Interested in opinions on the 3 Big Island resorts

[dougp26364]

The Big Island is the one major tourist Hawaiian Island we haven't been seen. I've followed availability for some time and felt confident enough to grab FF mile seats as soon as they opened, but ahead of HGVC's club booking window. Now it's time to look at the differences in the resorts. Unfortunately, HGVC's home page provides less than satisfactory information.

So I'll ask Tugger's who might have been there. What are the pro's and con's of each resort. We're not locked into needing a particular size or view for this trip and, unlike other trips we've taken, can find no overwhelming evidence that indicates one resort has a definite edge for our particular likes.

So what's good and what's bad (or less good, nothing's ever really bad with HGVC) for each Big Island HGVC resort?

 

[Luanne]

At this point in time we've only stayed at the Bay Club. We have an upcoming visit to Kohala Suites, so I'll be able to compare.

We like the Bay Club. The pros, from what I've heard, is that the units are larger, and it's closer to the Hilton Waikoloa Resort, meaning it's farther from the highway. The cons are it's older, and I don't think you can use the facilities at the Hilton (pools, etc) like you can if you're staying at Kohala Suites or Kings Land.

 

[SmithOp]

One of the cons against Kingsland is the high point requirements in phase 1, great to own though for a ton of points to use elsewhere. Maybe Kohala rooms are nicer furnished than Kingsland phase 2, I'll know for sure next month when I stay at both. The best way to get Kingsland phase 1 is with an RCI trade when they load the bulk deposits.

All views are the same, golf course and lava. Bay Club has the largest units.


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[1Kflyerguy]

We have stayed at both Kings Land and Kohala Suites. I have not stayed at Bay Club but did tour one of the units with a local agent when we considering buying there.

The Bay Club units are very large, and I really like the Lanai. That resort itself is nice but nothing that exciting. You have to pay extra for access to big hotel pools. If the pools are important to you, i would go with one of the other two resorts.

Kings Land has the most resort like feel in my mind, great pools, lots of Tiki torches, lush landscaping, etc.. But as Dave said it also takes more points than the other two resorts...

Kohala Suites has slightly bigger units than Kings Land, and i like the fact that their BBQ grills have rain / shade structures...

There is a HGVC shuttle that will take between all three resorts, the Hilton Hotel and the Kings and Queens Markets...

 

[brp]

We've stayed at Bay Club a number of times now and really enjoy it. Since Kohala minimum size is 2BR, and we don't need that, we've not stayed there. Because these are on the same property, the feel from the grounds is very similar. It feels like Hawai'i.

We've not stayed at Kings Land, but we do run by it every morning. My feeling, looking from the outside, is that it feels more "blocky" and less intimate. Comments above say that the pools are better (and they're OK at Bay Club/Kohala, but not spectacular). It just feels too big.

The bars at both Bay Club and Kohala pools are very nice and intimate as well.

Cheers.

 

[dougp26364]

Thank you all for the information. It has been very helpful.

 

[alwysonvac]

Big Island which resort? - http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=199815&highlight=comparison

Google Map - https://www.google.com/maps/place/K...1s0x795477f31baefa27:0xebd84137fca7ae84?hl=en
Waikoloa Resort Map - http://waikoloabeachresort.com/files/map-2014.pdf

 

[1Kflyerguy]

We've not stayed at Kings Land, but we do run by it every morning. My feeling, looking from the outside, is that it feels more "blocky" and less intimate. Comments above say that the pools are better (and they're OK at Bay Club/Kohala, but not spectacular). It just feels too big.

Cheers.

I can understand what your saying, i think at least some of that comes from KL being the newest, so the trees are smaller. Plus the road is pretty straight by Kings Land so if feels very linear, while Bay Club and Kohala are nestled into some curves to break things up.

 

[loosefeet]

We have stayed at the Bay Club recently after being at Kingsland the last few years. I really liked Bay Club--big lanai's and nice views. The bedrooms were separated by the LR/Kitchen area, which was appreciated by teens and parents alike. There is a nice tennis court, a few pools (salt water), club house etc. After this last stay, my choice would be Bay Club. Kinglsand is nice, but the units feel like cramped hotel type suites. I like room. We were gone doing things on the island, not hanging out at the pools etc, so prefer the condo style of Bay Club.

 

[dougp26364]

At this moment I'm leaning more towards Bay Club or Kohala. Neither of us are big pool people, we like a larger balcony/lanai. Would I be incorrect to assume all 3 have on unit washer/dryers?

 

[Luanne]

At this moment I'm leaning more towards Bay Club or Kohala. Neither of us are big pool people, we like a larger balcony/lanai. Would I be incorrect to assume all 3 have on unit washer/dryers?

Yes, they do.

We're not big pool people either, we prefer the beach.

 

[happymum]

We stayed at KingsLand in January. I disliked the open concept bathroom, and the drawer-style microwave. Loved the landscaping and patio furniture.

 

[GregT]

Doug,

We really like access to the Hilton hotel pool and spend a lot of time there because it is full service and ocean front. That eliminates Bay Club from our consideration, which is a shame because it's probably the best unit from a living space perspective. And the size of the lanai is very attractive as well.

We lean towards Kings Land over Kohala Suites because there are more amenities that matter for our kids. When it is just Jonell and me one day, that will be less of a factor, but for now, we are Kings Land people.

Enjoy your trip and let us know what you think of Bay Club, or wherever you end up!

Best,

Greg

 

[taterhed]

Doug,

We really like access to the Hilton hotel pool and spend a lot of time there because it is full service and ocean front. That eliminates Bay Club from our consideration, which is a shame because it's probably the best unit from a living space perspective. And the size of the lanai is very attractive as well.

We lean towards Kings Land over Kohala Suites because there are more amenities that matter for our kids. When it is just Jonell and me one day, that will be less of a factor, but for now, we are Kings Land people.

Enjoy your trip and let us know what you think of Bay Club, or wherever you end up!

Best,

Greg

It's not stated anywhere explicitly, but I'm guessing the pool benefits at Kohala and Kingsland (use of the Village amenities) extends to exchangers as well as owners?

Thanks.

 

[Luanne]

Doug,

We really like access to the Hilton hotel pool and spend a lot of time there because it is full service and ocean front.

Some years back we had a gap night between timeshares and decided to stay at the Hilton hotel. To be honest, my kids were bored with it after a few hours.

 

[buzglyd]

I'm not a pool person either (I just returned from a week in cancun and didn't go in the pool once) but the Kingsland pool is kind of above and beyond a normal pool.

I like the misters around the rocks that give the feel of an active volcano.

I'd still rather be in the ocean though.

 

[SmithOp]

Doug,



We really like access to the Hilton hotel pool and spend a lot of time there because it is full service and ocean front. That eliminates Bay Club from our consideration, which is a shame because it's probably the best unit from a living space perspective. And the size of the lanai is very attractive as well.



We lean towards Kings Land over Kohala Suites because there are more amenities that matter for our kids. When it is just Jonell and me one day, that will be less of a factor, but for now, we are Kings Land people.



Enjoy your trip and let us know what you think of Bay Club, or wherever you end up!



Best,



Greg

When your kids get old enough to stay in their own unit you could get a phase 2 KL unit for them and a BC unit for you and Jonell. That way you get the best of both, and the kids get a lesson in being self sufficient, never too early to get them out of the nest.

I've been doing that the last few visits when family has joined us. I make sure to add my name on their KL roster (you can list up to the room capacity) and take one of the little paper cards they give you to use at the hotel.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

It's not stated anywhere explicitly, but I'm guessing the pool benefits at Kohala and Kingsland (use of the Village amenities) extends to exchangers as well as owners?

Thanks.

That is my understanding, as long as staying at Kohala or KL, you can use the hotel pools and charge drinks, meals etc back to your room.

 

[taterhed]

Thanks

sent from my cell phone...

 

[rfc0001]

Bay Club

• Pros: Largest 2 bedrooms, huge lanais, lower points than KL Phase I
• Cons: No access to Hilton Waikoloa pools/free parking; 1 bedrooms face the parking lot, tons of ants 10 years ago when we stayed (appears to have gotten better based on recent reviews)

Kohala Suites

• Pros: Lower points than KL Phase I; Access to Hilton Waikoloa pools/parking
• Cons: Only 2 Bedrooms

King's Land

• Pros: Access to Hilton Waikoloa pools/parking; Great pools for kids -- 4 water slides including 1 in toddler beach/pool; Phase 1 Pro: larger rooms, bigger Lanai; Phase II Pro: fewer points that Phase I
• Cons: Phase I Cons: Highest points of any Waikoloa resort; Phase II Cons: smaller lanais, smaller square footage, 1 bedrooms face parking lot and have "Jr. Kitchen", walk across the street for pools.

Note: no Waikoloa condos have ocean view

 

[dougp26364]

Thank you all for the information. It is very helpful

 

[newportbeach]

I stay at all three and own at BayClub and Kahala, and it works sort of like this,
I eat chicken, beef, and Lobster in restaurants and in part it depends on the menu price and who pays. Bay Club works fine with one and two bedroom choices. Please check out the super huge 2 bedroom duplex units, that I have never seen before anywhere else. They were built as luxury higher end condo's with private parking and the upstair units have glass skylight-type windows just below the ceiling line in the living room. Wow!
Pools ok, but for the past 10 years never saw anyone hassled that used the
hotel resort pools. But for the price point savings, you can make out well paying a pool fee, or opt not to. So for the price of HGVC points savings Bay Club is a great deal.

Kahala is special built as a timeshare and I enjoy it, especially in the shoulder season when the point value is 20-30 percent lower. Just called for a friend with kids and for $15 a day per person you can use the Kingsland pools. Much cheaper that paying $1500 more a week to stay there.

Kingsland- great place to stay when someone else is paying. Be sure to trade into Kingsland on a 1 in 3 program. View, no great views at any of the units, but the Bay club has wrap around verandas on the outside of the units which are a nice feature. Kingsland phase one costs so much more, unless a trade and often times you get a 2nd or 3rd floor views on a trade. The smaller newer phases
just feel too small for me, but people are buying them.

Bottomline, Waikoloa and Hilton is wonderful and the BI has some much to do.
Isn't wonderful that everyone only wants to go to Maui and Honolulu:rofl:

 

[rfc0001]

I stay at all three and own at BayClub and Kahala, and it works sort of like this,
I eat chicken, beef, and Lobster in restaurants and in part it depends on the menu price and who pays. Bay Club works fine with one and two bedroom choices. Please check out the super huge 2 bedroom duplex units, that I have never seen before anywhere else. They were built as luxury higher end condo's with private parking and the upstair units have glass skylight-type windows just below the ceiling line in the living room. Wow!
Pools ok, but for the past 10 years never saw anyone hassled that used the
hotel resort pools. But for the price point savings, you can make out well paying a pool fee, or opt not to. So for the price of HGVC points savings Bay Club is a great deal.

Kahala is special built as a timeshare and I enjoy it, especially in the shoulder season when the point value is 20-30 percent lower. Just called for a friend with kids and for $15 a day per person you can use the Kingsland pools. Much cheaper that paying $1500 more a week to stay there.

Kingsland- great place to stay when someone else is paying. Be sure to trade into Kingsland on a 1 in 3 program. View, no great views at any of the units, but the Bay club has wrap around verandas on the outside of the units which are a nice feature. Kingsland phase one costs so much more, unless a trade and often times you get a 2nd or 3rd floor views on a trade. The smaller newer phases
just feel too small for me, but people are buying them.

As a counterpoint to Kohala being cheaper, a 2BR Kohala is identical points to King's Land Phase II, so if you are seriously contemplating spending $15/person/day ($420/family of 4 for the week) to use King's Land Pools, I think you are better off just getting a 2 Bdrm Phase II at King's land (or even a 1 Bedroom Phase I), giving you the bigger pool, more water slides, open air bar, and bistro (and great weekly activities, including a luau).

Bottomline, Waikoloa and Hilton is wonderful and the BI has some much to do.
Isn't wonderful that everyone only wants to go to Maui and Honolulu:rofl:

I agree -- we absolutely love the Kohala coast of the Big Island -- so peaceful and serene, with surrounding 5 star resorts with amazing restaurants and views (e.g. Fairmont Orchid, Mauna Kea), world class beaches (e.g. Hapuna Beach, Mauna Kea Beach) -- all of which you can enjoy while staying in the comfortable condo accommodations. We like Maui, but it feels so overrun with tourists, and I feel the same way about Waikiki as Samuel L. Jackson's character in Pulp Fiction feels..."sewer rat may taste like pumpkin pie, but I'd never know 'cause I wouldn't eat the filthy mother..."

 

[David M]

That is my understanding, as long as staying at Kohala or KL, you can use the hotel pools and charge drinks, meals etc back to your room.

It was the Bay Club HOAs (there are two of them) that chose not to participate in allowing hotel pool access. They were approached by Hilton, but declined the offer.

Drinks and meals are a different matter ... you can charge them to your Bay Club room by showing them one of the cards you got at check-in.

 

[rfc0001]

It was the Bay Club HOAs (there are two of them) that chose not to participate in allowing hotel pool access. They were approached by Hilton, but declined the offer.

Drinks and meals are a different matter ... you can charge them to your Bay Club room by showing them one of the cards you got at check-in.

Yep, Hilton's amenities - like all resorts in Kohala coast - is open to anyone (with exception of pools). Note, free parking validation at Hilton is also included with Kohala Suites and King's Land. This is less of a big deal for Bay Club, since you can easily walk and all resorts have a shuttle. From King's Land, we always drive, since it's just more convenient -- you just take your parking ticket to the valet and show them your King's Land reservation (small credit card size piece of paper -- same as required at the pool) and they'll give you a validated parking ticket to get out. Speaking of using other resorts, some people may not realize this, but if you have a dining reservation at Fairmont Orchid or Mauna Kea, you get free valet parking. Also, Mauna Kea has public beach access.