TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

This is the best hotel on ali drive. The rooms are in excellent shape. It is convenient to the restaurants. Definitely would stay again.

I was a little concerned reading some of the earlier reviews, but our experience has been great. We got the room we booked and the view is amazing. Housekeeping has come precisely when we were told they would come and they make sure we have everything we need. The team at the pool are wonderful. They are all super friendly and attentive and we've really enjoyed them. - The food is also very good at the pool bar - not sure about the other restaurant - it's kind of high priced and we can't eat that much at a buffet to justify that cost. Only comment about the pool - not everyone can sit on those lounge chairs (my husband for one), so I bought a chair at Walmart. It has worked out and Walmart was not a far trip. The location is great, close to the little beach for snorkeling as well as many terrific restaurants. It's not inexpensive, but for the location, not terrible.

I booked a room at this hotel and mistakenly selected a non-refundable rate without realizing it. I canceled the reservation right away and reached out to Marriott hoping they could offer at least a partial refund or a future stay credit. Unfortunately, they refused to make any exception even though the room had plenty of time to be rebooked. As someone who has trusted Marriott for many years, this experience has made me rethink future bookings. I hope management reviews how they handle situations like this, because treating honest mistakes with zero understanding is not what I expect from a major hotel brand.

This is one of a very few places where you can manage without a car (though I recommend doing so in Kona only if you're well-versed in traveling car-free, we did so and had no issues). Plenty of shops and restaurants steps away, including a local grocery chain and even some fast food (if that's what you really want). Lots of tours pick up right outside the front door, while others have offices on-site. We got the specific room type we asked for, it was clean and in good shape, and we were told in advance that housekeeping would be every other day (and it was). Staff were efficient and courteously accommadated our (reasonable) requests. There is some noise here because it is the center of a busy town with nightly entertainment, but as far as I can recall, it was always quiet by 8 or 9 PM. This hotel seems deserving of a better rating than it has, but we did travel during a low season. It is consistent with what you'd expect of a Courtyard by Marriott, a mid-tier brand that caters to conference or event travel by reliably offering the basics, with some allowance for being in Hawai'i (e.g. they're going to run out of some items that they won't be able to replenish right away, and the service will be more laid back). It is not a luxury resort or a "destination hotel" that caters to "high-maintenance" travelers, despite the high price, which is due to being in such a perfect location, so plan accordingly. One bonus tip: King's Coffee really is quite good, significantly better than what you typically find in a hotel coffee shop, and while it gets crowded at times, the long lines tend not to persist for more than a few minutes at a time.

The King Kamehameha Kona Beach resort met all our needs and then some. We enjoyed a spacious room with an outstanding view of the bay. The hotel has all the amenities! The beach at the hotel was very relaxing and there was a wonderful beach side pool and bar as well. A number of different eateries from restaurants to snack shops fitting everyone’s tastes from young to old. The hotel is within walking distance of incredible restaurants and shopping of Kona along the beautiful bayside strip. If you want to learn about Hawaiian culture, this hotel is your location! In addition to a hotel shop that offered opportunities to learn Hawaiian crafts, there is a renown art collection and short guided tour describing King Kamehameha, his family, and royal lineage as well as the historic site of the king’s estate on the grounds. It is the historic site where the hotel’s sumptuous luau is served along with incredible performances of Polynesian dancers. Make doubly sure you do not miss the breathtaking Flight of Aloha located at the hotel, a simulation experience that showcases the remarkable beauty of Hawaii!! Then there is the little touch that underscored our pleasant experience, a chilled water dispenser on every floor that most certainly quenched our thirst. When we return to the Big Island, there is no doubt this is where we will stay. A hui hou King Kamehameha Resort Hotel!