Hilton Vacation Club The Modern Honolulu

Hotel Description

Look, I’ll be honest with you – when I first heard “Hilton Vacation Club The Modern Honolulu,” I was expecting another one of those cookie-cutter resort properties that could be anywhere from Miami to Maui. But this place actually surprised me in ways I wasn’t expecting, even if it’s not going to blow your mind completely.

The thing about this hotel is that it sits in this interesting sweet spot in Waikiki where you’re close enough to all the action but not drowning in the chaos of Kalakaua Avenue. I mean, you can still hear the occasional tour helicopter doing its rounds in the morning, but it’s not like staying right on the strip where drunk college kids are stumbling past your window at 2 AM. The lobby has this sleek, almost urban vibe that feels more like a boutique hotel in downtown LA than your typical Hawaiian resort – which honestly works better than you’d think. There’s something refreshing about not being bombarded with tiki torches and fake palm fronds the second you walk in.

What really won me over, though, were the little details that show someone actually thought about what travelers need. The rooms are genuinely modern (not just calling themselves modern while still rocking furniture from 2005), and the bathrooms have these rainfall showerheads that actually have decent water pressure – you know how hit-or-miss that can be in older Waikiki properties. The kitchenettes are properly equipped too, which is clutch when you realize that eating every meal out in Honolulu will drain your wallet faster than you can say “mai tai.” I actually cooked breakfast a few mornings using stuff I grabbed from the Foodland down the street, and it felt surprisingly homey for a vacation rental setup.

Now, I won’t sugarcoat it – this isn’t a five-star experience, and you can tell in some of the finishes and service speed. Check-in took longer than it should have, and the pool area gets pretty crowded during peak afternoon hours when families are looking to escape the beach sand for a bit. But here’s the thing that makes it work: the staff genuinely seems to care about helping you figure out Honolulu beyond the tourist traps. The concierge pointed me toward this incredible poke spot that locals actually go to (not the overpriced ones in the hotel lobbies), and the front desk guy gave me the real scoop on which beaches are less packed early in the morning. It’s that kind of insider knowledge that can make or break a trip, you know? For the price point and the location, you’re getting solid value without the resort fees and pretentious attitude that some of the bigger names around here love to throw at you. If you’re looking for a comfortable base to explore from rather than a place to never leave, this could be exactly what you need.

Rooms

• Double Room with Two Double Beds with City View with 2 double beds for 4 adults, 3 children
• Double Room with Two Double Beds with Partial Ocean View with 2 double beds for 4 adults, 3 children
• Premier Double Room with Two Double Beds and City View with 2 double beds for 4 adults, 3 children
• Premier Double Room with Two Double beds and Partial Ocean View with 2 double beds for 4 adults, 3 children
• King Room with Balcony and City View with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• King Room with Bath Tub and City View – Mobility Accessible with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Queen Room with Roll-In Shower and City View with 1 large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• One-Bedroom King Suite – Oceanfront with 2 × 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• King Room with Partial Ocean View with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• King Studio with Balcony and Partial Ocean view with 1 extra-large double bed for 4 adults, 3 children
• Premier King Room with Balcony and City View with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Premier King Room with Bath Tub and City View – Mobility Accessible with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Premier King Room with Roll-In Shower and City View with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• One-Bedroom Premier King Suite with Balcony – Oceanfront with 2 × 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Premier King Room with Partial Ocean View with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• One-Bedroom Premier King Suite with Partial Ocean View with 2 × 1 extra-large double bed for 4 adults, 3 children
• Premier King Studio with Balcony with 1 extra-large double bed for 4 adults, 3 children
• One-Bedroom Premier King Suite with Two Bathroom and Ocean View with 2 × 1 extra-large double bed for 4 adults, 3 children

Reviews

• David from United States (8/10)

  It’s perfect location. Great pool deck. Beautiful property.

• Lindsay from United States (8/10)

  The location was convenient. The room was spacious and had a nice balcony. Price was reasonable for the location.

• Nora from Japan (8/10)

  Spacious room, great view of the city and harbour.

• Yoshiko from Switzerland (7/10)

  Room. I had to work in the room. I would have wished power plugs on the bed side to charge a smart phons when sleeping.

• Kirsteen from United Kingdom (8/10)

  I stayed here 12 years ago, and was just as fab. The location is a little more chilled than the other end of Waikīkī. Within walking distance of Alo Moana shopping centre and a number of restaurants and a supermarket. There are two bus stops right outside, perfect to get to either the airport or the other end of Waikiki. Also within walking distance of the beach.

• Carolina from Portugal (8/10)

  The room is very big with nice decor. Employees were nice. The parking was very convenient and you can go in and out anytime with your card. Location was good: restaurants and abc store nearby. The pool was a great place to spend some time with good music. It’s near the airport. The beach is at a walking distance and looks wonderful. Worth pay a bit more for partial ocean view, amazing view really.

• Sandra from United States (8/10)

  Location, clean,

• Victoria from United States (7/10)

  The pool area was nice.
  The room size was nice but a bit plain as well as the lobby and hallways. Loved the shower and bathroom space. Hotel was clean. loved the view from our balcony

• Karol from Poland (8/10)

  Close to Goofy cafe and Hilton village and beach with fish and sea turtles.

• Amaya from United States (8/10)

  The staff and the location

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities