"The grounds are beautiful and green, expansive. They are midway through a phased renovation so you may get an old room or an updated room, no way to know until you get there. Self park ($45) day.
The Tram. When you walk into the lobby it is expansive and impressive. However, when you realize you have to walk a half mile to your room to check in if in Ocean Towers, or wait 15-20 minutes for the tram, you are deflated. Especially if you've been traveling all day, like we had been. The tram is so SLOW! We stayed Monday to Saturday and overall we spent 6 hours on the Tram, or walking .5 mile to our room. Nowhere on the website for hotels.com does it mention this tram or the distance and situation for transport and relation to your room.
The Kona Pool is spacious with plenty of seating. You do have to pay for shade in the form of a cabana. Floaties/ swim gear for sale at the shop, plus snack shop with ice cream/pizza. The pool water is cold and refreshing. Only 2 small jacuzzis at this pool and they are packed!
Downer at the small adult pool, no jacuzzi! No shades.
The coffee stop at Ocean towers is good for coffee and pastry, but food is mid to low quality. Nui italian is overpriced, but the pizza was detroit style and scrump. Big island breakfast, BOGO.
There is a lot of "sorry for the inconvenience" at this hotel right now. You will do a lot of walking at this resort. The tram and distance to the rooms will prevent a repeat stay for me at this resort.
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