The Royal Hawaiian Review: Inside Waikiki's Pink Palace
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BOTTOM LINE
The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, is the iconic pink beachfront landmark that has defined Waikiki since 1927. I booked it on Bonvoy points and received the single biggest-value suite upgrade of my life as a Platinum elite, an ocean-view historic-tower suite worth around $2,000 a night. It is best for travelers who want history, service, and a real sense of place on Waikiki Beach, and the value gets even better when you redeem points over peak dates.
Some hotels are just places to sleep, and some are landmarks you plan a trip around. The Royal Hawaiian is the second kind. Opened in 1927, the "Pink Palace of the Pacific" is one of the first and most famous hotels ever built in Waikiki, and its pink Spanish-Moorish facade is one of the most recognizable sights in Hawaii.
On my stay I booked with Bonvoy points, came in as a Platinum elite, and got an upgrade that still makes me smile. What sets this property apart is that the history is not a gimmick. The grounds sit on land once owned by Hawaiian royalty, the gardens are lush and quiet in the middle of busy Waikiki, and the service matches the reputation. This is a Luxury Collection resort, so the price is real, but points and elite status can turn it into a standout value.
Booking the Royal Hawaiian
The Royal Hawaiian is a top-tier Marriott, so cash rates commonly run in the several-hundred-dollar range and climb higher in peak season. Award nights typically land somewhere in the range of the 80,000s to 100,000s in Bonvoy points, which can be an excellent value when cash rates spike. I booked on points, and once you factor in the roughly $2,000 suite upgrade I received, the redemption was one of the best I have ever made. Here is how the upgrade played out in the video: about five days before my one-night stay, my Marriott Platinum status landed me a garden-view suite in the historic wing, and at check-in they bumped me again to an ocean view — a suite that was going for over $2,000 a night during my dates. I also had an Amex Offer for high-end Marriott brands that took another $150 off the bill, which sweetened an already unbelievable deal.
Plan for a daily resort fee and paid parking, so build those into your comparison against a cash night. Elite benefits I saw as a Platinum included the standout suite upgrade, a breakfast or food-and-beverage benefit depending on how the program is running, and late checkout on request. The value of an award night here is highest over peak dates, since the points cost does not climb as steeply as the dollar price.
Best cards for booking
To get the most from a stay here, the cards I would reach for are the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, and the Amex Platinum.
Location
The Royal Hawaiian sits directly on Waikiki Beach, tucked behind the Royal Hawaiian Center and sharing grounds with the Sheraton Waikiki next door. From the airport you are about a 25 to 40 minute drive depending on traffic, and rideshare is the easy choice. Once you arrive, you are in the heart of Waikiki with the beach right in front of you. One cost to plan for from the video: beach chairs are an extra charge — two chairs and an umbrella ran over $70 a day when I visited — and they do sell out during busy periods, so reserve early if a set-up on the sand is part of your plan.
The approach to the hotel is part of the charm. You walk in off Kalakaua Avenue through a garden path and coconut grove, and the noise of the shopping district falls away. That buffer of green is rare on Waikiki Beach, and it is a big part of why the property feels like an oasis rather than another beachfront tower.
Because you are right next to the Sheraton Waikiki and behind the Royal Hawaiian Center, you have shops, restaurants, and services within a two minute walk, yet the hotel itself stays calm and private. Getting to island attractions is easy too, from a Diamond Head hike at sunrise to a drive to the North Shore. You get a quiet, storied base in the middle of everything.
Lobby and Check-In
Walking in through the coconut grove sets the tone before you reach the front desk. The public spaces carry the 1927 character, with the pink facade, arched doorways, and a lobby that opens toward the gardens and the sea. It feels less like a check-in counter and more like arriving somewhere with a story.
As a Platinum member on an award booking, my check-in was smooth and warm, and it was here that the staff let me know about the upgrade. That first impression matches the Luxury Collection billing, unhurried and personal rather than processed.
The Room
The Royal Hawaiian splits its accommodations between the original Historic Wing and the newer Mailani Tower, each with a distinct feel. The Historic Wing rooms carry the 1927 character with updated comforts, while the Mailani Tower rooms are more contemporary and come with private ocean-view lanais. Your choice comes down to whether you want vintage charm or modern polish. From my stay: the Makai Tower is a roughly 20-story high-rise that puts you noticeably closer to the beach, while the historic wing is pure 1920s atmosphere — my suite there was a king room with a massive living room and wet bar, and even the elevators have wonderful old map-of-Hawaii art. One honest note: my bedroom picked up some late-night street noise and honking, so if quiet matters to you, an ocean-facing room is your best bet.
Now the upgrade. As a Bonvoy Platinum member on an award booking, I was moved into an ocean-view historic-tower suite that was selling for around $2,000 a night, the biggest-value upgrade I have ever received at any hotel. Waking up to that view over Waikiki Beach, in a suite steeped in nearly a century of history, was a highlight of my travels.
Upgrades like this are never guaranteed and depend entirely on availability, so I would not book expecting it. That it happened here tells you how well the property can treat its elites. If you are chasing an upgrade, arriving on a lower-occupancy weekday gives you a better shot than a packed holiday weekend.
Pools and Amenities
The Royal Hawaiian has its own beachfront pool and a stretch of prime Waikiki sand marked by the hotel's signature pink umbrellas. That pink-umbrella beach setup is iconic, and lounging there with Diamond Head in view is the postcard image of a Waikiki vacation. The pool area is more intimate than the sprawling deck next door at the Sheraton, which suits the resort's quieter feel.
Because the property shares grounds with the Sheraton Waikiki, guests can walk over and use those facilities too, which expands your pool options. The gardens and coconut grove are amenities in their own right, giving you shaded, peaceful spots to relax away from the beach crowds. Add in a fitness center, a spa, and the usual resort services and the amenity package is well rounded, if smaller in footprint than the mega-resorts nearby.
Food and Drink
Dining at the Royal Hawaiian leans into its sense of place. The oceanfront Mai Tai Bar is the original, the spot associated with the classic cocktail, and sipping one there with live music and a Diamond Head view is a must-do even if you are not staying at the hotel. The setting does a lot of the work, and the drinks live up to the name. A few meal notes from the video: breakfast at Surf Lanai (open 6:30 to 10:30) was covered by my elite benefit, and I paid the small upgrade for the pink pancakes — absolutely delicious and very on-brand. For dinner, the Mai Tai Bar and Azure open up in the evenings right on the beach, and that side of the hotel gets busy and lively at night, so make reservations if you want a table. I will go further than that: the Royal Hawaiian Bakery served the best baked goods I have ever had at any property in the world. My Bonvoy elite check-in card came with a few free items — about $28 worth — and after those were exhausted I kept going back and paying happily for more.
For a full meal, the resort's oceanfront restaurant serves refined dishes right on the beach, and the on-site bakery is a lovely stop for coffee and a pastry. The property also hosts an oceanfront luau, which is one of the more atmospheric ways to do a luau in Waikiki.
My routine settled into a nice rhythm around the dining. A pastry and coffee from the bakery in the morning, a day split between the pink-umbrella beach and exploring, then a mai tai as the sun dropped behind Diamond Head. If you want a bigger night out, the Royal Hawaiian Center and the rest of Waikiki are right behind you.
Service
Service is where this resort separates itself. The staff struck the balance between attentive and unobtrusive, remembering small preferences and making the stay feel personal. That level of care is exactly what you hope for at a Luxury Collection property, and it is a big reason the price and the points make sense.
It showed up in small ways throughout the stay, from the warmth at check-in to the ease of getting late checkout and a good beach spot. The quiet corners of the grounds and the spa round out a package built for slowing down. The little touches from my visit are what stick: some activities are actually included in the resort fee — a history walk, lei making, even stand-up paddleboard lessons taught entirely on land, which made me chuckle — and your pink wristband room key doubles as a keepsake. There is an old-timey US mail chute running through every floor of the hotel, the first-come-first-served rocking chairs in the public spaces are deservedly popular, and while the spa is lovely, massages run around $250 to $300, so budget accordingly.
Who Should Stay Here
Great fit if
Look elsewhere if
You want real history and a genuine sense of place on Waikiki Beach
You want the biggest pool deck and the flashiest resort on the beach
You hold Bonvoy status and want a high-value points redemption
You are trying to spend as little as possible per night in Waikiki
You value quiet gardens and personal, polished service
You need a huge, party-scene pool with slides and swim-up bars
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Royal Hawaiian called the Pink Palace?
Its pink Spanish-Moorish facade, which has stood on Waikiki Beach since 1927, earned it the nickname "the Pink Palace of the Pacific." It is one of the first and most famous hotels ever built in Waikiki.
What is the difference between the Historic Wing and Mailani Tower?
The Historic Wing carries the original 1927 character with modern updates, while the Mailani Tower rooms are more contemporary and include private ocean-view lanais. Pick vintage charm or modern polish based on your preference.
Can Bonvoy elites really get a big upgrade here?
It can happen. As a Platinum member on an award booking I was moved into an ocean-view historic-tower suite selling for around $2,000 a night. Upgrades depend on availability and are never guaranteed, so do not book expecting one.
How many Marriott points per night is the Royal Hawaiian?
Award rates typically fall in the range of the 80,000s to 100,000s in Bonvoy points depending on demand. When peak cash rates run several hundred dollars a night, that can be a strong redemption.
Is the Mai Tai Bar worth visiting?
Yes. It is the original Mai Tai Bar, set oceanfront with live music and Diamond Head views. It is a great stop even if you are not staying at the hotel.
Is there a resort fee?
Yes, plan for a daily resort fee and paid parking if you drive. Factor those costs in when you compare an award night against a cash rate.
Bottom Line
The Royal Hawaiian is one of those rare hotels where the reputation is fully earned. The pink palace, the coconut grove, the pink-umbrella beach, and the original Mai Tai Bar add up to a Waikiki stay that no newer property can copy. Booking it on points, and landing that roughly $2,000 suite upgrade as a Platinum elite, made it the best-value luxury stay I have had.
If you carry Bonvoy status and have the points to spend, put the Royal Hawaiian high on your Hawaii list. Book when cash rates are steep, request an ocean view, and give yourself a sunset at the Mai Tai Bar. It is the kind of stay you remember long after the trip is over.
