Description: Ideally located across from world-famous Waikiki Beach on one side, and Honolulu Zoo on the other, the Park Shore has one of the only unobstructed views of Diamond Head on the hotel strip. It is also, in my opinion, the best deal in Waikiki.
Having stayed here several times, I can only assume that the people who rate this hotel poorly are expecting a full-service resort for the price of a budget inn. Folks, that ain't gonna happen. The staff is friendly, the property is neatly kept, and the pool is beautiful. Yes, the rooms are smaller than other hotels on the beach. If a small room is going to bother you, then hike your fanny one block over to the Marriott and pay $400, because you won't be happy here.
Standard rooms feature a small lanai that faces the Aston Waikiki next door, and has a great view of the beach if you turn to the left. To give you an idea of the room size, when we had a king bed, there was just enough to room to walk between the foot of the bed and the TV armoire. Going the other way, there was a small table with two chairs on the far side of the bed. Two adults can be comfortable here, but if your kids are older than five, it may be a tight squeeze. Each room has a small fridge and a coffeemaker. The complimentary toiletries are a cut above your average hotel stock; I always look forward to hoarding them to keep the scent of Hawaii in my nose until I return.
At one time there was a Denny's on the property that we enjoyed, not for the food, but for the great open-air dining room that looked out over the beach and Kalakaua Ave. Pigeons flew right in and scooped up crumbs dropped by the diners. Last year, though, they closed Denny's and opened a Lulu's burger joint. The original Lulu's opened in Kona. If you ask me, they should have stayed there. The burgers are mediocre and overpriced. Two of us spent $35 for two cold burgers and two warm beers.
There is also a (choke) Starbucks off the lobby. Please, for the love of God, if you are in Hawaii, drink the Hawaiian coffee! Just this once, pass up the beast and try the Kona. Trust me, you will never look back!
The fact is, there is not a thing wrong with this place except that it isn't the Marriott. If you want the Marriott, then fork up the bucks and go there so the rest of us don't have to listen to you complain. If you want a nice little budget hotel in a great premium location, then you will probably enjoy the Park Shore as much as we do.
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