Turtle Bay Resort
57-091 Kamehameha Highway, Kahuku, Oahu, Hawaii 96731 U.S.A. Tel : 1 (808) 293-8811 Fax: 1 (808) 293-9147 Email: tbrreservations@benchmarkmanagement.com Web site: www.turtlebayresort.com
This 4 star resort is located on the top of Oahu on the North Shore, and is one of Hawaii's most popular resorts. We first reviewed this hotel in the early 2000s, and blasted it for its run down state, and poor condition of rooms and facilities. Ironically the hotel was part of the Hilton chain, and we speculated why such a hotel was part of the chain. Since then the property has undergone a claimed $56 million refurbishment, and is now no longer a Hilton. The Turtle Bay Resort we can now say is very well appointed, an excellent quality hotel. The standard of refurbishment is superb, it seems no expense was spared. The hotel is a credit to its owners, operator, and project designer. The hotel always was brilliantly located, about an hour's drive north of Honolulu Airport, and just an hour-and-a-half from downtown Honolulu and Waikiki. The pleasant drive up, through forests and greenery, to the North Shore, and along the coast by Waimea Bay (the surf looked fantastic), was really picturesque. The turn-off to Turtle By Resort was well sign-posted and along a drive of trees up to two security check-points and then up to the hotel. The buildings consist of three accommodation towers, two with 104 rooms, and one with 120 rooms on my calculations (there may have been some suites). Most had balconies, and all have great views of the ocean, the pool, and the rain-swept trees, and mountain ranges. Valet and self-parking is available, and there was plenty of open-air parking space alongside the hotel buildings. You can access the hotel through your room card. Into the hotel, and the ground floor was as I remembered it except it was plush and beautifully appointed. The reception desk was manned by three attendants, and within a couple of minutes I was checking in. The rate was $245 a night plus taxes. I was directed to the lift lobby. There were four lifts, but only two were working during my stay. Up to the third floor to room 373. On opening the door there was a short hallway to a very large (length and width) room, immaculately furnished with deep timber working desk (facing the ocean), a large centrepiece cabinet with TV, and three large drawers, all with leather handles, headboard, attaching side tables, and a king size bed with six pillows, and a cushion, and a quilted cover. The bed by the way was extremely comfortable. The room opened on to a large balcony with two chairs and a small table, and overlooked the sea, the pool, and some forestry, which was spectacular. The color of the room was an olive green with all olive green lamp shades, and a two-toned tan carpet. There were timber shutters (olive green) running alogside the sliding windows which separated the room and the balcony. Inside there was a dressing room with basin, wardrobes, and a separate bathroom and toilet, with marble top benches, a full size bath, fridge, safe and a 6 inch diameter shower head in the bath for showering. All extremely well appointed. There were two great prints in the room. All told the accommodation was special. Downstairs I toured the pool, very large, and a water slide with rockery and a waterfall, a couple of hot-tubs, a poolside bar, and around the corner a gymnasium. I later tried the Bay Club where there was a duo of Hawaiian singers/guitarists, and then to Palm Terrace for an Hawaiian Buffet ($18.50 I think it was), and an early night. On the other side of the hotel is a beach with a separate snack bar. A lot of guests were snorkelling over the rocky bottom and reefs. There were lazy-boys everywhere and everybody seemed to be enjoying the sun. The resort has two golf courses, one designed by Arnold Palmer which is home to the Turtle Bay Championship, a PGA Senior Tour, and the other designed by George Fazio. There are also world class tennis facilities, by day or night. The Tennis Center featured ten plexi-paved courts. Private and group lessons are available. Horseback riding can also be arranged.