The Waikiki Beachcomber by Outrigger, formally the Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber, is a 496 room hotel right in the heart of Honolulu on the main Kalakaua Avenue, next door to the brand new International Market Place, and just 1 block from the famous Waikiki Beach.  The Outrigger Hotel Group recently purchased this property from Holiday Inn in late 2017 and had their soft re-opening under the new name 1st February 2018, before embarking on their ambitious renovation plans.

 

Outrigger Group have just upgraded the hotel to a 4-star property with a $35m refurbishment of the hotel, which included all guest rooms, restaurants, infrastructure and all public areas.  It is now a light, and modern property, showcasing art from local contemporary photographers and artists, natural wood Hawaiian designs and a calming decor of soft, muted beach and ocean tones, with splashes of bright turquoise blue and soft gold.

 

The new Guest Room categories are Waikiki (city) View, Partial and Ocean View,  Deluxe Ocean View, plus the spacious Junior Suites, 1-Bed Ocean View Suite and 2-Bed Beachcomber Suite.

 

Standard Guest Rooms offer 1 King, or 2 Double beds, modern ensuite bathroom with bath/shower, spacious vanity and complimentary toiletries, complimentary Wi-Fi Internet access, tea and coffee making facilities, under counter fridge, air conditioning and sliding patio doors leading to a furnished balcony.  The Waikiki View rooms have views over the city and the mountains behind, the Partial Ocean View rooms have a view of the ocean from the balcony, usually more to the side than straight in front, whereas the Ocean View Rooms either are close to the beach-end of the building looking slightly sideways along Waikiki Beach towards Diamond Head or directly face the sea in front, 1 block away.   The Deluxe Ocean View Guest Rooms are the same as other rooms, but are located on higher floors offering a panoramic view over many of the neighbouring hotels to the sea. Connecting Guest Rooms are available.  The Junior Suites offer 2 Double beds, plus a sitting area with double sofa bed, ideal for families. 1- and 2-bedroom Suites offer separate bedrooms with king or double beds, separate living area with sofas and chairs, dining area, spacious balconies and 1 or 2 ensuite bathrooms.

 

Dining at the Waikiki Beachcomber by Outrigger is at the brand new Maui Brewing Company restaurant, just off the main lobby.  It has just completed (2018) a multi-million dollar renovation and offers 36 unique, small brewery craft beers and an eclectic menu of fresh, island-inspired dishes, including fresh local seafood, hand made pizza and great steaks and burgers.

 

You also have the choice of the hip Hawaiian Aroma Caffe, which serves 'Hawaiian-grown coffee with an Italian flair', paninis, sandwiches, pastries, acai bowls (like a thick breakfast smoothie with various healthy toppings) cold drinks and snacks.  There is also the Ku'ai Market convenience store just off the lobby with serves soft drinks, snacks and alcoholic beverages.

 

If you want something more substantial to eat, the whole of downtown Honolulu is at your feet.  Adjacent to the hotel is the brand new International Market Place, which only opened late August 2016, after 2 1/2 years construction and is now a spacious, cosmopolitan shopping, dining and gathering area that has nightly hula shows.  The Waikiki Beach Walk is another area nearby with a range of shops, bars and restaurants to enjoy, as well as all the many restaurants around the area and in other nearby hotels and resorts.

 

The Concierge and Activity desk can advise you and book a range of tours and excursions around the island; take a bike or hike up the famous Diamond Head Crater, book a tour aaround historic Pearl Harbour or a day tour around the island, maybe?  The beachfront of Waikiki beach is just 1 block from the hotel, about a 5 minute stroll.  Within the hotel, you have an outdoor pool and jacuzzi with sun terrace (refurbished March 2019), a spa, a well equipped fitness centre with a wide range of machines, and a Macy's department store on the ground floor.  The Business centre has computors with internet access, and as part of the daily resort fee charged by the hotel ($30 + tax per room per night) you have unlimited rides around town on the Waikiki Connection Trolley bus.

 

The Waikiki Beachcomber by Outrigger is a nice hotel in a really great location, right in the centre of all the fun, and at a reasonable price for the area.  Definitely a property for you to consider for your Honolulu stay.

 

Click HERE to visit the hotel's own website

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