Hotwire Hotels in Hawaii
 

Please can someone help me with Hotwire hotel choice on the Big Island of Hawaii. Three properties of interest come up here and I'm having trouble choosing (all are 3-1/2 *'s). Can't do Priceline as I need 2 double beds (2 adults, 2 children). Prices are for the week after Christmas.

Ohana Keauhou Beach Resort at $124/night

Aston Shores at Waikoloa - condo, 1-bedroom suite at $157/night

Unknown condo in Kohala Coast area at $148/night for a 2-bedroom suite

I've never been to the Big Island before so have no idea which area is better. The first two are in the Kailua-Kona area. Is this a better area than the Kohala Coast?

All comments appreciated.

We did a Hotwire hotel on the Big Island (can't remember how many stars it was - about Jan 04?), turned out to be the Hapuna Prince. Nice hotel but a little too sterile for us, if that's the word I am looking for. Nice having breakfast on the terrace overlooking the beach but pricey. Great pool and beach. We spent most of our time there.

Kohala Coast is probably a half hour drive north of Kona area (estimate on the time, not quite sure) and not much up there but a few resorts. The town inland from there on the road to the other side of the island had a few restaurants but no view from up there.

Kona much more populated but much more crowded as well.

I don't think the Aston at Waikoloa is too close to Kona - if I recall it's sort of out in the middle of the lava fields between Kona and Kohala Coast areas. And I believe the Keauhou is at the southern end of the Kona area, which quiets down a bit.

The Waikoloa condo complexes (villas, Fairway villas, etc.often have 2 bdrm for ~$125--not on the beach, but close.

If I could get a 1-bedroom suite at the Shores of Waikoloa for $157/night, the week after Christmas no less, I'd jump on the chance immediately. Condos at The Shores are huge, well furnished and in a quieter area of the island -- *much* closer to great white sand beaches than Kailua-Kona.

Kailua and to a much lesser degree, Keauhou are absolute zoos around the holidays. Avoid them if possible.

The "unknown condo" for $148/night is possibly either Vista Waikoloa or the Waikoloa Colony Villas. Either of those would be a great deal at that rate. They are similar in size (and location) to the Shores.

Thanks, fdecarlo and others, for the great information. Everything seems so expensive at this time. I tried everything I could think of to come up with cheaper alternatives without sacrificing comfort. When I found these 3 places on Hotwire, I thought the price was too good to be true. I'm leaning towards the Aston Shores or the "unknown condo". Thanks for the help.