Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
With its dramatic setting overlooking Kailua Bay, the Royal Kona Resort is an oceanfront landmark in the heart of Kona town, conveniently located just steps from many fine restaurants, shops, historical sites, and activities. Completed in 2021, guests will enjoy the $15-million renovation to the resort’s 436 guestrooms and suites, and oceanfront pool deck.
Drawing inspiration from the tropical surroundings and sheer beauty of the islands the new Deluxe guestrooms and suites are designed with modern coastal inspired décor and finishes, rich teak furnishings, colorful natural fabrics, and beautiful marble wet bars outfitted with coffee makers and mini refrigerators.
The relaxing open-air lobby, surrounded by a tropical saltwater fishpond, leads out to an expansive newly refinished oceanfront sundeck impressively set directly above the ocean featuring luxurious teak loungers, beach umbrellas, and pool cabanas. The Resort also offers a private sandy beach cove and sheltered saltwater swimming lagoon perfect for beginner snorkeling.
Guests will find light meals and a variety of tropical beverages, including the Original Mai Tai, showcased in a world-class oceanside setting at the signature Don the Beachcomber Restaurant & Mai Tai Bar. With its open-air setting, right on the water’s edge, Don’s is the perfect spot to enjoy the sights and sounds of all the activity taking place on Kailua Bay, and it’s a great place to catch a breathtaking Kona sunset. Several nights a week, the Resort is home to Kona’s best oceanfront Luau, the "Voyagers of the Pacific Luau” presented by the award-winning Tihati productions.
Other resort amenities include four tennis courts available for day or evening play; rejuvenating massage and spa treatments; a fitness center; Hawaiian cultural activities; yoga classes; and a great sundry shop. Island specialists are available at the Resort’s Activities Desk to assist guests in booking tours and to recommend other island attractions, and specialists are also available on-property to assist couples with destination weddings and vow renewal ceremonies.
For a great location in the heart of Kailua-Kona, gracious Hawaiian hospitality and service, and the Big Island’s best value, choose the Royal Kona Resort.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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Nestled in a prime spot with captivating ocean views, the Royal Kona Resort is celebrated for its vibrant atmosphere, bolstered by live music and unique décor. While guests have called out the satisfactory pool and lagoon, some feel these amenities are overdue for refurbishment. The resort's location garners praise for its proximity to local attractions, though the nearby homeless presence is noted.
Service experiences vary, with commendations for staff friendliness contrasting reports of inconsistent front desk interactions. Despite the resort's general cleanliness and the allure of certain clean rooms with stunning vistas, concerns about noise, outdated rooms, and additional fees have led some travelers to question the overall value.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Lively
Rooms
Dated
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Meticulous
Noise level
Noisy
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Satisfactory
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My husband and I spent a week at this resort. We stayed in a corner king room, which was spacious and had a gorgeous ocean view. Even with the balcony doors closed, you could hear the waves crashing onto the rocks. Our room (main tower) also overlooked the luau, so it was perk to see a ‘free’ show!
The room was clean, though I was expecting a few more amenities. For example, it would have been nice to have a clothesline in the shower to hang swimsuits. A full length mirror and robes would have been nice to have. They also don’t offer room service. I appreciated the separate sink in the bar area and two bottles of water in the fridge, which you are expected to refill (the only refill dispenser is on the second floor, which I found a bit inconvenient).
We had breakfast once and dinner once in the restaurant and the food is very good. There’s plenty of restaurants of various price points within short walking distance from the hotel, making the location very convenient if you want to explore different restaurants. An ABC store is also across the street.
I chose this hotel because of the location in being close to the ocean, walking distance to a lot of restaurants and fairly close to the harbor for scuba diving excursions (about 15 minutes drive). Various Kona coffee farms are also within 10-20 minutes drive as well.
Overall, the hotel is on par with a Sheraton. I found it to be a no frills experience with no major issues or complaints. Staff we encountered were friendly and helpful. If you want a more romantic or luxurious stay, I’d look into the resorts north of Kona airport.
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Date of stay: September 2024
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Corner king rooms have the best ocean views
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from HHR CRES, Guest Services / Front Office at Royal Kona Resort
Responded 24 Sept 2024
Mahalo! We appreciate your valuable feedback. We will be reviewing your concerns so we can give our guests the best service, we hope that you had a beautiful time on the island and will keep us in mind on your next trip.
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I booked my 6 night stay at this resort about 6 months ago. I was impressed with the price (Reno rate) and the walkable location. A few weeks before leaving for my trip, I decided to check out recent reviews to see if there were any tips from travellers about activities to try, etc. I was surprised and concerned to see lots of recent negative reviews, I contemplated cancelling and staying elsewhere but didn’t because I would have lost my deposit and found that other options in the area were considerably more expensive.
All this to say, I had a positive experience! My biggest issue was that the mai tai’s we ordered from the bar were our least favourite cocktail we had our entire trip. We also didn’t have luck ordering takeout lunch from the on site restaurant, I think they were short staffed. If you want to check out the live music on Thursdays, go early, it was too busy when we arrived and we had to go elsewhere, bummer.
Room was clean and housekeeping was efficient. Check in wasn’t more than a 10 min wait, we got upgraded to a better room and received complementary sparking wine upon check in because we were celebrating our anniversary.
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from HHR CRES, Guest Services / Front Office at Royal Kona Resort
Responded 27 Feb 2024
Thank you very much for sharing your positive review with us! We are delighted that you had a positive experience and we appreciate your feedback regarding our restaurant on property. We hope that you had an amazing anniversary and will consider joining us again in the future!
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We really enjoyed the Royal Kona. The grounds are super pretty and our room was spacious and comfortable. I believe we were in one of the renovated rooms. The furniture seemed new and the carpet was definitely new. However, the bathroom could definitely use an update. Beds were comfy, water pressure was great and we had a view of the lagoon and we enjoyed watching the tennis and Pickleball courts from our balcony. The building is under renovation and we did hear noise, and see the construction workers throughout the day, but it didn’t bother us much. They were all very friendly and did their best to stay out of our way.
The restaurant has the prettiest view in the whole town and the breakfast was really good. The only complaint is that the hotel serves cheap coffee at the restaurant and in the rooms. You would think being in Kona, they would serve the best coffee around. Anyway, the service was good.
The pool is small, but the view is beautiful and we never had a problem getting chairs or towels.
The location is the best. You literally can walk everywhere to shop, eat, drink, etc. Parking was $25 per day, but it is in a gated lot and we never had a problem finding a spot, even on the very busy times of the day.
Our only complaint was when we first arrived, the young girl at the front desk wasn’t the nicest. As soon as we walked up to check in, she didn’t even say hello. She asked for an ID without a smile. Collected our information to charge the 8 days of parking, gave us a map and showed us which direction to our room. Never said thank you or anything. Must’ve had a bad day, I guess.
Fortunately, our 8 days at the Royal Kona were wonderful and we wouldn’t hesitate to return.
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Date of stay: December 2024
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
Service
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:The corner rooms with a view are huge
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from HHR CRES, Guest Services / Front Office at Royal Kona Resort
Responded 23 Dec 2024
Mahalo! We appreciate your positive feedback. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay with us and we hope to welcome you back again in the future!
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First timers to the Big Island and Royal Kona Resort. We were not disappointed. We knew in advance that it was not a sandy beach setting. Rather, the resort is located on a beautiful lava rock outcropping. There are plenty of places to relax next to the wave action, which was mesmerizing and peaceful. There are sandy beach areas up and down the coast, but we preferred relaxing at the resort. We also knew in advance that one of the resort towers was under renovation, and we were accommodated away from that area. The resort went to great lengths to keep disruption to a minimum, and we never even heard any construction noise. We stayed in one of the deluxe corner rooms. These have very large lanai's and perfect ocean and sunset views. If there was more outdoor furniture on the large lanai, we may have simply stayed there the whole time! We also saw other room types and it seemed that any with a water view were worthwhile. We enjoyed several meals at the resort's restaurant which is right at water's edge as well. One evening we listened to a live performance there at the restaurant by Henry Kapono, which was entertaining. We also enjoyed several days with a poolside cabana, super nice for enjoying the sunshine in moderation. All of the resort staff were excellent, from the moment we arrived and checked in, and throughout our stay. Everyone there was friendly and good at what they do. All of this, combined with the fact that the resort retains that Hawaii vibe that we like to feel, is why we will return to the Royal Kona Resort!
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from HHR_CustomerService, CSR at Royal Kona Resort
Responded 12 May 2023
Aloha!! We appreciate your valuable feedback. We hope that you had a beautiful time and will keep us in mind on your next trip to Hawaii.
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The property, well maintained (work is underway in an area but do not bother guests) is in a small bay on the sea. From here you can enjoy spectacular Hawaiian sunsets! It has a private pool with sun loungers and umbrella and beach towels are also given free of charge. It's at the beginning (or end, depending on which side you're on) of Kona's (let's call it) waterfront, where there are clubs, restaurants, supermarkets and Shopping Centres! Inside the Resort there is a restaurant but it is quite expensive. The property is about a ten-minute walk from the marina from which boats leave for classic trips to the coast. The island is the largest of the archipelago, in fact it is called Big Island and to tour it all takes some time, so it is advisable to study well the distances of the places to visit and not to leave "blindly "! Overall however Recommendation!
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Date of stay: August 2024
Value
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed here for one night before heading to our VRBO. We have tracked the world and have never felt so unwelcome before in our lives. I will say though that the front desk ladies were very nice and helpful.
Karen at the pool screaming at us asking if we go to the hotel. Asking us for a hotel key. Another male pool attendant 15 min later asking us if we are staying at the hotel. Asking us for a room key again. Bartender very rude and rolled his eyes at us when we asked for our complimentary Mai Thai. Told us to go to the other bar and also asked us if we were staying here. He said you need a voucher which I didn’t know was with the room keys in the sleeve. Basically told us to go away. It was like we were bothering him. Smelly wet carpet in the hallways which in the morning was sprayed with fake gross smell to mask it. Plugged/clogged bathtub drain with a 5 min shower. Standing in a foot of water….so gross. See picture. The aftermath was even more disgusting. Construction noise starting at 8:45 am, after they changed our reservation from the lagoon room that was being renovated on.
Is it because of our age? Or because my husband is brown? Neither of us slept because we were so upset and distraught at how we were treated.
The location seems good but then you walk past the homeless people to get to the touristy overpriced restaurants. I recommend staying no where near here.
The manager refunded us our parking and resort fee was not charged. He said he would talk to Expedia about refunding our money however that never happened. Expedia said they couldn’t get a hold of him.
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from HHR CRES, Guest Services / Front Office at Royal Kona Resort
Responded 4 Feb 2025
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We are very sorry that you did not feel welcome and that you were unhappy with your stay. The reservation you booked was for our Lagoon Tower, which is a discounted rate due to construction ongoing on the outside of the building. You were upgraded at no additional cost, and our staff did refund your parking and resort fees once informed that you were unhappy. We will share your feedback with our team to ensure our staff are creating a welcome environment. We hope that you had a wonderful time on the Big Island and should you return in the future we would be happy to ensure that you have an improved experience.
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I love this place so much. I've been here with my husband, the family (3 kids - 15, 13, and 5), and this last time solo. The location is great - walkable to about 20 great restaurants, lots of little shops, the farmer's market, and 3 ABC stores (haha). And the beautiful walk along the ocean. The beds are comfortable, the views amazing. The ocean sounds permeate through the balcony doors and lull you to sleep. My favorite is the outdoor lobby with koi pond, pool, and restaurant that are all open air together on the ocean, so everyone's just relaxing as they read, tan, eat, drink, swim, or just enjoy the view. The grounds are beautiful, with gorgeous birds and flowers all around, and there's a private lagoon you can relax in too (last time there was a turtle there chilling). Just the best atmosphere. I would say that lobby alone is one of my happy places. The rooms are very spacious too (I've only stayed in double queens here). Even with a rollaway bed added, there's plenty of room to walk around. No one's tripping over each other, as is usually the case for double queen rooms. There's a sink and small counter to prep food with a fridge underneath. And the shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, and lotion are generously sized (coconut and coconut lime). The restaurant is amazing. Everything I've had there is delicious - poke nachos, chocolate cake with raspberry sauce and cream sprinkled with flowers, clam chowder, drinks, etc. They also have luaus you can preregister for. The performers are true artists and the fire dancers were favorites of the kids. One suggestion for improvement is the rooms don't have microwaves, although you can request one for a small daily fee. I always like a microwave in my room for leftovers, especially when I bring kids who don't finish their expensive restaurant food. And there's not a common area microwave if they run out of personal ones. That at least would be nice to provide. Luckily I've always been able to get one delivered, but if they run out, what am I supposed to do with my delicious Kalua pork omelet from yesterday? Eat it cold? Sacrilege! Otherwise, everything is just lovely.
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from HHR CRES, Guest Services / Front Office at Royal Kona Resort
Responded 9 Mar 2023
Mahalo for your feedback! In the event a microwave can not be provided for a room, our restaurant on the property can warm up food for our guests upon request. Please note that microwaves can be request for the room but are subject to availability. We want to thank you for staying with us at the Royal Kona Resort, and that we hope to welcome you back again in the future.
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This is classic old school Hawai’i resort living. Rooms are well maintained, and as of Jan ‘25, they are refurbishing one of the towers, so make sure when you book they don’t put you there for a cheaper price. Amazing views and it’s right in the heart of Kona, and within walking distance to everything. The pool overlooks the crashing surf, and their LUAU is wonderful. Sunsets are right there. It’s got it all.
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Make sure you don’t book a room in the tower they are refurbishing. No one needs construction...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from HHR CRES, Guest Services / Front Office at Royal Kona Resort
Responded 14 Jan 2025
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us! We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay with us. To clarify - only guests who book the discounted rate called "Lagoon Tower Renovations Rate" is placed in Lagoon Tower - it is entirely up to the guest and what they choose when they book. We are delighted that you enjoyed our location and our beautiful luau as well and we hope to welcome you back again in the future.
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This "resort" isn't really a resort. I've stayed in roadside hotels that feel more resort-like. They could vastly improve guest experiences with a relatively small investment. For example, there was no blowdryer in the room nor any cups, pens or paper, and the lighting is so dim that you can't read at night if your eyes are older than 40 years old. The coffee at the bar tasted like dirt every day, and it cost $4. I've had much better coffee at a gas station for $1.20. The Prosecco served at the bar wasn't the brand listed on the menu and wasn't good. There were no extra blankets in the room and the shower curtain was stained. The room had a bar sink and a fridge, but no microwave. The hotel provides you one bottle of water for the entire stay and the tap water tastes like Aspirin. The rooms and the lanai are carpeted - in a humid tropical location. Ew. The hotel should provide earplugs since you can hear loud pumping music at some nearby establishment well into the night. The place has a bit of an old run down feel. I really wish we'd paid up for something nicer, but we really didn't expect these issues at a "resort." I gave it two stars instead of one because the service people were really nice, the tennis pro (Albert) was great, and the hotel is in close proximity to several shops and restaurants (where you can find better coffee and good food).
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Date of stay: December 2022
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:I think you have to pay for a chair at the pool, but we didn't try. Better to pay up for a real...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from HHR CRES, Guest Services / Front Office at Royal Kona Resort
Responded 21 Dec 2022
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are extremely sorry to read about your negative experience and that we did not meet your expectations. Our team should have taken better care in managing your room, and in their treatment of your comfort. We will be sharing your review with our team to resolve the concerns you have listed so that we can improve our resort and service. Once again, we do apologize that your stay at the Royal Kona was not a positive experience.
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Because one day clearly wasnt enough to enjoy the amenities of this beautiful resort. I only stayed for 1 night upon my arrival into Kona. I have to say that the beds were some of the softest that Ive ever slept in. I have to give accolades and shot outs to the front desk staff. Especially the lovely Deanette. She gave me a lovely room with a nice ocean view and 2 complimentary mai tais from the bar. I definitely plan on coming back here in the future for the beds alone. In addition to the amiable staff, the room was awesome. I liked that the room had a mini kitchenette with a sink as well as the rolling wooden window shutters in the hotel room. This is better than the curtains that’s definitely guaranteed to keep the sun out as well as offer an extra layer of security to the window locks. They also had a nice outlet to charge up my electronics. Another thing that I liked about the hotel was what I called a dedication wall. It had artwork dedicated to the past sovereigns of Hawaii. From King Kamehameha Ist to the last sovereign, Queen Liliuokalani, were appropriately adorned on the wall with small biographies to accompany the artwork. The location is also a prime one. It’s right in the middle of the bustling town and on the Kona shore. You can walk to a majority of the restaurants, public access to beaches, and ABC souvenir shops in the area. A 5 star, reasonably priced hotel and enjoyable stay indeed with the eager intent to return.
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Date of stay: June 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from HHR_CustomerService, CSR at Royal Kona Resort
Responded 5 Jul 2024
We are delighted that you enjoyed it and we hope to welcome you back again in the future!
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We went to the Royal Kona luau on Nov. 11th and enjoyed it thoroughly. Nice evening, beautiful sunset, and we thought the dancers were excellent. Buffet style meal and waiter comes by often to see if anyone needs another drink (unlimited Mai Tai's). We did the standard seating and could see fine, no need for the more expensive seats. They do offer photos by the beach by a professional to buy later if you want. I do recommend the luau.
There are more places to choose from in the Kailua-Kona area.
PRICE RANGE
₹20,575 - ₹25,396 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
royal kona hotel kailua-kona, royal kona kailua
LOCATION
United StatesHawaiiIsland of HawaiiKailua-Kona
NUMBER OF ROOMS
436
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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