Aston Waikiki Sunset

We booked this hotel through Air Canada Vacations, in part due to the fact the rooms had a full kitchen, and also it was a price point that was affordable. Check-in on our evening of arrival, around 11PM was efficient and super friendly owing to the desk clerk, Tori. She...

We booked this hotel through Air Canada Vacations, in part due to the fact the rooms had a full kitchen, and also it was a price point that was affordable. Check-in on our evening of arrival, around 11PM was efficient and super friendly owing to the desk clerk, Tori. She went out of her way to not only welcome, us but to arrange for a room upgrade to a higher floor with more of an ocean view. The room was clean and tidy. The kitchen had a full size stove and fridge and enough plates and cutlery etc., to allow for basic in-room cooking an dining on the peninsula. The balcony had room for 2 patio chairs and a small triangular table, but ample enough for afternoon cocktails on the "lanai". The bed and bedding was fine and on a few occasions we had to ask for extra coffee packs but the staff was always very accomodating. We had our room serviced 4 times over 14 days with clean towels and a general tidying up. Garbage disposal is better done on your own at the end of the hall down the garbage chute. Bags are supplied. Access to the room on the 34th floor at all times during our 2-week stay was not a problem and the wait time for an elevator was always less than 5 minutes, often an elevator was waiting for us at the lobby level. Twice during our stay one elevator was under repairs but this did not seem to be an issue. The pool area on the 6th floor was OK, and best in the early morning till noon when the sun was focused on the area. The artificial grass area near the BBQ grills was a nice touch and there were plenty of lounge chairs everywhere. We enjoyed the convenient location, about 3 blocks to the beach and the transit bus stops right on Kuhio Ave nearby. The attached parking garage is not owned by the hotel but rather a separate company and was not terribly cheap at $35US per day (pay at the payment kiosk in the hotel lobby otherwise it is $45 per day). We always found plenty of spaces but be aware that the ceiling height is just around 6 feet so larger vehicles will have an issue. We took the recommendation of the Bell-Hop Mathew and used Tony's car service to return to the airport on departure day. Mathew was a very friendly face every day when we were leaving or returning and had a few tips on places to eat and things to see and do. All in all it was a great property to stay at if on a bit of a budget. Conveniently located, friendly staff, and slightly off the main drag make it worth checking out.

If you don't book direct, there is likely a resort fee charged here (like most other hotels in Waikiki) at $35 per night, which will be paid at the time of check-in. Even though we booked this stay at the last minute, the front desk gave us an ocean view...

If you don't book direct, there is likely a resort fee charged here (like most other hotels in Waikiki) at $35 per night, which will be paid at the time of check-in. Even though we booked this stay at the last minute, the front desk gave us an ocean view suite without asking - maybe because we came on a weekday? The view was good but being an older hotel, set further from the beach, there are other, taller hotels in your view, like the Marriott. Our room had a lanai (balcony) but it was dotted with bird droppings as they visit often. Still, you get clear views of Diamond Head. The bathroom has Hawaiian Sun body wash, shampoo, conditioner and lotion (but no mineral/reef safe sunscreen). A few notable other down sides are this hotel does not have a fancy filtered water machine like other nearby hotels have. This hotel does not lend out beach chairs, or paddle boards, or umbrellas like some other hotels do. This hotel does have 4 elevators, and while they move vertically fast through their 35+ floors, I never saw all four working at the same time. One elevator car has had a wood frame exposed to hold the wall signs fully open for years, according to a owner (this is both a hotel and private owner owned condo) I met in the elevator. The pool is only 5 ft / 1.5 m deep at maximum and faces the canal side. The gym didn't appear to have an elliptical machine when I checked (but space for one, so maybe it was just taken out?). Since we had the suite room, there was a microwave, induction stove, pots and pans, manual dish washing detergent, kitchen towels, paper towels, utensils, plates and medium-large refrigerator. There is also laundry machines on-site but we did not use and I don't think they are free. The resort fee pays for other benefits like admission to Honolulu Art Museum, and Bishop Science Museum; plus a daily paper, Honolulu Star Advertiser tucked in the door knob every morning. There are two DVDNow machines in the lobby, near security, and you get one rental coupon with your room. Housekeeping actually has an office on the 4th floor to get stuff like Hawaiian Paradise coffee. There's no hotel slippers provided or available, and no water bottle. Nearby the Honolulu Zoo is just a block over, and there's a farmer's market on Sundays mornings, The mini mart on-site but it is not an ABC so you can't earn free stuff from saving receipts, but the prices are comparable. You can rent or buy beach stuff here, too. We didn't park our car here, but I saw the parking garage was part of the hotel, which is actually plus, as you don't have to wait for valet, or cross a bridge or road to take another set of elevators. The hotel shows its age as there's no card key security for the elevator but there is around the clock security doing patrols. You can get beach towels from the front desk and they do mark it down on a clip board (rather old school). All in all a good value if you accept the caveats. Just try to get a room in the higher floors, as there's many wild chickens and roosters near the school and they like to crow in the morning.

We booked this hotel based on the website and the fact that my husband's family stayed there in the past, decades ago, and had a positive experience. The check in staff were friendly and efficient when we arrived. The hotel is dated and seems to be going through some renovation/construction/maintenance....

We booked this hotel based on the website and the fact that my husband's family stayed there in the past, decades ago, and had a positive experience. The check in staff were friendly and efficient when we arrived. The hotel is dated and seems to be going through some renovation/construction/maintenance. The first room we were given had two double beds, when we had booked a king size bed. It wouldn't have been a huge deal except my husband is 6'6 and would not have been able to fit on the twin bed. The sheets looked stiff and rough and the air conditioner was loud. When we called the front desk they agreed to move us to another room with a larger bed. When we got to that room, I walked into the bathroom and could see the small window next to the shower open and a ring of mold on the ceiling. (My husband does water and fire mitigation for a living.) We called the front desk and they sent someone up who said they would just paint over the mold. When my husband told them that that would not get rid of the problem, they discussed moving us to another room. At that point I had had it. The furniture was dated and dinged and it was just all-around not a room you wanted to spend any time in. The complimentary coffee was also open on the counter. The hotel reimbursed us easily, which I appreciated it. We ended up leaving and booking a hotel elsewhere on short notice. Hopefully they will be able to do some updating in the future.

It is an older hotel and needs a refresh; stained hallway carpets, slow elevators etc. But the rooms have a full kitchen and utensils, and BBQs are available in the swimming pool area : great for doing your breakfast or lunch in your room, besides BBQing outside etc. Service is...

It is an older hotel and needs a refresh; stained hallway carpets, slow elevators etc. But the rooms have a full kitchen and utensils, and BBQs are available in the swimming pool area : great for doing your breakfast or lunch in your room, besides BBQing outside etc. Service is a bit regimental and inflexible. Excellent location in Waikiki, close to the beach, shops, and bus stop