Sheraton Moana Surfrider - Need Advice
 

We have booked a room at the Moana Surfrider. Now I'm getting nervous that the room will be too small. Can anyone give me an acurate discription of what they are like? I understand the hotel is beautiful but are the rooms going to make me regret staying here? We have a city view with a king bed (all that was available). Any help would be welcome. Seems like people either love or hate this hotel. Thanks

Hi Fun,

We stayed at the Moana Surfrider about a year ago and plan on staying there again in February.

As you, we had a run of house room with a city view (and this is the type of room we will book again).

While the room was not closet-sized, it was not lavish. There was ample room for the bed, a small table and two chairs, a dresser and an armoire for the TV. There was a closet with folding doors and a average-to-small sized bathroom. The furnishings were not "stuffed" in the room, and there was room for 2 adults to comfortably move around. It's not a suite, but it's adequate room.

We love the Moana. It's a small enough hotel so you can get to known the staff during your stay. If you will be laying on the beach during the day, be sure and get out to the beach early (8 a.m. or so) and have the Cabanna Boys reserve you a table and chairs in the sand. That way you can enjoy the beach and choose whether or not to be in the sun or shade. In addition, the area is roped off from the rest of the public beach area, and the staff will serve cocktails and food to you right on the beach.

The hotel is small enough also so you never have to worry about the pool area being crowded.

In addition, it's so nice to just sit out on the veranda at night in the rocking chairs and watch the world go by...

As you can tell, we are ones that love the hotel. Just be prepared for nothing special in the rooms -- not to big, but not too small either!

Jean

Thanks for the reply Jean, I feel more comfortable now. We do not need lavish and don't plan to spend much time in the room but didn't want the last three days of our vacation to be a disappointment because of accomodations. (The first 5 days we'll be in Maui). The tips on the beach area were much appreciated.

Would still like to hear from others who have stayed here. Please post your likes and dislikes about this property.

If you enjoy staying in hotels that transport you to another era you will enjoy the Moana. It is steeped in Old Hawaii atmosphere. Lovely lobby, beautiful veranda with rocking chairs, the Banyan Tree bar, and the beachfront make it a special place. However, the rooms are pretty average and I have read complaints about upkeep and service. See "Rants and Raves" if you haven't done so already.

One perk at the Moana (which is available to anyone whether a guest or not) is their free historical tour. They offer it Mon/Wed/Fri at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m, I believe. It takes an hour or so. It's very interesting and the tour guide tells you a lot about Waikiki's history as well as the hotel's.

I must agree with the other posters about the rocking chairs - they're terrific to relax in. Also the beach bar - I had a yummy lava flow drink and another called - fittingly - "A Day at the Beach."

Although the Moana has the smallest of the four hotel rooms we stayed at, it was one of our favorite hotels. I chalked the small room up to the fact that the hotel is in a city and space is tight (but I have no other experience at any other Honolulu hotel to compare it to). We stayed there at the end of our trip and we did not mind that the room was smaller, we were in a deluxe oceanfront room. I think you will be happy with your choice unless you are expecting a big room. I have traveled to Europe many times and have stayed in much smaller rooms. Order a tropical itch at the Banyan tree bar, it comes with a back-scratcher. I would defiantly stay at this hotel again.

Aloha

I think the Moana (Waikiki's oldest hotel) is one of Hawaii's loveliest. But yes, the rooms are small in the historic building and only a few of them have balconies. Each floor of the 4-5 story building is crafted out of a different wood; I highly recommend the tour. We have also stayed in the Moana "annex", it used to be called the Diamond Wing, maybe it still is. It's about 7-9 stories high, probably built in the 50's. Rooms a little larger but not anything special except for a great ocean view.

I agree with Jean -- the rooms are not very big but not to small, either. We stayed at the Moana in March and LOVED it. Absolutely gorgeous. You won't be disappointed!!