|
|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
| Lovely accommodations abound on the Big Island. |
|
 |
|
|
BIG ISLAND ACCOMMODATIONS |
Looking for a place to stay on the Big Island? "The Orchid Isle" has accommodations of every kind, from luxury hotels to bed & breakfast cottages. There are more than 9,700 guest rooms on the island (including more than 600 bed & breakfasts), and no doubt you’ll find a number of accommodations tailored to your needs, desires and budget.
For the finest in luxury resorts, head to the Kohala Coast, located at the northern end of the Big Island’s western coast. Often referred to as "The Gold Coast," Kohala is a sunny and arid region offering a good number of luxury hotels set in four resort areas. World-class golf, award-winning beaches and fine dining are among the amenities here.
The highest concentration of visitor rooms is located in Kailua-Kona on the island’s west side. This bustling vacation town offers a mix of upscale properties, budget hotels and motels, condominiums, rental homes, hostels, and bed & breakfasts. Tip: It gets really tough trying to find a room here during mid-October, when Kailua-Kona hosts the Ironman Triathlon World Championship.
There are a number of lodging options near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the Big Island’s most popular visitor attraction. Volcano Village offers a variety of bed & breakfasts and rental cabins.
On the Big Island’s east side is historic Hilo town, which offers a pair of moderately priced hotels as well as some condominiums, bed & breakfasts, hostels and rental homes. Most of these accommodations are clustered along Banyan Drive, an oceanfront roadway famous for its string of banyan trees that were planted by numerous celebrities, including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Babe Ruth, Amelia Earhart, Cecil B. de Mille, King George V and Richard Nixon. Another tip: Book your reservations early if you want to stay in Hilo during the week after Easter Sunday. That’s when the Merrie Monarch Festival—the world’s most prestigious hula event—takes place in Hilo.
Heading north from Hilo on Hamakua Highway, you’ll find a number of plantation towns that offer bed & breakfast accommodations.
Finally, head upcountry to the ranchlands of Waimea. The lodgings here are primarily bed & breakfasts and small hotels.
©2003-2004 Media-HI, Inc. All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
