Last month Anush and I went on a quick little getaway to Hawaii. We love the Hawaiian islands so much that we visit so often. I have been to all the main Hawaiian islands but Anush had never been to Oahu which is why we decided to do Oahu this time around.

We were celebrating our 16 years of being together so we wanted to celebrate the special occasion at someplace special. The newly renovated Turtle Bay Resort couldn’t have been a more perfect choice for this. Situated an hour from the airport and away from the touristy hotspots in Honolulu, this resort was exactly what we were looking for. Turtle Bay is the only resort that is set on the rugged untouched North Shore of Oahu and spans across nearly 1300 acres of lush, historic land, featuring five miles of unspoiled coastline and twelve miles of breathtaking trails. It recently underwent a massive renovation and the sprawling new resort looks beyond incredible. The entire resort had the perfect mix of luxe contemporary meets laidback surf vibes.

One of my favorite parts of the renovation was their super chic lobby which boasts awe-inspiring views of the beach, surf, and sky. Large-scale works by Hawaii-based artists Nick Kuchar and Abigail Romanchak decorate the entrance.

Lobby area

We stayed in one of their newly renovated Ocean Bungalows. The bungalows are separate from the main resort and have their own dedicated concierge, making it seem like a private paradise all by itself. The bungalow interiors were stunning with its towering 15-foot ceilings, an elegant, natural design, and sliding doors that open to a lanai with ocean views.

Ocean Bungalows

The bungalow area also had its own private pool area. Bungalow guests are also free to use the main adult pool area and bar by the main building too. The main pool area was gorgeous – it had an infinity pool paired with the lobby bar called Off the Lip, which featured a sunken footprint with unimpeded views of the breaking surf and sunset, and
some of the best mai tais in Oahu!

Ocean Bungalow Pool Area

As for dining – the resort has many dining options including 3 restaurants. Alaia is the resort’s leading dining destination and celebrates the North Shore’s sustainable agricultural bounty and fresh produce from the resort’s farm. Chef Giles Epie helms the kitchen, the youngest chef to receive a Michelin Star at 22 years old! We loved our dinner and daily breakfasts here. We also tried Beach House while we were there and it was amazing. We especially loved the ambiance here for dinner!

Dinner at Alaia (above) and Beach House (below)

Turtle Bay has so many beautiful experiences for the whole family to enjoy from snorkeling with turtles, surfing lessons, horseback riding, beach picnics and more. To celebrate our anniversary we had a beach picnic set up by Leather and Lei right on the beach. With a view to die for, yummy lunch eats and of course the best company this was such a romantic afternoon!

Main beach area

Romantic Beach Picnic with Leather and Lei

Overall we had the most wonderful time at Turtle Bay resort and highly recommend it for an authentic laidback Hawaiian getaway.

Thanks for stopping by! You can also catch my full travel guide to Oahu for more inspo. xoxo

Jyo

 

Disclosure : Thanks to Turtle Bay Resort for hosting us for our stay. All thoughts and opinions are my own.