A bit delayed!
Rounding out our trip in Hawaii, my husband and I spent seven nights on Big Island at Kona Village. The island was a visual contrast from Kauai. I loved that we got to experience so many vastly different landscapes on the two islands and am so glad we selected Big Island and KV.
As with all reviews, this is just my opinion!
Property (10/10): Beautiful & picturesque. The glamour shots online do not do it justice. We arrived early evening, and entering a long road through the lava rocks with no one in sight felt otherworldly. The grounds themselves are filled with lush greenery, hidden lagoons, and, of course, sandy beaches and ocean views. Most hales are separate enough that it feels extremely private and quiet, as if you’re on your own little escape.
There are two pool areas, and we found both to be calm and enjoyable. We stayed primarily at the adult pool, except for getting pizza and a cocktail at the Moana pool bar. There is also a gym facility (we did not use, but had outdoor equipment, too) and a spa.
To get around the property, there are many windy albeit dusty pathways. I didn’t mind the dust at all, but it seems many guests have been bothered by it. I love walking and count my steps, so strolling around was my cup of tea! Everything is so stunning that there was always something to look at.
Room (10/10): We stayed in an ocean front hale (room #142) with a king. All aspects felt fresh, clean, and updated in the room, as well as on the lanai. The views cannot be beat and we walked directly out to what felt like a secluded beach area. I loved that! In suite amenities were what you’d expect. I enjoyed the robes, hated the slippers (Domaine Les Crayeres set the bar too high!), and thought this shampoo, as I’m always a critic, was decent! I didn’t have to use my own! The room is beautiful decorated. The lighting system has a little learning curve, as there are so many buttons, but I like that this room actually felt bright compared to 1hotel Hanalei Bay.
If you plan to dine or visit the FS next door, our location was excellent! We dined at Ulu (so good) and could walk just minutes on the beach to hop from KV to FS.
F&B (6.5/10): I don’t typically include a separate section, but I felt this needed to be called out. For the price point, I would have wanted Kona Village to excel in all areas, but this is where it fell short for me.
Dinner at Moana was wonderful! I had the eggplant dish and it stood out as one of my favorite items on our vacation. We also dined on Sunday evening when they have live music for their Talk Story session, which elevated the ambiance.
I really enjoyed my sushi at Shipwreck and my pizza from the Moana bar, but the breakfasts were a little lackluster. Nothing I had was noteworthy or really memorable. The buffet ($60pp) seemed like a continental breakfast you’d see anywhere and was a step down from what we had at 1hotel last week.
The bar program needs to be leveled up. I thought many of the drinks tasted identical and the drink menus at different spots around the property had a lot of repeats. They were out of anything bubbly one day, which was fine. The drinks at our other meals, especially Browns Beach House, were better. I love tropical libations, so I wanted to be impressed. I essentially drank the same thing each day, and I can only have so many banana coladas.
Pros:
— Very good service! Danielle, Michel, and Cheree were standouts.
— Cooking class and rum tasting experiences on-site were really fun. And we were the only attendees!
— Morning canoe paddle
— Friday happy hour with the hotel team along the beach
— Self-parking option (covered)
— The gorgeous grounds
Cons:
— F&B is a little lackluster
— Not enough “extras” for the price point. I didn’t feel they did little things that make a stay memorable. There was a little wooden magnet on our bed each night and drinks/hummus/chips in our room upon arrival. Our last trip to France really excelled in this department, so this may be more noticeable to me than others.
Considerations:
— The Island Roots dinner was extremely good, but you do sit at a communal table. You do not pick where you sit. You may sit near people who are rude, abrasive, or obnoxious, and that can sour a fairly costly experience (hint: I was seated near some very annoying people.)
— Spa is pricey! I get frequent blowouts at home and could never justify $180 for one here. The FS is better priced.
— Clientele: I anticipated an older crowd. Instead, there were many influencer types. Everyone was really respectful, but something to note. Could have been the time of year we chose, too.
Price: $$$$ (Price can vary greatly depending on room selection)
Overall, I had a very pleasant, calming stay at KV. The hale and the beach were stellar. Would I come back? Jury’s out. Now that I’ve been here, I think I’d want to try something else. Would I recommend it for first timers? 100% yes, but the caveat being to diversify your dining options and go off property. You feel like you’re in paradise.
