How to Choose Which HGV on the Big Island of Hawaii is right for you

[Luanne]

I read both that there was a valet and that the valet was suspended due to covid. Now sure which to believe.

I would call the hotel and ask them.

 

[dayooper]

I read both that there was a valet and that the valet was suspended due to covid. Now sure which to believe.

I would call the hotel and ask them.

Yup, call the resort. They will know.

 

[Luanne]

Yup, call the resort. They will know.

Just to add to this. We are staying at the Hilton Union Square (San Francisco) prior to our trip to Maui. Our daughter is coming up to join us and will be bringing her car. I called to find out if the room rate that included parking was self parking or valet. I found out it was self parking, and that at this time there is NO valet parking. None of this was indicated on their website.

 

[letsgobobby]

Do all four of these resorts have access to the Hilton Hotel complex pools? Are those still all part of the hotel, or are some now accessible only to OT guests?

With kids ages 6-16 and two rental cars we'll stay at KL next year but would be good to know what we can access and what we can't.

 

[Luanne]

Do all four of these resorts have access to the Hilton Hotel complex pools? Are those still all part of the hotel, or are some now accessible only to OT guests?

With kids ages 6-16 and two rental cars we'll stay at KL next year but would be good to know what we can access and what we can't.

Kingsland and Kohala Suites have free access to the Hilton Hotel complex pools. The Bay Club does not, but you can purchase access. We prefer the Bay Club, due to the size of the units, but we're not huge pool people so access to the Hilton Hotel pools was not a priority.

 

[brp]

I love the decks on the Bay Club. I will be staying in the two bedroom in May.... I was surprised how much I loved the second bathroom in the Bay Club one bedroom... It was convenient to the kitchen and living room without having to go thru the bedroom.

We are generally "upstairs people" as well. I was surprised at just how much we loved the ground floor KL Building 3 unit. Direct view of the quiet pool. Walk to the grills. Basically, the lawn is an extension of he patio.

We booked the 1BP again (Building 1-4 only) for 6 nghts at Thanksgiving and will request the same thing again. It was better than expected and, since we will cook dinner likely 5 or so of those nights, easy grill access is nice.

Cheers.

 

[MuggleMoi]

All of this info has been so helpful. How is the walking around any of these? I love getting out early and late in the day. What's it like around these resorts?

We had booked into KL twice but both times had to cancel due to travel restrictions. We're now finally back in Hawaii at HHV but definitely want to get to the Big Island next.

 

[NiteMaire]

How is the walking around any of these?

Fantastic! Highly encourage doing this. Here's a post of a some petraglyphs you can see:

Big Island: Day-trip Recommendation/Experience (from Waikoloa)

We hit 3 locations today: Pine Trees Beach, Lava Tube, and Hapuna Beach. We packed our lunch and had dinner at our unit so no info on restaurants. As I mentioned yesterday, one of our friends is a surfer. We headed to Pine Trees Beach which is, reportedly, one of the best places to surf. We...

tugbbs.com

 

[brp]

All of this info has been so helpful. How is the walking around any of these? I love getting out early and late in the day. What's it like around these resorts?

Early is very nice even for just walking around the Waikoloa loop. We're early risers as well. Some mornings we get up early and run as the sun is coming up. Other days we walk. Yet others, sit on the lanai with coffee for the sunrise.

Cheers.

 

[ski_sierra]

Quick question about Bay Club: For a non-elite HGVC member, can you get access to Kings' Land and the HWV Hotel pools for a fee? Or it's not possible?

 

[Luanne]

Quick question about Bay Club: For a non-elite HGVC member, can you get access to Kings' Land and the HWV Hotel pools for a fee? Or it's not possible?

It looks like you used to be able to get a day pass for Kingsland, but I'm not sure if that exists any longer. I haven't been able to find any current information. I suggest you call, either Bay Club, Kingsland, or maybe both, to find out what is currently available.

 

[ski_sierra]

It looks like you used to be able to get a day pass for Kingsland, but I'm not sure if that exists any longer. I haven't been able to find any current information. I suggest you call, either Bay Club, Kingsland, or maybe both, to find out what is currently available.

I just called. Bay club access to HWV is $100 for a single day and $255 for 3 days.

 

[Luanne]

I just called. Bay club access to HWV is $100 for a single day and $255 for 3 days.

What is HWV? Is that Hilton Waikoloa Village? That would be the resort. What is the fee for just the Kingsland pools? A saw a fee of $15, but that was a few years back.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Bay and Kohala have free access to Kingsland pools if you are HGVC Elite.

 

[Luanne]

Bay and Kohala have free access to Kingsland pools if you are HGVC Elite.

@ski_sierra said they were not HGVC Elite. That's why they were asking about a fee.

 

[pacman]

We sound a lot like the OP. Own HGVC for Waikoloa alone. Have stayed at all 4 resorts multiple times. Bay Club is our favourite, but we like Ocean Towers for a change of pace, and staying in a studio is a VERY good value of points. Not really a fan of KL - as they use up points very fast. We own 2 platinum units in Vegas, but will NEVER go there. Very happy with the availability in Waikoloa because of the 4 resorts there.

 

[letsgobobby]

We sound a lot like the OP. Own HGVC for Waikoloa alone. Have stayed at all 4 resorts multiple times. Bay Club is our favourite, but we like Ocean Towers for a change of pace, and staying in a studio is a VERY good value of points. Not really a fan of KL - as they use up points very fast. We own 2 platinum units in Vegas, but will NEVER go there. Very happy with the availability in Waikoloa because of the 4 resorts there.

OT or Bay Club studios are a good value?

 

[SmithOp]

OT or Bay Club studios are a good value?

no studios at BC so he must mean OT.

We rented one using open season on a recent visit, was not impressed, it was too much like a hotel stay. The only elevators are located on the south side near the lobby, so if you are on the north side with a golf course / partial ocean view it a long walk around the "ring" to get to your room. The north side had stairs only, and we had 7th floor.

Sent from my Lenovo 10e using Tapatalk

 

[Wright17s]

I've stayed at Ocean Tower and King's Land... loved them both for different reasons (Ocean Tower was an amazing resort you never have to leave if you don't want to, and King's Land was an amazing resort with easy access to parking and great if you're doing day trips across the island).

I do have a question on the 2 bedroom rooms at Ocean Tower in case anyone can help ( we stayed in a 1 bdrm when we were there )... does anyone know what the correct sq footage is for the 2 bdrms? The booking detail for the rooms on the HGVC website says 874 sq ft but the floor plans diagramed here say 1023 sq ft.

 

[Gailm]

Hilton Grand Vacation has four wonderful properties in Waikoloa on the big island of Hawaii. But which one should you stay at? I created four criteria that I thought helped define the four Hilton Grand Vacations Properties so that you could choose which one was right for everyone. Below is the summary;

Best pools - King's Land
Closest to the Ocean - Ocean Tower
Biggest Rooms - Bay Club
Best availability - Bay Club and King's Land

The video below breaks down this analysis. I have stayed at all four in the last year (and will again in 2022). These timeshares are the main reason I own Hilton Grand Vacations.

How to Choose Which HGV on the Big Island of Hawaii is right for you

Map of all my timeshare reviews

The details behind my analysis are broken down in the following bullet points by each club should provide you the details to make a better decision. I welcome any other comments and opinions on which ones you like;

Bay Club - Largest rooms, short walk to the ocean, huge decks
1. Room Sizes and Points
A. One (825 Sq Ft) and two (1283 Sq Ft.) bedrooms.
B. Standard 4800 points for one bedroom and 7000 points for two bedroom
2. Swimming pools
A. Two pools.
B. Both pools are relatively small… No water slides but Jacuzzi’s a available
3. Close to the Ocean
A. Depending on unit about 1/4 to 1/2 mile
B. Shuttle available to Hilton Waikoloa hotel
4. Availability
A. Normally available
B. Multiple options during off peak season
5. Other Amenities (food, Parking, Art, entertainment, etc…)
A. Food available by the adult pool plus entertainment
B. Good fitness center
C. Plenty of Grills
D. Free parking

Kohala Suites - Nice balcony, kid friendly pool with snack bar, and access to Hilton Waikoloa
1. Room Sizes and Points
A. Two (1150 Sq Ft.) bedrooms.
B. standard 7000 points for two bedroom
2. Swimming pools
A. One pool
B. Pools has water slides and Jacuzzi
3. Close to the Ocean
A. Depending on unit about 1/2 mile
B. Shuttle available to Hilton Waikoloa hotel
4. Availability
A. Normally available
B. Multiple options during off peak season
5. Other Amenities (food, Parking, Art, entertainment, etc…)
A. Food available by the pool
B. Plenty of Grills
C. Free parking

King’s Land - Best pools and close to main highway for getting around the island
1. Room Sizes and Points
A. Two (1150 Sq Ft.) bedrooms.
B. standard 7000 points for two bedroom
2. Swimming pools
A. Four pools
B. Pools has water slides and Jacuzzi
3. Close to the Ocean
A. Depending on unit about 1 mile
B. Shuttle available to Hilton Waikoloa hotel
4. Availability
A. Normally available
B. Multiple options during off peak season
5. Other Amenities (food, Parking, Art, entertainment, etc…)
A. Food available by the pool
B. Nightly Entertainment at the pool bar
C. Plenty of Grills
D. Free parking

Ocean Tower - Stay here if you want to have ocean views, no rental car, and access to the hotel
1. Room Sizes and Points
A. Two (877 Sq Ft.) bedrooms.
B. Standard 10,500 points for two bedroom (17,250 Points for partial Ocean View)
C. One Bedroom (4800 Points) 590 Sq ft. (7200 Points Partial for Ocean View)
D. Studio (no Kitchen 3400 Points)
2. Swimming pools
A. Two pools
B. Pool has water slides and Jacuzzi
C. Use hotel pools also
3. Close to the Ocean
A. Can be ocean view or short walk to the ocean
B. Walk or take the tram to Hilton Waikoloa hotel
4. Availability
A. Normally available
B. Multiple options during off peak season
5. Other Amenities (food, Parking, Art, entertainment, etc…)
A. Convenience store on property
B. Art on walk from lobby to property entrance
C. Food available at the Hilton Waikoloa Hotel which is walking distance
D. Paid parking ($39/night)
E. No Grills

Ok....Great comparison...but...I heard that Bay Club does NOT have shuttle service to the hotel...that the hoa voted against it.
So...is that true??

 

[Luanne]

Ok....Great comparison...but...I heard that Bay Club does NOT have shuttle service to the hotel...that the hoa voted against it.
So...is that true??

Quite a few years since we've stayed at Bay Club, but they didn't have shuttle service when we were there....at least that I remember. We would walk over to the hotel in the morning as we like to walk, stop and get coffee, then walk back. Any other time we'd go over we'd drive and use valet parking as we were going to a restaurant or the spa.

 

[pedro47]

To the OP, are your recommendations still good for exchnage into this resort. I give my son 18,000 points for family to use..

 

[SmithOp]

Ok....Great comparison...but...I heard that Bay Club does NOT have shuttle service to the hotel...that the hoa voted against it.
So...is that true??

The Hilton shuttle does stop at Bay Club, it's pool and slide access at the hotel that is not included.

 

[brp]

The Hilton shuttle does stop at Bay Club, it's pool and slide access at the hotel that is not included.

And, theoretically, the Lagoon Pool is not included, but I've seen an argument that, as this connects directly to the ocean, they can't limit access. They won't gice you a towel, of course. But Bay Club has towels.

Cheers.

 

[SmithOp]

And, theoretically, the Lagoon Pool is not included, but I've seen an argument that, as this connects directly to the ocean, they can't limit access. They won't gice you a towel, of course. But Bay Club has towels.

Cheers.

Fight club!

We take our own beach towels because there are much nicer snorkeling spots, but the lagoon is a good place for beginners to practice.