Built in 1998 as what is now called a mid-sized ship, the initial appearance is quite appealing.  The exterior of the ship has the traditional overall white paint job, 887 feet in length and 77,000 gross tons.  It accommodates 1,990 passengers with over 400 balcony staterooms offered.  Entering the ship on Deck 5 was impressive with the sweeping curved stairway and central atrium with 4 glass elevators.  The confusion starts here as the elevators mid ship only service some decks.  Sorting out the access to accommodations and decks posed a challenge initially even to a seasoned cruiser.  After a few days it would be a simple transit.

PUBLIC AREAS:  All were tastefully decorated and extremely well-kept.  The color scheme ranged from gold and beige to bronze and darker beige — certainly subdued.  Shops, internet café and library were easy to find and quite appealing.  It was the largest library (and smallest internet café) I’ve seen aboard most modern cruise ships.  The Razmatazz bar and disco was properly shiny with chrome and a small plexiglas dance floor.  Outdoor bars were colorful and appealing.  The Vista Show Lounge was comparatively small with a very steep slope of chairs and table arrangements.  However, throughout the ship serious attention to accessibility is apparent.  Cleanliness of all areas of the ship was very noticeable.  Hand washing stations are located everywhere and especially notable in the well-equipped children’s’ and teen facilities.  The huge spa and fitness areas were beautifully decorated and quite well-equipped.  The casino was comparatively small for the number of passengers. Staff throughout the ship were extremely friendly and helpful. 

DINING:  The large and airy Traviata dining room offers traditional seating with the Rigoletto dining room directly below it set up for the “anytime” concept.  Both restaurants had large picture windows for ocean viewing.  Heavy velvet drapes, however, seemed to be closed most of the time(??)  The salmon was expertly prepared and all menu items were beautiful in presentation and of highest quality, fresh ingredients.  The Horizon Court buffet,  open 24 hours a day,  offered several serving stations to cut down on congestion and long lines.  Hand washing was emphasized everywhere.  The Riviera Grill was quite small with only about 8 bar stools and a couple of tables.  Their Sterling Steakhouse is actually a section of the Horizon Court corded off in the evening for fine dining option.  They do not offer a Sabattini’s Italian restaurant on this ship.

STATEROOMS:   All were tastefully decorated and well-appointed.  The ship has the most complex way to reach many of the cabins via hallways that twist and turn on both starboard and port sides.  Many hallways dead end and the access to elevators remains a complete mystery at this time.  The interior staterooms were particularly small and confining.  The obstructed view cabins were very obstructed by the life boats and tenders.  The minimum category ocean-view cabins were long and narrow with either a square window or slanted large picture window.  Balcony cabins in the BC category were equipped with balconies so narrow a normal sized passenger would have difficulty sitting in the deck chair facing forward!  Return passengers should inquire about reasonably priced upgrades to at least the mini-suite category to find balcony staterooms comparable to the newer vessels offerings.

OBSERVATIONS:   Embarkation procedures in San Francisco seemed efficient, if not a bit drafty in the warehouse-like reception area.  Arrival of new passengers overlapped with folks disembarking — quite a crowd on the sidewalks outside!  It was almost impossible to pass through the throngs.  Folks were testy leaving and arriving due to the congestion of taxis, cars and busses double and triple parked either discharging or picking up folks.  The Amtrak service from Sacramento to Pier 39 was efficient and a great way to get to the cruise pier.

Barbara Kerrin, C.T.C.
barbara.ke@travelstoreusa.com

When I received an invitation to travel to Egypt on a Travcoa luxury tour, I jumped at the chance.  On a luxury tour travelers don’t have to worry about anything.  A great tour operator assures your rooms are in order, your luggage arrives, special requests are confirmed, flight arrangements are reconfirmed, and in some cases, that staff in the hotel and on the tour are properly tipped.  A tour operator also hires experienced guides they know or who they’ve properly qualified. 

I was very fortunate to have one of the best Egyptologists traveling with us on this trip.  Sherif made Egyptian history come alive for us.  He was one of the best guides I have ever had the pleasure of traveling with. 

I arrived into Cairo at the new airport — the second day it had been opened.  The new airport is gorgeous but they need time to get organized.  The tour operators are no longer allowed to meet you at immigration which means you have to purchase your visa and process it on your own.  (And when you leave the country the luggage handlers are no longer allowed to take your bags to the airline’s check-in counter because you have to walk through security first.)  I was met outside security and promptly transferred to the Four Seasons at Nile Plaza.  You can’t have a better welcome to Egypt than a gorgeous room looking over the Nile and Cairo.  I loved the room and the food and service was superb. 

The group met after breakfast the following morning and was given an overview of our trip from our Egyptologist and Travel Director.  It was a great way to meet everyone and learn what to expect on our journey.  We started with a visit to the famous Cairo Museum then onwards to the Pyramids of Giza with a camel ride, Sphinx and the Solar Boat Museum.  When I stood at the foot of the great Pyramids my admiration for the ancient Egyptians grew.  And as I learned more about their history and viewed their temples I have a huge respect for this ancient civilization.  Afterwards we had lunch at the Mena House Hotel in the Khan El Khalili Restaurant.  You can’t get a better view of the pyramids while dining in their restaurant.   

After departing Cairo we flew to Aswan to see the High Dam and transferred to the Elephantine Island Hotel.  This hotel desperately needs an update but it is clean and the best hotel in Aswan.  The staff was friendly and the food was edible – fine for a one-night stay.  

The following early morning we flew to Abu Simbel which was one of the highlights of the trip.  The extra dollars to pay and go see it is worth it!  After our visit at Abu Simbel we returned to Aswan and boarded our boat the M/S Sonesta St. George I for our Nile River cruise.  The boat’s accommodations and service are excellent.  My “suite” was huge — the lesser categories were also roomy.  Food aboard the boat was excellent and they have a fun Galabeya (beautiful embroidered Caftan/dress for men & women) night.  That evening we attended the Sound & Light show at Philae Temple.  I thought it was worth it and it helps support the renovations of the temple.

After our three-night Nile cruise visiting villages and temples we checked into the Sonesta St. George Hotel in Luxor.  The Sonesta was a comfortable hotel with an excellent Italian restaurant and many shops in the lobby area.  In Luxor we visited the fabulous Luxor Museum and took a horse carriage ride.  (It is important you hire a horse carriage from a man that takes good care of his horse and doesn’t run their horse on the streets– the cobblestones are tough on horse’s hooves.)   

The following morning we transferred to the Luxor airport and returned to Cairo.  Upon arrival we were transferred to the Nile where we boarded a Felucca for a luncheon sail up the Nile.  The Four Seasons catered the affair and I highly recommend this activity for a small group.  Afterwards we checked into the Four Seasons First Residence Hotel.  The hotel is intimate with more of a residence feel with beautiful lounges and three excellent restaurants: one with a continental menu; an excellent Thai restaurant; and a Lebanese restaurant.  Of the Four Seasons properties I felt the First Residence had the better cuisine.  While the Nile hotel overlooks the river, the Residence overlooks the Cairo Zoo and the Pyramids.  That evening we attended the Sound & Light show at the Pyramids.  If you have the time in your schedule you should attend the show because it helps support the Pyramids.  I was glad I saw it and enjoyed it.  

You have to visit the Khan El Khalili Bazaar (Grand Bazaar)!  This is the best shopping in Cairo along with finding better quality goods.  Be prepared to “haggle” for that item of interest.  The Egyptian vendors can be overbearing but as long as you are polite and stress you are not interested or want a certain item, they understand. 

Things to remember while visiting Egypt:  Take small bills in U.S. dollars or Egyptian pounds because every time you want to take a picture of someone, tip a vendor or use the public restrooms you need to pay.  Typically one or two U.S. dollars is enough.  And also take small rolls of toilet paper for those visits to the rest rooms.  Typically after paying the restroom attendant they will only give you two or three sheets of toilet paper and you have to barter for more.  Another note is the time of year to travel to Egypt.  May through summer is very hot!  You will not survive without a good hat and drinking lots of water.  But there is an advantage of traveling to Egypt this time of year.  You won’t see the large crowds.  During high season you can hardly walk through the Egyptian museum because there are so many people, and we were able to see everything at ease.   

Nancy Decker-Davidson
nancy.dd@travelstoreusa.com

On a brief visit to London for three nights, I visited some of the hotels we use and at some of which we extend exclusive benefits for our clients.

The Goring Hotel is near Buckingham Palace.  A family owned hotel, The Goring is your classic English hotel, which I love.  I like to stay in hotels that characterize their country and this hotel does.  They have a lovely English Garden out back and if you can get a room that looks out at the garden I highly recommend that view.  The lounge and bar areas are popular with the locals as is their gorgeous dining room.  Should you be staying at the hotel dine at least one night in this famous restaurant. (You will need reservations in advance of arrival.)  The rooms are spacious and the bathrooms huge.  Service is impressive and I loved the staff. 

I inspected several of Red Carnation Hotels’ London properties.  The Rubens Hotel isn’t far from where I was staying opposite of Buckingham Palace.  They have approximately 160 rooms & suites with a lovely bar and restaurant.  Good hotel for families because they have several rooms that can connect.  Nice size rooms some with king and sofa beds.  The double rooms at the back of the hotel are quiet and I would recommend staying in one of those rooms. 

Next door is the intimate 41 Hotel with a private entrance.  It is much like staying in your own private town house with only 32 rooms and decorated in black & white.  The dining area for breakfast or light meals is a two story library.  They have great views of Buckingham Palace and they have a large executive suite which has two baths.  Clients that stay at 41 have signing privileges at the Rubens, but clients from Rubens are not allowed to use the facilities at 41. 

The Chesterfield Mayfair is located in the heart of Mayfair.  They have 107 rooms & suites and one room has handicap accommodations.  Bedding is twins, doubles or kings and I found the rooms to be spacious, plus I enjoy how the rooms are decorated with fabric walls and gorgeous linens.  The hotel has a lovely restaurant and popular bar.   

Next I visited Edgerton House located in Knightsbridge, close to Harrods’s.  Another townhouse feel hotel with 30 rooms, a small bar and lounge area.  They have a small dining room that serves only breakfast but they provide 24-hour room service.  I love how the rooms are decorated with queen or king beds and should your yo want a more intimate hotel in Knightsbridge I wouldn’t hesitate arranging your stay here.  This property has many stairs. 

I ended my visits at The Milestone Hotel overlooking Kensington Palace & the park.  What a view of the palace – it is gorgeous.  The hotel resembles a large Victorian townhouse with 67 rooms and suites.  The public rooms are classic intimate English design and each room is truly a work of art.  You would not believe the safari suite decorated in, of course, animal prints and colors.  This suite would be perfect for someone on their way to Africa.  They will get into the spirit staying in this suite.  I had the pleasure of dining in their intimate restaurant with the general manager — what wonderful food. 

Red Carnation Hotels pride themselves on having fine dining at all of their hotels.  Everyone I met at the hotels was a delight and friendly and I enjoyed my visits.  Onwards…

I took a short drive back to Knightsbridge to the The Capital Hotel just a few steps from Harrods’s.  The lobby is small and dark which when entering from the street doesn’t give it a great first impression.  The restaurant holds two Michelin stars and a small bar.  They have 49 rooms and suites which are well designed but I feel the hotel needs some updating. 

Next door you will find their sister hotel The Levin.  You feel like you are entering someone’s private home with only 12 rooms.  They have a small lounge with an honor bar in the lobby.  It has an informal restaurant where locals and visitors like to dine for breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea.  Rooms are roomy and beautiful decorated and there are many, many stairs.  The hotel has 24-hour room service and I enjoyed the property.  I wouldn’t hesitate having my clients stay here who want a more boutique style hotel. 

Last, I visited The Ritz Hotel the following morning (independent of the Ritz-Carlton brand).  It is still a beautiful English hotel with strict English standards.  The dress code is enforced and you are not allowed to wear jeans or sportswear into the dining or tea room.  Security is apparent throughout the hotel.  I had the opportunity to see several of the suites and the new extension of the hotel they acquired next door.  The restoration that went into the extension, which is a town house, along with the paintings and design is fabulous.  The “regular” rooms are spacious and gorgeous.  The hotel’s famous afternoon tea has four seating’s starting at 11:30am.  Reservations and proper dress is required.  The Ritz is an amazing hotel and is an experience. 

Nancy Decker-Davidson
nancy.dd@travelstoreusa.com

JUNE 11 – 15, 2006. I LOVE Panama!  I didn’t know what to expect, but being so close to Costa Rica (another of my favorite places), I thought it would be similar.   Not only is it similar, it’s so much more…  It’s Costa Rica 20 years ago, before the massive building of large hotels and the commercialization of the country.   It’s a haven for expats from all countries: England, France, Holland, Australia and, of course, Americans, to name a few. 

We started from Panama City by taking the in-country airline, Aeroperlas, to David, the capital of Chiriqui Province (northwest of Panama City).  From David we went overland to Boca Chica, a big game fishing area.   Then we went by launch to Isla Boca Brava and the charming boutique hotel, Cala Mia.  The owners are Victoria and Max.  She is Italian and he is Dutch.  They also live on Boca Brava and are at the hotel all the time to entertain guests and offer suggestions and help with activities.   This small resort is on a tip of the island, overlooking the hundreds of island that populate this part of the Pacific.  They offer a pool and a small spa hut for massages, pedicures and manicures.

The main lodge is the bar and dining room. The food was very good, especially the fresh fish, which is plentiful. Whatever is caught by guests can be prepared by the hotel chef. We sucked it up and went out the following morning for a boat tour in pouring rain. Our goal was a secluded beach on an unpopulated island to do some snorkeling. By the time we reached the right beach, it had stopped raining and we found ourselves in bathwater temperature turquoise water and saw some incredible fish around the lava rock outcroppings. We were so close to the fish it was like diving. It was hard to leave this idyllic place. 

Even though this is a remote location, there is a lot to do in the area. They do get internet service at this property. Each individual cottage either faces the ocean or the swimming bay.  They have one villa with two bedrooms for families. This is a perfect place for people who like to fish, snorkel and forget their life they left behind. This is also a very good dive area. 

Linda Lewis
linda.le@travelstoreusa.com

Following our stay at Cala Mia, our next stop was the mountain town of Boquete in the Chiriqui highlands.   The roads in Panama are very good as is the signage.  We drove through the bucolic countryside for about 1.5 hours from Boca Chica to Boquete and settled in our hotel for the next 3 nights, the Panamonte Hotel and Spa, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. 

This hotel is 95 years old with quite a wonderful history. The current owners are Inga Collins, a colorful and vibrant woman in her 80’s of  Scandinavian descent, who grew up in Panama. She had the most awesome stories. Her son is Chef Charlie Collins, who is the chef for the Panamanian president. He divides his time between Panama City and Boquete and has just opened his cooking school in Boquete. The Panamonte has some eclectic rooms. Roms in the main hotel are lovely but they’re the small rooms of the original hotel.  Two newer sections are all suites. We got a suite that offered a huge outdoor terrace with an outdoor fireplace, which we put to very good use on the cool nights. 

Breakfasts at the Panamonte are delicious.  The entire menu is done by Chef Charlie. The dinners were amazing as well, everything fresh and presented beautifully.  

The hotel is located at the far end of Boquete but you can walk into town from there – a 5- to 10-minute walk, depending how far you venture.   The town sits in a lush valley surrounded by mountains that are mostly jungle. And “a river runs through it.”  The flowers that grow there are plentiful, large and diverse. 

We visited one of the many coffee producing plantations in the area, the Ruiz Plantation.  I never knew there was so much to know about coffee from the picking to the packing. We got to see the entire procedure, from the plantation itself to the processing plant to the café for a “coffee tasting.”  It was an illuminating tour. 

In the afternoon, we met up with Chef Charlie to participate in the grand opening of his cooking school. First we went to the local Mercado and saw the amazing produce this area puts forth. After that, in another downpour, we went to a hydroponic garden and learned about that process from the woman who owns it.   From there we went to the school which is set up in a house, so it has a living room, beautiful kitchen with plenty of room for hands-on learning and a beautiful dining room where students eat what they create. It was the MOST amazing dinner I’ve had in a long time. Charlie is so personable, has his own unique and charming stories, and is extremely knowledgeable about food and wine. The school will conduct pairings of food and wine.

The next day it was sunny and we loaded up into the van to go further up into the mountains for our hike along the Quetzal Trail.  Like Costa Rica, Panama can boast as home to the illusive and resplendent quetzal and we were hoping to see one.   We had a 2 guides, one to lead the way and the other to explain things we were seeing.  We heard a lot of birds, but that’s all. We never saw a bird on the entire hike. But, nonetheless, it was a great workout in the jungle — the hike was almost straight uphill. We had to cross the river (sometimes just a stream) many times and saw waterfalls, amazing bromeliad growing everywhere in the trees, and flowering trees and flowers all along the way.  Just beautiful. 

After going back to the Panamonte and cleaning up – it was a muddy hike – we headed over to Inga Collins’ home for lunch.  As I mentioned, Inga is a gracious woman who was raised in Panamanian society. Her stories are amazing and some, unbelievable. She was brought to Panama from Sweden when she was a young teenager and her stories about their beginnings in Panama would make a fascinating book.  We had a lobster lunch, and with her home being so much like a museum/art gallery, we took a lot of photos and heard stories about her family. 

Boquete is an “adventure” area.  There are zip lines, ATV trails, white water rafting at the right time of year, and hiking trails galore.  There are many coffee plantations to visit.  A stay of 3 or 4 nights is perfect. 

Linda Lewis
linda.le@travelstoreusa.com

The following day we headed back to David for our flight back to Panama City. Upon our arrival we were taken to the Miraflores Lock of the Panama Canal. Here you can watch how the locks work and visit their museum about the building of the canal.

From the canal we went to Old City Panama which is a collection of very old ruins from the 1800’s or even earlier, restored houses with some still needing repair. It’s quite a varied scene, but it all works together to make a charming area to visit and walk around.

We visited a very chic small hotel in the Old City, the Canal House. It’s very small, with 3 rooms only but the ONLY hotel in the Old City. The last unit (Master Suite) is the one you want to book as there’s a large terrace offering great views. Canal House is undergoing a complete restoration. It is becoming a very charming part of town, full of restaurants and little boutiques to shop at. It’s a far more attractive location than downtown (where the Intercontinental, Sheraton, Crowne Plaze hotels are). This is the first “hotel like” property to open in this area – more to come.

You can reserve the whole property for a group or family for the very reasonable price of $800 per night. There’s a housekeeper on stuff, and a manager. Canal House is not for everyone, but for the ones who enjoy history and the ambiance of a bygone era. It would be a great stop for 2 or 3 nights. 

Breakfast is served in the dining room in the morning. A small kitchen is available for cooking or private catering. A cozy separate living room area is also great to watch TV, read a book, or sip on a cocktail.

I will go back to Panama and to Boquete when I go there to explore the Caribbean side, Bocas del Toro and San Blas islands. It’s a fascinating country with warm and friendly people.I encourage everyone to visit there at least once.  You will want to go back.      

Linda Lewis
linda.le@travelstoreusa.com

Panama was great! Great weather (even though their rainy season is from May to December, it is a lot less hot and humid than in Mexico). There’s great food (rich seafood, succulent coffee, safe drinkable water, and superb vegetables & fruits), rich history, super nice people (a melting pot of Americans, Europeans Chinese and Indians) and fabulous unspoiled nature! It was all I could wish for and more.

With non-stop flights from LAX to Panama City (6 ½ hours), this destination can definitely be considered as a viable getaway for your clients, comparable to Costa Rica, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

I spent four nights in Panama, at two  properties in Panama, one by the Pacific ocean and one in the Highlands, for a perfect combination. See my posts for Cala Mia and th Panamonte Inn.

I believe Panama has great potential to become a popular destination for Americans who are looking for a yet unspoiled and quite authentic destination. We only visited the Chiriqui region, but Panama has a lot more to offer! I can’t wait to check out the Caribbean side of the country -  the region of Bocas Del Toro and the beautiful San Blas Archipelago.

Those visiting the southernmost region of Panama (Darien), can meet with local Indian tribes and share a lunch with them. I still have a lot to discover about this country and I look forward to go back there soon.

Panama i good for those expecting 4-star service, but not those requiring 5-star services. Families looking for great educational activities would love it. Honeymooners looking for an exotic but different destination would be delighted as well. It is an easy destination to go to, and one that will definitely give you the feeling to “get away from it all”.

Forence Brethome
florence.b@travelstoreusa.com

Panamonte Inn is located in Boquete, a cute little town in the highlands of Panama, about 2 hours from Cala Mia (by boat and car transfer) or 40 minutes from David airport. Boquete enjoys a great micro climate and temperatures are always mild, comparable to what we have here in LA. It is a mountain climate, so rain is to be expected in the afternoon.

What a precious property! The combination of a turn of the century charm with newly renovated bedrooms (king beds, flat screen TV’s, WiFi around property, large bathrooms, you name it) is brought up to perfection. And what makes this property even more special are the owners,  Inga Collins and her son Charlie Collins.
Their life story is worth reviewing – it is so unique.

In a couple of words – Inga was born in Panama from Swedish parents (her father was a sailor). She passed on her love of cooking to her son Charlie who is now the assigned chef for the President(s) of Panama. He has cooked for celebrities like George W., Sean Connery, etc.

Charlie and Inga love to meet with their guests and share stories. It is possible to arrange lunch with Inga for your clients, and/or private cooking classes with Charlie. We did experience a cooking class at Charlie’s home, it was great.

Obviously the restaurant at Panamonte offers superb cuisine (I strongly recommend the trout). The playground around Boquete is amazing: bird watching hikes, treks through the rainforest in the Baru Volcano National Park, water rafting, golf (yes there is a golf course), canopy rides, coffee tours (we learned so much about coffee! I’ll never drink coffee the same way again!). And at the end of a busy day you can relax at the Panamonte Inn Spa and enjoy one of its fireplaces.

Florence Brethome
florence.b@travelstoreusa.com

Boutique Hotel Cala Mia is on Isla Boca Brava, Panama,  and surrounded by numerous islands. It’s a perfect playground for snorkeling, diving, fishing, and more. (How to get there is what matters — a knowledgeable travel agent is recommended! – but once you arrived it is fantastic.)

Each of their 10 thatched-roof bungalows are located within 40 feet from the ocean. None have either A/C, phone or TV which some travelers will miss. Some of the units are better for families where two bungalows are interconnected to become a 2-bedrooms/2-bathroom home. One also has a full outdoor kitchen. A family from California’s Central Coast was staying here at the same time, a couple with their 3 young kids. It was their second stay at this property and they were extremely happy about their vacation.

The food served at their restaurant was really good. Vittoria and Max, the owners (respectively Italian and Dutch), also live on the island and told us it was a paradise for lobsters –which is what we had for dinner. Cala Mia also offers a spa and several hiking trails where you can see exotic birds and monkeys.

Although close to the water, there are quite a bit of bugs at night. It is not a problem in the bungalow if you keep your indoor lights off. As a honeymoon specialist I’m always on the lookout for ideal accommodations, and Bungalow # 5 is great for honeymooners.

Cala Mia is a GREEN HOTEL. Electricity is operated with solar panels.
There are just a few white sand beaches on the Pacific Coast, most have a dark/volcanic color. But still the snorkeling is great as the water is really clear.

Florence Brethome
florence.b@travelstoreusa.com

I just returned from a quick trip to Oahu to take a look at what Outrigger Hotels has been up to, and to meet with some of their executive team.

A quiet evolution has been going on– safe to say the original home-based Hawaii hotel brand is reborn. Begun in 1947 by the Kelley family to offer affordable lodging in Hawaii, the company is today the largest Hawaii-based lodging company, comprising three products: the Outrigger beachfront properties (on Oahu the Outrigger Reef and Outrigger Waikiki); the value brand Ohana properties, and condominium units.

The premier property is the Outrigger Waikiki, located on one of the best stretches of beach in the heart of the Waikiki Beach area, between the pink Royal Hawaiian and the Sheraton Waikiki. The pool area is also beachfront (unlike at the Outrigger Reef), and the views (from the oceanfront rooms), particularly from the Diamond Head side, are fabulous. (Oceanfront rooms at Outrigger Waikiki have larger lanais with gliding rocking chairs.)

The lobby is welcoming with fine Hawaiian ambience, and the beachfront restaurants on property include the ever-popular Dukes’s (featuring a terrific breakfast buffet at $14.95), Hula Grill, and Chuck’s Steak House. For spa-addicts, the rooftop Waikiki Plantation Spa, while not the most luxurious, is tastefully done and offers very reasonable pricing relative to those more uppity establishments, plus a great rooftop sitting area (save for the view of hotel rooftops directly below). Activities of note at the Outrigger Waikiki are the outrigger canoe rides or surfing lessons. (The Sheraton Waikiki next door has no sandy beach due to erosion, so those who want beachfront are best directed to the Outrigger.)

A slight notch down is the Outrigger Reef, located just this side of Fort DeRussy on the edge of the prime Waikiki Beach real estate area, and across the street from the Waikiki Beach Walk and the new Trump development. The hotel is in top shape following a $110 million renovation. Room decor is very tastefully done in green and beige tones. While the rooms at both properties are comparable, the pool area at the Reef is not beachfront but wedged between buildings and does not offer a beachfront view. The ocean in front has a nice beach, but has a mostly rocky (coral) bottom (vs. sandy).

Restaurants on property include the Shore Bird and the Ocean House, both beachfront, and the lovely outdoor Kani Ka Pila Grille located poolside with an entertainment stage. The Reef is also completing their Serenity Spa. One notable activity here is the twice weekly Hawaiian vow renewal ceremonies on the beach.

Both hotels have a small display of Hawaiiana in their lobby lounges. Rooms are attractively decorated, with great bathroom amenties, and coffeemakers. The Outrigger Hotels offer free internet and local and long distance dialing within the U.S. and Canada, and have no daily resort fee. The fitness centers at both include new Precor equipment, and are complimentary to guests.

In addition, guests currently receive coupons to restaurants and shops at the new Waikiki Beach Walk retail area, which is owned by the company. The two-level Beach Walk includes some fine restaurants, including Roy’s. The Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center lies between Oahu’s two Outrigger beachfront hotels.

For those who enjoy lazing on the Waikiki’s welcoming beach, umbrellas and chairs are provided by a concession at about $40 a day.

Dan Ilves
dan.i@travelstoreusa.com