We have an upcoming trip in February and have booked one night at the Ihilani. The remainder of our time will be spent in Waikiki. I chose this hotel specifically because it was "out of the way" and might provide a respite from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki. Has anyone had any experience with this property?

I've walked through the property and it's gorgeous. It's 30 minutes to Waikiki by highway, 10 minutes to small stores in nearest town.

I think you would be better off going to the Kahala Mandarin Oriental instead, only about 15 min. away! Not only is the Ihilani too far but the "atmosphere" is not as upscale as you might think!

bob, what is wrong with the atmosphere at the ihlani. i also was thinking of staying there in april for 4 nights. i thought it might be like one of the quieter resorts on the out islands since it is fairly secluded. is it that much better in waikiki or why cant you just drive there from the ihlani. any help would be appreciated

Hi,
We were in Oahu in November for 2 weeks. We stayed at the Manadrin. Before going we checked out both hotels on the web. It seemed that the Manadrin was nicer. While there, we drove out to the Ihilani. I am so glad we didn't stay there. The beach reminded me of a lake. It is man made. The pool area was wall to wall people. The hotel has lot's of marble etc. But, after checking it out, I don't think I would ever stay there. It reminded me of any hotel anywhere. The Manadrin is a total class act all the way. Also, if you stay at the Manadrin you can swim with the dolphins!!Just my 2cents.
Deb

We stayed at the Ihilani over Christmas this year. I would say that you have nothing to worry about with respect to your one night stay there. It's a beautiful hotel, and I thought the atmosphere was quite nice and more than adequate for a luxury resort. I would agree with the statement from a previous poster that the pool area was crowded, but the beach was beautiful. Yes, it is manmade, but I didn't think that marred any of its beauty. It provided nice warm water for swimming, probably due to the wavebreak that keeps the water warm within the cove. The scenery along the beach was gorgeous. There's plenty of cabanas and beach chairs for all the guests, and the staff have a full supply of inflatable rafts and float chairs for floating in the water. I thought the rooms at the Ihilani were wonderful. Some of the largest non-suite rooms and bathrooms i've been in. I found them to be nicer than the ones at the Four Seasons Wailea in Maui. The atmosphere at the resort is quiet and serene and the grounds are beautifully designed and maintained. It's about a 45 minute drive to the heart of Waikiki, but from your post, it seems that your whole intent is to spend a day away from the hustle and bustle before diving in during the rest of your trip.

I do understand that the Mandarin Oriental is very nice as well. But, I wouldn't worry about your stay at the Ihilani. I think you'll enjoy the beauty and peacefulness that it provides. Have a great trip!

I agree with Stephanie's assessment. No one's mentioned the great spa, world - class tennis courts, and Ihilani's golf course! Azul restaurant is also very special
The pool is definitely crowded, but that's minor. Just go to the lap pool at the spa to get away from the keiki . The rooms are really quite nice. The Mandarin is a bit more urban, although their beach is very nice. We have enjoyed our stays there, tool

Biggest downside to the Ihilani is that it's been sold a couple times and is now a Marriott, so it's used by quite a few conventioneers and such.

By the way, though I'm not totally in agreement with the numbers, the Mandarin Oriental (Oahu) was just voted by readers of Conde Nast Traveler as having the best rooms of any hotel in the USA!

In all honesty, I wonder about these surveys. The Mandarin rooms are quite nice, but I can't objectively say they are this country's best. That just might set up an unrealistic set of expectations.

I *do* think it's quite cool that Travel and Leisure just named Alan Wong's the USA's # 6 restaurant!

At any rate, Oahu is a great travel destination, with world-class hotels and restaurants, and much more.

Pure Heaven. I stayed at the Ihilani pre-JW Marriott. It was an idyllic experience. The spa was incredible and the spacious rooms were gorgeously appointed. We left our sliding glass doors open to fall asleep to the sound of the waves lapping on the beach. The pool area seemed crowded, but there is enough wonderful grounds (beach and grassy area) to pull up a chaise lounge and grab some sun. As for the manmade lagoon, whoever knew? Floating in the cresentlike bay was heavenly. The allure of this property is because of its location...."out of the way". It is luxurious and a retreat away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki. Book now, you won't be disappointed.

Since you'll be there one night I think it will be the luck of the draw whether or not your stay will be enjoyable. If there is a business meeting or wedding on the day you're there forget about relaxing. You may want to call ahead to see if any of those are going on while you stay. I have written a rant about it on this site. The fact room prices have been on a downward spiral for the past two years tells me that others are finding problems with the hotel too. I do however think that side of the island will be peaceful and quiet, I'm just not sure about the hotel.