Has anyone ever stayed in the Keauhou area (Sheraton or KBR) for a few days then driven the southern route to VNP for a night or two stay and then driven on northward and around to the Kohala Coast for a few days stay? I know that's a lot of resort moving but it seems like it would be a good way to see a lot without being in the car for a LONG time every day, plus it would make arrival and departure in Kona sensible.

For a night or two on the Hilo side would you rather stay near VNP or in Hilo itself? Other options?

Well, it's a trade-off between driving time and relocation time.. When changing resorts, between packing, checking out, driving, checking back in and unpacking again, one can lose the better part of a day. If you're doing this every few days it might feel like you're constantly either on the move, or preparing for a move. Some people mind this more than others. Myself, I don't even begin to relax at a new place until I've been there several days.

As for your last question, again it's a matter of personal taste. Most accomodations around VNP are B&B's, small and upscale, while most of Hilo's accomodations are older, basic hotel units (although there are some great B&B's there as well).

fdecarlo -
What do you think about Kilauea Lodge or Volcano House?

We did that! Our flight arrived at Kona, and we stayed downtown the first night. Second night was spent at Volcano, and the third night in Hilo. Then, we checked into our Kohala hotel for 7 nights. It was a GREAT way to get to see the Hilo and Volcano sides without spending too much time in the car!

The Kilauea Lodge is better in every respect -- especially its restaurant, which is one of the best in that part of the island. Volcano House has very basic, motel-like rooms.

Thanks, ChristieP -

Where did you stay at each place? Did you like the way things turned out or would you do it differently next time?

I've noticed that many times, if you'll stay at least five nights in one place they give you a discount of some kind - especially if you use someone like Pleasant Holiday. I will only have 6-7 nights total...
So that might influence things a bit.

I did that! I flew into Hilo, stayed a night to see the Puna area (ending up skipping sunset at the volcano), drove to Keauhou and stayed two nights at the KBR, then on to Kohala for two nights at the Mauna Kea, and flew out of Kona. It really is a BIG Island, with 2.5 hours of driving time between Hilo and Kona. I moved around a lot to be near the things I wanted to see in that vicinity to limit the day's back-and-forth driving.

I have a very detailed trip report here: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34542623

Let me know if you have any questions!

love
roxy

Oh, Roxy!

What a wonderful trip report! You're right about traveling with others. You do spend a lot of time thinking about what they want to do. My daughter always wants a very nice pool and my husband wants lots of relaxation and very few plans. I want to go, go, go!

Did you visit the Hapuna Beach Prince while you were at Mauna Kea? Impressions? Did you get a peek at the renovated Sheraton Keauhou while in the vicinity?

I respect you enormously for not going to VNP. So many people do that but fail to visit Puna. Besides, I have a feeling you'll visit the BI again!

Just returned from the BI and spent a little over two weeks at the Sheraton Keauhou. They still have a way to go to be a solid resort.

Some staff very helpful, however, unfortunately most seem to be unsure of their answers and and generally want to have you call someone else. We had the concierge promise to find an answer for us on an overcharge and we never recieved a response even after asking her a second time, her response was ..oh yes I never did hear back about that, I'll get an answer to you. We never heard back so just let the overcharge go as it was for important to enjoy our time than to worry any more with the answer.

The first room we stayed in had a nice ocean view but was only paritially furnished and on the seventh floor. Hotel was overbooked with two large groups and resources were obviously overburdened. We moved after the first large group left and second room was much better and fully furnished.

Pool is nice. Dining is limited. We did not try the restaurant after others told us it was overpriced and disappointing.

Our Luau was rained out before we had a chance to eat. They did offer to have us come to the entertainment only portion of the Luau the next evening after they were finished with dinner. While we were there four of their luaus were either rained out or held undercover on the deck due the wet conditions.

On the positive side, to beds were very comfortable and it is very easy to get to with quick access.

I will pick a different location next time, most likely Waikloa. More of a resort atmosphere, nice shops, great golf and good access to the northern part of the island.

We really enjoyed the Big island and did a lot of exploring. The volcano is amazing and lava is entering the ocean again. North Kohala, Hawi and Waipio Vally are fabulous. Great snokeling at Captain Cook.

Hope you enjoy the island.

Just my two cents here........ For a 6 - 7 days visit to Big Island, I would not even do the Southern tip of the island ......... so much time in the car to see what's there. I would fly into Hilo, spend one or two nights at VNP (Kilauea Lodge), seeing the Park and the area around it, then drive the beautiful Northern route to stay in Waikoloa/Kohala area, or down in Kona/town area, and fly out of Kona to return home. I'm not saying the Southern part of the island is not worth seeing, but it doesn't have the beauty of the Northern part, and you can only see so much in a week, without being totally exhausted. Leaving the Southern part for another visit gives you more time on the beach this visit! Whatever you decide, have a really great time!

My thanks to you both! So nice to hear from someone who has been to the Sheraton recently. If the staff and rooms come up to snuff, would you consider staying there again? Or is the location just not optimal? Bonniebroad, good suggestion. I love the Place of Refuge, but it would be much easier to make a trip down there than to circumnavigate just to get the whole south side in...

Crazy,

No, unfortunately I didn't visit the Sheraton Keauhou. And I didn't make it to Hapuna either...neither the beach nor the hotel, I was too busy enjoying the living daylights out of the Mauna Kea (although there is a free shuttle).

Ha, I'm glad you respect my inability to drag my butt to VNP! You really have to make a conscious decision to be okay with not seeing THE thing to see someplace...and yes, Puna seems mostly ignored and was just awesome. And yes, I will be back!

love
roxy

Sorry it took me a couple of days to get back to you!

Kona's first night hotel (The Seaside) was nothing fancy since our plane arrived at 10 pm.

In Volcano, we stayed at the Country Goose B&B, and it was very nice! Joan was an excellent hostess, and the featherbed was so comfy! She had also stocked the room with rain ponchos and flashlights for a hike to the volcano, and some DVDs and snacks so we could watch movies. The breakfast was excellent!

In Hilo, we stayed at the Wild Ginger Inn. It is the old worker's quarters from a sugar plantation. Each room had a nice bed and a mini fridge. There was a nice breakfast, too. It was not fancy, but comfortable and affordable (under $75 a night).

It was VERY difficult to find places that would let us stay only one night, so I'd highly recommend staying at least 2 nights in each place.

crazy4Hawaii..If staff and facilities were improved I would consider Sheraton an okay option from the hotel angle but would still pick Waikoloa as the more desirable location.

bonniebroad is right the northern area is a better base to work from. The traffic around Kona/town itself is really slow..affectionately known as doing the kona krawl.

If you are in Waimea check out Merrimans for a nice meal. In the kona town area the Kona Inn has a very nice dinner with a great setting for sunsets. I would make reservations at Kona Inn. They were great and let us pick the time and the table. The service was excellent and the setting made for a great sunset dining experience.

At VNP I would skip the buffet at Volcano House (basically cafeteria buffet food). But definately check out their view. You could pick up a take out meal from Volcano Village and take it with you or drop in to the village for a break from sightseeing in VNP.Your pass to VNP is good for a week.

VNP is really big and has lots of variety, especially if you want to do any hiking at all.

If you plan to see the lava flow you will have to hike about an hour and a half on lava. Best viewing is after dark, take flashlights so you can see where you are going.

If you plan to hike be sure to take water and wear sturdy shoes.

Thank you for all of the great ideas. I posted a new thread asking specifically about accommodations around Hilo. Thanks, ChristieP, for mentioning the Country Goose Inn. I'm just accumulating some ideas for stays on this side of the island as my husband (and me too, truthfully) is getting a little tired of the megaresort experience and the all-tourist locations.

Crazy, I don't like the big fancy resorts either, especially in Hawaii where it is safe to stay in smaller places (unlike in other parts of the world). I would much rather save my travel $ for tours and excursions than spend it on a fancy room!

You'll read other excellent reviews of the Country Goose here. We aren't making it up, and Joan didn't pay us off. ;-) It is just a really nice place to stay!

Volcano House has a nice dinner menu. No crowds, and no buffet line! We did a dinner there after an afternoon of hiking, and it was very good.

crazy4Hawaii - we worked our way around the island last August (didn't want to waste time "backtracking to the same location all the time"). The kids and I liked it, but my husband thought it was too much moving around. It wouldn't have been too much if we had spent longer on the island however. But it was nice to fly into Kona, and leave out of Hilo.

We stayed at (a) the Kona Reef (only because we found out 2 days prior to our trip that the renovations at the condo where we had reservations weren't complete... particularly the pool - at the last minute we couldn't find any other options)... it was just OK but wouldn't stay there again; (2) the Hapuna Beach Hotel - nice place but didn't feel very Hawaiian; and (3) the Kilauea Lodge - nice, cozy rooms and very nice restaurant with great food and great service.

cawhite -
I've been looking at the Hapuna Beach Prince for the resort part of our stay. It bothers me that it doesn't seem very Hawaiian. Is there another resort on the Kohala Coast that you might prefer next time? I've heard people say that the Four Seasons has a Hawaiian feel but something about their philosophy of hyper-pampering makes me feel a little weird... I know that sounds funny. Of course I like to be treated well, but something about this idea that I'm the Great White Traveler that needs to be spritzed by the pool is a little over-the-top!

The Mauna Kea felt pretty Hawaiian to me, lots of foliage and open air views and pretty grounds. You can read about it in my trip report above.

love
roxy

crazy... to answer your question, I think next time I would choose the Mauna Kea, for the next trip IF I were to stay in the Kohala area. But I'm not a big fan of the ultra resort type of places. I would prefer a small beach house, or condo, surrounded by lush tropical foliage in some place like the Keauhou area.