Some Basic Ocean Tower, Waikoloa Questions

[Wexflyer2]

Hi Folks,
Wife and I have been regular visitors to the HGVC in Oahu for 16 year now, but have never been to the Ocean tower in Waikoloa, so we have some newbie questions!

1) Any Nearby Public Parking Options?
At the HHV in Waikiki, we have avoid the on-site parking fee of around $40/day by using public parking at the adjacent marina.
The HWV in Waikoloa also has an overnight parking fee of $39, which we find "unatractive" - is there any public parking, or cheaper parking option, within a reasonable distance?

2) Is the parking fee purely for overnight? An email we received from the property stated that the parking fee is only for overnight parking, so it can be avoided by having a day rental?

3) Is a car needed anyway?
Google maps says the Kings shops are 15 min walk away, and Queens 18 min. With that and a shuttle to/from the airport, is a rental car needed?

4) Check in location
The property advised me that checkin is at the Ocean tower itself, but some previous posts on here seem to indicate that one has to go to the hotel section first, and then transfer? So shuttle/car can't go to Ocean Tower direct?

Thanks in advance for your input!

 

[andersanity]

I can only speak to the last 2:

3) Waikoloa Village is quite isolated, if you intend to spend your time all at the resort or at the Kings/Queens shops then you might be fine without a car. Big Island is much more spread out than Oahu and has tremendous diversity of sights to see - I don't think I would have fallen in love with it if we hadn't had a rental on our previous two trips.

4) We stayed in Ocean Tower in 2020 when conversion was just starting. Check-in was in Ocean Tower itself, but the tower is nowhere near the parking. From the resort map at https://qrcodes.pro/map you need to drop off luggage at the "C" concierge on the left side of the map, and then make your way over to the red "08" marker in Ocean Tower for check-in. There is no vehicular access to Ocean Tower. During our recent sales presentation the salesman assured us "Hilton knows that's a huge complaint so I am sure they are doing something about it", but I would not hold my breath.

 

[GT75]

The BI is much different than Oahu. You will need a car. You may want to rethink about picking OT or at least understand parking/long hike to rooms.

Just got back from 18 days on the BI - we go there almost every year.

1. I would avoid the Ocean Tower, unless you intend to stay on property most of the time. The Hilton property is great, but Parking is $37/day and the walk to the HGVC property is about 1/2-3/4 mile from the main desk, about a mile if you include the trek from your car. There is a tram from the main lobby - but it runs at a snail's pace. Also, most all of the shops are closed - like GONE, empty.
2. Kings is the best of the condo properties - but the most crowded. Great pool with a kids area as well as adult pool and a really nice grill/bar area.
3. Kohala is OK, small pool - nice if you want to sit in the shade and read, but if you want to soak up the sun, not a lot of options.
3. Bay Club has the largest rooms but is the oldest of the properties, has two pools (one with a grill/bar) and is the most laid back. No road noise, BTW.

Our choice is always the Villas at the Bay Club, but we enjoy pool time and exploring the island. We're also Elite, so can go to the King's pool anytime we want.

 

[Luanne]

As far as I know there is no public parking in the area. We have never stayed at the Hilton property, only at the Bay Club and Kohala Suites, which have no fee. I have no idea if you could park free at either of those and walk over (kind of a hike but doable). I don't remember if we had any kind of parking pass.

You do need a car if you want to venture anywhere outside the Waikoloa resort area.

 

[Wexflyer2]

We did stay in Waikoloa area once in the past, there was no parking fee, so did not think of this until too late.
Yesterday was last day to cancel at Ocean tower without penalty, so guess we are stuck!
Of course we would much prefer to have a car with us, but $40/day just to park seems crazy to us.

 

[mcdanielpj]

There is beach access parking — free — close to HWV near Keana Pl. (Google it for the map.) They shut and lock the gate overnight.

 

[Harry]

Yes, parking is a big problem at OT. We will be there next week and I will attempt to find a way to avoid those charges and will report here.

 

[lynne]

As far as I know there is no public parking in the area. We have never stayed at the Hilton property, only at the Bay Club and Kohala Suites, which have no fee. I have no idea if you could park free at either of those and walk over (kind of a hike but doable). I don't remember if we had any kind of parking pass.

You do need a car if you want to venture anywhere outside the Waikoloa resort area.

Both Bay Club and Kohala Suites issue parking passes for the guest vehicles staying on-site. There is a car rental in the Hilton Waikoloa (National/Alamo) which may be of benefit if you plan your stay for those days that you want to explore the island (there is quite a bit to see). The Marriott down the road also has a car rental facility (Enterprise).

Another option would be tours, but they are expensive and do not allow for really getting to see our beautiful and diverse island. The Kilauea lava flow is again active in the caldera, it is worth the drive to view.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

Both Bay Club and Kohala Suites issue parking passes for the guest vehicles staying on-site.

Kings Land also has parking passes to use their lots. I forgot to hang it back up one night, and i had a warning notice on my car in the morning, so they do check.

Yes the parking charge is annoying at HWV, but i don't know of a practical way to avoid it. We just paid it during stay earlier this year. The rooms at Ocean Tower are really nice, and I am sure we will stay there again sometime. Though Kings Land is still our all around favorite on the Big Island.

 

[neveromega]

Just got back from a stay there.

1) None that we were able to find unless you can do an overnight at one of the 2 shops and stay overnight because you drank too much at the bar as your reason you couldn't make it back to resort parking (I did not attempt). At checkout though the staff did ask to confirm my nights parked in garage. We left to Maui for a couple nights so did not get charged for each night. The gate was broken (open) during our stay so it was honors system basically.

2) Yes, purely for overnight if you are a guest. Your room key will be your pass in and out of the garage otherwise so that you only get charged once.

3) Highly recommend a car unless you want to be on the resort or nearby area with limited options your whole stay. Once you exit from one of two exits to the highway (rest of island) you will be about 30 mins each way from a non resort area. The volcano is about 2 hours out, and is a must see right now. The shuttle to and from the airport is a rip off $70 per person with a 2 person minimum plus cleaning fees on top, better off trying to get an uber $45 is what we had been quoted on the app each way but was cheaper for us to leave our rental over night 2 nights.

4) We were directed to check out at the Ocean Tower (pain to get there with a lot of luggage). Take the tram if you are packing a lot. The walk takes about 12-20 mins depending on the route and your pace. Tram passes every 20 mins or so, but does not run 24 hours (6AM-1AM, if memory serves).

Hi Folks,
Wife and I have been regular visitors to the HGVC in Oahu for 16 year now, but have never been to the Ocean tower in Waikoloa, so we have some newbie questions!

1) Any Nearby Public Parking Options?
At the HHV in Waikiki, we have avoid the on-site parking fee of around $40/day by using public parking at the adjacent marina.
The HWV in Waikoloa also has an overnight parking fee of $39, which we find "unatractive" - is there any public parking, or cheaper parking option, within a reasonable distance?

2) Is the parking fee purely for overnight? An email we received from the property stated that the parking fee is only for overnight parking, so it can be avoided by having a day rental?

3) Is a car needed anyway?
Google maps says the Kings shops are 15 min walk away, and Queens 18 min. With that and a shuttle to/from the airport, is a rental car needed?

4) Check in location
The property advised me that checkin is at the Ocean tower itself, but some previous posts on here seem to indicate that one has to go to the hotel section first, and then transfer? So shuttle/car can't go to Ocean Tower direct?

Thanks in advance for your input!

 

[pacman]

Others have answered your questions already, so this is just my opinion on your questions:
We have stayed twice at Ocean Towers, staying again in November, stayed at all the other HGVC properties in Waikoloa many times.
We go to the BI twice every year (other than 2020/2021 because of covid restrictions)
If you are going to go to the BI - you MUST rent a car. If you are going to just stay at your resort - you may as well go to Waikiki or Maui.
The beaches to explore in the Kohala area are amazing. Lots to see and explore on the BI - with a car.
Buy a guide book - we like Big Island Revealed - to get some ideas of what to see.
The cost of parking at the OT is just part of the cost of the holiday and unavoidable. Just factor it into the cost of your holiday. (maybe eat out less)
Checking in is a bit of a pain, as the walk is far. We usually take the tram. Same goes for every time you want to go out and have to do that same walk or tram back to your car. You get used to it.
The units in the OT are very modern and very nice. We have only stayed in a studio, but "splurged" and staying in a one bedroom this time.
We are also staying at the Bay Club for a week, which we also really like - very large units.

Hope this helps. Glad to give any other advice/opinions

 

[Tamaradarann]

Kings Land also has parking passes to use their lots. I forgot to hang it back up one night, and i had a warning notice on my car in the morning, so they do check.

Yes the parking charge is annoying at HWV, but i don't know of a practical way to avoid it. We just paid it during stay earlier this year. The rooms at Ocean Tower are really nice, and I am sure we will stay there again sometime. Though Kings Land is still our all around favorite on the Big Island.

This is a thought that one might want to consider if the stay is going to be for an extended period a couple of weeks or more. Split your stay between Kings Land and Ocean Tower. Spend a number of days at Kings Land with a car without a parking fee to explore the island outside of the resort, and then a number of days at Ocean Tower to enjoy that resort and the immediate area that you can either walk to or take the free shuttle service.