Pros: A true classic hotel and one of the most architecturally interesting buildings in Hawaii. The Royal -- also called "the Pink Palace" -- retains the charming aura of a bygone era. It sounds cliched but the long, echoing halls, the graceful arches and the peaceful coconut grove really do make it seem like you have stepped back in time. Rooms are fairly spacious. The location is dynamite on a prime stretch of wide Waikiki sand and easy walking distance to just about anything in the resort district. You really don't need a car. The Abhasa Waikiki Spa, on the property, is compact but luxurious and understated. The entertainment is top-notch, with Grammy Award-winner Ledward Ka'apana and Hawaiian music legend Led Ka'apana playing gigs in the Mai Tai Bar. Sitting at a table in the Mai Tai Bar under a pink and white umbrella quaffing -- what else -- Mai Tais on a sunny afternoon is pure decadence. The Royal, which is under the Starwood flag, also The Cons: Rooms are definitely showing their age and many are in need of significant renovations. Cracks in the paint are common and the small bathrooms have 1970s-era odd colored wall-paper. The hotel has only a modest pool. Service can be spotty. Restaurants in this resort are mediocre at best yet are somewhat pricey. The beach in front of the Royal can get fairly crowded. When the surf is big, swimming right off the hotel can be tricky for novices. Bottom LineI love this hotel. I love staying there. I try to eat at other places. And I accept it for what it is, a historic classic with all the limitations, architectural and otherwise. Stay there once in your life if you can. Royal Hawaiian Hotel Trip Advisor Rating: 10th out of 103 Hotels in Honolulu / avg. room price $370 (This rating is wack, should be higher) Map

—Alex, 10/12/06