The Imperial Hawaii Resort or Waikiki Banyan

This will be our 1st time to Hawaii, we have submitted an exchange request thru Interval International for Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club - Imperial Hawaii Resort ( www.imperialofwaikiki.com) because someone we knew recommended it. We just got a call that a 1 bedroom unit has become available. I believe all the exchanges thru interval stay at tower 1. I should have double checked on the hotel because I didnt know it was rated 2 stars, and after reading many of the reviews here, I dont know if we want to stay there! Most of the reviews say that it is in a good location, but kind of old %26amp; outdated. We will be traveling with our 2 young kids (4yrs %26amp; 11yrs) so we want to stay close to the beach %26amp; city, but after looking at the other places I could have requested, the Banyan looks real good. I am wondering if I should just accept the Imperial, or deny %26amp; resubmit for the Banyan? We are not picky %26amp; have stayed in Comfort Inns, The Ramada %26amp; even Motel 6%26#39;s! But since we have our 2 kids with us- having a clean, well working room is a necessity and would prefer mid to upper scale accomodations. Has anyone stayed at the time share units and can tell me If tower 1 of the imperial is really that bad?

The Imperial Hawaii Resort or Waikiki Banyan

The Imperial is relatively clean, if dated, and you will find that it is located conveniently next to the beach. Across the street you%26#39;ll find Embassy Suites with lots of good restaurants (Ruth%26#39;s Chris will open in about a week, and there%26#39;s a place right below it with an unusually large selection of beer on tap -but I forget the name).

You should be fine.

I don%26#39;t know about the Banyan. If I recall correctly, it%26#39;s on the other end of Waikiki, further from the beach and not as much ';stuff'; around it as the Imperial.

The Imperial Hawaii Resort or Waikiki Banyan

With two children, the Banyan is a very good place to stay. Have you read the posts for it? It is a short walk to the beach. Each unit has a bedroom and a full kitchen. There is a large recreation deck which your children will enjoy. Be sure to go to the farmers%26#39; market right next door.

Thank you! As long as there arent any ';critters'; roaming the room at night when the lights are off (as another post said they had a problem with) and the room is in decent shape, we will be OK. Its such a hard decision though when you have more than one factor involved, and for us I guess having a cleaner room even if it is further away, might suit us better. I am still trying to decide, we%26#39;ll keep ya updated!

I must correct myself! The info on the bugs was not the Imperial- it was at the Banyan. The pics are under candid traveler photos!

I have stayed at the Banyan 3 times and haven%26#39;t seen any bugs. The condo was convenient for us with kids and saved us many $$. The Banyan is about a 3 star. We always book the Banyan thru Hitex International and all the condo%26#39;s are managed by Hitex but privately owned, so perhaps that makes a difference.

I have not stayed at the other places you mentioned. For the amount of time that you are in your room and the convenience, safety and size of the Banyan condo, it wins everytime for us.

Good luck with your search.

Honeymooners,

I too have stayed at the Banyan 3 times and have never seen any bugs. They have a wonderful, big pool area with grills, basketball court and a grill that serves food and drinks. It is very comfortable and even though is only has one bed, the sofa folds out or you could request a cot. The beach area has a breakfront which keeps the water calm and is better for children. The zoo is about a block away with a large park. I always rent through Darmic not the hotel. It%26#39;s cheaper that way. While yes, it%26#39;s not in the middle of all the stuff, i%26#39;m thinking that%26#39;s better with children, meaning there are so many people in Waikiki, you constantly have to keep your eye on them. There are still restaurants, stores, fast food and a 24hr ABC store around the corner. There is also a little store in the lobby area.

Honeymooners,

I just got back from staying @ the Imperial Waikiki 2 weeks ago. If you dont mind dated but clean %26amp; convenient, this is a great location (in my opinion almost impossible to beat) . I bought a week from an owner who could not use his this year in a 2 bedroom 2 bath. I was traveling by myself so I didnt put it to full use. As in everything, there is pro %26amp; con about every situation. Let me tell you first, I am born %26amp; raised in Honolulu, so I know the area very well. I now live in Reno %26amp; visit home once or twice a year. Before I go any further, I was so impressed with this timeshare (considering location %26amp; price) that I bought a 1 bedroom 2 bath week before I left. It%26#39;s now in escrow. First of all let me give you some hype outside the hotel. The street ,Lewers, that it%26#39;s on was getting a bit seedy until Outrigger hotels just spent around $460 million to revitalize it. It%26#39;s absolutely beautiful now %26amp; the construction is done. Trump towers is starting construction a block away @ $260million. The traffic level is low here compared to the rest of Waikiki- especially the Banyan area. Cross one small street %26amp; walk 100 yards %26amp; you are on the the beach next to the Waikiki Sheraton. With the Banyan, you need to cross a major busy street the hotel is on, 2 blocks %26amp; another very busy street to the beach. Just outside the lobby, there is a 24hour Denny%26#39;s restaurant %26amp; ABC store that has everything from tshirts to snacks to limited groceries @ reasonable prices while across the street you can spend lots of $$$ at high end restaurants. In the hotel, the 1br/2bath %26amp; 2br/2bath have a full efficiency kitchen including dishwasher, stove,oven, %26amp; microwave- dated but very functional to save $$. If you decide to take the exchange here, I would recommend a 2br/2ba upgrade. Make sure you get the ';Palms'; 1br/2ba if you vie for that category- it has the full kitchen (the 1br/1ba only has a microwave). The owners lounge on the 26th floor has 4 pc computers %26amp; unlimited wireless for your laptop for free, pool table, big screen tv with leather sofas %26amp; one of the most incredible ocean views you will ever see. The Imperial does not have the rec area for the kids as the Banyan except for the pool %26amp; spa on the 27th floor. In my opinion, as far as general personal safety- traffic %26amp; otherwise, Imperial has it hands down. If you choose the Imperial %26amp; like it, you may want to talk to the timeshare sales office in the lobby %26amp; consider. Its unbelievably cheap compared to the Fairfield next door. Let me know if you want more info on that or anything about Honolulu/Waikiki- local places to eat %26amp; shop to save $$. I dont know what level of accomodations you like, but the Banyan %26amp; Imperial are about the same. One thing I forgot to mention if you have a car- parking @ the Imperial is $15/day valet only. Banyan is $8/day park your own. I could go on %26amp; on but I better close for now. Oh, there is only one tower @ the Imperial.

Honeymooners7,

Are you going to return with a trip report, or is this just another ';I need information, NOW!'; thread?

Folks - my family and I were at the Banyan for 10 days in early Jan%26#39;07. The place was perfect for what we wanted - close to the beach and on the east end of Waikik so it seemd a little less hectic than to the west. We used it as a base to eat and sleep so the kitchen was ideal. The room was not a 5 star but it was as advertised = a 3star. The staff was helpfull and the pool deck was a great place to unwind after a long day of playing tourist. My teenager girls never said anything bad about the place, and they are tough to please!!! The zoo was close by - with small kids it take a few hrs for you to cover. Hope it all works out - we loved the whole Oahu experience - would I stay there again? Yep. and its snowing in Minnesota as I write this post - take me with!!!

I just got back from a trip with 4 guys and we stayed in the Banyan. It was so great! Clean, close to the beach and comfortably fit all 5 of us. There were two twin beds, a roll away and a couch bed. Everyone was comfortable- there is a kitchen with refrigerator, microwave, oven so we saved several hundreds $ on buying our food at costco and cooking ourselves. I will be staying here again.