Big Island at Hilton Kohala and Bay Club Recommendations

[CREYES19]

Hello everyone!

We are going on our first Big Island vacation and are staying one week at the Hilton Kohala Suites and the next week at the Hilton Bay Club. Do you have any recommendations on what are the best buildings/units to request (renovated units or nice views). We understand there will be no ocean view, but we are ok with that. Any other recomendation are welcome .

Thanks in advance!!

 

[HuskerATL]

We were in a Bay Club villa last year and really enjoyed it. I would try for one of them. They are the 2 bed Plus units.

 

[alexadeparis]

We were in a Bay Club villa last year and really enjoyed it. I would try for one of them. They are the 2 bed Plus units.

those are higher points, so if they did not reserve it that way, they won't be upgraded

 

[HuskerATL]

those are higher points, so if they did not reserve it that way, they won't be upgraded

Yes, they are more points but worth it if they have the points.

 

[dayooper]

Yes, they are more points but worth it if they have the points.

Just curious, why are they worth it?

 

[Sandy VDH]

Just curious, why are they worth it?

There are only 4 units in each building, 2 uppers and 2 lowers. There is a carport assigned for you as well just in front of the unit. They are larger units than the standard 2 BRs with 2.5 baths instead of just the 2 BR version.

The ground floors have walk out patio and a side little garden area. Uppers have vaulted ceilings and transom windows. I like the upper units. Feel vary large and airy.

 

[HuskerATL]

Just curious, why are they worth it?

They are very large....if you want the space and you car is right at your door and we drove a lot while there so it was very handy., https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hgvc-detailed-resort-affiliated-information.254931/post-1996661

 

[HuskerATL]

There are only 4 units in each building, 2 uppers and 2 lowers. There is a carport assigned for you as well just in front of the unit. They are larger units than the standard 2 BRs with 2.5 baths instead of just the 2 BR version.

The ground floors have walk out patio and a side little garden area. Uppers have vaulted ceilings and transom windows. I like the upper units. Feel vary large and airy.

We had the upper unit on our last trip:

 

[zentraveler]

Hello everyone!
goin
We are going on our first Big Island vacation and are staying one week at the Hilton Kohala Suites and the next week at the Hilton Bay Club. Do you have any recommendations on what are the best buildings/units to request (renovated units or nice views). We understand there will be no ocean view, but we are ok with that. Any other recomendation are welcome .

Thanks in advance!!

We are at the Bay Club now in building 2. The 1 bdrm units all are floors 1 or 2 and all look over the parking lot. We like that end of the resort; the Bay Club cafe is across from building 4 and has a daily cafe (11 am-5 pm), music 3-5 some afternoons, yoga and pilates classes, tennis courts, shuttle stop and a pool. It is quite walkable to the main Hilton Hotel.

And it is a hike to the other lobby in Kohola Suites with a pool bar, music, some classes and a shuttle stop.

 

[singlemalt_18]

… we drove a lot while there so it was very handy.

The Big Island is massive; if your first time there, and you want to explore and experience all it has to offer, worry more about getting a premium upgrade on your rental car. You will spend as much time behind the wheel as you will in your unit, most of which there will be sleeping.

 

[CREYES19]

Thank you everyone! Any recommendations of what buildings to request at both resorts.

 

[HuskerATL]

Here is the map so you can see the layout, where pools, tennis courts, grills, and shuttle stops so it depends on what you want. All the buildings on the 1 to 10 side face the golf course where the 11, 12, and 13 face the road. We were in building 7 last year and liked it. There is also a lot of reviews on Trip Advisor that you can look through.

 

[CREYES19]

Here is the map so you can see the layout, where pools, tennis courts, grills, and shuttle stops so it depends on what you want. All the buildings on the 1 to 10 side face the golf course where the 11, 12, and 13 face the road. We were in building 7 last year and liked it. There is also a lot of reviews on Trip Advisor that you can look through.

View attachment 72764

thanks ! this is very helpful!

 

[HuskerATL]

You can look at the map and compare to google maps with the imagery layer on: https://www.google.com/maps/place/T...!3d19.9246783!4d-155.8819814?hl=en&authuser=0

 

[HuskerATL]

Just to add the Villas are 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, and 13. The other buildings are the 1 and 2 bedrooms. Some of those face the parking area instead of the golf course so that is something to think about. Others may have suggestions on room numbers. In the google map link above, you can pan the view to see Kohala, KL, and the Hilton/Ocean Tower.

 

[brp]

The Big Island is massive; if your first time there, and you want to explore and experience all it has to offer, worry more about getting a premium upgrade on your rental car. You will spend as much time behind the wheel as you will in your unit, most of which there will be sleeping.

I think that's a recipe for not really experiencing much of anything. "If it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium" syndrome is never a good idea, IMO. Better to pick a few things (the Volcano is a great option) and focus there with chill time in between.

Definitely different ways to do it, but spending a lot of time in the card seems less than ideal to me.

Cheers.

 

[TravelinJack]

When we stay at the BC it seems we are assigned building 3 or 4. The 1 bedrooms most always face the parking lot. The 2 bedrooms could be either the parking lot or golf course. We liked building 3 since there was a hot tub and grill right near our room. Last time, we had building 4, second floor facing the parking lot and looking down at the grills. We have also stayed in Villa 7 and 13. Worth the points? Depends. Not to my wife but to me once in a while is nice. OP, if you can spend a night or 2 in the Hilo/ Volcano Village area you will save yourself a lot of driving and will have a more relaxed visit to the island. As for the Kohala suites, they are all 2 bedrooms and you may or may not face the golf course or the road through the Waikoloa complex. We like the Bay Club because the rooms are slightly larger as are the lanais than at Kohala or Kings Land. No matter where you stay, you will be in Hawaii and that isn't half bad.

 

[CREYES19]

When we stay at the BC it seems we are assigned building 3 or 4. The 1 bedrooms most always face the parking lot. The 2 bedrooms could be either the parking lot or golf course. We liked building 3 since there was a hot tub and grill right near our room. Last time, we had building 4, second floor facing the parking lot and looking down at the grills. We have also stayed in Villa 7 and 13. Worth the points? Depends. Not to my wife but to me once in a while is nice. OP, if you can spend a night or 2 in the Hilo/ Volcano Village area you will save yourself a lot of driving and will have a more relaxed visit to the island. As for the Kohala suites, they are all 2 bedrooms and you may or may not face the golf course or the road through the Waikoloa complex. We like the Bay Club because the rooms are slightly larger as are the lanais than at Kohala or Kings Land. No matter where you stay, you will be in Hawaii and that isn't half bad.

Thanks!!

 

[Sandy VDH]

When we stay at the BC it seems we are assigned building 3 or 4. The 1 bedrooms most always face the parking lot. The 2 bedrooms could be either the parking lot or golf course. We liked building 3 since there was a hot tub and grill right near our room. Last time, we had building 4, second floor facing the parking lot and looking down at the grills. We have also stayed in Villa 7 and 13. Worth the points? Depends. Not to my wife but to me once in a while is nice. OP, if you can spend a night or 2 in the Hilo/ Volcano Village area you will save yourself a lot of driving and will have a more relaxed visit to the island. As for the Kohala suites, they are all 2 bedrooms and you may or may not face the golf course or the road through the Waikoloa complex. We like the Bay Club because the rooms are slightly larger as are the lanais than at Kohala or Kings Land. No matter where you stay, you will be in Hawaii and that isn't half bad.

Think of the buildings as a C shaped. All of 1 BRs are at the ends of the C that faces the parking lots, there are 3 of them per floor.. 2BRs B style units are at the top and bottom of the C and face either another building or the road, and there are 2 of them per floor. The long back part of the C faces primarily the golf courses an there are three of the 2BR A stype units per floor that are found on the long spine building.

If you are booking a 1 BR and looking for a non-parking lot view you will be disappointed.

 

[tk25]

When you reserve at Bay Club the room code you select (explained in resort detail tugbbs link) by and large pretty much determines what room type you get.
If you have the “P” code indicates 3rd floor. In my experience these are in higher demand.
”A” code means 2BR direct golf course facing unit. Best views and some with partial ocean view. All with sunset. 2nd BR two beds. Also relatively high demand.
”B” code means 2BR side units. 2nd bedroom one bed.
”C” code 1BR and 1 bath. Parking lot side.
”D” code 1BR and 1.5 bath also parking lot side.