Travelers to Honolulu have their pick of hotels, ranging from the luxiourious to the budget conscious. Skyscrapers, restaurants, and tchotchke shops line Waikiki Beach. It reminds me more of New York City or Miami than the remote port towns and resort communities that line the beaches of Maui or The Big Island. The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club is a welcomed reprieve from the hustling Honolulu.
The boutique hotel recently opened (formerly the Hokele Suites) and greets guests with a 1960s retro beach vibe. Think Elvis' Blue Hawaii meets Don Draper. It's hard not to feel effortlessly cool and relaxed upon walking into the main atrium where guests casually sunbathe by the iconic "Wish You Were Here" pool or share a meal outside of Mahina & Sun's. Bloggers and Instagrammers aren't hard to find. Between the iconic pool, local art, and coffee/botique Olive & Oliver, the property is highly #instagrammable.
The Penthouse
After a few days in an Airbnb on The Big Island, I knew my family and I would prefer to have a little wiggle room for our two days in Oahu. Most hotels offer a two double/queen bed suite with a mini fridge and a couch for $400-$550 a night (avg. Waikiki weekend rates). Compare this to our private, 2BD/2BR Kona condo costing $275 a night!
We landed on The Surfjack, because of the non-traditional hotel experience it promised. For $400 a night, we stayed in a one bedroom suite penthouse at The Surfjack, and the experience didn't disappoint. We had a private, oversized lanai that wrapped around the corner of the room. The lanai had a table, two chaise lounges, and great views of the city center (A.K.A people's apartments and offices next door). It was so comfortable, in fact, that I fell asleep on the lanai after a filling meal at Roy's Waikiki.
The one-bedroom penthouse featured a main living room with ample closet and drawer storage. There was a wet-bar with a safe and mini-fridge. The living room sofa was very comfortable, and converted into a pull out bed. Both the living room and the master bedroom had access to the wrap around lanai. And I can't forget to mention the bathroom. The shower was divine with a pressurized rain shower and a black stone floor. The bath products were locally sourced and smelled...like Hawaii.
The Amenities
There's a $25.00 a day fee that includes a $10 dinner credit at Mahina & Sun’s, a beach cruiser bicycle rental for up to 4 hours, Morning Surfjack blend coffee at Mahina & Sun’s, daily local newspaper, local snack basket, usage of a Swim Club Tote, Towels, Beach Chairs to use during stay, and WiFi. If you fall in love with you Swim Club tote (like I did) you can purchase yours for $25.00 at the front desk.
The Experience
The Surfjack has a calendar of events each month that range from yoga, pop-up shops, live music, etc. You can learn more here: https://surfjack.com/experiences/. I personally loved that they featured movies by the pool each night (pictured below).
The Location
412 Lewers St. is an easy walk to the beach. Along the way you'll find lots of cute boutiques to slip into for a novelty t-shirt or pair of pineapple sunglasses. While some travelers might overlook The Surfjack because it's not directly on the beach, I found this to be one of the best reasons to stay here. It's effortlessly quiet, chic, and super cool, without the bustle of nearby Waikiki.
Planning your trip to Hawaii? Visit the Hawaii page on my blog for tips, videos and recommendations.
AB
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