# 6 in our Waikiki map.

Hotel Name: .... Palms Hotel.
Category:......... 2 stars 2 stars
Address: ......... 1850 Ala Moana Blvd.

General description:
What we like about this hotel:
What you may not like about this hotel:

Hotel Picture
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General description:............................(Back to top)

  • Originally built in 1970 this 12 story building started operations as a Hotel under the name Waikiki Parkside until it was closed for renovation in 2003. It remained closed until late 2005 because black mold was found to be wide spread within building walls and chilling pipes what triggered a legal battle between the owners and the management company that ended in the termination of the contract. The property was then finished and sold to private owners and reopened with the name Aqua Palms towards the end of 2005 as a condo-hotel. It features an adequate common area with a small pool and an exercise room, the lobby is small but inviting and no steps or stairs are present from the street to the registration and elevators.
    Like all Aqua Hotels, the Aqua Palms hotel is a gay friendly facility that welcomes gay men, lesbian, bisexual, trans gender and straight.
    This hotel is number "1" within the green zone of our waikiki map, click here to see it's location in relation to other hotels in Waikiki.

What we like about this hotel:............................(Back to top)

  • All units have a microwave oven, mini-fridge, coffee maker and high speed internet.
  • Even though no garage security is foolproof, this particular hotel has a parking structure that closes with a curtain and can not be accessed unless you have an access card/code or it is opened via intercom from the front desk.
  • If you are planning to go to the beach closest to your hotel, the closest to the Palms is the beach in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village and that for many is the best area that Waikiki beach has to offer, you will have to walk around the Hilton and that may be somewhat long for many (about 15/20 minutes) but it is worth the stroll. Incidentally, Ala Moana Beach is also consider a lot better than Waikiki beach and that one is also fairly close to the Palms (about 20/25 minutes walk).

What you may not like about this hotel:............................(Back to top)

  • This hotel has a mandatory extra daily "Hospitality fee", that is not included in your room total until you check out. These fees, also known as resort fees or amenities fees, are being charged in several area hotels and range from $10 to $40 extra per day.
  • There is a huge construction site across the street form this hotel as the Hilton Hawaiian Village is adding a 20+ story tower to their property. The project is scheduled to finish sometime in 2009 so until that happens you may want to stay away from this area.
  • Unless you want to be on that side of town because you need to be close to the Convention Center, the Hilton Hawaiian Village or the Ala Moana Shopping Center, it is a little too far from the International Market Place which is considered the center of Waikiki.
  • For many, this hotel is also too far from the beach, it is close to the marina but about 10 minutes walk to the sand (the sand starts on the white area of our map).
  • Ala Moana Boulevard is a 6 lane State Highway, and this building is completely fronting the street, noise can be a problem.
  • Stay away from the so called "Partial City Views" and "City Views". Due to the building supporting columns, these rooms are are a lot smaller than the rest and have no actual balcony, just a sliding window and a railing. You should book the room categories called "DIamond Head" or higher.

IMPORTANT NOTE:............................(Back to top)
Please keep in mind that ALL Hotels have shortcomings, the trick is to find a hotel which shortcomings you do not mind.

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