep up a mess.
- The shower was itty bitty and needs to be retiled, the once-white floor tile was yellow and stained. Hard to say if it was clean or not.
- Living space only had a cheap futon you'd have in a college dorm and no place to sit and eat. A 2-bedroom place should have enough seating for everyone. We ended up bringing the patio chairs inside.
- AC units in every room were LOUD. They rattled and sputtered and it's a wonder anyone got any sleep -- especially the baby.
- No beach equipment besides towels
Summary:
I chose this place because of the great reviews, proximity to activities and because it was somewhat more affordable. I think with a few hundred dollars and some elbow grease, our stay could have been much more enjoyable. I have no idea how it has gotten so many glowing reviews, which makes me wonder if those people stayed in a different unit or something?? Or maybe all the accommodations in this area suck and this place is better in comparison.
Regardless, I wouldn't recommend this apartment if you're looking for a clean, comfortable place to enjoy with your family while vacationing in Hawaii. Do yourself a favor and spend the extra $$ on a nicer place.