During our stay, we rented a car for a couple of days. Avis is just down the street and I would pick up the car in the morning and either return the car in the afternoon or return it the next morning. I would set out for Avis and by the time I returned to the hotel, the Mrs. was downstairs in the lobby with the Pupster and his car seat.

The parking valets/bell hops were very helpful getting stuff into and out of the car and even helped the Mrs. install the car seat a couple of times. Just good helpful type of folks...tip them a couple of bucks because their help was great.

The RH is pretty much right in the thick of things on Waikiki. You can walk to everything and the beach is really nice. We found everything to be no more than a 10-15 minute leisurely walk (with a toddler in tow mind you) in any direction so save the car for just the special trips (Pearl Harbor, North Shore, Dole Pineapple plantation etc.).

You can take the shuttle buses to the big nearby shopping centers ($1.50?). There are what seems to be a billion convenience stores on Waikiki (ABC Stores) and their prices are pretty decent for bottled water, snacks, inflatable pool floats/mattress etc.

We really enjoyed our stay at the RH very much. During the 10 days we were there, the RH was packed solid. A film crew was staying there for a whole week filming an episode for the TV show that one of the Wayans brothers has right now (I think it is called My Family and Me or something like that?). Even still, we were upgraded to a junior suite. Granted, we were facing the driveway, but we really didn't notice the noise any. And, considering how small the regular rooms are, the extra space of a suite is much better than a little better view. Our suite was a bigger single room with a sofa/arm chair/coffee table sitting area, a writing desk and then a wet bar area. The bathroom was the only disappointment as it appeared to be straight out of the 60's. But since we didn't plan on spending much time in the bathroom, we really didn't care.

For the Platinum Amenity I chose the fruit/snack basket. This was a really nice looking big basket with all sorts of hawaiian style potato chips, drinks, candy, nuts etc. Definitely the nicest amenity I have ever received. The hotel also left a small loaf of banana nut bread with a note card explaining the tradition of bread for all the guests. The bread was quite yummy and was eagerly eaten for breakfast the next morning.

The cleaning ladies all knew my name and called me Mr. Onedog by the end of the 2nd day. Maybe since I tipped them well daily this helped? Tons of extra towels and toiletries were left in the room every day. The pink bathrobes were nice and thick and one day a toddler sized version showed up in the Pupster's crib---nice touch and the Mrs. was very impressed with that!!

Every night the cleaning crew would turn down the beds and bring new towels. They would leave little RH chocolates and a little note card that gave a brief bit of history on about the RH. The sheets were very soft and comfortable and the pillows were feather pillows. Two bottles of water were left in our room every day so we always had something to drink if we didn't make it to the ABC convenience stores.

Starting at 3 pm you can call down to the pool attendants and reserve beach chairs on "the rich kids sandbox" for the next day. The little private beach felt just so wonderfully decadent because it is roped off from the rest of the beach. The other hotels all have private beach chairs and umbrellas available for thier guests (none as nice as the RH's though), but only the RH'w were roped off so that the hoi poloi wouldn't disturb you. Lazily sitting/laying/sleeping on the beach chair under the umbrella sipping a drink while the world walked by you was just fantastic. It sort of made you feel like that is what a vacation is supposed to be...luxurious and other people wishing they were you. If you don't get down to the beach before 8 a.m., most of the beach chairs are all claimed and reserved already so you will end up with the hoi poloi laying on the sand with the massess. The best secret I learned was that starting at 7 a.m. you can call down to the beach attendants and they will reserve a chair for you. In all 10 days, we never didn't get a set of chairs. By the 3rd-4th day, the beach attendants (Kim was the beach manager and was very nice and friendly) already knew our names and would check us in, hand out and take back the beach towels, without having to ask our names.

I would get up early in the morning and go for a walk along the beach and around the RH's grounds. Very peaceful gardens and just a beautiful hotel. Yes, some of the furnishings were looking a bit worn and tired (sort of expected for a hotel right on the beach that gets as much business & foot traffic as the RH does), but still a very beautiful hotel.

During our stay there must have been at least 5 weddings and/or formal events at the RH. The gardens and facilities are easily the nicest looking on Waikiki and you were sure to be pleased to have your wedding there and have your bridal pictures taken at the RH.

A bit OT, but one day the Mrs. called back to her parents on the mainland to check in and let them know where we were. She told them we were at the RH on Waikiki. Turns out that the Mrs. dad had proposed to her mom in one of the gardens at the RH many, many years ago.

Overall a very nice stay (10 days for only 35k SPG points!) and we can't wait to go back again.

[This message has been edited by onedog (edited 10-16-2002).]