Accommodations in Hawaii's Big Island
With a total land area of 4,028 sq miles, Hawaii’s Big Island is bigger than all other Hawaiian islands combined. Living up to its name, the sheer size of Hawaii’s Big Island alone should tip you off on the number and variety of accommodations that await you on your visit. Figuring out where to stay on the Island of Hawaii should be the least of your concerns. What you should ask yourself is what kind of accommodation you want and how much you you are willing to spend for it. All of the Hawaiian islands offer diversity, so variety is not an issue, your personal preference is.
An island of unlimited choices
Hawaii’s Big Island is not only The Island of Adventure. With eleven of the world’s thirteen climates found on the island, you can choose any type of lodging at any kind of setting. You can also find all types of accommodation on the island,from posh condo units and comfy homes for rent with a fully-equipped kitchen, to countryside cabins, budget apartments, and camping sites. The scenery that awaits you as you take a peek outside your window varies just as greatly as your choice of lodging. You can opt to stay at 5-star resorts with a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean or go for quaint bed and breakfast (B&B) cottages right in the middle of lush tropical rainforests. Hawaii’s Big Island is indeed an island of endless possibilities.
You want a place right at the beachfront, you say? Well, on Hawaii’s Big Island, don’t be surprised if someone asks you, “you want it on black sand or white sand?”
Homes away from home
With the assortment of activities you can indulge in during your holiday, it is important that you also have a clean, cozy place to come home to at the end of the day. If you want to play it by the book, there are plenty of luxury resorts and hotels, as well as condo buildings in Kailua-Kona and the Kohala Coast. You may also want to look into spending a night at a different neighborhood before leaving the island. For instance, if you checked in at a hotel in Kailua-Kona, because your flight back home leaves from Kona International Airport, you might want to book one night at an inn in Hilo or anywhere close to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Why? A day trip is not enough to explore the Volcanoes National Park, and unless you see the formidable Kilauea Volcano, which is considered the world’s most active volcano, it’s as if you have never been to Hawaii’s Big Island at all.
Bed and breakfasts
Versatility is the buzzword for the hosts of B&B inns at Hawaii’s Big Island. Perfect for families, lovers, and tourists longing for some “me” time, B&Bs are quite low-key yet cozy. Snuggle up with your honey in the Dream Room of Aaah, the Views B&B on Alaneo Street of rural Waimea, and you’ll fall even more in love as you take in the majestic views of the mountains from different angles through a dozen windows. It has a lovely outdoor shower and a private Jacuzzi, both adding more oomph to your romantic getaway. If you’re on the Orchid Isle with the entire family or a bunch of friends, then check out their Treetop Suite which has a maximum occupancy of 7 persons. The suite has 2 bedrooms and a private deck that’s just perfect for a gabfest or lounging. At Aaah, the Views B&B, the lanai, the house’s beautifully tended lawn, and stream beside it will make you feel as if your day of sightseeing at picturesque Hawaii’s Big Island has never ended. The hosts Erika and Derek Stuart add a personal touch to every corner of the B&B. Each room has free Wi-Fi, vibrant tropical flowers, filtered water, and a hearty breakfast beside the stream always includes Erika’s signature chocolate cake. Room rates start at $175 per night for the Treetop Suite and $185 for the Dream Room.
If you want a taste of the “real Big Island,” check out the Macadamia Meadows Farm B&B. It’s your red cedar home away from home right in the middle of the historical Kau district and close to the Kau Forest Reserve. The 8-acre farm on Kamaoa Road in Waiohinu welcomes guests with a complimentary tour of the farm, where you’ll also learn Hawaii’s nut farming history, which Hawaii’s Big Island is also famous for. It’s a comfy and affordable place to lay your head, and something that knowledge and nut junkies alike will enjoy. If you stay at least 3 nights, you’ll have enough time to pick, husk, and shell your own fresh macadamia nuts, and the hostess Charlene will have them dried and packaged for the best present that you can bring home to your loved ones. Room rates are from $75 to $135.
Hotels and resorts
If what you want is a Hawaiian resort experience and a place that’s close to the beach, you might want to check the 4-star Marriott hotel on Waikoloa Beach. It’s just right across King’s Shops, and other attractions within a 20-mile radius of the Waikoloa Beach Marriott include Parker Ranch, the towns of Waimea and Kailua-Kona, and the Waikoloa Beach Golf Course. You won’t have to miss out on your modern lifestyle at Hawaii’s Big Island, because the hotel and resort covers all your needs: from health clubs and hair salons to child care facilities, from ATMs and wireless Internet to laundry facilities. Room rates start at $200, and check-in time begins at 3:00 PM. If you don’t mind shelling out a hundred bucks more for your accommodations (after all, you’re on a trip of a lifetime), then why not try the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows at Waikoloa? Built in the eighties on Mauna Lani Drive, it is one of the pioneering hotels in the Gold Coast. You might have a hard time believing that, because of the place’s impressive architecture and maintenance. It prides itself of being eco-friendly, “culturally sensitive,” and unpretentious. Nestled in its perfectly manicured grounds are fishponds and hundred of coconut trees, and through the windows of more than 300 rooms is an amazing view of the ocean.
Condo units and cottage rentals
Getting a condo unit in the Castle Kona Reef complex will have you feeling as if you had your home shipped to Hawaii’s Big Island. All units are fully furnished complete with an oven, a stove, a dishwasher, and even a fridge. Make like a resident with an oceanfront place right smack on Ali’i Drive in Kailua-Kona and enjoy the sunny Kona Coast. You’ll just be walking distance from historic and religious sites and a quaint fishing village, so your flip-flops will be your only mode of transportation to these points of interest, as well as to dining and shopping havens. On rare lazy days, you can just loaf around on the sun deck or swimming pool and bond with your neighbors at the barbecue area. Unit rates depend on the season and availability of rooms. If you’re thinking of getting car rental services, do mention that when you make your inquiry, since some Kona Reef condo units come with a car package.
If rainforests, waterfalls, and lava coastlines are the sight that you’re craving for, then you will like Island Wide cottages at Hilo. And if proximity to the formidable volcano isn’t enough, catch a glimpse of whales from the comforts of your own room. Most cottages at Hawaii Holiday Vacation Rentals have ocean views, and where else would you see a nice hot tub right on the patio? You can walk barefoot to the ocean for a snorkeling spree at Kapoho Bay if you rent a Hale Mana cottage at $135 per night. Planning on staying for a month? Baysore Towers 902 will get you a good deal for $1,600, so that’s just almost $55 a day!
Camping and RVs
If you want to rough it up a bit, camping and RVs are a popular choice among the younger crowd and families. Instead of spending most of your holiday money for grand and costly accommodations, you might want to check out RV rentals at Happy Campers Hawaii. You can go anywhere you want and spend each night on the Orchid Isle with a different view outside your window. An added advantage is that with just one rental, your transportation and lodging concerns combined are addressed in a jiffy. Happy Camper RVs are fully equipped down to the towels and chopping board, so all you’ll have to worry about is how to get to the next point of interest. With a rental fee of $115 for every 24 hours excluding Hawaii State taxes and other fees, camping and RVs are still the most cost-efficient and fun accommodations on Hawaii’s Big Island.