Time was, the Royal Garden Hotel in Waikiki was a happening place. The marble lobby aped elegance and the upstairs rooms were quite fine. The lush pool was a showpiece and Cascada Restaurant, helmed by Chef Sayada, put out supremely good grinds (the lamb there was a fave). That was a decade ago (I'm dating myself) and its since become of the true eyesores of Waikiki. The pool has been shuttered forever. The exterior is stained with rust from drainpipes under the in-window tourist ghetto (and extremely ungreen) individual air conditioning units. TripAdvisor reviews imply that some of the rooms may have been renovated but it certainly was never apparent from the outside. And any restaurant that calls itself elegant but offers as its signature restaurant a Vegas-style all-you-can-eat buffet is clearly reaching (the prices, likewise, are pretty outrageous -- I'd definitely not pay close to $200 for this hotel). So it's great that Wyndham has decided to pick this property up, polish it off, and add the Royal to its timeshare portfolio. Amen.

—Alex, 01/24/08