Where to stay on the Big Island
Where to stay in Kona
Kailua-Kona is where most first trips should start. It is dry, walkable along the water, and close to snorkelling, coffee farms and the manta night trip.
Stay here if
You want restaurants, a bit of evening life and easy boat tours, without resort prices.
Skip it if
The volcano is the reason you came and you only have a few days. You will spend them in the car.
Aliʻi Drive
Walk to dinner and the water. Ask for a room off the road if you want to sleep: the strip stays lively.
Above town
Quieter, often with a view, five minutes down the hill for everything. You will have a car anyway.
Keauhou
South of town, calmer, a mix of condos and a couple of resorts. The middle ground if Kona town feels too busy.
Hotels and rentals
Live availability around this base. Prices update on the booking site.
The map and the Booking.com link are affiliate links. If you book through them I may earn a commission, at the same price you would pay anyway. It does not change which base I recommend.
Other bases
- Where to stay on the Kohala CoastThe best beaches on the island. Quiet evenings, higher prices.
- Where to stay in HiloA real town on the rainy side. Close to waterfalls and the park.
- Where to stay in VolcanoSleep at the park. Cold nights, one or two of them is enough.
- Where to stay in North KohalaSmall towns at the end of the road. Only if the north is the point.