The Ritz-Carlton O'Ahu, Turtle Bay
សណ្ឋាគារ ការបឹងផ្អេក 57-091 Kamehameha Highway, កាហ៊ូគូ, ហាវ៉ៃ, 96731, ស.រ.អ
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About The Ritz-Carlton O'Ahu, Turtle Bay
The only resort of its kind set on the North Shore of O'ahu, Turtle Bay spans across nearly 1, 300 acres of lush, historic land, featuring five miles of untouched coastline and twelve miles of breathtaking trails. Turtle Bay is located approximately 55 minutes from Honolulu International Airport, and a few minutes away from the Polynesian Cultural Center, Historic Hale'iwa Town, Waimea Valley, and world-famous surf breaks. With stunning oceanfront accommodations and spa services, golf courses, access to extraordinary water experiences, and holistic dining menus incorporating native culinary traditions, Turtle Bay pays tribute to the rich culture of Hawai'i while ensuring every aspect of the guest experience deepens a connection to the North Shore spirit.
Amenities
- ចូល 24 ម៉ោងចូល: Yes
- តុមុខ 24 ម៉ោង: Yes
- សន្តិសុខ 24 ម៉ោង: Yes
- បន្ទប់ដែលអាចចូលដំណើរការបាន: Yes
- អាងពេញវ័យ: Yes
- ការរអ៊ូរមុខ: Yes
- ការដឹកជញ្ជូនតាមអាកាសយានដ្ឋាន: Yes
- ទាំងអស់បញ្ចូលគ្នា: Yes
- អេធីអឹម (នៅនឹងកន្លែង): Yes
- ការផ្ទុកឥវ៉ាន់ឥវ៉ាន់: Yes
- បន្ទប់ពិធីជប់លៀង: Yes
- បារ / កន្លែងសំរាកលំហែ: Yes
- ឆ្នេរសមុរត: Yes
- ការជួលកង់: Yes
- ទេសចរណ៍កង់: Yes
- កង់: Yes
- អាហារពេលព្រឹកដែលមាន: Yes
- អាហារប៊ូហ្វេអាហារពេលព្រឹក: Yes
- មជ្ឈមណ្ឌលពាណិជ្ជកម្ម: Yes
- តុកកាណូ: Yes
- ការជួលឡាន: Yes
- វិហារ / ទីសក្ការៈបូជា: Yes
- សកម្មភាពកុមារ (Kidd / មិត្តភាព): Yes
- បណ្តាញទូរទស្សន៍កុមារ: Yes
- សេវាកម្មបូកសរុប: Yes
- បន្ទប់សន្និសីទ: Yes
- ហាងងាយស្រួល: Yes
- ម៉ាស្សា: Yes
- មុហខ្យេបលចេញចាក: Yes
- សាន: Yes
- សម្អាតស្ងួត: Yes
- បុគ្គលិកកម្សាន្ត: Yes
- ការកំសាន្តពេលល្ងាច: Yes
- ការិយាល័យប្រតិបត្តិ: Yes
- ពិនិត្យចូល / ចេញចូល: Yes
- ការព្យាបាលមុខ: Yes
- គ្រឿងបរិក្ខារសម្រាប់ភ្ញៀវពិការ: Yes
- ឧបករណ៍ជំនួយដំបូង: Yes
- មជ្ឈមណ្ឌលហាត់ប្រាណ: Yes
- ថ្នាក់ហាត់ប្រាណ: Yes
- សុខភាពសម្បទា / បន្ទប់ឡចំហាយអេស្បាញ: Yes
- អ៊ិនធឺណិតឥតគិតថ្លៃ: Yes
- ម៉ាស្សារាងកាយពេញ: Yes
- អំណោយ / ហាងលក់វត្ថុអនុស្សាវរីយ៍: Yes
- ទីលានវាយកូនហ្គោល: Yes
- ការម៉ាស្លាល់ដៃ: Yes
- ម៉ាស្សាក្បាល: Yes
- អាងហែលទឹក: Yes
- មានកៅអីខ្ពស់: Yes
- ធន់តាហល: Yes
- ជិះសេះ: Yes
- អាងទឹកក្តៅ: Yes
- អាងហែលទឹក Infinity: Yes
- ការានតាមអ៊ិនធរណេតិន: Yes
- សេវាកម្មដែក: Yes
- អាហាររបស់កុមារ: Yes
- ឧបករណ៍លេងនៅខាងក្រៅរបស់កុមារ: Yes
- អាងហែលទឹកកុមារ: Yes
- សេវាកម្មបោកអ៊ុត: Yes
- សេវាកម្មតុបតែងមុខ: Yes
- ម៉ាសីនផាប: Yes
- ធេវីសសៃ: Yes
- បន្ទប់ប្រជុំ: Yes
- បុគ្គលិកពហុភាសា: Yes
- តំបន់បរិភោគអាហារក្រៅផ្ទះ: Yes
- ចើងរកានកមដោក្រៅ: Yes
- គ្រឿងសង្ហារឹមក្រៅ: Yes
- អាងក្រៅ: Yes
- ដមបង: Yes
- ការដាក់ដមនើរព្យាបាល: Yes
- គ្រូបង្វឹកផ្ទាល់ខ្លួន: Yes
- សត្វចិញ្ចឹមត្រូវបានអនុញ្ញាត (ឆ្កែ / សត្វចិញ្ចឹមរាក់ទាក់): Yes
- ថតចម្លងរូបថត / ទូរសារក្នុងមជ្ឈមណ្ឌលពាណិជ្ជកម្ម: Yes
- តំបន់កំសាន្ត: Yes
- អាងហែលទឹក / កន្សែងឆ្នេរ: Yes
- អាងហែលទឹកដែលមានទិដ្ឋភាព: Yes
- របារអាងទឹក: Yes
- វ៉ាយហ្វាយសាធារណៈ: Yes
- ផោចនីយដ្ឋាន: Yes
- សាឡន: Yes
- នាវាចន: Yes
- ការបោកគក់ខ្លួនឯង: Yes
- ចុងរាក់នៅអាងហែលទឹក: Yes
- ហាង: Yes
- សេវាកម្មឡានក្រុងយានយន្ត: Yes
- Snorkeling: Yes
- ស្ប៉ា: Yes
- បន្ទប់ចំហាយទឹក: Yes
- ស៊ុនឡួង / កៅអីឆ្នេរ: Yes
- ឆ័ត្រព្រះអាទិត្យ: Yes
- អាងហែលទឹក: Yes
- តុលាការកីឡាវាយកូនបាល់: Yes
- ឆ័រត: Yes
- ដំណើរកំសាន្តដើរ: Yes
- ស្លាយទឹក: Yes
- វ៉ាយហ្វាយ: Yes
- វណ្ណៈយូហ្គា: Yes
Features
- ម៉ាស៊ីនត្រជាក់: Yes
- ហាងកាហ្វេ: Yes
- វ៉ាយហ្វាយឥតគិតថ្លៃ: Yes
- ត្បូងលាក់: Yes
- រទេះរុញអាចចូលដំណើរការបាន: Yes
Room Features
- ឧបករណ៍បន្សាញ់តាមអាកាស: Yes
- បន្ទប់ទំនេរ: Yes
- អ្នកផលិតកាហ្វេ / តែ: Yes
- បង្គន់អនាម័យបង្គន់: Yes
- ទូរទស្សន៍អេក្រង់រាបស្មើ: Yes
- និផាប: Yes
- ដេក: Yes
- យ៉រឯកជន: Yes
- តុតឹកកក: Yes
- សេវាកម្មបន្ទប់: Yes
- ផាបក្ផានរេកាហថ្នាក់: Yes
- កន្លែងអង្គុយ: Yes
- តុរស័បវ: Yes
- សេវាកម្មភ្ញាក់ / ម៉ោងរោទិ៍: Yes
- តុរប្យួរខោអាវ / បន្ទប់គេង: Yes
Contact & Hours
57-091 Kamehameha Highway, Kahuku, Oahu, HI 96731
turtlebaymediainquiry@wagstaffmktg.com
https://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/hnlkz-the-ritz-carlton-oahu-turtle-bay/overview/
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Reviews (6384)
Our favorite stay in north shore
We've been returning Turtle Bay for years, and it never disappoints. The location is unbeatable, secluded, not overcrowded, with stunning ocean views that make every day feel special. One of our favorite spots is the fitness center. It's well-equipped, up to date and spacious, and I appreciate working out on the Peloton bikes while enjoying panoramic ocean views. The service here is consistently top-notch. The staff go above and beyond to make us feel welcome and cater to our needs. Our only gripe is the price. Since the resort transitioned to The Ritz-Carlton brand, the rates have increased significantly by about a 50% jump. While we miss this place, the higher cost does make us pause when planning future visits.
Everything We Hoped It Would Be!
My family of four (10 year and old 11 year old children) spent 5 nights here and enjoyed every minute. The property is beautiful and well maintained and the service everywhere was top notch. At the breakfast buffet, our server even surprised us with a cinnamon roll for my son (who had enjoyed them the day before), even though they were not planned to be in the pastry display that day. We participated in many of the activities offered at the resort: surf lessons, spa, horseback riding, pareu making (sarong), and the Live Like a Local Tour with Rocky. All were wonderful experiences and we felt it was money well spent. The Cowboy Luau was a fun way to end our trip. We paid for general admission instead of the more expensive reserve seats and were fine. Even sitting at the farthest tables, we could see the stage clearly and were closer to the buffet. (It's all open seating. First come, first serve). It's very focused on Hawaiian hula dancing but they do end with fire dancing from Samoa. Other luaus are more of a Polynesian review that incorporate more of the drumming, rhythmic dance of other islands. Ending with fire made for a great finally, and the food and drinks were delicious and plentiful.
Great spot on Oahu's north shore!
The Ritz Turtle Bay is on Oahu's north shore. This resort has acres of beachfront property, with lots of trails if you wish to walk, bike ride, or horseback ride. Bikes are available at the resort, and you can book a horseback ride if you wish. All the rooms have water views. You can experience both sunrise and sunset without leaving this property. There were often surfers to watch, and a couple beaches to choose from to swim or just sunbathe. During our stay, there were nesting albatross at the edge of the property, and even a monk seal. Of course, there were lots of turtle sitings. Everyone we encountered, on their staff, was wonderful
Stunning views of the amazing North coast waves
This hotel is beautiful. The waves and views are stunning. The area is unbelievable with amazing beaches all along the North coast of Oahu. The rooms are spacious and clean and the beds soooo comfortable. The restaurants were all great and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
Premier Oahu Hotel in North Shore
We decided to stay at Turtle Bay to be more in a more relaxed part of Oahu, away from the hustle and bustle of Honolulu. Turtle bay did not disappoint! The entire resort is immaculately maintained, and there's always something to do. There are several onsite dining options. However, if you're looking for something more affordable, the kahuku sugar mill (food trucks) and haleiwa are short drives away. During our stay, I ran into some issues with the self-service washer / dryer. However, the housekeeping staff went out of their way to ensure I was taken care of and that my laundry was done. I cannot recommend this hotel enough!
Staff experience needs improvement
This is our first stay since the rebranding of Ritz Carlton. We have stayed 3 times when it was known only as Turtle Bay over the last few years. Beautiful property and amenities on site however the staff communication and knowledge is lacking. Office, pool, check in staff are not very friendly and did not aim to fix problems. It seemed like this on our last stay however we were hopeful with the rebranding that service would improve. This was not the case. After multiple attempts to speak to management, who is either not on property or out office for days at a time, it seems like staff tend to pass the buck until guests check out. Definitely not up to Ritz Carlton service standards compared to other properties.
Absolutley Appauling
Firstly the actual spot is not what you think, the beach is very small, man made. and over crowded. The experience fell far below my expectations set by the cost and promotional material. The Staff were the most Rude and awful individuals I have ever encountered in the Hospitality Industry in all my life.
Astonishing
Went with my wife for a week As a traveller who's always staying at hotels This is one of the best I've stayed in in the second best place in earth (nothing beats ibiza 😉) Not much I can say but WOW Come for yourself and see as I highly recommend it As quite a harsh reviewer I struggle to find why this shouldn't get 5 stars
Relaxing!
This is such a wonderful option getting off a direct from JFK - much calmer than Waikiki and just calming. Okay so you MUST do the club - it's in a fantastic spot for sunset, everyone there is fantastic and they have lunch which is such a nice break from the pool. My only downside was I had to ask about my late checkout twice because no one noted it which you would expect. It's very low key but the kids pool is right below the adult pool and they get on the slides up by the adult pool so not somewhere great for a quiet vacation but it's very relaxing overall.
Doesn't feel like a Ritz-Carlton
It is a physically beautiful property with stunning views. The physical set-up and common areas are spectacular. However, it is certainly not a " Ritz-Carlton " experience _ even though they charge Ritz-Carlton prices. It's big, crowded and loud with lots of kids and lots of lines. Dining reservations were necessary everywhere. The service is generally indifferent _ with a few exceptions. The towels are thin and pools are crowded. It is more like a higher end Disney property. Nice in its own way _ but not what my wife and I were looking for on this trip. We had one particular noise problem with the room that was met with shrugs by multiple staff. But to his significant credit, Ryan Kelly, Rooms Executive, went way out of his way (with the housekeeping staff) to get it fixed. THAT was Ritz-Carlton service, and we were very grateful for it.
BEST HOTEL W / VILLA IN HAWAII, BEST MUSIC!
Amazing location and so much to do! LOVE the 3rd floor 4 bedroom VILLA! Luxury of a kitchen and family room with ample space and hotel amenities! Shout out to TAD JENNNINGS for the best music in the lobby - super talented and can play just about any request! I have been coming here for years and never disappoints!
Entregaram meu carro com pneu furado e ninguém me ajudou!
Fiquei hospedado no Ritz Carlton Hotel durante 4 noites, de 28 de janeiro a 01 de fevereiro de 2025. Sou membro Bonvoy número 506210977. Na última noite, entreguei meu carro ao valet como todos os dias anteriores às 4 PM. Como de praxe, o empregado do hotel verificou se meu Jeep Wrangler estava em perfeitas condições e foi estacioná-lo. As 8 PM, pedi meu carro ao valet parking. Assim que comecei a dirigir o carro percebi que acendeu a luz de pneu furado. Ainda estava dentro do estacionamento e voltei ao valet mostrando que me entregaram o carro com o pneu furado. Expliquei toda a história cinco vezes. Ao valet, ao chefe do valet, a Gerente de recepção, ao Chefe da segurança e a Gerente de plantão. Meu carro alugado, não tinha a chave que destranca o estepe e pedi aos empregados do Hotel Ritz, ajuda para trocar o pneu. TODOS ELES, que me entregaram o carro com o pneu furado, se recusaram a me ajudar. Preenchi um formulário de investigação e nunca me devolveram o resultado dessa investigação. Perdi meu jantar fora do hotel com um grupo de amigos e tudo que o hotel fez foi me oferecer que jantássemos os três no próprio hotel. No dia seguinte, meu pneu continuava furado e tive que ir ao aeroporto de carona com outra pessoa, sem poder deixar o carro de volta na locadora SIXT. Em resumo, meu carro me foi devolvido com o pneu furado pelo valet, disseram que fariam uma investigação que nunca me deram a resposta e tive que ir embora do hotel de carona, sem poder devolver o carro a locadora sem ajuda do hotel. Ritz Carlton e Marriot, nunca mais!
Good but not great
We have been coming to Turtle Bay Resort, since pre pandemic times. It has now changed to a Marriot Ritz Carlton. Unfortunately, I cannot say that it has improved any better than what it was. Don't get me wrong. It was wonderful views, but housekeeping was unfortunately, never up to par, missing items every day after cleaning our room, towels, not emptying the coffee machine and towels. If they want to get to the next level, they have to really watch the details especially for the cost.
Overrun by locals
If you've never been to this property let me give you some background. It is located in a beautiful spot. Thus everyone who lives on the island plus those on vacation enjoy the location. It is easily accessible by car to anyone who lives on Oahu. There is also a bus stop along the highway at the entrance to the property. The ample free parking is available to all Oahu residents. By the looks of the trashy cars parked in the parking lot it appears MANY locals drive up to spend the day.. The property is not fenced so anyone (along with their cousins, friends, schoolmates) can drive up and spend the day. What could go wrong? Expect screaming kids everywhere, multiple cousin Eddie's from the movie Christmas vacation, twenty somethings with coolers, surfboards and dogs in tow, 3 generations of families hogging pool chairs, etc. If you think you will be enjoying the resort with only people who paid $1, 000 per night, think again. Those people will be there too but you'll also be elbow to elbow with the trailer park gang. No thanks!
Mixed feelings after day 1. Not sure it lives up to the Ritz Carlton name or price
Day 1 started out very well with a friendly and helpful greeting from Sean at the front entrance. He quickly took care of our car and directions to check in. Check in was also wonderful with friendly service, Leis and clear room directions and check in. We were told we had to pay $40 / day for parking. I have since heard that it is free at beach access and mixed information on whether it would be towed over night. Upon arriving at our room, the phone was ringing, as I ran to answer, I hit my toe on the corner of the base of the bed that was sticking out, and believe I broke it. I mentioned it to the manager and showed a picture of the bed and the base, and was told this is normal and he offered me ice to be brought to my room. I'm not sure what I expected? But I felt a bit let down. We had dinner at Alaia and found the food excellent, however value for the portion was not great. As well my husbands tenderloin was over cooked. We did not complain, as it was his birthday, and didn't want to ruin the evening with negativity. The jumbo prawn add on he had, while good, was again not our idea of good value with 3 prawns for $18.00. We are enjoying our room with an ocean view balcony and the beach. There is coffee and tea in the room, which we also appreciate. Hoping the rest of the stay is better than day 1!
beautiful setting, but don't expect a typical Ritz experience
Ritz Carlton and 4 Seasons Hotels / Resorts usually guarantee 5 star service. While the setting (the old Turtle property) is unbeatable, and the common areas of the hotel meet expectations, that's where the positive reviews end. Our room was typical for what one would expect from an airport Hilton Hotels, with the exception that the soft products were totally unacceptable: single-ply toilet paper, rough tissues (which were not replaced when they went empty), small non-plush towels, and no bathrobes. I noticed that checkout time was 11am. Our conference finished at noon, and I asked if I could check out at noon instead of 11am, and was flatly denied the 1 hour grace period. While the setting is perfect, the Ritz Carlton experience was totally missing.
Beautiful resort but not quite Ritz Carlton standard yet
This is a stunning resort in a beautiful location. The facilities are top notch and the fittings and furnishings are first class. We had a beautiful top floor club room with amazing views. We particularly enjoyed using the club facilities. On the negative side we were really disappointed not to be able to get a decent meal on the day we arrived as the only restaurant was fully booked and had to settle for bar snacks. The wifi in our room was hopeless (room 619) and ended up using the hotspot from my phone. The service too was poor with staff overstretched but doing their best even in the main restaurant. Overall we really enjoyed our stay and don't mean to be hypercritical but expected just a bit more from a Ritz Carlton.
We love the perfect Turtle Bay Resort
We had the most amazing stay over Christmas at the Turtle Bay Resort. We've been to this property many times in the past and we as a family feel that it turning into a Ritz will definitely be an upgrade. Are there things management need to iron out? Absolutely. But that is true with any changes. If you absolutely NEED that Ritz Carlton experience, just wait 6 months until they've worked out their kinks. Think of this as still being in their soft opening time. If you're not stuck on having that and you are happy with the most friendly staff experience and the most beautiful beachfront resort property look no further. Upon arrival you will be greeted with the best team of Bellmen who will start you smiling and feeling that Aloha spirit. Then your jaws will drop as you walk through to the lobby and be floored with how absolutely stunning the views are from all directions. As you await your turn to check in you won't even mind the wait if you gaze at the perfect scene behind you. We wanted to thank Tanner and Scott who went above and beyond to make our room arrangements perfect as we were traveling with our teen boys. We didn't call ahead but they were able to move things around even though it was Christmas and they must be fully committed. You gentlemen were awesome! Our room had the view of the surfing beach and our boys had the view of the sandy beach and both were amazing. We had the sunset and they had the sunrise. You can't go wrong with either option. We left our lanai door open each night to listen to the sound of the waves lull us to sleep. We closed the blackout curtains and that was plenty enough to keep the lights from the resort from interfering with our sleep. Note that this will turn off the AC but the fresh Pacific ocean air in December was magnificent. We dined at all the restaurants that the resort had to offer and found that everything was delicious. No complaints except for the longer than average wait for our food at the pool. That might be one note we have for management that may make Turtle Bay perfect. I did hear a few staff complain that the kitchen leadership isn't there so maybe they should try to poach someone from a hotel in Waikiki to whip that in shape. I know places like the Marriott in Waikiki have their stuff down pat even when they are at full capacity. We hit the Lip bar every evening and we met so many amazing bartenders. You could tell how much they love working there and most have been there for a while. Our most favorite was Rosie who told us many amazing fun tales of Oahu and made great recommendations. If you don't want to stay in the resort for all your meals, as the resort is isolated -- in the best way possible -- from the rest of Oahu, you can do a quick drive 5-8 mins to the food trucks and have the best shrimp scampi you'll ever try at Giovanni's shrimp truck. Or drive the other way to Ted's -- their coconut chocolate pie is friggin to die for. Drive further down about 20 mins you'll find yourself in Haleiwa with tons of food options. With all that said, you definitely need a car when you visit Oahu or you'll find yourself pretty limited. Be respectful of the locals, appreciate their culture and don't be a A-Hole just because you can afford to stay at the Ritz Carlton and you will have the best time.
Stay away for New Years
We stayed in the area over Christmas and New Years. Part of the reasoning behind booking there was expecting to give our children a New Years Eve they'd never had before. Well we were very, very disappointed. They put on a $500 / ticket gala and that was it. We sat on a beach hoping for fireworks or just anything and got absolutely nothing. Meanwhile the sky was absolutely lit up with fireworks all around us and our kids were asking why we couldn't see anything. We asked around a ton prior to NYE and were never given a clear answer. Mostly just " yes, there should be something " so that lead to us choosing to stay at the property rather then drive elsewhere. For a property as " elite and high end " as this there should be a clear and definitive answer to an event like NYE that families want to make spectacular for what's usually a once in a life time trip. And some place like this should just be something else besides a " gala ". Kids do not want to go to a gala and families don't want to have to pack up and travel when they've booked in a place like this. Do not come here to celebrate.
Great secluded location but terrible overall experience with service, food and amenities
We typically stay at a Ritz Carlton when available. This was our first time at Turtle Bay and we had high hopes. Unfortunately it did not live up to our expectations for what we have come to expect for a Ritz Carlton and for then high prices they changed. We do not plan to stay here again after a very disappointing stay.
Great location and views
Location is amazing. Great walking trails… amazing views from the rooms. Was a little surprised no turn down service - this is something I would expect at a property like this. Complimentary pickleball was a plus. Sunsets from the lobby bar are incredible. The Rooms are great for a couple but if you are a party of 3 or 4 they may be a little cramped.
10000% Yes! Yes! Yes!
BEAUTIFUL! PEACEFUL! Simply amazing!!! I've never been so peaceful in all my days. Now, it is very expensive... But if you had the experience me and my family had it was TOTALLY worth it. Out view was beautiful! We had ocean, mountains, and pool. I'd ABSOLUTELY recommend this hotel to EVERYONE!!! The people that don't stay here are MISSING OUT... BIG TIME!!!
Incredible vacation!
What an Incredible vacation! It has always been my dream to go to Hawaii, and my dream came true! We had the most wonderful time, at the most beautiful breathtaking Ritz Turtle Bay Resort! From waking up to the waves crashing on the shore and the beautiful sunrises and sunsets, to finding fresh plumeria blooms to wear behind my ear each day, looking up at the beautiful star filled sky at night, watching the turtles swim at the beach, and looking at, listening to, and learning about the beautiful birds, every moment was a special moment! I would like to personally thank the fabulous and incredible staff! Thank you to the wonderful club lounge staff, specifically the incredible Nephi, Katrina, Travis and DeeAnn! It was always a joy to see Jon at the Bungalow pool bar! Rocky with the kids activities was so kind and fantastic! Michelle, Kauwe, and the wonderful staff at the spa, were all fantastic. The front desk staff, bell staff, maintenance workers, and incredible and hardworking housekeeping staff as well, all made every detail of our trip special! Selah in photography documented our amazing trip with the most gorgeous photos! James, thank you for all you did to make our vacation special! The luau was a night I won't forget. The food was wonderful, and the show was so special and truly memorable! If you need an Uber driver - which you will - call the worlds best Uber driver Daniel at 614-622-4844. You won't want to lose that number :-) Mahalo a million times over Ritz Turtle Bay Resort! Aloha and Mahalo, Laura
Outstanding Service
Fabulous setting with lots to see and do. Most appreciated was amazing service, particularly by Travis Bennett Tanouye, who, to get a forgotten computer shipped out ASAP, solved the problem of needing to wait days for the next FedEx pickup by personally getting up early, going into town, and taking the package to the fexex store on his own time Saturday AM. Amazing and appreciated customer focus.
Rates went way up and quality down!
This is our fourth time staying here (we leave tomorrow) but first time since it was bought by Marriott / Ritz Carlton. We were disappointed to hear that they got rid of the evening fire show since being purchased. My kids always look forward to that. The coffee at the coffee shop really isn't good or strong. Four seasons ko'olina coffee is so much better. Can they get that here? It's disappointing when you can't get good coffee and it's really the only thing around. We traveled with two other families and our friends all agreed. The food options and quality aren't good at the coffee shop either. The daybeds used to be front row at the beach. We reserved one, even after checking the map online which showed them in the front and got down here to find they are in the back so we cancelled. We don't want to pay $100 to sit behind a bunch of people at the beach. I went to use the restroom at the beach and they are under construction with workers tearing them apart. One of the workers told me the women's was closed, but I could use the men's and I went in there and it was disgusting and there wasn't any toilet paper and it was a construction zone. Every other time we have been here the facilities have been nice and usable. The coconut cream drink at the lounge bar inside was very good. We ate at Beach House by Roy and the food was great, but we ordered three or four appetizers for the table and they brought them all out at the same time as our food without even apologizing. So we had 3 apps come out with 3 entrees. And we waited a very long time for it, so having the appetizers as appetizers would've been nice. The WiFi has been extremely slow. We got a poke bowl at the pool. The ingredients were fresh, but there was zero sauce or anything flavorful on top like a normal poke bowl would have. Every other poke bowl I have had on the island has been amazing. After not loving the poke bowl the next time I ordered garlic shrimp and asked the server what her opinion of it was and she just said " Well we hope it's good. The ingredients are listed. " She was nice in general, but didn't make me want to order it. The shrimp was good and flavorful unlike the poke bowl. We left our towels and water bottles on our pool chairs to run up to the room for 45 minutes and we told the towel staff that we were coming back to not remove our items. It's very windy so there are plenty of open chairs. We came back down and our stuff was gone including our water bottles. When we asked about them, they just said oh we must've taken them. We never got them back and they didn't even offer to locate them. We ordered breakfast to the room (which was much better than the coffee shop food) and one of the things we got was sourdough toast. They brought us a bunch of bread that wasn't toasted. The staff has been fairly friendly but that doesn't really make up for the other things that are subpar here now. Given that they raised their prices by 40% and things have gone downhill we are not feeling great about coming back.
Ritz Turtle Bay is Nice but Not Necessary on Oahu
Was excited to try this property since it joined the Marriott group of properties this year. Having regularly stayed at St. Regis locations, and having stayed at the Ritz Carlton Waikiki on this same rim, I can frankly say this property is not up to par with what I would expect from a five start resort. It's location of course is unbeatable, but for value and service, I'd rather be at the Ritz Carlton Waikiki and would certainly skip this property the next time. Check in went smoothly, if not a little long. I asked about my suite night award, which I have yet to use this year, and was told there were no upgrades available - but they offered me of course to pay the $150 p / p ($300 a night for my stay) to use the Club Lounge (which would've come included with a suite night award). Very disappointing to see so little care for Marriott Bonvoy (platinum member) members. Honestly, they just didn't seem to care. The club was nice but to be frank, a bit nicer than an airport lounge. We tried the snacks for breakfast / lunch / dinner and the most bang for your buck is definitely breakfast (though no mimosas or alcohol which is tacky). Lunch was no more than a United club lounge at an airport, just better presentation. Some chicken / avocado wraps and spam sushi rolls. Dinner apps were okay with a great charcuterie spread and wine available. The biggest issue is the club isn't open all day - for that price, I should be able to get cocktails or sodas anytime of the day. Super disappointing. Overal, I don't think we got our $300 value, but if you can drink your share at dinner, you should definitely go for it. Drinks at the resort at the pool and elsewhere are outraegiously priced and they have a captive audience. The room itself was unimpressive and did not have the feel of luxury I would expect from this sort of property. To give an example, that bathroom was very sparse with hardly any toiletry amenities or " welcome " towels laid out. When we checked in at the Ritz Waikiki, the bathroom was fully stocked (including a scale) and had welcome mats in front of each of the sinks, all the high end toiletries and just felt luxe the minute you walked in. Service at the hotel was average. It felt like folks were definitely working for your tip as opposed to doing everything to give you an amazing experience. The Ritz Waikiki was the exact opposite - everyone seemed just fixated on ensuring you were having a memorabe time, tip or no tip. Honestly, the folks at Turtle BAy should be shaddowing the staff at the Ritz Waikiki. It is night and day for service, anticipating your needs, and just absolute luxury you'd expect. On top of which, the facilities at Turtle Bay are old. The patios still have metal grate type balconies as opposed to have clear glass (which provides a nicer view to the ocean). You also look out at the roof of a large building (towards the ocean) that they haven't even bothered to put grass on or attempt to dress up in anyway. Overall loved the location and view but would rather spend my money elsewhere. Just didn't feel like a Ritz Carlton at all and was disappointed.
Excellence
An excellent experience from start to finish. We stayed 10 nights and absolutely nothing disappoints! Full transparency? We were supposed to stay at the Hilton, but showed up and everything was on strike. Was told we would have no housekeeping or restaurants and we were absolutely no way. Cancelled right there. My husband pulled out his laptop and we were on our way to a much better adventure. Turtle Bay has now set the standard. Bravo. Better beach, close to a lot of wonderful things. 20 minute drive to Halewaia, check out the food trucks at the sugar mill, snorkel at Turtle Bay, Sharks Cove, or Pupukea Beach. Do many things to do. And don't forget to use the bikes or visit the stables.
Fabulous Resort
Fabulous Resort. Friendly helpful staff. Staff go out of their way to be helpful. From the moment you arrive at the concierge to reception and servers around the pool and beach area. they make your stay an enjoyable a rememberable. The rooms are very spacious we stayed in a queen double ocean view. Well appointed and comfortable.
Lage einzigartig, Service und Preis-Leistung schlecht
Die Lage dieses Hotels ist sicherlich einzigartig..... somit ist das Turtle Bay eine Ikone unter den Hotels auf Oahu. Und genau das lässt sich Ritz-Carlton einserseits auch bezahlen..... soweit so gut, jeder kann im Vorfeld selbst entscheiden, ob der aufgerufenen Betrag es einem auch Wert ist. solange der Service passt. Und genau hier hat es bei uns deutlich gehapert. Angefangen bei dem check-in, der um 3 pm nicht geklappt hat, bis hin zu den Koffern, die abends um halb sieben immer noch nicht da waren über eine Doppelbelegung unseres Zimmers (auf einmal stand eine andere Familie im Zimmer). Die Anlage ist sehr schön, jedoh empfanden wir den Pool als nicht mehr zeitgemäß. Klein und an sich hatte er wenig zu bieten. Was ich ebenfalls nicht verstehen kann, ist, warum man bei Ankunft nicht einmal ein Willkommensgetränk bekommt (bei dem Zimmerpreis????!!!!). Die Kukui-Nuss bzw. Muschelkette bekamen wir an der Rezeption lediglich über den Tresen gereicht, und durften sie uns selbst umhängen..... ehrlich, das erzeugt keinerlei Aloha-Feeling! Insgesamt waren wir leider enttäuscht von dem Aufenthalt. Zusammenfassend: Lage sowie Hotel toll, Service und Preis-Leistung miserabel.
Secluded and still full of life
The hotel is one of the best resorts I've been to. It is modern, very well taken care of and the grounds are huge! We stayed in an Ocean Front Club King room which included access to the Ocean Club Lounge. That Lounge is worth every penny. I highly recommend it. The room was spacious and quite clean, well taken care of. The beach area was also great, although it needs more cleaning as there was some trash around where the waves broke. The beach is open to the public and if you get there late, you won't find a good spot. I also think that it would have been nice if the exclusive area was only for guests and free. That area was frequently empty as no one wants to pay more than what we are already paying for our rooms and also pay for a tiny private area in the beach. The Ocean Club Lounge was great, great food and paid for by the room reservation. It's absolutely worth it. I really loved this hotel as it was secluded from the buzz of Honolulu. I also hope that now that Marriott acquired this hotel and is called the Ritz Carlton, they continue taking care of it. I would go back in a heart beat.
Dismal customer service and follow through experience
I have to rate my experience with the Ritz Carlton Turtle Bay resort between 0 and 1 and I have not even stayed there yet. We are attending a wedding in Waikiki in October 2024 and decided to spend a few days following the wedding on the North Shore of Oahu. As a Gold member of Marriott Bonvoy, I made reservations on the hotel's web site for a member non-refundable rate (big mistake!). When I checked my card statement, the hotel billed me over $200 more than the member rate. I called the hotel and talked to billing and got transferred to Carrie Ann in reservations who took a look at my email confirmation and promised to fix the issue. This was on August 19th and since then just crickets! I sent two follow up emails and tried to leave a vmail for Carrie Ann (her vmail box was full). I have never experienced this kind of total lack of service orientation and lack of follow through in the hotels we usually stay at, especially considering THEY made a billing mistake. And experience this at Ritz Carlton? Unbelievable! If we didn't have a non-refundable rate for several thousand dollars, I would have cancelled the reservations. If guests are treated this way before they even step a foot on hotel's premises, what should I expect when we actually get there?? I hope that the General Manager of Turtle Bay, Jon Gersonder, will take a look at the staff and customer service standards of this Ritz Hotel. Right now it's not even close to the standard that Ritz sets for its 5-star hotels.
Laid Back North Shore Fun
This resort was like a breath of fresh air. There was no race from your room at 7 AM to make sure you got a lounge chair by the pool or the beach. Each day, we started with breakfast, either at the buffet or the coffee shop around 8 or 9, went back to our room to get ready, and then headed out to the beach where an attendant set us up (4 of us) at an umbrella. As long as you were there by 11 or so, you would get a spot. And other spots would open up throughout the day. The pool did seem to get very crowded by mid-afternoon. The two things that really stood out at this resort for us were the horseback riding at the stables and the surf lessons. Both were a lot of fun. We rode the horses along the beach with a total of 10 people and 2 guides - it was very relaxing and enjoyable. I had never been on a horse before and the guides were very knowledgeable and friendly. We also had an outstanding instructor, Ben, at the surfing experience. He gave us great instruction and by the end, everyone in our group caught waves, stood up and surfed. Awesome surfing on the North Shore. I have seen mixed reviews about the restaurants, but we enjoyed each of the ones we went to - The Beach House, Lei leis (twice) and Off The Lip (hotel bar). The food was great at each - yes, they are expensive, but its Hawaii. One night we drove down to Haleiwa for dinner - there are quite a few good looking restaurants there, about a half hour drive. We were worried about food options on the North Shore, but that was unfounded as there are also food trucks about a 10 minutes drive that have shrimp trucks, taco trucks, burgers, pizza, etc. Theres even a beer garden that invites you to bring your take out and have a beer. We grabbed shaved ice while there. We drove down to Waikiki to do the Diamond Head trail one day - which was phenomenal. It was a little over an hour to get there in the morning, about an hour and half on the way back in late afternoon traffic. It was enough to do the hike, shop in downtown Waikiki and have lunch. Just know it is going to be a full day event to do that. We highly recommend Turtle Bay - I would stay there again in a heartbeat. If you want to be away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Honolulu and enjoy the peacefulness of the North Shore, this is the place.
North Shore gem
Turtle Bay Resort is a beautiful place, right on the water. You walk into the lobby and your breath is taken away by the spaciousness and view of water and beach on both sides. The staff is friendly and helpful. We stayed in the main hotel in an Ocean View Queen room on the east side. It was more like Ocean Front - we had a great view of Kulima Cove. We had 2 queen beds and a tiny balcony that could fit two chairs and a small table. The hotel has two pools - one for adults and one that includes kids and slides, which were a big hit with the kids. There are several restaurants on the grounds and a cafe that serves breakfast and lunch items. Note that there are no other places to eat within walking distance - I recommend stocking up on breakfast items and cold drinks (you do get a mini fridge) at the Foodland nearby. Kulima Cove is great for snorkeling - bring your own or you can rent for 2 or 4 hours or all day. Amenities include well furnished fitness center, shuffleboard and pool table in the lobby (which are often taken) and Wi-Fi (which can be spotty). Why only four stars? Well, I hate hotels charging resort fees and this one charges a whopping $52 per day. This is on top of a room rate that was almost $1, 000 per day. Really?? You are going to nickel and dime guests paying that much? In addition, there was no free coffee in the lobby. If you want freshly made coffee not from your room coffee maker, it will set you back $6 per cup. For black coffee. That said, I would go back in an instant. The beauty of the place is amazing.
Love Turtle Bay
This was our 2nd year staying at this hotel. First, I love Turtle Bay. It is truly a beautiful resort and breathtaking beaches nearby. We booked a double queen ocean view with Club Level. The Club Level is amazing. This year it was not as accommodating for our food allergies. So, if we ever return we would really have to consider just not doing Club Level. The resort sits sort of by itself so we mainly ate at the resort but ventured out a few times to the food trucks on the North Shore. The pools are amazing.... they really keep on top of the lounge chairs. So, unlike other resorts that you can never find a lounge chair this is not the case. No stress about going to the pool anytime you want. There are amazing beaches a walk or bike ride away. If you have a rental car then there are other beaches nearby and waterfall. I know that the hotel was going through the transition to become a Ritz Carlton. You could tell the service was not exactly the same as previous year but when we complained about a few things they did make the situation right. Hopefully the Ritz will not be so overpriced that we can't return. This hotel is already on the pricier side but we felt like it was worth it. We had two teenage boys both trips and they loved it!
Rough Times - skip it
Turtle Bay is an example if an amazing property with the worst ammenities and management I think I have ever experienced. We had just had a great time in Waikiki but when we arrived to check in the awe of the lobby design wore off quickly when we were informed they could not check in because they were changing systems since they were just purchased by the Ritz Carlton. The changes were unfolding as each day of our vacation and rhe tension was palpable. The food is TERRIBLE. The bars: I found two bar tenders in the main restaurant bar who knew how to make whatever we wanted. Otherwise, if it is not on the menu, they do not know how to make it. Do not go here until they have more time for change managment. It is a mess!
$162 Xmas Buffet experience. Just say NO
Pros- From the second you set food in the lobby, accomodating, polite, enthusiastic staff. Stunningly beautiful resort renovation now hotel is worth of it's stunning setting. Hawaiian Music. Mostly good to very good food. Outstanding oysters: plump, juicy, creamy. Better than Halekulani. Very good carved roast beef with flavorful gravy and strong creamed horseraddish. Tasty waffles that stayed crisp after topping them. Delicious homemade gingerbread. Crab was good but could have been more flavorful. HUGE plus: provided shell crackers for the crab. Cons: Hostess lead us on the narrowest, most winding, obtuse between chairs of large parties path to our table, before turning around and saying, " I'm confused. I have no idea where the table is. Just sit here. " " Here " was a cocktail table facing a case offsetting the stage with a view of no musicians from that angle and directly facing the bus station, despite empty tables. SERIOUSLY? I refused it and she gave us a better one, but still a cocktail table in an unfilled room with larger tables available. A manager made things right moving us to a larger table on our request. Cocktail tables used as dining tables for parties of 2. NO, just no. This was a brunch buffet costing $130, not a cocktail party with drinks and pupus. If you cannot provide a real table for guests, then take fewer reservations. NO service at all other than water and plate clearing. No one informing you of what is wear and sending you off to choose. No drink service at all. Must go to coffee bar yourself, or get get your own soda, or worse, pay as you go cocktail bar with four wines, a few beers, and two drink choices. No mimosas, no bloody marys. Who the heck has Margaritas with buffet brunch? Servers (basically busboys) totally unaware of what food was where other than dessert buffet. Compared to Halekulani, THE standard for buffet here, it was like a $50 experience in service terms. The ham was well cooked and moist, but unbearably salty. The strawberries for the waffles were 1960s style cooked and canned in syrup. Very unintuitive buffet table arrangement with things that should be near each other not. Waffles were stone cold and should have been made to order, like omelets. I never found sides for my beef. The bread and cheese table was at the far end of the room from other foods. Never went there as did not want my beef to cool off. If this was a $75 meal, I would have given a better rating. But the meal cost $162 pp with tax and mandatory service charge for non-existent service. It was far worse an experience than the old sunday brunches used to be 10-15 years ago. In the past it was the food that was meh. This had better food but too many infrastructural issues, with lack of the guest experience being front of mind as the foremost one. In a hotel with a basic starter room costing $1500 a night, this buffet was not on par with price. Never again.
Turtle Bay horseback riding
We went horseback riding and had an amazing time! Raul was a great guide, giving us history and current events, he also really seemed to care about the people on the horses! I was concerned how hot it would be since we went at 1230- the ride was mostly shaded. Raul even pointed out turtles In the bay for us!
Beautiful resort, great location
We had an amazing stay at Turtle Bay we enjoyed some of the activities at the resort and also ventured out to some local spots for food, drinks and adventures. We enjoyed kayaking, snorkeling, bike rides, and the complementary photo session at the resort. Would highly recommend and would love to come back and stay again.
Friendly, laid back and enjoying the calm
Turtle Bay is definitely a place to be if you want to relax, be in nature while having luxury. The renovations are nice and the amenities are tops. The adult only infinity pool is a plus all the beautiful sitting areas to enjoy the bay are numerous and give guests a feeling of calm and serenity. Not many places to eat but the restaurants are pleasant and serve good food. The hotel employees are friendly and greet guests as hotel ohana. If you want to be in a quiet, beautiful place in Oahu, Turtle Bay is your place.
Amazing refurbishment, unparalleled service and hospitality
The Turtle Bay renovations are absolutely gorgeous. The lobby and seating areas were beautifully designed and take full advantage of the beautiful scenes surrounding the main resort building. The rooms were beautiful and clean, daily maid service is back and was outstanding. Room service is also back, food was fantastic and service was exceptional. Front desk and concierge are welcoming and helpful, accommodating every request. The staff running the valet were the friendliest people, there was never a time that we walked by them or when using the service that they didn't serve up the greatest dose of Aloha! The main pool and adult only pool are both gorgeous, fun slides for the kids in a complete different pool. Pool service was top notch, never had to seek service. Pool attendant was great in checking hotel guests so while chairs did fill as the day went on we never went without a chair. Sunset views were outrageous! Restaurants within the main building were beautiful, food delicious, no complaints, everyone including hostesses served full doses of aloha. Shops were great, gym had every piece of equipment we needed and stunning views! Had photos taken on site through hotel vendor Pacific Dream Photography. Our photographer Keana put my kids at ease and took beautiful photos which we will cherish for a lifetime. We utilized the tennis courts and rented surf boards (they also give lessons) from the surf school at the resort. All great experiences. The location is perfect is you are looking for a peaceful, restful location. Easy drive to many cultural activities, beaches, and Haleiwa. Our only hiccup was not reserving daily activities. My daughter tried to attend multiple activities (lei making & ukulele) but was turned away even though we were told no reservations necessary. A bit disappointing but not in anyway a deal breaker. We enjoyed every ounce of Aloha served and we can not wait to return!
Amazing resort
We stayed for a week as a family of 4 Pro's: 1. Stunning location, with ocean views in every direction. Surrounded by golf courses and farms. 2. Beautiful renovation and fitout in rooms - felt luxurious. 3. Pool area has waterslides for the kids, and adults only areas as well. Easy to let the kids play with others while lounging nearby. Never an issue finding sun loungers, and great food / drink service while there. Small beach area is virtually private, and comes with free loungers and umbrella's for guests. 4. Activities were great - highly recommend the kids adventure canoeing / paddleboarding / surfing, and the horse riding along the beach paths. 5. Cafe in lobby makes amazing coffee and sandwiches, and Beach House Restaurant was outstanding. Unexpectedly good for a remote location. Con's: 1. The variety of food offerings was a little limited - after 5 days, we were a bit sick of it. It doesn't help that the pool restaurant and room service and the main restaurant share a very common menu, with limited items (particularly for kids). 2. Concierge service was patchy - some great and some terrible experiences. Overall, we loved our time at Turtle Bay, and would happily return.
FANTÁSTICO!!!!!!
Estivemos no hotel agora em julho / 2022. fantástico, limpeza, atendimento, recepção, quartos surpreendentes. Tem várias opções de lazer em família. A vista do mar é surreal. Perfeito para relaxar e se divertir.
Great place to stay on North Shore
We didn't know what the expect. especially since the property has been around a while. But the entire venue is kept in tip-top shape, the amenities offered are awesome, the staff is extremely friendly and helpful. And the North Shore turned out to be a great place on Oahu to get the full flavor of Hawaii. It was near attractions such as the Polynesian Cultural Center and close enough to get to Honolulu to see Pearl Harbor, etc. With the swaying palms and waves crashing in from the ocean, not sure we would imagine a better view from a hotel.
Excellent New Years Stay
We stayed at Turtle Bay for 4 days over the New Years holiday. It was busy but the service and the smiles were all there from the staff. My room 637 was clean and my stay was wonderful. We were up on the 6th floor Vista Oceanview room. I read about complaints about the resort and the room and did not see any of that when I was there. The resort still looks great and the rooms were clean, at least 637 was, but that is all I can speak for. Even for a holiday weekend, staff was extra nice. Everyone working the 6th floor said " Good Morning " " Aloha " and smiled and were friendly. The morning snacks were a nice surprise in the hallway and the fruit and candy was also a nice touch throughout the day. Our view was gorgeous, no complaints here. Loved Turtle Bay Resort!
30 YR ANNIVERSARY, BIRTHDAYS BUCKET LIST VACATION
Very relaxing. Super service. Much to do! Golf was amazing and convenient. Lei Lei restaurant was a hit! The market by the pool had all you need extra. From toiletries to souvenirs, alcohol. Cant complain about the sunrise, sunsets
Why we keep coming back
Year after year we return to this slice of heaven. It's more of an out of body experience than a vacation. Leaving the daily grind behind is never easier than it is at Turtle Bay. The property is expansive and is an endless playground filled with opportunity and discovery. As amazing as the property itself the staff is what really ties it all together in a package of perfection. From Glenn at the omelet with an amazing personality and attitude to the cottage hosts Brian with a wealth of knowledge and service and Ephraim who makes you feel like family with personalized interactions. Do yourself a favor, make the trip to the North Shore and experience this crowning achievement and the jewels that are her staff.
Great views of the North Shore
My wife and I only spent one night here so I can only tell you what we experienced during that time frame. We parked the car and checked-in. It was second floor with a view facing west, but there was a view of a roof from our balcony (see Photos). So depending on the type of view you want to see you will have to either go up a couple of floors or to another section of the hotel. This is somewhat stated when you are doing your booking (of course the price changes depending on the room view). We decided it was time to eat since it was after 16:00 (4:00 pm). So we checked with the receptionist at " Guidepost " (kinda a concierge) She suggested to go down to Lei Lei's Bar and Grill at the golf course since it would not be that crowded. So we walked down there and it was not crowded (review of Lei Lie's to follow later). When we got back to the hotel it was getting close to sunset and my plans were to find a good location to shoot and later I went out to do some night photography. We left early in the morning and headed south towards Honolulu but we stopped by Lei Lei's Bar and Grill for coffee.
Gorgeous Setting, Friendly Staff, Sometimes Noisy
Our family stayed 6 nights in 2 rooms in mid-July. Most TA reviews capture the essence of the place such as the gorgeous setting and the inherent high food costs / resort fee, so no need to repeat here. This review focuses on room tips and a few PROS and CONS. ROOM TIPS: We booked Deluxe Ocean View and were on the 5th floor facing North in the West Wing. These rooms have a great view of the ocean and the rocky point with waves crashing. These west wing even-numbered rooms face the wedding area and the ballroom roof, which is huge. The ballroom roof takes up a good part of your field of view, even from the 5th floor. We asked about switching, and Ashley at the front desk was very accommodating; but the alternatives also had downsides so we stayed put. Here is a summary of the wings: . West Wing - Facing North (faces ocean, rocky point, wedding area and ballroom roof) . West Wing - Facing South (faces pool and mostly land). Is closer to Pool Bar and music . East Wing - Facing Northwest (faces ocean, rocky point, wedding area and ballroom roof) . East Wing - Facing Southeast (faces Kuilima Cove and mostly land). Small lanai. . South Wing - Facing Southwest (faces pool and Turtle Bay) Good view, but there will be pool noise. There is some roof in view, especially in rooms closer to the hub. . South Wing - Facing Northeast (faces Kuilima Cove). Small lanai. Some rooms over Surfer Bar. There is no perfect room view. The rooms that face Kuilima Cove and the sunrise have extremely small lanais- so small that your chair must be angled to allow room for your legs-no stretching out with your legs on an ottoman. The rooms that face North and Northwest have wedding noise-music that cannot be eliminated with a white noise machine. The wedding music and party noise stop at 10pm -Sweet Home Alabama was the last song- yes we could hear it through our closed door. There was a wedding on the Friday and Sunday when we were there. The rooms that face the pool have screaming kid noise from a children's pool with a slide. The bottom line: Given the hotel's location, all the room views on higher floors have nice views…just know that there are trade-offs in choosing a room / wing. PROS: Gorgeous setting, friendly staff, live music by the pool, good snorkeling at Kuilima Cove, outstanding views from the lobby / casual seating area / pool / grounds, nice large, deep pool. The resort is convenient to North Shore sites (Waimea Valley, Ted's Bakery, Kahuku Farms, Dole Plantation, Tropical Farms, Polynesian Cultural Center, and Shark Cove). CONS: Toddlers in the hot tub (after dark), pricey weak poolside drinks, " No Udon for you " -while Udon was on a menu with a steak, Lei Leis would not serve Udon as a side, Pool area is frequently noisy.
Incredible Experience
This is one of the finest resorts we've ever visited. The staff and facilities are first rate. The views are spectacular!! We visited for 5 nights for our honeymoon and it was the most memorable experience we could have ever imagined!!!
Amazing views of North Shore
After spending two days in Honolulu Turtle Bay was a great place to get away and relax. We stayed in one of the ocean front cottages and couldn't have been happier with our choice. We spent most of our days hiking / expiring the island and afternoons we spent on our lanai watching the ocean since the weather was a little cold. The cottage we stayed in was very comfortable and very clean. It really felt like we had our own getaway from the resort. There was so much to do here that I can't imagine anyone not enjoying their stay here. We took advantage of the trails, restaurants, beach. Overall we had a great stay here and plan on coming back again in the future.
Gorgeous
We stayed 4 nights here. Just not long enough. The sweeping bays to either side are amazing the surf was breathtaking. Watching the surfers is so theraputic. Our room was spacious, modern and clean with lovely views over the pool and bay. The food is excellent, you must try the ribs at Kens and all the other restaurants to be fair! Breakfast buffet is good also. Definitely returning!
North Shore Perfection, Lush Beautiful Epitome of Hawaii
My wife Amy & I just returned from North Shore Hawaii, Turtle Bay & wanted to write a review about just how magical, special and beautiful the resort is! I was blown away by the 800+ acres, lush hillsides, oceanfront peninsula location, surrounded by water, private bay and extraordinary views. I've stayed at The Royal Hawaiian in Waikiki, The Sheraton & Four Seasons in Maui and we BOTH agreed Turtle Bay is our new destination in Hawaii! The accommodating staff, REASONABLE prices, food and entertainment options, family friendly yet couples romantic, this resort has it ALL! Jonathon McOsker at Surfer The Bar was hospitable and accommodating and personable. The front desk staff and Roy's was so spectacular we ate there two of the four nights!! Try the " butterfish " ! My wife and I look forward to returning with my 10 Year Old daughter Kate in April and loved our oceanfront King room, that unlike The Four Seasons in Maui was REALLY oceanfront!!
Magical Memories Made Here
From the moment we arrived at the Turtle Bay Resort we were impressed with the location and service of the resort. I guess you can say we've " graduated " to the North Shore after staying at the Moana Surfrider in Waikiki for many years. At the advice of a friend, we were eager to vacation away from the ever increasing crowds in Honolulu. Originally, we reserved a deluxe room at the resorts main building but upon checking in we decided to upgrade to the cottages, a more secluded and roomier choice - perfect for our family of four. Let me tell you, it was worth every penny. The cottage was decorated and designed so beautifully and there was plenty of room to call it home for the next several days. It was wonderfully peaceful with a private deck that opened to a grassy patch which met with the ocean. There was a hammock that my husband immediately laid claim to. As we were exploring the cottage and grounds, Gregory, the cottage host came to introduce himself and greet us with special gifts. He was a more than hospitable, he was thoughtful and attentive, and my kids really enjoyed his stories about Hawaiian legends. He checked in on us every day to see if we needed anything and treated my kids as if he was their uncle. After dinner one night at the nearby Lei Lei's Restaurant - which had one of the best prime rib we ever had - Gregory spotted my husband carrying our sleepy 8 year old in his arms, drove up in a golf cart and give us a ride back. Even though it was a short walk, we were grateful. On another night, while enjoying a quiet dinner in the cottage deck after a day of surf lessons and swimming in their pool, Gregory visited with freshly picked flowers and showed my daughter how to make her own leis. Beside the service, I also really enjoyed the clean, fully equipped gym. I only wished I had time to try a group fitness activity offered there. The selection of restaurants and food options were good, from casual to fine dining but we only tried Lei's Lei's where the service and food was fantastic. No joke, the prime rib was HUGE and the seafood very fresh. It was very hard to leave Turtle Bay, but we had to move onto our next location - Disney's Aulani Resort in Ko'Olina. I couldn't believe it when my kids wanted to forfeit Disney for Turtle Bay. In their exact words, " there is no Gregory at Aulani. " It was a truthful moment. reminding me that kids need to feel appreciated and special on vacation too, and sometimes, a special host beats Mickey Mouse. Overall, we all had a memorable time at Turtle Bay and our family decided it will be our number one Oahu destination.
Trip of a lifetime
Love, love, loved Turtle Bay Resort. Perfect in every way. The beach cottages were divine, staff wonderful and so many activities for all of us to do. The helicopter ride with no doors was an unforgettable and breathtaking experience. Horse riding at sunset so calm and peaceful and kayaking with the sea turtles magical. We made so many beautiful memories at this gorgeous resort.
Best of the best!
So this was our third hotel in a 2 week stay on Maui and Oahu, and this hotel certainly didn't disappoint! It was the best one! Beautiful setting, very friendly and helpful staff, it was brilliant from start to finish. We went paddle boarding and saw so many turtles!! Much less 'touristy' than Honolulu and an amazing place to relax! The beach was stunning and there was a seal!!!!
One of my favorite hotels!
I have stayed at this property 4-5 times, the most recent in July and it get better each time with the ongoing improvements. It's a long drive from Honolulu but that's one of the advantages, enjoy the North Shore there is lots to see and do and it much quieter. Try the horseback riding. The rooms are excellent, you can't get a bad view from any of them. The restaurant is very good, I especially like the one at the golf course clubhouse a 5 minute stroll from the lobby, it's called Lei Lei's all three meals are severed here. There is a new lobby bar with doubles as a cafe for coffee in the morning if you want your latte fix, you will love the view of the ocean!! The pool is excellent and the bar is very relaxing, with great service. I was there for a long boys golf weekend, which was great fun and the Palmer course was very challenging with very high winds! I would recommend this property to anyone.
An absolute must to tick off the list
2nd time visitor to Turtle Bay and it certainly didn't disappoint again. I would highly recommend visiting after Waikiki not before as it is extremely relaxing as opposed to the hustle and bustle of the Waikiki strip. Good things about the resort: 1. Hotel staff were very accommodating. (Little things like a child high chair delivered to the room). 2. Room service incredible. 3. Private beach for snorkeling 4. Two golf courses to choose from. (Titleist hire sticks) Small mini mart down stairs that stocks pretty much everything including alcohol. 3 resort restaurants to eat at. All very very good food and service. Try the ribs Bad things: 1. The pool side bar chair service was extremely slow. Waited 20 plus minutes for a drink after not getting served and walking up to bar personally. Keeping in mind the hotel was at capacity. Still not good enough as staff were plenty. When you book your room if you want ocean views with peace and quiet then book deluxe ocean view. However you want ocean views and want to enjoy the pool side entertainment from your balcony then select partial ocean room. Both south and west wings have this option. (We stayed in west wing). You can sit on your balcony and enjoy a drink and watch / listen to the music. We used go808express shuttle which was very reliable and cheap to get to Turtle bay. Will be going back for sure.
gehobenes Hotel an der Northshore
Das Turtle Bay Hotel ist das nördlichste Hotel Oahus und ein vier Sterne Resort (ab 271 $ / Nacht). Dabei ist es eins von zwei Hotels an der Northshore überhaupt. Das zweite Hotel ist das Courtyard by Marriott mit drei Sternen (ab 209 $ / Nacht). Das Turtle Bay Resort ist so gebaut, dass man von jedem Zimmer einen tollen Ausblick hat. Das Hotel besitzt eine schöne Poolanlage und gleich zwei Stände in unmittelbarer Nähe. Auch kann man hier alles ausleihen was man für einen Strand- oder Wassersporttag benötigt. Hier kann man nach einem kleinen Fußweg die meisten Touristenmassen hinter sich lassen. Wer auch gerne Golf spielt kann hier gleich zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe geschlagen. Das Hotel hat seinen eigenen Golfplatz. Neben den sportlichen Aktivitäten die man hier alles machen kann kommen auch die kulturellen Beschäftigungen nicht zu kurz. Jeden Mittwoch von 18 Uhr bis 20 Uhr wird an der Pool Bar, The Point " ein traditioneller Messer- und Feuertanz aufgeführt. Oder man kann jeden Dienstag und Freitag um 9 Uhr kostenlos Ukulele und Hula lernen. Auch Entspannungssuchende sind hier genau richtig. Hier kann man im Nalu Kinetic Spa entspannen während man das Meer überblickt. Wer lieber aktiv entspannt und dabei schwitzen möchte, kann dies im Fitnesscenter, ebenfalls mit Meerblick, tun. Für das leibliche Wohl wird hier durch vier Restaurants und zwei Bars gesorgt. Hier kann man sehr schön und gut essen. Es handelt sich hier um gehobene Küche und daher auch um einen gehobenen Preis. Ein paar Autominuten vom Hotel, kann man bei Foodtrucks tagsüber für ca. 15 $ / Person essen, für diejenigen die auch mal etwas abenteuerlicher Essen möchten. Auch empfiehlt sich die Abendshow inkl. Luau im Polynesian Cultural Center. Dieses befindet sich nur 10 Autominuten vom Turtle Bay Resort entfernt. Ich persönlich finde das Hotel super. Die Lage ist perfekt. Im Herzen der Northshore, da kann man nichts falsch machen, wenn man sich hier für ein paar Tage einbucht. Auch ermöglicht das Hotel, einen gehobenen Aufenthalt mit einem Hauch von Luxus. Tagsüber Abenteuer und die spezielle Atmosphäre an der Northshore erleben und nachts kann man hier wunderbar schlafen und Energie für den nächsten Tag tanken. Mehr Tipps und Erfahrungen für den perfekten Hawaii Urlaub gibt es von mir auf hawaii-reise-tippsPUNKTde
Good resort for family with teens
The resort grounds is well maintained i give it 8 out of 10. This resort is best for honeymooners, family with teenages, and older couples. The water is rough on this side of the island. Kids will enjoy waikiki beach or the ko olina lagoons better as the water is much calmer there. Limited things to do in the north shore and about 1.5 hrs drive to waikiki in regular honolulu traffic. This is real time. I truly timed the drive from the Turtle Bay parking lot to Waikiki Beach a few days ago on a monday at 7 am. About 50 minutes without traffic and qithout constructions. (Rare). The resort is about 15 minute drive to the grocery. Very quiet and rustic at this side of the island. It is great for surfing and golf. I suggest renting a car at the airport right when you land it is about half cheaper than renting at the property or anywhere else in the island.
Not as expected... Babymoon stay
I do quite a bit of travel for work and pleasure and have a good deal to compare with. We will be checking out tomorrow after 7 nights. Would not stay here agian. Had to talk to the manager twice to have them clean the mildew off the ceiling of the shower my pregnant wife was using. AC Simi does not work at least not to the level a $400+ a night room should. The uber special 6th floor " Vista Level " provides no real value. Just a way to double charge you for items already included (many in the resort fee). The included Vista Level breakfast was just some pastries, one flavor of plastic cup yogart, granola and picked over fruit. The reef is dead. No wildlife spotted while snorkeling. Do want to mention the valet parking staff whom are on spot and should be running the place! Had breakfast Al a cart in the main floor restaurant and was not impressed. Service was slow and food not appetising I. e. burnt French toast and slimy bagels and lox. In addition the menu is rather boring. A huge missed opportunity for this place. If you want a good example of what you should be serving for breakfast (or if you are staying at the resort and want a good one) head down a few miles to " Vintage island coffee " and order the Island breakfast plate, Acai bowel, or regular breakfast plate... Amazing! Beach setting area is limited and they charge you $25 for chairs (half day) after the limited free ones are filled... So starts the towel games... Overall for the price vs quality I believe you can do much better on the island. If you do stay here I would not recommend the Vista Level upgrade.
Great location
Tastefully renovated hotel in a great location with very friendly and helpful staff, this is a place to come to and relax or take advantage of the many activities available, either way you will have a good time. Two golf courses, surfing lessons, onsite helipad for tours and many other options and the pool bar is a wonderful place to watch the sunsets.
A First Timer's Trip
After months of travel research on a 9 day family trip to Hawaii. The travelers were two 40+ year old parents, a 10 year old boy, and an 8 year old girl. Based on suggestions by a friend, we decided to focus on staying on one island for the entire trip and finally decided on Oahu because the numerous tourist and sightseeing opportunities. We also had been told to stay on the north shore and travel back to Honolulu when necessary. Based on this, the Turtle Bay Resort ended up being the best location for a family of 4. We ended up going all in and renting a double queen cottage right on the water. (# 103) The view was spectacular! The lanai faced out onto a small tree dotted lawn before dropping down onto a rocky beach and into Turtle Bay. Every sunset was phenomenal. The cottage room was adequately sized for a family of four with younger kids. The one thing which is inadequate in these double cottages is storage. The closet is tiny and there is one dresser which also houses a small refrigerator and coffee maker. These double queen cottages would benefit from the addition of one large matching chest of drawers and some open wall shelves or cabinets for excess clothing and places to put shoes, masks, snorkels, backpacks, etc. We made due but interestingly enough, Mom and Dad ended up living out of our large suitcases which ended up taking up a lot of bench and floor space. The bathroom was great. Large soaking tub and stand alone shower with large mirrored double vanity. Each cottage has a concierge representative who checks on their guests each day by bringing fresh ice, treats, and cards with Hawaiian words or phrases with translations on them. These concierges also will assist in making reservations for on site activities as well as off site tours and activities. We had already made a lot of reservations before arriving so we didn't utilize our concierge as much as we could have, but it was nice to have them just a phone call away. We spent a few days surfing with the Hans Hedeman Surf School on site. The instructors were terrific. Also the pool area and bar was our afternoon / evening go-to on the days we weren't sightseeing or on a tour. Drinks are a little pricey but the food was decent. The pulled pork quesadilla was excellent. We tempered the food and drink prices by stopping at Costco near the airport and picking up cases of drinks, snacks, wine, and a really good bottle of scotch. All in all, I would recommend Turtle Bay Resort as a destination. The service was great. The accommodations are one piece of furniture away from being good to adequate. Golfers will be in heaven. Everything on the island can be reached in about an hour or less.
4 day family stay was wonderful
2 adults, 2 teenagers staying 4 nights in June 2016. We had a great time and enjoyed most aspects of the resort. Surfed the point beside the pool area using rental boards from Hans Hedeman. Paddle boarded and snorkled Kawela Bay - beautiful. Swam the beach to the east of the resort. Drove in an Alamo rental car to nearby Sunset Beach, Waimea Bay, Haleima Bay etc. Swam with sharks in the ocean off Haleima Bay. Used the " food works " supermarket 20 minutes drive near Waimea Bay for budget small foods. Visited the café 10 minutes east called " kahuku farms ". Cheap and good. Drove back to Waikiki via the east coast / Kahuku - breath taking and only 1 / 2hr longer than the main H2 route. . A great family resort with lots to do for each family member. I found the small resort grocery shop and / or the lobby lounge a good way to get food costs down. They have yogurts and cereals for breaky to get that down to around $5 USD. I could also pick up a chicken salad sandwich and flavoured milk for lunch for the same price. A burger from around the pool was $18 USD. Highly recommended location.
Don't go during the Holidays. Service is horrible when busy but improved after the Memorial Wkd. 2nd trip there
As mentioned in the title, this was our second trip to North Shore and stay at Turtle Bay. First time, service and experience was amazing. No issue at all. This time around, it was just downright horrible. We arrived on Friday the weekend of Memorial day weekend, they gave us a terrible room that didn't match what was described. I attached pic of what they gave us versus what we were suppose to get " Deluxe ocean view room defined as " 'breathtaking panoramic ocean view ". Does the picture match a Deluxe ocean view ". They never admitted fault but committed to giving us a better view but forgot about us and then they gave us a room that was better but not what they committed. This review isn't about the room but about the rest of our stay. We had booked two days back to back (sunday and monday which was memorial day) of semi private lessons surf lessons (two people) for our kids. It was suppose to be 2hr lesson at a cost of roughly $280 plus additonal tip for two. The lesson went great but only lasted 90 minutes versus the full two hours. We wouldn't have known until we got back that the lesson ran short. The second day, we showed up for lessons and they forgot our appointment (we booked before the trip and confirmed the second appointment on Sunday). They didn't have an instructor but they were able to find someone to help us but our kids liked Danny the instructor from first day. My kids were about to head out when they ran into Danny. Danny was nice enough to take them out. He made up the 30 minute in the second lesson and kids had a great time. As part of the semiprivate lesson, they give free shirts and photos. They were busy at the shop so they told us they they would put both days of pics on a single cd. When I reviewed the CD (didn't have a CD reader on vacation) after getting home, it only had the pictures from our first day and not the second. They told my son when he picked it up that it had both days. I am in the process of contacting them for the pics. After Memorial day weekend, by Tuesday, the hotel was back to what we remembered in our first trip to Turtle Bay. The long wait to find parking space to park car was over. It was uneventful but by then they had ruined it for us and we were looking forward to going back home. We were planning to do more activities at Turtle Bay such as horseback riding, helicopter tour and golf but decided against it after the horrible service. A day before we were about to leave, we received a call from the front desk asking about how our vacation was going and the room. I told them it was okay and that we only had one day more left and implied it wasn't worth doing anything about at this point. They offered to send us a fruit basket. I told them that we only had one more day and that it wasn't worth it for us to receive one. They sent it to us anyway with a note from one of the managers stating the inconvenience but never an apology or admitted that they didn't give us the right room. Even when we confronted them, they never admitted it though they changed the room. The bottom line is check and double check and let them know what they did wrong. a) They cannot handle the volume and their service level drops. I am assuming that was the reason because it wasn't like this last year when we visited Turtle Bay and service did seem to return to normal after Memorial Day weekend. I hope that I will be able to get pictures of our kids on second day of their surf lesson. b) Check to make sure you get the room you paid for. It wasn't until we mentioned that we were at Turtle Bay last year that they agreed to move us. c) Check your bill. They had charges on my bill that were not correct. They promptly removed without a fuss. We came back to Turtle Bay and North Shore because of our kids. I am not sure we would come back again at this point after all the issues we had. It wasn't the memorable time we had last year and certainly not worth all the money to fly out from the east coast with a family of 4 and spend the kind of money to stay at Turtle Bay for 8 days (BTW they charged us $38 a day resort fee). When we checked out, they asked again about our stay. At that point, I just wanted to check out so I didn't bring it up. Comment related to the room. We paid extra money for the deluxe room. Below is the definition of the view. Compare to the pics I posted. The first room is no where near Deluxe ocean view. - Deluxe ocean view room defined as " 'breathtaking panoramic ocean view ". - Regular viiew is defined as " generous view of our bay complemented by lush hillside resort view " - Partial ocean view - " combined view of ocean, bays and resort elements and landscaped roof top gardens "
ゆっくりするには最高
オアフ島でリゾートと都市型を体験するために、最初の4泊はタートルベイのビーチフロント。後半は、トランプ・タワーを予約しました。 空港に到着後、レンタカーを借りて、オアフ島をぐるりと回ってホテルに到着しました。ビーチフロントコテージは本当に海の目の前で静かで良い場所で仕事に疲れた体を癒してくれました。 ベットは非常に大きく、そして、バスルームも巨大でした(笑 毎朝、キューリッグのコーヒで目を覚まし、夜はルームサービスでゆっくり出来ました。兎に角夕日が美しく最高でした。
Turtle Bay Resort
We had only one night at Turtle Bay Resort before a cruise and it was magnificent. I have always wanted to stay but with only one night we booked the cheapest room and were still treated like royalty and had a beautiful big room with ocean views. The pool area and bar (The Point) are spot on and the swimming at the bay on the other side was so lovely. We booked the rate that included breakfast - it was the buffet at the Kula Grille and it was really fantastic. Basically, I could not recommend this place enough.
Moana Surfrider
Stayed over spring break 2015 at the begining and end of our trip. My wife and I, our boys 14, 12, and 20 (considered an adult). We chose the Moana since it is one of the only hotels that will allow 5 people in a room. Location is great. Service was good. Pool snack bar had the best service. As for the rooms.... our first two nights there, we were in the Diamond ocean view. Basic room, with a roll away bed, very tight but servicable. Our second two nights, we upgraded to a bigger room, with a seperate master bedroom, couch and two roll aways. There was more than enough room. We had a wrap around balcony which overlooked the ocean and Dukes. As for the million dollar question..... yes I would easily stay there again.
A hotel for surfers!
Stayed in one of the beach cottages. Really amazing room with such an open feel. Nothing better than walking out your bedroom to surf! So many outdoor activities and super friendly staff. Loved this hotel can't wait to go back.
Don't expect the Forgetting Sarah Marshall experience
Without the set designers, this is not a luxury resort. The service and accommodations are unacceptable at this price point. We booked the Beach Cottages for a special occasion---and the hotel never missed an opportunity to disappoint us. We arrived at 6:10 pm, expecting to get to the cottage before sunset at 6:53... Check-in was so slow, we missed it. To put it another way, the drive from Honolulu is faster than the front desk staff. Although there was a separate check-in line for the cottages, it was never staffed. Two managers came and left without helping us, or even acknowledging the wait. We had to ask the concierge to have someone finally check us in---after sunset. When we reached the cottage, it was far from the " Michael Smith designed, handsomely dressed " beachfront room we were promised. We got a sparse, handicapped room dominated by a giant ramp and barren walls. The ocean was maybe 100 feet away, through trees, and our primary view was of the cottage in front of us. And the front desk refused to move us. Again, if you've seen Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and you're expecting the rock star rooms---look elsewhere. The food and drinks also disappoint. We waited an hour for a table at Ola, even though the restaurant was never more than three quarters full. Even with a reservation, we waited fifteen minutes before being seated at one of a dozen empty tables. Our frame of reference might be skewed, as this trip followed a few days at the St. Regis in Kaua'i---but we actually paid more for the room at Turtle Bay. I had high hopes that this would be the first of many trips, as the hotel sent tantalizing emails before our stay of all the features of the room and the resort. But this place is not ready for prime time. It's a Sheraton, but without the prices and Starwood points to match.
Ótimo Hotel
O Hotel é muito Bom. Viajei com minha família e amigos e nos hospedamos tanto no Hotel quando no condomínio de casas o Oceanfront. Os funcionários são muito atenciosos, o serviço é muito bom. O quarto do Hotel e banheiro são bons. O espaço do Hotel é ótimo, despojado e excelente academia, piscina boa e perfeita para assistir o inesquecível por do sol, quando o espaço fica lotado! Os Restaurantes são bons. Quanto ao condominio de casa também nos surpreendemos, os apartamento são ótimos e vc tem acesso a toda área do Hotel. O único ponto negativo das casa é que não oferece serviço de praia. A localização é ótima, o Hotel oferece muitos passeios, e a praia do hotel é linda! A partir desse ponto vc estará próximo a todas as praias famosas de North Shore. Bom local para se hospedar!
Made for an Awesome Girls' Weekend
We went for one night and enjoyed the grill there as well as breakfast and the restaurant on the beach. We did not have to leave once. We did a little shopping at the gift store and and the surf shops at the resort. We especially loved the pool side bar and the hot tub. Very relaxing. In the evening, we watched the local surfers out at North Shore as the sun set and a local band played some lax vibes including some Bob Marley hits. Our room was very clean and beautifully decorated, though the toilet was closed off with the shower which proved difficult for 4 women! lol The view was amazing however as well as the snorkeling which was comparable to the sea life we would see at Hanauma Bay. The only thing that would make this a 5 star review was more shops and more features to the pool I think. Though I may be biased after staying at the Grand Wailea in Maui.
Beautiful View
This hotel has a gorgeous view and was designed perfectly for a relaxing vacation with an option for activities. The pool and beach were both spectacular. I enjoyed dining at the restaurants. The snorkeling is so much fun on the beach to relax and see the beautiful tropical fish!
Turtle bay was great!
Soo pretty with true aloha spirit. Not as busy as other parts of the island. We have always been hesitant to visit Oahu because it always seems so busy and filled with tourists. Turtle bay was not that. The Natural beauty was incredible and the staff was exceptional. We got a beach cottage and it was worth it. We will return!
Beautiful resort, poor management
The resort is beautiful. The rooms are beautiful but each room varies with amenities, many don't have microwaves? The biggest problem I have with the resort is the management. They didn't have my 2 bedroom reservation ready when I arrived, placing me in a temporary 1 bedroom fro 2 days and then placing me in a 3 bedroom that was facing the road. The unit was very nice but the road was very noisey. I booked two weeks and asked to be moved away from the road. They agreed to move me and then said they couldn't. Then I asked after my 1st week was complete and they agreed to move me and then told me the next day I had to move back to the noisey unit. I asked to speak to a supervisor and was refused that and instead was pleaded with to agree to move. After asking to speak to the supervisor several times, I raised my voice to see if that would work, and it did. But I felt horrible having to do that, just to speak to a supervisor. That supervisor told me the owner of the unit decided to come in for the weekend so I needed to move. That is not a good way to treat a tourist client who has paid. The supervisor refused to give me any kind of compensation for moving and demanded I move. I pointed out several instances where I was patient with the staff, and the issues where they fell short of their words, and agreed to move because what else choice would I have? I packed up half of the unit, placing my items out in the hallway and was contacted back 10 minutes later and told I didn't have to move. A few hours later, the WIFI stopped working and the air conditioner is broken. I informed the housekeeping staff yesterday and still have not seen anyone to fix the air conditioner today. It's very frustrating.
Construction Chaos and False Advertising Woes
We are currently staying at Turtle Bay - our first family vacation in over 2 years so needless to say we were very much looking forward to this trip. As I write this review, I am sitting on my balcony attempting to enjoy my stay but instead listening to non stop construction noise. They do not warn you in advance of booking your room that there is still extensive construction underway at the resort. Sitting on a lounge chair at the beach you will be listening to non stop construction noise. Not at all what you imagine when on your trip to paradise. As other reviewers mentioned, they have also reneged on several of the previously included and still advertised amenities included in their resort fee, such as paddle boarding. When we inquired at the concierge about how to take advantage of the included paddle boarding we were told it was mistake and should not be included on their website. Based on other recent reviews on here, we were not the first guests to point this out yet they still haven't bothered to update their website. Same goes for beach toys - still advertised but no longer available. Instead of trying to make it right, they just smile and say sorry. Very disappointing. Based on our conversation with the front desk, construction at the resort is expected to continue over the next two years. This might not bother some folks but I definitely didn't expect to come to paradise and listen to the sound of reciprocating saws and hammering while hanging out at the beach or on the balcony of my room; I can even hear it in my room with the door closed completely. Given that the resort is not discounting rooms at all for this inconvenience or alerting future guests of this, I hope that this review informs others of what to expect when they are planning their next vacation. In my opinion, it is unacceptable to charge full price for a room and subject guests to this type of disturbance.
Beautiful, but absurd food prices
The resort is incredibly beautiful and the staff is friendly. Beautiful pool by the water. Our two complaints would be: 1) You need to pay $15 / night for parking when it's just in the public lot (which is free for non-hotel guests for some reason) 2) The food prices are absurd and the food itself mediocre (check google reviews of the restaurants). 2 shots of baileys = $24 USD. A bagel with cream cheese = $22 USD. We found ourselves leaving the resort to go 10 minutes up the road to foodland or a food truck to get way better food for half the price. It's hard to give this place a bad rating given how beautiful it is but it seems like they know most people will pay any price for food because there are no other options. But it's gotten to the point where it's beyond reasonable.
wonderful resort that is losing its touch
For some background i have been coming to Turle Bay resort since i was a child. This trip was my 22 stay in 35 years. We have come back after numerous renovations and ownership changes over the years. I have to have this time while we had a wonderful stay and vacation we left feeling nickel and dimed and likely won't return next year and instead choose a different island. The resort is in need of a facelift. The pool deck is awesome but tired and rundown. The rooms are clean but also need a facelift. The 5th floor ocean view room had mold in the bathroom and the paint peeling from most door jams and baseboards. We decided after the first night to upgrade to a beachfront cottage. Which are amazing and luxurious but also in need of maintenance. The floors are wood and need refinishing. The bathroom tile is discolored now from use. I realize it is a tropical resort and the ocean wear and tear is hard but much of this is ignored maintenance. The staff at Turtle Bay has always been nothing but friendly, helpful, and kind to us and our family. They go out of their way to make your stay a great one. It is the big reason we continue to return. Even the staff this time seemed disapointed in the state of the grounds and facility. The new ownership group has a massive renovation planned and coming but until it is complete the prices do not justify the stay. The PROS: -Location location location. The quiet side of the island which we love with a great pool and beach on either side -friendly staff -tons of amenities to choose from you will never be bored -family friendly The Cons - the resort is now charging separately for parking which it never did before - even the $600 per night (or higher) cottages with their own dedicated parking lot are being charged. This is in addition to a nearly $50 a day resort fee. by definition a resort fee should cover these extra charges. Otherwise don't call it a resort fee. -The chairs at the beach for now a daily charge. Staff said it was to make sure they were used by hotel guests first. There are many other ways to ensure that than charging between $25-75 a day extra on top of the " resort fee ". This is purely a revenue stream for them now. -The poolside service is great and the staff is awesome and the drinks are always delicious but they are approaching $18 a drink. Its become overpriced for what it is -Finally all the included amenities listed as covered by the resort fee also have up charges so they are not really included any longer as they used to be. The free tennis court for an hour, doesn't include the charge for balls or rackets to use (and they were out of tennis balls two days in a row when we tired to play???) The free bucket of balls at driving range doesn't include cost to use a club to drive them with. The snorkeling equipment is included for an hour but often they had run out or were not " renting " them out that day due to weather. the list goes on. Overall I am a lifetime lover of this resort and want to return, but this trip while fun for my family left my husband and i feeling nickel and dimed and not treated like the long time returning guests we are. We felt that the new ownership is prioritizing new fees and revenues streams over seeing how it is impacting long time guest relations. Finding over $75 in parking fees, on top of daily resort fees, and beach chair fees on my bill at the end when we stayed a week in their highest cost cottage was disappointing to say the least. I hope ownership takes a good look at what they are doing as many of us won't be returning with this type of fee structure or feel. Certainly not until the facilities are upgraded to meet the now premium costs being charged. We love Turtle Bay and want them to continue to be a gem on the north shore but the last two trips seem to be leading the other way.
Beautiful location-But there are issues
Turtle Bay Resort is located on the north shore of Oahu on a volcanic peninsula jutting out into the ocean. This location is absolutely beautiful and because of the Y shape design of the hotel, almost every room has a great ocean view. The hotel is well maintained and our room was spotless. We could watch both sunrises and sunset from our balcony. The front desk was very helpful and the greeting very friendly. We did, however, have a couple of serious issues. Pool side service and breakfast service was grossly understaffed leading to long periods of waiting. The pool servers seemed stressed out and we barely saw a smile over three days. The breakfast restaurant each day had a 20-40 minute wait. We chose to go to the bar to avoid the wait and each day, we found that despite being told of a long wait, more than half of the tables were empty. Getting service was almost impossible even though it was a buffet. It was clear that management purposely understaffed the facility resulting in very poor service. Since the hotel is in a remote location, they are the only game in town for food. What was even worse was the lack of sanitary precautions. We saw a server cleaning tables and then without washing her hands, reached into the ice tub and scoop out ice for two drinks. She did this on three occasions. Apparently they have not learned the lessons of Chipotle. I hate to say it but you may be better off driving 5 miles to the various food trucks on the north shore. We advised management of the food safety issue but no response to date.
Just Meh..
I know how much people rely on these reviews, so I'll do my best to share as accurate of a picture as possible. We've been to Hawaii 25+ times over the past 20 years and we wanted to try something different on Oahu. Unfortunately, we'll be staying in Honolulu next time we visit Oahu as Turtle Bay just isn't worth it. You are better off paying a bit extra for an island hopper flight and staying at a nice resort on any of the other islands than driving one hour north to Turtle Bay. 1. The resort's location is beautiful. The proximity and view of the ocean was great. The main hotel building is older and it's obvious. It's been renovated, but you can tell it's an old building with " lipstick " on it. 2. The room was adequate. The air conditioning did not work well at all. There were dust bunnies in the air conditioning unit, and you could tell that it was basically an old, struggling system. We had to put the thermostat down to 50 degrees to get anything remotely close to cool in our room. The room and the hallways had a damp, musky smell, which is kind of hard to get over when you are paying a lot of money for your accommodations. 3. The food was expensive, even for Hawaii standards. We are used to paying a lot in Hawaii. The problem here is that you are far away from any restaurants and Turtle Bay knows it. They can charge a lot for food and get away with it because who really wants to get in their car when they first wake up and drive 20-30 minutes to find something else to eat. The breakfast buffet was the worst offender in this regard. For two adults and a child it cost $90 each morning (w / tip) for essentially eggs, bacon, a pastry and coffee. We wound up driving to Honolulu two nights (1 hour and 20 minutes each way) just to eat at nice restaurants that were way less expensive, but considered high end- (Duke's on Waikiki and Tommy Bahama's). Both restaurants in Honolulu cost about 1 / 2 of what we would have paid at Turtle Bay. 4. Pa'akai (upscale on site restaurant) was amazing and well worth the $$. Roy's was not. We've been to many Roy's across Hawaii and in California. This Roy's was subpar, at best, and it cost $300 for two adults (one cocktail each) and a child. Lei Lei's is great. It's casual and the food was great. It was way better than Roy's, and that was totally unexpected. 5. There definitely is a sense on site of being nickeled and dimed for everything. When I found out you had to pay $25 for a half day to rent a lounge on the beach, I laughed. This is especially unfortunate when you pay a $46 resort fee on top of your room rate each night. 6. When I purchased a few items in the sundry shop, I noticed that the employees were transferring charges by hand on a paper form for each room. One would think the resort would have an electronic system that captures your charges without error. Transferring charges by hand to a master list is probably why people note that there are errors in their bill. I checked mine closely and didn't notice any- we lucked out. 7. The pool is not very kid friendly. There is one pool slide, but it's kind of straight forward. For a 4-6 year old, I think it's probably perfect. For 7-14 year olds, it's going to be boring. The main pool is large and goes to 11 feet deep for roughly 1 / 2 of it- so essentially, if you are with kids, you are confined to the first half of the pool so they can actually stand and play. 8. It was RIDICULOUSLY windy the entire time we were there- the entire time (6 days). There was not one day without wind. You couldn't eat at the pool bar without literally trying to hold onto your food and drink so it wouldn't blow away. You couldn't sit and relax in a lounge chair without holding onto your stuff t make sure it wouldn't blow away. I'm not sure how people could even read a book in these conditions. Maybe it was just the time period we were there, but with six straight days of wind, I think it's more a pattern than an anomaly. We went with high hopes for the resort and the location. We won't be going back. Sorry Turtle Bay. If you want to keep people coming back, I hope you think through small, positive changes such as reduce the resort fee, give people a lounge for free on the beach, reduce the price of meals (especially the breakfast buffet), and upgrade your air conditioning system (this might help with the slight moldy, musky smell).
reserved a ocean front cottage with serene surrounding. what i got was anything but that
First off, I reserved an ocean front cottage. Paid about 1000 per night, expecting to have an ocean front cottage, with peace and quiet. What i got was: 1) a room, attached to other rental rooms, essentially a 6 room single story motel type set up on the Turtle bay property. 2) The room was not ocean front, but ocean near 3) one of the rooms attached to our building was loud and a party went on loudly there from 11;30pm until 3;30 am 4) Then after the party ended, around 9am a chain saw crew began to cut trees 20 ' or so in front of our room. The chain saws roared for hours, blasting noise directly onto our patio and into our room. We complained about the noise four times from midnight to 3am. Not once, was the noise complaint properly addressed. The noise just kept on going. In the morning, we also had a car reservation with the rental agency on site. Not shocked to say, when we showed up for the car, they said, sorry we do not have any. No cottage, no peace and quiet, and no car. All promised. All not delivered. In the afternoon, we left. We were promised a manager would address our complaints and refund the 1000 we paid for the room. This never happened. Amex luckily helped me get out of the remaining nights booked. We left, actually found a place that delivered, and then some. Turtle Bay has no cottages. They advertise that they do. They do not. I looked up the definition of a cottage. Seven major dictionaries all define a cottage and a small house. Turtle bay photos of the cottages are also deceiving. The photos show what appears to be a cottage, but when you arrive, you see a 6 unit building. The service was horrible. The food was actually good. The management non-existent. We will not be back - ever.
Mixed feelings-Pros and Cons
I wish that Turtle Bay had completely lived up to my expectations and the poor reviews I read on Expedia and Trip Advisor and decided to ignore had been all wrong, but unfortunately that wasn't the case. It was definitely not all bad, but there were some unacceptable issues. I planned my trip to Oahu for my son's 16th birthday for two years, and so greatly looked forward to staying here. I called many many times in the months leading up to our stay to inform them of the special occasion and made sure there were notes on our reservation, and to my utter shock and dismay, when we arrived, they said nothing during check in and did nothing for us. Nothing was waiting in our rooms, not a peep or " Happy Birthday " for my son. I was expecting to receive leis upon arrival at the resort and nothing. I asked for the leis and they brought them to me, nothing special at all, we put them on ourselves. I mentioned my son's birthday and they said " oh yeah, there are notes here, happy birthday " but said or did nothing else. This was a major let down. Perhaps I am spoiled by Disney resorts but not even a lei? This is Hawaii! Second issue was with our room. I decided to ignore the many reviews on Expedia and Trip Advisor warning against how outdated and dirty this hotel is. Unfortunately the second I walked into our room the overwhelming smell of mildew was so strong, I couldn't believe it. The Bell man apologized for the smell and acknowledged how strong it was. When the front desk sent a text asking about check in, I told them about the smell and asked to change rooms. They said they were sold out, but offered me three free breakfast vouchers. As we were staying for 8 nights, I asked if I could try switching again on Monday and they said sure (again, they didn't offer this, I had to ask. What kind of service is that...) Monday rolled around and they did not have a room with our view in our category, so I asked for more vouchers. A very rude manager came out and kept insisting we take a room in a lower level of the resort and made very passive aggressive remarks about the smell being our problem and if it's so bad don't we want to move to the lower level room? Um, no, I paid 3, 000 plus dollars for 8 nights at your resort for a deluxe view room. Put me in the same type of room or better, but make sure it's clean and smells good. I declined the worse room and another day went by, no vouchers. The next day there was another room in our category available in a higher floor that we accepted. It smelled slightly better. Here is an honest breakdown of the room you should expect: The beds are comfortable, but the sheets are not changed daily. My sheets had visible dirt on them. The rooms all smell like mildew. You can see water streaks on the wall from the moisture. If you go into the bathroom and stare at the door to the shower area, you will see a film of dirt and hair and know this door and other areas have not been wiped down or cleaned in God knows how long. Otherwise, the view is incredible and the room itself is comfortable. Other cons are the absolutely absurd prices of drinks, food, room service, parking, resort fee. Everything is an utter fortune, please be prepared to spend $2, 000 minimum on a 7 night stay for 2 people. There are many pros to this hotel. The property is gorgeous. The breakfast buffet is amazing. The staff, for the most part, are incredibly friendly and courteous. The seclusion on the island is a major plus, but also a con if you have activities scheduled in Waikiki. Do NOT underestimate the distance. We spent 2 / 3 of our vacation driving. There was horrible traffic everyday, no matter what time or day of the week. The major plus is that you have a beautiful view during your drive, but by day 5 I was so tired of driving. Tips: the website doesn't mention that they have an Enterprise Car Rental desk on site, next to the valet. I had no idea and rented a car for all 8 days because I thought it would be too difficult / expensive to get to and from the airport via uber or taxi. If you're an Expedia VIP member, they include a free shuttle to and from the airport so you can get to the resort for free and rent a car for the day you need it. Little mini fridge in every room. Go to the Foodland on Kamehameha Highway and get some breakfast and lunch food. The hotel restaurants and in room dining are a fortune. If you stay here, stay here. The resort is meant to be enjoyed. Definitely do the sunset horseback ride. Stay at the resort, and then stay a few days elsewhere in Waikiki to do all the other things. Roy's is the best for dining. Seaside massage is amazing but over in a blink.
Huge Disappointment
We had 3 nights booked in a family suite over the holidays and tried to check out after 1 night. This hotel completely misrepresents itself in regards to rooms, service & amenities. Our " family suite " had 1 sink for 4 people (the standard rooms have 2 sinks) and the bathroom has a very heavy glass slider door that either covers the toilet OR the shower. Not both. Seriously? They don't put any bottled water in the rooms because they are a " plastic-free " hotel. Hmmm... how about glass then? It's not like we wouldn't pay for it... The valet area when we pulled in was chaotic and understaffed. We waited about 15 minutes to be noticed. The check-in desk was also understaffed and we also had to wait another 15 minutes to get service. There was no greeting (juice, lei, etc), and we were virtually ignored until we finally got to the desk. The desk clerk offered us the 3 room villa for $1000 which we jumped on, but after checking with the manager, the rate was suddenly $4500 per nite. The manager said he would call his " revenue " people to see what he could do for us, but they were only willing to lower it to $3800 per nite. No thanks. After downgrading to 2 standard rooms we went to the main restaurant in the lobby, where we had a horrible meal (that we waited an hour for). We decided to check out the next morning, (no refund of course), and the valet lost our car. We waited 40 minutes for them to find it. This hotel was much better when it was part of the Hilton chain. Not sure who owns it now, but it is sub-par and their customer service leaves a lot to be desired.
So close but yet so far off the mark
So its your only option staying in the North Shore. The property is really beautiful, the pool area fine (although oddly the main hot tub is the size of my tub) as is the beach. We had a full balcony overlooking the pool and bay which was nice but sometimes noisy. The concierge floor (6th) has " breakfast " and " snacks " and while I can't remember how much I paid to be on this floor (it wasn't much maybe $30-$40?) it wasn't worth it. The breakfast was various cereals, yogurts, apples and bananas whole and a little plate with three pieces of fruit on it (kind of an embarrassing display really). It also had a " hot " item which one day was a hawaiian roll with ham and cheese, another day a small heap of pulled pork I think. The free breakfast at economy hotels have more. Afternoon snacks were a bowl of nuts, a bowl of andes mints and some type of whole fruit (apple clementine banana). Like i said it didn't cost much but def wasn't worth it regardless. The pool bar food was ok, Roys on the beach was good (good drinks too) as was lei leis. We took a private surf lesson and it was great. It was also entertaining to watch the surfers on the bay. So here's the biggest problem- in order to sit on a chair at the beach (which is small but pretty) you have to pay $35 (this is on top of the resort fee). WHAT??? So the weather was not good and therefore we didn't use the beach (we had beach time during our week in maui) but I can tell you I would have not paid that and still would have had a chair. It is INEXCUSABLE to charge me for a chair on the beach of the beach resort. It was just implemented April 1st (and therefore not mentioned when making the rez) but would rather the rate be higher and include it than to be nickel and dimed over a place to sit on the beach! Not sure I could come back given that (and the lack of a real draw to this place). The ONLY place I have ever paid for a beach chair was in Cannes- and i won't go back there either! I would have given 4 stars (good for an average hotel) but gave it 3 bc of that stupid chair fee!!!
Great Hotel, Value is Declining
We stayed at Turtle Bay two years ago and had an absolutely wonderful experience, so we did not hesitate in booking a repeat trip this summer. Still a gorgeous resort in a gorgeous location. However, we noticed quite a few things that were different from two years ago. At a high level, the resort seems to have gotten " cheap " with a number of items. Details below. 1. I'll start with the one that drove me nuts - Parking: $20 to valet, $15 to self park. Makes sense until you look a little closer. The self-parking lot is the exact same lot where someone can drive in from any location, park for free and use the beach. There is no gate regulating parking, no tag to hang on the rearview mirror to distinguish between guests and the general public. So why in the world do resort guests have to pay $15 per day to park in a lot where others can park for free? I actually voiced my concerns on this one and received a refund for my parking charges. 2. Charging for " extras " : Two years ago, resort guests received a number of perks, which I assume were included in that $46 daily resort fee you are charged at check-in. We got free use of snorkel equipment, free chairs and umbrellas at the cove, free pool towels, etc. I did not pack snorkel equipment for this trip in anticipation of the same wonderful amenities. This time? $10 per person per day for snorkel equipment. To rent a chair was $5 each per hour. An umbrella is another $10. Pool towels are still free, but there is a big warning that you are charged $15 per person if you don't return them before the towel cabana closes for the day. In my opinion, this should all be included in the resort fee as a valued guest. 3. Vista Level: Our room for both of our trips has been on the Vista level. I like that for a little extra cash up front, there are additional perks. Complimentary breakfast, a personal concierge for reservations and such, afternoon snacks, and a killer view from the top floor. On our first trip, we loved the dried mango, barbecued wings, and all sorts of other goodies for afternoon snacks. Snacks changed every day. This time? A bowl of fruit and Andes mints. All week long. I appreciate this, but it's not even close to what it was on our first visit. The concierge desk was empty more times than it was actually occupied. Two years ago, I went home and purchased the exact hair dryer that was in our room because it was so amazing. I didn't pack it for this trip because I knew it would be just as good. Nope, about half the power. Goes back to my overall review of " declining " amenities. Again, beautiful resort, amazing vacation. I do hope the resort takes into consideration some of the guest feedback though and brings the value back to what it used to be.
First Class
Great place to stay. Expect to pay a resort fee and then be charged for Parking, Beach chair rental, beach umbrella, water equipment (boards, etc) This is a resort and when you pay a resort fee these items should be included
False advertisement!!
We were told when we booked our room 4 months ago that the family suites would hold 5 guests and all family suites had the best ocean veiws. We specifically requested a room on the highest floor. Our room, when we arrived was on the second floor overlooking construction on the roof!!!! And only a partial ocean view. We complained and were told that due to our late arrival (9pm) all other rooms were given away on a first come first serve basis. But we could move to a higher floor in 2 days. When they moved us to the 6th floor, we had a beach, mountain, parking lot veiw. The ocean was viewable if you looked to the left. We complained again that we had paid for an oceanveiw room. And we're told that All rooms were ocean veiw. Their idea of oceanveiw is if there is some ocean it's ocean veiw and they charge you extra for the small slice of ocean. Completely disappointed. Not worth the money!!! Paid for something we did not get. Rip off!!! Falsely advertised. All the food at the resort is terribly overpriced and most is disgusting!!! Went to Lei Leis and threw up their overpriced dry chicken. Drinks at the pool have about 2 drops of alcohol in the $12 glass. Awful!!! Pool waitresses were missing teeth and unclean! You would think a 4 star resort would have decent looking staff. And let's not mention the sound if jack hammers while you try to relax at the pool. No warning of construction on their web page, or when making reservations. You find out when your here and it's too late to move because they are the only hotel in that part of the island. Forget Turtle Bay and Oahu... go to Kuai instead!
Hotel's shortfalls takes away from the beauty
My boyfriend and I booked two nights in the Ocean Vista Suite at Turtle Bay for our one year anniversary. While we've both lived in Hawaii most of our lives, neither of us have even been to the area much. Based off of the reputation the resort has, we didn't really think to ask for opinions from our friends and family. After a long work day prior to check in, all I wanted to do was eat some food and melt in a hot tub. I do not recommend North Shore Kula Grille located in the resort. The food is very overpriced and very, very bland. We called front desk around 9:20 PM to ask when the pools would close. The agent was kind and told us they closed at 10:00 PM but if we're quiet, they usually don't mind if people stay later. Great!! We go down to the pool deck... but the pool towel distribution is closed. The bartender has no clue where we can get towels, which is disappointed but all right. We go to front desk. Apparently the towel desk closes at 8, even though the pools are open until 10! We were told to call Housekeeping from our room and they would bring us towels, but to hurry because the pools close soon. But if the towels were easily accessible, there would've been more than enough time to melt my stress away. Literally the thought of this hot tub got me through the day, but there I was totally disappointed. Overall, the helpfulness of the employees was disappointing as well as the procedure of the resort itself. Now for the room. Gorgeous view, wouldn't trade it for any other. The bathroom was immaculate. But the armchair was so stained! I wish I took a photo. There were gross, dark, mysterious, huge spots all over the cushions. We honestly thought about checking out a night early because the room did not feel clean. There are only two hot tubs on the resort, one of which is an adult only hot tub. But no one is enforcing this as there were multiple kids, accompanied and not by an adult, who were coming in and out of it. The skimmer in the adult jacuzzi was also broken so there were balls of human hair circulating around the pool. Gross. Not to mention on our last day it seemed like someone must've been soaking in there for way too long because there were chunks of someone's skin floating in there! Disgusting, I know. The pools were not heated, which seems silly since the resort is on the North Shore, where the winds and weather can be pretty chilly. We didn't even step foot into the waterfall pool / slide because it was frigid. I ordered the Guava Smash from the poolside service. It tasted good, but definitely a light pour. Overall, what made me give this resort 3 stars regardless of me wanting to give 2 or less, was that the area itself was so beautiful. We loved being able to explore the property and area so freely. If you stay on the Vista level, you also get complimentary continental breakfast, but the coffee was cold all morning of our second day. I hate to sound so negative about such a special weekend. We definitely had fun and made the most of it; but for the price people are paying, we were expecting a much higher quality of service and cleanliness.
Cottage or bust!
My husband and I stayed at Turtle Bay October 11-18, and loved every moment of it. We opted for the cottages, and honestly didn't use much of the rest of the resort except for the gym (with its amazing views of surfers!). We also dined at Roy's one night, and it was fine, and swam a couple of times at the beach. We mostly used the resort as a home base for exploring the North Shore; it's perfectly situated to see just about anything you want to see. We got really lucky to be here for the first big swell of the winter, so spent lots of time picking up snacks at Ted's Bakery and watching the action at Sunset Beach. Also beached at the little cove next to Turtle Bay and at Waimea. Did the Waimea Falls hike and the excellent Toa Lua there. (Mondays and Wednesdays). We dined at the food trucks more than I care to admit! Shrimp, luau pork sandwiches, shave ice... all excellent and so close to Turtle Bay. Brought fruit back to the room / refrigerator each day from the fruit stand on the side of the road near the resort. The cottages are pure joy. One day (Sunday), we spent all day reading on our lanai and in the hammock; we spied turtles, a whale breaching, mongoose, birds. It was lovely. I can't properly review the hotel itself, since we were inside it so infrequently. But if you can swing the cottages, and like peace & quiet, amazing views and excellent concierge / butler service, do it!
Beautiful resort and worth the stay despite all the charges
We enjoyed our stay! It rained hard a few days but temps were still high 70s and everyone was still out at the pool and jacuzzi. Some past reviews noted the resort needs refreshing considering the per night rate. I can agree, but it wasn't terrible and there was construction in parts of the hotel. Pros: The resort is beautiful with grand views. Staff is really helpful and pleasant. Kids loved the waterslide, massive pool, jacuzzi and beachfront DVD rentals was so easy and awesome! Always found something for everyone. Cons: no complimentary coffee or water in the lobby $15 p / d self-parking is automatically charged whether you have a car or not, but you can dispute it. BUT free parking is available to locals or day visitors, so why do guests need to pay? Turtle Bay food is expensive, nachos with pork $19 locals come up to the jacuzzi after surfing and it gets awkward for hotel guests, so go to the towel booth and let them know and they will boot them out. one group of LOUD locals brought a huge dog and took up more than half the space. not cool. expect DAILY TAXES: 1) general excise tax $11.98, resort fee $49, resort tax $2.17, room occupancy tax $26.05, transient accomodation tax $5.02. Resort fee doesn't get you much as there seems to be a charge for EVERYTHING. Apparently, TB was acquired by Blackstone Private Equity and what was free in the past is no more. you pay to use of rackets and balls on the tennis courts; pay for beach chairs and umbrella rentals on the beach side; beach towels are now tracked and you are $ responsible if you don't return; parking... ugh If you have a vehicle, eat local! Ted's Bakery, Haleiwa town, Laie shopping center, food trucks near Foodland, go into Honolulu for Rainbow Drive in and Leonard's for malasadas! segway tour in waikiki was awesome! check groupon for local deals before going! If you are on the beachside, there is a spaceous grassy area beyond the sand with trees to give ample shade, so you don't need to rent beach chairs or umbrella. Have fun!
For the price....
Turtle Bay Resort is blessed with a stunning location and to upon arrival I felt lucky. We're travellers and were looking for a luxury hotel and an experience. Indeed a holiday is what you make it, but I feel we overestimated this resort. The great: - we had an early flight and we were checked in several hours early, thank you! - the location, stunning. Our cottage on the beach with magical sunsets every night. The north shore is on your doorstep. A short drive to all the attractions and beaches. Surrounded by more food trucks than I knew existed - the vibe, everyone, staff and guests, really friendly and chilled - the cottage, lovely. The bathroom in particular was beautiful. Marble finishes and a bath tub that almost qualifies as a swimming pool. - we'd thought the sofabed was a double, upon realising it wasn't a blow up was arranged. - the pool bar has the most generous servings. Wine served like coke. One glass (bucket) is $10.50. The quality ok - the gym. Beautiful view and quality equipment The mediocre: - no mini bar (I get the feeling they don't trust you!) - the Tv remote (one of those hotel ones that responds once in twenty attempts) and a limited selection of channels - the toiletries, minimal and not really befitting the hotel - the coffee machine. Might be an Aussie thing, but if you're going to have a machine in the room, make it a Nespresso, or similar. - the pool. Don't get me wrong, it's nice, but dated. - the food. We only are at the hotel 3 times. Pretty ordinary. I did order a soy latte one day and decided to subsequently forgo it other days as it cost $6.00 usd. The bad: - if you want a cup of tea in your room, you have to 'order' a kettle and tip the person who brings you this gift 30 mins later - oh, and staff reminding Australians to tip. Yuk. It's not the only place it happens in the US, but FYI.. assuming my ignorance automatically cuts your tip in half - we were in cottage 101, and close to the facilities, but many others seemed a long long way away. A mission to get to the pool on foot - house keeping were in some sort of mission. I've never stayed anywhere that I felt so pressured to let them in. Twice I found them looking in the room at 8am, no knock. It actually made me appreciate how 'stealth' housekeepers are elsewhere! - the price gouging. Perhaps the most irritating. A point is made of what is 'included' in your resort fee. It basically amounts to snorkel and boogie board hire. Sure, 'free use of golf clubs' after you buy a bucket of balls. Free use of tennis courts, after you hire racquets. Free use of basketball court, after you hire a ball. Even the gym classes are an extra $15 each. Push bikes, extra. You get the idea. Surf board hire, only for experienced surfer, else you have to book a $115 p / person hour lessson. (Tip, go elsewhere. Sunset Suzy, $75 for a 2 hour lesson) I leave this feedback to be constructive. My family and I had a great 5 days here, but at $700 aud + a night, my expectations were greater. The resort seems to cater mostly to American mainland clientele and I couldn't help but wonder if all the amazing reveiws are a result of low expectations? It's almost as if the management needs to visit places like Bali, Thailand, the Maldives etc and discover how a seaside resort should / could be. Sadly the hotel, while it could be in that league, it's not. To offer up a comparison, we recently stayed at Sails in Port Macquarie, and it's really just a bit better than that. In short, if it were half the price, I'd be giving it 5 stars, but for this price range it just gets 3
A very disappointing stay
I have stayed at the Turtle Bay Resort many, many times in the past and it has become one of my homes away from home. In fact, it is my regular go to when I visit the island of Oahu. I often stay for my annual birthday trip each February. This trip was quite a different experience. I arrived for my 7 day stay rather late in the evening and upon check in, when I requested a room with a bathtub, I was told due to occupancy there was none available unless I wanted to upgrade with an additional fee to a king suite level room. As it is vital for me to have a room with a bathtub, after a back and forth with the front desk clerk, a " VIP concierge " was called in to inform me the situation was non negotiable and it was my only choice but I could be accommodated the following night. I agreed to pay the fee to just get into a room and go to sleep. When I got into the room, I realized there was a foul odor and the fridge was leaking, so I called down to the desk and the said " concierge " came up to verify the situation and moved me to another room. The following day I was switched to the room on the lower level and even tho it did have a tub, the tub was quite small and I'm not sure exactly what it was intended for i. e. children. None the less, the problem seemed solved and my daughter and I set about enjoying our trip. At this point I will mention that the resort was hosting a yoga festival and was quite full as well as sectioned off for the activities associated with it. While overall it didn't seem to affect much of the stay, there were some aspects that were impacted such as parking and housekeeping. Also, the entertainment that was provided for the festival did go on rather late into the night and was audible in the rooms, but again was sectioned off and regular patrons of the hotels were excluded. While all these things are, in and of themselves, small, a culmination of a yoga dance session with the leader speaking through a microphone right off the beach area, was disruptive and certainly not the experience I had paid for when I booked my trip. Again, I take responsibility for my mistake of booking a trip during this festival but the following events were shocking at best. When I called down to let the front desk know that not only had my car had to be valet parked due to the 30+ minute circling because of the overflowing self parking lot due to day trippers to the festival (not even paying hotel guests) but that when I asked for housekeeping, having not received it by 4pm, I returned to the room to find 4 towels, 4 hand towels and 4 wash clothes stacked on the tv stand, the reaction was appalling. I was immediately transferred to said " concierge " who told me that I had been incorrigible, nightmarish, rude and intolerable during my whole stay. I checked out immediately in tears, 4 days early. I am a frequent traveler to many 5 star hotels and resorts and never have I been treated with such utter disrespect. Having formed actual friendships with many of the staff members at this hotel, it is heartbreaking to me to feel that I have lost a place to vacation so near and dear to my heart. I am not sure how much of this was dictated by an overwhelming situation of a festival going on versus a one off, but I will say that I'm not sure that anyone spending the type of money I was spending deserves that regardless. Again, it literally pains me to even write a negative review but I have to pass this information along as anyone contemplating a visit should be thoroughly and completely informed. Hopefully it was an isolated event and the issues I mentioned have been rectified.
Absolutely terrible customer service
We flew from Melbourne Australia to stay here, get married, then have our honeymoon at turtle bay resort It has been a train wreck from the moment we arrived First impression was the room (beach bungalow) had 2 beds - not a very romantic scenario for our wedding / honeymoon. There was a wedding party in the adjacent bungalow. I'm all about celebrating but when we had gatherings of people on the front door step smoking weed. Then to find that their party had spilled over into our lanai space was not good. After 1 hour We were given a new room with appropriate bedding after a complaint Ok so let the wedding / honeymoon begin. A call to the concierge requesting 2 wine glasses was met with 'sorry no wine glasses until the restaurants open at 5:30'. We drank our champagne from whiskey tumblers. That evening we found a lovely spot near the pool to watch the sunset. I had to chase the waiters for service. Twice! After 1 hour we were finally served Next day (today) we had a beautiful wedding on Sunset Beach. We previously arranged to have a wedding cake to be on our table at Roys Beachhouse It didn't arrive and the staff knew nothing about it. The cake arrived later at our bungalow after we had left the restaurant. The staff member entered straight into our room unannounced carrying the cake!!!! I sent the cake back as my wife was inconsolable. Our wedding night has been nothing but disappointment and tears We spent a hell of a lot of money to stay at Turtle Bay resort. And you let us down As you can see I am really upset and I will be repeating this on social media and sites such as Google review. We based our decision to stay at Turtle Bay resort on YouTube videos and social media Your internal communication is very poor. When I spoke to the duty manager tonite she was dumbfounded. She was embarrassed and couldn't offer a solution. (I actually felt for her as she had no idea) The resort is beautiful. The bungalow is outstanding The views are breathtaking. Unfortunately the service and management of the resort is appalling and definitely not one that I would recommend. We still have had no response from management!!!!
Rough Re-opening sorry, it's long winded
(synopsis at the bottom) I had high hopes for the newly renovated and re-opened Turtle Bay Resort. I was sorely disappointed. Was the lobby beautiful? Yes! That's about where it ended. The cost of the rooms for the current lack of amenities and even just the simple ability to eat somewhere other than the lobby bar and pool bar was absurd. Our first day there we received the lovely his and hers Lei's and that was probably the high point (other than our last minute finagled SUP lesson, but the surf school is a separate entity). The rooms were nice, but our full ocean view was over-looking the pool and bay. Am I being nit-picky? Maybe, but there were definitely quieter rooms with nicer views. Rooms have not been renovated at all, in fact all of their time and money seems to have been spent on the lobby, restaurant and pool areas. Apparently the renovation process isn't slated to be finished for for another year. Getting directions anywhere was impossible. Staff were unaware of closed off paths and ongoing / new construction projects. I called about snorkeling gear and was told that it used to be complimentary, but now because of COVID you had to buy gear, but it was only $20 pp. I was assured I could find some at the activities stand by the beach. When we went down to schedule activities I again asked about the snorkeling gear and was told that there was not snorkeling gear, and in fact they had not had any snorkeling gear for quite some time and there was a shortage, so not to expect any either. But I was welcomed to go hunt for some at the various somewhat close Foodland stores or go to Shark's Cove (which we had done on a previous day). We had lunch at the pool bar and Cherrie was amazing. She mixed a great drink was personable and attentive. We went back and visited her often, in. fact she was one of the saving graces. As we had reservations the next night at Alaia, we wanted to try the Beach House for dinner. We walked over around 1 and were told they don't do reservations, but to swing by and put our names on the list starting around 5. We went on a lovely SUP adventure with the surf school, returned, showered, and walked over to The Beach house by 5:45, only to be told they could maybe seat us at 8. I asked about Bar seating and was told that was part of the reserved seating process. We did eventually end up putting our names on the list for an 8:00 seating only because Alaia didn't have seating until 9, the lobby bar had a very limited menu of Tapas, and we had already eaten at the Pool Bar that day (also, it was a zoo out there because there was nowhere for anyone to eat). After having a delicious mushroom flat bread at the lobby bar, several cocktails, meandering the property, and taking pictures, at 7:45 we decided to check in on our 8:00 seating. We were told it looked likely to be 'soon'. Then another guest walked up to the hostess, asked for a seating, was told they didn't have anymore. Left, returned and asked about bar seating. They promptly left the hostess stand and returned to tell her they could seat her at the bar now... needless to say, we were not impressed. I could go on about the comedy of errors and disappointments, but I feel at this point a synopsis is necessary. Lobby / Pool - beautiful, great views, lots of seating, Tapas menu is ok, drinks were ok. Pools were nice, Pool bar drinks and pool service was great. Room - not updated but adequate, could have used a better view and less pool noise. Painter's tape around the window, not updated, but not dilapidated in my opinion. No information available at check-in or in the room with a map of the property, activities, etc. West Wing, even numbers would have been a great view. Activities - sorely disappointed. It seems COVID is the excuse now days for severely scaled down amenities and sub-par communication between the organization and the staff (I do not blame the staff). Don't make promises you can't keep and be clear with staff about what is actually available. No Snorkeling gear... more details above. Food - Lobby bar Tapas were good, Pool Bar food was delicious both times. Roy's Beach House was a hot mess of communication. Luckily our food was delicious (maybe skip the fried brussels though - good flavor, too al-dente (both times)). The bartenders, Carla and Dave were very attentive once we were finally seated... at the bar. Alaia - Breakfast was good. Dinner was disappointing. Appetizers were cold, chicken was tasteless (not even any salt), Mahi Mahi was decent. Desserts were lack-luster. Spa - phenomenal! Not updated at all, and not slated for updates until January, but my facial with Meghan was THE highlight of my stay and my 40th Birthday, and my salt rock massage with Malia was relaxing and well worth the time. Overall - The staff themselves were amazing, they were the saving grace as they all attempted to be as accommodating as possible whenever they could (their frustration with the circumstances was obvious), but the lack of communication between various departments and the between the organization and the staff was absurd. The organization had obviously taken on a 'Fake it till you make it' stance with the hope we would all be dazzled with the beauty of Hawaii and forget how much we were paying for access to even basic amenities and what used to be included amenities. The inability to reasonably seat the number of guests on the property (only seating at 50-75% capacity) was a significant oversight and my biggest complaint. Is Turtle Bay worth it right now? No. Maybe in another year they can pull it all together.
Beach Cottage Honeymoon: Lack of Service- Great Location / Views
My wife and I came here for our honeymoon for a full 7 days. I was excited and booked our beach cottage a year in advance. The location and views from this place are amazing. The service was so poor that I went back and forth between rating a 1 and 3. I settled on a 2 because the location was so beautiful, but the service was so horrible. If I had to do it all over again, I would stay somewhere else and just come visit one day and look around. Let me start of with this: I am not a complainer, prior to this review the lowest rating I have ever given on Tripadvisor was a 4, feel free to check my history. WHAT WENT WRONG: Simply put service. We stayed in the cottage for 7 nights, 8 days and only met a concierge twice. I would call the concierge desk for little things, like advice on where to rent snorkel gear, how to request towels, dinner reservations, etc. NO ONE ANSWERED THE PHONE. Out of roughly 6 calls, someone answered once. That person said they would call me back and never did. At check-in, after I prepaid in full for our trip a week in advance for a special rate, they tried to charge me an additional $2, 500. I had to fight with staff and show our receipt and credit card charge to not be charge more. It gets better, my card was then mysteriously charged $4, 300 5 days into our trip. Once again I had to go back and fight to get these charges taken off. Not what I would call a relaxing experience. Each time no one apologized, they acted like they were doing me a favor by not overcharging me. We were on our honeymoon, it was on the reservation and we told the front desk at check in. NO ONE OFFERED CONGRATS OR MENTIONED OUR HONEYMOON DURING OUR 7 Night STAY. I didn't expect anything special but a personal touch would have been nice. We were supposed to get little gifts everyday, a perk of cottage rental. We only got the items occasionally. Sometimes every other day, sometimes a few days in between. During the booking process- I was offered complimentary champagne and chocolate strawberries for free for booking way in advance and because it was our honeymoon. During check out- I was charged $175 for these items. Frankly after fighting over thousands in overcharges, I was ready to leave and not fight over $175. I did raise it with a staff member and I was told sorry but that was the charge and nothing they could do to reduce / remove the charge. To make up for it I was offered a courtesy room to take a shower before my late flight that evening. Guess what, when we went to check into the courtesy room- IT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. At that point I just said screw it and left. Additionally, other small things added up to a miserable service experience. Golf Cart attendants will only take you to the parking lot-- not anywhere else, even if you offer to pay / tip them. Basically, if you asked any staff member for anything- a question or advice on where to go- you were treated as if you were hassling them and they were too busy to help. We had several staff members apologize for missteps (to numerous to list here) because they were " really busy. " Free management advice to Turtle Bay- Hire more staff or do not overbook the hotel. Orientation- When we arrived we were not told of any of the amenities. Our room came with all sorts of cool things, like binoculars to see the turtles, mini fridge and coffee maker hidden in storage drawers. NO ONE TOLD US ABOUT THESE ITEMS. Or where the beach / pool is, or the free gear rental for cottages- we had to find out or just pay for items we should not have. WHAT WENT OK: The restaurants here are ok, they are not awesome, but not bad either. The service here was good, but food quality was moderate considering the price. They are mainly just convenient. Definitely much better restaurants down the road with better food for less money. Haleiwa has some good restaurants- we recommend Beach House. THE GOOD: As I said the location is amazing and watching the sunset from your back porch is awesome. The turtles swimming in the bay is really neat and the general landscaping of the property is very nice. Housekeeping- The house keeping ladies are awesome and do a very good job. They work hard and keep the cottages immaculate. Valet- The guys at valet were helpful and did a good job. Overall, I say if you are going to spend the money to stay in the cottages, you should find another hotel with better service which translates to a better value. I am disappointed. I even waited a few days before writing my review.
Nice place but did not feel the love for our honeymoon
The property was nice enough, the views were nice, and the staff was friendly enough. However, we were on our honeymoon and just did not feel any attempt to make us feel special during the trip. We weren't hoping for grand gestures or free stuff, but we were hoping for a congratulations, maybe a welcome message in our room (I did call ahead to let them know this was for our honeymoon), and at the very least, the ability to get into the restaurants / bars on the property without paying a cover charge. After spending considerable money (for us, at least) to stay at Turtle Bay, my wife and I were looking forward to going to the bar in the lobby that advertised having live music and a DJ for dancing. Despite paying to stay in the hotel, and despite being on our honeymoon, we were stopped at the door on Friday night and asked for $10 cover each. We eventually turned around and went back to our room... not because we couldn't afford that, but because we felt insulted and unappreciated. Then, we decided to bite the bullet and pay $10 each on Saturday night, and when we got to the door, the cover charge had doubled. Certainly not the end of the world, and we're grateful to have been able to Honeymoon in Hawaii. It was just supposed to be the most special (and upscale) 3 days of our trip, and it ended up being the most frustrating and disappointing.
Disappointed
This is the 3rd time we have stayed at Turtle Bay and we definitely feel that it has changed. The rooms are looking tired and very dusty. The service at reception and everywhere in general is not what it used to be. Especially at the pool where you have to flag down pool staff who just stand around talking. You are lucky if they remember your drinks or where you are seated. We just felt like the staff didn't want to be there. The location is as beautiful as always but we were very disappointed that they now charge for beach umbrellas and chairs. That used to be part of the resort fee (which is still charged) but now you have to pay $30 for 4 hours. Room service food quality has also taken a dive, very expensive considering the little that is on the plate. Again you are lucky if they get the order correct. Just not what is used to be and it's a pity as it's such a magical spot.
Where is the Aloha
I have been coming to Turtle Bay for decades and was excited about the much needed renovation but I was very let down. They are now charging $800 a night for literally the same room that used to be less than half the cost. The updated lobby doesn't have many / any Hawaiian touches and looks like it belongs in Cabo. The restaurant no longer serves Macadamia Nut pancakes (there is some fruit compote now). I used to love coming here and getting away but it now seems like it is catering to the people you want to get away from.
solidly average
Nothing bad; nothing great. Luxury prices for an average resort experience. Beautiful setting. Too bad that the lobby and inside beauty doesn't match the outside beauty. They need to hire a decorator to redesign the lobby so that it doesn't look like a Greyhound Bus depot.
Staff is what makes Turtle Bay a five-star resort
Had a fantastic 3-day stay here. The location is beautiful and the rooms are nice but what really made the stay great was the staff. We had an early flight in and arrived at the hotel a few hours before check-in, but Ashley at the front desk found rooms for us right away and even two rooms that were close to each other for our party. She was really helpful any time we needed anything during the rest of our stay. I have to give a special mention to Kelcie! We were going ziplining on our first day there and planned to get there by public bus. The bus never showed, and we ran into the HeLe HuLi Adventure Center in panic because it was by then 10 minutes from our check-in time at the ziplining place and it would've been almost $400 down the drain if we couldn't get there. Kelcie was getting off her shift and offered to drive us there herself. She got us there just in time! We also did a Segway tour with Kelcie during our stay which we highly recommend! The rooms were ok with a cute beach theme but they'll probably need to be renovated soon. The A / C vents and parts of the bathroom door were rusted and corroded and one of the rooms had a light switch with part of the panel missing. The coffee machines in both rooms also stopped working on the second day. The shower was nice and spacious and it was great to have two sinks, though. Cleanliness left something to be desired. The windows in one of the rooms were so dirty we could barely see out of it (someone cleaned it on the second day) and the innermost shutter panel had black specks all over it -- which upon closer inspection turned out to be dead bugs and parts of dead bugs. There were also many clumps of dust in the lats of the closet doors. All in all, I'd still recommend Turtle Bay to friends. You can't beat the surrounding views, the sunset by the pool bar and most of all the service!
Mixed Feelings
I'm currently staying in a standard room at Turtle Bay Resort (TBR) I arrived on Dec 22, 2018, with my family (incl. two kids) and will be here for Christmas. After checking-in, I went to the concierge and inquired about making a reservation for Christmas dinner. I was told that all of the restaurants (there's 4) were fully booked. TBR is located in between small, rural, towns on the North Shore of Oahu, and like much of the western world, these towns will be closed up to observe the Christmas holiday, meaning anyone staying at TBR who does not already have a reservation for dinner will be screwed. Your Christmas dinner will consist of whatever you could pick up from the grocery store (providing you find this out before Christmas eve), which will have to be cold because there are no microwaves or cooking facilities, or the other option is room service. In any event you will be eating in your room, punished for not booking your dinner months in advance. *After two days of voicing our displeasure with this to management, we finally got a booking at one of the restaurants, all be it later than I would have preferred, but hey we'll have dinner outside our room! I still have to wonder about the management of a resort, aimed at tourists from abroad, who allow their on site restaurants to become fully booked-up by people who aren't staying at the resort, making them fend for themselves when all restaurants and shops in nearby towns will be closed. If it wasn't for persistence, we would be eating in our room. This resort is crazy expensive, $5 USD for a black coffee from the coffee bar, or $20 USD for a burger. There is a crazy expensive resort fee, which i knew about, but travellers should be aware of. Part of the resort fee is " free " wifi. From my experience, the wifi is very inconsistent and crashes frequently, meaning you will be in the middle of something and it will crash and you will then have to sign back in again, at which point it may or may not connect. Usually, no wifi is not a big deal for me, but as i was having to try and research where I could get a hot meal outside my room on Christmas if needed. The wifi is so dicey that I am having to writing this on a document to cut and paste when I can connect. The resort is very nice. The rooms are fairly large, and nice, but not opulent. The scenery is beautiful, breath taking actually. The staff are also very friendly.
Don't even ask unless " you know someone "
When I checked in I asked if I could get a room closer to where my friends were staying, she kindly told me the hotel was fully booked & she could not move me. I understood without protest. On the second night I stopped by the front desk to ask for a late check out. I was denied being told " we don't ever do late checkouts here " surprised, I replied saying my friends in another room asked for late checkout when they arrived & got it without issue. He did not believe me & asked for their name & room number. I was taken aback when asked for evidence, but gave it to him knowing they indeed got a late checkout. He looked it up & to his dismay I was correct, though this didn't change anything he could do for me. He said, " I don't know what happened, they must know somebody. " They don't, & it's sad to think different customers get treated differently depending on " who you know. " I explained I was renting a cabana the next day & just wanted a little more time to shuffle things around. I was met with a hard " no " that left me with a dejected feeling that has persisted. It wasn't all bad, the grounds are very clean & well kept & the wait staff at the breakfast buffet were very kind & attentive. I'm just not quite sure this would tip the scales enough to " be the difference " for a return stay for any of us who were there.
Great Return Trip
My wife and I first stayed at Turtle Bay in 2015 for our anniversary based on a friend's recommendation and had a great time (review is on Tripadvisor). We recently decided to take a family vacation and traveled back with our 8 and 10 year olds during the first week of November. The expansive grounds and relaxing atmosphere were perfect. Again, limited night life, but it worked out great. Rise early with the sun, and retire somewhat early to get ready to enjoy paradise again. From a hotel perspective, not much has changed. There has been a management change which has resulted in some higher fees such as no more free self-parking, which is really silly in my opinion and a daily resort fee that doesn't include beach chairs. There are some nice touches (such as unlimited DVD rental which was great for nights with the kids, etc). The Resort Manager I interacted with pre-stay was great, as were the check-in and most of the staff we saw while there. While the hotel is large we never once felt anything was too crowded. Large but the feeling of a private vacation. Now crowds, no chaos, just relaxation and fun. Room: We stayed on the 6th floor, Vista level. This was a change from last time as they have added the Vista features since we stayed in 2015. The view was amazing, yet again. We had a 2 queen room on the East Wing facing Kulima Bay. It feels like your room is hanging over the water. After sleeping with the door open to listen to the waves, we greeted each day with the sunrise which was amazing. The rooms are getting a bit tired, and probably are due for a paint / refresh / furniture swap again in the near future. The Vista snacks and breakfast were perfect for our family and actually turned out to be a major plus. The food put out from 7-10am saved us a ton of money on breakfast. No substitute for a full buffet, but with the two kids and two adults we were always able to get something to start the day without much fuss. Options included fruit, cereal, yogurt, granola etc. Infused water, coffee, juice, milk as drinks. So plenty to choose from. The Vista level also features a dedicated concierge. While convenient we felt that the concierges (both on the floor and at the Outpost) were not as good on this visit. They did not seem as knowledgeable as on our previous visit. They referred us to the website rather then knowing the information or offering insight. On our last visit they knew all the info inside and out. On Resort Activities There are tons of things to do, most with an extra cost. We did the helicopter tour again. We took the 40 minute tour (doors off) and were glad to see Josh was our pilot again! The helicopter tour is just amazing and if you have any interest, just do it! Pools Great pools, even though we prefer the beach. Was great to take a dip at night. They could use some more hot tubs or keep the kids area open later though. Beaches This is the best part of TBR. There is Kulima Cove right on the resort. Perfect, clean, never crowded and protected to allow snorkeling. Both of our children were able to snorkel for the first time, no problems. If you are willing to walk / explore a little bit you can experience some " private " beach time. Literally a 5 minute walk and you could be by yourself for hours! The kids also loved the Keiki pool a short walk away. The protected pool had some waves to play in and the kids could jump off the rocks, etc. Restaurants As always eating at the resort is overpriced and TBR is no exception. All of the on site dining options are on the expensive side, but that is expected. Our favorite restaurant on resort remains Lei Leis. Great food, great staff. Located at the golf course (and the bell staff will drive you over and pick you up). We celebrated my wife's birthday with dinner and the staff were great! The Point is great for evening drinks while watching sunset or some surfers. Expensive, but great! Off Resort If you are staying at TBR you really need to have a car so that you can enjoy all the island has to offer. While we spent a ton of time on the various nearby beaches and snorkeling we made an extra effort to head out and explore with the kids. Make sure to take the journey down to Pearl Harbor, experience a Luau (Toa Luau at Waimea Valley), swim in the waterfall at Waimea Valley. Grab some lower cost food and sundries and Foodland down the road. Visit all the great beaches nearby. Food Trucks (including the amazon Impossibles pizza located near Foodland, best pizza ever!), Kualoa Valley Raptor Tour. We really made an effort to explore and drive around, there is soooo much to do right nearby. We can't wait to be back. We are just hoping they don't encroach on the amazing experience by developing the property to add more buildings and rooms. That would truly be a shame and could ruin the experience.
Disappointing staycation
Room had chipping paint and appearance of mold on door. Pool in shallow end has loose and missing concrete. Plastic knife and bandage were also floating! Have stayed here numerous times and has never been like this! Unhappy!
I got bitten
a bunch of us were on a business outing for 1 night (local residents) and stayed in one of their hotel rooms. it was nicely renovated and a partial ocean view. I checked into the room in the late afternoon, then had dinner at lei lei's, had a meeting in one of the cottages and returned to my room at about 10pm, showered and went to sleep. I woke up at 3am itchy and tossed and turned for a couple hours until I was so tired I fell back asleep. Got up at 7 and checked the mirror and quite a few bites on my legs, back and torso. I never opened the lanai door so it couldn't be mosquitos.
Rat in villa!
Can I give ZERO stars? Booked a 3 bedroom villa_can't even go into the awful awful customer service about charging same rate for all villas when some have zero view of ocean (why are they called ocean villas?) and it's an unlucky draw if you get view of ocean or not. And front desk says they are absolutely powerless to change villas (?!) On day of check out spouse wakes up to pack and there is a large RAT scurrying along walls and goes into living room. So call to front desk and we will have to WAIT 90 minutes for someone to come. UNACCEPTABLE!! I can't enjoy last morning at resort because I can't use balcony or kitchen to eat breakfast because a RAT is in our $1600 / night third story villa. (This is not a mouse but a very large Norwegian breed looking rat) Will have to throw out some of our things because who knows what it scurried over while we slept. Still waiting for someone to come as I write this
Did not meet expectations
Went to Turtle Bay to help a friend celebrate her birthday. The room was large, but nothing special and we paid extra for a " deluxe " ocean view. There was a lovely ocean view, but we overlooked a roof line and an unkempt plot of grass. When we asked for a room that did not overlook a roof, the receptionist didn't even hesitate before saying none were available - didn't bother to check it out. The $50 / per night resort fee did not include parking (that was $15 / day) or beach chairs. 2 queens was $30 / day extra. A four star resort with no robes? Also, there should have been wait help circulating the beach area. This was basically a hotel on a beach and not a resort and the extra charges for a $400 / night room was just plain annoying.
Nice hotel but bit of a let down
Out of all the hotels we were staying in this one was the top hotel we wanted to stay in. We arrived, got settled into the room ok. (Vista view). Went to the pool and there wasn't a single chair free by the pool and it felt more like a hotel in Ibiza than a chilled out hotel that we were expecting. Both nights there has been a wedding and the music is BLARING. We're on the top floor and it's pumping through and I can hear it over the TV as I write this review. Thankfully we're only staying here two nights. Plus sides; surfing lessons were really good fun and the in room dining was good. Perhaps my expectations were wrong, this hotel would fit in nicely in the Ibiza or ayia napa. Wouldn't stay here again, not sure if I can upload a video for the music blasting.
Should Be 5 Stars But Constant Charges Cheapens Experience
We stayed at Turtle Bay for a week for our 10th Anniversary in March. Overall, we had a wonderful experience but there are definitely issues this hotel needs to work out. They clearly are not listening to the masses of customer complaints that feel like they are being nickeled and dimed, which ends up cheapening the feel of the hotel. There's tons of positive things about this place, but I would like to warn people going in what to expect. A $46 a night resort fee plus a $15 parking fee, (which are billed sparatically through your stay), $25 if you want a microwave in your room (this was a slap in the face), and any amenity you need to pay for... don't bother with the free section. Even the free items come with strings attached, and in order to enjoy them in a reasonable way fees are associated. I even understand the fees for the cabanas and beach chairs, it's nice not having people putting towels on them to reserve all day without using them, but it was $40 a day. Even though we could afford it, we weren't willing to overpay. Most of the time more than half of them weren't being used. I only saw one day we're almost all were being used with tons of people there. This shows way overpriced. Why not maximize customer use? 2 coffee pods in your room for coffee, and in the lobby you need to pay for coffee. We stayed on the 6th floor, which had VIP access and a free light breakfast, where we enjoyed juice and extra coffee there. It was very good. Our room was amazing, kept clean, and had wonderful views. The hotel has a nice ambiance, staff was friendly and helpful, and you can't ask for a better location. Great swimming beach and pool. We liked they had many earth friendly and recyclable products. We mostly ate at food trucks in nearby towns but had three meals there. Our breakfast at the Kula Grill was delicious but very overpriced. Our lunch at the Pool Side Bar was ok with terrible service. We counted 10 servers standing around talking at one point and we were in plane sight waited over 15 minutes to be helped. There didn't seem to be any organization or customer service standards there. But over at Roy's was great. We had a great dinner there, strong drinks, and came back for drinks on the beach a few times, instead of the pool bar. Ambience is much better too and service top notch. We really enjoyed using the hotel snorkel gear and took it to several local spots. But next time we would just buy our own so we don't have to worry about being back by 4 to return them. Many times we wanted to stay out or found an eating place and ended up paying an overnight fee for them because we weren't back in time. I'm tough on cost versus experience and Turtle Bay Resort is almost there. We had a wonderful time and hotel room was amazing, just grumbling on the way home about all our billed fees. Just roll it into one price and let guests relax and not think about money constantly. I would recommend this hotel and say it's much better than staying in the city for a relaxing and fun beach getaway!
Birthday Vacation
We arrived at Turtle Bay on January 16, the middle of the week for a 4 night stay. Resort was very busy and the entrance was very crowded and not enough help. We were NOT told of the valet parking for our renal car of $20 per day. At check-in the young associate asked me, what was the nature of our visit, Wife's Birthday. They did nothing special for this birthday, at Marriott Resorts at $250 per night room cost, we always get a Champagne toast in the room for Special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries. With a room charge of $400 I expected more. We will be going back to Marriott properties only in future. When we got to our room # 480 in West Wing, we opened the sliding door to the balcony and what we heard was LOUD surf crashing on the shore. No sunset view from this room. After flying almost 11 hours we were looking forward to a night of rest. Unfortunately we could not get the sliding shutter doors to close off the light in the room. Called the front desk but it was not fixed until the next day. Too tired and jet lagged to ask for change of room. All we heard the first night was the LOUD crashing of surf outside our balcony even with the sliding doors closed. Not a quite room for restful sleeping. Ordered room service because we could not sleep, arrived in 45 minutes. The club sandwich is highly recommended. The french fries were horrible, soggy, and very cold. Next day went down to the pool at 11 am to find no pool loungers available. : (There seems to be only about 100 lounge chairs for a resort with over 400 rooms. Pool too small for this size resort. Decided to go down to the cove to sit on the beach. Found out the beach chairs Cost $$ to rent on beach. Again for this supposed high end resort they keep hitting you with fees for everything. Just for your information you will pay $49 a night extra for the resort amenities and then pay again to have a chair on the beach. Not my idea of high end resort. Here is a list of Resort Amenities and extra costs: Turtle Bay Resort Service Fee Policy Applies per room / villa, per night, and is collected upon check-out. Main Building and Beach Cottages - $46.00 + 4.712% General Excise totaling $48.17 per night Ocean Villas - $75.00 + 4.712% General Excise totaling $78.54 per night The following items are included in the Resort Service Fee: Blu-ray with unlimited movie rentals (Most first run movies sold out every night) GoPro usage available for guests, visit the North Shore WaterShed for details (GoPros always none available) Beats by Dr. Dre Pill Speaker use (again none available) Wi-Fi Internet access for in-room and public areas Unlimited local telephone calls In-room coffee and tea (Only 2 Kurig pods per night, had to ask please for 2 extra per night) Nalu Kinetic Spa Fitness Center access (once you walk in the Fee's start coming) Business Center access Snorkeling gear usage at Kuilima Cove (mask and fins were dirty and non extra large sizes) $10 daily Adventure Center credit One-hour tennis court usage per day, racket rentals are available for a fee (also fee for balls, but they had no new tennis balls) 10-Minute Stand Up Paddle Land Demo with Hans Hedemann Surf School (after 10 minutes then another fee) 30-Minute Golf Clinics courtesy of Turtle Bay Golf Use of golf clubs on our practice range when purchasing a basket of practice golf balls Live entertainment poolside, special events not included Pool chairs with umbrellas, available first come - first served (none available unless up get up at 7 am) Kids Eat Dinner at North Shore Kula Grille, with paid adult entrée, excluding holidays (Do not eat dinner here, took 1 1 / 2 hours to get meal, explanation was chef had melt down). Final assessment stay away from this resort.
Terrible
My husband and I are currently staying at Turtle Bay Resort and we can't wait to leave. We spent the first half of our trip at Sheraton Waikiki and in hindsight wish we had stayed there the whole time. Pros: The rooms are really nice, modern and clean. The housekeeping, watershed and valet staff are lovely. Cons: where do I begin?? From the moment we arrived there's been bad experiences. 1) When we checked in we were told all bookings get a room upgrade however we had already booked the highest room so wouldn't be getting one unless we payed for the next level up. It was said to us in an almost rude way that implied we were stupid for not booking a room down. (And I don't understand why you would explain this to a customer if you knew they weren't entitled to an upgrade from the start? What was the point?) 2) The restaurants we've tried so far have all served horrible and overpriced food. 3) Asleep in our room last night and the phone rang. Freaking out at who could be ringing so late wondering what the problem was? Someone from the restaurant we ate dinner at rang to tell us we didn't sign the receipt... we did. Turns out it wasn't us they were supposed to be ringing they got mixed up. Not really any great apology though. 4) There's nothing here. If you do end up staying here (although I don't recommend you do) hire a car! 5) My husband had a migraine this morning and unbelievably no shop in the resort sells pain relief. Also inquired about buying or renting some binoculars as we could see a pod of Whales out at sea but after being re-directed 3 times to different shops / people no one had any. 6) The staff in general (although we have meet some lovely people) seem unhappy, unfriendly and unhelpful. Tried ringing concierge / guest services today and again and again no answer. There's nothing here that would make us want to come back or recommend this place to anyone. If you do want to visit I would recommend staying elsewhere and doing maybe a day visit. Turtle Bays beaches, restaurants, activities and pools are all open to the public so your missing out on nothing whatsoever by not staying here.
Don't get married here
Got married here. The resort is lovely, but everything about the wedding was a hot mess. Double charged for our room. Used their in- house salon. Went for a visit ahead of time to plan my hair. Showed up on my wedding day and the stylist I worked with is no longer employed there and left no notes on our hair plans. Used the in-house florist. Did a consult in advance. Showed up the day of and was told they couldn't get any of the flowers I ordered and changed it all without consulting me. Changed the sash colors on my chairs. Lost the sash to my Vera Wang dress which was supposed to be tied around my bouquet. NOPE. Save yourself the headache and go elsewhere. Or pay for all outside vendors.
Try another option
I've stayed three times before and this hotel has gotten progressively less appealing. They nickel and dime you in every way possible. No beach chairs or umbrellas without an extra charge. Very little shade at the pool - they want you to pay extra for that. I felt like I was on frontier airlines. My biggest problem is that talk a lot about protecting the ocean but they have done nothing to limit their plastic footprint. Plastic straws, spoons glasses, etc. however they do force an extra dollar a night to go to an " ocean fund ". The only reason they don't get less than three stars is that there are several great employees that do their best.
Ho Humm
The resort ticks all the boxes if you want to eat, sit next to a pool and get a tan. But, leave the resort gate, and it is so disappointing. I hoped North Shore would have a chilled, interesting vibe. It doesn't. It is a strip road on a long beach with nothing to visit. Surf beaches yes... but otherwise, just survival! Not a patch on Byron Bay in Australia or Princeville on Kauai.
Outdated and overpriced
We stayed at Turtle Bay on our honeymoon briefly and were very disappointed. The reviews weren't great but we thought we would give it a shot regardless. Our room smelled quite old and musty to the point where it made my stomach upset so we tried a different one-- same problem. The staff were helpful but at the end of this day this hotel is past its prime, I'd suggest a vacation rental to check out the North Shore. If you're expecting a beautiful well maintained resort, this isn't it.
Non-disclosure of construction work outside room!!
We booked via the resort website for a three night stay leading up to Easter. We booked the day before we arrived for our stay but woke up the first morning to the sound of drills and hammering metres away from our room. Opened up the windows to see a giant crane and about eight workmen carrying out some work on the roof 10 metres in front of our room. Resort management had left an envelope containing several postcards as a means of apologising for this maintenance & repair work!!!! We were not advised of this when we checked in the day before. Complained second day and we were moved to a higher floor facing the opposite direction. Pretty upset that we were not informed of these works on their website when we made booking or when we checked in!!
Turtle bay resort
Very Nice place but very expensive and nothing is included. Beach chairs and umbrella is a charge considering you traveling from al over the world and cant bring your own chairs. Very disappointed. For the wealthy people not people on a budget.
Great Time at Turtle Bay, Definitely Worth Going
We (3 adults and 1 7 year old) had a fantastic time at TB. We stayed for 6 nights in early April. The Rooms: Clean and spotless in both of our rooms. Quiet. Fantastic views (we stayed in the South Wing, facing West to the pool and sunset, on the 6th Floor). The rooms facing directly to the ocean (West Wing and East Wing) likely have a bit of a " better " view (if there is such a thing) in the sense of looking only at the ocean, but the balconies are a lot smaller - and when there are events at the resort, they take place on the lawn area that you would be looking down on, and hearing, if staying in a room in the West or East Wing. And that is not to complain in the slightest about our view, which I would prefer regardless, but some might prefer the slightly different view looking directly at the ocean and nothing else. Plenty of space. Beautiful bathroom: huge shower with lots of water pressure and soaking tub. Comfortable beds / pillows. In-room safe. In-room water bottles to buy for a whopping $5, to fill up at water stations or otherwise and use as you wish during your stay. Wi-Fi in room worked well. 6th Floor / Vista Level: I have read a few reviews where people complain about the free breakfast. Really? There are good pastries and croissants, granola, cereals, fruit, OJ, and coffee. What is there to complain about? It's good food. If you want to pay $20-30 for a loaded Continental breakfast, you have that option, and that is what you would pay at any relatively high end resort in Hawaii. Some gripe about the fact that it is served in the common area near the elevators. What do you want? A separate restaurant on the 6th Floor? You get your food, walk back to your room, sit and eat on the balcony with a wonderful view, relax and take it all in. Food: We ate dinner at Lei Lei's, Roy's, and Kula Grille. Lei Lei's was great: delicious, fresh fish (Mahi), we ate outside where our 7 year old could run around (as did lots of other kids there) on the putting green, and burn off energy, while waiting for the food. Service was very good. Roy's was fantastic. The butterfish melted in your mouth. The brussel sprouts app was great. The kids short ribs was the quality you would expect of an adult's meal: cooked perfectly, moist, cut with a fork, great taste. Kula Grille: It was pretty good. The burger was good, as was the chicken and the pork belly. Not of the quality of the other 2 restaurants. We made a last minute decision to eat at the resort and couldn't get in to the other 2. It is less expensive and it works. You can get snacks at the Lobby Lounge, and they have Happy Hour from 5:00-6:30: good price on the drinks. The Point has beautiful views: you are sitting there 25 yards or thereabouts from the ocean, looking at the waves and being mesmerized, the surfers, the beautiful view, and they have good drinks and good pool food. We had lunch on Taco Tuesday, and the tacos were very good. The Bacon Mai Tai is to die for: never had anything like that before and can't wait to do that again. And there are good snacks in the little store next to the pool with lots and lots of choices and drinks, including liquor / wine. Other Meals: We went in to Haleiwa and had dinner at Joe's and at Bo's. Both were very good. We preferred Joe's a bit. The view is very nice: looking out at the ocean and harbor. The food was great. Fresh fish that was cooked perfectly (had the Opah). Had a bite of the filet and it was great. Good service. Bo's was also very good: no complaints, the menu has lots and lots of choices, the food was all cooked well. Had the Poke Bowl: very good. We also went into Kahuku and ate at Giovanni's and at Tita's. Good food - not great - and you get meals for $10-15 and will walk away stuffed. Rocky & The Surf Dogs: Our 7 year old is not a great swimmer, and was a little hesitant about trying surfing. We walked over and talked to Rocky because he was waiting for another kid to walk out for his lesson. He said he was booked until noon the next day, so 1 of us walked up to make the reservation. After 1 minute of Rocky talking, our 7 year old felt comfortable. Before the other kid made it out for his lesson, Rocky put ours on the board for a couple of minutes right at the shore, just to get him comfortable. Good job Rocky !1 The next day the lesson went great. 1st time, the 2 of them (with Kahuna on the board also) got up and rode the wave in. That was repeated over and over. Great lesson. He was so happy and proud of himself for getting up on the board and surfing. Rocky is great with kids. He now can't wait for another trip here to do more surfing. Other stuff to do: Walk to the Banyan Tree. A nice walk, beautiful surroundings. We went to Waimea Valley / Falls. Again a nice walk, 3 / 4 mile each way. Bring your trunks and swim at the Falls. The resort: Everyone who worked there who we came across (valet, pool, cleaning the rooms, front desk, Guidepost) was friendly and helpful. The only little suggestions for improvement: There are 2 hot tubs. 1 is for Adults only, but there were often small kids in it: parents should take care of their kids and respect the posted rules, but TB could do a little something to try to enforce that rule. And, the pool area sometimes gets crowded in the sense of the pool chairs all get occupied (of course with people leaving their stuff on a chair for hours, but that's the way it is at any resort like this). TB could try to find a way to make a bit more room (there isn't a lot of extra space near the pool but...) for additional pool chairs / loungers. Overall: If you want to do the tourist thing, go to Waikiki. If you want to relax, in a beautiful setting, where you can spend lots of time at the resort and be fully occupied (kayak, surf, helicopter, walk the trails, hang out at the pool or the Point, snorkel, swim in the very calm Cove, and on and on), this is the place. And not far away, there are plenty of other things to do: Waimea Valley / Falls, Shark's Cove, other beautiful beaches (Sunset, Waimea, and others going the other direction past Kahuku Town). Would recommend having a car so that it is easy to make the drives into Haleiwa, and the food trucks between TB and Haleiwa and the other direction, and the other activities / places mentioned. We have been to Maui (Wailea) many times. It's difficult to rate the 2. North Shore is more relaxing, if that is possible. Wailea is a bit more high end / " fancy " with more food options. You really can't go wrong with TB if you are there primarily to chill out. We will definitely be back.
A Tad Disappointed
This was our second trip to Turtle Bay. Our last trip there was in 2012. The resort has changed quite a bit since then. It has, in my opinion, lost its Hawaiian flair. While the staff is very friendly and the scenery is beautiful, the hotel feels just like any other hotel anywhere. Gone are the days of lei-making classes, live music, leis, and the feel of Hawaii. The food was great in all restaurants, the staff is wonderful, the free wifi works most of the time, the beds are very comfortable, and there is plenty to do. We happened to be there on Mother's Day, and it was SRO around the pool. It was loud with tons of screaming little children, so not a place to relax. I think the resort is a fine family resort, but not a place for romance or relaxing. If you're looking for a big family vacation with lots to do, this is your place. If you're looking for a taste of Hawaii, and / or peace for romance or relaxation, look elsewhere. I felt that Turtle Bay cost too much money to cover the physical improvements, and the laid back feel of the North Shore and Oahu was gone.
5 star location and prices, 3 star resort experience, wasted opportunity
This resort could be so great with more attention to detail and some financial investment. It feels so unloved - like it is being sold and the owners just don't want to put any more money into it. Or maybe it's because they have a monopoly on the location (only resort on the North Shore) so don't have to try hard and can nickel and dime for EVERYTHING. Christmas week exorbitant prices for a conference-level basic hotel room with many room views overlooking roofs and paying extra - resort fee that really doesn't include anything of value, pay additional also for a chair on the beach and parking. Other than the spectacular location, resort does not have much overall appeal. Lacks ambience and comfort and décor. A little bit of investment in nice outdoor furniture such as couches and Bali beds etc, fire pits and upgrading the lobby furniture (most eclectic mix of worn, mismatched furniture, including some tables and chairs in lounge area that look like they came from an elementary school) would go such a long way. There's also no really nice indoor bar / lounge with any comfort and ambience so when it rains (as it did all day on Christmas) you are limited to hanging out in your room. The lobby area doubles as a coffee bar and actual bar later in the day and has all the appeal of an airplane hanger. There are several worn couches overlooking the wonderful view but good luck getting a seat there. They seem to be really short of furniture for a resort of this size. Also, on Christmas Day the resort lost power for five hours, it was not a problem limited to the resort, but there was no overall communication about what was going on, and gee, they could have at least offered us a free drink for the inconvenience. Nothing. Merry Christmas! It sounds like we hated the place, we didn't (it's Hawaii, after all!) but it just can't compare to other resorts we've been to - even the Sheraton Kauai and Kauai Marriott, with much lower prices, have more ambience, comfort and Hawaiian atmosphere. What did we like? Well, the location is incredible and the walking / hiking opportunities on all the trails were the highlight for me, every morning I set out on a different hike to see the various beaches, some natural wonders and a few historic aspects. My husband is an avid golfer and the unlimited golf package is the only value at the resort if you like to play 36 holes a day like he does. And if you are a tennis player, it's one of the only amenities of value included in the resort fee. And the fitness center was very nice with a spectacular view! I also enjoyed the horseback riding. So if you want an active vacation, this is a good resort for it. If you just want to lounge around in the sun and " beach it " and be pampered and are expecting a Four Seasons or Ritz level experience, go elsewhere. The pools and pool bar are basic, the main beach is crowded and they should turn the wedding pavilion into an indoor bar / lounge, it would be so fabulous but I am sure they make more $ charging top dollar for weddings. Tips: you absolutely need a car, especially for meals. We enjoyed the local food trucks with the reasonable prices and good food. Haleiwa is only a 25 minute drive (if there's no surfing traffic) and Polynesian Cultural Center is 15 minutes away. Stop at Foodland and stock up (favorite aspect of the rooms is the refrigerator!) on snacks, beverages and breakfast items so you are not totally held hostage by the really high prices ($17 for a Bloody Mary, before tax and gratuity). Our dinner at Roy's at the resort was delicious. Pa'akai was OK but not worth the price but it was the only restaurant available on Christmas since the power outage closed Roy's, a two hour wait at Lei Lei's, or uninspiring room service were the only other options. Would we return? Actually, we might - but with two caveats. We wouldn't come here as our ultimate destination for a Hawaii vacation (and fortunately our stay here this time was pre-cruise so we had that to look forward to) but we might stay here again if we needed a few days on Oahu before heading elsewhere. And, I wouldn't ever stay in the main hotel again. The beachfront rooms (exorbitantly priced during the holidays but much more reasonable other times) are absolutely the area to stay in. Low-rise, oceanfront and really nice décor, very peaceful part of the resort. The other option is the independently-owned Ocean Villas, some of which I found on rental sites after our trip, is the place to stay with a family. A week or so after returning home, received a survey from Turtle Bay. Excited they were asking our opinion because it felt like they actually cared! Well, it turned out to be all about their new visual identity and logos and new names for new facilities. At least that gave me hope that maybe it is being sold or completely renovated and there are plans for improvement because it the location is incredible and the facilities should be worthy of that.
Worth the money... Perfect vacation!
After booking Turtle Bay I started to have regrets because of the price and the fact that the resort was on the north side of the island, which seemed so far from everything. Well, I'm so glad we chose to stay here! The grounds, views, the cleanliness, the friendly staff, everything is perfect. Everything you need is within the resort... Everything is a short walk, and even when you go to the restaurant Lei Lei's they will pick you up in a golf cart at the lobby and drive you to the front door of the restaurant. My advice would be to rent a car for the duration of your stay at the airport, as Turtle Bay is about an hour away. The hotel offered a us a shuttle service for almost $200 each way from the airport, which is obviously outrageous. I found a mid-sized rental car for 9 days for under $150 total. That car was a huge help! We took it everywhere and really had an opportunity to explore the entire island. If you go to Oahu and don't leave the Turtle Bay grounds to explore the islandnyou are making a huge mistake. The views from everywhere at the resort are beautiful. We stayed on the 5th floor facing the west and it was the perfect view! We even hung out in the lobby and had lunch, a drink, coffee, etc because the views were so gorgeous and it was so relaxing. Make sure you catch both the sunrise and sunset as they are breathtaking. Food / Drink: The pool area is a nice spot to grab lunch and get a drink. I highly recommend the bloody mary (you have to get it with bacon, it's amazing!) and the pina colada (ask them to blend with a banana). The food is good in the pool area, and Lei Lei's is a must. Lei Lei's is a restaurant near the golf course. The food at the resort is somewhat pricey but very good. If you are going to hang out at the Turtle Bay beach and snorkel (recommended), drive over to the grocery store and buy a cheap cooler and fill it up with drinks and lunch. It's an inexpensive way to hang out at the resort's beach. If you are coffee drinkers like us, spend the $45 to get the unlimited coffee thermos near the lobby. It is very worth it, as you can even have them fill it with soda. If you opt for housekeeping to clean your room every 3 days, they give you a free breakfast buffet. Other recommendations: Some local food places you don't want to miss.. Ted's Bakery (right down the street). Omg, so good for breakfast and lunch. There is also a decent sized fruit stand less than a 5 minute drive away where you can get fresh fruit that tastes amazing. Any extras can always be put in the fridge in your room. As mentioned earlier, there is a Foodland grocery store about 10-15 min away that will have everything you need. And the biggest recommendation of all, drive around the island and see it's beauty.... Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay (get there early), Pearl Harbor (a must), Lanikai Beach (calm, beautiful water), Makapuu Lighthouse Trail (the views!), Banzai Pipeline, Waimea Falls, the delicious shrimp trucks, Tropical Farms (for the macadamia nuts, coffee, souvenirs, etc) and so much more. Enjoy!
Beautiful Hotel but bring your Bank Account - not just your wallet!
So let me start by saying that this is a beautiful hotel in an amazing location! There are views from EVERYWHERE!! The staff is extremely friendly for the most part and the Hawaiian breezes are delightful! BUT...... if you are not filthy rich, you may want to visit the beach and move on. The reason I say this is because this place gives you NOTHING included with your very expensive room price. They do allow you to borrow beach towels however if you don't return them (you must give your name and room number to get them) then you will be charged $15 per towel! Also, there is nowhere to PUT your towel except on the sand! You need to be at the pool very early to get a chair and a chair at the beach will cost you! I have NEVER been ANYWHERE that CHARGES YOU FOR A BEACH CHAIR! When I am paying over $400 per night, I expect that I may use a chair on the beach. Even if you want to go at sunset, nope, all the chairs are cleaned up. So even if you want to pay for one, you can't. The sun doesn't set until 7:30pm but if you DO rent a chair, it gets cleaned up by 5 or 6. Parkingwe are in the middle of NOWHERE - yet they charge you $15 per day to park YOURSELF (and it's a bit of a hike if you do) and $20 per day to valet. Now this is nothing but a money grab b / c there is no reason they must charge you to park. Again, for $400 you get a bed and a view. Speaking of the room. I got a junior suite, one on the end that is larger. The room was great for a family of 4 and I am glad I reserved it. However they did not tell me at the time of the reservation that the only one of that kind of room left was an ADA room. So when I called and asked about this they said it was not any different other them some grab bars in the bathroom. Well, the grab bars were no problem, or the seat in the shower, but the shower was in the same 'room' at the toilet. There was a door that closed off both but nothing that kept the shower water in. There was no drain in the actual shower, only a narrow drain by the door. This was fine for the water, but once you added in shampoo, soap, etc, the drain didn't work and the ENTIRE BATHROOM FLOOR WAS FLOODED AND WET! I called and tried to tell them that we were going to break our neck going to the toilet b / c the floor was soaking wet with water and soap scum but they didn't understand. I ended up asking for more towels (a lot more) and put them all over the floor so we could walk without falling and without getting our feet wet! So don't get room # 230 for this reason alone. Food - wow - let me start with they were out of milk in the mini mart. Really? Milk? And were not getting any for another 2 days. Wow. When we decided on room service one night, they were out of Cesar salad. Really? We got the pizza which was basically cold and a personal size. The restaurants are nice but VERY pricey!!! And menus are good for adults but not kids. Not much comfort food. Lei Lei's was great with some decent options but again, very expensive for a casual meal. If you want to do ANYTHING at this resort you will pay big time. We got 1 drink and an app at the Beach Bar (great atmosphere but weird food choices) and it was $30! I live outside of NYC so I deal with expensive all the time, but this place was crazy. They also are pretty skimpy on the towels and soap, shampoo, etc. If you ask you can get more but to start they give you the smallest amount possible. So although this was a stellar location with some lovely spots to view the sunset, I would not stay again. I spent more money here for 3 nights doing / eating hardly anything then I did at a beautiful Marriott for 7 nights! Oh, and one more thingbring your walking shoes! This place is large and required a lot of walking to everywhere. And lastly. if you like the Disney vibe, you will love it here. It's soooo busy and crazy all day...... nighttime is quiet.
A nice getaway
Yes it's expensive, yes there is a daily resort fee charge, but hey this is Hawaii. And the room / views / ocean sounds was worth the price. We opted for Vista level on the top floor (6) as it comes with morning breakfast 7-10 (mostly continental with one hot entree that changes daily). Also includes afternoon snacks from 2-5. Our room had a full ocean view. We sat and watched whales spout and jump, right from our balcony. The hotel is older, hasn't been updated in 5 years (per employees), but the rooms are large, clean, and very quiet. New owners took over 6 months ago and apparently renovations are upcoming. The Point Bar and the Spa were favorites. We would come back.