the Laylow Waikiki, an Autograph Collection Hotel | Staycation in Waikiki, Oahu Hawaii

Friends, I love a good staycation.

Luckily for me, I spent the better part of a weekend lounging by a pool at the Laylow- a newish and stylish hotel on Kuhio Avenue in the middle of Waikiki. I had been curious about the hotel, having seen it being built and then all over social media - it is ultra instagrammable. With a few clicks I had booked a "Ho'okipa Level Corner Suite" at a travel agent rate. The TA rate for the Ho'okipa level corner suite was slightly better than the kama'aina rate that weekend, and the Ho'okipa level rooms came with "light snacks" and "non-alcoholic beverages" daily, so I was like "yea that sounds worth it."

Yay!

Free internet. This should be standard at all hotels in 2018, thankyouverymuch, but it was appreciated nonetheless. At most hotels you can sign in for free basic wifi if you sign up for their loyalty program, but it's a hoop we shouldn't have to jump through in this day and age)
The corner suite's 515 square feet felt roomy and airy, and every detail was thoughtfully planned out. The decor is kind of midcentury/modern aloha and I love the monstera leaf motif.
Location. While not on Waikiki beach itself, I love that the hotel is right next to the International Market Place and its amazing shops and restaurants. IMP is my favorite indoor/outdoor luxury mall for those times when you just need to stroll your baby around a shopping complex so that you can get some exercise.
The Laylow is an Autograph Collection hotel, which is Marriott's distinctive luxury boutique brand. The Mauna Kea, another of my favorite hotels from this year, is also an Autograph Collection property. So - while travel bloggers were upset a few years ago when Marriott acquired SPG, there are some distinct perks: Marriott is a huge brand that is opening new hotels around the world every single week, so there are more choices in each city for you to spend points and build loyalty.

Nay

They charge a $29 resort fee. All of the hotels have been charging them for years now, and I hate it. The good thing I will say is that I appreciated the complimentary water and snacks (a bag of taro chips, some tropical hi-chew candies) and the his and hers beach slippers. Such a cute idea, and so practical.
The pool is smallish and shady, but I liked that it wasn't ever too crowded. The lobby area is tiny and can get chaotic during busy times . . . not the most relaxing way to start a vacation.
I wouldn't call it a "bait and switch," but I was not given a room on one of the two executive floors (i.e., a room on 15 or 16) despite having paid a little extra for the “Ho’okipa floor” This being said, they coded my key card so that I could access the snack bar.
There's no executive lounge for executive-level guests. You still have access to the executive level snack bars on the 15th and 16th floors with your key card, but these were quite disappointing as well. On Sunday morning, The non-alcoholic drink selection was limited to orange juice, coffee, and different types of water, and the self-serve "ham and cheese croissants" that were supposed to be there were conspicuously absent. (The sign and crumbs were there, but alas... the promised food was not).

Overall, it the Laylow was a nice surprise in the middle of bustling Waikiki, and I would absolutely go back and recommend it to friends.

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Hotel from the street. It's nestled between International Market Place and the new Nordstrom Rack. Yay, shopping!