Planning trip to BI
 

Need help planning trip to BI. Wife and I will be staying 14 days on BI in March 09. Want to split time up beach time around Kona area and time by Volcano. Any suggestions on Lodging in these area. Trying to keep cost down below $200 night. Preferbly 100 to $150. Any advice?

Have you thought of renting a house or a condo? There are many on the Kona side of the Big Island, and many of the condo complexes have pools. It can be less expensive than a hotel, and you get a kitchen in case you want to save a few $$ by eating in.
The Volcano National Park area doesn't really have a lot of big hotels, but Hilo is close by and you could stay at Uncle Billy's Hilo Hotel (www.unclebilly.com, it is kind of a kitschy place, but clean and in a really great location on Hilo Bay. The newly renovated rooms are great, the others are clean but a bit run-down. It has free Cont. Breakfast for guests, and an old-fashioned, "Don Ho-type" dinner show. It runs about $80.- $100. a night. Check out expedia.com for prices and reviews.

we always use vrbo.com to find condos--be aware of the terms "ocean FRONT" and "ocean VIEW" and also if the COMPLEX is oceanfront or is the individual UNIT oceanfront? Many great ocean FRONT condos available. Be sure to ask for discounts for your long stay!

bon100 we are going to check out condos. I did see some reveiws on uncle billys, were not the best. I saw a review on Volcanoe cottages, that seemed pretty good and reasonalbe priced. Have you heard any thing about them?

Jerryw thanks I am going to check out vrbo. Are there any places you have stayed at that you would reccommend?

We have stayed three times at a very nice small condominium complex just south of Kona: Sea Village. The units are individually owned, so if you Google it, you will find lots of them. They are reasonably priced and I think it's the best value on the Big Island. Very well-maintained, with a small pool, free tennis courts, and killer views.

We stayed at the Country Goose B&B in Vocano. They also rent several cottages in the area and they have several one-bedroom ones that are quite affordable.

In Hilo, we stayed at the Wild Ginger Inn. It's not fancy, but the bed was really comfortable and it was nice to go to sleep at night with the ceiling fan on and the sound of the babbling brook out the window!

Thanks So Christy did you stay anywhere on the Kona side?

I've stayed in Sea Village. Great view! W/d nice. But we could hear the people upstairs due to the wood construction.

Enjoyed Kona Magic Sands. Smaller than Sea Village, but no noise from upstairs tenants due to concrete construction. No w/d.

Each unit of most of these complexes are individually owned and vary greatly in quality of furnishings, a/c, even the price can vary alot!

But a condo is the only way to go. And there are really a lot to choose from on the BI. Have fun looking!

We stayed at the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort south of Kona and the Beach House B&B in Hilo last year, both under $200 and enjoyed them very much.

Thanks to all. But you r right I think condo is the way to go. Just now need to find one! Thinking about cottage for couple days by hilo or volcanoe then the rest of time on the kona side in condo

Do try VRBO; I know the Fairway Villas Waikola are very nice, and you can save lots by going through owners (many list on VRBO)instead of the management companies.

We've always stayed on the top floor at Sea Village, so no upstairs noise. They are three-level buildings, w/o elevators.

Probably a busy time of year, but try Priceline.

Hi
we went in May.rented a place in kapoho ,puna district.betweem hilo and the volcano.went though VRBRO.rent a house that had a themo pond with fish etc,not far from the champon pond.We were 20 miles from Hilo ,gated community.not a resort a 2 bedroom house. we spent the some time in kona a area also. Did the manaray snorkle at nite. THE BEST.can't GO WRONG .

For the part of your stay in or near the town of Volcano, I can recommend Kilauea Lodge. In addition to the rooms they have available, they also have a small house off the main lodge site. That's the place my family and I stayed at when we were there 3 summers ago. It was very nice. It's actually two small cottages joined with a large deck which has a whirlpool spa between them. It borders with the Volcano golf course.

In Volcano Village, we highly recommend LOTUS GARDEN COTTAGES. It's in a beautiful jungle-like setting with lots of privacy and furnished with impeccable taste. The owners are very friendly, breakfast great, and you're only a few minutes from the national park.

In Kona, we stayed at condos called Hale Kona Kai. It's a small complex, tucked away, quiet and private, right on the ocean, but also within walking distance of lots of restaurants. The condos themselves are on the smaller side, but more then big enough for two people (especially with the lanai overlooking the water). Another nice thing is that both the living room and bedroom face the ocean.

we are staying at the Volcano House in the park for 3 nights and then the Hilton on the otherside of the island afterwards. I know the Volcano House is not a five star resort but we really didn't want to drive very much once we got on the island. We figured this would a solid few days in the park, then a leisurely drive to the Hilton for the next home base.

Thanks to all responses! Thats what we plan on doing 3 days in volcanoe area then the rest on the kona side. johnny99 do the condos in kona have a web site or did you go through vrbo with that?

We went through vrbo, but some of the units are also managed by management companies with web site. The BIG ISLAND REVEALED web site has some of those links.

You can also check tripadvisor for reviews on individual numbered units at the various condo complexes, which can be helpful.