The Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu, Turtle Bay Hotel Review

From the moment I arrived at The Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu, Turtle Bay, I felt an undeniable sense of calm. 

The resort boasts 1,300 acres along the pristine coastline of O‘ahu’s North Shore, and I could hear and see the ocean everywhere I turned. In 2023, the property underwent significant renovations, unveiling refreshed guest rooms and suites, private oceanfront bungalows, and redesigned public areas, including the lobby, a new club lounge, a fitness center, a full-service spa, dining outlets, and more. In the summer of 2024, the hotel, which, among movie enthusiasts, is also famous for being the filming location of the comedy “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” transitioned to a Ritz-Carlton and is now part of the Marriott family.

The lobby is open and airy, with panoramic views from multiple directions. My ocean bungalow was near the water, so I left my balcony open at night and fell asleep to the sound of crashing waves.

While the resort exudes luxury, it doesn’t feel pretentious. Though I traveled here solo, I could easily imagine spending a romantic getaway here with my husband or enjoying the many family-friendly activities with my two-year-old in tow. The Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu, Turtle Bay, offers a rare balance: a sophisticated experience for adults without sacrificing the fun and excitement that kids will love. 

Read on for everything you need to know about The Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu, Turtle Bay.

The Rooms

The resort offers 408 ocean-view guest rooms and suites, and 42 waterfront ocean bungalows. Every room carries through the design of LA-based designer, Dianna Wong, who led the 2023 renovation. She drew inspiration from the property’s location on the North Shore, which translated into a combination of materials, such as leather chairs, wooden end tables, and pops of brightly colored pillows against the cream-colored backdrop of the walls, bedspreads, and couches. “The design celebrates the resort’s relationship with nature, incorporating these environmental elements in every detail throughout,” Wong said.

For larger parties, three oceanfront suites and 14 ocean bungalows can accommodate up to six guests. The premium oceanfront rooms, suites, and bungalows have soaking tubs and walk-in showers. Additionally, guests will find Lavazza coffee makers and a mini refrigerator in every room (Bluetooth speakers are also available upon request).

There is also an option to upgrade to a Club Lounge room or bungalow, affording access to a private lounge, with daily refreshments and food, dedicated concierge services, an expansive terrace with prime views of the bay, and unlimited use of the beach cruisers, and pickleball.

If you’re looking for more privacy and seclusion, consider the ocean bungalows. While they are a short walk to the hotel, I felt more immersed in Hawaiʻi’s natural beauty staying there. A walking bridge with a gate connects the main property with the bungalows. Upon entry, a tiki-torch-lined path, surrounded by lush greenery, guides you to your accommodation.

My king ocean bungalow had both a sleeping area and a sunken living room. Upon checking in, I found two jars of Hawaiian red clay salt in the bathroom near my soaking tub. I spent time reading in the hanging egg chair on my lānai and enjoyed some delicious complimentary banana bread. A serene water-front lawn stretches in front of your private lānai, where hammocks, daybeds, chaise lounges, and Adirondack chairs offer plenty of options to sit, relax, and listen to the ocean. The tranquility pool, reserved for ocean bungalow guests, had a laid-back vibe, more so than the lively main pool.

Additional bungalow amenities include complimentary activities like a Kuilima Farm tour and introductory surf lessons at the Jamie O’Brien Surf Experience, the resort’s surf school. Dedicated concierge services are also available for all your needs. 

Food and Drink

I dined at Alaia, the resort’s signature restaurant, for breakfast and dinner. The eatery overlooks the hotel’s pool and is a great spot to catch the sunset. The menu is described as “modern Hawaiian comfort fare,” featuring a mix of familiar, well-executed dishes, like ahi poke and prime beef tenderloin. The drinks list comprises a variety of inventive beverage options, such as the strawberry vodka cocktail “Don’t Touch The Turtles,” which comes in a massive bronze turtle big enough for two. 

The resort’s oceanfront restaurant, Beach House by Roy Yamaguchi, offers Euro-Asian cuisine, price-fixed options, and sushi. Additionally, there are two bars with casual bites—Sunset, the poolside bar, and Off the Lip, located in the lobby.

Head to Ho’olana, the property’s coffee shop, for a light breakfast and grab-and-go options.

Activities and Experiences

The resort spans 1,300 acres of stunning coastline with seven beautiful beaches, trails, and abundant natural beauty. The property has partnered with Shaka Kayaks, a North Shore-based tour company, to offer immersive tours and experiences in the area.

A golf cart picked me up from the lobby and took me to Kawela Bay Beach for a turtle-watching tour. Our guides pointed out several green sea turtles and explained that the bay had been featured in movies like “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” and “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.” Shaka Kayaks also offers a special tour for movie buffs, Shaka PI: The Case of the Missing Movie Scripts, which takes you around the property to explore various TV and film locations.

For water sports enthusiasts, the options are endless. You can try stand-up paddleboarding, snorkeling (the nighttime snorkeling experience is particularly thrilling, offering a glimpse into nocturnal marine life), whale watching, or surf lessons at Jamie O’Brien Surf Experience. If you prefer relaxation, you can spend the day lounging on the beach or by one of the resort’s three main pools.

If you’re up for dryland activities, there’s golf, biking, pickleball, and tennis. With its state-of-the-art equipment and ocean views, the fitness center is perfect for a workout, and several fitness classes are included with your stay. Guests can also partake in classic Hawaiian activities, such as hula dancing, ʻukulele lessons, and lei making.

For a truly memorable experience, don’t miss the Kuilima Farm tour. I tried fresh lilikoʻi (passionfruit) straight from the tree and learned about plants like noni, which Hawaiians use in traditional medicine for its healing properties. The tour begins at the farm stands outside the fields, and I highly recommend grabbing a fried banana lumpia while you’re there.

Equestrians will love the resort’s stables, offering horseback riding and pony rides for the youngest guests. The resort hosts a weekly Paniolo Lūʻau near the stables—a Hawaiian cowboy-themed celebration with activities and food.

The Spa

Nalu Spa is the resort’s full-service spa with an in-house salon. It sources local products, including medicinal native plants from Kuilima Farm, to make the spa’s all-natural massage oils and scrubs.

A walking path lined with large votive candles leads to a garden wall at the spa’s entrance.

I received a Lomilomi massage, a traditional Polynesian healing practice from Hawaiʻi. My therapist described the massage as “a dance,” with a lot of breathing and long strokes incorporated. I added a CBD enhancement, which left me tingling once my massage was complete. The treatment room was open on one side with a curtain, allowing me to hear the waves. There are also rooms with one-way mirrors, enabling guests to view the beautiful greenery outside the spa while maintaining privacy.

The outdoor relaxation area is nestled among lush vegetation by the ocean. I sat there after my massage, listening to the waves, and enjoyed the complimentary hibiscus tea made from Kuilima Farm’s māmaki, a native medicinal plant.

Family-friendly Offerings

While there isn’t a dedicated kids’ club, this resort offers plenty of entertainment for the little ones. The main pool deck features two waterslides that kids will surely enjoy. Family-friendly cabanas and daybeds are available for rent, providing a perfect relaxing spot for parents. 

Upon check-in, kids receive a passport to explore the property. For every activity guests participate in, they can collect stamps to redeem prizes. Don’t miss the giant chalkboard in the lobby, which lists all the family-oriented and kids-only activities. Your little ones can experience local culture by jumping in outrigger canoes to see turtles, taking beachside ʻukulele lessons, digging for sand crabs, or taking a surf lesson with Rocky, the instructor, and his surfing dog.

Accessibility and Sustainability

The hotel has 16 ADA-compliant guest rooms, including an ocean bungalow, an oceanfront suite, premium rooms, and standard ocean-view rooms.

The Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu, Turtle Bay focuses on sustainability by preserving over 1,100 acres of land for conservation and safeguarding local culture. Kuilima Farm’s experience manager, Carolyn Unser, highlighted the farm’s sustainable agriculture practices for growing crops used in the resort’s restaurants and spa. A walk-through gallery in the hotel features displays informing guests about marine life and the concept of Ahupua’a, the Hawaiian system of land divisions developed to regulate and sustain natural resources. The property’s sustainable initiatives include solar panels on the rooftop, coastal preservation, biodiesel conversion, and a biodegradable recycling program. 

Location

The resort is located along O‘ahu’s North Shore, approximately 55 minutes from Honolulu International Airport. The closest town to explore is historic Haleʻiwa, about 20 minutes away, and Waimea Valley, a nature preserve with botanical gardens, is just a 15-minute car ride. The world-famous Banzai Pipeline surf break, part of the so-called Seven Mile Miracle stretch of golden-sand beaches and surf spots, drawing surf enthusiasts from around the world, is less than four miles down the road.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

Since The Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu, Turtle Bay is part of Marriott, the resort can be booked using Marriott Bonvoy points. Be sure to download the app—from there, you can see the various hotel offers that may apply to the resort, such as savings and daily credits.