The Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach has been a family favorite for many years. The refreshed rooms and central location make this a location worth considering and my favorite Hyatt property in Honolulu.
During my trip to Hawaii last month I had the chance to spend a few nights here. Today I’ll review a standard partial ocean view room and later provide a separate review on the family suite that World of Hyatt Globalist members can upgrade into.
Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Service
This is a large hotel. 1,230 rooms to be exact. That’s why I want to start with the service. You might think that service would lack in a hotel of this size, but other than the somewhat chaotic check-in (during busy late morning and afternoon periods), the hotel never feels very crowded. People prefer to go to the beach across the street instead of the pool and this area of Honolulu is littered with restaurants and bars. In that sense, sometimes the hotel even feels a bit lonely. But I appreciate that because it allows for more personalized service. The staff, especially the Regency Club staff, are very nice. I appreciate the warm greetings I receive even when walking down the hall.
Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Guest Room
I’m usually offered an upgrade to an ocean view as a Globalist member, but I far prefer a partial ocean / partial city view. It’s nice to see the water, Diamond Head, and the bustling city of Honolulu.
High floors rooms offer excellent views and every guest room has room to move around in and a balcony. I could do without the towel art, but the bed is comfortable, bedding soft, and colors bright.
I appreciate the room has plenty of power ports, including six on the desk!
The restroom is on the small side, with the vanity adjoined to the main room (divided by a walled partition) and a separate bathroom with toilet and shower/tub combo. Best of all, and I do mean best of all, is the Toto heated toilet seat (and bidet).
Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Regency Club
If you’re looking to maximize value, you can theoretically eat dinner and breakfast in the Regency Club. The breakfast includes a continental spread of bread, pastries, cereals, and fruit with coffee, tea, and juice. Throughout the day, cookies and granola bars are available. In the evening, the spread includes a salad station, vegetables and dip (pita bread too), soup, and even a hot item, such as chicken skewers. There is dessert too. While I would not eat in the lounge very single night when there are so many excellent restaurants around, if you do not feel like going out or spending money there is enough here.
Afternoon coffee/snacks:
Evening spread:
As I mentioned above, the staff are tremendous in the lounge.
Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Shopping + Dining
The hotel complex includes about 60 boutiques and a few restaurants. The breakfast buffet and dining room overlook the beach in a restaurant called SHOR. In the evening a full buffet is also offered but the venue is called “The Buffet at Hyatt” instead.
Just as an aside, Globalist members do not have access to SHOR for breakfast. The Globalist breakfast benefit is available exclusively in the Regency Club.
SWIM, located near the pool, is the only restaurant open for lunch. Room service is also available. Japengo, the hotel’s Hawaiian restaurant, has closed.
Hyatt Regency Waikiki Fitness Center + Spa
A 24/7 fitness center offers LifeFitness equipment and was rarely crowded.
I did not use Na Ho’ola Spa, but the facilities look nice (too many people to take pictures discreetly) and a full menu of treatments are available.
Hyatt Regency Waikiki Fitness Pool
Although you have a nice pool at the hotel, the beach is right across the street. That probably explains why the pool often looks like this, even when the weather is better:
As I said, the beach is across the street:
CONCLUSION
Although I far prefer the Kahala, this hotel represents a more affordable choice with nice amenities in the heart of Waikiki. I recommend and think it is worth the small premium over the nearby Hyatt Centric.
> Read More: Kahala Hotel & Resort – Honolulu Review
> Read More: Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach (Suite) Review
Thanks for this review. Considering Oahu for Spring Break in 2020.
We were in Waikiki in Sep 2017 and walked around this area and saw there was an afternoon Farmers Market on Fridays that had assortment of local food/fruits and souvenirs for sale.
I have been staying here for 30 years and have seen many changes worst was when GS bought the property from the Asian owner, gone was most of the amenities we Diamonds enjoyed so much. Food and Beverage has been depleted to the point it’s simply as mass market hotel lost are the days of some intimacy. The Colony was one of the best restaurants on the beach gone. The exterior was allowed to deteriorate far beyond acceptable levels ( I know professionally ) from no maintenance with the hotel’s “blood” drained by GS and Blackstone. It is hoped that the new Korean owners will bring this once great property back.
I still liked it, but also hope the new neighbors will make it nicer.
Hello
Are you familiar with the Sheraton Hotel in Waikiki. I’m interested in the pillows used in the Oahu rooms and their Bidet. Do you know what pillows are used and bidet. Thank you. Liz
I haven’t stayed at the Hyatt Regency in over 15 years, despite often doing “staycations” in Waikiki. The parking there is atrocious and, I know this is personal preference, but the room design doesn’t float my boat. I do miss Japengo, though. Excellent Japanese fusion dishes by one of Hawaii’s top chefs, Joan Matsubara.
Have you ever given the Hyatt Centric a shot? Their pool is hilariously tiny, rooms have no balcony, and there’s no onsite restaurant with lunch or dinner service, but the rooms are large, modern and comfy, and the service is great. Plus there’s tons of great dining options in the area with Duke’s Lane and a Starbucks Reserve Bar right downstairs, the Laylow (Marriott) next door, and the International Market Place right next to the Laylow. Oh, and there’s the underground Japanese food hall with excellent food across the street too.
@Island Miler: Thanks for your comment. Indeed, I have tried the Centric and have a link to the review in my post above. I agree the rooms are quite comfortable there (and I was upgraded to a nice suite). I still prefer the Hyatt Regency for the views and Club. In terms of value, I do prefer the free breakfast at Centric as opposed to Regency (club only).
True. I’m only a Discoverist, so the Club doesn’t mean much to me. And, yeah, the views are hard to beat at the Hyatt. One day I’ll give them a try again!
Hyatt Centric offer free breakfast? I didn’t see that on their site. I only have Discoverist status as well and trying to decide which property to stay at (will use all points transferred from Chase UR). My wife and I will be bringing our 6 month olds so we’re weighing the benefits of splurging extra points for Regency Club access for convenience. This is our first time visit to Honolulu but since we’ll be with an infant, we are not likely to spend too much time on the beach. Would love you guys to weigh in on my options. Thanks!
I really like Honolulu (lived there for a couple of years and visited numerous times) but I can’t stand Waikiki. Like @Matthew, my hotel of choice on Oahu is the Kahala. If I opt for a cheaper 4-star, my hotel of choice is the Hawaii Prince. The Prince has good sized rooms, great service and all Ocean View rooms and is a bit away from the crowds of Waikiki. I’ve stayed at the Royal Hawaiian, Halekulani, the Hyatt, and a few of the other non-major branded hotels in Waikiki and done events at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and didn’t like any of them.
My husband and I have spent 1 week at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki each year for the past several Januarys. I am a Globalist and we are truly treated royally at this property. The GM and front desk staff sincerely go out of their way to tend to every detail of our reservation and requests.
The Regency Club staff (many have been there for over 20 years) greet us with hugs and hearty “welcome homes.”
Even the evening ukulele player at the elevators recognizes us and plays my favorite Jason Mraz tune for me.
The multitude of all these special acts of kindness and concern for our every comfort play a significant factor in our choice to keep returning.