Big Island - Where to Stay

[RookWDW]

Hello all,

We are planning a trip for one week in Maui (we have an exchange booked at the Marriott Ocean Club) and one week on the Big Island in June 2027 - family of four including 16 and 20 year old. I need help deciding on good options (and knowing which to avoid) for the Big Island. We have been to Kauai and Oahu a few years ago. Our main plans will be to Scuba Dive, mainly the night Kona Manta Ray dive plus another two tank dive, and of course the Volcanoes National Park. Otherwise our plans will be to chill, eat, shop and experience the local culture. Ideally I'm looking for two bedroom (maybe one bedroom) timeshare or hotel resort; it doesn't have to be super fancy but it has to be very nice, clean, and have good ocean side accommodations, pools, etc. Not interesting in private rentals/Airbnb/VRBO etc. We own Marriott Vacation Club weeks so we can trade those, rent from Redweek, or just pay cash rates at a good hotel.

Interval International has the following that seem okay and I plan to put in a trade request today or tomorrow.

- Marriott's Waikoloa Ocean Club (this is my main target right now)
- Kona Coast Resort I and II (seems like a central location
- Paniolo Greens (not by the ocean so will likely avoid)
- Vacation International: Sea Mt or Sea Village (unrated by II so unsure of quality)
- Aston Kona by the Sea (unrated by II so unsure of quality)
- Kona Islander Vacation Club (unrated by II so unsure of quality)
- Kona Reef (unrated by II so unsure of quality)

Redweek

- There are several Hilton Grand Vacation Club complexes near Waikoloa that don't trade through II and would need to be Redweek or cash stays all of which are quite expensive.
- Club Vyndham Kona - looks just okay
- Worldmark Kona - looks just okay


Any thoughts, tips or alternative suggestions are more than appreciated.

 

[easyrider]

The Vacation International Sea Village does have a few rooms with no ocean view. The thing I like about this resort is that with upper floor units you can sleep under the stars on the decks. Snorkeling is really good off the small lava ocean edge that surrounds the resort. Sunset is really nice here too. It isn't the best resort on your list and might even be the worst building wise. The location on the ocean is great but the building is older with no elevators. The beds and furniture are comfortable. The views are incredible.

The Worldmak Kona is a nicer building but the location across the road from the Ocean means no good views, imo. We liked it for a home base only. There is a small park across the road that is Ocean front but had a garbage problem.

Bill

https://www.viresorts.com/resorts/check-in/seavillage.pdf#:~:text=Each%20unit%20is%20equipped%20with,for%20guests%20with%20mobility%20issues.

 

[geist1223]

Where to stay? Boy that depends. But from the start remember it is called the Big Island for a reason. To do any thing takes driving no matter where you stay. And with only a week it would be a real pain to fully move locations. I would suggest the Bay Club in the Waikoloa Resort Area (not the town of Waikoloa) but no ocean views. If you are staying anywhere on the Kona-Kailua Side it will take quite some time to drive over to the Volcano National Park. Then do and see everything possible and drive back. A very long day.

The Club Wyndham Kona and the Worldmark Kona do not have true Ocean Views. They are Mauka. I have stayed at the Worldmark Kona. It is very plain vanilla. Not much going on. But the location is ok.

I have also stayed at VI Sea Mt Resort. It is down past South Point. Easy to get to Volcano National Park but quite a drive if Diving in the Kona Area.

Last time we were on the Big Island we spent 3 weeks. Mainly staying at the Bay Club. But we also did 3 nights at KMC inside the Volcano National Park. We spent a lot of hours in the car. But every other day was a Pool or lay on the Beach Day.

 

[jen.in.hi]

Our family of 5 stayed at Paniolo Greens last year - no ocean front but was clean and we were comfortable with the accommodations being a short drive away from Waikoloa. We've stayed at the Marriott and Hilton in Waikaloa Village both were okay but not exceptional. We actually preferred the quiet of Paniolo Greens.

I agree that significant driving time is unavoidable on Big Island. Stay where you think you'll be comfortable. If you want to cook or eat out is a big deciding factor to consider also.

 

[Rjbeach2003]

Need to clarify. Waikoloa Beach Resort and Waikoloa Village are different. Waikoloa Beach Resort has hotels and numerous timeshares while Waikoloa Village is above at about 1000'. We have stayed at Paniolo Greens several times. That will be our go to TS in the future, mainly because all are 2 bedroom, good location for all parts of the northern part of the island, which is our favorite part. We have stayed at the Kona Coast Resort a number of times as well. Note that for the most part there really aren't many sandy beaches in Kailua-Kona. KCR does have ocean view, but not ocean side units, but most aren't. Rereading your post I think your first option is best for you. As new divers we went with Kohala Divers, not too far north of Waikoloa. Don't miss Hawi, Pololu Valley, Waipi'o Valley and Hawaiian Tropical Botanical Gardens.

 

[TheHolleys87]

Kona Coast is close to the manta ray diving, I’m not sure about the scuba diving. We’ve made the drive from there to the volcanoes many times; it’s about 2-2 1/2 hours depending on which route you take (what I consider the scenic route around the south, or the saddle road across the middle of the BI). KCR sits right on the coast, and we’ve stayed there many times, but I have no idea whether they have ocean view units or not! The resort was updated a few years ago, and the 2BR we stayed in last October was comfortable.

 

[BJRSanDiego]

I've stayed at Kona Coast 2 twice. It was nice. My wife and I would gladly go back. Air conditioning was available but with a surcharge (well worth it IMHO). Kona Coast 1 units are further from the ocean. KC2 are closer. There is a golf course between the KC2 units and the ocean. If you get a 2nd floor unit you might have a nice view of the ocean. The first time we were there we had a first floor unit and had a nice "horizon" view that was peaceful. There is a restaurant/bar on site and a smaller pool (but adequate). Walking distance to a drugstore, and maybe groceries and a fast food place (I'd recommend doing a google maps to check out the current tenants of the shopping center)

 

[RookWDW]

Thanks for all of the ideas so far. I'll do some work to see what the best deal I can get. I don't think we would try a split stay, but we have no problem driving 2.5 hrs. We often drive 4 plus hours one way and have driving from Ohio to Orlando and back several times. As much as I'd love to spend 2-3 weeks, that just isn't possible with work and school - we will make do with what we have available.

 

[geist1223]

The Highways on The Big Island are like most Hawaiian Highways. 1 Lane of traffic in each direction with some Wider Highways in the Kona area.

 

[ScoopKona]

Need to clarify. Waikoloa Beach Resort and Waikoloa Village are different.

It doesn't help that Hilton calls their Waikoloa Beach property "Hilton Waikoloa Village." Half the people staying in that area have no idea where they actually are because of this.

When friends and family visit I tell them all the same thing. "Don't open your wallet if you're near Alii Drive or anywhere Waikoloa."

It also doesn't help that the word "Kona" is so overused that it has become meaningless.

Tourist: "How do I get to Kona?"

Me: "You're in Kona now."

Tourist: "I mean Kona!"

Me: "I assure you, you are standing in the district of South Kona. You are also standing in the Kona Coffee Belt."

Tourist: "No! I mean Huggo's!"

Me: "Oh. The tourists traps are 15 miles north of here."

 

[ScoopKona]

We often drive 4 plus hours one way and have driving from Ohio to Orlando and back several times.

Big Island traffic isn't like that. The island is similar in size to Connecticut. But has only 2400 miles of paved road compared to Connecticut's 46,000 miles. There are only two main roads. A ring road which generally hugs the perimeter. And the Saddle Road which bisects the island.

So, imagine you're taking a trip to Connecticut. And everything you want to see is scattered around the perimeter. And you only have the four perimeter routes (7, 44, 12, US-1 if I recall correctly), and I-91. And those are the only roads. There are no alternatives. They were doing road striping in front of Teshima's for the past two days. Why? They installed big speed humps. And tourists are flying over them like it's an episode of Dukes of Hazzard. So they're painting the humps to show drivers these aren't normal speed bumps.

Traffic was backed up four miles in each direction. They'd let four miles of cars pass. Then alternate. The traffic stretched from Keauhou to Kainaliu.That's about an hour to go 8 miles if someone was unlucky with the traffic. Road crews. Accident. Herd of goats. That's all it takes to turn any road into a parking lot.

 

[JeffC]

I’d say try for the Kona Coast resort. We own at Mauna Loa Village, which is very close. For the activities you want it’s the best location. Easy access to the south for Volcano National Park, 2 step and the coffee growers. You’re also close to the dive shops in Kona. I use Kona Dive Company, but Jacks is also very good. One of the night dives is off the Outrigger hotel, the other is off the old airport in Kona. I’ve done the one off the airport twice. It can be combined with other dives in the area just outside the small boat harbor in Kona.

 

[ScoopKona]

You’re also close to the dive shops in Kona. I use Kona Dive Company, but Jacks is also very good.

I'm not a fan of bringing scuba gear to the BI.

The snorkeling here is so good that the regulators, tank and BC are unnecessary. And PADI warns against even a 1,000 foot change in elevation immediately after diving. DAN is less conservative but still says 2,000 right after diving is a no-go. That's really, really hard to manage here. My property has 1,000 feet of elevation change. And I start at 1,000 feet above sea level. So what am I going to do if I go spear fishing or wreck diving? Grab a hotel room near sea level to decompress?

I've seen someone get bent. And that's the kind of agony you don't even want to witness, let alone experience.

Since our snorkeling is so good, I keep my gear maintained but I hardly ever use it. Mostly I take it to Oahu for wreck diving.

Discussion about this very subject:

Driving to Elevation after diving question

My bf and I have a fabulous trip to Maui in January where we will be doing a discovery shore dive in Kihei. I'm an advanced diver, he is not certified. My question is this....I was told by the agency we are diving through to be mindful of driving to elevation after our dive (we are staying in...

scubaboard.com

 

[chellej]

We have stayed at the kona coast and really enjoyed it.. Several restaurants are nearby in the shopping center, as well as a grocery store.

Sea Village, we stayed in November. The views were beautiful, but the staff really had attitude and there were NO breezes. We paid for the AC but it really did not work well, and we had to sleep on the Murphy bed in the living room because the back bedrooms were way too hot

 

[RookWDW]

I'm not a fan of bringing scuba gear to the BI.

The snorkeling here is so good that the regulators, tank and BC are unnecessary. And PADI warns against even a 1,000 foot change in elevation immediately after diving. DAN is less conservative but still says 2,000 right after diving is a no-go. That's really, really hard to manage here. My property has 1,000 feet of elevation change. And I start at 1,000 feet above sea level. So what am I going to do if I go spear fishing or wreck diving? Grab a hotel room near sea level to decompress?

I've seen someone get bent. And that's the kind of agony you don't even want to witness, let alone experience.

Since our snorkeling is so good, I keep my gear maintained but I hardly ever use it. Mostly I take it to Oahu for wreck diving.

Discussion about this very subject:

Driving to Elevation after diving question

My bf and I have a fabulous trip to Maui in January where we will be doing a discovery shore dive in Kihei. I'm an advanced diver, he is not certified. My question is this....I was told by the agency we are diving through to be mindful of driving to elevation after our dive (we are staying in...

scubaboard.com

Interesting discussion. Our plan would be to do the manta ray dive, which is usually a shallow 30-40 foot dive, and you are mostly sitting and watching thus reducing your deco stress by not overworking. We would also stay on the west coast so we shouldn't have that dramatic of an elevation gain just getting back to the room. But, it's a good caution and a good idea to stay and have lunch near the dive center area or around Kona before driving back; and a good reminder to plan out heading to the volcano more than 24 hours later.

 

[ScoopKona]

Interesting discussion. Our plan would be to do the manta ray dive, which is usually a shallow 30-40 foot dive, and you are mostly sitting and watching thus reducing your deco stress by not overworking. We would also stay on the west coast so we shouldn't have that dramatic of an elevation gain just getting back to the room. But, it's a good caution and a good idea to stay and have lunch near the dive center area or around Kona before driving back; and a good reminder to plan out heading to the volcano more than 24 hours later.

I snorkel with the mantas every other night in the summer. Why? Because I can. It's GREAT. I live right on top of Kealakekua Bay -- so I snorkel that every other day in the summer. And sometimes I don't feel like hiking so I drive to Honaunau bay, which is almost as good as Kealakekua. Always snorkeling. Never tanks. I'm certainly not against diving -- I keep my rig maintained in case something happens that I want to see.

I live at 1,000ft elevation and my trip home takes me above 2,000 at one point. Why risk it? The snorkeling is SO good, I don't feel I'm losing anything leaving the tank, BC and regulators at home. I'm getting just as good an experience -- free -- with zero risk of getting bent. And quite often the phone rings and I have to drop everything and drive up to Waimea (2,700 feet) or drive over the Saddle (6,600 feet).

For me, it's a "the reward isn't worth the risk." I'm getting a 9.9/10 experience instead of 10/10. And even if the risk is only 2/10 diving and driving around Big Island. I like 0/10 better.

 

[easyrider]

Interesting discussion. Our plan would be to do the manta ray dive, which is usually a shallow 30-40 foot dive, and you are mostly sitting and watching thus reducing your deco stress by not overworking. We would also stay on the west coast so we shouldn't have that dramatic of an elevation gain just getting back to the room. But, it's a good caution and a good idea to stay and have lunch near the dive center area or around Kona before driving back; and a good reminder to plan out heading to the volcano more than 24 hours later.

We use to scuba Hawaii and never had a problem with off gassing because we are aware of the issue as any certified diver should be. I think you will have a blast sitting at 20 ft - 40 ft while Rey's glide right next to you. It is cool to see them from a distance while snorkeling but it is almost magical seeing them inches away from your mask or brushing up against you.

Bill

 

[chosshaul]

Waikaloa is a great place to stay and very dry which is a plus in the winter. However, part of me has always wanted to stay in the Kona area so I’m closer to a lot of other things. What are the best Club Wyndham properties in the Kona area? I see lots of them in exchange on my DEX right now.

 

[Luanne]

Check Club Wyndham Kona.