The Navy Lodge is located on the quaint Ford Island, right down the street from Pearl Harbor and the University of Hawaii. The lodge is very secure because of a long bridge with a fully-secured military gate before allowing visitors to the island. The location is excellent, as it sits near a business center about 5 minutes away and very close to H-1 and H-2, main highways on the Hawaiian island. Parking is convenient because you can find a spot on one of three sides of the premises, whichever is closer to the entrance by your assigned room.
As you walk up to the main entrance, the view of the water and skyline of Honolulu take you by surprise when you realize that’s the view you will have from most of the areas of the hotel. The lobby is absolutely gorgeous. The lanai theme is well laid out with furniture and very nice tile. There is soft music playing from the front desk and all the employees are wearing flowers and matching shirts. The windows are always open to allow the cool and relaxing breeze to drift through the lobby whether it is earlier in the morning or late at night. The helpful staff points out the amenities and is prompt to check in visitors.
The lobby contains a small store that has all the little things you may need: snacks, sunscreen, movies and even enough food supplies to make a few actual meals in your room. The regular rooms are very nice, especially for the affordable military rates that are substantially lower than a regular hotel’s rate in Hawaii. There is a kitchenette in every room, which comes equipped with silverware, dishes, cups and enough supplies to make a variety of foods during your stay. The bathroom is spacious with a standing area including the sink, plenty of counter space and the closet. There is a separate room with a locking door for the shower and toilet. The beds are above-average as far as hotels go – they are soft but firm with plenty of down pillows. The rooms have Internet access, but is slow compared to what you are used to, but it is functional if you need to check your email on the trip and you can’t complain because it is in your room and it’s free. The TV programming is adequate with the standard channels and the HBO package. With the time change (6 hours earlier than EST) there are movies on most of the time.
The lodge’s pool is good sized and a great temperature. It’s cool enough to provide refreshment, but warm enough to get into with much shock to the system. There are plenty of lounge sets to hang out by the pool and towels are available within the gated area. The hotel’s lanai has many chairs and a water feature, ideal for reading or just relaxing and enjoying the sunset.
The Navy Lodge is a great place to stay when you experience all the great sights of Hawaii. It’s an excellent value for under $90/night and provides all the essentials to get recharged at the end of the day to go out and explore Hawaii the next day.
