Kona Coast Resort

Overall a good value and a good location, but our 1 week stay could have been better. The check-in staff and maintenance crew were very good but the housekeeping crew was totally non-existent; during our stay we never received our mid-week cleaning despite asking for it 3 times. Our 2 bdr/2 bath unit had been recently updated but was showing signs of age. Also the on-site restaurant was closed which would have been nice because there are few activities within walking distance of the property. Kona /Alii Drive restaurants and bars are about a 10 minute drive away + parking. There is a mall nearby but it is difficult to get to without a car if you have kids. Parking on the property is limited - there seem to be more units than stalls. This is a Shell Resorts timeshare condo property. So the activity desk staff seems to be more interested in signing you up to do a 90 minute timeshare presentation than actually giving useful location advice.

We were in unit 25-203 an upstairs condo unit looking over the golf course and the gorgeous ocean! I would redecorate if I had my condo there, wall paper outdated and peeling in some places, but it was always clean and easy to get around. The main pool is great. The poolside pub had amazing food and a coconut/mac-nut shake that was to die for! I miss them already and we have been home 23 hours!

The condo is the nicest of all the ones we visited... near the shopping center, right up the road from great beaches! Fun farmer's markets... shopping and for dinner Don the Beachcomber is less than a mile away... wow, talk about wonderful!

Ali'i drive is a big L shape...The Kona Coast is near the middle of the L... close to the highway (5 minutes), close to loads of entertainment, wonderful staff too. Everyone wishes you good morning, asks how you are, the aloha mentality I craved!

Sit by an amazing blow hole and take in the sights, sounds, and smell of paradise. Meet your neighbors or spend loads of time alone... it is up to you!

The Kona Coast Resort made my husband and two teenage boys so happy... I feel blessed to have been at home there for 8 glorious days, not nearly long enough!

Watch cruise ships pass by in the morning sun, feed the amazing birds and had a chorus of birds every morning, follow a path and find wild bananas growing up and down the path with wild geckos chirping with the excitement of the evening! (Did you know bananas are the world's largest herb? you do now!)

Try sunrise donuts at the shopping center... blows Krispy Kreemes and Dunkin Donuts away baby! Be warned orange juice is very expensive... go pineapple if you can and save loads!

It is now your turn to experience paradise....

I called 24 hours before checkout to the front desk to ask for an extension from the 10am check out... I was kindly greeted with a noon check out. Please remember to be kind to fellow travelers and staff... it is sad to see some people ruin their vacation whining and not taking the time to see where they are! The Kona Coast is my new home away from home as of today. We'll be back, not soon enough, but we'll be back. Mahalo!

When we checked in we were told we had already checked in. Someone else had gotten our reserved condo. We only got to stay there because they had a vacancy. They never followed up on this.

We had the pleasure of staying in unit 11-302 at the Kona Coast Resort (also known as Keauhou Gardens). This was a fantastic unit. This unit was a two bedroom , two bath unit in phase I. I understand from others that the phase 2 units are smaller. The brochure said 1500 + square feet, and it certainly was. There was plenty of privacy for the four of us, we were two couples. The entire unit was spotless, well decorated, and well supplied. The kitchen was huge with all the modern conveniences. We would typically have breakfast on the Lanai, which had a gorgeous full front ocean view and then after a hard day at play reconvene there for the sunset.

The resort itself was equally beautiful and the staff very friendly and informative. It is one of the Shell Vacation Club Resorts. They have two very nice pools and two spas as well as a nicely furnished exercise room and walking trail. Barbeques abound and there also is an onsite restaurant and bar and a full time concierge who can help you with activities, etc. The resort is surrounded by two beautiful golf courses and a fairway is the only thing between the resort and the ocean. The resort is in walking distant to three nice beaches and a boat harbor where some of the water excursions take off from.

Additionally, within short walking distance (less than ¼ mile) is a very nice shopping center with fine restaurants, a theater, full size grocery store, and other shops. Downtown Kona is about 4 miles to the north, where additional shopping, dining, and activities can be found. You will also want to go to volcano national park, where among other things you can view the lava flow. I recommend you plan your trip so you are there at sunset so you can find a place to watch the flow, which is much more visible at night.

I should point out that part of the resort (Phase 2) is a timeshare. Our unit was not a timeshare unit and was owner-owned. We were never asked or prodded to participate in a timeshare presentation, however we had access to all of the facilities. It was like having the best of both worlds (all of the amenities of a first class timeshare resort and none of the hassle.) We booked through Abbey Vacation Rentals, which can be found by a search for there name. They were very pleasant, experienced, and professional. We highly recommended them. I hope you enjoy your trip as much as we did. We can't wait to get back.

It's a good value.