The Manoa Valley Inn is a very, very disappointing experience.
When we arrived, our information had not even been put in the computer, which created some confusion later when friends tried to call our room – they were told, “I don’t see anyone here by that name.” We booked months in advance, and the place only has seven rooms – how hard can this be?
We booked the Sun Room, aptly named because the southern exposure and lack of A/C combine to create temperatures close to those at the surface of the sun. You have to keep the windows open for ventilation, and they rattle constantly with even the smallest breeze. The hum of the floor fan contributes to the noise that makes it impossible to get a good night’s sleep. Also, the antique lock and skeleton key on the French doors leading into the room make it nearly impossible to lock the doors, but no matter – a 12-year-old could pull them apart. When a friend came to pick us up, he wandered around the building for five minutes looking for us, and was never confronted. Comfort? Zero. Security? Zero.
The shared bathroom on the third floor was so dirty it reminded us of an Italian train station bathroom. The antique door latch on the door doesn’t work at all, so the thoughtful owners have installed a fish-hook-and-eye latch that holds the door ‘closed’ with a half-inch gap. The paper-thin curtains on the door window and front windows add to the feeling of zero privacy while you do your business. Cleanliness? Zero. Privacy? Zero.
The continental breakfast consisted of some dried pieces of bread and English muffins, watered-down juice, and fruit with mold on the back. Value? Zero.
It’s not surprising that the Inn requires payment up-front and has a no-refund-within-30-days policy; only people who couldn’t afford to forfeit their money away would stick around for their full stay. We left after the first night and forfeited four nights’ payment - $480! – to find a real hotel that was clean, safe, and comfortable. Save your money and sanity, and look elsewhere for lodging.