The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach is a four-and-a-half pearl apartment hotel that attracts families, couples, and long-term business travelers in search of luxe self-catering lodgings with conveniences such as kitchens and washer/dryers. The whole property is surrounded by greenery, with a lovely open-air lobby that's dressed up with low-slung furniture and a contemporary decor scheme with lots of marble, slate, and wood. Older rooms and facilities are housed in the original 'Ewa Tower, while a second tower, the Diamond Tower, was added to the hotel in late 2018, adding a second pool and additional rooms, meeting spaces, and dining outlets. Overall, the vibe is condo-lite, as the property offers just enough perks to give it a luxe hotel vibe. Still, the atmosphere is altogether less buttoned up than other Ritz-Carlton properties, which is entirely on point in beachy Waikiki.

The property is, as the name suggests, situated right in the heart of Honolulu's Waikiki area, just off the busy Kalakaua Avenue strip, a few blocks from the Hard Rock Cafe. It neighbors Luxury Row, a high-end shopping complex with boutiques like Chanel, Gucci, and Miu Miu. The area is busy day and night, with plenty of restaurants, bars, shops and other hotels. It's about a 10-minute walk to Kahanamoku Beach or 10 minutes by car to Diamond Head Beach Park. The Polynesian Cultural Center is about an hour away by car. It takes around 15 to 20 minutes to drive to the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, or it's about an hour by bus. 

The Ritz-Carlton Residences offers a wide range of apartment-style lodgings, including Studios, which start at around 400 square feet (37 square meters) and measure up to 743 square feet (70 square meters) as well as one- to four-bedroom suites across three different categories -- Deluxe, Grand, and Premier Level. 

Decor is pleasantly contemporary and inviting, with lots of light-wood furniture, off-white walls and upholstery, and touches of blue in wall art, on throw cushions, and bedside lamps. Glass sliding doors fill the spaces with natural light and open onto private, furnished balconies. Many units have views of the ocean in the distance that are particularly lovely. Living areas or separate living rooms have sofa beds, plus there are work desks as well as dining areas.

Even the entry-level Studios offer excellent amenities, complete with kitchens or kitchenettes featuring -- at a minimum -- chrome-finish microwaves, two-burner stovetops, cookware, and mid-size refrigerators, along with washers and dryers. Some units also have dishwashers. Coffee- and tea-making facilities, bottled water, flat-screen Smart TVs, free Wi-Fi, and safes also come standard, as do pull-out sofas and desks. 

Large, luxe bathrooms are clad in marble and even the Studios have double vanities along with separate soaking tubs and walk-in showers. Asprey toiletries, robes, magnifying mirrors, and powerful hairdryers are also provided.

Despite being a residential serviced apartment property, this Ritz-Carlton offers all of the features typical of a standard, high-end hotel, including wellness facilities, restaurants, and extensive meeting spaces. While the hotel is set up for travelers who want to cook their own meals, on-site dining is available at multiple outlets. The most casual option is The Market, which offers all three meals as well as snacks and special weekend brunches. The focus here is on farm-to-table food with locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. There's also a Dean & Deluca for gourmet food and groceries, plus a sit-down sushi spot, Sushi Sho, with two seatings per evening, Monday through Saturday -- but note that it's pricey.  

Wellness facilities include a spa featuring facials and body treatments, a 24-hour fitness center with high-end cardio and weight training equipment, plus a private yoga studio and regular classes. The 'Ewa Tower features a small but lovely outdoor infinity lap pool with an adjacent whirlpool hot tub and views out over the city skyline; a second, larger pool can be found in the newer Diamond Tower. Luxe cabanas with day beds and flat-screen TVs are available.

For business travelers, the hotel offers a wide range of indoor and outdoor meeting spaces, including gardens, poolside decks, theater spaces, and boardrooms. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel and valet parking is available for a fee.