Oahu - Hawaii with Kids - page 81

selected the number-one hotel in the world by Gourmet magazine. It's spread over
5 acres of prime Waikiki beachfront in five buildings that are connected by open
courtyards and lush, tropical gardens. Upon arrival, you're immediately greeted
and escorted to your room, where registration is handled in comfort and privacy.
Many things set this luxury hotel apart from the others, the most important
being the rooms: About 90% face the ocean, and they're big (averaging 620 sq.
ft.), each with a separate sitting area and a large, furnished lanai. There's plenty
of room for a crib or a rollaway, but the rooms are limited to a maximum of
three people, so larger families should look at connecting rooms or a suite.
One of the best children's programs in Waikiki tops the list of amenities. For
only $25 a day ($15 for each additional child), the kids get lunch and excursions
(via a chauffer-driven stretch limo) to places like Sea Life Park. Unfortunately, it
is only offered during the summer and at Christmastime. But during that time,
kids eat all meals free with their parent. For the parents, perks include compli-
mentary tickets to any or all of the following: Ihilani Palace, Bishop Museum,
Contemporary Art Museum, Honolulu Academy of Art, and the Honolulu
Symphony (about $100 per person worth of art and culture). You can't find a
better location on Waikiki Beach or a more luxurious hotel.
2199 Kalia Rd. (at the ocean end of Lewers St.), Honolulu, HI 96815. & 800/367-2343 or 808/923-2311.
Fax [phone]. www.halekulani.com. 456 units. $325-$540 double; from $775 suite. Extra person $125.
1 child under 17 stays free in parent's room; maximum 3 people per room. Cribs and rollaway beds for kids
17 and under free. AE, DC, MC, V. Parking $10. Bus: 19 or 20. Amenities: 4 superb restaurants; 2 bars; gor-
geous outdoor pool; spa; watersports equipment rental; bike rental; seasonal children's program; concierge;
activities desk; complete business center; top-drawer shops; salon; 24-hr. room service; in-room massage;
babysitting; same-day laundry service and dry cleaning. In room:A/C, TV/VCR, dataport, minibar, hair dryer,
iron, safe.
Royal Hawaiian This flamingo-pink oasis, hidden away among bloom-
ing gardens within the concrete jungle of Waikiki, is a symbol of luxury. Entry
into the hotel is past the lush gardens, with their spectacular banyan tree, into
the black terrazzo-marble lobby, which features hand-woven pink carpets and
giant floral arrangements. It's comfy beyond belief and very welcoming to fam-
ilies: Each one of your little darlings will get a candy lei and a pair of sunglasses
when they check in. Connecting rooms are in the Historic Wing, straight out of
the 1920s, when steamships sailed to Hawaii. The rooms feature carved wooden
entry doors, four-poster canopy beds, flowered wallpaper, and period furniture.
The older kids, say 12 and above, will really love it here. Check for special pack-
age rates, when at certain times of the year they offer as much as 35% off rack
rates and meals. (In fact, you can get a deal in which kids 12 and under eat for
free with a paying adult.)
In the culinary department, the Surf Room is the place to take the kids. Not
only is it known for its elaborate seafood buffets, but it has child-friendly ameni-
ties like a kids' menu, highchairs, and booster seats. The hotel also offers the
year-round Keiki Aloha Program, which features activities that families can do
together (including excursions) and a complete child-care program with a range
of activities for children ages 5 to 12.
If you have especially active kids and need to do laundry every other day,
coin-operated washers and dryers are located next door at the mammoth Shera-
ton Waikiki. (See review below.)
2259 Kalakaua Ave. (at Royal Hawaiian Ave., on the ocean side of the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center), Hon-
olulu, HI 96815. & 800/325-3535 or 808/923-7311. Fax [phone]. www.sheraton.com. 527 units.
$380-$655 double; from $865 suite. Extra person $80. Children 17 and under stay free in parent's room. Cribs
free, rollaway beds $85. Ask about Sheraton's Escape package rates, with rates starting at $239. AE, MC, V.