I paid $530 for one night in Hawaii's famous pink hotel. I was so excited, but I wouldn't stay there again.

• On a recent Hawaii trip, I stayed in the most affordable room I could find at The Royal Hawaiian.
• I spent $530 total to stay one night at the iconic pink beachfront hotel. 
• I enjoyed the location and its famous mai tais but found my room to be dated.

My mother and I recently visited Hawaii for the first time.

While there, we stayed at The Royal Hawaiian, nicknamed the "Pink Palace of the Pacific," a place I'd long dreamed of seeing in real life.