Can we just talk Great Hotels for a minute? I think I stayed at two of them in the last two weeks. The hotels were almost as far apart as you can get in the USA. The first was in Miami,The JW Marriott in Brickell, and the other is the Moana Surfrider in Honolulu. These two hotels are worlds apart but they have the same effect. It feels like your soul has just been pampered.

Hawaii: https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/hnlwi-moana-surfrider-a-westin-resort-and-spa-waikiki-beach

The Moana Surfrider hotel is located in Honolulu and sits smack-dab in the heart of the city. This Westin boasts the reputation as the oldest, most stately hotel in Oahu and it has not lost it charm. The view from the water tells the story best as it’s easiest here to see the old historic hotel in the middle and the new towers built discreetly to the right. The hotel is currently celebrating a very Big and Old Birthday this year. Shhh we never tell the age of a graceful woman.

When staying in the hotel try the old section for charm and the new section for views. The decks overlook the beach and diamond head. The most magnificent feature of this hotel is the enormous Banyan tree which covers the entire courtyard. This is the exact image I get when I think of the words “meet me under the Banyan tree”.

If you are going to the Westin Surfrider make sure to order a mai tai or better yet their pina coladas which are lso available in virgin variations. If you are really adventurous order the whole pineapple with a frozen drink inside. Sit and listen to the live Hawaiian music. Look out at the ocean and feel your stress drift away with the breeze.
ALOHA!

The other hotel I’d like to mention is in Miami-Brickell to be precise. Please see my Miami post and look for the JW Marriott Marquis.