Accommodations

Where to stay on the Big Island? A $5,000 per day oceanfront bungalow with your own valet, or a modest, meditative cottage in a rainforest? Perhaps a room with volcanic crater view, or a guest house with private pool and a sweeping panorama of the Kona Coast?

Big Island accommodations include a lodging style for every taste and budget, from modestly-priced basic rooms to luxury suites at some of the world’s finest hotels. Visitors have of choice of over two dozen hotels, literally hundreds of vacation condo rentals, bed and breakfast establishments, guest / private homes, small inns, cottages and campgrounds.

Hotels offer promotional package deals that vary by the season; condos can save families money by providing more space and kitchen facilities; bed and breakfasts and the smaller inns present a and more intimate experience, while a guest home could be perfect for a large family or a reunion.

After budget, location and client priorities are two key factors in accommodation choice. Which area of the Island would they prefer to stay in? What kind of vacation experience are they looking for – active, restful and relaxing, or a little of both? Would they be happiest in one of the Kohala Coast resort hotels, in a beachside condo in Kailua-Kona, or in a cottage at cool, misty Volcano Village? Remember that demand for accommodations can fluctuate seasonally, with the December–March and June–August periods being the prime visitor months.

And as for cost, the general rule is to follow the sun: the sunniest areas have the best beaches and therefore the priciest hotels.

Here’s a quick summary of Big Island lodgings by region:

• Kailua-Kona/Keauhou = upscale resorts, mid-range hotels and lots of vacation condos in all price ranges
• B&Bs, mid-range hotels, guest homes and one upscale property in Keauhou
• South Kohala = luxury resorts, condos and exclusive guest homes
• Waimea / Kohala = mostly B & B’s
• Hamakua / Hilo – mostly B&B’s and a few mid-range hotels
• Volcano / Kau / South Kona = B & B’s and cottages / inns