Hilo should be a part of your itinerary if you are spending more than 5 days on the Big Island. This is the lush, tropical, and rainy side of the island. Spend your time here on scenic drives, waterfalls, hot ponds, stargazing, lava viewing, a visit to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (mandatory!), or one of the many more activities in Hilo.
If you do already know, read on and pick one of the accommodation categories below:
Hotels in Hilo
The Hotels on this side of the island are not as posh and luxurious as you can find on the west (Kona) coast, and you won’t find a Hilton or Marriot. We recommend you to stay in a bed & breakfast or in a vacation rental because they tend to offer more of a personal and local experience.
Everybody however, has their own preferences. If yours are hotels have a look at the hotels in Hilo.
Hostels in Hilo
There are multiple hostels in Hilo. The most visited are Arnott’s Lodge & Hiking Adventures and the Hilo Bay Hostel. You can read more about them in our Hostels in Hilo section.
Vacation Rentals in Hilo
There are many vacation rental possibilities in Hilo that vary widely in price/quality and luxury. Our vacation rentals in Hilo section is still under construction but we already highlight one great choice below for people that like privacy and nature.
Located 1.5 miles from Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, this small 1 bedroom house features a swimming pool and a fantastic ocean view from the front porch. It is a great place to stay if you want to escape the crowds and the hustle-bustle of city life.
The house is VERY popular and often fills up months ahead of time, but sometimes people cancel and last-minutes bookings are possible. See more photos of this amazing place and read many great reviews on the Booking.com website.
We also have a couple of vacation rentals in volcano village that we heartily recommend!
Bed and Breakfasts in Hilo
Bed & breakfasts are a wonderful way to get to know the town, with a setting that is more intimate (but offers less luxury) than those of the resorts or hotels in Hawaii. Have a look at the bed and breakfasts in Hilo here for some of our favorite accommodation options.