Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani

It's been 5 years since my last staycation, and we were overdue for one.  We decided to go back to the Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani since we had such a wonderful time there.

Translated to "House of Welcoming Waters," Halepuna, sister property to the Halekulani hotel, is part of a brand that is synonymous with excellent service.  

We were fortunate to get a media rate for two Ocean View rooms for our family of 5 (because 2 bathrooms are a must!).

One room had a king bed and desk; the other room had 2 double beds.  

The blue tones of the rooms complemented the ocean views.

The views were stunning!

Each room included complimentary water bottles (water filling stations are located throughout the hotel), robes for use, a coffee maker, and mini fridge.

We had a shared foyer vs connecting rooms, which still allowed for privacy since we could shut the external door.

Dining options on property include Halekulani Bakery as well as UMI by Vikram Garg.

On property you will also find the Vitality Pool and Sun Deck with Cabanas, The Garden, where you can relax in tranquility, and a Fitness Studio.   

We were fortunate to get complimentary cabanas, which offered a respite from the sun as we relaxed by the pool.

Throughout the hotel you'll find some exceptional artwork!

I like that the hotel is at one end of Waikiki, so we were not in the midst of the crowds, but a lot of Waikiki spots were still easily accessible.  

The beach is just a short walk across the street, and you're not far from numerous other shops and restaurants.  

The Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani is a boutique hotel that scores big on ambience and service, and it was the ideal location for our staycation.  

We had such a nice getaway - one that was much needed to rejuvenate my soul.  

Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani

2233 Helumoa Rd

Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 921-7272

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Larvae in the Hotel Toilet

Midway through our hotel stay in Hong Kong, I noticed black specks and stringy like things on the inside of the toilet bowl after a day of being out of the room (since we were exploring all day).

I thought nothing of it and just flushed the toilet, thinking it was lint.

Then it happened again the next day - black things all over the inside of the toilet.  As I looked closer, they started wiggling, and I realized they were alive!  My paranoid self first thought they were parasites(!), but then I remembered I saw a little black drain fly in the bathroom one day, and I started to do research, and discovered that drain flies can lay eggs in drains and other moist environments to produce hundreds of larvae and pupae.  

It didn't matter how many times we flushed the toilet - hundreds of larvae would fill the tank if not flushed within an hour, and pupae would also emerge.  

It was unsettling to say the least, and it made me realize that that's probably why the toilet water is blue (to make it less conspicuous).  Of all the places I've traveled to before, I never saw blue toilet water (and all the public restrooms we went to in Hong Kong did not have blue toilet water).  

It's hard to see in the above pic all the larvae and pupae - I purposely posted the least gross photo, but I did take more photos and videos which were sent to the hotel chain Head, and he simply apologized for the inconvenience . . . 

Upon my return back home, I found old reviews on TripAdvisor revealing that other guests had the same issue, even from years back:

December 22: Lastly, the toilet was filthy. Somehow during our stay the bleach & blue tablets finished and left us clear water. There were times we were not able to flush properly and when it did flush, an hour or so, we discover some yellowish substance will flow out from the toilet. We don't know what it was and it was disgusting!

Note: The yellowish substance is all the larvae!

June 2015: however, the water supply in their WC is i guess not treated properly as a result you can see worms in the WC inspite of the blue disinfectant and the room stinks...

I would never have thought "larvae in the toilet" would be an issue, so I never thought to Google such a thing.  

The hotel was great - great location, great rooms, great staff, it's just too bad that there is this ongoing issue.  I don't know if it occurs in only certain rooms or only certain times of the year, but it's a thing to be cognizant of if you go to Hong Kong.  

And if you plan on going to Hong Kong and are concerned about the possibility of larvae in your toilet, you can email me the hotel you'll be staying at and I can confirm if it's the same hotel or not.  

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Visit Blue Mountains: Hotel Mountain Heritage

Disclosure: Our family was a guest of Blue Mountain Tourism and Hotel Mountain Heritage. 

While in the Blue Mountains, we stayed at the Hotel Mountain Heritage.

This charming, European-style 41-room hotel, which is just a short walk away from the Katoomba station, offers a variety of accommodation types.  Our family was fortunate to stay in a Heritage Fireplace & Spa Family 2-Bedroom Suite.  As you can guess by its name, the room was complete with its own fireplace, as well as a spa bath tub.

The lower level had two beds, along with a convertible sofa bed.  The upper level had a two-seat dining table, a kitchenette complete with a microwave and cookware, a huge bathroom, and a bedroom with a king bed. 

The beds were comfy, and we liked that there were two TVs in the suite.  We did wish there were more accessible outlets for us to charge our many phones / headphones, etc., but we made do with what was available throughout the suite.  

The room was spacious for our family of 5.  Although we typically get rooms (or connecting rooms) so we have two bathrooms, the family suite worked well for us for the night, and it was great that everyone had a place to sleep without having to squish with others on little beds or tiny sofas.  I do wish I had a little more time at the hotel so I could have indulged in a spa bath!   

We were warmly welcomed with treats upon arrival - cookies, wine, and even a cheese platter!  

Speaking of warm - the fireplace kept us nice and warm, and the bed even had a heater, which came in very handy since we are not used to the chilly 30- and 40-degree weather!

We had the prettiest views of the Blue Mountains' Jamison Valley from our room.  It was just stunning to gaze at, and in the evening, we watched dozens upon dozens of cockatoos fly by.  

The quaint hotel had other occupants, but it was quite quiet throughout the stay.  If I hadn't seen people in the restaurant or lobby / reception area, or cars parked in the parking lot, I would have thought no one else was staying at the hotel!  Hotel Mountain Heritage definitely was peaceful!

There is a restaurant on site, and if you need any necessities or food but don't have a car, you can easily walk to the heart of Katoomba, where you'll find a number of restaurants, shops, and attractions, and there is bus service that will take you around the city as well.  

The staff members we encountered were pleasant and helpful throughout our stay.  We had read that we shouldn't sleep with the fireplace on, and we couldn't figure out how to turn off the fireplace, so one of the employees came to help us figure out how to turn it off (we are unfamiliar with fireplaces since it's not a common thing in Hawai`i).

The historic Hotel Mountain Heritage is a lovely option for a stay in the Blue Mountains.  We were in the Blue Mountains for just a quick overnighter, but the Hotel Mountain Heritage made for an ideal stay. 

For more information on room types, and rates, click here.  

Hotel Mountain Heritage
6/10 Apex St,

Katoomba NSW 2780, Australia
 

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Visit Italy: Agriturismo Su Leunaxiu

Our lodging in Sardinia was at Agriturismo Su Leunaxiu.

This working farm, which grows olives, grapes, and so much more, offers charming rooms for a quaint and cozy stay. 

I have no photos of the room, as we arrived at the farm around 9pm at night after 24 hours of traveling and I was exhausted - however the rooms were small, but nice, with a tv, mini fridge, air conditioning, and a small bathroom with a standup shower.

Our host arranged for this welcome spread

They serve a nice breakfast spread each morning of authentic Sardinian eats, and you can peruse the grounds, which has gorgeous blooms, a mini museum, and even donkeys!

If you would like dinner on property, you have to request it in advance, otherwise, if you're looking for something to eat, you'll have to drive into town, as there are no businesses nearby the farm. 

The staff was very friendly, and despite the language barrier, we got by okay whenever we needed something (coffee, water, etc.).   Amenities are pretty much non-existent on property (eg no place to buy snacks, after a certain time the staff goes home; if you need toilet paper, towels, etc. after hours - you have to wait until the next day).  We communicated via whatsapp, so if there was an emergency, I'm sure someone would have responded, but the farm is a no-frills place that offers rest and relaxation (when you arrive, your keys are already in the door).

Agriturismo Su Leunaxiu is a nice place to stay for some peace and quiet, away from it all.

Agriturismo Su Leunaxiu
Strada Statale 387 Km 15 - 09040 Solèminis (CA)
+39 070 749233

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Four Seasons Resort O`ahu at Ko Olina

I once again treated myself (and my family) to an amazing staycation at the Four Seasons Resort O`ahu at Ko Olina for my birthday / Mother's Day.

Our family stayed in an Oceanfront Junior Suite, which had a King Bed and a pull-out sofa bed.

The spacious, marble bathroom had two vanities, a stand-up shower, soaking tub, and a water closet.

The lanai opened up to the most stunning views!

We were welcomed with a fun array of fruits, including kid "sushi" (made from sweets!).

I admit - it's so hard to leave such a comfortable (and air-conditioned) room with such beautiful views (I lounged on the lanai a lot during our staycay!), but the property is just so gorgeous - the outdoors just beckons!

The grounds are absolutely stunning.  Whether you  swim or stand-up paddle board in the lagoon or spend time at the pools, you'll almost always find the most picture-perfect setting!

I did my early morning walk strolling along all four lagoons and back, and my family enjoyed the pool and beach later in the day.

Dining options are plentiful on property.  We dined at La Hiki for breakfast, Noe for dinner, and got snacks from Hokulea.  Mina's Fish House is also on property, and room service is an option as well. 

We only stayed overnight, so we didn't have enough time to take full advantage of all the activities that the resort has to offer, but I did make sure to spend some time at the Naupaka Spa & Wellness Centre, where I had an amazing `Alohi HydraFacial. 

And besides, we were there to mostly indulge, and rest and relax anyway, so that's exactly what we accomplished.  

Service was once again fabulous, and I couldn't have asked for a better way to celebrate than at the Four Seasons Resort O`ahu at Ko Olina.  

Be sure to inquire about any Kama`aina discounts and specials when booking your stay!

Four Seasons Resort O`ahu at Ko Olina

92-1001 Olani St

Kapolei, HI 96707
(808) 679-0079

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