Hotel Review: The Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay

A big thank you to the Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay for hosting our stay so we could write this detailed review of our experience. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Disclosure, visit this page.

If you get my free travel newsletter or follow me on social media (@JohnnyJet), then you know that my family and I enjoyed an amazing Spring Break in Hawaii! For the first four nights of our weeklong getaway, we were on Oahu’s North Shore at the Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay, which has recently been renovated and rebranded. Here’s what our stay at this incredible property was like.

Location

The Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay is 38 miles and about a 55-minute drive from Honolulu International Airport (HNL) in light traffic. Unfortunately, there’s a good chance you will hit traffic on the way. The good news is that it’s worth the reward that awaits you. The Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay encompasses 1,180 acres with five miles of pristine coastline and seven beautiful beaches.

Long history

The property has a long history. It first opened in 1972 as Del Webb’s Kuilima Resort Hotel & Country Club. Kui lima means “joining hands” in Hawaiian. It was originally intended to become Oahu’s first casino but fortunately that failed. The property later operated under Hyatt as the Kuilima Hyatt Resort and then as Hyatt Kuilima Resort. In 1983, Hilton took over, renaming it the Turtle Bay Hilton and Country Club. Hilton ended its management in 2001 and the resort became the Turtle Bay Golf and Tennis Resort. I went on a press trip there in 2014 with what was then Replay Resorts. In May 2024, Host Hotels & Resorts, the largest U.S. lodging REIT, acquired Turtle Bay Resort. It was rebranded The Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay on July 31, 2024.

Movies and TV shows filmed there

The hotel has served as a stunning backdrop for several movies and TV shows. Notable productions include The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and The Descendants, which all featured its picturesque landscapes. TV shows like North Shore, Lost, and Hawaii Five-0 also filmed scenes there, taking advantage of the resort’s lush jungles and dramatic beaches to create memorable island settings.

Renovations

In 2023, Turtle Bay Resort completed a $250 million transformation, featuring renovated guest rooms and suites, new private oceanfront bungalows and redesigned public spaces. If you’ve been to Turtle Bay before, then no doubt you will remember the property (the main building is kind of an eyesore from the beach) but they did a fantastic job with the renovations. The open-air lobby and its ocean views on both sides will definitely make your jaw drop.

One of the things I couldn’t help but notice by looking out from the top floor is how clever they were in making the lower roofs more pleasant to look at by covering them up with grass and rock gardens.

Lobby

From the moment you arrive, you’ll be impressed. The lobby is beautiful and expansive, with lots of comfortable seating for guests, giving it the feel of a welcoming living room.

One one side, it’s open-air, which allows the island’s warm wind to waft through the space and making the airy drapery billow in the breeze. Guests can gather near a firepit if it gets chilly and enjoy views of the bay and swaying palm trees.

Welcome upon arrival

On check-in, female guests are greeted with a flower lei, while the men get a Kukui Nut Lei. Kids get shell necklaces.

Kids treasure chest

Kids also get to pick an item out of the treasure chest, which of course they loved. They had lots of kids sunglasses, which are great if you forgot to pack some.

Rooms

There are 408 ocean-view guest rooms and suites plus 42 waterfront ocean bungalows. We didn’t get to check out the bungalows but they looked amazing from afar.

The rooms were designed by Los Angeles-based designer Dianna Wong. According to Travel + Leisure, “she drew inspiration from the property’s location on the North Shore, which translated into a combination of materials, such as leather chairs, wooden end tables, and pops of brightly colored pillows against the cream-colored backdrop of the walls, bedspreads, and couches. ‘The design celebrates the resort’s relationship with nature, incorporating these environmental elements in every detail throughout.'” My kids loved the wave wallpaper and my wife loved the wood flooring because it’s more modern and hygienic than carpet.

We were in Room 375 on the top floor, which had a walk-in shower but no bathtub. There was a generously sized closet with a chest of drawers and plenty of space to hang some clothes and store our luggage out of sight.

Our room had a balcony with a day bed, a little table and a lounge chair to relax outside.

Rooms also have a Lavazza coffee machine and an empty mini fridge to store any leftovers or drinks from the store.

There’s a general store in the hotel that sells everything from toiletries and clothing to snacks, drinks and cereal.

I love that guests get a reusable water bottle and there are refilling stations on each floor, which definitely cuts down on plastic and costs for both guests and owners.

Friendly staff

All the staff members I met were friendly and helpful, from the bellmen to the GM. The hotel employs mostly locals, which is great for everyone.

The views

The views from the room are gorgeous and just mesmerizing. Our room overlooked the pools and the North Shore, which had some big waves.

This side is way too rough to swim in but it’s a popular surfing spot, including for little kids. The hotel offers surf lessons too, with or without a dog. That’s right, you can surf with a dog, which is really fun to watch, although the dog doesn’t stop barking so some might find it annoying after a while.

Blowhole

At the same spot you watch the surfers is a blowhole so when it’s high tide and the waves are crashing just right, it creates a loud noise and spray, which the kids couldn’t get enough of. My son really entertained the crowd, jumping a foot in the air each time it sprayed.

Beach

On the other side of the hotel (about a few hundred yard walk) is the Keiki beach, which is much less rough than the oceanside. This is where kids swim and people snorkel. To rent snorkel gear is $20 for two hours. It’s $30 if you want fins.

If you plan on doing it more than once, I recommend bringing your own snorkel gear, which you can purchase on Amazon for less. While you’re at it you might as well buy a wet bag (my wife never leaves home without one or two tucked in her bag), a rash guard and water shoes (I saw a kid around 11 cut his foot on a rock and he was in a lot of pain).

Pools

There are five pools on property but the three main ones are right next to each other. The slides at the kids pool open at 10am and close at 6pm. The smaller slide goes into shallower water. My 5-year-old daughter could stand on tippy toes. The slightly longer slide next to it goes at least a foot deeper.

The family pool has built-in chairs in the water, which are clever. Speaking of chairs, there’s a 45-minute rule: If you’re not using your chair, they will clear it off for other guests. I don’t know why more hotels don’t do this.

Sunscreen

Near the pools, guests will find jugs of Coola sunscreen for face and body. So, if you forget yours you can just lather up right there.

Cabanas

There are a lot of cabanas for guests to use, though at $326, they’re pricey. The hotel supplied us with one but after about half an hour, I realized it was going to go to waste since my wife and I needed to be in the pool to watch our kids so we let the staff know they could resell it to someone else.

Activities

There’s a lot to do on property and the resort does a great job showcasing their offerings. They have daily activities for free (you just need to sign up in advance) like lei making, hula lessons, yoga and more. They also have a long list of paid activities so be sure to find out what activities are being offered during your stay.

We did the Paint Pa’ina and the instructor was excellent. It turned out to be just the four of us so it was like a private lesson and we all painted the same thing. It was an amazing experience that all of us loved. We laughed throughout and had so much fun. We loved it so much that we schlepped all four of our paintings onto the plane in a carry-on bag and they’re now hanging in a row in the kids’ playroom. They really bring back fun and fond memories.

Our daughter participated in the hula lessons, which were held in the lobby of the hotel. A handful of other guests, both children and adults, joined as well and it was a fun and educational experience. The instructor taught not only a dance but explained how the movements told a story and the significance of dance in Hawaiian culture.

Gym

There’s a 24-hour gym, which, during the day, has inspiring views of the ocean. Sadly, I only went in to take this photo.

Beach House by Roy Yamaguchi

The resort has three main restaurants, multiple bars and a Starbucks-like coffee shop. We only dined at one of the restaurants since we had club access (more on the club below). The one restaurant we went to was the Beach House by Roy Yamaguchi. This oceanfront spot located next to the Keiki beach serves island-inspired dishes like Twice Cooked Ribs with hoisin garlic glaze, Lobster & Crab Mac and Cheese and the Banzai Surf & Turf Roll with Wagyu beef and shrimp tempura. If you go, expect incredible seafood, steak, sushi and sunset views. Reservations are recommended.

The Keiki Menu at the Beach House is specially crafted for children ages 12 and under and is priced at $19 (excluding tax and gratuity). It begins with a starter of either a cheese quesadilla or mixed greens. For the entrée, children can choose from braised beef short rib with garden vegetables, grilled chicken with garden vegetables, seared salmon with garden vegetables, or penne pasta with a choice of marinara or butter sauce. To finish the meal on a sweet note, dessert is vanilla ice cream served with a chocolate chip cookie.

Ocean Club

We had access to the club lounge, which is appropriately called the Ocean Club (costs: $150 per adult per day and $100 per child).

The lounge itself is spacious and relaxing, with a wide lanai that’s perfect for kicking back and watching the waves roll in. The view is seriously amazing and we reminded the kids over and over to commit the view to memory because eating breakfast every morning with this view was an experience to be savored and remembered forever.

Throughout the day, guests can enjoy complimentary food and drinks, starting with Hawaiian coffee, fresh fruit and locally sourced breakfast favorites. In the afternoon, you can recharge with made-to-order sandwiches and salads.

As the sun goes down, guests can sip a cocktail while enjoying front-row sunset views. Breakfast is served from 7am to 10:30am. Lunch is served between 11:30am and 2pm, and evening appetizers and beverages are available from 5pm ti 7:30pm. Then the lounge closes for the night.

Easter Egg Hunt and Brunch

We were lucky to be at the resort over Easter and the day kicked off with a complimentary Easter egg hunt on the pavilion lawn. There were two hunt times, 9:30am and 11:30am, and each session was split into four age groups: 0–3, 4–7, 8–13 and 13+. They staggered the start times of the groups to keep things fair and organized.

Each child was asked to collect no more than seven eggs so there was enough for everyone and while some used the small paper bags provided, others came prepared with their own Easter baskets. There were two golden eggs up for grabs, which we were told were gifts from the concierge, that turned out to be stuffed animals. Most of the eggs held small toys like mini yo-yos and a single piece of candy.

After the hunt, the Easter Bunny made an appearance and handed out even more candy, which of course, the kids loved.

The Easter brunch buffet followed, set up inside the ballroom and priced at $160 per adult and $80 per child (ages 5–13).

The buffet was extensive with tons of great food on offer, including lots of fresh seafood and a lavishly decorated dessert table.

Resort Fee

The hotel resort fee is $52 per room, per night and includes a variety of amenities and activities. This fee covers daily resort activities such as a rotation of hula dancing, lei making and ukulele lessons. Guests can also enjoy a daily 45-minute beach cruise rental, two beach chairs, and an umbrella set-up. Additionally, the resort provides GoPro usage and a 45-minute photography session.

Self-Service Laundry

One surprise perk we didn’t expect was the self-service laundry. Had we known ahead of time, we would have packed a little lighter. There were six coin-operated machines located near the elevators on our floor, along with a change machine and vending machines for detergent. Unfortunately, four of the six washers were out of order during our stay, but it’s still a great amenity to have, especially for families.

Kualoa Ranch

About 40 minutes from the hotel is Kualoa Ranch, a bucket list place we wanted to take our dino-loving kids, especially our son, who is obsessed with the Jurassic Park films (a small part of the first movie was filmed there.) Here’s what our experience at Kualoa Ranch was like.

Overall, our stay at the Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay was one for the books and one none of us will forget. The renovated property is lovely but the million dollar views are definitely the star of the show here. Rates begin at $700 but you can also use Marriott Bonvoy points, which start at 84,000 per night. Book your stay here.

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