Consolidated "Hotels in Hilo? Other lodging suggestions on B.I. east side?" thread
So, I've got a business trip to Hawaii in October, and scheduled several nights on the big island to take in the volcano, etc.
The ticket is set, flying in & out of Hilo. I understand the best hotels are in Kona. I think I'll still do Hilo, but want to find something under $100 a night that is clean & roach-free. Any suggestions?
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by j379pa: I think I'll still do Hilo, but want to find something under $100 a night that is clean & roach-free. Any suggestions?</font>
j379-
Roach-free? In Hilo? Are you kidding me?
I'm just kidding. My dad lives in Hilo and we always tease him about the B-52 bomber-like roaches that swarm his house and the island...
Whenever I go to visit my dad, I stay at the Hilo Seaside Hotel. I wouldn't really recommend it, but it was extremely cheap and clean; it is however close to the airport, so you do hear an occasional airplane (I think there's one Aloha jet that makes a nighttime delivery for cargo), the road noise, etc.
Another suggestion is the Volcano Inn. My girlfriend stays there everytime she visits the Hilo area with her family. She says it's very nice... it is far from Hilo-town however (roughly a half-an-hour drive), but it is right next to the Kilauea volcano. A very peaceful place. They have random specials. http://www.volcanoinn.com/
Read the reviews of the trip advisor links... they are very accurate (mostly) and are helpful. Many visitors to Hilo do end up staying at the Hilo Hawaiian. I have stayed there and for a Hilo hotel it is pretty nice. As far as roaches go, however... most hotels don't have them... as far as I know If you don't think about them... do they really exist?
Hope this helps and hope you find your Hilo trip enjoyable... but did you say you're doing business in Hilo? I didn't know they did business in Hilo.... It is of course what we locals like to argue as one of the sleepier towns of Hawai'i...
Aloha
Edited to add Volcano Inn content
[This message has been edited by slippahs (edited 05-22-2003).]
Might look into B&B's. There are a number of them on Big Island. We stayed at one near Hilo: The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls, and one in Volcano: Kilauea Lodge
Thanks for the responses! I'll look into the links more this evening.
The meeting is on Kauai. I cashed in 5,000 NW miles (I only had 6,800) to work out the island hop to see the volcano, and saved the employer (non-profit) $60 to boot.
The b&b's might work. Would you recommend any that you stayed in? I really see the room as a place to crash and get some good sleep--I definitely want to be out & about the rest of the time.
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I stayed at the Hilo Seaside a couple of months ago (about $70 via Hotwire). It is truly a one-star hotel. It's okay, but I'd suggest bidding on Priceline at the two star level to get the Hilo Hawaiian. My guess is that you could get that for under $100 on Priceline -- I suggest a starting bid of $65.
[This message has been edited by dhuey (edited 05-24-2003).]
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I've not stayed here, but there is a place in town right in the middle of things and you can get a room for $38.00. It's called the 'Hilo Bay hostel', but they have private rooms with loads of food places, cafes etc. nearby.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Axi22: I've not stayed here, but there is a place in town right in the middle of things and you can get a room for $38.00. It's called the 'Hilo Bay hostel', but they have private rooms with loads of food places, cafes etc. nearby.</font>
Now the problem with hostels on the Big Island, from what I heard is that during certain months of the year, can have roaches, as was one of the concerns by the original poster.
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Quote:
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by j379pa: I think I'll still do Hilo, but want to find something under $100 a night that is clean & roach-free. Any suggestions?</font>
JP, stayed at the Hilo Seaside phone: 808.935.0821 located at 126 Banyan Drive in Hilo. Has a decent restaurant attached. Paid $69 a night AAA rate and that included a $10 credit towards breakfast. Room is nothing special but it was clean.
It was raining the night we stayed in Hilo (not uncommon) and it was the most peaceful sleep I've had in Hawaii, bar none. The rain falling on the broad leaves of the lush landscape and frogs calling in the night from the koi pond. http://www.sand-seaside.com/hilo_hotels.htm
Stop looking for under $100. Google "The Falls at Reed's Island". You will not be disapointed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by j379pa
So, I've got a business trip to Hawaii in October, and scheduled several nights on the big island to take in the volcano, etc.
The ticket is set, flying in & out of Hilo. I understand the best hotels are in Kona. I think I'll still do Hilo, but want to find something under $100 a night that is clean & roach-free. Any suggestions?
I did a mock PL bid a couple weeks ago. The lowest bid for a 1* (knowing it's probably the Hilo Seaside) was $46+ ($111 all in for 2 nts).
The properties listed on BFT for 2* are Hilo Hawaiian and Uncle Billy's. HH has decent reviews, but UB's looks like a thumb's down. Too risky unless anyone has something good to report.
The hostel private rooms are $60+, a little more than I can afford, but still an option.
slippahs, do you still stay at the Seaside?
Anyone have any recent experiences with any of the above?
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Hilo Hawaiian is probably the nicest.
None of the Hilo options will be like the Kona-side resorts. They're just not. If you (or anyone) needs that, you won't find it in Hilo.
Seaside is very basic, very local. Very nice staff. Rooms are basic. Clean, but basic. Try to get a room across from the ice ponds and overlooking the koi pond. Very entertaining to throw them snacks Oddly, one of Hilo's better restaurants -- the Coconunt Grill -- is now in the space where the restaurant's unremarkable coffee shop used to be.
It's a very different kind of experience. Very laid back. All rooms have kitchens. I've stayed there and enjoyed it greatly. A few walkable blocks from downtown. Note that the rooms don't have air conditioning. This is not a problem at all at night or in the morning (in fact the tradewinds are very refreshing). But July-October it can get pretty warm, even with the nice fans they have in every room, in the afternoon.
If you're on a very tight budget, you might also look at the Wild Ginger Inn http://www.wildgingerinnhilo.com/ It is reported to be much better than it used to be.
Arnotts Lodge also gets many, many budget travelers and I have never heard any but good things from the budget traveler/backpacker/hosteler folks who frequent it: http://www.arnottslodge.com/HOME.HTML
Well, I guess Seaside is still an option. Arnott's looks good aside from it being a little further out from town. Wild Ginger looks kooky. And Dolphin Bay is out of my budget.
If you don't think about them... do they really exist? 
It is of course what we locals like to argue as one of the sleepier towns of Hawai'i... 
And Dolphin Bay is out of my budget. 
