We stayed at the Moana Surfrider for 14 nights during our holiday in Waikiki, in Room 582. We had been really looking forward to staying here because of its history, character and fantastic beachfront position. Unfortunately, after two weeks, we came away feeling that the hotel simply didn’t live up to our expectations.
Our Tower oceanfront room on the 5th floor had two queen beds and, to be fair, was spacious, clean and practical. We liked the storage, particularly the wardrobe in the bathroom, and the room was comfortable enough. We had a bath rather than the shower tray we would have preferred, and although the standalone floor air-conditioning worked well, its position wasn’t particularly convenient.
The little extras were appreciated. We had a coffee maker and kettle, along with milk and sugar. We were also given two small complimentary bottles of water, plus two extra bottles every day, which was particularly helpful as my wife needs water with her medication.
Breakfast was the real highlight
We had breakfast at the Veranda every single day of our stay. At around $52 per person before tax and gratuity, it certainly wasn’t cheap, but we genuinely enjoyed it and, for us, it was probably the best food experience at the hotel.
After eating there every day, we were pleasantly surprised when the hotel gave us our 13th breakfast on the house. That was a lovely gesture and one of those small things that made us feel that our custom had been noticed and appreciated.
Sadly, we couldn’t say the same about everything we ate during our stay. We tried the three-course à la carte meal at the Veranda, costing $110, and for us it was disappointing. At that price, we expected considerably more.
We also couldn’t help noticing how many guests were returning to the hotel with ABC Store bags containing food and drinks. After seeing the prices around the resort, we could understand why.
The pool was a real disappointment
For us, this was one of the biggest let-downs.
For a hotel of this size, with nearly 800 rooms, the pool area feels completely inadequate. There are only around 66 loungers, and getting one meant joining the early-morning rush. The fact that guests were getting up around 5am to secure loungers really says something.
We found this frustrating. We were on holiday and wanted to relax, not feel that we had to set an alarm at 5am just to have somewhere to sit around the pool.
Then there are the additional costs for beach beds and the very expensive cabanas. When you're already paying a substantial room rate and a daily resort/service charge, it becomes difficult not to question what you're actually getting for your money.
The $64 daily charge
The $64-a-day resort/service charge is another thing that became increasingly irritating over a two-week stay.
Wi-Fi is included, but our experience with it was poor. It was slow and regularly dropped out. Having visited the Hyatt, where the Wi-Fi was considerably better, the difference was noticeable.
When you're paying that sort of daily charge, you shouldn't have to put up with unreliable Wi-Fi.
The birds were another annoyance
This might sound like a small thing, but after seeing it repeatedly, it really did bother us.
There were birds all over the courtyard tables whenever food was left waiting to be cleared. On occasions, we actually saw them walking across tables that had just been freshly laid for guests.
Personally, I found that very unappealing, particularly when you're about to sit down for breakfast.
And yes, it can be noisy
We knew the hotel was in the heart of Waikiki, so we expected some noise. But it is a busy hotel in a very busy location, and at times we found it quite noisy.
For some people that will be part of the attraction. For us, after two weeks, it became another thing that detracted from the relaxing holiday experience we had hoped for.
What we did like
There are definitely positives.
The location is superb. Stepping straight out onto Waikiki Beach is difficult to beat, and the hotel itself is beautiful, historic and full of character. The banyan tree and the old-world feel give it something that many modern hotels simply don't have.
Our room was clean and spacious, and we had no major problems with housekeeping. The daily additional bottles of water were also a thoughtful touch.
And, as I mentioned, the complimentary 13th breakfast was a nice gesture that we genuinely appreciated.
Our overall impression
Perhaps the biggest issue for us is that we expected more.
The Moana Surfrider has such a reputation and such an iconic position that we were expecting the whole experience to feel special. Instead, there were too many occasions where we found ourselves thinking, "Is this really worth what we're paying?"
The expensive food and drinks, $64 daily resort charge, unreliable Wi-Fi, tiny pool for the size of the hotel, expensive beach facilities, early-morning rush for loungers and the general noise all added up.
It's a beautiful hotel in a fantastic location, and I'm sure many people absolutely love it. But after spending 14 nights there, we personally wouldn't choose to stay again.
For us, the Moana Surfrider was a hotel we were glad to have experienced — but equally glad to be leaving.
