Hilton Waikoloa

My wife and I stayed here for 2 nights to start our 2nd Anniversary trip. We used Hilton Honors points and were given an 8th floor partial ocean view room in the Ocean Tower. I have Gold VIP status with Hilton so we were given an upgrade on the room, $40 in meal vouchers, and free bottled water. We only paid $15/night for self parking.

So with that in mind there isn't much we can complain about. We knew in advance that the size of the grounds can be a little imposing so there was no surprise there when we checked in and took a tram to the room. Thankfully we never left anything in our car or back in the room because it does take a while to get around, either by tram, boat, or on foot.

We liked our room and the view from the 8th floor where we were able to see most of the grounds and some of the ocean through a palm tree outside our window. Very nice. The grounds all around the hotel were very well maintained and we went for many walks and almost went on art overdose with the amount of art pieces they have all around the resort.

The room was clean and had a refrigerator which we stocked with drinks and food that we bought at Wal Mart down in Kona. Prices for food at the resort were pretty expensive. We used our vouchers for a meal at the Lagoon Grill which overlooked the Dolphin Quest pool and were able to watch and listen to the dolphins while we ate. It was around $46 for a turkey sandwich and a burger with 2 drinks so keep that in mind. But it was a pretty good meal.

The highlight of the resort was the pools. When we have kids we'll bring them back here just because of the pools. There were mulitple pools by the ocean tower and a few more on the other side of the resort by the Lagoon Tower. The lagoon was swimmable and we went snorkeling there a few times but the water was pretty murky and even though we saw a few fish the visibility was pretty bad. We rented a 2 person kayak for $15 for a half hour and had a great time and saw a large group of sea turtles playing around under the waterfall. They have a lot of water toys to rent at the lagoon.

A few of the downsides were that there was no beach at the hotel and that the size of the hotel makes it hard to venture out. They partially made up for the lack of a beach by the man-made lagoon, but it's hard to duplicate a nice beach and the ocean.

There are some good restaurants at the King's and Queen's Marketplace nearby. We ate at Merriman's Market Cafe and had a great meal. We also went to the Macaroni Grill and a few of the places in the food court. We avoided paying the pretty steep prices for food at the hotel.

Overall, this place is great for families. Every kid we saw there was pretty happy with all the pools and the waterslides and the lagoon. This place would've been my dream destination as a kid. We ended up staying at the Hapuna Beach Prince for 4 nights after staying at the Hilton and we liked that hotel better because it wasn't as big and was right on an amazing beach. But we rate this hotel pretty high for what it has to offer. It wouldn't be our choice for a second honeymoon because it lacks some of the intimacy of other hawaii hotels we've stayed at, but when we have kids it will be at the top of our list because it does have a ton to offer in that capacity.

We stayed at the Waikoloa Hilton for the last 2 nights of our 8 night vacation in Hawaii. We started off in Oahu and traveled to the Big Island where we stayed the first 2 nights on the rainy/volcano side of the island. By the time we got to Waikoloa, we were ready for some sun and pool time and this Hilton exceeded our expectations. We were using Hilton Honors points so our room was free. Because we are Hilton Gold Honors members, we got a free upgrade to a suite. The suite was absolutely amazing. It did take time to get from one place to the next on the trams/boats but there are walking shortcuts to some places if you look at the maps of the property. The food was pricey but it was expensive everywhere we ate while in Hawaii (on Oahu & Big Island). My 14 and 9 year old swam with the dolphins at Dolphon Quest and thought that was the best part of the entire vacation. We would definitely return to this hotel for another vacation.

After visiting all the other Hawaiian islands, my husband I decided it was time to make a trip to the Big Island with our little one. We planned it around my parents' visit and took a long weekend along the Kona coast of Hawaii, staying at the Hilton Waikoloa.

First and foremost, the resort is huge. That said, Hilton has done wonders to offer convenient methods of travel, multiple pathways, and a multitude of options around the resort to accommodate any need or desire. The grounds are gorgeous, the rooms some of the largest I have seen, and the staff was beyond friendly.

My family and I arrived just before check-in, but our rooms were ready and we were whisked to the Ocean Tower on the monorail. I had booked a set of garden-view rooms, but we were pleasantly surprised to see we had been upgraded to partial ocean-view! The rooms had refrigerators (a major plus when traveling with a toddler) and there was ample room for a pack'n'play, stroller, suitcases, and the myriad of equipment we had. We had adjoining rooms with my parents, but still found the walls to be thick enough to block most noise (they had our daughter one night and we didn't hear anything from her!).

We spent the better part of our full-day on property wandering around the resort and testing all the pools. There are three main pool areas, one near each area of rooms, and restaurants spread throughout the grounds. We only ate breakfast at a restaurant (more on that later), but it was wonderful! **If you can get a package that includes the breakfast buffet, I recommend it!!! The price tag is shocking, but a late breakfast can hold you over through lunch until dinner.**

The Ocean Tower pools are more for general splashing around and are linked together by a network of small slides. There is also an adults only pool in the OT ring, which is a great place for a late-night dip. The lagoon near the central part of the resort offers swimming, paddling, snorkeling, and other water activities. It's a great place for little ones (the shore is shallow and soft) and fun to watch the fish swim (and jump). We also took advantage of other people participating in the dolphin swims and watched the dolphins splash and play. The main pool is located near the Lagoon Tower and is both beautiful and impressive. My daughter spent a lot of time playing in the jumping water fountain and splashing in the keiki cove area of the pool, and it was nice to have so many options available to relax.

One of the many reasons to stay at the resort is the food -- it looks delicious and smelled amazing every time we walked by! However, paradise is pricey, and we were looking to save some money. The Hilton seemed to anticipate this and has a shuttle that runs to King's Village and Queen's Shops about a mile away. Brand-new in the Queen's Shops is a FANTASTIC grocery store that offers a multitude of food choices (from sandwiches to pizza to sushi) and all the incidentals that TSA won't let you pack. The prices are higher than you'll find at a corner market on the mainland, but MUCH cheaper than resort prices. There are also some restaurants in the shopping centers (Roy's is AMAZING!) and the typical tourist shops. We stocked up on goodies and snacks, and bought hot sandwiches and pizza for dinner, and bought some cold sandwiches for the next day (another thumbs up for the in-room fridge). Being able to stock up and have food on hand is very convenient and makes it easier to splurge on a meal here or there.

The most important thing I can offer from my personal experience at the Hilton Waikoloa (and Waikoloa in general) is that it was relatively vog free. As an asthmatic, I have felt the effects of vog on Oahu, and knew it would be hard to be so close to the volcanoes. Once we landed in Kona, I could feel it in my lungs, and it got worse as we drove south toward the various tourist spots. I was nervous about being able to stay on the island (it gets thicker at night), and was afraid the weekend would be ruined. Once we got to Kohala and the Waikoloa area, the vog seemed to disappear and I didn't have any problems while at the resort. The experience taught me that I may have to miss out on seeing the lava up close, but that I could still enjoy the time on island.

I could go on and on, but I'm sure this is already stretching. The Hilton is an amazing facility and a great place for those who are looking to relax. We only spent a long weekend there, but I could easily see spending a week or more just enjoying all it has to offer - for couples, for families, for fun!

My husband and I visited Hawaii for our first time in January. We spent 14 days in Hawaii between the Big Island, Maui and Oahu. This was by far the best resort we stayed at. The rooms are average (see pictures) but the overall experience was fabulous. This is definitely the kind of resort you can come to and not leave if you don't want to go out and explore. I do admit it feels a little like an adult disneyworld so know that going in. There isn't a ton of what I would call Hawaiian "charm" but the resort is wonderful all the same. We enjoyed sitting on our balcony in the morning and watching the sunsets in the evening. The pools were great and the grounds were beautiful. My husband and I went snorkeling in the laguna which was cool and enjoyed watching the dolphins play. But take the suggestion from all the travel guides and rent your snorkel gear from a local shop. $25 per set from the Hilton is outrageous! We ate in several of the restaurants at the resort which were all very good and convenient. Our only complaint would be there weren't many, if any, economical options for dinner within the resort. Without a car there isn't much choice within the marketplace that is walking distance from the resort. Merriman's patio was great for a casual lunch but who wants to go to Hawaii and eat at a Macaroni Grill also located at the Marketplace??? The only thing lacking at the resort is a beach on the ocean but there is one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen just a few miles north, Hapuna Beach. That is a definite must in my opinion! The Kawaihae Harbor Grill several miles north of the resort was by far the best meal and best service we had our entire 2 week vacation! I had the fresh catch, mahi mahi, and I don't even like fish! We rented a car for one day and went to Hapuna Beach for the day then up to the Kawaihae Harbor Grill for dinner that evening. Overall one of our best days!

We stayed from May 16/09 to May23/09 in the Ocean Tower.

This place really blew us away. I can't imagine why anyone would not love this hotel.

Yes, it's huge, and there's a lot of walking or riding the trams/boats, but if you have done your homework you know this already. Only people with mobility issues should have any problems here. For the able-bodied, it is not a problem. Transportation was fast and pretty efficient. The grounds and public areas were absolutely beautiful. Between the art collection and the stunning landscaping, there was something to look at everywhere you went. We also appreciated the wildlife-fish, birds, turtles that were so easy to get close to.

The room was great. A good size and nicely appointed . Nothing old and tired-looking. The bed and linens/pillows were heavenly. Lots of closet and drawer space. Housekeeping was always timely and attentive. The safe was free and large enough to hold all of our valuables and electronics.

I usually pick my resorts for the pool. This one did not disappoint. The main pool (Kona) is enormous, the best I've ever experienced. The water was never cold, which I appreciated. Refreshing, but not a shock to the system. Beautiful waterfalls and landscaping, along with a children's sand beach area and a waterslide. My husband, who sunburns easily, appreciated the shady areas around the Kona pool. He staked out a chair in the grotto when he had enough sun. We didn't spend much time at the Kohala pool, as it seemed more geared to children, but it was beautiful too. The adult pool at the Ocean Tower was nice to get away from the crowds and noise. There were never more than a dozen people around it. It would have been nice if there was a hot tub in the area, though. This pool closed earlier than all the rest, which was a small disappointment for me. We had no problems getting lounges around any of the pools.

We thought that the lagoon was lovely, and enjoyed the opportunity to snorkel right on the property. With all the watersports equipment available to rent, there was no reason to be bored. I was surprised to see that we could watch the dolphins perform from so close without having to pay an admission. You got a good look from the restaurant deck. It was great to have so many activities available without leaving the resort.

The Lagoon Tower had some very nice stores. Art, jewellery, souvenirs, resortwear, shoes, etc.

We enjoyed some Hawaiian music at the bar just off the lobby. The hotel provided a schedule of entertainment in the room.

The food, while pricey, was better than average. We ate at most of the restaurants and found them all acceptable. We did eat off the resort most of the time because of the prices, but I think the pricing is typical of a nice resort.

I would not hesitate to return to this resort. It exceeded our expectations in every way. Staff were always friendly and welcoming and responded to our every need. I can think of nothing negative to report about this resort.

We ate at a new restaurant in the Hilton and it was amazing (Donatoni's anti pasta bar). The food, the service and location. We were lucky to meet the director of food and beverage services, which was the person that initiate the opening of this great place......

We stayed at this hotel for our honeymoon for a week. Everything about it was amazing. The amount of activites at the hotel alone were enough to get us through the whole week. The hotel grounds itself is a beautiful place. The artwork along the hallways is amazing. The staff are incredibly pleasant and we never felt like we were a burden. Overall we couldn't have wished for a more perfect vacation. The only thing we would have changed are the prices.

This is probally the best hotel I have every stayed at. Its amazing! Its huge, a great place for kids, weddings, honeymoon, or whatever. My husband and I were amazed how big the hotel was. The is a boat and tram that goes from one side of the hotel to the other. Lots of pools and a man made beach area with sea turtles and fishes. Kona is all lava rock so if you are expecting white sandy beaches you will not find it on this part of the island, however, you will not be dissapointed. There are lots of nice restaurants on site with their own unique theme. The dolphins on site are also fun to watch. Overall, this place was amazing and soooo much fun.

Just spent 5 days at this hotel in May 2009. First time to this hotel, but we've been to Hawaii several times. A couple of years ago was our first stop at the Big Island and we stayed at the Four Seasons which was great -- this time we choose the Hilton because it appeared more family friendly and was less expensive.

We were not disappointed at all. Yes, the resort is huge. You have to walk a bit to take it all in. However, if don't care to take it all in then just stay at your tower and enjoy the amenities there. Each has a pool. beautiful grounds, along with dining and shopping options. We stayed at the Lagoon Tower which is the most convenient, and would stay there again on a future trip. The birds are loud in the morning, but they did not wake us and the chirping lasts for less than an hour.

The granduer of the grounds cannot be overstated. The lagoons are full of tropical fish, there is art everwhere and the place is immaculate. We were traveling with 2 elementary school aged children and they loved to lagoon with it's easy snorkeling and kayaking, the ability to get up close to the Dolphins, the variety of pools and slides, riding the boats, etc. The place rocks for kids.

My only complaint would be the price of food/drinks -- felt a bit gouged here...more than you'd expect. We dined on property a few times and liked the Teppanyaki restaurant, but also found good options in the nearby Kings and Queens shops (there is a fantastic Mediterranean place in the former). One day we dined at the Four Seasons simply to contrast with our experience at the Hilton. The Four Seasons has more "fit and finish" and better golfing than the Hilton, but the Hilton wins on overall beauty, pools and lagoon (vs Kings Ponds). And it's less than half the price.

Our favorite activites on the island included -

- Helicopter ride with Safari Helicopters. It's the best way to see the lava flow, and Safari seemed to run a good operation.

- Snorkeling at Captain Cook: We kayaked in from the nearby bay. Took about a half hour each way, but we were able to see spinner dolphins in route and got to try our hand at kayaking.

- Hapuna Beach: Truly a postcard setting. Great boogie boarding beach for kids.

Lagoon Tower 2nd floor is most convenient and best rooms. No need for elevator, no long walks, and close to self parking thru tennis courts. unless you want to explore. the 62 acres of incredible landscape .

we stayed 2 nights/3 days and enjoyed the pool

(cool, but you get use to it in 3 minutes)

Dolphin experience for the kids is worth the cost. Bring your own snorkel stuff and see the turtles and fish in very safe lagoon.

the kids also played played the 18 hole putting course

this place is very kid friendly and very expensive. save some $ and

, buy food 8 miles east at the grocery store in waikoloa village. big bottle of rum for $20 and some juice will save you $100's. bagels

$ 7 for a bag of six, or $4 each at the hilton.

Bottom line, if you get a chance to take your family here....do it.

Drove across the island for the Journey concert and stayed at the Hilton Waikoloa. Easy check-in, nice room with comfortable bed, walk-in closet and balcony with an ocean and golf course view. Took the tram to the Palace Tower and the boat back. The pools are nice with a very fun waterslide. Lots of artwork throughout the grounds and dolphins swimming in the dolphin pool. Restaurants are a bit expensive but the food was excellent.

definitely not the cheapest place to stay, but truly the high-gloss disney-like fantasy experience that even the locals enjoy! favorites: taking the tram, the trolley, the boat (the kids think that these are different rides), watching the dolphins, opening my sliding door to fresh ocean breezes, early morning walks from volcano rock to sandy beaches. snorkeling right outside my hotel room and actually seeing (touching) fish and turtles, the activity credit (because the activities are really expensive)....unfavorites: $15 for a hamburger!??!?!?, dusty rooms (i know it's been low vacancy but cmon, dust the furniture once in awhile), did i mention $15 for a hamburger?, 30 minute drive to the nearest town

despite the expense, we have stayed here more than 3 times. and it always is a refreshing stay.

The Hilton Waikoloa Village has it all: large, comfortable, and reasonably priced rooms, most with magnificent ocean views; fine (though expensive) restaurants; a beautiful, lush, and dramatic setting; an array of interesting activities as well as superb facilities for those who just want to relax and unwind.

The grounds are huge, and the resort offers two modes of transport from place to place: a train-shuttle and a "boat" that actually rides on wheels in grooves in the water. In reality, it isn't that much of a trek to walk -- as we did several times -- from the most southerly to the most northerly points (it took 20-30 minutes).

The resort is decorated with many Asian antiques, even more reproductions, and many original pieces of art. The antiques are all in the covered walkways that connect the main buildings. Outdoor pieces are less impressive, but are scattered throughout the grounds.

Self- and valet parking is available at $7 and $21 a day, though our "Aloha package" included valet parking at only $7.

In addition to the two breakfast places (in the Ocean and Lagoon towers), the resort offers Chinese, Japanese, and continental-gourmet restaurants. (An Italian restaurant was closed during our stay.) The Japanese restaurant, Imari, served an outstanding shabu-shabu; the sushi bar, however, had the most limited selections we have ever encountered. As a clue to costs, a hamburger from room service -- with garnishes and fries -- cost $18.

There's little shopping on-grounds, but two malls are nearby (less than a mile away on Waikoloa Beach Road). One, King's Market, sports a tiny Macy's as well as a Tiffany's, a Rolex dealer, and other classy shops. The other, Queen's Market, is more down-to-earth; it includes, however, one of the best Japanese restaurants, Sansei, we've ever dined in (with an extensive sushi selection as well as tempura and other dishes).

The one drawback, for some at least, is the number of young children -- screaming, crying, running around and bumping into people. We found them at most a minor annoyance; others may not.

The location is not ideal -- about a 20-minute drive from the Kona airport on Highway 19, a two-lane road that is heavily travelled and sees frequent back-ups. On the other hand, all the roads on the Big Island are beautifully maintained -- we drove all over the island -- much like most of those in California before Proposition 13 crippled state (and local) services.

After alot of research my initial Hotel choice was the Hapuna Prince, mainly because of the great beach nearby. My wife thought the Hilton looked better, her birthday vaca. , so fine. We chose, or I should say Amex chose, the Lagoon Tower, we chose Deluxe Ocean

View, #6238, Top Floor. What a great view! Ocean waves crashing on the beach(rock) a hundred yards away, and the Dolphin Quest Pools the same distance away to our right.

The room had: private balcony w/ 2 chairs and table, 2 dbl beds(firm but not hard), couch,

2 chairs w/ table, small walk-in closet, 1 mini-bar style refer(not stocked) and a samll reg. refer and safe, towels were thick and soft, water hot and also drinkable, coffee maker was 2 individual cup design, we called and ordered a small 4 cup reg, maker, no

charge. The complex is large but very walkable. It was a 10 min. walk to the Main Lobby and the boats and monorail were always timely if needed(10 min wait). You can walk the whole length of the interior complex( 3 towers) in 20 min's, less on the hotels perimeter path, all three Towers. Prices are high, but you can walk to the Queens or Kings Market in 15-20 min's. If you like to snorkel you'll love the lagoon, 100's of fish and 4-5 Green Sea Turtles that hang out at the falls. The water in the lagoon is great and clear near the rocky edge. The closest beach is a 20 min. coastal walk South, from Laggon Tower, bring some good running or light hiking shoes for all the lava and corral paths. The "sandy" beach is "A" Bay and there is also a Hilton Shuttle for a $1.00 when available. There is only a short trail North of the Hilton, a couple hundred yards then just unmanageable rock. If you love whale watching this is the time and the place, we saw hundreds in the week we spent here. Service was very good, food very good and the Valet's very quick. We highly reccomend and would return in a heartbeat!

We just stayed four nights in the Hilton Waikoloa Village. Aside from the artwork all over the hotel, which is generally ugly, the hotel itself is very nice. The pools are gorgeous with very nice landscaping, watching the dolphins in DolphinQuest was cool (and my wife and daughter enjoyed swimming with them), and the morning breakfast ($26 if you don't do a bed & breakfast packages, which we did) was phenomenal. The room was a little on the small side, but we did have a great view for our Oceanview deluxe room. We also had fun taking the tram and boat around the property - it is very large and sprawling. We walked over to the Marriott next door and preferred the Hilton, even though the Marriott has a beach - there is a great beach only 15 minutes north that we went to. The restaurants are expensive but the nearby King and Queens plazas have reasonably priced restaurants and a food court.

We stayed in early June on a good promotional discount offered to state of Hawaii residents by the hotel. Probably a decent destination resort for families with children. Just for my wife and myself, we probably would stay elsewhere on our next trip to the Big Island. The hotel and grounds are enormous, spread out and that fact cannot be understated. The tram and boat schedules seemed predictable/reliable but, in our case, we had to allow 12-15 minutes to get from our room to our vehicle and vice versa.

The internal restaurants are expensive but convenient. The Kings Shops or Queens Marketplace are nearby alternatives. Our room was in the Palace Tower. Good location for us, but the hallway carpets were worn and a corridor door had significant amounts of missing paint making it look very shabby. The room temperature was hard to regulate -- even though we would put the thermostat's set temperature above 80 degrees, it still seemed much colder than that.

Staff was very courteous and helpful ~ check-in/out were easy and uncomplicated.

My wife and I stayed at this hotel in the first week of May on a complimentary trip paid for by my company. That being said, if I had to pay for it myself I would have been a bit disappointed. While the hotel grounds and our room were beautiful, the prices of the restaurants and the lack of a traditional sandy beach were a real downer. Earlier reviews stating the frustrating mobility issues due to the sheer size of this resort cannot be understated. The place is enormous and the trams were constantly out of service. The boats were extremely hard to come by and one could not figure out the schedule.

The resort also lacked the feel of Hawaii......you could have placed this resort anywhere and it would still feel the same. The man-made lagoon was nice but the beach area was crowded at times so make sure you arrive early enough to stake your claim on a pair of beach chairs. If you want to save money on meals (the restaurants in the resort were overpriced) go the the Kings or Queens market up the road and stock up on food at the food markets and bring them back to the hotel.

We ventured off to Waikikii after this stay and wound up at the Outrigger which was much more "Hawaiin". While it is in the center of the city (and it is hopping!) we really felt we got much more of the island's experience, history, and culture. The beaches were exaclty as we expected and the experience of being amongst international travelers was exciting.

Would we go back to the Hilton again?.........No. It would probably be more suited for a family with younger children and definitely not for those who would find the long treks to the resort's activities and attractions tiring.

I stayed here for 3 nights as part of our honeymoon trip. I was disappointed at how long it took to get out of the resort from our room, you really feel locked in. Most of our days were spent outside...coffee tastings and driving to the volcano national park. Beforehand we were in Maui for 4 days and stayed at Kaanapali Shores. That place was more in tune with how we travel, you can get in and out quickly. In any case, the Hilton is really beautiful and you need at least one day to spend time at the resort. During our stay we missed seeing half the resort. But I did enjoy watching the dolphins and viewing their art collection. ( I appreciated something to look at during our long walks from lobby to our room ; ). To sum it up, if you have 3 or less days to stay in Hawaii this resort is probably not for you.

The Hilton Waikoloa Village is definitely an adult disneyland...with its tram ride, boat ride, museum pieces. It's such a huge hotel, you really don't need to leave the resort. It takes at least 20 minutes to walk from one end of the hotel to the lobby.

The rooms are really big too, but needs some renovations. Our non-smoking room smelled like smoke when we walked in. When housekeeping came, they just sprayed some air freshner scent around the room.

The property was immensely huge, with so many different pools. The most emorable part was the Dolphin Encounter experience. That was so remarkable. I had a playdate with the dolphins, and it was the most incredible experience ever-- I felt like a kid again.

My wife and I stayed at the Hilton May 27 - June 2 on a Hilton Grand Vacations package. This was a timeshare deal which was a really good value. For what we paid, it was a great deal.

The resort itself was amazing. It was absolutely beautiful in all respects with excellent facilities. If you like to go to a resort and stay there relaxing, then this is a great place. Numerous pools, a lagoon with boat rentals and snorkelling, great (although expensive) restaurants, spa, etc. The service was also very good.

Staying at the Hilton can be very expensive. Our cheapest meal was 2 cheeseburgers and 2 cokes for $38 plus tip. We purchased some supplies at a local grocery store. There is a small refrigerator in the room, but no microwave. Parking is $15/day. Internet is $12.95/day.

My wife and I like to use the hotel as a base of operations. During the day, we left the hotel to go experience the island (helicopter tour, volcano, snorkelling trip, ATV tour, etc.) I was very frustrated that it took so long to leave the resort. It took a minimum of 20 minutes to get from our room in the Ocean Tower to the boat/tram stop, wait for a ride and get to the lobby building so we could walk to our car. While we were there, the tram was frequently out-of-service. For our kind of vacationing, a smaller resort/hotel in Kona would be a much better option.

Excellent hotel for kids--where else can you ride a boat or a tram to your room? My nephew had a blast swimming with the dolphins and checking out the other wildlife on the property. My sisters and I enjoyed our daily sunrise walks with a spectacular view. The staff was super friendly. The only downside was the food--really disappointing. I'd recommend going off property for all meals. Otherwise, it's a great place for families.

My wife and I stay here all the time because it is always a reliable bet when going to Hawaii. They have a great pool area, lots of restaurants, great location, good shopping around the hotel, and many different ranges of room types to choose from. It is a great place to go with a group of friends because so much is available to do at the hotel, so you can just relax and go with the flow. Some nights we will go to one of the nicer high end restaurants on the property, and some nights we will just get a casual bite to eat and the pool bar. Overall, the rooms are clean and beds are comfy. Great place for kids and those without. Biggest downside, the pool drinks are pricey, but this is pretty normal at most Hotels in Hawaii.

We recently stayed at this hotel for a week on a Hilton Grand Vacation package. For the price we paid, even though we had to sit through a painful time share presentation, we couldn't beat it. They even threw in a rental car and the Luau.

The hotel itself is in great shape. The rooms were clean and comfortable. Relative to the Grand Wailea in Maui the overall facility was better maintained and has many more pool options. The service was great, when you could get it however staff seemed light around the pool area. If you're not high maintenence and don't mind getting up to get a drink, then no problem.

A few things to be mindful if you are planning to stay here:

*Bring walking shoes and a pedometer !! The resort is quite large and it can take a good 15-20 minutes to walk from one end to the other. They have a boat and a tram to take you from one end to the other but you have to be patient enough to wait for it. If you have a person in your family that is disabled or can't go for long distances, this may not be the place for you.

*Swimming in the lagoon looks appealing but you're better off renting the kayak to get out to the waterfall.

*The bathrooms in the rooms are a bit on the small side. There is a dressing area, which helps, but overall if you're one for luxious soaks in the tub vs. a shower, you need to be under 5' to fit in the bathtub. The one good thing though is that even through the shower is small, the water pressure is great.

A few great tips - if you want to stock up to save money - take a drive to Costco and the bellmen will be happy to take your stash to your room when you get back. Also the souvenier shop in the Kings market place ( not to be confused with the market in the Queenns side ) has great prices on anything Hawaiian, much better than the ABC and they are really friendly. Lastly take advancatge of the conceirge services , they are more than happy to help and can really give you a locals view of where to go and what to see.

On an evilness scale, I rank the Hilton up there with Disney and Wal-Mart. But I really enjoyed our stay at Hilton Waikoloa. My husband stays almost exclusively at Hiltons. I'm not a big fan as I always seem to have problems when staying at Hiltons. This time was no exception but it was minor. The battery died on the lock on the door of the room we were first assigned in the Ocean Tower. It took about 45 mintues after trying a different key, getting security, getting assigned a different room, and moving to the other room. But that was a freak thing and I'm sure not common for this or any hotel.

We were moved to a room in the Palace. Not sure if it was an upgrade or not but regardless, the room was fantastic. It was HUGE! Walking in, the bathroom, vanity, bar, and walk in closet with safe are to the left. Walking in and going straigt in led to the tv, bed, sitting area, table, and patio. We had a very nice view of part of the property and the ocean. Loved the room. VERY quiet. I never heard another person the whole time we stayed there.

The property is enourmous. It took eight minutes to walk from our room to the lobby. My pedometer read exactly a half a mile. If you happen to walk up and catch a tram going in your direction, it is faster to take the tram but not by much. This never happened to me. The tram was either far away or going the other direction so I never took the tram as it was faster to walk. But I got a little exercise.

It is very pretty. I didn't use any of the services at the hotel as we were sightseeing all day. We did take part of one day and walked the property. The pools looked nice and were very warm. Got to see some dolphins. The salt water lagoon had sea turtles which was pretty neat. The property is very well maintained and beautiful.

We did eat dinner here the first night as it was late by the time we got in our room. I think it was the Boat Landing or something like that in the Ocean Tower. Very casual but VERY expensive. Go to Queen's Marketplace.

We booked through Costco and got a great deal which included a rental car, free parking at the Hilton, free breakfast for two at the Hilton, and free Aloha Fun Pass at the Hilton which included $25 credit on nonmotorized equipment rental (kayaks, paddle boats, snorkel gear, etc.), fitness center, something about tennis and golf. We didn't take advantage of the fun pass. But breakfast is $25/person per day and self parking is $15/day so right there we saved $65/day. If you have a Costco membership, book through them.

Traveling with a toddler (2 yrs old) and flew into Kona. To save money, we stopped by Walmart and Safeway just south of the airport to get our bottled waters, snacks and other food goodies before checking into the hotel. You also want a package that includes free self parking, free daily breakfast and resort activity fun credit. It'll save you big bucks. The Lagoon grill by the dolphin encounter has very good fish sandwiches and kids 4 and under eat free with a paid adult meal. Be forewarned, staying in the Ocean Tower will have very noisy birds early morning and evening. The Palm Terrace is great for breakfast, ask for a table by the waterfall, the kids will love it. Try the local macadamia nut ice cream, yummy!

My husband and I spent one week of our honeymoon here. We loved it for the most part.

Negatives:

It does take forever to get to your room. A few times I forgot something in my room and it could take 10-20 min. roundtrip from the front to my room in order to get it. (Depending on which tower you are in, we were the furtherest back).

The food is pricey (as with most hotels in Hawaii)

The rooms are fairly standard and could use some updating.

Some of the staff are less than happy to help. I found this at the front desk especially. The only really friendly staff I found were in the restaurants.

It's difficult to swim in the ocean. There are a lot of areas with strong currents and there isn't really a beach area. Though a lot of people do get snorkel equipment and just enter off the rocks.

Positives:

We loved the beauty of the location! You could literally spend the whole week inside the resort and have a great time. We loved seeing the dolphins and turtles every day. We loved that there was a salt water lagoon that we could pull beach chairs into and just read for a while. The lagoon and pools were not too crowded, which was a huge relief.

The grounds in general are just beautiful and the breakfast buffet was amazing.

The location is okay. It really depends on what you want to do. It's close to shopping, it's about 20 minutes from Kona, and 15 from the airport.

Great location only 20 minutes from the Kailua-Kona Airport. After driving up from the airport the Waikoloa Resort Area is an Oasis amidst Black Lava!! There are three towers you can stay in (Lagoon, Palace, or Ocean). We stayed in the Palace Tower. The Palace Tower does not have any restaurants or cafes in it. There are several ways to to get to your Tower by train, boat, or by foot. I recommend having a little bit of exercise and walk it. You get to look at all Asian artifacts along the way. The views of the ocean are awesome. You are always seeing someone polishing the brass, sweeping up leaves or maintaining the pools. The pools are extensive including a man-made lagoon. The dolphin quest is located here although we did not participate in it, we were able to watch groups participating and on-going training with the dolphins. When we stayed, we had the Aloha Fun Pass which included self-parking, breakfast for 2 @ Palm Terrace Buffet, $25 credit @ Lagoon Beach Equipment. Note: be careful of hidden fees like $4 for a cup of coffee from the coffee pot in your room

I stayed at this resort in conjunction with the Lavaman Triathlon. The setting is beautiful and the small village with shops is only a 5 minute walk. The resort grounds are very large and it can take a good 10-15 minutes to get from one side to the other. The tram is extremely slow (you can walk as fast or faster), but it is convenient when you are hauling your own luggage. I recommend having your luggage delivered to your room versus carrying it yourself. The resort is very family-oriented, which I was not expecting. If you are looking for a place that is adult focused this is not it. There were many children and it's pretty much lights out after 10:00pm. The pool cabanas were a good deal ($50 for half day and it includes snacks and bottled water).

It can be VERY windy on this part of the island, so be prepared!

My husband and I decided our kids were old enough to explore and wander around Kilauea volcano on the Big Island. I had been prior and loved the Big Island. We decided on the Hilton Waikoloa Hotel b/c it was big and with lots to do and thought the kids would love it. And they did! Beautiful landscaping throughout, decent rooms and a place to swim with dolphins. Beware, it's massive, but I never had any problem finding lounges by the 2 pools or lagoon. We had a beatiful ground floor room right above Dolphin Quest so we used our sliding glass door as a way to get around the property. Otherwise, it would be a trek! You'll get plenty of walking in. A couple complaints: pools are not heated and are VERY cold--so cold that no one goes in. We didn't mind since the lagoon (fed directly by the ocean) is warm and fun. Restaurants are only average and very expensive. We had a rental car so we tried to eat off property as much as we could. On our way in from the airport, we stopped at Costco and purchased a cheap icechest and breakfast/lunch makings & LIQUOR, so were were pretty self contained other than dinner. We found lots of hidden dive/gems in and around Kona/Waimea, so dinner was never outrageous! Lots to do, great location, great weather. Fun times! Make sure you stay in the Lagoon Tower on the back side ground level. Will make your trip sooo much better!

We spent 5 nights here for spring break. Hilton is not a chain from which I expect very much, especially after our less than stellar stay at the Hilton Hawaiian Village (HHV) in Honolulu last spring. I was, however, pleasantly surprised. What this Hilton has that the HHV didn't is: 1) a lot more land (typical of an outer island resort vs. a Waikiki one) 2) better overall attitude amongst its staff, i.e., more smiles. We used the hotel's 50 Years of Aloha package, where the 5th night is $50 and you get a $50 resort credit.

Driving up to this huge property, the porte-cochere seemed unimpressive and too small. The lobby was nice. The valets, bell stand and front desk all seemed understaffed. There was a rather long wait to check in, even with a separate HHonors line. When checking out, the hotel advises you allow 45 minutes for a bellman to arrive. They don't push your luggage all the way to the entrance--there is an underground conveyor belt. The Japanese restaurant Imari was also understaffed, but these were the only signs of an economic downturn during our stay. The resort was understandably quite full with families on spring break, and they all seemed to be spending pretty freely.

THE GROUNDS

The place is enormous, and unlike the HHV, there is no squeezing in of timeshare towers onto the original property. Hilton is aggressively into timeshares, but the Waikoloa properties (there are 2) are down the road. I believe there are shuttles. However, the hotel has innumerable Hilton Grand Vacation Club (timeshare) booths situated every few feet (vs. every few inches at the HHV). These booths masquerade as "Hawaii Information" desks, a common tactic throughout the state, and try to lure in unsuspecting guests, like Venus flytraps, into sales pitches.

The boats and trams that transport you around the resort are for convenience and fun, not necessarily for speed. They are not for the physically challenged, nor are they ideally suited for those with luggage. Three new, higher-tech trams were blessed during a ceremony while we were there, and may be in operation by now. The museum walkway between the towers is pleasant, and its art makes distinctive transitions from Hawaiian to Asian to European along its path. We stayed in the Lagoon Tower, which is closest to the lobby, dolphin lagoon, Kona pool (largest), the spa, the luau grounds, tennis courts, shops and self-parking. One side of this tower faces the ocean and dolphin lagoon; the other side faces the parking lot and distant mountains. The Ocean Tower is the largest and furthest away from the entry, but appears to have good views from all its rooms. The Palace Tower is between the two and is rather nondescript, most convenient to the convention facilities.

The hotel has no beach except along its man-made salt water lagoon. The path to the nearest beach is quite rocky, and that beach fronts the calm-looking Anaehoomalu Bay, right in front of the Marriott hotel. It was quite windy all the time, but no vog.

THE RESTAURANTS

Yes, they are expensive, but convenient. The higher-end ones we tried--Imari and the Kamuela Provision Co. (nice ocean/sunset views)--were quite good. The Orchid Marketplace, a self-serve cafeteria, was fast but overpriced ($10 for an Egg McMuffin or breakfast burrito). The Lagoon Grill by the dolphins was a slightly better experience ($17 burger with wait service).

Outside the hotel, the nearby King's Shops and Queen's Marketplace have more restaurants. We tried Roy's (good, pricey) and Sansei (very good, has early bird discounts people line up for). There is a food court and fancy market (run by ABC) at Queen's. Lots of people buying booze and groceries there. Other restaurant options at other resorts or in towns north or south require a drive of 15 minutes minimum.

THE ROOMS

They were simple but of decent size, large enough to hold 2 double beds and a small non-pull-out sofa. The king rooms sofas do pull-out. One quibble--the cabinet that once held the minibar is now empty, while the minifridge is in another cabinet that usurps room in the closet. Also, the phone and directory do not have direct-dial buttons or extension numbers for important services such as valet and bell, necessitating a call to the hotel operator.

The Hilton is a good choice for families. There is a lot to see and do on the Big Island, but for kids, the hotel's amusement offerings compete mightily with the island's sights.

It's not a bad idea just to stay on the hotel grounds for 1-2 days. A car is essential to see the island--plan a whole day or more to see the volcanoes. For an adults-only vacation, I would consider staying somewhere less Disneyesque. There are a lot of choices along the Kona Coast. My top 3 would be the Four Seasons, the Fairmont Orchid and the newly renovated Mauna Kea, which probably has the best beach on this side of the island.

This is one of the most difficult hotels in the world to review. It's an odd place. The ultimate "mega-resort," I guess. The grounds are huge and very pretty, with a nice art collection to boot. You must be willing to accept a lot of 10 minute walks to your room and a couple thousand fellow vacationers at your hotel. If you can accept a mass-tourism vacation (or, I would suggest, a few days here before you see the "real Hawaii"), there is a lot to like about the hotel. It's a pleasant place to unwind in a man-made paradise.

If hotel management reads these comments, the biggest recommendation I would make is to inject some more "Hawaiian-ness" into the resort. In general, you feel sealed off from Hawaii while at "the compound." I've stayed at other large resorts in Hawaii (including several in Kaanapali), that seem more "Hawaiian" than this place. Even a few complementary Hawaiian-themed activities would help. Maybe some free hula? A "Hawaiian-guy" to tell stories to the youngsters and demonstrate some traditional crafts and skills? Even some lei-making? There's precious little of this at the hotel, and you notice it.

For fellow travellers, I'd offer the following tips:

Avoid the Ocean Tower -- it's the most inconvenient

The Hilton has no real beach, but one of the best beaches in the state is about 10 minutes north. You MUST visit the Mauna Kea beach. It has limited parking, so try to get there by 10 am. In addition to being a beautiful swimming beach, it has some of the best beachfront snorkeling anywhere in the world. Save yourself a $65 "snorkel trip" and snorkel off the southern end of this beach. Amazing fish and nice coral, with little surf.

Use your refrigerator to save money on drinks, snacks and breakfast. There is a little known food store in the Shops at Mauna Lani -- just a couple minutes north of the hotel (it will take you longer to walk to your car than to drive to this store). It's a fancy version of the local Foodland stores, and you will save a lot of money shopping here, especially if you buy their numerous specials. Also a good free hula show a couple evenings a week at this outdoor mall.

Meals at the Hilton are pricey, as you would expect. You don't have to spend a lot of money for every meal, though. There's an under $20 pizza deal at the on-site Orchid marketplace, as well as $2 ice cream cones between 3 and 4 pm (wildly popular). Some of the poolside eateries also offer affordable kids meals ($6-$8). The nearby Queens Shops food court has some affordable selections: like a Subway (some $5 footlongs) and a Chinese takeout (a 3-selection combo plate will easily feed 2 for under $10). A very nice Macaroni Grill (with prices about 25% higher than on the mainland) has also just opened at the Queens shops. If it's not too windy, consider the very good and inexpensive waterside fish and chips place across the street at the Kings Shops (do not order his grilled fish, it's terrible).

Don't plan on doing much in Kona -- it's too far away. You can day trip there though to see the sights and maybe do some shopping. It is insane to try to see the volcano on a day trip from the Hilton. Stay at least one night -- and preferably several -- on the east coast to enjoy the volcanic sights, the lush vegetation (the Hilton is in a bleak and barren lava field) and a very different and more authentic Hawaiian experience. I'd recommend Puna if you've got a few nights to rent a cottage.

This is not the hotel to pick if you want to lay on the beach, as the beach is a little limited. But if you have kids it is paradise. Service pool side was excellent, and our child had a blast. Particularly if your children are not big into snorkeling or swimming in the ocean yet, the lagoon is excellent for building their confidence. And if you get a bit more adventurous and have some reef shoes there is some more serious snorkeling/diving in an inlet to the ocean on the other side of the bridge across the lagoon. We didn't have a chance to do everything the hotel offered in our short visit, but were very happy with what we did. One thing we want to go back for is the glow in the dark putting course. Walking around on the grass in your barefeet playing a fun little course like that is amazingly cool. Very simple, but lots of fun.

We had one tremendous meal at the Kamuela Provision Company and one so-so one at Kirin, the Chinese restaurant. Actually the jellyfish appetizer at Kirin was great, but the entrees not much different than you'd find in an average Chinese restaurant. The Provision Company was spectacular though. Incredible views, and the food was as good as anything we had on the island, and we had fine dining almost every night. We will definitely consider returning to the Waikoloa on our next Hawaii trip.

One note to golfers. The Beach course only has one, maybe one and a half holes on the ocean. The Kings Course is interesting, but not that noteworthy for the price they ask. If you want views or spectacular ocean front holes you should head a few minutes north to the Mauna Lani courses. They are steep if just playing one round, but usually have a good twilight deal and a $50 replay rate if you want to fit in two rounds.

First...remember Hawaii is an island and thus the standard rules apply...island prices (20+% higher) and a more laid back mentality on service and time. For those who have been to Bermuda, Hawaii can seem reasonably priced.

Our family is well travelled with over double digit island resorts in other countries, each with its own experience. In summarizing this resort...it is a great place for a family with kids 12 and under. All the amenities are readily available, and a budget conscious family can even get $5 chicken strips and fries. The one item that gives this resort a bad reputation...cocktails and drinks. Prices ($12) are well above restaurant levels and thus a sour taste for most although there are daily happy hours ($6.25) to try to achieve a balance.

To address concerns from other travelers... Prices are aligned with other resorts of this size and reputation on the mainland. This is NOT a Cancun "all inclusive". Meals at the restaurants are similar to reputable big city restaurants ($20-50 entries). Wine prices are on the high side (20-30% additional markup). One can attempt to cut corners by going to Queen's market (skip Costco and Wal-Mart) and get the basic essentials. Remember that any trip to the room is time away from the outdoors and the vacation you have purchased.

As for travel on the Hilton property... the trams and boats are reasonable regarding the schedule. It is an island resort...enjoy the experience and take the boats. Don't expect to be picked up immediately. Even the subways/metros on the mainland don't show every 5 minutes. Relax and enjoy. Do plan on any trip being a 10-20 minute excursion with wait time included.

Personally, I recommend walking for most of your relaxed needs. The property is U-shaped so you can walk from one end to the other in less than 10 minutes by using the beach sided paths. If you are dressed up for going out, the tram or boats are more convenient. BTW, the valet parking is good. Just call when you are leaving your room and the car is waiting when you arrive at the main lobby.

For events around the hotel and on the island. Any luau you chose to attend is most likely performed by the same group of dancers. The Marriott offers one at a $40 savings with drinks included. This event is "made for vacationers" with a buffet, drinks and show. Don't expect Broadway or high quality food. The kids loved it but we would never go for a second round, especially at $80 per head.

A long trip round the island to see the waterfalls and volcano is a must...but would only do it once in a lifetime. Plan on 9-12 hours with 7-8 of those in the car. Good history and great views. Lots of waterfalls along the highways and a few botanical gardens. Make one day of it.

Whale watching and dolphins can be seen from the shore daily. Plan to go out from 6-9 AM with your cameras and binoculars. Take a snorkeling tour and see whales and dolphins rather that a specific tour for that element.

The pools are cold during the winter/wet months. Rain and clouds tend to have that effect. The sun is very strong so you might as well wear long sleeve swimming shirts for both sunblock and the cold waters. If you can, go to the two nearby beaches. Well worth the shuttle or cab.

In summary, the hotel has everything a family with kids needs for a week of fun. It can be done with a lower food bill but hey, you are on vacation. Come prepared to spend more $$ so you can spend more time relaxing at the pools and lagoon rather than in your room or in a car going to shops 30 miles away.

The Hilton Waikoloa is a nice property with beautful rooms. We were upgraded to a large suite, There was a 50 inch plasma TV in both the bedroom and outer suite. Good bathroom amenities and overall, a very pleasant room experience. We avoided eating on site, since it was so expensive!

Depending on what you want from your Hawaii vacation experience, the one VERY different thing about this hotel is that you have a choice of how to get to your rooms. It's either by a small boat in a canal system that reminds you of how they move people through a ride at Disneyland or via a tram system (which also felt like Disneyland) . Part of the reason is that it's quite a large property and would be a hefty walk to get to your room otherwise. Sometimes, there tended to be a 4-5 minute wait...okay, but again it's different.

One plus is tha if you enjoy small walks, you can also walk to the different parts of the property. It's a beautiful location overall. If you have young kids, they'd enjoy it, but I think the novelty might wear off fairly quickly.

The fitness facility was pretty darn good and they have a very nice spa as well.

Just returned from 10 days at the Hilton Waikoloa Village and couldn't wait to write a review after reading so many before we went:

Yes, this is a huge resort! Yes, you will do some walking. We arrived at about 11pm on the 6th. The staff was very helpful in explaining where to park and how to check in. Check in was a breeze. Had a little trouble with the self parking but figured it out. The previous reviews of all the feral cats in the parking lot was untrue. We saw maybe a half dozen over the 10 days and only one of them creeped me out. It was a long walk to our room (Oceanside Tower) but beautiful with all the artwork. We fell into our very comfortable bed and passed out.

Next morning began our exploration of the resort. It is a beautifully maintained resort with plenty of friendly and helpful staff. It was a long walk everywhere, but we figured we were on vacation and had time to spare. After the second day, the walk to and from the parking lot didn't seem long at all. We actually enjoyed the exercise. The prices were extremely high at all of the stores and restaurants: we ate only one meal at the resort. A salad, a sandwich, and two drinks for $60. We decided to explore restaurants elsewhere and never ate at the same place twice while we were there. There is a wonderful chinese restaurant in Kailua that has a nightly buffet that was just delicious. Bring your GPS for exploration! Also, try the B.I.G. Island Grill. Very good food for reasonable prices. Macaroni Grill in the Queens' Marketplace had a fun atmosphere and excellent food for less than resort prices. My point here is: don't feel committed to spending all your time/money at the resort. You will pay for the convenience. There are lots of options within a half hour of the resort.

As far as activities within the resort: whale watching was free and spectacular! Non-stop activity to watch from shore or your lanai. It was one of the main reasons I wanted to go to the big island and I was not disappointed. We spent two full days just sitting on shore watching the big guys fin slapping and jumping out of the water to their hearts' content.

Wanted to do some snorkeling but the lagoon always seemed crowded and not too much fish to look at so skipped that. Dolphin Quest was fun to watch but wouldn't recommend spending the money. The pools in general were pretty crowded and we preferred spending our time out by the Oceanside Tower next to the water's edge. There is a very nicely maintained miniature golf course that was steadily busy but at $15 per person seemed expensive.

I probably would not return to this resort simply because of the cost but it provided a very nice place for my hubby and I to rest and recover from our exploration of the big island. It is an amazing island! We did some Geo-caching while we were there and had a great time seeing parts of the island off the beaten path. Visit the southernmost point, it is well worth the drive. Watch the fisherman "bag" fishing. The drive around the island is amazingly picturesque...just like in postcards. About half of the time we were there it was rainy but the weather did nothing to dampen our desire to explore. Don't miss the drive to the volcanoes (take the north end, gorgeous!), well worth the trip.

I realize this should be a review about the resort in particular but I just want others to know, it's not all about where you stay. It's about your attitude and what you want from your vacation. Too many reviews have negative remarks about how big the resort was, how expensive, etc., etc. We found the resort staff to be very kind and helpful and the resort itself was beautiful. I would recommend it to anyone with the note that you take from your vacation what you put into it. We really had no complaints about the resort or the staff. Yes, Hawaii is expensive. So are other vacation destinations. Keep that in mind as you plan your vacation. Mahalo to the Hilton and all their wonderful staff!

The Hilton was recommended to us because we traveled with kids 7, 11 and 14 years old. The only other choices were the Four Seasons and the Fairmont but the pools were the main attraction at the Hilton and we heard the other hotels were not "kid oriented." I have to say, I am a hotel snob and was disappointed. It was not the luxury I am used to to be frank.

Pro's..... The grounds at the Hilton are really pretty! Waterfalls, rivers along the sidewalks, a fun pool with swinging bridge, waterfalls, a friendly baby pool area, an "okay slide" and a nice walkway around the edges of the ocean. Beautiful sunset views and really nice dolphin lagoon. Maintenance and housekeeping came immediately if we needed something. Rooms were cleaned every day as soon as we left them! Dolphin experience is a must but so expensive, it's not affordable for everyone which is a real bummer! One can get up close to the dolphins around a fenced area and watch them however.

Con's....The rooms are okay. Very dated carpet that needs cleaning. All the rooms are the same size unless you have a suite. We stayed in a room overlooking the dolphin lagoon which was the nicest "tower", but very disappointed in the room itself. We paid $50 a night to have connecting rooms on top of what we paid for the rooms alone. The airconditioning worked, but our room temp was hot. The maintenance guys checked it and said that it was working just fine, but we were sweating all 4 nights!

Having a fan brought up helped but the temp could not have been cooler than 78 degrees! The coffee maker cracked me up! You have to tilt the machine to put water in becasue the cord is so tight. There is no room for the luggage since the fridge and safe are in the middle of the closet. The layout was pretty funny.

Breakfast was okay. The bar never changed....breads were not soft and yummy and the baked goods were very dry. The omlete bar was nice, and they had fresh fruit and steel cut oatmeal. Everything else was "typical" buffet, but not nice. The chairs in the breakfast area were also very heavy and large and did not fit well around the tables! They were not comfortable and the flowers in the plants were fake. It felt like a cheesy 70's hotel buffet!

The dining choices were few. Everything closes early...best meal was KPC. Excellent meal and lovely sitting out by the ocean. We went to the King and Queen shops in the area for our other dinners when we weren't on outings. The beach is non existent. Rocky and no lifeguard. You can drive 20 min. away to Hapuna Beach which is GORGEOUS! SOft sand and picturesque! Because of the kids, we stayed there, but next time, I will splurge for the 4 seasons.

The Gym? In a small alley, underground with no windows! Go figure....why no windows? It's Hawaii and the grounds are the best thing the Hilton has going for it!

This hotel is targeted to families with small children and therefore all activities and restaurants are geared to that market. Do not stay here is you are (like us) double income no kids. It is very large, more like disney than traditional hawaii. Restaurants are not targeted to romantic getaways and there is NO beach. The pools have waterslides and they have a dolphin quest -- all with fun for young children.

If you want a more relaxing adult vacation, choose something like the fairmont. We did and it was much better.

We stayed at the Hilton Waikoloa for 7 nights at the beginning of May on an award stay through Hilton Honors. Overall the place was okay but I certainly would not pay to stay there with the other options in the area and I doubt I would even use hotel points again.

First let me address the size of the hotel grounds. Leading up to our stay I read a lot of complaints about the size and the amount of walking, which I pretty much chalked up to people being lazy on vacation. I’m Vegas veteran so I’m used to big hotels, but this place really is huge and getting around can chew up a lot of your time. From the Ocean tower, where our room was, it took 15-20 minutes to get to the car. If I had to do it again, I would stay in the Lagoon tower which would save some time and it is closer to the bigger pool area. The tram does not save you time, but it is convenient if you’re carrying a lot of stuff or sick of walking.

The rooms are pretty standard. The main area was good size with enough room for the king bed, a sofa, coffee table, desk and still some space to spare. The bathroom is tiny. You basically had to step into the tub to shut the door so you could use the toilet. The first room they gave us had to be the worst in the hotel. It was literally on top of the tram stop and next to the ice machine. We could hear a lot of tram noise from the room and the lanai….so much for an upgrade because of my Hilton Gold status. At first they told us they only had a room with two beds available but eventually found another King on the ground floor. This was fine except anytime you wanted to sit on the (very small) lanai you were overrun by cats. In fairness to the Hilton this seems to be a problem for all the resorts in the area. I would definitely recommend requesting a room on a higher floor.

If you’re planning on staying at a decent resort in Hawaii, you can expect to pay high prices for most things. The Hilton prices are really over the top though. We stayed at the Ritz on Maui and somehow they can charge $5 for a beer at the pool but the cheapest option at the Hilton was $7. A six pack of the local Kona beer was $13 at the much nicer Mauna Kea Resort down the road and it was $25 at the Hilton. $4 for a 12 ounce fountain soda. $16/day for internet. $15/day self parking.

The hotel grounds are pretty impressive with the dolphins, waterfalls, lagoon, exotic birds etc.. There is a small adult pool inside the ocean tower as well as the two bigger pools. The lagoon pool is the bigger and more spectacular of the two and is adjacent to the lagoon. We weren’t really impressed with the “beach” by the lagoon, it is basically just a narrow strip of sand that seemed most appealing for those with small kids.

We only ate at three restaurants on site. We had lunch at the Boat Landing which was horrible. My wife’s bread was completely stale, my chicken salad was 90% mayo and the waiter basically disappeared after serving the food. We had dinner at Kirin (Chinese) and Donatoni’s (Italian), both of which were excellent. We also had drinks at the KPC on our last night which was nice. The food is expensive and we opted to have our pricey meals elsewhere, but if you go during “happy hour” the drinks are very reasonable.

Besides the aforementioned waiter, service throughout the resort was generally friendly and prompt.

The feature most lacking for a Hawaiian resort is the lack of a beach or any ocean access besides the enclosed lagoon.

This wasn’t my first time at this jumbo-sized Hawaiian version of Disneyland. We had stayed here a few years back and spent the requisite days marveling at the size of this behemoth, the shuttle boats that run on hidden tracks and the sleek train that ferry’s the masses back and forth. Whoever conceived this place was thinking in google-speed and crafted a true masterpiece upon the lava. Plenty of activities, unbelievable art collection, happy dolphins, great views and kids will never, ever get bored here---I promise.

But after the first stay, this second one was tinged slightly. Things were “off” and the ever-faithful Hilton Waikoloa was akin to a beautiful lady who had wandered into the fringes of a bad neighborhood. The room was dirty, nobody answers the phones and some of the services and food had been scaled back. The predictable timeshare hustle was cranked up a notch, the front desk was way understaffed and the food inconsistent. But at the end of the day, it is still an unbelievable place and great for children and/or Hawaii first-timers. But if you’re sans children and have sampled other resorts on this coast (like the Fairmont or Hapuna), you may be disappointed. I’m not saying stay away, just be prepared and understand what you are getting. My wife calls it a wayward cruise ship that has beached itself permanently.

Personal it is not---you are a reservation number and contributor to a daily occupancy statistic. It’s understandable. After all, it is a very large resort and fields huge amounts of people in and out every day. Just stand in the lobby and watch the train pull in and discharge hundreds while loading up a fresh herd en masse. It made us feel like we were being processed through a cannery; being joined by waves of conventioneers from Mid-western states that begin in vowels, wearing identical leis, name badges and wondering about the limit on the credit card.

But then again, that is beauty of Hawaii and this resort without question delivers---for some. It’s not necessarily good or bad, it’s just different. Heck----give it a try.

The food is WAY overpriced here! ... and the hotel is a long drive from Kona or the airport...however, the grounds/pools are wonderful. I can't stress enough that the food and drinks at the hotel are way overpriced. They also charge $15 daily parking, but there's no place else to park. Don't buy into HVGC...they make it impossible to ever use your points!

Just came back from four nights at the Hilton. We (and several family members) stayed there because my husband was doing the Lavaman triathlon.

We had been to the Big Island in 2007 and stayed in a condo in Kona. Staying in the heart of things with easy access to beaches, restaurants,tourist sites, etc. is more of our style so the Hilton was different experience. The Hilton is HUGE. The hotel is made up of three towers. We had rooms in the Ocean Tower which is the farthest away from the entrance/lobby. The walk from the lobby to the Ocean Tower is about 10-5 minutes. There are trams and a boat that can take you between the towers but they are slow-moving. They supposedly run every 15-20 minutes (but I think it's not a set schedule) so if you miss one you're stuck waiting for another one for a while. Just to get out of the hotel and go to a restaurant in town or to a tourist site is a big ordeal.

That being said, the rooms were nice (much bigger than I would've thought) and the resort was a good deal for $200/night (we got a discount on rooms because of the triathalon). There is a lagoon, dolphin adventure, lots of pools, and a couple of expensive restaurants. Waikoloa itself is on Queen K highway (Highway 19) and has nice beaches around it but it is pretty isolated from activities outside of the resorts in the area.

So, if you want to be far away from it all the Hilton and surrounding resorts (the Marriott looked nice too) are a good choice. But if you stay there I'd suggest not staying in the Ocean Tower so you can enjoy all that the hotel has to offer without the hassle.

Most of what can be said, was said here. We were on a business/leisure visit and found the Waikoloa to be a mixed bag.

1. The transportation was frustrating. We like to walk but sometimes you really need to get somewhere in a timely manner. Here, don't bother. You'll be late everywhere or have to head out 20 minutes ahead of any reasonable time.

2. Service everywhere was quite good, unlike some other reviews. Rooms were very clean and housekeeping helpful, valets were great, front desk fine, servers very good.

3. Food was extremely expensive and a mixed bunch. The Chinese place was only average but our dockside lunch place was great (if outrageously priced). The banquet provided for our company was excellent, unlike most large luau-type events.

4. Drinks were lame, weak and overpriced.

5. Selection of shops were averagely tourist-hotel priced and a good selection.

6. Ditto the comments about the pools, everything seemed to close quite early and the pool towel system was inconvenient at best. \

7. Some TV company was filming a production while we were there, often cutting off access to hotel amenities for guests, a real drag.

8. Shops and restaurants at nearby malls (a healthy walk, 5-minute drive) were a nice resource, with some great food and good selection of groceries and touristy stuff.

9. No one mentioned this but if you like art, or Asian culture, you'll love this place. There must be millions of dollars in art spread all over the complex, most in sculpture but not all. Really cool.

10. Either stay put and take advantage of lagoon, pools, golf, and dolphins or rent a car. This place is located on the back of beyond.

11. Incredible they charge for Internet connection, at their rates. And parking was high, although most Hawaiian resorts are the same.

12. Watch for feral cats in parking lot (millions) and birds. Huge flocks of birds live around and IN hotel, waking you up in the morning and flying in the open-air restaurants. Not as charming as you might think.

We have stayed here twice--in August, 2008 and in May, 2009--and had the same experience both times. While the grounds are lovely, this property has several fatal flaws. First, it is just too big--more than 1,000 rooms, spread over several towers, all of which are far from the entrance. They tell you that their trains, which you need to reach the lobby or the other towers, run every 5 minutes or so, but that isn't true. Frequently we waited 15 minutes or longer for a train that often made unscheduled stops for no apparent reason. Often we were reduced to walking a mile or so to the lobby. Twice I compared my walking pace to the train's speed, and found that my normal walking pace was faster than the train at full speed. We found that the wait for the train combined with the wait for the valet parking meant that we had to plan for 40 minutes from our room to our car. This situation is apparently standard at the Hilton Waikoloa, as it was the same on our two visits. although the staff will claim that the train is usually fast. The second serious problem with this hotel is that it is totally isolated from any activity off-property. So don't plan on walks to shop or to the beach. My normal practice on leaving the room was to deal with the train and the valet parking, then to drive off-property as quickly as possible. Third, as you'd expect in such an isolated place, the restaurants are all overpriced, even by Hawaiian standards. NOT recommended. Stay at the Fairmont or any smaller property.

The hotel is huge and getting around was very annoying. The tram is slower than walking and the boats come very infrequently. The pools are freezing cold. Our 5 yr old daughter would not even go in. If you like the beach forget it...they dont have one. This hotel could be anywhere in world..nothing hawaiiish about it. The grounds are pretty but thats about it. The service is awful and the restaurants are expensive and awful as we tried almost all of them. We left the hotel most days to explore some beautiful other beaches like hapuna and mauna kea and were upset we were not at one of the beautiful beaches. I would not even recommend for kids. The housekeeping was awful as well as the room was really dusty and there were hairs everywhere. The blankets had numerous holes in them as well.

Certainly not family friendly, very good apparently if you are one of their large corporate renters, rooms booked and paid for months in advance by families not ready hours after check in time and not the room type requested, transportation system broken down frequently and food costs for families ridiculous,even small services including internet time money money and more money.

The Dolphin Quest Programme Is Run By an Excellent and Decicated Staff and Handled Very Professionally, Wonderful Experience PITY the Hotel isn't that efficient.

If you like a HUGE "amusement park" like resort where you can remain confined your entire stay, then this is for you. There is little that is "hawaiian" about this place - it could be anywhere that is warm with a few palm trees and a source of salt water. It is a busy place where we found it difficult to truly relax. There are trams and boats to transport you around the resort, which you will need if you don't want to spend the better part of your day getting from the parking lot to your room.

Frankly, this place just wasn't our speed. The room was OK. The hotel personnel frinedly. The restaurants too expensive. The "beach" was limited and man-made, although it is safe for kids and there were visiting turtles that seemed to like hanging around the artificial waterfall. What peeved us were the resort's undisclosed additional charges, despite our careful review of their website and other sources. For instance, self-parking is available, but at $15/day (valet is more). Internet - extra. There is a cute dolphin on your bed upon check-in that appears to be complimentary, but it is not. The free newspaper - we never saw one.

Next time, we're going somewhere less metropolitain, but more quaint and cozy.

this is the perfect example of huge resort, nice pools but crowded with kids jumping all around. The place has boats and trains to take you to places, kind like I payed for hawaii but got disney instead. I don't mind overpriced food as long as it's good (I live in Manhatta), but that wasn't the case here. The place is good for families with kids, maybe, not for couples or people with good taste in general. The dolphin's pool is what saves the day ultimately, and the location is really nice too.

Extremely expensive. Had to pay for everything. Self prepared in-room coffee $3.95 per one cup package if you used the service. Food cold and poor quality. Pool water so cold our 4-year old grandson couldn't stand it -- I barely did. Had to pay for water sports equipment. Little or nothing to do at the resort if you are not into sun bathing. Will not go back again. Few TV channels, most were advertisement for the hotel. No ocean beach.

From the time we arrived, the service was awful. At the check-in counter, they had one person checking people in. We waited over 20 minutes to get up to the counter and we were the first people in line. That didn't leave a good first impression, but it went downhill from there. Every meal on the property was an ordeal. One night, we went to the Japanese restaurant on the property. We couldn't get a reservation until 8:00, but when we got there the place was half-empty. We figured it was because they were understaffed. After being seated, no one acknowledged us or offered us water or anything to drink for about 20 minutes until we got up and left. The meal service elsewhere at this resort was similar.

The room was not as we had booked. We wanted a separate sleeping area for the kids, but they provided a standard room with one king bed and a small twin sofa bed, then tried to charge us $45.00 per night for a rollaway bed (we got them to waive that) They offered to upsell us to a larger room later which wasn't a good option for us. Of course, when they talked to our travel agent, they lied and said they offered the Presidential Suite at no additional charge (of course we would have taken that!).

All in all, they have decent amenities and it is attractive property, but the bad service all around was frustrating and I would recommend avoiding this hotel.

We travel extensively, and this was unquestionably not one of our favorite properities. With the exception of housekeeping and valet parking, staff are generally indifferent. With the exception of the ocean view restaurant and some items on the Chinese menu you are much better off to dine elsewhere. Several restaurants were closed down. We had a pre-packaged breakfast at one of the poolside cafes, and it was $35 for sub-par Jack-in-the-Box egg burrito and coffee.

This might be fun if you have small kids, are not terribly active, or this is your first trip. There is great SCUBA diving and other activities both north and south, and much nicer accomodations for substantially less cost.

By all means don't up-grade your room. We paid for an ocean view and had a great look at another hotel with palm trees somethat blocking that view. Nothing anyone could do to fix it.

Great area: sub-par property and management. This is apparently well known in the area, as we received great recommendations for other hotels.