Forget the Floods at Turtle Bay
We like Hawaii. You should too- despite the recent weather and related problems! The state depends on tourism, and we can’t help but want to do our small part but encouraging you all to visit the islands. And there’s no better spot for a vacation than Turtle Bay.
There aren’t much in the way of mega-resorts on Oahu. If you’re looking for pools, golf courses, fine dining, and plenty of activities in one location, you are actually limited to a small number of places. And that’s fine by most locals, who prefer to keep development focused in the Waikiki area.
It’s easy to forget that on the other side of the island lies 880 acres, an excellent beach and even horse stables at Turtle Bay. Home to the Turtle Bay Championship, it caters perhaps mostly to golfers and families but has plenty to offer for anyone looking for a getaway.
We stopped in at the resort to find out what luxury was like, and were impressed on multiple levels. It’s expensive- Kama’aina rates and a variety of discounts are available but will only take you so far, and you can expect to spend upwards of $200 a night on the off-season with discounts, $400 or more typically. But it’s one of the only hotels with hot tubs, a waterslide, on-site golf and surf lessons, snorkeling areas, multiple tennis courts (lighted for evening play) and plenty of activities for the kids.
The older folks will love the comfortable beds and excellent views, the younger crowd will like the abundance of pool-side seating, myriad pools and private trails. There is a spa, of course, fully featured and reasonably priced (for a resort spa). Daily fitness classes take place by the seaside in an architecturally intriguing, gazebo-like structure.
At this level of accommodation, you expect near-perfection, and Turtle Bay pulls it off. The main complaint we heard, seriously, from other visitors was that they wanted much more time to spend and explore. On some of the lower floors, some of the rooms lack lanais. And while the building’s innovative design guarantees you will have an ocean view, not all views are to everybody’s taste- check your room out first and ask the quite friendly staff if you might want to move.
The restaurants are also top notch. 21 Degrees North has a fantastic several-course meal that allows you to sample many of their wonderful entrees. They had many creative Asian dishes and their presentation was fabulous. The service in the restaurant, as well as the rest of the hotel, was attentive and efficient.
Turtle Bay is a ways away from Waikiki and a lot of the attractions (though quite near the Polynesian Cultural Center), but that is rather the point. People go to Waikiki to shop and people-watch. People go to Turtle Bay for absolute relaxation. It’s expensive, but worth it.
