Unique Sleeps: Sheraton Waikiki, Honolulu Hawaii

Mornings at the Sheraton Waikiki are the best part of the day. Waking up, opening the drapes and walking out onto your balcony to look straight down on the famous white sands and azure waters of Waikiki is pretty special.

Located at the southern end of the beach, right at the point where the beach ends and the harbour begins, the Sheraton Waikiki has the best view in town. The beach sprawls out in front of you, curving around to the dramatic Diamond Head crater which rises up out of the ground to crown the top of your view. As sun rises, the crater’s summit emerges, awash in the pink glow of the sky.

If you want the beach to yourself, head out once the sun is up. A quick stroll past the elaborately decorated resort pool and you’re on the sand. You’ll largely have the beach to yourself, as most visitors wait until after breakfast. Back at the hotel, make a beeline for the famous adults only infinity pool. Located on the hotel’s back side, the pool looks out at the harbour, not the beach, but you’ll still see Diamond Head if you’re at the edge of the pool and look left. A word of advice, this pool officially opens at 8am; expect the best deck chairs (the very best are reserved for VIP guests or available for hire) to be filled by roughly 8.15am. Arrive early and settle in for the day.

Right next door to the infinity pool is the Kai Market, a sprawling buffet-based restaurant that is usually pretty busy each morning. But don’t worry, the chefs never let anything get too low in stock so you won’t miss out. Breakfast starts at 6am so beat the 9am crowd and start the day with everything from made to order omelets, steamed pork buns, pastries, bagels, cheese, salmon, and fresh fruits. You won’t go hungry.

It’s actually unlikely you’ll ever go hungry at the Sheraton, with six different dining restaurants, including Sheraton’s signature RumFire restaurant. The hotel’s Executive Chef Darren Demaya doesn’t rest of his laurels, committing to bringing the freshest ingredients to his guests. The Hawaiian local’s long standing relationships with suppliers both big and small is what he credits with the high standards.

Club guests are in for a treat, with the Club Lounge stretching across half a floor from the 17^th floor, with views out across the beach on one side and the harbour on the other. Complimentary breakfast is a full size spread of hot and cold food, while evening canapes and drinks are again enough for a meal. The dessert table, with chocolates, freshly baked cakes and cookies, is an excellent way to end the evening.

Lisa was the guest of Sheraton Waikiki