My friend and I are going to be on the Big Island (Kona) for 2 days and would like to stay at a nice hotel that is walking distance to town. After reading the posted reviews, it seems as though all of the centrally located accommodations are shabby and rundown. Do you think our best bet would be to stay at the Sheraton and just take a taxi into/out of town? Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! (Re-posted Hawaii topic)

I would definitly consider renting a car for your visit, especially if you stay at the Sheraton. Although it is close to central Kailua-Kona, most of the things tourists would do on the Big Island are quite a distance away. I'm sure you already knew that.

If you want to stay in Kona just off the seawall, the King Kamehameha Hotel is a decent and basic place to stay, but the Sheraton is newly renovated and should much nicer. Good luck.

You need to see Volcano National Park, and that will make renting a car a MUST. Yes, most of the hotels in downtown Kona are older.

Agreed, rent a car and stay someplace nice. I'd actually go up to Kohala and try one of the resorts there, rather than the Sheraton.

At the end of the day, a rental car at $40/day will be less expensive and much more convenient than taxis.