Where to stay on Big Island, near Four Seasons, with baby
 

We are travelling to island of Hawaii to attend a friend's wedding at the Four Seasons (just north of Kailua-Kona, in Holualoa). We will have our 1 yr old baby with us (still naps 2x/day) Four Seasons is out of the question (cheapest room we can find is $875/night), and we would like to find something close by, hopefully a condo-style, so we can have a kitchen, maybe laundry, etc. Any suggestions? We will be there approx 3-4 days before heading on to Kauai.

I suggest you use VRBO to find something in Kona, or maybe in the resort areas North of 4Seasons. Take a look at WizardPub.com on line.

Check out Waikoloa condos; there are lots of them and you should find something that fits your needs and pockets. "A" Bay is a great beach and Waikoloa has nice shops, food market, places to eat.

try vrbo
http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals...aikoloa-resort

or

http://www.hawaiianbeachrentals.com/...oa/condos1.htm

or
http://www.waikoloavacationrentals.com/

The next closest group of condos to the Four Seasons are in Waikoloa. It is about 25 minutes away. There are a ton of condo complexes there and you should find something that will work for your family and your budget.

I wouldn't stay in Kona. No good beach there and voggy. Not great for a little kid. The resort areas in South Kohala are much better.

Just remember that the Big Island is, indeed, big. Recognize that wherever you stay there will be lots of driving.

Waikoloa condos at A Bay are about 15 miles from the Four Seasons and would be about a half hour drive.

I agree that the condo's in Kohala are wonderful and have good sandy beaches but they are expensive. We stayed in Kona for a month and loved it. We only had vog a few days and then it was up in the mountains. It only took us 20-30 min to drive to one of the Kohala resorts where we enjoyed having lunch on an outside patio and then walking their beach. Kona is a walkable town next to the water, and where we stayed was within walking distance to town and the market where we so enjoyed buying fresh fruit and veggies. We stayed here: http://www.vrbo.com/407056 As you can see there is a small sandy beach next door. You do have to hurdle the stone wall but it is right outside your door and the condo has sand chairs to take with you. These condo's are all privately owned and not as upscale as the resorts in Kohala but much more afforable.

Holualoa is upcountry; be careful not to confuse it with Hualalai.
Waikoloa Beach Resort condos range in price: we stayed here for $99/night (but it looks like it's a bit more now; http://www.vrbo.com/413069 and it was really nice (lots of options in the area); good location if you aren't going to be driving to the Four Seasons constantly.
Lots of condos in Kona; but by the time you drive through town traffic to the Four SEasons, it could be a wash (but how many times do you have to do that?)http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals...st/kailua-kona. And,there are certainly nice beaches in the Kona area, and convenience to town is good.