By Roger Allnutt, Travel Writer
WAIKIKI BEACH, OAHU — From the outside the Vive Hotel Waikiki on Kuhio St, one of the main thoroughfares parallel to famous Waikiki Beach presents rather a stark exterior standing 22 stories tall.
Once through the automatic doors you enter a smallish foyer divided into a number of sections by classy and stylish furniture rather like entering a private house. The friendly and helpful check in and concierge staff greet you efficiently (with an island beverage and chilled fragranced towels) and you are transferred quickly to your room. The hotel has 125 guestrooms and suites.
I had a cosmopolitan queen size room with great views to the beach at Waikiki (the board riders are out on the waves all day) and glimpses of the rugged Diamond Head promontory. The room was well appointed with an extremely comfortable large bed with luxurious linens, large bathroom with walk in shower with big fluffy towels, a small fridge, large 37 inch flat screen TV, comfortable chairs and desk. Free high-speed WiFi is available in all rooms and also in the foyer. There is an in room laptop size safe for key personal belongings A bonus for me was the huge rose on the shower as I love standing under the shower with water splashing all over me.
The foyer is a great place to rest and relax as well and tea and coffee and iced water are available all day. A nice touch is the provision of two microwaves near the tea and coffee so that you can heat up lunch or dinner items if you don’t want to venture out for a meal.
There is no need to look for breakfast outside (often expensive) as Vive provides a comprehensive complimentary continental breakfast served in the foyer from 7-9.30am Lots of fresh fruit, croissants, breads (toasters if required), muffins and pastries set you up for the day’s activities. Given the very pleasant early morning temperatures in Honolulu many guests were up and waiting for breakfast at 7am.
For guests with a car the hotel provides valet parking for a fee. There is a 24 concierge service and the desk will assist with requests for tour bookings and any other queries i.e. restaurant suggestions. Two restaurants that I would recommend are Tiki’s Grill and Bar and Atlantis Seafood and Steak restaurant both on Kalakaua Ave, the main thoroughfare along Waikiki Beach.
Although Vive does not have a pool it is only two shorts blocks back from the famous beach. The hotel provides beach towels and they also have a supply of other beach gear like beach mats.
Vive Hotel Waikiki is the perfect place for couples to relax in Honolulu, close to the beach, shops and restaurants but quiet and very classy. (www.vivehotelwaikiki.com)
