I got married in my hometown on the Big Island of Hawaii and honeymooned on the island of Oahu. As a wedding gift my brother paid for my husband and me to stay at a five star hotel in Waikiki. The Halekulani resort has been named by both “Travel and Leisure” and “Condé Nast Traveler” as one of the greatest hotels in the world. We had an amazing time there and whenever anyone asks my husband what he enjoyed most about his trip to Hawaii he immediately says, “staying at the Halekulani.”
But, just a few months ago, the hotel added a new attraction for newlyweds (or for visitors who want to relive their first nights as newlyweds). It’s called the Vera Wang Suite and it is being called the “first fashion designer-branded suite in Hawaii.” And like her lavish wedding gowns, the suite comes with a hefty price tag. The 2,135-square-foot, one-bedroom suite costs $4,000 – per night. It is one of the priciest hotel rooms in Hawaii. State hotel and excise taxes for the suite alone are about $450 a night. If you have the means, it certainly makes for an incredible second honeymoon splurge. Otherwise, think of it as an option if you win the lottery, or have a wealthy relative who is willing to foot the bill, or if nothing else, a nice place to dream about.
One of the suite’s highlights is the 642-square-foot Hawaiian-style verandah (larger than many apartments in Honolulu), which overlooks palm trees, Waikiki Beach, and offers sweeping views of Diamond Head (arguably Hawaii’s most famous landmark) and allows you to see and hear rolling waves crashing on the hotel’s white sand beach.
Inside, the suite’s floors of smooth, dark African wood are covered with coarse, khaki-colored hemp rugs. Wang’s favorite piece is a Chinese desk and chair set from the 19th century Qing Dynasty. The suite also has two big-screen plasma televisions, one in a TV lounge and the other in the bedroom.
The bathroom is stocked with Vera Wang candles, soaps, shampoo, lotions and perfumes. It features a toilet lid that opens electronically and a heated seat. It also comes with a 16-airjet tub for two with a sliding panel to watch the moon over Diamond Head.
All meals are served with Vera Wang china, crystal and flatware, and the menu includes some of Wang’s favorite comfort foods. The decorative pillows use fabric from Wang’s apparel. The DVD collection is composed of her favorite films including “The King and I,” “When Harry Met Sally,” and “Lost in Translation.”
The $4,000 price tag also includes a bottle of champagne, a 24-hour butler, limousine transportation to and from the airport, and a full bar. So, if you are shopping around for a second honeymoon splurge this may be exactly what you are looking for.