My whole family usually goes somewhere fun for Christmas, and the past couple of years we went to Lake Tahoe (a winter wonderland!). This year we wanted to stay somewhere a little warmer, and Hawaii seemed like the natural choice: it had been on our bucket list forever, it’s always warm, and you don’t even need your passport! I did a ton of research to figure out which island we should stay on, and finally ended up with Oahu! It seemed like there was the most to do in Oahu, and you can explore pretty much the entire island by car since it’s only a couple hours drive from top to bottom.

We stayed at the Royal Hawaiian and LOVED it! Just a short drive from the airport and located in the heart of Waikiki, this historic hotel is also known as the “Pink Palace of the Pacific.” It literally is a huge pink palace, with tall ceilings and elegant decor, plus the wafting smell of gardenia wherever you go and a common “pink” theme throughout (even our hotel robes were pink!). We stayed in the Historic Building – the rooms were spacious, comfortable and decorated with beautiful Hawaiian prints. If we go back, we would probably choose to stay in the “Tower” since those rooms offer a beautiful view of the ocean and Diamondhead (and our rooms offered a garden view). Although we did drive around and explore Oahu, we spent three really lazy days at our hotel just lounging at the pool or by the beach. My husband and brother rented surfboards one day and attempted to surf, while I floated in the ocean or read my book. Overall, we really loved our hotel, we found it charming and elegant, while the service was amazing.