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About
3.5
#71 of 94 hotels in Honolulu
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki, one of Waikiki's most popular hotels, is a boutique hotel located 2 blocks from the beach and steps from world-class dining and shopping. Guests enjoy our many hotel amenities including a pool, barbecue grill, use of beach chairs and towels, self-service laundry on-site, and WiFi access throughout the property. Our guest rooms feature flatscreen TVs with DVD players, microwaves and mini-refrigerators, and many have a private balcony.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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Many guests commend Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki for its prime location near the beach and local attractions, although the hotel's atmosphere and rooms are often described as outdated, with calls for refurbishment. While the service is generally appreciated for being helpful, some travelers have had mixed experiences regarding staff responsiveness and professionalism.
Cleanliness is typically well-regarded, but opinions on value are divided due to unexpected fees and small room sizes. Amenities are considered satisfactory, especially the complimentary beach towels, despite the pool's size and noisy air conditioning.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Outdated
Rooms
Dated
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Satisfactory
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We booked a last minute trip to Oahu over Xmas week and then realized that everything was full and expensive. We were able to get a room at Aqua Aloha Surf. It is a good hotel- they have a hearty breakfast with Asian lunch food as well as good pancakes (we got tired of it after a few days). It is a great location and the service was mostly very good. They have laundry facilities in the basement, cold water in the lobby, and free movie rentals. The deluxe room was big enough for a family of four if you don’t mind a double size bed. We got the deluxe room that has a double, twin, and sofa bed. We didn’t try pulling out the sofa but it worked as a single bed. One issue was the noise outside of the hotel. For the first couple of nights we left the glass door open (prefer no a/c) but it was terribly noisy with a bar across the street as well as construction. For the rest of the time we slept with the glass door closed, and a/c on and the noise was no longer an issue. There is a nice place to walk on a canal right next to the hotel, and plenty of rental bikes nearby. Excellent, cheap food everywhere. Overall, a great stay! Room has a microwave and mini fridge.
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Date of stay: December 2019Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Great location, within walking distances of Waikiki Strip, International Market, Hawaiian Royal Centre, central to Honolulu CBD/Waikiki. We got great service from staff at reception and maintenance, whenever needed e.g. I couldn't work out how to work my room card. We also used the car parking facility, you will have a car space allotted. The room was very basic, the photos don't show how dated the rooms are. But we were happy with them because they were spotlessly clean and were serviced every day. We had the best night's sleeps on their beds and pillows each night, air conditioning wasn't noisy for me. And there is a room next to the bathroom for make up etc. It was the best value for money at Christmas time in Waikiki. Would definitely stay here again. If you come here expecting 4 star or to look exactly as the pictures suggest e.g. brand spanking new, this isn't likely to meet your expectations if you are after fancy hotel. But if you're after value for money in Waikiki, a clean room to stay and a budget to stick to, and a laidback chill atmosphere that feels like you are at the beach, this is a great choice. We regretted that we weren't able to stay in this hotel for our entire stay in Honolulu. The one we went to after we left Aqua (Pacific Marina Inn) made us wish we had been able to stay at Aqua.
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Date of stay: December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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We enjoyed our 3 night stay. The breakfast that was included was enjoyable. I actually enjoyed eating noodles for breakfast 🙂The pancakes were very good as well. Parking is expensive but we found free parking on the street by the canal . The hotel is close to the beach, the international market and many restaurants. Our room was clean and the bed was comfortable. We didn’t use the pool, it is very small.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The hospitality is unmatched! Everyone is friendly and helpful. The staff is the absolute best! Special shout out to Davery and Lance!! Great job guys for making me feel like I was the only guest at the hotel.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: July 2023
Value
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Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki, Other at Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki
Responded Aug 1, 2023
Aloha Jacqueline R, Mahalo nui loa for your kind review! Here at the Aqua Aloha Surf our aim is provide you with a value option when visiting 'Oahu, as well as continuing to provide excellent service. We appreciate your kind feedback regarding our team members Davire and lance! We will be sure to pass along your kind comments directly to management. We are grateful to call you part of our 'ohana, and look forward to hosting you time and again A hui hou,
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If you want to be in the busy city, then the location of this hotel is decent; near the beach, many restaurants and shops. There is a parking garage where you pay I think $30 USD per night, however it was full when we arrived so we had to find another parking garage, about a 5 minute walk from the hotel. The room was large and the bed was comfortable but everything else was sub par. The couch had large stains and the room looked old. There is also construction next to the hotel, which we could hear in the morning. The free breakfast buffet was just OK. They had toast, scrambled eggs, fruit, pancakes, noodles, some meat and coffee and warm water to drink. I would not stay here again.
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Date of stay: February 2020
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Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We got a good deal with this hotel and had a great stay! Everyone was super nice and friendly the whole stay and communicative when we thought we left something behind. The hotel overall could use an update but the staff was great. The hotel provides beach towels and chairs for you to use which I found extremely helpful because we would just drop off the used ones when we got back and didnt have to worry about hang drying our own beach towels. Within easy walking distance to everything Waikiki. Had a cute area downstairs by the pool with tables and chairs where you could go to eat some takeout or play cards with friends or just hang out. I brought snacks from the mainland for the hotel staff and everyone seemed really grateful so that was fun. This is a cute, no frills, basic needs hotel. If you're looking for a resort on the beach, keep looking lol but it was perfect for us and I will definitely try to book with them for future trips!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: March 2022
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Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki, Other at Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki
Responded Aug 18, 2022
Aloha ammaody2121, Thank you for taking the time to write a review on your recent stay here at the Aloha Surf Waikiki. It's always makes us happy to hear that our hotel staff was a highlight of a guest’s stay! Thank you for taking the time to leave your honest thoughts on our hotel’s facilities. Thank you for the Trader Joes snacks :) We would love the opportunity to host you again for another beachside getaway in paradise! With Aloha,
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Hi everyone, I have just returned from a great 15 day vacation at the Aqua Aloha Surf hotel and here is my review. To start, this vacation marked my third time visiting the beautiful island of Oahu. The Aqua Aloha Surf hotel in my view is a great bang for your buck, this is an older hotel and sure it could use some love but generally speaking everything works and the location is right on. Waikiki beach is a five to seven minute walk depending on your pace, but on the other hand you’re a one minute walk to a great food market on the second floor in the building next door the Lilia. The pool is small but quaint, sure there could be more long chairs but it never filled up the time I was there. Also, if you have a car the street Ala Wai Boulevard on the corner offers the possibility to park for free, otherwise the Aqua Aloha offer guest parking for $35 per night. The room they gave me was on the fifteenth floor room 1510 which offered a stunning corner view of Waikiki. Fridge, coffee maker, microwave and safe are standard in the rooms. King size bed was comfortable and decent linens. The elevators were fast, and on the ground floor you will find a water purifier dispenser machine for some free cold water and there’s ice machine as well. You can borrow beach towels and portable chairs from reception, I didn’t find the chairs to be comfortable. The staff is great and very helpful, thank you to the management as well. So for the final question, would I return to the Aqua Aloha Surf? Absolutely! Had a great time there and I recommend you should try it. Hang loose,
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Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is a so called "budget" hotel, but dont be fooled. They will tack on hidden cleaning charges and damage waiver fees is no longer is a budget hotel. You're better off staying at one of the Marriott resorts, they were cheaper and better rooms.
Not to mention the rooms were old and falling apart and the couches all had nasty stains.
Nice staff though.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: May 2021
Value
Rooms
Location
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Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki, Other at Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki
Responded Sep 22, 2021
Aloha bygromis, Thank you for taking the time to write a review on your recent stay at the Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki Hotel. We are very sorry that the fees were not made clear to you at time of booking. Starting in November 2020 we notified all our hotel partners about our new fees which went into effect on January 1, 2021. I agree that it is important for those fees to be made clear for you when you book. We appreciate your valuable feedback and will reach out to wholesaler partners regarding your review. We hope that you will accept our sincere apology for failing to meet your expectations and for the inconveniences that you endured. Me ke Aloha Pumehana, With Warmest Aloha,
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Perfect place to stay if you plan to never be in your room. We were a group of 10 looking for comfortable rooms to shower and sleep in a location where we could walk to beaches, bars and restaurants. Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki was exactly that. The canal side of Waikiki provided a quieter experience which was appreciated after long days hiking, surfing and sun.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: December 2022
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dated basic hotel in need of a facelift. Expensive as well for a moderate room, everything is relatively close in Waikiki so location was ok. Staff were very helpful with all my requests. It was booked through a travel agent and was staying solo so I also had to pay a single supplement which made the price expensive considering the facilities. Breakfast was included i tried it one didn't bother the other three mornings you can read into that.
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Date of stay: February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki, Other at Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki
Responded Sep 22, 2021
Aloha OutdoorAdventures_70, Many Thanks for sharing your experience regarding your stay at the Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki. We always strive to provide our guest the best stay possible your comments with our leadership team for careful consideration. We hope to welcome you again for an improved stay soon. Mahalo.
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A little late of an answer. The two adjacent rooms that we stayed had hair dryers. Some of the rooms are owned individually but most are in the hotel pool, unless you book it directly with an owner.
"The vending machines there only take Credit Cards not cash & there is a miscellaneous damage,house keeping & Wifi fee that has to be paid separately at Check in."
There are more places to choose from in the Honolulu area.
PRICE RANGE
C$210 - C$320 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
aqua aloha surf waikiki hotel honolulu, aqua aloha surf honolulu, aloha surf hotel, aqua aloha surf hotel
LOCATION
United StatesHawaiiOahuHonoluluWaikiki
NUMBER OF ROOMS
118
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki
Which popular attractions are close to Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki?
Nearby attractions include The Magical Mystery Show at Hilton Waikiki Beach (0.4 km), International Market Place (0.2 km), and Statue of Duke Kahanamoku (0.4 km).
