Roxy goes to the Big Island!
Nov 22nd, 2004 | 10:31 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 833
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Roxy goes to the Big Island!
ROXY GOES TO THE BIG ISLAND AND DOESN'T VISIT THE VOLCANO!
I went to the Big Island, all by my lonesome, September 22-27, 2004. I flew Aloha Air again, from Burbank CA, once again assaulted by the queer vegetarian cuisine (a bed of dry spaghetti with a folded veggie burger filled with salsa/sauce? and flanked by three-odd asparagus??) but this time luxuriated in a row all to myself. Flying goes by SO much faster if you can lie all the way down. And I like the milk and cookies before landing, what can I say?
Now, sit back and enjoy another of my patented trip reports, action packed with details and commentary. I've divided it into sections and have included a section at the end with random thoughts and bits of info. I used the guidebook Big Island Revealed, referred to as BIR. Important points are in bold. Less important points are also in bold. Let me know if you have any questions, as long as "Why did you go all that way and not visit the volcano?" is not one of them.
Hotels
Snorkeling
Hikes/Activities
Beaches
Restaurants
Miscellani
I went to the Big Island, all by my lonesome, September 22-27, 2004. I flew Aloha Air again, from Burbank CA, once again assaulted by the queer vegetarian cuisine (a bed of dry spaghetti with a folded veggie burger filled with salsa/sauce? and flanked by three-odd asparagus??) but this time luxuriated in a row all to myself. Flying goes by SO much faster if you can lie all the way down. And I like the milk and cookies before landing, what can I say?
Now, sit back and enjoy another of my patented trip reports, action packed with details and commentary. I've divided it into sections and have included a section at the end with random thoughts and bits of info. I used the guidebook Big Island Revealed, referred to as BIR. Important points are in bold. Less important points are also in bold. Let me know if you have any questions, as long as "Why did you go all that way and not visit the volcano?" is not one of them.
Hotels
Snorkeling
Hikes/Activities
Beaches
Restaurants
Miscellani
Nov 22nd, 2004 | 12:56 PM
#6
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 833
Likes: 0
HOTELS
Hawaiian Naniloa Hotel Hilo
Stayed at the Hawaiian Naniloa Hotel in Hilo on Banyan Drive, on the waterfront. The grounds and buildings were quite nice but the room was clunky and aged. Not aged like a fine wine, neither. More like the mold in the picture frame over the nightstand. It was just an old hotel room, not awful, but I felt like I was in the lap of luxury when I moved to the Keauhou Beach Resort, which was awesome but downmarket compared to the later Mauna Kea. I reserved the Naniloa's cheapest room through their website ($80 with fees) but ended up having a pretty good partial view of the ocean from the balcony. There are two pools, one smaller one that sits right on the pretty shoreline (closed when I wanted it) and a second, quite large pool with a cute rock waterfall. Which had a ladies' water aerobics class being conducted in it when I was there. I like big butts and I cannot lie. Oh, mercy. The desk staff was a little surly upon checkin. I called to ask for a hairdryer and was told I could check one out for an hour, but the guy who (promptly) brought it up let me keep it overnight. You're not really going to feel like you're on your Hawaiian vacation here, but for me it was just a place to rest my head for a night and explore Puna. Everything worked though at least. Oh, and the toilet has one of those industrial-strength black seats and a "kick it with your foot" flush handle, like in public restrooms.
Hawaiian Naniloa Hotel Hilo
Stayed at the Hawaiian Naniloa Hotel in Hilo on Banyan Drive, on the waterfront. The grounds and buildings were quite nice but the room was clunky and aged. Not aged like a fine wine, neither. More like the mold in the picture frame over the nightstand. It was just an old hotel room, not awful, but I felt like I was in the lap of luxury when I moved to the Keauhou Beach Resort, which was awesome but downmarket compared to the later Mauna Kea. I reserved the Naniloa's cheapest room through their website ($80 with fees) but ended up having a pretty good partial view of the ocean from the balcony. There are two pools, one smaller one that sits right on the pretty shoreline (closed when I wanted it) and a second, quite large pool with a cute rock waterfall. Which had a ladies' water aerobics class being conducted in it when I was there. I like big butts and I cannot lie. Oh, mercy. The desk staff was a little surly upon checkin. I called to ask for a hairdryer and was told I could check one out for an hour, but the guy who (promptly) brought it up let me keep it overnight. You're not really going to feel like you're on your Hawaiian vacation here, but for me it was just a place to rest my head for a night and explore Puna. Everything worked though at least. Oh, and the toilet has one of those industrial-strength black seats and a "kick it with your foot" flush handle, like in public restrooms.
Nov 22nd, 2004 | 01:00 PM
#7
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 833
Likes: 0
Okay, I tried again, but it's not letting me post all the sections no matter how many times I try or how short the sections are.
Of course, it's going to post THIS stupid post, but not the trip report sections. I'm going to try again tomorrow with a fresh thread.
love
roxy
Of course, it's going to post THIS stupid post, but not the trip report sections. I'm going to try again tomorrow with a fresh thread.
love
roxy
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Nov 22nd, 2004 | 09:16 PM
#10
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 833
Likes: 0
Okay kids, I finally got up the whole trip report! It's called "Roxy goes to the Big Island (revised)" and can be found here:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34542623
Mahalo to all my fans!
love
roxy
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34542623
Mahalo to all my fans!
love
roxy
