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Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel – reviews, photos

2.0 of 5
87 Banyan Dr., Hilo, Island of Hawaii, HI 96720
Hotel amenities
Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel
Ranked #6 of 8 hotels in Hilo
2.5 of 5 stars 177 Reviews
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177 reviews from our community

What travellers say about this hotel
  • Continental breakfast(6)
  • Will NEVER stay(3)
  • English muffin(3)
Traveller rating
    12
    42
    44
    30
    49
Only show reviews for Family (28) | Couples (63) | Business (10)
Date Rating
Waterford, Michigan
2 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
“Not Happy”
2 of 5 stars Reviewed 12 February 2012
1
person found this review helpful

I don't mind a hotel that is dated if it is clean and the staff is friendly. We booked three rooms, all were barely clean. Sink was rusty, corners of bathroom tile floors were dirty as was the terrace and the furniture. Found cockroaches n one room and the staff was indifferent. Both checkin and checkout was with staff members who were not rude but close to it especially the lady who checked us out. On the positive side, the beds were comfortable and the bedding was clean. Views are not exactly as shown in advertising. Parking is a nightmare. Small parking lot. We had to park in the street and walk a couple of blocks. We will spend more and go elsewhere next time.

  • Stayed February 2012, travelled with family
    • 2 of 5 stars Value
    • 1 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 2 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
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Ask avislou about Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Aaron Whiting, Manager at Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel, responded to this review
17 February 2012
Aloha avislou

Mahalo (thank you) for your review and choosing to stay at Uncle Billy’s Hilo Bay Hotel. It sounds like your stay with us was less than stellar and for that I must apologize. I’ve notified management of the issues you’ve mentioned in your review and we are taking measures to address and resolve them. I also offer my sincerest apologies for the bad impression you received during check in and check out. Here at Uncle Billy’s we pride ourselves on our spirit of aloha and we always want our guests to feel welcome during their stay. Our employees are our ambassadors of aloha and we always try to go the extra mile for our guests but this time it looks like you caught us on an off day. But off day or not, we don’t want our guests to leave with an unfavorable impression and I’ve personally spoken to all of our front desk staff regarding your review.

Thank you again for your review and if you would like to provide any input/feedback on your experience I encourage you to email us at reservations@unclebilly.com.

Mahalo Nui Loa (Thank You Very Much),

Aaron Whiting
Reservations Manager
Uncle Billy’s Hilo Bay & Kona Bay Hotels
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Santa Fe, New Mexico
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
6 helpful votes 6 helpful votes
“uncle billy lost his willy”
2 of 5 stars Reviewed 7 February 2012
1
person found this review helpful

this place had its day back in the 50s or 60s, but no one has done much for upkeep since. Door jamb rotten 3 inches up from the floor, structural beams, exposed in the hallways, rusting and corroded, mold, mildew, used Q-tips under the bed. And all this for a mere $95 a night! And the "contnental breakfast" was one of the most amazingly bad I've ever had, and I travel a lot: not-so-fresh papaya, no limes, bread, english muffins, and that's it! Packets of strawberry jelly and some-kinda-butter. Really bad.

  • Stayed February 2012, travelled with family
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 2 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 2 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 2 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 2 of 5 stars Service
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Ask RockDoctorNMUSA about Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Aaron Whiting, Manager at Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel, responded to this review
17 February 2012
Aloha RockDoctorNMUSA

Mahalo (thank you) for your review and choosing to stay at Uncle Billy’s Hilo Bay Hotel. I do apologize for your impression of our hotel during your stay, here at Uncle Billy’s we want all of our guests to enjoy their stay with us and if ever there is an issue or problem please let us know and we’ll work to resolve the issue immediately. I’ve notified management of the issues that you mentioned in your review and we’re working to resolve these problems. I’m sorry to hear that you found the continental breakfast disappointing; most of our guests have nothing but good things to say about the pastries, coffee, juice, tea, and locally grown papaya. At Uncle Billy’s we do pride ourselves on our spirit of aloha and we’ll do everything we can to ensure that our guests have an enjoyable stay.

Thank you again for your review and if you would like to provide any input/feedback on your experience I encourage you to email us at reservations@unclebilly.com.

Mahalo Nui Loa (Thank You Very Much),

Aaron Whiting
Reservations Manager
Uncle Billy’s Hilo Bay & Kona Bay Hotels
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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Cleveland, Ohio
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“Restful Real Hawaii Accomodations”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 2 February 2012
1
person found this review helpful

If you are a low maintenance traveler who wants a private, old style experience, this is the place to be! I enjoyed the kitchenette. This saved me money on food. If you don't mind the sweet cadence of the coqui frogs, this hotel will charm you! Parking is a challenge, but it is free. Great for small famlies and single travelers.
No room service, no concierge, or no spa, but a nice pool, tropical surroundings, but quaint and reliable service.
Will stay again.... under 90.00 per night!

Room Tip: Ask for a room with a kitchenette! All rooms have a lanai.
See more room tips
  • Stayed January 2012, travelled with friends
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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See 2 more reviews by Kmort66 for Hilo
Ask Kmort66 about Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Aaron Whiting, Manager at Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel, responded to this review
17 February 2012
Aloha Kmort66

Mahalo (thank you) for your review and choosing to stay at Uncle Billy’s Hilo Bay! I’m so glad that you were able to experience all the warmth and aloha that Hilo has to offer. We’re not a Four Seasons or a Hyatt but we do offer great amenities at a reasonable rate and we never skimp on aloha and charm.

Once again thank you for choosing to stay with us and we hope to see you again in the future!

Mahalo Nui Loa (Thank You Very Much),

Aaron Whiting
Reservations Manager
Uncle Billy’s Hilo Bay & Kona Bay Hotels
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC
San Antonio, TX
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
“Coqui Heaven”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 1 February 2012
2
people found this review helpful

My adventure began as soon as I stepped into a cab at ITO. As I approached the hotel, I could easily recognize the sounds of the Coqui frog.. a tiny, native frog of Puerto Rico. Having recently returned from a trip from San Juan, how could I not recognize the Coqui's distinctive and deafening sound. After being exhausted after a long day's trip, even the serenading of the Coqui could not prevent me from enjoying a good night's rest in this modest and clean hotel.

The customer service I received that night from the hotel staff of 1, was excellent. He was fast, efficient and friendly. The next morning, as I was awaken to the sounds of the symphony of the resident birds, I was referred to a wonderful food establishment, that is within walking distance from the hotel. Ken's pancake house serves some of the most delicious breakfast on the island. I was even treated to a glimpse of the former Governor of the state of Hawaii, Linda Lingle, who was also enjoying the food at Kens.

This hotel doesn't offer the amenities of the Ritz Carlton, but if you're looking for a place to stay that's clean, reasonably priced, close to the airport and oozes the Aloha Spirit, Uncle Billy's is it!

  • Stayed January 2012, travelled solo
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
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Ask fasteddy002004 about Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Aaron Whiting, Manager at Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel, responded to this review
17 February 2012
Aloha fasteddy002004

Mahalo (thank you) for your review and choosing to stay at Uncle Billy’s Hilo Bay. Yes, it is true that the little coqui has made his home in Hilo but I’m certainly happy to hear that this was not detrimental to your stay. I’m glad to hear that our staff was friendly, courteous, and able to recommend a great place for breakfast. As I’ve said before, our employees are our valued ambassadors of aloha and I will pass your compliments on to our front desk staff.

Once again thank you for choosing to stay with us and we hope to see you again in the future,

Mahalo Nui Loa (Thank You Very Much),

Aaron Whiting
Reservations Manager
Uncle Billy’s Hilo Bay & Kona Bay Hotels
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Hakalau, Hawaii
Senior Contributor
26 reviews 26 reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
“4 out of 5 based on PRICE”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 1 February 2012
1
person found this review helpful

OK, not that nice but 4 stars for the value. Old decor, but not ragged and stained. No roaches or bedbugs, not bad for under $100.

Room Tip: Rooms overlooking garden in the middle are NO-IZEE with birds (Mynah?) in the AM. Some couqi frogs a...
See more room tips
  • Stayed December 2011, travelled as a couple
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes
See 12 more reviews by mike s for Hilo
Ask mike s about Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Aaron Whiting, Manager at Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel, responded to this review
17 February 2012
Aloha mike s

Mahalo (thank you) for your succinct review and choosing to stay at Uncle Billy’s Hilo Bay. Our hotel is a little older and the birds can be a little vocal (all part of living in a tropical paradise) but we’re never short on charm and value.

We sincerely hope that you enjoyed your stay and hope to see you again in the future.

Mahalo Nui Loa (Thank You Very Much),

Aaron Whiting
Reservations Manager
Uncle Billy’s Hilo Bay & Kona Bay Hotels
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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Additional Information about Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel

  • Uncle Billys Hilo Bay Hotel
Address: 87 Banyan Dr., Hilo, Island of Hawaii, HI 96720
Price range (per night):* INR5,312 - 6,654

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Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel
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