Oahu Revealed - Halekulani

455 rooms, pool, fitness room, 24-hour room service, valet parking, 4 shops, 5 conference rooms, business center/hospitality suite.

Wow, where do we start? This is an awesome place. Comprising 5 buildings (the tallest is 17 floors), this is less of a tower resort than most of their neighbors. Services are unmatched here. For instance the check-in: Forget the desk, just have the greeter take you on a tour and then to your room and give you a box of chocolates and an excellent fruit platter. They track your habits and try to anticipate your future needs. If you order coffee first thing in the morning, next time you're there, they'll already know that you want it. This is the way a resort should be run. You want it; you'll get it. Don't like your pillow? They'll get you a different kind. Want to eat at their top-of-the-line fine dining restaurant but left your nice clothes at home? What size do you wear, sir? There is no nickel and diming here. Most things other resorts charge extra for are free, such as room safes, local calls, valet parking, cribs, resort-wide entertainment. Child care service in summer and Christmas is $50 per day, and the kids literally call the shots. Parking is $22 (whether you do it or valet). Laundry is valet only. Room amenities are high, from the deep soaking tubs, dvd players and Wi-Fi. The motif is white and pale blue--designed to resemble their name: Halekulani means house befitting heaven. There is a whole host of attractions around Honolulu, like 'Iolani Palace and the Honolulu Symphony, that you can get into for free because the Halekulani is a sponsor.

Halekulani's food services are incredible, and everything is created on the premises--pastries, chocolates, ice creams, breads--you name it. Their spa is so relaxing, you'll think they removed your bones when you weren't looking. It's hard to find much fault here.

Biggest ding? Their beach occupies the thinnest part of Waikiki--much of it lined by a seawall. (That may change over time as the government steps up a beach replenishment program.) Oh, and there are no refrigerators or coffee makers in the rooms, if you hate greeting the world without your caffeine fix.

For what you get, rooms are reasonably priced. You'll be pampered here and may literally weep when you have to leave, and the resort exudes a tranquility that's hard to match in Waikiki. Rooms (519 sq. ft.) are $410-$730, suites (720-4,066 sq. ft.) are $875-$2,500. Their royal suite (4,066 sq. ft.) comes with a personal butler, a baby grand piano, an airport limo and breakfast in your room daily for a mere $6,300 per night. Their Vera Wang suite (2,135 sq. ft.) is $5,250 and is perfect for a honeymoon.