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Kona Village Resort Review

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Kona Village Resort

Fodor's Review:

The most Hawaiian of the Kohala Coast resorts, Kona Village was one of the first, and it makes a real effort to keep modern life at bay. Without phones, televisions, or radios, the Kona Village is in a time warp—the perfect place for couples or families to get away from it all in their own thatch-roof hale (house) near the resort's sandy beach. Built on the grounds of an ancient Hawaiian village, the bungalows reflect styles of South Seas cultures—Tahitian, Samoan, Maori, Fijian, or Hawaiian. The extra-large Royal rooms have private hot tubs. Some of the bungalows are oceanfront, some nestled in a rain-forest-like setting of ponds and gardens, and no matter where your hale is and how crowded the resort is, you'll feel like this is your own little hideaway. The other bonus about Kona Village that sets it apart from many of the other resorts is that it tends to attract repeat customers for decades, and it retains its staff for equally as long, which breeds a very comfortable vibe around the resort. The beach here is small, but idyllic, with sea turtles nesting in the sand around a calm, turquoise bay. Rates include all meals, an authentic Polynesian Wednesday- or Friday-night luau, grounds tours, tennis, sports activities, and rides in the resort's glass-bottom boat. The resort's ocean program has recently been expanded to include sea kayaking, scuba diving on a new boat that can accommodate up to six divers, and snorkeling excursions. Children's programs are not available in May or September, which are designated "adults-only" months, so if you're planning a honeymoon to Hawaii and want to stay at Kona Village, May or September is a good choice. Pros: detached bungalows afford ultimate privacy, sea turtles nest on the resort's private beach, all meals and many activities included. Cons: somewhat isolated location, no phones in rooms.

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