Outrigger Waikoloa

Excellent in every aspect.

Clean, well maintained, spacious, quiet...

We travel with 2 young kids and stayed there for 1 week, booked thru VRBO. The moment I entered the condo, it is every penny worth it. We rented a 2 bdr with a mezzaine; it has 2 toilets so perfect for the kids and us, tho we did not use the other one since the kids are young. The lania is facing golf; a small drive of 5 mns to A-bay (not the best for kids to play but seems it is one of the best in BI); 5 mns walk to Kings Shopping, where you can find great but expensive restaurant, and high class shopping, I think it is because of Hilton and Marriott. Ther eis a convenient store in the mall so you can grab a last min thing like milk...

The villa is next to an ancient site of pretrogrif(i hope i spell right), and the mall offers a free tour which is really really worth it; our guide is so knowledgeable, and funny enough, it is one of the few locals we met in BI; onestly, i will defintiely go back and rent the same place. If you are worry about the place, do not. It is great.

my wife and another family and i stayed in i 1 the room is spectacular we had the best time their room had everthing u need for family vacation we went down to the hilton resort and got pool passes for the day it truely is a place to go like small theme park with great pools

Our group of 9 stayed at the Fairway Villas for 7 days, we had two condos, a 3 bedroom and a 2 bedroom, both were really nice. Our unit was very large and it was very clean. We had a beautiful view of the lake of the golf course. The unit was very open which made it feel comfortable even with all 9 people in it. The complex was very quite almost deserted. The lady at the check in desk said that they had 45 check outs the day before we got there for Labor Day weekend. The Kings shops and Queens Marketplace were close by and very convenient although they were a bit expensive. We walked to A-Bay beach behind the Marriott, it was not very far. We really had a hard time leaving it was so nice! What out for the geckos, they are all over the place.

We stayed from Aug 12 - 15, in a 3 bedroom, 3 bath condo. Beautiful, clean, had everything we needed. Great pool, right next to ancient petroglyphs and lava trail, good restaurants nearby, great beaches. Could not have been more satisfied.

Our stay at the Outrigger Fairway Villas Condominiums was just what we expected and wanted.... a low-key, yet excellent condo-resort experience. The Outrigger staff who helped me on the phone choose the right resort from their many was accurate and helpful and they continued to be so throughout our entire 8 day stay. The Condo was completely furnished -- down to every kitchen utensil and appliance one could possibly need for one's family or a wedding party dinner. The view from the lanai was of a long fairway which abutted the ocean and faced west for spectacular sunsets. The pool was not large but very handsome and well landscaped and just enough room for everyone at any time. There was a small open air gym, etc. One of the best features were the two small shopping centers within easy walking distance where you could eat, shop or get necessities next to a man-made lake. Early evening their was a variety of high quality, low-key Hawaiin entertainment. There were activiites there during the day as well. The shopping ranged from Tiffany's to specialty clothing. No kitchy beach shops at all! The very best feature was the beach itself...a long crescent shape, sandy beach. If you walked a little southward the beach gave way to coves and if you walked around the last cove you come to a long beach that takes you to the "Queen's Bath" one hour away. Magnificent. Next door to the north is the Hilton with all the waterfalls, lagoons, rides, and spas for which you can obtain a day pass. But we never did. We either went to the Fairways Beach or up the coast and tried a new beach each day. So this moderately priced condo-resort gave very good return on the daily rate.

I booked my stay through the owner and named my own price. Jim and Stacey Lynn were wonderful. G22 had everything...snorkeling equipment, boogie boards, beach chairs, towels, two tvs, a selection of DVDs, a stocked kitchen with every kind of pan and appliance you could need. Jim even came over once (he was visiting) and restocked the toilet paper and paper towels. This was a two bedroom, two bath condo on the second floor. It had an elevator to make luggage easy and helped my mom on the days she couldn't do the stairs (although not many). There are many grills there and we made acquaintances with many visitors as we grilled out twice. The pool, hot tub and exercise room were great, and the manager was there to help. He even printed out our boarding passes for us. Not having to pay for parking and being able to do our own laundry and cook breakfasts and make lunches...priceless. This is 1/2 mile away from A-Bay (won't walk because of the beach toys) but wonderful sunsets there. We did walk to Starbucks some mornings and enjoyed everything about the experience.

Please contact me if you have any questions. I'd love to share.

Stacy

Excellent in every aspect.

Clean, well maintained, spacious, quiet...

We travel with 2 young kids and stayed there for 1 week, booked thru VRBO. The moment I entered the condo, it is every penny worth it. We rented a 2 bdr with a mezzaine; it has 2 toilets so perfect for the kids and us, tho we did not use the other one since the kids are young. The lania is facing golf; a small drive of 5 mns to A-bay (not the best for kids to play but seems it is one of the best in BI); 5 mns walk to Kings Shopping, where you can find great but expensive restaurant, and high class shopping, I think it is because of Hilton and Marriott. Ther eis a convenient store in the mall so you can grab a last min thing like milk...

The villa is next to an ancient site of pretrogrif(i hope i spell right), and the mall offers a free tour which is really really worth it; our guide is so knowledgeable, and funny enough, it is one of the few locals we met in BI; onestly, i will defintiely go back and rent the same place. If you are worry about the place, do not. It is great.

This condo was so clean, new and just great. Booked through greathawaiianvacations.com for my parents and my sister's family with 3 kids. They shared a 3 bedroom condo. Lots of space, nice granite counter top kitchen. They enjoyed their stay there. We visited our friends in other condoes in Waikoloa too. Their condo was also great. Waikoloa is a new village so I think most of the condos would be new and clean.

First time on the Big Island, and thanks to TA we stayed at the Fairway Villas. We got a great rate through the Outrigger website, and were very pleased with what we recieved.

We stayed in a 2 +2 + Loft. We had 5 adults and 2 children. There was plenty of room for everyone.

Condo positives:

-The condo was very clean and well stocked when we arrived.

-Check-in process, although not onsite, was simple and fast

-Very spacious inside.

-Parking not a problem

Condo negatives:

-Daily maid service was not great. Empty trash and somewhat make the bed.

-Beds were not really comfortable

-Lanai was small

-They leave NOTHING in the cupboards from previous guests. Salt/Pepper, vegetable oil, baggies....nothing.(i wonder if they take it home)

Overall, the negatives were not an issue, but felt I needed to list them.

The Property is well maintained. There is a nice walking path which will take you thru some old Petroglyphs (and some not so old ones thanks to college kids). The pool area is surprisingly nice for a condo. The negative edge pool is set very nicely, looking over a man made lake and directly at the Kings shops, there is a nice hot tub (which was about 112, no joke). As said in every other review, the property is close to some shopping and some dining (Kings shops, and the now open Queens shops), along with A-Bay.

If you're looking to not spend a lot, and stay up in the Waikoloa area, this is the spot you're looking for.

We are a Family of Four that spent 12 Glorious days at the Fairway Villas. We have 2 Teens, and the oldest is graduating next year from High School, so we reluctantly thought that this might be our last vacation as a Family...so it has to be special! After months of search and asking LOTS of questions (on this forum, of course!) and reading the Big Island Revealed (I know, not appreciated by the locals!), I chose the Fairway Villas 2BR/2BA through VRBO. The owner is SUPERB (thanks, Angela!), and answered all my e-mail questions about the unit within 24 hours. My jaw dropped when I entered the condo...absolutely Stunning decor and attention to detail. Tastfully done Asian style. We loved the Fairways because of it's large condo size, (we live in a large home; we we need a large vacation condo!) and the convienance of being in Waikoloa Beach Resort. I choose this location because of what is important to my Family....the Beach! Although A-Bay had great snorkelling (I snorkelled with a HUGE Turtle...I think I screamed when I first saw him/her!), Hapuna Beach (a mere 10 minute drive north) was THE BEST for my Boogie Boarders, and is just a beautiful beach in itself. Coming home each evening to the Fairway was always a pleasure, because it was nice and quiet. The pleasant lady at the info centre was a gem, and helpful in many ways. The pool itself was quite cool in temp.; but the hot tub made up for it!! The outdoor grills were always clean and well attended. A great place to socialize with your neighbours, and ask about their days' adventures. The King's Shops are near-by...but come with $$. Somehow, I don't come to The Big Island to shop at Tiffany's, KWIM? Great for Starbucks at 0600 hrs when you are jet-lagged, though!!

We have been home a week; and our tans are fading (too fast!), but not our memories of the Fairway Villas and the Big Island.

Stayed in A4 for 8 nights with an infant and a 5 year old. 3 Bedrooms were wonderful, little "office" area was perfect for the baby to sleep in - although we had to rent a playpen and highchair from an outside vendor for extra money. We had been told there would be one room with a King bed, - there was, one wtih a Queen - there was, and one with 2 twin beds - there was not, it ended up being a double bed. The set up we were told about would have been perfect, but wasn't what we got. We made do. Pool was great, Hot tub fabulous. Went to Costco 1st day there and with the well equipt kitchen, had great meals. The beaches were all within easy driving distance, Abay with in walking distance. We did have trouble parking at times, we had 2 cars (there were 7 of us) and there are no "reserved" spots, it is first come first serve. We were lucky most of the time to get spots right outside our unit, but did have to walk once or twice. Housekeeping did a nice job. It was reasonably quiet, we were soaked by the sprinklers a few times both in the morning and at night. Beautifully decorated and gorgeous flowers around the condo. LOVED it!!! Will return.

We stayed here in 2006, and again returned in 2007. This place is a little gated community that served us well. We rented directly from the owners via VRBO.com, and each unit was well furnished and very quiet. For the price of less than $200/night including tax, these 2-bd/2-ba units are great for families.

The famed A-Bay beach is close by, but we tend to favor the Hapuna beach or the Mauna kea beach which are less than 15 min drive away. The drive to Costco goes through heavy traffic south of the airport, but one visit to stock up on the unit's large refrigerator will easily last us the week.

One advice is that try to avoid a first floor unit. My friends stayed at a first floor unit (we stayed in the 2nd floor units), and while they loved the fact that the patio led out to the golf course, they found few dead bugs in the property (but this is probably true in most tropical locations).

Overall, very conveniently located, and a great value for money.

Actually, I wish I was still there!

Exceeded my expectation.

My family and I stayed here after spendiing 4 nights in Waikiki. We all stated that next time..forget Honolulu...The Big Island is where we belong. In Waikiki we stayed in a 3 star condo...it was okay! But when we arrived at our 2 bedroom condo(B4) we just all sighed! The condo had everything we needed, including beach chairs, pool toys, dvds, cds, these owners went over and above. Even everything you need in your kitchen minus the food!

So as a travel agent I decided to book this stay as a consumer(no discounts). I wanted to see what my clients would expect. I am happy to say..I definately would suggest the Fairway Villas to my clients.

I had several clients with me in condos nearby. So I did some room inspections. Wow! It got better 3 bedrm etc... all looked great. One of my clients had 4 boys ages 2 and up...ran around, had a blast...so yes...readers it is very family friendly.

If you prefer to be closer to the beach then stay at the Marriott or Hilton....but remember you will pay the price if youknow what I mean.

The rooms, the bathrooms, the kitchen, the lanai...beautiful!

only negative...we found a petrified millipede in our room, and

Fairways is only across the street from the beach.

The only thing my girls did not like is that is is pretty far from the night life. Well only 10 miles away but when you are not familiar with the area to them it is far. The liked the nightlife in Waikiki but not Waikiki if that made any sense.

I think the best thing we did on the Big Island was go on the Fairwind II snorkel cruise, and horseback riding in Waipio.

Outrigger Fairway Villas No Ka Oi!

Booked via Outrigger Condominium Collection.

I love the Big Island so am a frequent visitor (retirement has its perks!). I've stayed at Fairway Villas almost every year since it opened. It is a lovely complex in the Waikoloa "resort area" - not to be confused with the "Waikoloa Village" area about 6 miles away up the mountain . The complex is convenient to numerous beautiful beaches and yet away from the traffic & congestion now found down in the Kailua-Kona area itself. It's peaceful-- the Kings Shops are just a short walk away (live music each evening!)-- and there was more than adequate additional shopping to be found up in the Waikoloa Village and Waimea areas. I've always stayed in a 2nd floor unit in the "O" building that faces the lake right on the 9th tee box, and I love it. The view is wonderful, the unit is large & comfortable, & the kitchen is great. There are 3 TV's, VCR/DVD, stereo, the furniture is all comfortable, and the artwork on the walls is wonderful! The first time I ever visited this area I stayed at the hotel across the way, but it cost more for a regular room there now than a 2 BR condo cost at Fairway Villas. So I don't mind giving up the hotel services for the difference in costs. Plus the condo is way more roomy & comfortable, there's a washer/dryer right there, & I enjoy being able to fix my own breakfasts instead dressing to go down to a dining room. I will absolutely stay at Fairway Villas again.

We spent 7 nights at the Fairway Villas in April 2007. Our travel agent recommended the property and I admit that I checked with TripAdvisor before I would agree to stay there. The travel agent booked us into a 2bd/2ba unit (#K-3) overlooking the Waikola Golf Course and King's Lake and adjacent to the pool are.

Unit had 1 king bed, 2 twin beds and a queen size sofa sleeper. The unit was well furnished and showed no obvious signs of wear. Unit had a full kitchen and was adequately stocked with enough pots, pans, cookware, and utensils to make meals for six.

Outrigger provided six beach towels for use during our stay. These towels were not replenished so it was necessary to wash them each night. Not a big deal to me at all! Outrigger provided fresh bath towels and emptied the trash each day. They vacuumed the unit twice during our stay. And provided additional paper towels and dishwashing soap when needed.

This complex is ideal for families with young children. Anyone looking for serious peace and quiet (read: no children) should stay someplace else.

We loved the proximity of the Fairway Villas to King's Shops. The stores are expensive but there are some bargains to be had. One thing to note is that Kin'g Shops offers some kind of free entertainment every evening!

The Fairway Villas is an excellent value for the price!

We (2 retired adults) stayed at the Fairway Villas for 4 nights in mid April. Right from the start we were surprised at the old lava fields surrounding the Kona airport; for miles, nothing but black - it was amazing. We arrived at the Waikoloa Resort after a 20 minute drive to find a wonderful green oasis. The entire resort consists of a Hilton, a Marriott, numerous gated condominium communtities, 2 golf courses, and the Kings' Shops (stores, restaurants and a food court). The wonderful beach (sunsets are georgeous!) is a 3 minute drive away. The Fairway Villas is a 3 storey, gated condominium collection along one of the golf courses. Our unit was J23, a fantastic 2 bedroom, 2 huge bathrooms, condo with hot tub, lanai, central air, complete kitchen and all utensils, large TV and DVD player, dishwasher and washer and dryer. It had its own reserved carport. The unit was very quiet, nicely decorated and spotless throughout - it can easily accommodate 6-7 people. Our lanai overlooked one of the golf fairways and the lake beside the Kings' Shops. There is nothing like having breakfast on your lanai at 8:00 in the morning, being entertained by the various birds and the efforts of golfers going by. The cleaning staff did a great job every day. The King's Shops, with its food court is handy, but the shops are pricey. They are in the midst of building an additional shopping and entertainment complex at the entrance to the resort, which will probably be opening by 2008? Presently, there is a larger mall with a restaurant and grocery store in Waikoloa (15 minutes drive) and all kinds of services in Waimea (30 minutes drive).

You definitely want the use of a car on the Big Island. There are numerous beaches just north of Waikoloa and tremendous snorkeling at Kahalu'u Beach Park just south of Kona. Of course the trip to the Volcanoes National Park is not to be missed.

Out stay at the Fairway Villas was a wonderful experience, worth every penny - we hated to leave, but Maui was beckoning!

Just returned from a great vacation in hawaii. We stayed at the outrigger fairway villas in a 3bed/3bath villa. It was well worth every dollar. We had a total of 6 adults and there was never a crowed moment. Maid service was everyday, note: they will not make your bed if something personal is lying on it. Towels were plentiful always. There are plenty of plates, silverware, and glasses for everyone. The weather was sunny here while the other parts were getting rain alot of times during our stay. Its a very easy place to get to from the airport. The kings shops are easy to get to a short walk from the villas its self. Note there is a small food court in this shopping center (subway, dairy queen, orange julius, a burger place, and a nacho place). Starbucks is in the same complex. The general store has a little bit of eveything. I recommend if you are planning to cook, go to costco, wal-mart, k-mart, or the safeway grocery store (sign up for discount card here its free) to get your food supplies as the supermarket they recommend is higher priced than the others. As for location of these, they are close the airport on the other side. All sit on the left. Wal-mart and Safeway are located on Henry street. Costco is the cheapest place for gas (you have to have a member card).

The beach A-Bay is right next door to the kings shops it is a nice beach make sure to take your water shoes the rocks can cut the toes. The turtles were swimming right off the beach. Keep an eye out in the waters when at the beach and driving there were many whales to see blowing the water from their holes.

Remember that Hilo is a rainy place, so when traveling over there take a poncho with you esp. if your seeing the waterfalls. Enjoy everything the island has to offer.

Just returned from a 10 day trip to the Big Island, the last three nights spent at Fairway Villas.....Really nice condos/compound. Clean large, the infinity pool and attached rock hot tub were amazing. Our unit, and most, it's a fairly small compound, were located within walking, or a short 3 minute drive to the King's Shops outdoor mall, which is located right across the lake from the actual condos. I rented through Abbey Vacation Rentals and have only the very best to say about them. The unit was decorated beautifully, stocked with towels, and all the necessities, and Amy, Dan and Sue at Abbey were all very helpful. I'd say these probably aren't ideal for everyone (nothing is right?), no direct ocean view, just great views of the lake and the golf course with palm trees, very nice. But if you rent a Jeep or car, which I highly recommend for the Big Island, you can easily get to several Excellent beaches within 10-15 mins of the condo - in addition to A-bay which is again a 5 minute drive. We were in unit N-23 by the way, through Abbey Rentals. - Aloha!

We stayed in the Fairway Villas for four nights in late August. We rented a three bedroom, two bath unit for our group of seven including two small children (both under four) through Sandy Vacations.

PROS:

-Three bedroom, two bath unit was more than enough room for us.

-Full size kitchen with utensils, microwave, regular size fridge, and smaller-sized washer and dryer (a great thing to have!!)

-Unit included other amenities such as tvs (one in livingroom and the other in the master suite), dvd players, coolers (useful to have if you have kids and for those long road trips around the island), pool toys (according to the owner, the coolers and toys may not always be there, depending on whether the person renting the unit takes them home or not...)

-Central a/c...we had a very humid weather during our stay so it was nice to come back to a cooled-off unit

-Pool was nice for our kids

-Assigned parking spot. Very helpful considering that we drove around a lot and when you're tired from a long day of sightseeing, the last thing you want to do is walk a long ways to your condo!

CONS:

-I can't think of any...REALLY! My family was very happy staying in this place.

FYI:

-Book the unit directly with the owner...It worked for us because the owner had pictures of the unit we rented on her website, and it was the "what you see is what you get." We weren't disappointed.

I hope this helps.

This is the perfect place to stay. The condo itself is big and roomy with everything you need to make you feel at home. There is a beach within walking distance and several other beaches to explore just a short drive away. Kayaking, georgeous snorkeling, and boogie boarding are all nearby as well. Our trip was a great experience!

I just spent 10 days on the Big Island. An amazing 10 days due not only to all the adventures and relaxation experienced, but due to the completely comfortable accommodations discovered at the Fairway Villas.

Two friends and I booked a 2-bedroom, 2-bath condo and all were thrilled. After action-packed days at the beach, we returned to a very clean and comfortable home, one that all of us could have happily lived in for years to come.

A fully stocked kitchen, laundry machines, TVs, DVD, Video, and CD players were at our disposal, not to mention a beach umbrella and chairs and nicely furnished dining, patio and living areas. Even the refrigerator had a water-filtration system in it so we didn't have to buy drinking water all the time (previously one of my major traveling expenses).

The grounds include a nice pool (with infinity wall) and hot tub and a nice open-air gym for those that don’t find enough exercise swimming and hiking.

The location was fantastic, close to some of the state's most revered beaches, right across the fairway from the King's Shops, and within walking distance to the beach.

Next time I visit the Big Island I will make certain to stay at the Fairway Villas again. The comfortable accommodations helped to seal my vacation as one of the most memorable in quite some time.

A group of us stayed at the Outrigger Villas July 18-20th. We booked (2) 2-bed/bath. I have nothing but positive things to say about our stay at the Outrigger. When I researched the property I read positive and a few negative reviews. I am so glad I didn't let those negative comments sway me in that direction. The Outrigger is in a gated community on a beauiful golf course. The Kings Shop are within walking distance. We did a day trip to visit Volocano National Park - I highly recommend. The drive along the coast is awesome. We were able to see an active Volcano which was an incredible experience. We had breakfast at the Hilton - pricey but delicious. We were at the Outrigger for such a short time because we visited 2 other islands. There are lava fields around the Kohola Coast which takes some getting use to. When renting your vehicle pay the extra for the GPS system it will save you some time. It takes about 1 1/2-2 hours to get the Volocano Park. Enjoy!

Just came back from ten glorious days on The Big Island. We stayed at the Fairway Villas in Waikola. Booked the trip through Abbey Vacation Rentals. They were great. We had two minor problems when we arrived, but these were fixed within 24 hours. Our unit was on the third floor and overlooked the pool and the Waikola lagoon. Beautiful lanai to have breakfast and dinner. The rest of the time we were on a golf course. Good location and very quiet. Would definitely use Abbey Vacation Rental again.

We were very surprised at how nice the condos were. We stayed in a 2br w/loft. The whole place is clean and has everything you need. We stayed for seven nights and wished we could have stayed longer had we known how nice the place was. The cleaning crew were very responsive and staff were nice. The swimming pool is a little small but wasn't crowded. The King's shops were close by and the A-beach was a good place for the kids to play in the sand, a little far to walk. The place we stayed in had cable tv in each room which was nice for the kids. Rice cooker came in very handy too. All in all, I would say this is an excellent place for a family with kids and would recommend to anyone.

We stayed at a three bedroom with loft condo and it worked perfect for my parents (who flew from Japan) and my family. Our unit was very close to the pool, hot tub, work-out room, a grill area, and a welcome center. In addition, out unit was nicely decorated and made us feel very at home.

The only negative thing I noticed was that the path to the King's shop was really dark at night... Other than that, it was a great place to stay and I would highly recommend this place to anyone who plans to visit Hawaii.

Wow! What a beautiful Villa and an even more beautiful view! We stayed in the E Building, #31, and it was a wonderful experience. The view from the Lanai was all the way down to the end of the golf course to the west, the small lakes on the golf course in front of us, and the world's largest mountains to the East. The Hawaiian-style furniture was beautiful, the large TV and videos were welcome, and the black granite counter tops were a perfect touch. We found everything we needed close by - it's a short walk to the King's Shops featuring several excellent restaurants, inlcuding our favorite, Roy's Waikoloa Grill. We loved A-Beach, right near the complex, and drove a few miles to one of the top beaches in the world -Kapuna. Our entire family of five have traveled to the Big Island for the past 12 years, and this was by far the most enjoyable place we have ever stayed. Look forward to our return!

Went with a couple friends to golf in April - taking the family back this Fall. It was a great place to stay. The accomodations exceeded my expectations. Centrally located in the resort community; access to beach a five minute walk, great golf and leisure.

My wife and I stayed at the Outrigger Fairway Villas - unit E-33 for 5 nights as part of our honeymoon. The overall location is excellent - about 20 minutes north of Kona airport and 5 minutes from the beach. Our unit was nicely appointed, plenty of space (2 bedroom + loft), and very quiet -- all things we really wanted. However, there were a few issues which annoyed us throughout our stay. First, the bed doesn't have a real mattress pad - just one of those thin pads that resembles a house-training pad used for puppies covered with a king-size flat sheet. It slipped and slid around and was a lumpy mess once you turn once or twice in your sleep. It seemed pretty cheap considering the rest of the unit looked first class.

Second, the tile floors in the main living area were dirty. They didn't look dirty, but after 5 minutes of walking in white socks, they turned black. Outrigger needs to clean with a good mop or scrub-brush once in awhile. We think this dirt in the main area tracked to the master bedroom carpet, which also was in need of a cleaning. We strictly complied with the posted request to remove shoes in the unit, so we know we didn't track this dirt in.

Third, the air conditioner is located on the lanai. If it's running, you're running away from the lanai. It's loud.

Fourth, there was a "funk" to the unit that greeted us whenever we opened the door. It seems like someone had cooked some extremely spicy/oily food in the unit previously and Outrigger hadn't been able to completely eradicate the odor.

Oh - fourth-and-a-half issue: there's an unusually suggestive print of a Hawaiian warrior in the 2nd bedroom. It was funny at first but ended up being rather creepy by the time we left.

Despite these downsides, we still really enjoyed our stay. It was perfect for us -- quiet, secluded, and a value for our money. There's a shopping center directly across the street with a more-or-less reasonably priced grocery store -- another is about 5 minutes further up at the next resort area.

My husband and I were there along with another couple for 9 days and celebrated anniversaries and a birthday . I must say I was pleasantly surprised at the accomodations and how closely they appeared compared to the pictures I'd seen beforehand. We did not want for anything because the villa (G-24) was well stocked with everything you needed for cooking (pots & pans, eating utensils etc.) and all the covenience of being at home. The cleaning crew came everyday to replace towels, make beds, empty trash, etc. and every third day they did a more thorough cleaning. The view and the sereneness felt every morning was wonderful. I will definitely recommend and will more than likely return again to this villa.

We stayed here for 16nts in Jan. We got a great deal through Costco travel...every 4th nt free. We were in unit K2 on the 9th fairway of the Beach course. If you golf buy there frequent golfer package at the course and rounds are about $100 if you buy 4 or more. Both courses are great...I enjoyed the Kings course a little more. Had no problem just walking on as a single early before the wind kicked up and was back to the condo in less than 4hrs.

The unit was very clean and housekeeping was what others have stated, empty trash, make bed. They did sweep and vacuum twice. I had no problem with housekeeping.

The furniture was the standard rattan in good condition. Kitchen and appliances were wonderful. Bathrooms were great. Shower and seperate tub in master. Big walk in closet in master bath too.

Pool was great for our 4 yr old. Yes it was chilly but you get used to it she said. It was a wonderful area to lounge and enjoy the day and beautiful sunset. BBQ area right behind was first rate; clean and well maintained like the entire grounds.

Costco is a must. Waikoloa Village for grocery shopping has a nice little store. Bring salt/pepper etc from home. Charley's Thai in the Queen shops is really good and good prices. Sansei also in the Queen shops is terrific. It hadn't opened yet during our stay, but we ate at the one in Kapalua. Try the Panko Ahi roll. Check for early bird specials...great discount.

We had a wonderful stay here. Perfect for our hanging out style of vacation with young children. Also had a 4mo. old with us. ABay and Hapuna were great beaches for us. You are far from civilization in Waikoloa, but it is PARADISE!!!

If you like golf...good choice! Villas are well maintained... and clean on arrival. Location is handy to shopping and food! The only downside was daily housekeeping... they missed alot of the details, and some days would not ever come. We enjoyed the BBQ area, fitness center and pool. Overall would return but would request either an East or West facing unit... so we could layout with out having to use the pool area or catch the sunrise.

We booked through Aloha and were on the last flight to the Mainland. That seemed to lend emphasis to the fact that we felt so privileged to be enjoying a beautiful vacation. We have always gone to Kauai, as my parents had a place there for many years. All the black lava did take some getting used to! But the Hapuna and Mauna Kea and Spencer Beaches were wonderful! The beach by the condo is OK but if you have a car do explore. We had our adult children with us (21 and 24). Our son wanted to surf but there was little surf. He had opted (luckily) to not bring any boards and rent. He ended up finding a spot north of Waimea. We had some amazing dinners out (don't miss the Lobster at Brown's at the Orchid, go early, 5:30, and watch the sun set.) and I would reccomend the Canoe House. We also went into Kona to a fish market to get fresh fish and grilled back ant the condo twice. We love the fresh organic lettuce, papaya's, onions and tomatoes. I thought our daughter would enjoy the shopping - the rest of us are not much for that but it is handy! All in all the condos were very clean - I saw not ONE bug - amazing! Every thing was handy and confortable. There is no ocean view but at this price, and since, as a beach rat I spend all day on the sand, it was fine. My only complaint, like another writer, there was a lawn mowing guy who would ride around (not even cutting lawn) and make noise. But it only happened one morning. All in all, if your are lucky enough to go to Hawaii and stay here - relax and thank your good karma! Aloha!

We stayed at the FW Villas for five nights with another couple, an excellent value The Villas are about a half mile from the public A-Bay beach/park. We had a ground level unit facing the golf course. The unit was rented through Outrigger, which has an office at the nearby King's Shops.

Their service includes daily trash pickup, bed making, clean towels if desired, and replenishment of all paper products.

Also included is restocking all the bathroom soap, shampoo, lotion, etc., laundry detergent and dishwasher soap.

Six beach towels are furnished but if they need washing you must do it yourself.

So all one needs to purchase is food, which we did at Waikoloa Village, about 15 minutes away. The Village has a well stocked, large, supermarket with a deli.

The unit was very spacious, clean, quiet, and modern, the kitchen was well equipped. The master suite is big, king bed, walk in closet, large tub, separate shower, w.c., TV,.... Our unit also had snorkeling gear and beach mats.

We didn't have reserved parking but managed to find a close by spot even when returning late in the evening.

We didn't use the pool, exercise room, or grills. The grounds are nice, lots of vegetation. We ate breakfast on the lanai most mornings. One time a condo grounds keeper drove a Cub Cadet lawn mower back and forth directly in front of us for twenty minutes until we decided to go back inside, then he left.

Apparently there are a few king/queen units but ours was not. The second, smaller bedroom, next to the second bathroom, has twin beds, [they offered to push the twins together and put on king bedding] a six foot wide closet, a night stand, but no dressers at all. So the only options with clothes that don't hang are putting them in the closet outside the bedroom door or keeping them in the luggage, neither option is very desirable.

Other than the second bedroom, which may work okay for a family, we found it to be a nice place to stay.

My wife and I booked this villa with an agent based on recommendations from TA. We were very satisfied with our stay here.

Service:

Check-in was an adventure. Our pamphlet said one unit while our keys said another. We were told that this is done for security purposes in the event our key is lost. Okay. So we tried those keys at our unit and it didn't work. On our way back to the reception center someone flagged us down. They checked in right after us. It turned out they had our keys and we had theirs! The lady at the reception center mixed them up. That was the only incident.

Room:

We stayed in a 2BR/2B golf view unit. We loved our accommodations. You can tell both the bathrooms and the kitchen were recently renovated. The unit was very spacious and clean. Our lanai had views of the golf course. In the mornings we could see the sunrise from our lanai and that was a refreshing experience. It was also very quiet where we stayed. We even saw a gecko hanging out outside our unit. Noise was a non-issue.

Cons:

No internet access. No reserved parking for our unit for some reason. The guests downstairs had a reserved spot.

Food at King's Shops:

Roy's restaurant is a must try. Breakfast at the Big Island Steakhouse was just okay. Huge portions though. Island Fish and Chips was very good but it took way too long to get our food.

Everything else:

The Outrigger is in a very convenient location. It's only a 5-10 minute walk to the King's Shops, depending on where your unit is. The reps at the Visitor's Center in King's Shop love to talk and will try very hard to sell you a tour at a discounted price to see a.... timeshare! Surprise surprise right? The beach at A-Bay is a walkable distance but you're better off driving there. There's also a gas station at the entrance so fuel shouldn't be a concern.

All in all a nice place to stay. If you're looking for an affordable villa on Kona, this is it!

My wife and I visited the Big Island for the second time. The first time we stayed at the Waikoloa Marriott, this time we decided to go the condo route and chose the Outrigger Fairway Villas. We had a great experience. We rented a 2 bedroom unit facing the lake and Kings Shops. The place was very quiet (we visited in May) and the place was clean and well stocked with supplies. With food prices being so expensive on the islands, and without a whole lot of choices we felt the condo is a much better bargain than staying at a hotel. At nearby Waikoloa Village (about 4 miles away) there is a full service grocery store to get supplies, and the whaler's general store is in King's Shops for something quick. The folks at Outrigger were very nice both on the phone while making the reservation and the folks that are onsite. Everything went extremely smooth. There is another condo community that is nearly finished just across from the fairway villas and Outrigger will be managing properties there as well. Basically the same layout as these but slightly more upscale details being that these are brand new units. We will be staying here again on our next visit.

Our family stayed at the Fairway Villas in mid-May and everyone loved it. We stayed in Unit E-3, which is well equipped, stocked, and decorated. Appliances are very new and nice. Place is clean and rooms are big. Master suite has a big bathroom and a walk-in closet. It even has some beach supplies.

Location is awesome. Shopping village is only steps away. "A"-bay is one-minute drive. Hilton is just down the road. Yes, it is windy in Waikoloa, but we got used to it quickly.

We chose this ground-level unit to make it easier for our 18-month old son. At first we were concerned about bugs, since the complex is built around two golf courses. We did find two bugs but that was all. As long as one keeps the screen closed, all is well.

Owner Scott was easy to deal with, very responsive, and better yet, charges 10% below market rate. Not long after we left for the airport on our way home, we already started talking about going back soon. Very soon, hopefully.

Just returned from a week long stay with 6 people (4 adults, 2 children). We stayed in unit H-1, which turned out to be owned by a couple from Castlerock, just south of where I live! I've read previous postings about company (Outrigger) owned units vs. privately owned units. Our unit was very nicely furnished. The previous renters left some food supplies (butter, s&p) and we did the same for the next renters (bottled water, soda, cooking oil). There is daily towel service and full housekeeping every 3 days. We did laundry almost every day, and the housekeepers noticed and started leaving extra detergent for us.

The previous poster noted that there is a Costco by the airport. It's actually just SOUTH of the airport, not north. Also, as noted previously, there is free wi-fi by the guest relations office/pool area.

We preferred going into Waimea to eat, as opposed to Kona. Waimea is a bit closer and has some great plate lunch type restaurants. Hawaiian Style Cafe, Kamuela Deli

I've reviewed the HSC in my food blog: http://happysumo.blogspot.com/

We had a great time with our kids (7 and 2) at this place. Condo is very well equipped with everything you need at home. Place is kept very clean with daily service.

Pros:

- quiet community

- bbq area (2 webers and 1 charbroil. be sure to go early as it can get crowded with dad's preparing dinner for the family. what i've observed is around 5pm dads start rolling in with grilling items. however, most folks are friendly enough to share a grill if there aren't enough to go around).

- free unlimited local calls on the big island. great for dial-up internet access using a local #.

- cordless phone, dvd player, some dvd movies provided, some board games provided.

- free wifi by the welcome center by the pool. apparently the wifi is provided by hilton, since the welcome center is really run by nearby hilton to lure potential time-share owners for their properties. i've seen some folks with the laptops by the pool or just outside of the welcome center browsing the net. during normal hours, the welcome center also has a biz center with free printer and copier services.

- there's a beach really close by, about 1/3 mile from property.

- washer and drying with detergent provided.

- beach umbrella and chair provided.

Cons:

- not that close to downtown kona, about 25 mins drive away.

- no wifi in the condo itself.

- everything you need for cooking, except that there's zero sauces, salt, or pepper. you just have to get your own.

- if you arrive after dark, either make sure you know your direction very well or have GPS. the roads there have no street lights, and street signs are not lit. we had to call before knowing where to go.

one suggestion is to hit the costco just north of the airport (18-20min drive) right in the beginning of your stay. that costco has cooked rotisserie chicken and throw-into-the-oven prepared meals. perfect if you don't want to get the sauces you need. also try to get a ground floor unit if you can, as the kids can run around the lawn outside of the lanai instead of just in an enclosed lanai on a upstair unit.

My wife and I stayed in a 2 bedroom lower floor unit for a week in January with our 3-year old. The room was decorated like they show online: stainless appliances, dark wood furniture and paneling. It was obviously professionally decorated. Our lanai opened out onto a grass area in front of the fairway which was great for burning off toddler energy. We had an amazing view of snow-covered Mauna Kea.

Pros:

- Easy walk to Kings Shops (Starbucks) and small market.

- WiFi access near fitness center

- Very cool petroglyph field next door.

- Pool is great for kids.

Cons:

- BBQ area. There are no BBQ's allowed in the condos, so you have to use a central BBQ station near the pool. There are only 3 grills, so it can get crowded and you have to wait.

- Maid service is spotty. We got a full clean halfway through our stay, but we had to ask for that up front.

Beaches:

- Forget A-bay, it is overrated. They piled up a huge ridge of sand down the middle to "protect the beach from erosion", so it was like laying out at a construction site. There are much better beaches farther north.

- We REALLY liked Spencer Beach State Park, which was uncrowded and calm, with great sand for 3-year old sand castle building. About a 15-min drive from FV.

- Mau'umae Beach at the Mauna Kea resort was a hidden gem. You have to get to the resort gate by 9:00AM to get a parking pass, and the beach is a short hike, but it is worth it. The same white sand as the Mauna Kea beach but without the crowds. No ammenities, but lots of tropical atmosphere. Worth the effort.

We have been to the Big Island 6 times and stayed in different hotel/condos. The Fairway Villas is the best so far!! First, the management impressed me with their front desk services. We have 13 in our group and I called the front desk ahead of time and made requestes for bed configurations in each units. Since all units are individually owned, I was surprised to find that all our requests were met when we got there. Our unit was a 3/3, lots of room, great master bathroom and lanai is right off the 10th tee box, except, the air conditioning was a little whacky. Location is wonderful, far enough from noises, but close enough to the King's Shopping Center. Love the fact that the condo is close to a beach, with not that many tourists in the morning hours. Although, don't expect much of a swimming pool on site, it is quite small.

We stayed in unit K3 back in April 04 and had a great time - booked through Orbitz for $190/nite - 2 bedrm...this was when you had Marriott priveleges across the street.

This time we booked directly through owner on vrbo and had unit #N-2 for $160/nite - a great deal! All 2 bedrooms have typical decor, nothing terribly special but very pleasant. We also had TV's in all rooms and DVD/Stereo/VHS in living room and wireless and cable modem access in the master bedroom which was a necessity for me. There is daily maid service - but you HAVE to ask them to clean floors/kitchen if you need that, otherwise it's just towl service and making your beds. My parents/sister came out halfway through our trip and stayed in the 3 bedroom right next door (unit N-1) booked through Abbey Rentals for $285/nite. This unit is PHENOMENAL!!! They did not have maid service and had to wash all towels before they left. So all units will vary depending on who is renting them out. We used the washer/dryer quite a bit having 2 kids with us - very handy. And the A/C in this unit was far superior to any other we have used (3 individual climate controls for the bedrooms and living room and very quiet both inside and outside).

Pool - I love this pool, it is NOT too small and rarely when we were there were there more than 5 other people there. Sometimes there were 10-15 but never did it seem crowded. And I'm a jacquizi lover, so that was used quite a bit.

Workout Facility - I don't workout on vacation and most don't, it is basic and was hardly ever used by anyone else.

Location - I think the fairway villas offer the best location BY FAR. (buildings N, M, and K being the absolute best). You have less than a 5 minutes walk to the Kings' Shops, you're on the 9th hole (in units mentioned), great view of lake, 10 minute walk to A-Bay/Marriott. No noticable construction noise from anything going on around us - which was not the case at the Colony Villas I noticed.

Ammenities - There is no longer the affiliation with the Marriot, however, the Marriot is not using wristbands so we had no problem getting towels or using the pool (kiddie sand bottom pool was used by my 3 yr old). The Marriot was fairly quiet with one wing being shut down but the pool area was pleasant when it wasn't blowing like crazy (just 2 of the 7 days we were there).

Overall - When we stayed last year we thought we made the best decision. We did shop around quite a bit this time and still decided to stay at the Fairways. The Vistas, Shores, Bay, and Colony's all didn't just suit our needs and in returning to the Fairways again - I clearly saw that my decision was right. Go play a few holes at sunset - they don't mind. If you are looking for a 2 bedroom under $200 or a 3 bedroom under $300 - this is the place. Get a unit on the 9th hole as suggested! You'll love it. If looking to spend $400-500 - check out the Islands at Mauna Lani or better yet, Kolea @ Waikoloa. Kolea's construction noise wasn't that bad over in buildings 1-3, views just aren't as good.

Stayed one week at the Fairway Villas with my husband and two teenagers. We were very happy with the location, the condo and the grounds.

Location:

The King's Shops are a 5-minute walk away and A-Bay is just 5 minutes farther. If you don't feel like fighting the Kona traffic to get to Costo, you can grocery shop in Waikoloa Village just 6 miles away. You will not encounter any traffic and their prices were reasonable on most items and you don't have to pack the perishables in an ice chest for the drive back to the condo. Waikoloa Beach Resort is central to the places we drove to - our favorite beaches (Kua Bay, Makalawena, Hapuna and Mauna Kea), all are 10-15 miles North or South of the resort.

About the condo:

We stayed in a 2/2 and had plenty of room. Our unit also had a sofa bed in the living room. The master bedroom has a second TV and phone. The lanais do not face other units since the buildings are stretched out in a linear fashion, so each one faces the golf course and some have the golf course and the King's Lake for a view. We had a dining room set and three barstools to sit at the kitchen counter. We were in a ground floor unit and could here thumping when the kids in the unit above us jumped off the couch or ran across the room, but I never heard any noise like voices or TV's coming from above or next door.

Grounds:

The landscaping was beautiful and the parking areas were clean.

We did not have any problems with parking, our assigned spot was always available. The pool is a bit small, but I never saw it so crowded that all of the chairs were taken. Many of the visitors must opt for the beaches rather than the pool. The gym is very basic and has a large TV mounted on the wall and sliding glass doors all around to let in the breeze. The gym is very close to the pool so you can keep an eye on your kids at the pool while you work out.

Outrigger Management:

Checkin was very easy as they have an office in the King's Shops that is open until 11PM. You are not charged for phone calls, as only local dialing is enabled on the phones. They admit that there have been problems with people using the wrong parking space.

Perks:

We were pleasantly surprised at the little extras the owners included like a video game system with games, DVD movies, beach chairs and umbrellas and even the blue freezer bags ready to go into our ice chest. The kitchen was well stocked with everything we needed. We even had mixing bowls, measuring cups and spoons and bakeware. We picked up 4 wireless networks by the pool and gym area and one on our lanai and in the condo, so we always had internet access.

We recently returned from staying at the Fairway Villas. And we really enjoyed our stay. The 3-Bedroom/3-Bath was spacious, beautifully decorated, quiet, and very clean. We loved the Master Bedroom Suite, although the bed was awful (we could feel springs in the mattress). There was plenty of room to spread out in and it made our trip with 4 kids much more pleasant. Maid service was good, however, they had some real problems making beds with sheets covering the entire mattress (like using flat queens on kings, not pulling sheets down to cover the lower third of the twin mattresses, etc.). We had no trouble with parking although we were warned that if someone took our reserved spot, there was nothing they would do about it. We really enjoyed the pool and found it to be the perfect size and temperature for kids to play in. The location was fantastic (close to shops, the beach, and major roads leading to sight-seeing). If we could be assured a better mattress in the king bed, we would definitely return to stay at Fairway Villas again.

Stayed in N32. The condo was more than enough room for two couples. Nice accomodations. Full kitchen was nice plus. Maid service was less than okay. We were there 7 days and they only took out the garbage and left fresh towels. Pool/ hottub nice. If you do not want to spend 45 minutes driving to restuarants, shopping and attractions then this is not the condo for you. The King Shops had a few eating spots and a Starbucks. No good beaches without driving 15 minutes.

We spent 9 nights at the Fairway Villas in April 06, and it was a comfortable stay overall. The pros and cons are:

Pros:

1. Close to Kings Shops, which had nice shops and an excellent restaurant (Roys). The market there is expensive but handy.

2. Condo was a good size for our family of 5, and had very nice amenities such as bathrooms with big tubs and a separate shower in the master.

3. Price was reasonable through United(-) vacation packages.

4. Close to A-bay, which is a nice beach.

Cons:

1. Our unit was not well stocked in terms of kitchen items - just a couple of pans in very bad shape, no bottle opener, no condoments, very few utensils. I like to cook, and it was very difficult there. The kitchen had black appliances (not stainless steel, as most of them are) and the ice maker didn't work.

2. The wind blows VERY hard there, which made it unpleasant to go to the pool or even walk around much.

3. Waikoloa is a long drive to anything else - Kona is about 30 minutes without traffic. But it is prettier than Kona, and probably great if you like golf (we don't play).

4. Two of the grills in the central grill area didn't work while we were there, so it could be a long wait for the only remaining one.

5. Cleaning crew came by every day to change the towels and empty trash. However, we had to ask for extra towels often, as they would pick up 4-5 dirty towels and only leave one clean one behind. They provide the normal towels as beach towels, too, so you'll need more than usual. In retrospect, I wish we had just brought our own beach towels to use, as this was constantly a pain.

Comments:

1. For a lovely swimming beach, try Mauna Kea resort (north about 15 minutes). Get there early to find parking, as it's very limited.

2. For shopping, try Walmart or Costco in Kona.

3. The volcanos are worth the long drive, but plan on a whole day to get there and back. We left at 7 AM and didn't get back home until after 8 PM, though we did stop for dinner on the way back. It's a pretty drive, so take your time and enjoy the sights.

4. Eating out - we liked Roys in King's Shops, but it's expensive. The Hilton has a nice breakfast buffet. Lua'u at the Marriott Waikoloa was fun. Bubba Gumps in Kona is a fun atmosphere and not bad food, and prices are reasonable by Hawaii standards.

5. Have a great trip. Ours was nice, but we will probably not go back to the Big Island again, because we spent too much time driving from place to place. Maui is much more convenient, AND you don't have to look at all the black lava all the time, so it's much prettier to see. It's a matter of personal taste, though - a lot of our friends prefer the Big Island, so give it a try and see what you think.

We rented a two bedroom condo here through Outrigger (returned last week). Condos are pretty nice. Maid service is minimal. They took out the garbage and changed towels if we left them on the floor. That is it. We were there 7 nights. There is a nice, but small pool and BBQ area. No amenities such as concierge, room service. All condos are individually owned, so decor (and tastes!) varies, but it appears that all the kitchens were about the same with newer stainless appliances, granite, etc. I had read that Fairway Villas is a 5 minute walk to A-Bay. It is actually more like 10-15 minutes, and we are fast walkers. A-Bay really isn't that nice. Much nicer beaches are further north. If you plan to snorkel much (we did), Kona area hotels might be a better choice. We learned that it is often very windy in Waikoloa. Our local friend referred to it as Waiko-blowa. Convenience to Kings Shops (with Roy's, Merriman's Market Cafe, food court) is great. My husband walked over to the Starbucks every morning. The path to Kings Shops is very dark at night. If there isn't moonlight, then you will need a flashlight. Management is offsight and you do feel a little abandoned. "Service" (check in/check out) is lukewarm. These are nice condos, so if you get a good rate and don't expect too much, you should be happy.

This is a nice property if you don't have kids. The manager was very unfriendly towards us and seemed overly concerned with making sure the kids could not play on the grass or in the pool. I would never stay here again as a family. DO NOT bring your kids here. You will not have a very good time.

Not a family place. Better as a retirement community.

DO NOT RENT J-2! REFUSE IT IF YOU GET ASSIGNED THAT UNIT! IT IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE CONDITION OF THE OTHER UNITS! JUST SAY NO NO NO TO J-2!!

First off - WHY NO RESERVED PARKING?!!!!!!!!!!

This proved to be a problem 3 of the 7 days we were there. You have to look for a parking space that is not marked 'Reserved' if you have rented a unit there. NOT OKAY!

Second, Unit J-2 Is a True Bowser - Scantily and poorly furnished, horrible beds and FOUR - COUNT 'EM - FOUR total pots and pans. One teeny frying pan. Big Woopee for trying to cook for a bunch of people, or even 4 people.

The sheets were like pilled and uncomfortable cheese cloth - No Wait - cheese cloth would be softer!

And the NOISE?! You could hear people upstairs peeing, flushing, talking, every single footstep and when their washer/dryer was on? YIPES! Sounded like the unit was taking off.

Also, 'Housekeeping', and I use that term loosely, only makes your beds and dumps trash. No floor washing, no nuttin'. Just throw the covers over the beds and dump the trash. The unit is clean when you arrive, but they don't so much as sweep and if you have ONE item on the bed, they don't make that either. Oh, and they sometimes replace towels, sometimes they don't. They take the used ones, sometimes replace with fresh. Ditto for shampoo/soap/conditioner.

And - there is not so much as a condiment or napkin/etc in the place. You have to buy salt/pepper/oil/napkins/sandwich bags/plastic wrap/foil - everything.

So we won't stay there again. Even if the unit were nicer, the noise is a big problem.

And remember this is golf course living. The mowing starts around 5 A.M.! YES! Big huge riding mowers going up and down for an hour.

And this is a FAMILY development. NO LOUD NOISE AFTER 10 p.m. So plan your parties accordingly.

Good things? The community barbeque, the pool, the size and set up of the units (split BRs/baths).

But I repeat - we will not be renting there again. Too many other great places!

I read, and respect, the opinions of others on this website. My wife and I booked a 2Br w/Loft for 4 nights at The Fairway Villas. The location is great, the floorplan was a good one and the staff was very friendly. We were given unit number N-33.

However, when we went to our unit there wasn't a picture on the wall, no decorations of any kind, the dining room table and chairs was a K Mart outdoors laminated special. The master bedroom had one side table and was a matress and box springs that couldn't have cost more than $50. On the bed was a plastic matress cover!! We called the front desk and asked where the units that were featured as examples on their website could be found. We were told that we had a "company rental unit" and they weren't as "nice" as the privately owned units.

If you decide to stay here take my word for it, there are units that are bare bones and very uncomfortable.

Last year we stayed at the Fairways and gave them 5-4 stars, this year they get 1. The level of ammenities has drastically reduced but the price did not follow. I will detail the pros and cons later but the number one complaint is that they no longer have any affilliation with the Outrigger/Marriott Resort across the street. This means that you are not allowed to use the resorts pool, slide, lounge chairs, beach/pool towels and beach ammenities. You are allowed to use the Fairway's pool which is tiny, hot tub not working, large families and groups taking over very small facilities, and NO pool/beach towels provided, even in your room.

When I booked my reservations, I was very clear with Outrigger Reservations that I was a returning client and loved their Condo/Large Resort affilliation that they had with the Marriott. No one informed me that was no longer the case. When we had visited prior, real estate agents even informed us that it was a contractual arrangement. So, needless to say, it was a huge disappointed and not a good way to start a vacation.

After speaking with Outrigger Management, it appears that they have had a lot of issues with this misunderstanding yet it is everyone elses fault, not Outriggers, that it hasn't been communicated properly. Since I was informed by Outrigger Management that the Marriott Resort does not sell day passes for pool use, I requested reimbursement for Hilton Waikoloa day passes to compensate me for their error. Outrigger Management agreed to reimburse me for our Hilton passes. Luckily, I only had one receipt as we were able to get Complimentary Passes at another large resort due to my husbands business. At check-out, Outrigger Management stated they had agreed to reimburse me only for Marriott day passes, not Hilton. This was quite amusing as they were the ones that informed me that Marriott did not offer day passes. So, my vacation pretty much ended as it began at the Fairway Villas.

Pro's: Walking distance to Starbucks

Other Con's: No pool towels. You need to swing by Costco to buy towels if you are going to beach. No on-site Management. Quiet time is suppose to be 10pm....loud people and parties on lanais until 1am-2am. No control of groups. The negative of attracting groups and large families is they take over facilities and no one else has pool or BBQ facilities to use. Spotty maid service and sometimes none....not good if you need to use your shower towel for the beach too. No cheese grater or can opener but we did have 4 tea sets and a rice cooker. The well decorated room they show in the brochure and on their web site is not the one you are going to get. Each unit is individually owned and entered into the rental pool. Showing wear after 1 year and basically dull.

HUGEST PRO: The Big Island is awesome and we will return again and again. There is so much development going on that there will be an over abundance of wonderful places to stay. In fact, we are returning in less than a year and NOT staying at the Fairway Villas or any other poorly managed Outrigger Resort.

We have been staying in condos on the Big Island for over 20 years, usually in Mauna Lani. The condos there are huge, gorgeous and overlook spectacular grounds. We decided to try these condos for a change, especially since they advertised high-speed internet access. When we arrived we were warned that there had been power outages. The condo interior was stifling. Luckily, the power was on for a short while and we managed to cool it down before the power went out again. But there was NO highspeed access, no desk, and no computer ports at all. The condo itself is small. The furniture is the MOST uncomfortable I have ever put up with including very uncomfortable unpadded wooden chairs around very small table without even a light above it and couches without adequate reading lights. The "master" bedroom has a very small shower and tub without even a door between it and the tiny bed area. The "third" bedroom is an open loft with twin beds. I hope your kids are very quiet. The kitchen is so tiny that you can't fully open the refrigerator door. The "view" overlooks a brown golf course with a few poor dying bushes. The units are crammed together. The noise when they are full must be deafening. We are leaving. Anywhere else has to be better than this.