Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa

Description:

• Sprawling over 20 acres, Waikiki's biggest resort is a minicity unto itself, so big it even has its own post office. You'll find tropical gardens dotted with exotic birds, award-winning restaurants (including Bali by the Sea), 100 different shops, a secluded lagoon, two minigolf courses, and a gorgeous stretch of Waikiki Beach. This is a great place to stay with the kids: The children's program, one of Waikiki's best, offers a wide range of educational and fun activities, and at three of the resort's restaurants, kids ages 4 to 11 eat free. In 2007, the property underwent a "Village Rejuvenation," with a total revamp of the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon.

  Rooms, which range from simply lovely to ultra-deluxe, are housed in five towers, each with its own restaurants and shopping. This division reduces the chaotic, impersonal feeling you can get from a resort this size. Still, this is the place for a lively, activity-packed vacation; those seeking a more intimate experience might want to look elsewhere. All rooms are large and beautifully furnished (the Tapa Tower rooms were renovated in 2007). If you can afford it, I highly recommend the ones in the Alii Tower, located right on the ocean. Guests in these 348 amenity-laden rooms and suites get the royal treatment, including in-room registration, an exclusive health club and pool, and the full attention of a multilingual staff.

  Included in the village is Holistica Hawaii and superplush Mandara Spa (with a state-of-the-art fitness center). A 24-hour hotel business center is located on the ground floor of the Diamond Head tower. The latest addition to the village was the recently opened $6-million Ocean Crystal Chapel, Waikiki's only free-standing resort wedding chapel, ready for couples to say their "I do's."

  For those in a hurry to begin their vacation, the Hilton became the first hotel in Hawaii to offer self-service kiosks at the Honolulu Airport so guests can check in and get their room keys before they even claim their baggage and grab a taxi.

  Facilities: 16 restaurants; 5 bars; 6 outdoor pools; modern fitness center; spa; watersports equipment rentals; children's program; concierge; activities desk; car-rental desk; business center; huge shopping arcade; salon; room service; in-room massage; babysitting; same-day laundry service; dry cleaning; concierge-level rooms.

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Highly Recommended 2010