We flew in from the mainland to surprise my mom for Christmas, and this condo was the perfect home base! It’s located between Waikiki & Ala Moana Beaches, so it wasn’t as touristy as further down, which we loved. However, it’s in the perfect location for walking to restaurants, shops, ABC Superette, &, of course, Waikiki Beach, right across the street via Hilton Hawaiian Village.
Mark was a great & efficient host. He told us about adjacent parking (if renting, make sure you get as small a vehicle as you need, as parking is tight all over the island, but especially in nearby lots—expect tight turns to go up levels & small spaces), but also cheaper parking nearby. If going into Aqua Palms parking for the 1st time, have the room number handy when you try to buzz in.
Mark also sent us clear directions for check in the day before our stay, & clear check out directions the day before we left. Be aware that the condo is in a hotel property, so don’t expect a warm and cuddly host to greet you with leis & cocktails in hand (we didn’t, so this isn’t a negative against Mark at all). With limited time, we appreciated the efficient check in/check out process, as well as Mark’s quick availability via the Airbnb app for any questions we had.
The condo itself was clean, had not only proper plates, cups, bowls, utensils, coffee machine, etc., but also a dish sponge, dish soap, a dish towel, & coffee filters, which was a much appreciated amenity that helped us stay organized & sane. Small hotel-type courtesy toiletries were provided. Excellent hot shower, & plenty of beach & regular towels provided. A behind-the-door towel hook, trash bags, & perhaps Lysol wipes might be useful for the final morning clean up, but that didn’t diminish our enjoyment of the condo one bit. Some beach items were in the closet, as were a vacuum, iron, hangers, and extra towels. There was a hot plate and pan in an above cabinet, but seriously, just go out & find a local place to eat—you’re on vacation, after all!
If you absolutely do need to do some chores, such as laundry, it’s $2/wash and same to dry, paid on the machines with credit card, no problem. Washing soap/dryer sheets packs are $2 each, but be sure to take enough quarters for the dispenser. It was slightly tiresome to do laundry, as there were only 4 machines of each type, & the dryers didn’t dry well at all. I recommend not overloading & then not stopping the dry cycle to check if it was done—my 2nd load did much better this way. This isn’t anything the hosts control, so again, not a negative against this condo at all.
Yes, the room was a bit small for two adults, a 13 y.o., and an almost 19 y.o., but who cares? The location is great, the price point was ideal for the area, and you’re in HAWAII, for crying out loud! You’re just going to crash there each night, wake up to a gorgeous glimpse of the ocean to your left, mountains here and there in front of you, a breeze on your face, and then head out for a day of island fun, so don’t hesitate, and rent this condo for your fun Hawaiian adventure!