Marriott Waikoloa

The Front Office Manager at this property seems to be completely clueless on how to interact with guests and their immediate questions/problems.

I would strongly suggest that if you make any requests (ie. double beds, connecting room, etc.) that you get it in writing and document the individuals name, date, time of your call, etc. We requested these very things months in advance and when we arrived we were told that these things were never requested and the front desk asked us repeatedly the name of the representative who assisted us with the initial reservation. I never dreamed that I would have had to document this - especially at a Marriott and why couldn't they find this information in their computer?? Don't they have employee ID's and log-on codes like the rest of the business world? I did have a print out of my request for the double beds which I had left at home and I pointed out that we were traveling with 2 young girls under the age of 12 - why would I have not specifically requested a connecting room? Does this make any sense to anyone?? As a result, we spent our family vacation in completely separate rooms, calling on the phone each time we needed something or wanted to interact.

The food at the restaurant downstairs was horrible. We only ate there one night and found that EVERYTHING was drizzled in teriyaki sauce - the chicken, the steak, the fish,.....Awful!!! There was no Hawaiian music playing in and around the resort - instead two people were hired to sing outdated 80's songs in the dark corner of the bar. We live in Southern California and have access to wonderful beach resorts - we don't need to go to Hawaii to find a beach - we go to Hawaii to find "Hawaii".

In the end I complained via letter to Marriott and the General Manager of the property sent me a letter stating that my "comments were valid" and proceeded to reimburse me the $145.81 resort fee that we paid during our stay - which does cover the cost of the awful dinner but does nothing to make up for the fact that they couldn't get it right from the beginning and when I expressed all this to the Front Office Manager ("Andrade") he didn't even care to ask me what rooms we were in or how long we would be there. Absolutely a HUGE disappointment. At a time when the economy is not doing so great and Aloha Airlines has affected the amount of visitors arriving - one would think that customer service would be more of a priority - this Front Office Manager and his staff couldn't care less. I was handed my bill at check-out which exceeded $5000 and was never once asked if I had a pleasant stay, etc. Totally Unbelievable.

The only redeeming quality about this resort is the access to the beach and the friendly cleaning crews and parking attendants we encountered during our stay. I would never stay at this resort again, neither would I recommend it to anyone else.

We stayed there in May/June 2008 with my husband and our 1 year old. The rooms are super clean and comfortable, the bed (we requested King) was huge, so all 3 of us had a good night rest. there is a little refrigerator, that was helpful for us, since we had to have snacks for our little one. We had a little balcony, where my husband and I spent most of our nights, after our son went to sleep. The pool area is great for both adults and children, very nice beach area. I had a difficult time deciding between Hilton and Marriott when i was booking our trip, but after we visited the Hilton i realized that we've made a right decition. don't get me wrong, we liked Hilton a lot, but I think Marriott is just better located, has beach(Hilton doesn't), smaller resort, updated and once again SUPER clean...great for families with small children.

Our trip was fantastic and hotel was a major part of it. I think I checked almost every property on the island and I liked the rooms here, the location on a beach, and a sane rate. Two rooms, four adults and we all thought the rooms were nice, the location beautiful. Per the other reviews we tried to avoid eating at the hotel and when we failed and ate there we regretted it for both the cost and quality. We ate a couple of meals at the four seasons and it was no more expensive and much, much...much much much much better. Though what shocked us was the pool/ beach area at the Marriott seemed a lot nicer than the four seasons. (Though the four seasons probably excels in many other ways (At triple the price))

We did lots of fun things on our trip (whale watch, blue hawaiian helicopter, volcano walk, swam with the dolphins and the mantas.) but it was great to come back to a nice hotel, relax by the pool, drink fruity drinks, snorkel right at the hotel.( where we saw many kinds of cool fish and several sea turtles) The staff was pleasant the resort fee is irksome, but when you compare the hotel rates it just isn't worth even talking about. The hotel was pretty empty when we were there, if it was full it might be a bit less relaxing.

Just returned from a second stay at this wonderful place. Since my last visit in 2004, a new infinity pool has been constructed, and the lobby and guest rooms have been given a makeover. Overall it was a brilliant choice for a relaxing break. Our room was supposed to have two queen beds, but instead was a king double - not a problem in the least, as it had a pool and seaview which we had not expected. Neither were we expecting breakfast to be included - but it was. The hotel was not very busy, so was never noisy or congested. The new pool is wonderful - roomy and cool. The existing pool complements it well. they are lit at night, and can be used 24 hours a day - swimming under the stars at night is awesome! Three hot tubs complete the pool options. Breakfast was of excellent quality, and the staff overall polite and very helpful. The room was modern, bright and immaculate. We slept very well.

Negatives? The daily USD20 resort fee is unwelcome. As few people evidently escape it, it should be included in the price of the room. The wardrobe in the room, and the drawers are very small - little storage is available. The lobby lacks a Hawaiian feel - it is bland and expansive.The bar/restaurant and gardens are also very open plan. For breakfast, this is fine, but the resort needs a more intimate dining space, with more subdued lighting. The "Hawaii Calls", as it is called, is a bright, almost warehouse-like space, with noise from the bar and the pool area invading it.

Finally - not the hotels fault, but the Sunset cruise offered at the hotel beach was overpriced at USD90 each. We got a discount, and paid 75, but it was really just an unremarkable chug in a circle off the shore, a tasty but basic bite to eat, and a few beers.

I would definitely recommend this hotel - it is paradise. The positives far outway the negatives, in my opinion, and there are plenty of dining options to suit all budgets, with more planned, just across the road, so it wasn't as expensive as we expected.

We just got back from the Marriott Waikoloa yesterday and we want to go back next year!

Ok, so the drive to the hotel is a bit depressing... all that black lava rock 'moonscape.' But don't be fooled! Once you get to the hotel you'll see it's lush and luxurious! Look for wonderful grounds with countless birds (including two little mustard-colored finches), lots of palm trees, and follow the paths to see many beautiful flowers of all kinds. Keep an eye out for the playful mongooses on the property, too!

When you're walking onto the beach, just before you step onto the sand, you'll cross a tiny bridge over the ancient freshwater fish ponds... and if you look down, to your right, you'll see an eel hiding in the rocks. One is black, and the more elusive one is white with spots. You'll see tiny, elongated fishes that sit perfectly still while the other fish swim around - those are barracuda!

But best of all... step out onto the double-rock pier on the beach and see sea turtles all day long! And if you're lucky like we were, you'll have one crawl up on the beach and catch some rays. (No touching! It's against the law.) Speaking of rays... one day we saw three sting rays swim by us on the pier. They are called 'eagle rays' someone said. The beach is fantastic! Reputed to be the best on the island. I can see why. The waters are calm, and a comfortable temperature, and there is no fishy smell. Take water shoes so you don't cut your feet on the rocks.

So why stay here instead of the Hilton? First, the Hilton has a beach, but it's man made and inside the hotel property ... and it, like most of the property, smells fishy. Secondly, the place is so huge you have to take a train or a boat to your room... which, I'm sure is fun at first, but would probably get old. Truthfully, we found out the Hilton and the Marriott are owned by the same people, but we liked the seclusion and simplicity of our hotel.

In our opinion, you should stay at the Marriott and visit the Hilton to take in the fabulous artwork displayed throughout the buildings, and see a dolphin up close, and check out the grand sunsets over the rocky mini-cliffs. The two hotels provide free shuttle service back and forth, so you can go anytime! Have a Lava Flow! My favorite drink!

Yes, there is a mandatory $20 resort fee, but all calls from your room (even to the mainland) are free. And the snorkel equipment for half a day is included. Plus internet. Plus parking (which is normally $15/day.) Oh! And so you don't get a surprise like we did... The rules have changed. You get two free mai tai's ONCE when you use the coupons. Not every day, anymore. But it was a good one!

If you are trying to save money, there is a general store in the King's Shopping Center (literally right in front of the hotel) that included sandwiches and sushi. And Merriman's and Roy's WERE good, as people have said - both in that same shopping center. But take my advice... if you can get the breakfast buffet included in your room, do it! Then eat the best omelets... and the best belgian waffles you've ever had. Sprinkle the waffles with macadamia nuts and coconut syrup. It's a little piece of heaven! (Warning: If you leave the table to get more, cover your plate with your napkin so the chickadees won't steal your food!)

Oh! And check out the paper everyday if you're going to go shopping. There is often a coupon so you can get good deals at the Macy's there, too. (The tiniest Macy's I've ever seen. Cute!)

I could go on, and on, and on... If nothing else, just go for the beds! We brought the hotel catalog home and are thinking of buying one for home! Yes, they are THAT comfortable!

This is truly a wonderful place. Although the pictures of the resort are accurate, they really do not give the resort enough justice. It was beautiful!!! The grounds, room and resort in general were immaculate. The staff was very friendly and went out of their way to make you feel welcomed. The private beach was wonderful and big enough where you did not feel crowded.

We stayed in the ocean view room on the 6th floor, which also provided a view of the pool and courtyard area. Highly recommended.

Thank You Marriott.

We spent an amazing week in the big island in mid-August. I will focus our review on big island activities since there the hotel has been covered in detail by other reviewers.

Hotel Basics:

Staff: Extremely friendly and accomodating. Not top-notch professionalism, but we didn't pay Four Seasons prices either.

Facilities: Pool is very relaxing and beautiful. Not a lot of high-pressure drink waiters either. A'Bay beach is gorgeous; we explored both ways and the turtles and lava fields were fascinating. The fitness center was much better than I expected; there is also a 3 mile jogging loop that passes by all of the other resorts which was a great way to start the day.

Rooms: Small, clean, and comfortable.

Hotel Restaurants: After researching (thanks TripAdvisor), we did not eat in the hotel restaurant. We had great pastries, fruit, and coffee from the coffee shop every morning and ventured out for dinners.

Big Island Activities:

We planned all of our activities ahead of time, and did not use the concierge.

The first tip is to get "The Big Island Revealed" guidebook ahead of time. I used to think all guidebooks were the same . . . I was wrong.

I will list our activities in order of preference:

Hawaii Volacones National Park:

We highly recommend spending a night there, as we did. If we were to plan again, we would check out of the Marriott a day early and spend our last night at Volcano House or one of the inns in Volcano Village (we stayed @ Kilauea Military Camp which is awesome if you are in the military or a retiree).

It's about 2 hours from Waikoloa to the park. We took the "north route" and stopped at Akaka Falls State Park (beautiful! but only a 30 min - 1 hour stop) on the way.

We drove straight to the lava flow, which was south of the park in Kalapana (not part of the park, maintained by Hawai'i County). Check locally before you venture to the lava flow because it changes continually. There is a hotline you can call for the latest updates. We recommend waiting until dusk to watch the lava flow into the ocean.

The next day we did the Kilauea Iki Hike (awesome!) first thing in the morning, then explored Crater Rim Drive. We could have spent another 1/2 day there hiking and driving. A big advantage of spending the night is that you beat the crowds on the trails in the am.

Waipio Valley:

One of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. We went horseback riding and it was amazing. We used Na'alapa Stables and highly recommend them. They pick you up at a art shop and drive you down the steep descent into the valley. The guides were unbelievable too, so much fun.

Kohala Waterfalls Hike:

We booked an eco-tour with Hawaii Forest and Trail. The hike went through the rainforest to several waterfalls, with an amazing swim at the end. The guide was very knowledgeable about ecology and Hawaiian floura and fauna. There may be a more economical way of doing this, but the land we hiked on was private and was really beautiful.

ATV Tour:

We went on a north Kohala coast tour with ATV Outfitters. The landscape is amazing, looks like the southwest US (5 miles from lush rainforest). This tour was fun and had some beautiful views. The guides were tough - don't mess around on the ATV. They do have a tour that goes to waterfalls, so you may be able to kill two birds with one stone (i.e. waterfalls + ATVs) if you want to save time and a (little) money.

Snorkel Cruise:

We booked a cruise through Fair Wind Tours which takes you to Kealakekua Bay near the Captain Cook monument. The snorkeling was beautiful and the crew was really cool.

Hapuna Beach State Park:

This is an incredible beach not far north of Waikoloa. Bigger with softer sand than A'Bay, worth the trip!

Exploring A'Bay Beach:

We spent our first day just walking the beach outside the hotel, seeing the sea turtles and the incredible landscape.

Sunset Cruise:

There are two that leave from A'Bay. We used Red Sail - it had good food and we were lucky to see dolphins (not too common).

Kona Village Lu'au:

We heard good things about Marriott's lu'au but even better things about Kona Village's lu'au. The food and entertainment did not dissapoint, though it's not the cheapest lu'au.

Golden Pools of Ke-awa-iki:

This is a hike right off the highway as described in the guidebook. Basically you hike along lava fields to some crazy beaches and then to some pools in the middle of the lava fields. It is very impressive but not an easy hike. It was fun, but in retrospect, I would have rather have spent more time at Volcano Park or exploring the green sand beach to the south.

Restaurants:

Cafe Pesto, north of the hotel towards Kohala Coast, had some of the best pizza I've ever had.

Huli Sue's, in Waimea on the way to the east coast (on the way to Waipio and Volcano National Park if you take the "north" route) was a great BBQ place.

We also enjoyed Roy's and Merriman's across the street from the hotel. Roy's was unbelievable (fresh seafood, though pricey); Merriman's was good but annoying service.

Misc. Tips:

We usually get a GPS but it was unneccessary here. Easy to get around.

If you want, you can buy all the sun block, bug spray etc. @ the Wal-Mart or K Mart south of the airport. Stuff was reasonably priced there. That way you can carry your bags on.

There is a food court in King's Shops if you want to save money on food.

This was our first trip to Hawaii. We booked in at the Marriott Waikaloa after searching through several hotel listings. We decided on this one primarily because it appeared to have one of the nicest beaches on the island. We weren't disappointed! The hotel sits on Anaeho'omalu Bay which has a wonderful large curved beach and a reef not too far out. We were pleased to see green sea turtles swimming around us in the shallow water. Through the hotel concierge, you can book dinner cruises, diving, glass bottom boats and snorkeling tours that leave right from the beach. The hotel was wonderfully laid back. There is a restaurant that serves a great breakfast buffet including local fruit and just about every other breakfast item that anyone can think of. We were always so pleasantly stuffed that we never tried a later meal. There is also a coffee shop in the lobby and a sundry shop to buy odds and ends and souvenirs too. Our room was clean and pleasant. We had an ocean front room on the sixth floor and the view was amazing. From our balcony, we could see the three large swimming pools, three spa pools, the ancient fishing ponds, the bay and the beautifully manicured hotel grounds - not to mention we had a wonderful view of the twice weekly luau from our room. There was a $20 a day tourist hotel charge which included your daily parking fee, plus use of snorkel & fin gear for 2, full use of the fitness center, and 2 Mai tai's. And just to add more, there are two large shopping centers within easy walking distance of the hotel for just about anything else you might need or want. We would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone who wants a casual holiday experience.

I think I am the ONLY business person to stay at this property, unless its part of a convention.

I was there during the renovations (2006/2007) and everything was still superb.... my rooms (both times) were facing the courtyard/ocean, beds were VERY comfortable, staff was always willing & eager to assist.

The grounds were phenominal, even though they had a lot of construction going on (building 2nd pool) - I can't wait to see it when its done! the pool bar was great, good mix of liquor (some places cheap you on the amount of alcohol). Morning buffet was nice (expensive, but its a Marriott), location was good, didn't have a problem with parking... um.. felt safe on the beach at night, and the preserve was a great lesson in hawaiian geology.

I can't say I'd ask for anything more from Marriott... the location is good, staff is always fantastic!

My wife and I spent seven very relaxing days here. We were very happy with our stay. Our rate was, at minimum, $50 to $100 less than other Waikoloa large hotel properties. We booked directly through Marriott online. The property is very well maintained. There is a very nice pool area (3 pools), and a nice beach just beyond the pools. These are both a close walk from your room.

We reserved a "garden view room," which was on the second floor, and it turned out to view not only an attractive garden, but also the pool area and the ocean! This appeared to be the situation with all the garden view rooms above the first floor. Our room had plenty of space for two (who spends their "Hawaii time" in the room, anyway?), a sitting balcony for two, was very clean, well maintained, and comfortable. The staff in all areas was very friendly, prompt, and accommodating.

Food in the restaurant is very good, but as with all other hotel restaurants in Waikoloa, it is pricey. For an economical breakfast at the hotel, visit the fruit / pastry / coffee bar just off the lobby area. The comparable food items cost less than in the restaurant. You can start the day off there for less than $10 a person. Take it back to the room, or eat in the adjacent open air lanai area with the great view.

In recent years, 2 very nice small shopping areas have been built within a 5 to 10 minute walking distance of the hotel. If your trying to keep spending within reason, one even has a food court containing a variety of fast food outlets.

If your not familiar with the Kona Coast, just be aware that the drive into Kailua-Kona for more restaurants, activity, & shopping could take up to 45 minutes due to road construction delays.

I have to admit, I’m really confused by some of the reviews on here. We just returned on July 20 after spending 8 nights at the Marriott. And I can’t begin to tell you how wonderful our experience was. This was by far, the best hotel, location, view, pool, whatever else you want to say, that we have ever experienced! When we arrived at the hotel we immediately parked (didn’t valet) and rolled our luggage to the front of the beautiful lobby. The valet attendants were very nice and welcoming although we didn’t use them. Next we proceeded to check in. I had booked this resort online using my Marriott points. I had booked the cheapest room I could find (garden view, 2 double beds)…we received an upgrade to a deluxe ocean front suite on the 3rd floor overlooking “A-bay”. This view is absolutely amazing! With the suite, the kids got one room and me and my wife got the other. Also, I have heard a lot about the “resort fee” of $20. The lady checking us in said “since you are a Marriott Rewards member you have the option of paying that or not”. We decided not to. Parking is $10/day, we already had snorkel equipment (which the resort fee covers, half day for 2), we didn’t need internet access or long distance so I decided to just pay the $10/day instead. Beach towels are provided at the pool and in the fitness center (which is very nice and well accommodating). There was never a shortage.

Everyone talked about how expensive the restaurant was so we didn’t even bother eating at the resort except for the coffee shop on the second floor. Every morning I would get a large cup on 100% Kona and some sort of pastry or muffin or fruit. They also had very good chicken wraps but make sure you get it before noon when they close. Another inexpensive option is down on the beach, there’s a stand that sells sandwiches and burritos (my kids ate burritos every day and loved it).

Across the street from the hotel is Kings Shops. Very nice but very expensive shops/restaurants (and not much choice in restaurants). One place we really liked was a little fish and chips stand around back near the pond. Awesome fish. Also in Kings is a “general store”, a very, very handy place. They had everything including sodas, beer, liquor, sandwiches, fruit, pharmacy supplies and souvenirs. Up the street, still within walking distance, is Queen’s Marketplace. Its similar to Kings but a little lower scale. They have a food court with things like Subway and Arby’s.

A 30 minute drive to Kona is very nice for shopping and lots of restaurant choices. We took one day and did the morning snorkel tour with Sea Paradise. We had a wonderful time, there were only 12 of us on the boat (which is typical) and 3 crew members. This made for a much better and much more personal trip than some of the “cattle car” tours like Fair Wind and Body Glove where they pack 60-100 on each boat. We saw false killer whales (had never heard of them before the trip), and dolphins, it was great.

We loved the luau, we loved the location, we loved the entire experience. I don’t have enough stars to give them so I’ll just give them 5! My hope is that you and your family have as much fun and relaxation as we did! We will definitely return!

The hubby and I stayed 4 nights at this hotel with a pool-view room on the 6th (top) floor. From the balcony, we had a beautiful view of pool grounds, partial view of ocean and beautiful sunsets...not to mention that we could also see the luau Sunday and Wednesday nights. The stage is partially obscured by a tree though...but it's free entertainment none the less. :-)

The room has a very comfortable, luxurious, contemporary feel although the bathroom is a bit small and dark with only one wall light. The king-sized bed has an abundance of pillows but the mattress was a bit on the soft side.

The hallways and lobby oozes beach-resort relaxation. Plenty of canopied lounge areas where you can nap or relax with your own laptop and make use of the wireless internet access.

Breakfast Buffet: A mix of American, Hawaiian, Japanese, European. You will find an omelette station, selection of fresh fruits, bagels / toast / banana bread / masaladas (like a doughnut) / sticky buns, a small fridge with yogurt / milk, miso / beef broth, white/fried rice, bread pudding, sausages, eggs benedict, benedict and fish, cheeses/ cold cuts and waffles. The waffles are great with strawberry sauce + coconut syrup + almond slivers + macadamia nuts.

Beach: Towel hut and water activities centers open at 8:30. Resort fee includes snorkel gear but NOT the vest. It costs an additional $6.25. Good snorkel area especially in shallow end south of beach. Watch out for rocks which could be sharp. Beach booties are recommended. Water gets murky close by shore from snorkeler disturbance. So, go early. You may find greenback turtles feeding close by shore waters! Sand is not very soft here.

For a much nicer beach, go for a short drive north to Hapuna Beach. Beautiful, beige colored sands that are very soft on the feet. Go before noon to beat the crowds. Not much to see if you want to snorkel. South end has a nice cove but water is very choppy there and could knock you into the rocks.

Food: Short drive or walk to Queens Marketplace. Sansei (Japanese Fusion) offers limited seating for early birds 5:30-6:30. People line up at 4pm. Not worth the wait for a little bit of discount. Food is a bit pricey for what you get. Filet of beef on udon was interesting.

If you're in the mood for noodles, I recommend going into the food court to the Noodle House instead. It has its own tables / bar.

For a taste of local food without venturing off Waikoloa drive...also in the food court at Queens Marketplace..first counter to your left. The loco moco and kalbi are quite good. There is Hawaiian shaved ice all the way back of the food court.

This place is a slice of heaven. Everything from the garden-view room to the haupias at the bar to the lunch served pool-side was wonderful! I loved the free luau lessons with Auntie Lei. I enjoyed the two free snorkeling sets for half a day in the bay. The four pools, two hot tubs, and natural ponds were great. The staff was very friendly. The onsite luau was excellent. As if all of this weren't enough, their open air restaurant has a couple of cats that come through. I love cats. This was just the icing on a very large and yummy coconut cake. The gift shop is even reasonably priced. The breakfast bar was yummy. It was just a great experience!

Date Stayed: May 17-24, 2008

Reviewer: Tupelo, MS

My husband and I along with our three year old daughter recently enjoyed a week at the Waikoloa Marriott. We chose this property because of its beach. After arriving, we spent most of our time at the incredible pools. My daughter loved the shallow sand bottom pool as did I, she could play and I could enjoy some sun time.

Our room and view was beautiful. As everyone says the bed was incredible. One you wish would fit in your suitcase. The room was well designed. There was a shelf under the vanity for your personal items. The cabinet that housed the fridge had upper shelves to store your snacks so your room was not cluttered. The safe was large enough to hold our lap top, cameras and valuables.

Maid service was timed mid morning at a very convient time when you wasn't usually in the room.

We made reservations for the on site luau before arriving. $80 p/p - we considered cancelling due to the price but quickly learned all our evening meals were around $150 +. We went to the luau - the food and entertainment was wonderful. The line for the open bar was always extremely long. Pictures are great - $40 included a 8x10, 5x7 and wallets.

Temps were low 80's during the day, low 70's at night you had a slight breeze - just wonderful. Even my husband enjoyed being out in the sun all day. There were plenty of lounge chairs offering umbrella shade.

We vacationed the week before most schools got out which is the time to visit. No crowds - no teens.

We had the pools almost to ourselves. The waterslide was a lot of fun. You must be 42" to go down. One morning we went on the glass bottom boat which we all enjoyed.

Food and drinks at the Marriott was high as they are everywhere. A long island tea and pina colada with tip was $27. At least you get two welcome drink vouchers upon check-in.

We dined around - Ruth Chris Steak House was incredible. If you have never tried one, this is a must! They have a early bird special if you dine before 6pm. Also the Thai restaurant at the Queens market place had wonderful Maui-Maui and vegatables in a sweet chili sauce. The calamari at both places, especially Ruth Chris was to die for.

We enjoyed our convertable and went to Kona for a few meals and shopping. Bubba Gumps is fun - ask to dine outside.

We bought cokes, milk and capri-suns at Wal-Mart and took our own drinks down to the pools.

Our last day I requested a late check-out. They were very friendly in saying they had someone else arriving in my room later that day and they were sorry (with the hotel only being 1/2 full - I doubt that) but I understand the maid staff wants to get finished and go home also. We checked out and went to the Hilton (just down the street) and rented a day room from 12noon to 8pm. If you enjoy water slides, this is what you need to do your last day. Then you have a room to get readly in before your flight home that night.

We loved the Marriott. It was charming, laid back and beautiful. We hope to return soon.

Stayed at Waikoloa Marriott for a conference the beginning of April. My husband vacationed while I conferenced at the Marriott. Loved it so much we plan to return with our kids.

Check in was fast, The room was clean and the bed was amazing. We had a terriffic view from the King Kamehameha wing on the 2nd floor. Bath room is a bit dark, but loved the size of the vanity area, the fridge, the in room safe and lanai. We took advantage of the resort fee with free parking for the rental car (rent a car. The shuttle is expensive $50 per direction per person from airport), 2 drinks each night (they would roll them over, ie if you didn't drink both drinks on Monday, they let us add them to Tuesday for a total of 4 drinks left on the card).

The service was great. Resort prices at the restaurant (44.00 for buffet dinner) but food was decent and the view to die for. Dinner buffet was better than the breakfast and the birds are insane in the morning (will swoope in an grab off the plate if you do not defend)

Food -

The BEST Mai Tais were found across the street at Merriman's Cafe. Go during happy hour (think it's 2 - 4p) and get them for $4 a piece. The food is locally grown and good but the menu is not extensive.

Charley's Thai restaurant in the Queen's Shops (10 min walk). Go to "caps" hat store, turn right, at the end of the bldg on left. Prices were great $12 - 20 for entree. Wine list not so good.

Fish Hopper in Kona on Alii Drive good prices open air.

Starbucks @ King's Shops reasonable for breakfast and coffee (a cup of Kona at Marriott is $4) 5 min walk

"Food Court" in Queens shops has subway, deli, etc.

Costco is in Kona, not too far south of airport. Worth a stop to pick up wines, snacks and WATER (over $7 per case but more expensive at resort) and gas.

To do

Snorkel, it's included in the resort fee and just a few yards off the beach you will see fish, sea turtles. It's just amazing. Do so in the morning for calm seas.

Go see the Hilton. It's HUGE so ride the boat or take the tram for fun. Watch the dolphins, stroll the property. I still like the Marriott, everything is close and it has an island feeling to it.

Waimea Parker Ranch is just a 20 minute drive north and you'll be amazed at the diversity of the Big Island's climates. Hilo has the botanical gardens, museums, zoo (free). Plan on a 3hour drive to get there. Drive south of Kona town into the hills. Look for Greenwell's Coffee plantation just past the town of Capt Cook. Coffee tasting and tours.

Your room - make sure the sliding glass door is shut and you have secured the lock for the AC to work in the room. It's magnetic and the AC will not work otherwise (fan will work but not cool). If you sleep with door open, partiers get loud around 1am and the birds get LOUD around 6:00 a.m. Staying for a while, just have the maid make your bed but not change sheets by placing the card (which says you don't want your sheets changed) on the bed.

The resort - best beach on the island. the salt water pools are wonderful, the gift shop has so much at prices comparable to the King's shops. Enjoy the open air feeling of the restaurant, bar or get your free drink and go watch the sunset at the beach. The luau is great too.

We stayed for the weekend with another family. This was our second stay. The property is completely done (our first trip last year they were just finishing up renovations) and everything is beautiful. Our 6 yo and her friend loved choosing which of the 3 swimming pools and waterslide to play in. We had meals both on property and we made several short walks to the new Queens Marketplace for more inexpensive meals. Try the asian noodle shop. The new shops are wonderful! It is a resort so expect to pay resort prices...but not unexpected and totally worth it. The customer service is outstanding. After arriving home we discovered my daughter forgot her favorite pillow. The front desk mailed it to my home! The staff seems very happy and the entire feel is of "aloha". Thank you to the wonderful staff for another enjoyable stay.

We spent three nights on the Big Island at this property. The weather was fantastic and the beach was beautiful. We took advantage of the snorkeling gear included with the resort fee. Although it was somewhat difficult to see very far, we did encounter some sea turtles and beautiful fish.

We also had the breakfast buffet package and really enjoyed the selection every morning. The open atrium allowed us to take in the views while enjoying our morning coffee.

The pools are great - especially the infinity heated pool. We had no trouble finding available chairs. Our ocean-view room looked over the pool area and while there were people who hung around late into the night, we could not hear a thing in our room. The room was very clean and had a fridge.

The luau was very fun and the food was great. I had never been to a luau with an open bar before, and the drinks were not watered down.

We took a day and visited Hilo and the current activity at Kilauea. This drive was worth it and I encourage anyone to make the trip!

The views were spectacular!

The nearby Kings and Queens shops offer a variety of restaurants within walking distance including Subway, Dairy Queen, and more upscale restaurants like Merriman's Market Cafe and Roy's Waikoloa Village.

This is a resort that we will recommend to friends and family, and we cannot wait to plan a trip back!

My wife and I stayed at the Marriott as part of a week long conference. From start to finish we were amazed at the beauty of the property, the amazing level of customer service, and the friendliness of the people.

Our room was wonderfully decorated, a garden view but with a partial oceanview through the courtyard. The room was spacious with plenty of pillows to make anyone happy on the bed. And the bed...WOW! No kidding, if I could have figured out a way to get that mattress into my luggage, I would have done just that! Truly the most comfortable sleep I have EVER had. The bathroom was nice, however, it was confusing how the rest of the room was so open, airy and well lit while the tub/toilet area only had small light. This made it difficult for my wife to shave her legs.

This property has an enviable location on the Kona coast with a beautiful stretch of beach that fronts a protected cove which is perfect for snorkeling as well as a place that small children can safely play in the water. For the more adventurous, Hapuna beach for boogieboarding and surfing is just a short drive away.

Another wonderful aspect to the property is its close proximity to the two major shopping malls located at Waikoloa resort. Rather than feel trapped into only buying hotel food, like at some other places, one can take a short 5 minute walk and find everything from fast food to elegant dining.

For those who wish to stay put, the dining at Hawaii Falls restaurant in the hotel is delicious and the snacks available at the beach are convenient and tasty.

One last note, despite the fact that this is a laid back property, I was truly impressed with the hotel's security and how gently but firmly they handled customers who may have had too much too drink at the hotel bar or who were causing a disturbance. What was especially nice was being able to take a midnight swim, the pool and beach are accessible 24 hours a day, and knowing that we were still safe. If you are going to the Big Island, this is the must stay place for you!

My wife and I recently stayed at this hotel to celebrate our anniversary and were very pleased with our stay. The hotel lobby is open and offers your first view to the bright blue waters of A-Bay. The Pool area is large with several pools, including three Jacuzzis, and we never had trouble finding pool chairs to layout. The rooms are well appointed, but I will admit the walls do seem rather thin. The beds are marvelous and after a day of snorkeling, swimming, sightseeing and walking you are grateful of such comfortable beds. The $20 resort fee wasn’t an inconvenience for us, but rather an advantage, since the benefits were worth more than the $20. We snorkeled everyday, which would have costed $28 per couple, per day, it also included no charge to long distance calls to the mainland, which we used often to check on our children in the mainland, and the daily $10 for parking is also included.

The staff is very friendly, especially the concierge who we visited almost daily for recommendations and answers. Our room was always done early, usually by the time we returned from breakfast. The Luau was great! It is recommended even by other hotels as being the only one close to the beach with a beautiful sunset at A-Bay as the background.

The Queen’s markets which is about a 5-10 minute walk away, has a food court with several choices for a good lunch or quick dinner, and they close at 9:30pm. The Kings court offers finer stores, and includes a Shell gas station. We spent about 75% in and around the hotel, and about 25% at Kona, which is a little busier and has more going on. If you are like me and prefer a more relaxing vacation away from the hustle and bustle, then you will really enjoy this hotel. There are plenty of places to just lay out, relax and truly unwind and enjoy this paradise. Most of the time we spent it at the beach, which has very nice snorkeling, the visibility is great, and you will see lots of schools of colorful fish, corals, and sea turtles. This area (The Kohala coast) has some of the best beaches in the Big Island. You will need a rental car to get around farther, Kona is about 25 minutes away. Since gas is expensive, I would recommend a compact car, and gas up at Costco (close to the airport) because its cheaper. I would definitely stay here again…this is truly paradise!

This is a beautiful resort, with wonderful pools and convenient access to the beach. The only problem for me are the elevators, and it's enough of a problem that I'm actually posting this in the middle of my vacation (because I can't sleep!)

We arrived and were informed that we got a free room upgrade, from Garden view to Garden view deluxe. We were pleasantly surprised because the room is huge and on the top floor.

But the next morning we decided that they "upgraded" us because they couldn't foist the room off on anyone else. Starting at about 7am the elevators, which are across the hall, get going. It's a loud "Click" and then "WHIRRRRRRR" going constantly. My husband can sleep through it, but I can't.

To be fair, I didn't ask that the Marriott change our room. At first it was because I thought it was jet lag, but this morning I'm still tired and can't get back to sleep. And my husband loves being on the top floor. I'm hoping I get used to it by night 4.

But otherwise our stay has been great. The beds are the most comfortable beds I have ever slept in. The free coffee in the rooms is delicious, and the snorkel rentals included in the resort fee is fantastic. The pools are great as well.

The first day we went for a walk on the beach and encountered 3 sea turtles just sunning themselves. Awesome!

The snorkeling is a little bit cloudy in A-bay, but you can see a ton of fish if you get closer to the reef area. Unfortanately, some of the reef seems to be dying, probably from so many people having so much access to it.

Self-parking is a little tight - at least it was when we were here. But it could be because a few other tourists have trouble parking their rental giants in only one space.

I've just returned from the Marriot Waikoloa and my boyfriend and I had a ball.

I've read the other reviews here and I agree with a couple of the comments. The hotel is set back from the sea with a couple of rather beautiful pools between you and the ocean, but if you look on the net you should know this before you go.

The rooms are big, very clean and well appointed. The fridge came in very handy as the food is quite expensive at the hotel, as you would expect so we bought from the supermarket in Waikoloa which isn't too pricey. The staff down at the bar, Gina in particular, are very friendly and seem to enjoy their work and environment and that makes it enjoyable to hang out there. The food we did have was excellent and the coffee from the little shop upstairs is great. Try the pineapple and the papaya - they are just deliciously sweet.

The staff at check in were a bit stand offish. The woman at the desk couldn't believe the rate we got, but it was legitimate - I used the Marriott's own website and they had a good deal on: US$209 a night. Perhaps our experience was coloured by the fact that we don't often stay at upmarket resorts. It seemed wildly luxurious to us. The ridiculously expensive 'cabanas' are laughable, but then I would laugh at any paid shade. Use a tree or go inside for a nap druing the heat of the day. On top of the room rate you have taxes and so on and the US$20 a day 'resort fee' which gives you a free Mai Tai or beer, internet access, domestic phone calls, self parking and half day snorkel equipment hire.

The snorkeling was the highlight for me. Walk down to the beach past the aquaculture fish ponds with their crabs, tiny see through prawns, and various types of fish. Watch the bright blue dragonfly skim over the water. Carry on and get your paid for snorkel gear - not great masks - if you have your own mask, bring it - and then slide into the not too warm water and swim with the fishes. Trigger fish, parrot fish, angelfish, whiting, damselfish and turtles share the coral, living their little fishy lives as you glide over them. The turtles feed on the ebb tide from the stone outflow sluice on the right of the beach. Huge turtles right next to you unconcerned by your presence. Lovely.

Go there and enjoy.

We stayed here for five nights on Marriott Reward points, and my parents stayed here for three nights on points as well.

Overall, this is a very nice hotel. Beautifully decorated, wonderful open lobby/sitting areas, a great infinity pool, and lovely grounds. The rooms are SMALL - we both had ocean view rooms on the 5th floor, and the rooms were nice but just felt a bit cramped. I can say however that the bed was really comfortable, as always.

Housekeeping was pleasant, timely and efficient. We took advantage of the breakfast buffet twice (at $22 ea.), which was delicious with a great variety - it's definitely worth it! We did not have dinner in the restaurant, as there are many great choices in the Kings Shops and Queens Marketplace just across/down the road, as well as in Kona.

We did order food at the pool one day, and we had quite a rude waiter (Michael). He forgot about our food and after 45 min., my husband went into the restaurant and our food was sitting under a heat lamp. The waiter never did bring us our food (my husband did), and he never acknowledged that he did not bring us our food - he just brought us the bill. That was quite disappointing...but thankfully he was the only rude hotel employee that we encountered. Everyone else was polite and very accommodating.

This hotel was very relaxing and comfortable. We loved the infinity pool and the open sitting areas in the lobby. If we were to come back to the Big Island, we would definitely consider staying at the Marriott again.

We just got back from the Marriott Waikoloa about a week ago and would definitely return.

Prior to making our reservations I had considered the Hilton but I am so glad we chose the Marriott!

We flew over for 3 nights to visit my Dad who lives on the Big Island after spending 9 wonderful days on Maui. I might add we flew over the Monday after the Iron Man Triathlon.

Upon checking in we were upgraded to a Cabana at no additional charge! We were thrilled with the extra square footage, huge bathroom and ground floor lanai. Much nicer for our family of 4 which includes 2 little girls; 4.5 & 3 years. Such a treat! We saw several resident feral cats (& a mongoose). One cat my girls' named "Skippy John Jones".

The girls also enjoyed the various beautiful birds and spotting geckos with plenty to be found.

The hotel grounds are well kept and simple for the most part. The pool area is small but not overwhelming. My 4.5 year old loved the slide but unfortunately our 3 year old did not meet the 42" height requirement. However, she did get a couple trips down on Daddy's lap.

It was nice to be within walking distance to the beach but after spending 9 days on Maui, it just didn't compare but nice none-the-less. We were also fortunate to see a sea turtle swimming in the water.

My girls also enjoyed all the water life in the pond; black crabs, eels and various species of fish including barracuda!,

We did take a drive over to the Hilton so the girls could see the dolphins. Although the hotel is nice it was extremely crowded and just didn't have the cozy feel as the Marriott.

Included with our stay was the buffet breakfast which was fabulous! Every morning we had a variety of tasty options available from pastries to fresh fruit, various egg dishes and there was even a chef who made omelets or eggs to your specifications. Great way to start our day!

The staff at the hotel from the guys who valet the cars to the reception desk to everyone in between was nothing but courteous and pleasant!

The mandatory $20 resort fee wasn't a big issue for us but then again we were only there for 3 days. For us it was nice having free local calls (my Dad lives on the island) and we were even able to call Maui free (my inlaws were still vacationing over there), to the parking and free internet. We did enjoy our free mai tais too!

It was nice having the Kings Shopping right across the street. We were able to pick up some milk, water and munchies at the Whalers General store which we kept in our fridge. The Queen's shopping is just a little bit more a walk but also had the Island Gourmet Market with a deli, fresh sushi and anything else you can imagine.

Our first night we ate at Merrimans which was quite good and enjoyed live music by a local musician who was quite good! The 2nd night we drove up to Tres Hombres at Kawaihae Harbor which was about a 10-15 minute drive North. It was $2 Taco Tuesday night and they were fab!

My only complaint would be the VOG which was particularly heavy the last day of our stay but that has nothing to do with the Marriott and can't be avoided when you're on an island with an active volcano.

Overall we had a pleasant experience at the Marriott and enjoyed it very much! I would not hesitate to stay there again.

My husband and I went to Marriott in Kona for our honeymoon last sept. The hotel underwent huge renovation. It looked great.

Room: Then new rooms were very chic and modern. We loved so much , we incorporated the design into our bedroom at home. The rooms were very clean and had a large bathroom. The room size is fairly average.

Hotel: The hotel grounds were kept clean and well manicured. It had the most amazing pools. They were heated and beautiful. We enjoyed the pool and jacuzzi very much.

Beach: OMG- The beach is beautiful, cleaned, and the sand is amazing. While swimming, a huge turtle swam to my husband . That was amazing.

con:

The only complaint I have is that the food were extremely expensive. Breakfast ran $60 with tip.

There were also alot of crazy birds that scoped down and ate our food. You cannot walk away from the table. They come from all direction and eat your food. They should control the bird somehow.

Overall- We enjoyed our time at Marriot in kona. We also traveled to Oahu. I would recommanded Oahu over the Big Island. Oahu is so much prettier and had alot more activies.

My wife and I stayed at Marriott for 8 nights. Overall, we had a great time and would stay here again. The hotel has recently been renovated, and you could tell. Everything appeared to be clean and seemed "newer." I'll try to break my review down into different categories.

Hotel: Recently rennovated, well kept and clean. There was always someone working on the grounds and all the plant life seemed to be well maintained. I wouldn't call the decor "Hawaiian," but it was modern and minimalist...not gaudy and loud. The layout was fine, and I didn't feel like it was crowded. Overall, a very nice open floor plan that gives way to views of the beach and pool grounds.

Room: We had an ocean view room. The hotel is not right on the ocean. However, we did have a decent view of the fish ponds and the beach. Sunsets were viewable from our balcony. So, while you can "view" the ocean, you're certainly far from it. We were comparing this view with the view from our room at the Sheraton on Maui. Their ocean view room felt like I was on a cruise ship. So, quite a difference in perspective. The room was a little small, but it was clean and well maintained. The bathroom was large enough. The shower and toilet were in a separate room, which felt a little cramped. Overall, not bad.

Food: We only ate breakfast at the Marriott. The hotel only has one restaurant and bar. The seating is outdoors, but it's mostly covered. The breakfast buffet is expensive...very expensive. Breakfast was included in our package, but off the menu it was $28, and I think there was a discount down to $22 while we were there. The food is good enough with plenty of choices including an omelette station. If breakfast wasn't included in our package, we wouldn't have ate here. Drinks are expensive too, but they have a really good Mai Tai that we enjoyed.

Staff: Friendly, attentive, helpful. No problems here.

Pools: The adult infinity pool was very nice. There was always a group of men cleaning and maintaining the pools every morning. We didn't venture into the kids pool or the other pool areas, but they seemed fine. Not the most impressive resort pool (especially compared to the Hilton which is right up the road). The one complaint I had was the amount of children in the adult pool. Apparently it wasn't clear that this was an adults only pool. I don't think the staff cared too much and it wasn't too much of a nuisance except for the occaisional belly flop that sent water spraying every where. Not that big of a deal, but it's nice to have a quiet retreat away from screaming children.

Location: I thought the location was great. The hotel is directly across the street from the King's Shops, and just a block or two away from the Queen's Shops. Both have plenty of stores and shops to browse through. The restaurants are pretty nice and offer an inexpensive alternative to the hotel's dining. You're also fairly close to some nice beaches, such as Hapuna and Mauna Kea....two highly ranked beaches. It's about 30 minutes to Waimea and 30 minutes to the Kona airport. Everything else is kind of far. I think it took us 2 hours to get to the volcano and close to 45 minutes to get to downtown Kailua-Kona. Otherwise, it's a quiet area without a lot of traffic. Everything you need can be found at the nearby shops, so we were happy where we were. The weather was perfect, and I don't think it rained...maybe once at night.

Beach: The hotel is located on "A" bay (the real name is much longer, but it's referred to as "A" bay). The beach is ok. There are ancient fish ponds adjacent to the beach, which make for a nice setting. The water isn't as clear as some of the other nearby beaches. Snorkeling was ok, but left a little to be desired. There's a path that you can walk from the beach, up along the coast to the Hilton. Plenty of sea turtles are visible from here. The surf can get rough in the afternoon, after the winds pick up. We spent more time at the pool and Hapuna beach, which is a short drive up the road from the hotel.

I hope this review helps. We really did enjoy ourselves, and the setting. I would have given this 5 stars, but I have been to better Marriotts and resorts. However, I would recommend this place to friends.

This 5 day visit was our second stay at this Marriott. I was excited to see what the $50k renovation would look like. The first glimpse of the hotel when you drive up is boring....no beautiful flowers; kind of bland. The lobby is decorated in the 'new' minimalistic, contemporary look that many hotels seem to be following these days. No colorful hawaiian-inspired fabric or art work, no music piped through the lobby or pool areas, no floral centerpieces, however, the rooms were tastefully decorated with colored patterned carpet throughout the hallways and rooms. Housekeeping was good; our room was always tended to and a minor problem with our tub drain was promptly fixed. The staff was unegaged, friendly in a forced way; fortunately i stopped by the front desk to check out and asked if my resort fee could be waived (we had used points for our stay) and was pleasantly surprised when the clerk told me 'yes' (the newly-hired person told us 'no' when we checked in). The pool area is beautiful, especially the new infinity pool. I am disappointed that they took out their beach/pool bar. I would recommend packing your own cooler though...the price of food and drinks is outrageous. We stopped at Walmart and bought snacks, beer, wine, soda and water. Sure glad we did!! It's irritating to be so blatantly ripped off. We visited the gourmet grocery store at the Queen's Marketplace to buy a few items. They have a great wine and cheese selection, deli, etc. This upgraded ABC store just opened a couple of weeks before our stay so the inventory was constantly changing. One thing we noticed was lack of any middle-of-the-road restaurants. It's Subway, Arby's etc. or Roy's, Ruth Chris' Steak House. We would have loved a $10-$15 entree' restaurant. You have to hit the local restaurants for that price range. Had a great lunch at Bamboo Restaurant in Hawi. Had a beautiful trip but am disappointed in the recent renovation project at this Marriott. We're Marriott Rewards people, so we've had a lot of experience with Marriott, especially around the Hawaiian Islands. In my opinion, this one does not capture the hawaiian spirit that visitors want to feel.

My wife and I stayed at this hotel for the last 3 nights of our honeymoon. One reviewer hit the nail on the head by describing the Kona airport as a bunch of huts. Strangest airport I'd ever seen.

Anyway, the drive from the airport to the resort is kind of interesting. There is pretty much NOTHING between the airport and hotel. In fact, it'll look like you landed on Mars with the strange vegetation. We laughed hard at the Big Island version of graffiti, which is writing words with white rocks on the black lava. I guess this is enviromentally friendly.

The hotel itself is very nice. We mentioned we were on our honeymoon and they upgraded us to a "garden view" which is really an ocean view. Since this hotel was so far from the rest of civilization, we just layed out by the pool for 3 days.

This was a great hotel for our first trip to the big island... We ended up booking a cabana room, which is located in a smaller building closer to the ocean, but for the price you pay to stay in this building, its NOT worth it. If we ever went back, we would stay in a regular room in the main building- you really don't spend much time in the room anyway! Couple of notes- the rooms are great, they have been recently renovated, so no old and dated hawaiian prints here... Skip the hotel restaurant, unless you are in the mood for a breakfast buffet...which is expensive, but worth it since its all you can eat! The regular restaurant menu is really basic, and not very good- so head over to the Kings Shopping center for restaurants...Merrimans is really great- I highly recommend it... Also, Roys is always a good choice. The main pool was really great- the view of the beach was enough for us this trip- we didn't feel the need to hit the sand at all... even though it was highly accessible- and it's open all night, which is awesome- having late night beers out at the pool/hot tub was great fun!! Take a day trip to the volcano- you won't be disappointed! Also, if you've never been to one, hit up the Luau they have on property- its kinda fun!

We stayed at the Marriott Waikoloa for the 2nd half of our honeymoon. It is a solid choice. The hotel is located on the Kohala coast within walking distance of luxury shopping and several good restaurants (Roy's is a must try!). The hotel is about 30-40 minutes north of Kona airport. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and parking was a breeze. Self-parking is included in the $20 daily resort fee (which also includes internet access, snorkeling equipment, and 2 mai tais...a good deal compared to other resort fees that don't really get you anything), or you can valet for an additional fee. The rooms are a little on the small side but it was fine for just the two of us. The bathroom (shower and toilet area) was a bit cramped and dark. Otherwise, the rooms are very tastefully decorated and clean. The carpets in the hallways outside could have used a cleaning, but inside our room was fine. The bed was super-comfy and we are picky about that. We appreciated the mini-fridge and the bathrobes. We had a deluxe ocean view which was really outstanding. We were overlooking the pool area with the fish ponds and "A Bay" ahead. The pool area is out of this world!!! There are three pools, three hot tubs, and even a waterslide for the kids. It was never too crowded there or on the beach either, especially in the evenings. One slight negative was morning noise from the pool area...just kids having fun, but they started their fun a little early for our taste. Also, there was a little boat traffic in the bay...we had to get out of the way for them occasionally. There seemed to be only one restaurant on the hotel property. We had lunch there twice and both times were good but nothing extraordinary (recommend the flatbread pizzas and the mai tais.) All the staff that we encountered were very accomodating and pleasant. All in all, it was a great stay. If we return to Big Island, we'd probably choose to stay on the Hilo side, but otherwise, we would definitely stay at the Marriott Waikoloa again.

We stayed 14 nights in August 2008 in this hotel and we enjoyed very much the excellent location of this hotel. The beach is very nice, you will see turtles and manta rays when snorkeling not far from the shore line.

Service at the hotel is good and hotel staff was very friendly and helpful. Our room, it was a cabana beside the main buildings, was located near to the beach and was big enough for us three. Cleanliness of the cabana was average.

Pool area was very clean and big enough. Breakfest buffet was nice and service there was fast and very friendly.

There was construction work near to our cabana, starting at 08.00 in the morning, on two days and there was no information from the hotel management in advance.

Overall, my husband and I enjoyed this hotel. We stayed there for four nights during our honeymoon. Our stay included a free breakfast buffet, which was great. HOWEVER watch out for the dive bombing birds! By the fourth morning, we were sick of the birds. We had to keep swatting them away and many times we saw them get into food and also other guest plates.

The infinity pool was wonderful, as was the beach. One thing to note - the beach was normally very quiet and not crowded. However, there was one day during our stay where the beach was unusually packed. We found out later that one of the big cruise ships had an excursion to the marriot's beach and hence why the beach was so busy.

But all in all, we enjoyed our visit. It was a really nice place to stay for our honeymoon. Since there are so many nice hotels in hawaii, I am not sure if we would go back. I think we'd probably want to try another hotel first before going back.

Let me start by saying overall, we had a very enjoyable trip to the Waikoloa Marriott Beach Resort. My wife and I left the kids behind and took a weeklong stay with just the two of us. Our arrival in to KOA Airport was interesting. The landscape was not what we expected, and the Hut style airport terminals were charming. We picked up our rental car and headed straight from the airport towards the the city of Kona to pickup some groceries before we headed to the resort. We were looking for Wal Mart, but after sitting in miserable Saturday afternoon traffic, we decided to run in to K Mart because that is what we came to first. Smart move, they had a modest selection of groceries and booze, but at reasonable prices. They also had good prices on souvenir items, beach items, anything you might need for a stay on the island. We then headed North towards the resort. The terrain on the drive up to the resort resembles some sort of weird martian landscape made from lava, but awesome in a way. About 35 minutes later we arrived at the resort. The entrance to the resort area is beautifully landscaped and exactly what you picture for Hawaii. We easily found the Marriott, and we parked the car in the circle drive where the Valet kept the keys while we checked in. We had to wait a few minutes to check in because one of the other guests had a problem with the pricing their travel agent had given for their stay(another reason I stay away from agents).

Once freed up the front desk staff was very warm and accomodating. They made us feel welcome from the git go. We were provided a complimentary ocean view upgrage because I was platinum using points for the stay. They also said that because I was platinum I had the choice to pay the $20 resort fee or just parking. I felt the resort fee was reasonable, as it includes self parking, internet, a one time coupon for 2 mai tais($20 value) , and 1/2 day snorkel rental for 2 every day. I felt having the internet was worthwhile, as we used it to look up things to do and to make dinner reservations. I have a sprint air card so theoretically I could have used that, but when I tried it the connection was slow. The hotel internet was faster than most hotels I stay at. Once checked in, we parked the car in the self parking lot a short distance away. Parking was not an issue the whole time we were there. The only issue we had with parking was that they had tons of parking in the valet lot that was always vacant.

The Room- The room was cozy. with king size bed, fridge, safe, tv. Nicely decorated and clean. Had a patio with a beautiful view of the grounds and you could see A' Bay. The temperature was comfortable, even though there was some direct sun in the evening. We did use the AC most of the time we were there, because it got a little toasty. The maid service was prompt, and they took care of the room well. They did nightly turn down service, but one night they got behind and came by at 9:30 which was a little invconvenient. The room was adequate size for 2 adulys, any more would have been cramped. We enjoyed sitting on the lanai each morning eating breakfast and drinking coffe.

The Resort Amenities- The grounds were beautifully maintained. The lobby area was beatiful, and often had a nice breeze blowing rthrough. There is a laundry room that is well maintained and clean, I recommend getting up early and starting a load to avoid the lines. The pools were awesome, clean and well maintained. The water was always cool and crisp. Enjoyed the jacuzzi a few times. There is even a water slide. The pool house staff were courteous and we never had trouble getting clean towels.

The restaurant and bar- Not really impressed with either. We ate a very overpriced resort meal of fresh Mahi which they way overcooker. The menu options for lunch and dinner were way too expensive for what you get. I have no problem with resort prices if they deliver product or food that is as high in quality as it is in price, but they did not deliver the quality food they should have for the price. The bar made good drinks, but they were pricey and there was limited and somewhat sporadic cocktail service poolside. Our solution to the meals and bar was this:

Breakfast- Brought cereal milk and fresh fruit from the grocery store. Bought some locally made pastrys from starbucks a few morning s before we realized the coffee shop at the hotel had very reasonable prices and some great pastries. The Macademia nut sticky buns and chocolate croissants were great. the Kona coffee they served was great. Breakfast cost the two of us $10-$12 as opposed to $28/pp. Lunch was a little trickier and frustrating. The second day we were there we drove to Waimea and had lunch in a neat hole in the wall coffee shop that served sandwiches and wraps. The wraps were great. If you are looking for traditional fast food at or near the resort you are limited There is a food court up the road that has Arbys, Subway, DQ, some fast food chinese and a place for burgers. Nothing in between. There is a small Grocery store up the road a few miles north in the Maune Lea resort that had a bunch of premade salads and sandwiches that I would try next time. Dinner we tried a variey of places. Merrimans near the resort was ok, pricey and they overcooked the fish again. Very frustrating to have 2 places in a row ruin the local fish. We ate in Kona at the Kona Brew pub twice. Very good pizza, service beer, about 40 minuts from the resort. Probably our second favorite place. The place that we really enjoyed the most was Ruths Chris in the Mauna Lea resort. The service was impeccable, so much that we requested the same waiter, Jon on our 2nd and last trip up. Jon was friendly, professional, and gave some great tips on places to visit, sites to see and even other places to eat. The first trip out my wife had filet and I had the fish special of grilled blue marlin. Go figure the steak place would know how to cook fish better than others. The value you get for your money at Ruths Chris is exceptional compared to what the resort and local restaurants near the resort provided.

We visited the Hilton while we were there, and the Marriott and Hilton are in two separate categories. The Marriott is simple luxury, and the Hilton is luxurious, disneylike and unique. Ienjoyed visiting, but was glad to return to the Marriott. The beach at the Marriott was beautiful, and the grounds overall were serene. We did not attend the luau, but it seemed pretty popular.

We got a chance to talk to many couples about their stays, and there were some common themes-

The food is way overpriced- people would rather eat cold meals in their rooms than pay the prices. There were limited low cost lunch items on the resort menu

The bar either needed to service the pool area better or set up a bar near the pool. People did not feel comfortable going through the restaurant in swimwear where people are fully dressed eating $28 breakfasts.

There are alot of kids at the resort, but the Hilton looks more fun for kids

Great propert, lots of fun. Would go back for sure.

Stayed at the Marriott last week. Five us (3 kids) so we had two adjoining rooms. Check in was pleasant and no surprises. The pools are very nice with a decent slide that the kids liked. Saw turtles at the beach and a manta ray while snorkeling. Snorkeling is okay -- water is pretty murkey. Rooms are a bit small and the couch in our room was really bad -- almost impossible to sit on. Bed to us was not very comfortable. Not sure the new furniture in their rooms are up to Marriott standards. Internet access was good. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday they have "Auntie Lei" come to the hotel and give free hula, ukelele and lei making lessons. This was a highlight. Auntie was very pleasant and gracious. We all enjoyed it. Watching my wife and two daughters doing the hula was one of the highlights of our trip (glad I got that on video to show years from now).

We liked the location of the Marriott -- close to shopping and restaurants. We drove into Kona three times and the drive got a bit long but no too bad.

Overall, we were treated very well -- no problem with service and the amenities were good. The rooms were a bit of a disappointment. We enjoyed our first trip to the Big Island.

We liked that the hotel was nicely liad out and decorated. The pools were a huge hit with our 5 and 7 year olds. The hot tubs were a huge hit with mom. Service was just average to below average, and the rooms are VERY small. We had to upgrade for an extra $35 per night just to have room to walk. It is really small. We could not have imagined spending 9 nights in such a tiny space with two children and a baby (crawling). Someone else mentioned having seen a roach in their room and we had the same bad luck. I saw 2 roaches near our bed. When we complained, they told us that this is normal in Hawaii, but offered us another room immediately. Turnned out great for us, we ended up with an ocean view.

We also liked having the beach so close, but spent most of our time at the pools bc of the children. The hotel is nice and very manageable with children. It's not too big where you can't keep an eye on them (like the Hilton). Although when we visited the Hilton our kids thought it was "better than ours." We would stay here again only if we had to. We would like someplace with better service, larger rooms, better restaurants, and more amenities. That said, we had a wonderful vacation. We loved this sunny area of the Big Island.

We stayed at this resort for 5 nights back in May before we headed to Kauai. We were staying at the resort on Marriott reward points and had an ocean view. Upon check-in we were upgraded to a "cabana" room. The room itself was spacious and nicely decorated. The beds were great, however the bathroom was a bit strange. There was no stall for the shower, so nothing stopped the water from flowing all throughout the bathroom when the water was running. And, we were on the first floor and found many "critters" in our room, from huge bugs looking like cockroaches to a mouse and then a lizard. The front desk staff basically replied "this is hawaii there are going to be bugs here." This was the worst part of our stay and thoroughly enjoyed everything else. We had a private lanai area outside our room and could walk right to the beach from it. So, despite the uninvited visitors in our room, we were happy with the accomodations. The hotel is nicely decorated and the open-air lobby was very inviting. Many people have mentioned the friendliness of the staff. We found the staff to be mediocre compared to the other Hawaiian Islands we've been to (Maui, Oahu, and Kauai). No one seemed to go out of their way to really make our stay enjoyable, but honestly we don't pick hotels based on their staff, since we usually have minimal interaction with them. It is far more important to us for a hotel to have a good location, comfortable rooms, and a great beach and pool. And, this hotel has all of that.

The beach outside this resort was great. We snorkeled right off of the beach and found many different color fish as well as sea turtles. Every day we were at the beach we saw turtles just "floating" along the shore. It was a great experience to be swimming in the ocean and having sea turtles swim right up next to you. Also, in May the hotel didn't seem very crowded and felt like we had plenty of space to sit on the beach without being right on top of anyone else.

We enjoyed the breakfast at the hotel a few mornings and although it was expensive, we realized we were in Hawaii and everything is more expensive. We didn't worry about penny pinching and really enjoyed the food in Hawaii.

While on the Big Island, we took a Blue Hawaiian helicoptor tour of the the volcano, toured Volcano national park, took a snorkeling trip on the Fairwind II and went on a sunset cruise. Our helicoptor tour with Blue Hawaiian was fantastic. We flew right over the volcano and saw actual lava flowing along the coast. Blue Hawaiian did a great job and I felt very comfortable during the entire trip. However, I would recommend taking dramamine if you have motion sickness. I had read that most people do not have a problem, however about 3/4 into the trip my husbad felt very sick. He took dramamine on our next helicoptor tour on Kauai and was fine.

Our snorkeling trip on the Fairwind II to Captain Cook's monument was superb. We had such a fantastic time! The crew aboard was great, the snorkeling was awesome, and the lunch provided was very tasty. I would highly recommend taking the morning sail along the Fairwind II. I would definitely do it again if I ever go back to the Big Island.

Volcano National Park was a lot of fun to drive through and get some great pics. I would recommend taking at least a half a day to drive through and walk around. Don't miss walking through the Thurston Lava Tubes. That was very interesting. But, I think the highlight was driving down near the shore where the hardened lava fields are. It was such a surreal experience walking on all of the lava and imagining how it had once flowed through that area.

Overall, we had a very memorable trip to the Big Island and would recommend the Waikoloa Beach Marriott. This would be a great trip for beachlovers and sightseers alike as well as people of all ages. Also, we'd recommend getting the "Big Island Revealed" book. This was our "vacation bible" throughout the trip and wouldn't have know what to do or where to go to fully see what the Big Island has to offer.

This hotel is pretty nice...probably a little pricey for what you get, but everything seems to be a little higher in Hawaii than normal. We were upgraded to an oceanview room during checkin and received a bottle of champagne to our room since it was our honeymoon. The room was good, except for the mini-fridge which bairly got cold at all...but that was no biggie as we didn't use it that much. The bar/restaurant was pretty expensive. Drinks that would normally be $7-8 here were about $14-15 there...and one of our drinks cost $25!! The breakfast buffet was included in with our room; it was good, but one morning there was a bird in there eating some of the banana bread, and then another morning there were fruit flies all over the sweet stuff. Another thing that bothered us was that there were birds ALL over the place when we were trying to eat. I couldn't even get up to go get some juice without a bird attacking my plate. As soon as we walk off all the birds would fly over and go crazy.

The pool area here was really nice...They have 2 jacuzzi's, 2 pools, and a slide with it's own pool. We never had a problem getting chairs or towels. I have to say the beach here is just OK, not great. It is so windy that you can hardly lay there in peace. They do offer a lot of activities which is nice...we tried the snorkling and kayaks and enjoyed both. We saw lots of sea turtles while we were there too which was cool.

We went to the luau they have. It was fun, but expensive. I think it was $80 each, but you get unlimited food and drinks plus entertainment...and you get to experience a little of the local culture.

I would recommend going on a helicopter tour while your here...it was so much fun and a great way to see the island. Also see Akaka Falls- it is so beautiful!! We walked across the street to Kings Market a few times. They have lots of cool shops and restaurants.

Overall we enjoyed our trip, and would recommend this hotel to others.

This is a very nice property having just been renvovated, However once you check in and walk to your room, you get the feeling that you can be in any one of the dozens of surburban area corporate hotels located throughout the US as opposed to a tropical resort. My impressions were that the guest room areas were sterile. The lobby is beautiful, the pool area and beach area are nice. Breakfast, particuilarily the buffet are very good( we had our breakfast included in the package). Beware at dinner however, I suuggest that you walk across the street and have dinner at one of the resteraunts in the Kings shopping center. I would have expected more of this property and was disappointed, However others may find it appealing, if you like "plain Jane Hotels"

Nice hotel, very relaxing visit. Stayed in a deluxe garden view room which was large and had a great view of the pools and ocean. The bed was very comfortable! Beautiful open air lobby, nice gym facilities, and spa. Only complaints: 1) the mandatory $20/day resort fee (guess they have to pay for the recent renovations!) and 2) only one bar and restaurant. Staff was pleasant and accommodating.

Although I did not stay at the Hilton, I walked around the grounds and it is HUGE! The Marriott, in my opinion, is much nicer and has a more intimate feel.

Hilo was rather drab and boring, so I suggest staying on the Kona side of the island for your whole trip.

Stayed with this hotel for couple of weeks in November 2007. The territory was very nice - one of the nicest we stayed so far. Room was quite big and recently renovated. On the arrival we got the room and unpacked. A day later there was a small flooding from the nearby ice machine. Because of humidity it started to smell and we requested another room. Because we were having our honeymoon we got a free upgrade to the suite (NB – we kindly requested about upgrade availability - it was not offered. That was very nice and kind. We had two small fridges but neither of them did work well.

The food in the restaurants seemed overpriced. We went to the grocery store that was just an opposite side of the hotel.

Generally we loved the hotel but some small things were not that well. It seemed to be something wrong with the cleaning of the cups. For some reason we always got a dirty cups - once we got with tobacco ash. .

Also once we return from the day trip - our door was opened but nobody inside (cleaning lady) - and nobody around. We called reception. They appologied and send us a desert that night.

Once we arrived at home my wife realized that she left gold earrings at the safe. I called to the hotel to inform them - the security called me couple of hours later saying that nothing was delivered to "lost and found" - oh wow - clearly our fault but nevertheless...

Generally we really enjoyed it and would love to come back. Two things really annoyed us. Firstly - when we arrived - the bellboy brought our luggage to the room. My wife tip him but he decided that it is not enough and banged the door with very unhappy face. When we asked on the reception and business center what is the tipping policy - nobody could respond us. Do we suppose to figure out ourselves???? Also a lot people mentioned the obligatory "resort fee" which simply represented hidden fee to promotional price.

Beside that – definitely recommend and would love to go back.

My wife an I stayed at this Hotel at the end of April. The place looks great. Nice pool, manicured lawns, friendly staff, good food. Basically, everything you would expect from a Marriott. One thing that surpised me was that the place is empty - maybe 25% occupancy. Now I am not complaining, this just means no competition for pool chairs, breakfast tables, spa appoinments (the wife), Scuba dives, etc... I was just surprised at the lack of people. A waitress mentioned that the bankruptcy of Aloha airlines has hit them hard. Many tourists or locals that got cheap inter-island fares are now out of luck as prices have increased.

So here's my point - I was kinda disappointed that I upgraded my room to an ocean view. Cost me a few hunded $ for the upgrade and I probably would have been upgraded for free. So those that want to take the risk and see if you get the upgrade, it's probably a safe bet. You can always pay for the upgrade when you get there if you don't get the free bump.

One more thing - why would anyone stay at the Hilton next door. My wife and I took a stroll around the place and it is huge. I mean really HUGE. You have a choice of taking a train or a boat from the pool to your room. In my opinion, an interesting gimmick, but I would prefer to walk to the pool than wait on a train. In addition, they have no beach. Why would you stay at a resort in Hawaii with no beach.

There are lots of eateries in either the Kings shops or the Queens shops which are both within walking distance. There are cheap lunch places at the Queens shop if you get tired of paying $50 for lunch. The breakfast buffet at the Marriott (which came with the room rate) was really good.

I know the resort charge ($20) gets a lot of flack in these reviews, but now that they include parking, internet, snorkels, and a few drinks in the deal, you actually get some value from it.

After a stay in Puna's rain forest at a rustic yoga retreat, this hotel get-away was the perfect indulgence. Very attractive, comforable yet compact rooms. Found the bed maybe too fluffy to our liking but decadent. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Loved the pools and especially access to the ocean. Loved the presence of ruins and sacred space on site. A beautiful balance of spirit and leisure life. The presence of the turtles at sunset was awesome. Loved the proximity too to Kings Court- great food, nice shops. We liked the remoteness and yet the proximity to Kona's business. Went surfing down the coast. Only wish we'd had even more time!!! Would return in a moment's notice.

We vacationed here in late March/early April as a family. The setting is lovely, with pool and beach options. We're early risers, so chair access was not a problem, though the cruise ship population does arrive around 10:00, so be sure to grab a spot on the beach before then or retreat to the pool. Rooms are comfortable, but on the small side. Asked for an upgrade (silver member), but was only offered the opportunity to pay more for a different room. You can drive into Waikoloa Village to grab some groceries. Roy's is across the street, and is just great.

Best: The view is gorgeous and the sunsets are phenomenal. Beachfront is a real plus. The beach trail down to the Hilton and back is a pretty walk, about a mile each way. You can stop at the little coffee/ice cream shop and then head back to the Marriott. Serene, pleasant atmosphere and decor. Much calmer than the Hilton.

Worst: Restaurant options and service. The Marriott needs to step up its service in the restaurant. We found some nice servers, but also some surly, disinterested ones. We actually left the restaurant twice because we couldn't get anyone to come help us for a small order (which could have been redirected if they had a coffee/ice cream shop open after 12:00 noon). Lack of a coffee shop that's open for more than 6 hours is a real problem, especially given the poor service in the restaurant...as you have no other option than to leave the premises and go across the street or to the Hilton. Food is average, acceptable, but not great. How about an ice cream shop in the hotel? High margin for the Marriott, a treat for us: great combo.

Good side trips: Rent a car and drive around. With our fair skin, day trips were a fun way to avoid massive sunburns. Drive up to Waimea and enjoy the ranchland. Dine at Merriman's, yum! Drive around down to Hilo and look at the gorgeous gulches and rainforest. Akaka Falls is a fun side trip, about 30 minutes in and out. Head to the Volcano. I know, it's a long drive, but you can do it in one long day, or stay over down there for a night. How many times do you get to see lava flowing into the sea? Just do it. Start at the crater, then go around through Pahoa down to the lava flow. (Pahoa is wedged in the 60's - the decade, not the temp) You'll have to decide how much you want to see the red glow of the lava, as that's more visible at night. Even in the day, the steam and shooting rocks are pretty magnificent, and we caught some red glow as the wind shifted. The rangers/guides are fun to talk to and the landscape is surreal.

Hotel is set back quite a way from the beach. Ocean-view rooms have a view of the ocean, but its so far away you might as well watch it on TV. Hotel staff was nice and friendly, when someone could be found. Rooms, as in their Wailea property, are nice, clean and recently renovated, but the rooms could just as well be in NYC. No "island" feel to the rooms at all. The beach area is shallow (space from chairs to water) but the water is calm, warm and enjoyable. Turtles showed up every morning on the far right hand side of the beach, and in knee-deep water. Spinner dolphins were also visible each day, some ways into the distance.

Other than 1 breakfast we didn't eat at the hotel, as the Kings shops nearby offer several solid alternatives. Merrimans, about 25 minutes drive away (not their "cafe" in the Kings shops) was an outstanding meal with attentive and friendly service.

No food or drink service at either the pool or the beach, which was terribly inconvenient and seemed a loss of revenue during a period when most travel-related businesses are looking for ways to generate more. Lots of other guests complained about this as well during our stay. Pools are very nice, but just like the beach, lack any place for shade. 3 or 4 umbrellas around the pool for the entire hotel, and a handful of cabanas for rent, I think for $50 a day. The Fairmont up the road, with a much nicer beach, only asked $25 for their cabanas, and provided lots of great and friendly service at either the beach or pool.

Even though I stayed on Marriott points, I'd pay cash to stay somewhere else in the future and have a reasonable level of service during my stay.

I have been going to this facility for about 20 years and 4 different owners/management and have always thought that this was a wonderful facility and a good value. I was first excited about the Marriott taking over since they remodeled extensively but unfortunately there are too many negatives. They removed the beautiful gardens, pool bar/cafe, and are charging for every little thing. They are even charging $50 for use of the pool cabanas - these were free 2 years ago! There has been TOO MUCH development in the surrounding Waikoloa area so now the water at the beach is eternally murky with less fish and dying reef - I suspect because of run off. This used to be a great place to snorkel until about 4 years ago - it is SO SAD. I spent a few days at the Hapuna Prince this time - this will be my new vacation spot on the Kohala coast from now on.

We spent five days at this hotel with our thirteen year old granddaughter. When we arrived, we noticed the room was very warm and called maintenance. They told us they would work on it and we should go out to dinner and see how the temperature was when we returned. Three hours later, there was no change in the warmth in the room. At ten o'clock our room was finally changed. The manager was professional and cordial and we were changed to an equivalent accommodation. Although this was handled fairly well, we were disappointed in the attentiveness of the staff in general. Rooms were not cleaned until later in the day; restaurant staff attention at breakfast was erratic. The positives included lovely accommodations ( we used points but paid extra for the larger room), a beautiful outdoor negative edge pool, separate water slide pool and separate children's sandy bottom pool. Chaises were plentiful and cabana rentals were reasonable at fifty dollars per day based on our experiences with other facilities. The negatives included poor service at the 'only show in town' for breakfast and for dinner. We ate dinner at the hotel one night and service was horrendous because there was a convention being served on the beach that took priority over the guests in the restaurant. We waited one hour between our salads and entrees and although the restaurant manager admitted the convention was the reason for the delay, she did not do anything to correct the condition. I have to assume this happens with some frequency since this is a hotel that books many conventions. Although the pool area is lovely, the beach was not. I had read many reviews of A Bay beach and was anticipating a wonderful experience. To my surprise, the beach was strewn with seaweed and ocean debris. We basically stayed at the pool.

We stayed at the Marriott Waikoloa for two night in June. The room was quite large, clean and it overlooked the pool area. It had been recently renovated. It was clean and comfortable. The rooms and lobby are very business-like/ not very personal .

The pools were beautiful and well maintained. We were aware of the $20.00 resort fee that included parking but were annoyed to have to drive around hunting for an available parking space. After about 20 minutes of searching, we went to the valet and were permitted to park in the other lot without a fee- just a tip.

I would skip the breakfast buffet. We included this in our room reservation. The food was good but there were LOTS of flies all over the food. Not just a few- I mean several flies over ALL of the serving platters. Also, the food line and seating are open air. This was nice to a point except that when you went up to the buffet, birds and flies would peck at the food you left on your table. Another couple chased the birds from our toast when we went back up for juice. I would skip the buffet and cross the street to have beakfast in the Kings Shops. I think the Marriott should consider adding a glass enclosure to atleast the room that has the buffet line ( in an effort to keep the flies off of the food) and allow a choice for open air or glass enclosure seating for the diners.

A- Bay was beautfuil. The best part of the Marriott was that we saw huge sea turtles while we snorkeled.

I have to join the others who have stayed here in the past and now will not return. We last stayed right after Marriott took over from Outrigger (October 2001) and loved the place. We stayed oceanfront in the wing that is actually oceanfront. This trip we reserved oceanfront in November 2007 and the room we got was overlooking the new pool, bar/restaurant. Yes we could see the ocean but it was NOT what I would call ocean front, more like pool view. When we visit Hawaii we like shutting off the A/C and opening the lanai door to let in the breeze. We could not do that in this room. The bar was noisy until midnight then at 4 AM the staff started getting things around the pool ready for the day and they were by no means quiet. We walked in the room then went right back to the desk. I requested a move to the wing that we stayed in before and was told it was completely full but I would be contacted as soon as a room opened up. During our 4 night stay we never heard peep one way or the other. I did stop by the desk daily and was told "we are working on it" If there was nothing they could do at the very least they should have said, there is nothing we can do. I am very disappointed with the management, this is not like any other Marriott I have ever stayed at.

Ok, now for the good. Yes the new pools are wonderful. The bay was a little cloudy but I think it was because when we were there (October 18 - 22) the trades were not blowing but the Kona wind was causing the beach sand to wash out in the bay more than normal. The buffet was good, it was included in our package price. If it was not it costs$28 each and I do not think it would be worth it for that price. The "free" welcome Mai Tai was good (they used to offer a daily Mai Tai in the resort fee, now it is just one upon arrival). The $20 resort fee is not good. Other than the Mai Tai and the self park part we did not need the rest (free telephone, tennis court time and internet access). The restaurant is overpriced in my opinion. I do not mind paying a lot for a good meal (we ate at Roy's in the Kings shop and spent a fortune) but the one meal we had at the Marriott was just average.

The bed in the room was wonderful, it was kept super clean every day and the lotion provided was really nice.

All things considered I think this property could be great again but they would really need to make some major changes to get me back again. With all the options availabale we will be spending our future visits elsewhere.

We’ve been staying at this hotel every trip to Big Island, ever since it was an Outrigger. It’s a good base of exploration, it’s always been reasonable priced for a Kohala coast resort, and, till now, it’s been recognizably, enjoyably Hawaiian--the sort of place that brought a smile to my face walking into the lobby. No more. They recently spent $54M on a remodel, obviously guided by designers who use the word “evoke” a lot, with the intent of removing any hint that you’re actually in Hawaii, replacing any sense of place with décor that only “evokes” the 2006 Crate and Barrel catalog. The nice koa outrigger in the lobby? Removed to storage, replaced by a planter—a planter which, on a Hawaiian island that’s home to a thriving tropical flower industry, doesn’t even have a single tropical flower. Just generic green stuff—a taste of things to come. Fake dark wicker furniture, a retro 60’s color scheme, vague floral designs, featureless wall coverings, no aloha anywhere. It could be the Marriott Irvine or Marriott Myrtle Beach without changing a single thing. I’m sorry, but we go to Hawaii to go to *Hawaii* not just to go to a big hotel on nice beach. Heck, we have those at home...

I really don’t understand who they’re trying to appeal to? Conventioneers? Maybe. There are a lot of design and feature cues that will resonate with frequent business travelers, but those threw this frequent business traveler for a loop. Am I on vacation or just another business trip to an anonymous Marriott? Should I be obsessively checking my blackberry or not? I can’t tell at this place, and that’s the problem.

I guess we’re going to have to find a different base camp for Big Island trips. Good news is that not every hotel on Hawaii has forgotten why people fly thousands of miles to come there. They deserve your business. This corporate clone, which has deliberately turned its back on all things Hawaiian, deserves to be ignored.

The Front Office Manager at this property seems to be completely clueless on how to interact with guests and their immediate questions/problems.

I would strongly suggest that if you make any requests (ie. double beds, connecting room, etc.) that you get it in writing and document the individuals name, date, time of your call, etc. We requested these very things months in advance and when we arrived we were told that these things were never requested and the front desk asked us repeatedly the name of the representative who assisted us with the initial reservation. I never dreamed that I would have had to document this - especially at a Marriott and why couldn't they find this information in their computer?? Don't they have employee ID's and log-on codes like the rest of the business world? I did have a print out of my request for the double beds which I had left at home and I pointed out that we were traveling with 2 young girls under the age of 12 - why would I have not specifically requested a connecting room? Does this make any sense to anyone?? As a result, we spent our family vacation in completely separate rooms, calling on the phone each time we needed something or wanted to interact.

The food at the restaurant downstairs was horrible. We only ate there one night and found that EVERYTHING was drizzled in teriyaki sauce - the chicken, the steak, the fish,.....Awful!!! There was no Hawaiian music playing in and around the resort - instead two people were hired to sing outdated 80's songs in the dark corner of the bar. We live in Southern California and have access to wonderful beach resorts - we don't need to go to Hawaii to find a beach - we go to Hawaii to find "Hawaii".

In the end I complained via letter to Marriott and the General Manager of the property sent me a letter stating that my "comments were valid" and proceeded to reimburse me the $145.81 resort fee that we paid during our stay - which does cover the cost of the awful dinner but does nothing to make up for the fact that they couldn't get it right from the beginning and when I expressed all this to the Front Office Manager ("Andrade") he didn't even care to ask me what rooms we were in or how long we would be there. Absolutely a HUGE disappointment. At a time when the economy is not doing so great and Aloha Airlines has affected the amount of visitors arriving - one would think that customer service would be more of a priority - this Front Office Manager and his staff couldn't care less. I was handed my bill at check-out which exceeded $5000 and was never once asked if I had a pleasant stay, etc. Totally Unbelievable.

The only redeeming quality about this resort is the access to the beach and the friendly cleaning crews and parking attendants we encountered during our stay. I would never stay at this resort again, neither would I recommend it to anyone else.

Stayed one week at this property. Our problems started out immediately - when we pulled to the front, the valet staff watched as we unloaded our bags, then offered to help. We paid for ocean front rooms, and they put my mother in a room overlooking the roof. When I went down to ask to have her moved, I obviously put the front desk clerk out. My family and I travel a lot, we don't complain much and we can usually overlook staff that is just having a bad day. The clerk mumbled something and reluctantly moved my mother's room. This seemed to be every day with some of their staff. Half of the staff was really nice (true locals) and the other half was downright rude. Funny part is that when you go to the pool, you get a towel from the towel hut. Problem is they were out of towels most days, so you had to get dressed and go out front to those oh-so-friendly valet staff and ask them for a towel - Yes, you read that right - when the towel hut is out of towels, you have to go out front and ask the valet dude or a towel. They then grunt, and retrieve a towel for you from a room out front. One day, even the valet guys were out of towels and we had to wait over an hour to get towles for us. Every morning when I'd go out for my walk with my mom, I'd say good morning to the valet guys just to test them - only one of them was pleasant and said hello back, the rest just stare at you. Needless to say, I didn't bother to put them out upon our checkout, packed the bags myself. The food is very good, buffet breakfast is very good and the rooms are crowded but very clean. Many things were not working - couldn't get the in-room movies to work some nights, and the front desk couldn't figure out how to fix it. Room service trays stay in the hallways or a minimum of two days - if you've ever had to walk past someone's two-day old breakfast, you'll know it starts to smell. For what we paid, I would have expected better service. Next trip we'll stay south of Kona.

Front desk staff was friendly and hotel property is beautiful!

My husband and I LOVED A-Bay! A big wonderful ocean water playground in front of the hotel where one can swim, snorkel, or kayak. We loved walking the beach where we saw tons of Sea Turtles basking in the sun and swimming in the ocean. One day we walked way past the hotel beach to another area in A-Bay and had the entire beach to ourselves. It was very peaceful and relaxing! The sunsets at A-Bay are amazing!

The room was mediocre. Our bathroom floor had tons of hair on

it and obviously housekeeping skipped cleaning the floors from the previous guests. I ended up wiping all the icky hair off the floor so as not to step on it. The bathroom floors need serious updating as does the shower stall/bathtub. The shower area needs more light. I read online that the rooms were renovated, well, it looks like the only new thing in the bathroom is the vanity, which was decent. The room was nice, bed was comfortable and clean, but the desk, coffee table and dresser drawer was a little dusty and dirty. Needless to say I sanitized the place myself with disinfecting wipes. So sad to pay over $200 a night and have to clean stuff up yourself. I'm not the type of person to complain so I just didn't mention this to the hotel staff. I was happy the bed was clean or I would of freaked out!