Outrigger Hotel in Guam
Written: Jan 31 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: location, pool, beach
Cons: expensive, lots of noise
The Bottom Line: If you're with kids, or being right next to all the designer shops is important, this is your place. Otherwise, the Hotel Nikko Guam or Hyatt may be better.
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| joepet's Full Review: Outrigger Guam Resort |
Wow, not a single hotel review on Guam! I wonder why...perhaps because for over 99.99% of Americans, Guam is farther away and more expensive to travel to than the much more well known Hawaiian Islands? While that may be true, for those of us in Japan it is the opposite: a relatively short three and a half hour flight only a single time zone apart. So, after postponing our trip scheduled for July due to a typhoon, I finally made the trip in September, spending five nights at the Outrigger Guam Hotel with my wife, mother-in-law, and two year old daughter.
For those who have stayed in one of the Outriggers on Hawaii, it is much the same feel as the Outrigger Waikiki. The lobby is a cheerful Micronesian style (very much like the Polynesian style you'd be used to in Hawaii) with Chammoro music piped in and a huge back window leading to a breathtaking view of the ocean. The Outrigger Guam is the newest hotel in Guam, built in the newly remodeled tourist district of Tumon Bay, and is right in the heart of everything. Without even having to go outside you are connected to the Hard Rock Cafe, Sam Choy's restaurant, Gameworks, Underwater World (boasting the "worlds largest tunnel aquarium"), and a small shopping mall. You are also only a few minutes walk or a short bus ride away from designer goods shopping centers, Planet Hollywood, several other hotels, a 7-Eleven and ABC store (the staple of Hawaiian tourists!) and everything else of interest in Tumon Bay's Pleasure Island district.
The rooms were certainly adequate, decent sized, with comfortable beds, television with some cable channels (and programming from Japan, China, and Korea for those looking for something exotic), a refrigerator with a small bar, a nice view of the ocean. Nothing you wouldn't expect of a decent hotel, but nothing lacking of what you would expect. We went two months after the typhoon, but they were still recommending you not drink the water. In general the water is a little different than in America, so if you have a sensitive stomach you should always have some bottled water to use for things such as brushing your teeth. We stayed in two rooms connected by a door inside, which was convenient. When we needed extra pillows the staff handled our request in a reasonable amount of time. Cribs are available if you need them, but the baby just slept in bed with her mom. Everything seemed slightly above average with one exception...the noise! These rooms were not soundproofed well at all, as I could easily hear people walking by in the aisle, what my mother-in-law was listening to on the TV in her room, and the LOUD generators outside, even with the window shut (so much for falling asleep to the sound of the nearby ocean...) If you are the kind that needs silence to sleep, bring ear plugs, or be sure to really wear yourself out during the day. Since we went on a tour package I don't have a price for the room, but I think it was about $200 per night for one of the moderate ocean view rooms from the 12th floor. For that money, I would expect more quiet!
The beach was pristine and excellent, though the same could probably be said of any of the hotels dotting the area. Where this hotel excelled was in the pool area, a huge snaking thing with waterfalls, a curly slide, a jacuzzi, and little caves with plenty of nooks and crannies for kids to run around in. This fills up on the weekends, but during the weekdays, especially Tuesday and Wednesday, it was pleasantly empty. Though we didn't use it, there is a "Ko Ko Kids" club that features activities for children, but the ones I saw seemed to have enough fun at the pool and ocean.
The hotel features the Mandala Spa, an excellent albeit pricy spa experience that was both relaxing and refreshing at the same time. There were two restaurants within the hotel; we went to one of them for a breakfast buffet, but it was fair at best and poor at worst. Fortunately there are plenty of other dining options nearby, from the Hawaiian fair found at Sam Choy's, to the tourist fare of Hard Rock Cafe and Planet Hollywood, to the cheap yet satisfying 7-Eleven Big Bite. As for the nightlife, the bar inside of Gameworks seemed to be the most happening place in town, as lots of people from the military bases filled the place on Saturday night (but mostly Country and Western...don't know where you'd go for other kinds of music that doesn't feature nude dancers...)
One thing you should try to do once at the hotel is check out the "Torch Lighting Ceremony" held just before dusk each night, where costumed locals do dances and run around with torches to light up the outdoors. One thing you should NOT do is try to come or go from your room between 2pm and 5pm. This is when the Japanese tour groups arrive, and with the very limited number of elevators you could find yourself waiting ten minutes for a crowded elevator or climbing ten flights of unairconditioned stairs in the Guam heat!
Guam is an American territory, and as such American dollars are used, Americans don't need a passport to come (though you'll need it if you want to stop at other nearby Micronesia islands like Saipan), and can drive with their American drivers license for up to 30 days (there is a Hertz rental agency available inside the hotel). Also, for those who must have access to their e-mail, there is an internet kiosk available inside the hotel compound, for which you can pay for 10 minutes of access for 2 dollars by credit card.
Overall, I think Outrigger Guam is a good place to stay in Guam for most people, a great place to stay with a family, and an excellent place for people who really want to be in the middle of everything. If you're like a more upscale style though, I think you'd be better off with the Hyatt (which has an excellent Italian restaurant and fire dancing show!), or if a more tranquil environment is your thing, then the Hotel Nikko Guam is the place to go.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
joepet
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Reviews written: 3
Trusted by: 0 members
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