Hilo, HI for vacation? any reccomendations?

[ginmqi]

Since OP is going in 2018, maybe she still looks.

I've stayed Hilo twice in the last month, and will again in 2 weekends. I am loving the Big Island and I'm super tempted to go back for more. There's SO MUCH to see that literally I think one needs several weeks (or months....) to explore all the cool places....the reaosn being places can be very far and you definitely need a rental car.

If the OP is not going to get a rental car then Hilo may not be the best IF she's looking for that classic resort/picturesque area...which is on the Kona/Kohala side. Or maybe another island.

I truly think you need a car (a 4x4 is even more preferable) to see all that the BI has to offer. Many of the sights I like are on the Hilo/East side and much closer to Volcano.

The one area that I haven't been to but will this upcoming trip is the hike down to Captain Cook monument and the snorkeling down there at Kealakekua Bay is supposedly the best anywhere with potential for dolphins...so I'll definitely have to check that out.

Oh and to give some small updates on the hotels there. I stayed in the Hilton (Grand Naniloa Hotel) and the rooms are MUCH nicer. You can tell they are renovating because the hallways/elevators look decidedly old whereas the room interiors are quite modern and updated. The classic chocolate cookie you get at checkin is a nice addition too.

The 2nd time I stayed in Hilo Hawaiian Hotel...and wow what a POS dump. Old smelly rooms, no microwave unless you get a suite (I paid $10/day to get a microwave as I brought my own heatable foods), tiny TV, the wifi did not work so I was able to jerry rig their LAN cord to reach the bed/laptop, and the room cleanliness was MUCH to be desired (found what looked like some large toenail in the carpet one evening....). Never staying there again. And it wasn't that much cheaper than the Hilton. I mentioned the microwave thing to the agent during check-out and they started talking about how many hotels are now NOT including microwaves anymore....and how it's becoming more common.....LOL wow.

[terracore]

When we stayed in Hilo as tourists (various times 2009-2011 if memory serves) we always stayed at the Hilo Seaside Hotel. Definitely not a resort. Rooms small/old/dated. But always clean, the staff always friendly, and free hot breakfast daily (ordered from a menu, not like a continental breakfast) when we booked online. And the rates were really good.

If you are spending all your time in Hawaii in a hotel room, you're doing it wrong. All we needed was a clean bed to sleep in and a quiet room on a budget. The Hilo Seaside Hotel fit the bill perfectly. As a bonus, Reeds Bay, Banyan Drive, and probably a dozen restaurants (Kens and Sombats recommended) are within a few minutes walking distance.

[ginmqi]

Originally Posted by terracore

When we stayed in Hilo as tourists (various times 2009-2011 if memory serves) we always stayed at the Hilo Seaside Hotel. Definitely not a resort. Rooms small/old/dated. But always clean, the staff always friendly, and free hot breakfast daily (ordered from a menu, not like a continental breakfast) when we booked online. And the rates were really good.

If you are spending all your time in Hawaii in a hotel room, you're doing it wrong. All we needed was a clean bed to sleep in and a quiet room on a budget. The Hilo Seaside Hotel fit the bill perfectly. As a bonus, Reeds Bay, Banyan Drive, and probably a dozen restaurants (Kens and Sombats recommended) are within a few minutes walking distance.

Very true. With me, I want to have a clean, comfy room to get back to after a whole day of hiking/touring. I used to like getting rooms with a gorgeous view but then I realized I spent most the day out doing stuff and only the hotel room was for sleep/relax/eat catchup on some stuff on a nice TV with reliable wifi....so

[67Cam]

Originally Posted by terracore

...If you are spending all your time in Hawaii in a hotel room, you're doing it wrong... As a bonus, Reeds Bay, Banyan Drive, and probably a dozen restaurants (Kens and Sombats recommended) are within a few minutes walking distance.

Yes. And no. Generally I agree that spending a lot of non-sleeping time in a hotel room is a waste and that a super fancy room may not make the most sense, but there are occasions/situations where it pays off. We got our own coffee, drip cones/filters & breakfast items, picked up the paper from the front desk each morning and had breakfast on the lanai. This is our routine at home (when the weather permits), but it's nothing like what we had when we were on the Big Island. What a fantastic way to start the day:

[terracore]

"Yes. And no. Generally I agree that spending a lot of non-sleeping time in a hotel room is a waste and that a super fancy room may not make the most sense, but there are occasions/situations where it pays off."

Agreed, especially for business travelers who need to do some of their work in the room.

Everybody finds their own slot on the spectrum depending on what they like and how much money they have. For example, I doubt I could ever enjoy staying in a hostel at my age. If it was my only lodging option, I would probably find a cheaper trip to take somewhere else.