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Royal Kona Resort
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19 reviews for Royal Kona Resort
really 3.5.
its a nice hotel in a great location. i got a great deal on orbitz for 115. but at check in they didnt have me in the system which took about 15 mins to clear up.
we got upgraded to an ocean view suite for the mix up, which was awesome, we even had a living room!!
parking was affordable at 10/day.
We went to the luau - we got the internet rate which was around $120 for two people.
We found it immensely entertaining. The host was hilarious just because it was so random and had some pretty good jokes. During one of the dances where a dancer does warrior sounds, the host did some voice-over grunts into the microphone. It was funny.
The dancers were good. They weren't perfectly synchronized and some dancers were better than others. However, it was still really fun to watch. The fire dancer was awesome.
There was tons of food. It was actually good. I didn't have much of an appetite, which was a pity. They had about several different types of chicken dishes. There were so many dishes that I can't even really remember. The coconut cake was yummy.
I wished that they left the food out longer. Also, their mai-tais were really weak. They should get a blender and make some pina coladas!
This was a nice place to stay for the few days we were here. The pool was nice but wish it was more private. I like the private natural fish pond where you can lay out in the sun. We did not do the Luau but it looked pretty nice .
The location is great for walking around Kona town. Also great price but try to book a room with either ocean views or at least a partial view so you can sit out on your balcony at night if you so choose . We were able to get a room for $ 100 per day. We didn't eat here thought since there were so many restaurants to choose from in town.
All in all this is a good bargain , nice hotel, comfy rooms even a laundry room even a small fridge which is a plus in my book, the only complaint really is having to pay for parking, seems like it should be free to guests.
After reading some of the negative reviews of this hotel on various travel websites I was a bit apprehensive prior to our arrival. Upon arriving we were greeted by an unfriendly person at the front desk named Denise. She kind of talked down to us and was somewhat short and snippy. She ended up giving us the wrong room. I paid for a ocean view and she gave us a parking lot view. Went back down to the desk and told her and she kind of brushed us off. After speaking to the manager Linda Saplan, she remedied the situation immediately and hooked us up with an awesome room in the Alii Tower on the 6th floor. Free upgrade! Woo hoo!! The room was nice, nothing like I expected. The bed was very comfy and the view was spectacular. We went down and thanked Linda and ended up talking story with her for well over an hour. She hooked us up with all the good local eats and great deals on shopping. Linda turned out to be the best part of the trip and just went above and beyond to make sure that we had a good time. I have stayed at 5 star resorts in the past and they couldnt even come close to the level of service that the Royal Kona and Linda Saplan provided. The Royal Kona went above and beyond to ensure we had a great stay at the hotel. The grounds are fairly well maintained but do show some age. The pool was nice but fairly small. Don's Mai Tai bar was great, service was a little slow but that's pretty much the case anywhere in Hawaii.
We loved our stay at this hotel so much that we booked another week for the same time next year.
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I couldn't have been happier when we pulled into the Royal Kona Resort....situated right in downtown "old Kona", the hotel had the perfect location for a romantic get-away for the bf and I. We stayed in the Lagoon Tower with an AMAZING oceanfront view.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
The room itself was quaint and although it was a tad on the older side--it was lovely! Vintage bamboo furniture, huge comfy beds, bar area with fridge and sink, and a wonderful balcony for us to sit and breathe in the ocean.
By the time we checked in and settled into the room, we had decided that we were in need of a few Mai Tais--poolside! We went downstairs to the great open air bar and grabbed a few drinks. Lucky us, it was happy hour too! Cheap and tasty cocktails--SCORE! The pool was pretty and had the appearance that it flowed into the ocean. Half a star off because there was no jacuzzi. Oh well.... http://www.yelp.com/bi...
After catching the beautiful sunset at the pool, we began to get the rumblies in our tummies. http://www.yelp.com/bi... After a quick trip to the concierge for some advice, we had reservations booked and ready for us. Very Helpful!!!
We were bummed that our stay in Kona was so short that we couldn't take advantage of all of the hotel's amenities (especially the little private lagoon underneath our room) but we hope to be back soon! I miss waking up to the sounds of the waves lightly crashing upon the shore---The perfect complement to our romantic get-away :)
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A last minute decision to fly from Oahu to the Big Island left me just minutes to find a place for the evening when I arrived in Kona. The car rental guy responded "A lot of people like the Royal Kona Resort" when I asked him for a local recommendation. At $115 per night, not too bad by Hawaii standards, particularly since it was on the water, and the picture on the web looked good.
However, the staff was lax, sullen and woefully uninformed. I asked one employee if the rooms had wi-fi and was met with a blank stare. So I reduced the complexity of the question: "Internet. Do the rooms have internet?". He continued to stare, then said, "You mean that computer stuff?". Ohhhh-kkk. Thanks. I finally found someone from the 21st century and they informed me that there was wireless in the lobby but you had to pay for it. No thanks. Even the big money-sucking hotels at least have free wireless in the lobby.
The decor was early Hawaii 5-0: not refurbished since the 70's from the look. There was a dreadful faded yellow "atrium" whose color only served to enhance the Andromeda Strain ambience of the almost completely empty tower I stayed in.
The only thing Royal about this place was that it was a Royal rip-off.
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Luau:
For a Friday night luau, I was expecting a lot more to have been brought to the guests who attended. I had no idea we were going to be treated to a cheesy lounge singer of a host and some of the male dancers looked like it was their first night on stage! I could've done a better job! For the $120 my husband and I paid, the only thing that was worth it was 1. the pulled pork and 2. the fire dancer at the end.
Needless to say it was super cheesy, poor acting/singing but great food. I would've liked to have gone to a more professional show for my money :(
Stayed in the renovated portion of the hotel. Reserved from priceline..which is the way to go. The pool is quite tiny, but still nice. Great ocean view from the balcony. Would recommend if you need a place to stay in Kona after flying in or flying out.
I'm reviewing the Luau I attended here and not the complete hotel experience.
Being my first trip to Hawaii, I felt it was an absolute necessity to attend a luau. Now normally this sort of thing would be out of my realm, given that luaus are an incredibly touristy thing to do...and as any of my readers know I hate hate hate anything that could be characterized as a tourist cliche.
But this I couldn't pass up. The whole eating a roasted pig outdoors on the ocean, pretending to enjoy poi, wearing flower leis, drinking bottomless weak Mai Tais, and watching scantily clad Polynesian women shake their hips just tickled my taste buds and libido far too much to resist.
I definitely appreciated the no-nonsense atmosphere of this particular luau. The Royal Kona Resort sits right on the water, on a fairly tiny piece of land. The luau is held just feet from the waterfront on a grassy area near the hotel's entrance. Being on the west coast of the island, the sunset was absolutely spectacular.
The food was delicious as well, with poke, poi, salads, beef, fish, and the succulent roasted pork. The desserts weren't bad either.
After the sun went down and the bellies of the guest were full the entertainment began. The host was kind of a funny guy. It wasn't that he told a lot of clever jokes, as much as he himself was silly. He seemed a bit nervous with public speaking, and had a case of the shakes when reading the newlywed's names from the paper he was given. Also, when he sang a song to welcome us all...it seemed as if he was making the lyrics up as he went...just going with the music. I didn't mind because I found this utterly hilarious.
The show itself was varied and entertaining, and wasn't too short or too long. The fire dancer was definitely the highlight. I especially appreciated that the show wasn't too Vegas-y... that would have killed it for me.
I would definitely go back and do this again.
I've never actually been inside the hotel, but I have to admit to having frequented their pool, their little beach, and the chairs they have sitting outside right by the water.
I spent so many afternoons here reading and relaxing and the staff has always been friendly.. plus they always seemed to be setting up for very beautiful luaus.
I miss this place a lot!
Going to a luau is not my ideal way of experiencing Hawaii. Most are geared toward tourists who are looking to see a pig pulled out of the ground, girls in coconut bras, men in skirts and all you can drink Mai Tai's. When it comes to food at a luau, it usually takes a backseat to everything else. You are there for the ambiance and experience not for the grub.
There were a couple of things that were not in favor of the Royal Kona Resort. First, it's a hotel luau which is only after your money. And secondly, it's right there on the beach. If that doesn't scream "you're here for the view and nothing else" than I don't know what was.
I was very pleasantly surprised at the whole experience. On the whole, the food was excellent. The kalua pork was nice and smoky, but still juicy and tender. The teriyaki chicken was cooked to perfection and the teriyaki sauce wasn't overly sweet. Even the desserts were good.
The show was also very entertaining. They did a great job of having the audience participate. And, like most luau's they embarrassed the newlyweds and people celebrating their anniversary by having them dance up front.
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Having planned a wonderful seven day vacation to the Big Island of Hawaii for March, I had everything taken care of. That is, except for the first night of lodging upon arrival to Kona. Having redeemed Hilton Honors points for a week long stay at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, I was in need of a hotel room for the first night in Hawaii. Having visited the restaurant at the Royal Kona previously, I jumped at an online rate of $129 for a Friday night during spring break week.
Overall, the hotel far exceeded my expectations. The location is right on the beach in old Kona, and on Ali'i Drive, the main drag through town. Old Kona is a sleepy little village with oceanfront bars and restaurants that hug the coast over the course of about a mile. The Royal Kona was at the southern end of the main strip, and a perfect starting/landing point for exploring the town.
The hotel/room itself was about what you'd expect for paying $129 in Hawaii. It was bright, had a balcony and a king sized bed in the room. The rooms all had a bar area with a refrigerator and were spacious. The beds were moderately comfortable, but the pillows and towels left a little to be desired. The rest of the hotel was undergoing a renovation, so it looked a little out of sorts, but you're in Hawaii on the coast, so it's not that bad. The pool is small and fairly crowded, and the restaurant (which has now changed hands) should be avoided at all costs.
Overall, it's a great place to stay if you're on a budget, or want to have a great base in town for a couple of days. I'm not sure I'd want to spend a week there, but then again, if you're in Hawaii, you shouldn't be spending much time in your room.
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Had breakfast and had the buffet (ended up costing $20ea incl tax and tip) This definitely wasn't the Mauna Lani which would have cost an extra $8 but about 4x the variety and the quality of the food wounld have been 4x better, too.
the food was OK but was in warmer dishes and had weren't cooked very well. Potatoes were soggy, sausages were OK, no bacon or pancakes/waffles anymore. A couple or birds were flying around and eating off the buffet. definitely would look towards another place for a meal than Royal Kona. It cold be a 2nd or 3rd choice place, though
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/13/2008
This must have been a fancy hotel 30 or 40 years ago. But has had a hard life, I think. Pretty run… Read more »
FANTASTIC hotel for the price. However, I'm not sure what the price for the hotel alone was since I had a package booked through travelocity. I'm reviewing for the hotel and not the luau since I didn't go to one.
Of all the hotels we saw on the island that weren't chains (Hilton, Marriott, Fairmont, etc.), this one was by far the nicest. This hotel actually used to be owned by the Hilton but they changed ownership.
When the Royal Kona says "Oceanfront property," it sure as heck means it! It is practically built on the ocean. But take note that this does not mean you can step off the hotel premises and onto the beach. It is not on a beach. There isn't a beach for another mile (Try the Magic Sands Beach a mile south of here for big waves). What it does mean is that there is a restaurant and a bar that overlooks the ocean. Don the Beachcomber restaurant has a breakfast buffet, but I wouldn't recommend it for the food. There's also Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Bar, which I would recommend for the view. (The drinks were a bit weak and for a 110 lb girl like me, no drink is usually ever weak for me). The view is absolutely magnificent during the daytime and very romantic during the nighttime. With the salty ocean mist gently sweeping by and the majestic sounds of crashing waves, you can't help but remember that you're in Hawaii and that life is gooooood.
I must have been too wrapped up in the view or the ocean or the drink or whatever, but I left my credit card with my receipt and left for the night. The next morning, this 70-year-old security guard (why are security guards always really old men?) knocked on my door to return my credit card. I called the bank to make sure suspicious activity hadn't accumulated on the card, and it hadn't! So, I was pleased.
The rooms are also pretty spacious. (For pictures, you should visit http://tripadvisor.com since I didn't take any.) Two sinks for you and your mate. King size bed! I love giant beds! A lanai (balcony) that looks out to the ocean. I'll post a picture of that. We had a partial ocean view in the Ali'i tower and it was still pretty awesome. The only thing I worried about was that since every room has a balcony, it wouldn't be hard for someone to climb over theirs and get to yours. However, this isn't a problem if you lock your balcony door and what kind of tourist would steal from another anyway?! I also enjoyed being on the 6th floor so there wasn't any street noise keeping me up. Although, one night, I realized that the walls are somewhat thin because I could hear my neighbor's television.
Oh and I heard some other people say that the Bay Tower is not as great as the other towers. The hotel has three towers: Bay, Ali'i, and Lagoon. The Ali'i tower is the main one that contains the hotel lobby. Both Ali'i and Lagoon have been renovated recently. The Bay Tower has not been renovated. So I would avoid getting a room in that tower.
All in all, a wonderful place to stay!
The Hotel is in a GREAT location where you can walk anywhere. (and across from the hotel is Jacks Diving Locker which I highly highly recommend if you want to dive). When you walk into the check in area, there is a really nice set-up. There's a beach view and a pool that also faces the beach. The first night there we stayed in their Bay View hotel. I was really disappointed when we went to the hotel because with their view, I was all excited to finally stay in a nice hotel. The room was extremely musty and the smell bothered me the whole time. The bed covers looked extremely old. Just the whole room made me feel uncomfortable sleeping in. The second night, we ended up upgrading our room to the lagoon hotel for 35 bucks more. I am so glad we did it because the room was a lot nicer and I felt so much more comfortable sleeping there then in the Bay view hotel. Oh yeah, the newer rooms come with a newer fridge and a hair dryer.
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If you are looking for a reasonable rate while on the Big Island this isn't to bad. I think this is best for people that plan on spending most of their time out on the island and not using the resort itself for anything. The bar area off the lobby was really good, great view and good drinks. The pool is pretty small and not very exciting but the view is fantastic. This is an old resort and it shows. Our room had recently been renovated and was adequate but again not anything fancy. Staff is pleasant enough and location is good for Kona. We made the mistake of booking a massage at their so-called spa and it was awful and expensive. We discovered the best damn spa I have ever gone to across the street called Hawaii Healing Ohana Spa, this place is fantastic!! If you stay here, you can walk to a lot of places and it is a good location on Alii Drive, just don't expect the Ritz.
looks like one of the nice hotels to stay at in kailua kona.
i did not stay here, but we had our luau here!
it was wonderful. the view was fantastic, right on the ocean beach. the sunset was in perfect view, the food was aiiight... the performance was cool, except one girl messed up on her poi balls. entertainment was fun. had a great night.
people are friendly.
hotel looks like it would be a great place to stay.
We stayed here for 9 nights for our honeymoon. Overall we were very impressed with the room, the view and the bar. The hotel has a great location, right on the ocean and within walking distance to downtown. The bar area, Don's Mai Tai Bar, was phenomenal. Watching the sunset during happy hour was very inspiring. The only thing that bothered us was the Luau that they had every Mon, Wed and Fri night. Our room was on the top floor overlooking the Luau and it was cool the first night, but after the 2nd or 3rd Luau we would have preferred the peace and quiet. Overall, I would highly recommend this hotel as well as the Mai Tai's!
I went here for a Luau. The place looks nice. Good view. Good food. Entertainment is funny cause they mess up sometimes. THey have a nice pond display full of assorted fishes too.
