Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk : Great for large families!

Nobody told me that planning a vacation for a family with 4 kids would be a huge challenge. As anyone with more than 2 kids knows, many hotels require families to book 2 rooms (at twice the cost) to accommodate 6 people. Not the Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk! The second we pulled in, I knew I was in the right place for our Hawaiian family vacation. After a very long day of travel and flight delays the last thing anyone wants to do is take 4 extremely tired kids to a cramped hotel room and attempt to get them to sleep. Arriving at the Embassy Suites indoor/outdoor check-in area, we drove our rental van right into the hotel lobby where, despite the late hour, were greeted with warm smiles, many hands to help, and a thoughtful “welcome” glass of tropical juice.

Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk: Large Families Welcome

The newly renovated room was a welcome sight for tired eyes with a spacious central living area, kitchenette with mini fridge, microwave and sink, flanked by 2 bedrooms. It was everything that we needed. Our 4 sleeping beauties crawled  into the 2 queen beds of the first bedroom and  slept soundly (thankfuly!) until dawn. The master bedroom had a gorgeous king size bed and a second bathroom just for us. Aloha! We had arrived!

Embassy Suites Waikiki 1 bdrm suite

Photo courtesy Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk

 

While they had a good nights sleep, our kids were were still on Mountain Standard Time and got up earlier that we hoped! The second thing the kids wanted to do (the first was to see the ocean, which we could from both of our balconies) was to eat! Shocking right? As a mother traveling with a large family, my favourite amenity at any hotel is a complimentary FULL BREAKFAST BUFFET and the Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk did not disappoint. What a lifesaver for us and oh so yummy. Each day, breakfast is served on a private floor that also houses their outdoor pool. From fresh island fruits and pastries to pancakes and scrambled eggs to crisp salad and miso soup, the Embassy Suites has something for every taste. I had a big green salad (why not?) and a made-to-order egg white omelette, with a side of bacon (naturally) every day. The friendly staff could be seen making the rounds talking to hotel guests about their upcoming day’s excursions. You could certainly tell that some of the staff have been working at the hotel for a long time and that several of the guests were clearly repeat customers catching up with an old friend. Everybody seemed to be ohana or family at the Embassy Suites.

Embassy suites Waikiki Beach Walk: Large Families Welcome

First on the schedule after a full belly? Hit the beach! It didn’t take us long to parade our crew to the nearest beach at Greys Channel directly across the street and behind the US Army Museum. It was an easy walk even for the youngest of our kids and with paved sidewalks leading right up to the sand, even a stroller could easily access this beach. The waves were just the right size for playing safely at the waters edge and the sand is soft for making castles. If you were to walk a little further, you can access unlimited beaches to explore but we were happy to make this ‘our’ beach and retreat to the hotel when the kids had enough waves. Back at the hotel, the pool area was a beautiful oasis hidden above ground level for privacy and quiet and the free WiFi was the perfect way to let the kids unwind from all that watery play time.

Embassy suites Waikiki Beach Walk: Large Families Welcome

When we were ready to shake the sand off our towels and get dressed again, we explored the vibrant area surrounding the hotel. Much to my surprise (and my husbands worry) we were right in the heart of the shopping district in Waikiki! High end shops, a mall, boutiques, bars, restaurants, food trucks, art galleries, live music and if you need a forgotten item, there’s an ABC store on every corner for must have items like water, chips, sunscreen, clothes and souvenirs. Although the streets are crowded with walking tourists, we never got lost or felt unsafe, even after dark.

Embassy suites Waikiki Beach Walk: Large Families Welcome

The Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk is truly a family-friendly and family-focused hotel. When asked what their favourite part of our stay was, the kids all agreed: how close we were to the beach and the awesome french toast! As for the adults, our favourite part was being able to stay on site for breakfast and the comforts-of-home-feel of the suite, all this with no resort fees! We will definitely be back.

Aloha!

Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk: Large Families Welcome

Mahalo to the staff at the Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk for hosting my family of 6.