Most visitors spend their time on the Big Island on the Kona coast where there are many accommodation options for every budget. We shortly discuss the different options available below, and link to a more thorough discussion of each one, including some recommended places to stay.
Accommodation overview
There are accommodation options for almost every budget on the west side of the Big Island, ranging from the most affordable options of going camping in one of our beach parks or staying in a hostel, to splurging on one of the 5-star resorts on the amazing coastline north of Kailua-Kona on the Kohala coast.
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Resorts in the Kona disctrict
Staying in a resort is the most luxurious lodging option on the Big Island, and takes almost all the chores of planning your vacation out of your hands. We recommend staying in a resort if you want an ultimately relaxing vacation and don’t mind paying for it. The Kona coast resorts offer on-site luxuries such as relaxing spa’s, world-class golf courses and private swimming pools and tennis courts.
Read more about the 11 resorts in and around Kona here.
Hotels in and around Kailua-Kona
Most Kona coast hotels have the advantage that they are located close to downtown Kailua-Kona, i.e. ‘where the action is’. Hotel rates are on the same level as vacation rentals, generally in between resort and bed & breakfast prices.
Read more about the higher rated hotels in Kailua-Kona in a range of prizes.
Kailua-Kona Vacation Rentals
There are a LOT of vacation rentals in and around Kailua-Kona, and you are sure to find a good candidate that suits all your needs if you start looking early enough. If you like to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city and see more of the lush and tropical side of our island, you can also extent you search to the stretch of coast south of Kona (the south Kona district).
We give a couple of our favorite vacation rentals on the Kona coast in the following list: vacation rentals on the Kona coast
Bed and Breakfasts in Kailua-Kona
Bed and Breakfasts are a wonderful way to get to know the island, with a setting that is more intimate that that of the resorts or hotels. There are a couple of very good options south of Kona that offer you the “on the coffee farm” or “on the macadamia nut orchard” experience.
Read more about the bed and breakfasts around Kailua-Kona.
Hostels on the Kona coast
There are only a few hostels on this side of the Big Island. Have a look at our hostels in Kona information for the short (only 3 in 2022) list of hostels in west Hawai’i.