Waikiki is one of the most popular destinations in Honolulu. There are so many choices for hotels. Fortunately, I had the chance to experience the Trump hotel, the most luxurious hotel in Waikiki.
Booking
American Express was running a promotion on the Fine Hotels & Resort Program. The promotion was stay two nights and get the third night free. Also a complimentary room upgrade was awarded along with early/late check in. The FHR program normally gives a $100 dining credit, but it was instead a spa credit. Free breakfast for two was also included. Booking through the FHR program with the Amex Platinum will give the cardholder 5x points. Sadly, this was not a benefit during the summer of 2018.
Location
The only negative aspect of this hotel is the location. It is not a beachfront property. However it is only a short walk to beach access. The hotel is also very close to Kalakaua Avenue. Kalakaua is known for its many restaurants and designer stores.
Check-In
I arrived at the hotel at 8PM. Check-in was a short ride up the elevator, on the same level as In-Yo Cafe & the pool. Check in was very smooth and the lady who checked us in was very nice. Everyone in my party was given a cool towel and glass of water. (the check in desk can be seen in the third picture)
Room
The room we booked was a deluxe one-bedroom partial ocean view suite. There was no upgrade to the next available room. However, this room was impressive! Below will be pictures of the entire suite. Afterwards, I will break down the different areas of the suite. The room number was 1022.
Walking past the hallway reveals the kitchen and living room. Turn down service was already completed when we checked in.
The master bedroom could be accessed walking past the living room. The large bathroom could be accessed either through the bedroom or hallway.
Kitchen
The kitchen featured a stove-top, microwave, dishwasher, wine cooler and fridge. The fridge was hidden behind a cabinet. Housekeeping constantly filled the fridge with complimentary water. Cabinets were fully stocked if one wanted to cook. However, the hotel does offer a chef which can cook meals! (for a charge)
Living Room
Just beyond the kitchen was the living room. The best part about the living room was the access to the balcony which featured decent views.
Master Bedroom & Bathroom
The bathroom was well stocked with plenty of amenities. A Japanese toilet was provided! Even the toilet paper was Trump branded! Heated floors felt great, even though it was July! Amenities are made by Natura & Co. the largest cosmetic brand in Brazil.
The washer/dryer is located in the hallway.
Dining
In-Yo Cafe
At Trump Waikiki there are three restaurants. In-Yo Cafe serves breakfast. BLT Steakhouse and Wai’olu Ocean Cuisine are open for dinner. Room service is also available. Room chiefs can cook fresh meals en suite.
Breakfast can be booked included in the room rate via American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts or Virtuoso. However, the normal cost of the buffet is $34 per adult. For children under twelve there is a discount. The buffet featured mainly Asian or American options. Quality was decent. On my first morning, I ate from the buffet. The other two mornings I ordered a la carte. I recommend ordering a la carte as it is better quality than the buffet. However, there are really good breakfast options nearby from local restaurants. My favorite breakfast place in Honolulu is Goofy Cafe. This restaurant serves all organic food at a reasonable price. It was only a three minute walk from the Hilton Hawaiian Village and is a ten minute walk from the Trump Hotel.
In-Yo Cafe is located on the lobby level. Turn left at the check in desk and walk make another left before reaching the stairs for the pool. Service was decent in the mornings, nothing mind blowing. However, they were helpful for those who wanted to order a la carte. There was never a wait for tables.
Here are some pictures of the buffet offerings.
The hidden secret for breakfast is a la carte. While they offer omelets, I would suggest going to the omelet bar and customizing your own. I decided upon ordering the pancakes and was not disappointed! The pancakes were even Trump branded which exceeded my expectations.
BLT Steak
The signature dining option at the Trump hotel is BLT Steak. This restaurant is only open for dinner and is located on the ground level. Pass the valet and turn right going down to the very end of the hallway will reveal the entrance. This restaurant can be very expensive. However, this is top quality steak and Mr. Trump’s hotels are well known for their steak.
The servers are professional and knowledgeable about the menu. Servers can recommend an excellent wine pairing for your meal. Cocktails can also be served, a customer favorite is the Mai Tai. Steaks were one of the best I have ever had. If you are into steaks this is a unforgettable experience! Bread is served as an appetizer and I had creme brulee to finish the meal!
Pool
The pool was small but nice. Obviously, it was crowded. During the summer, expect kids to be at the pool! The hotel is a skyscraper so space is at a premium. Most families would prefer to swim at the beach. Walk towards the In-Yo-Cafe but go up the stairs to reach the pool.
Service
Trump Waikiki service is worthy of a five star hotel.
Valet is offered every night for those who have rented a car. The flat rate is $35. The hotel does offer EV charging, included in the valet rate. What surprised me the most was the valet knew how to work Tesla vehicles and how to charge it. Next week posts will be about renting cars in Hawaii!
Housekeeping did a fabulous job every night! Amenities were always restocked and they gave everyone a set. I love saving amenities so my next trips will feature Trump amenities! However, the hotel noticed that it was my birthday!
Staff also handed out bags every time you went to the beach. These bags featured fruit and water. I stuffed a couple in my suitcase and my parents love using them around the house. The hotel encouraged you to keep them, so do not feel like you are obligated to return.
One feature I appreciated was the washing station for you feet.
My favorite aspect about the service was that they left us stay in the room for as long as we needed it. We were entitled to late checkout. However, staff asked us what time our flight would leave. It was a red eye flight departing around 9 PM and the staff advised us to just check out at 7 PM.
Conclusion
The Trump Waikiki is the best hotel in Honolulu. It also carries a hefty price tag. Look for free night deals on the Trump website. Booking through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts or Virtuoso will provide amazing benefits and they offer free nights. Another option would be to use the fourth night free benefit from the Citi Prestige.
My only negative about the hotel is the location. This cannot be changed and its only a two minute walk to the beach. I tried to look for things to criticize; because I always believe there is room for improvement. I just could not find anything! Unfortunately, I did not bother paying extra to try the spa. The Spa is a service many people love to enjoy. I highly recommend checking out the Trump hotel in Waikiki, or the other ten hotels in the brand.
Trip Report
This post is part of the 18th birthday in Hawaii! If you would like to see other posts just click on the links below. As always, thanks for reading!