My husband and I stayed six days and five nights at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach, and overall we had a fantastic experience. We arrived close to 9 PM, and the check-in process was incredibly smooth. Mao assisted us and was warm, professional, and very clear with his explanations. Although I am a Bonvoy Titanium member, upgrades were not available, so we opted to pay an additional $198 per night for a higher-floor ocean-view room.
The room itself was excellent—spacious, comfortable, and the bed was amazingly cozy. I especially loved the bathtub; after a day at the beach, soaking in a warm bath was the perfect way to unwind. All of the staff we encountered were friendly and welcoming. We also appreciated the complimentary beach chairs, wagon, and towels from the concierge, which saved us a noticeable amount on rentals.
The only disappointment came near the end of our stay. Our return flight was at almost 11 PM, so I requested an additional four hours beyond the guaranteed 4 PM late checkout. Mao advised us to check back 48 hours before departure. Right on schedule, someone called to say they could not extend our checkout because they were “fully booked.” However, when I checked the Marriott website, many rooms were still showing as available. Even when my husband went to the front desk and stated we didn’t mind being downgraded to a basic room for the extra hours, we were given the same explanation, which clearly wasn’t accurate.
Despite this, we still truly enjoyed our stay. The hotel itself is beautiful, the amenities are excellent, and Mao was wonderful both at check-in and check-out. We would consider staying here again, though we hope for more transparency regarding late checkout in the future.