Waikoloa Beach Marriott - Resort or Hotel?

by Meredith
(Seattle, WA)

My fiance and I stayed at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa for five days in August, 2011, using my Marriott rewards points. The pros: The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. We had inadvertently forgotten a few items, and they met our needs free of charge. I was impressed. The pineapple infused water in the lobby was a nice touch. The location was nice—we walked to the local shops and restaurants, and the nearby Anaeho'omalu beach. The views of course were beautiful, and the pool was by far the most relaxing experience. It’s open 24 hours. Also the hotel bar had drink specials, which were extremely nice after a day on the beach. Finally, we attended the Luau on Saturday evening at sunset. It was well done, the food was yummy and it really created the “Hawaii experience.”

The cons: The Marriott is listed as a resort, but it certainly doesn’t feel that way. The room wasn’t exactly the cleanest, the bathroom was small and the bed did not adequately fit the needs of my rather tall fiance. Both of us are really into physical fitness. The gym was OK—it was a typical hotel gym instead of what you might expect at a resort. It would be my recommendation to purchase a temporary gym membership if that is available in the area. The gym was open 24 hours a day, so that’s a plus. We had dinner at the hotel restaurant a couple of times but I wouldn’t recommend it. It’s overpriced and not “resort quality.” You must pay for parking and it’s a bit pricey.

The resort did a good job of creating a romantic atmosphere, but failed on a few simple needs. I would give it another shot just to see if the room was not typical. The views are worth the money. If you’re wanting to see anything else other than the Waikoloa resort village, it’s a bit of a drive. Kailua-Kona is 30 minutes south, and the small town of Waimea is about the same distance north.