Jeff T.
Yelp
My best advice about this place is keep looking. It's okay, but rough as it lacks in several areas. I'll elaborate.
The outside grounds are well kept, there are 3 pools, grills, etc. and there may be some units with updates in good shape with variations in fine print. Units are individually owned with different management companies, which drives much variation in how each unit can look/feel or cost.
Unit 302 has a warm welcoming letter from the owners framed inside dated from 1980. The unit appears to have been last updated in 1980 as well, with very few exceptions.
Pros: has Wi-Fi, TVs, kitchen basics.
Cons: Even with mild outdoor temperatures, there is a need to turn on the a/c to get cool air moving; the a/c is available, but for an additional $25 daily fee. Totally ridiculous.
Booked as 1 king bed and 1 queen bed, it was actually 1 queen bed and 2 twin beds.
Unsightly 1980s decor throughout, scratchy polyester bedding, thin white towels which feel so old and bleached over the years you feel like you need to careful drying off so you don't rip the towel; a library of VHS tapes and DVDs, but no VCR or DVD players; clean-ish, but several 'clean' glasses/dishes in the cabinets had lipstick on them; fans in each room, but with years of dust collected on them. Years of wear seen throughout the unit anywhere you look. Could be cute, but needs work, updates, investment and TLC.
The complex, pros: grounds are well kept, 3 pools, with hot tubs and grills.
Cons: pool hours are 8am-7pm and 8am-10pm (keep in mind this is the island of adventure and driving, so forget relaxing in the hot tub when you return late from a day of hiking). There is a 24 hour security guard, but they seem to perform to duties of a nosy neighbor more than anything else. We parked in the designated space assigned at check in, but still had a note on the car about needing a parking pass; another day the guard (who always seems to be around) directed us to another open spot with more room, seemed nice and helpful, yet we still had another note on our car the next morning for not being in the assigned spot... and the same guard was still around the next morning. Overly complicated for no reason.
Wondering why the pool/hot tub closed so early, we were happy to catch one 15 minutes before it closed... guard was there at 9:59 to make sure no one stayed past 10pm. Don't expect to relax outside of the strict rules they have established. No complaints with order, but again unnecessarily over complicated for a vacation spot.
Upon check out there is an additional $225 cleaning fee. Note there wasn't any daily cleaning, towel service, dish service or anything else. The fee is on top of the nightly booked rate (and a/c fees) for simply cleaning between guests. Since this was on a travel sight it appeared much like a hotel; I don't have an issue going without daily cleaning, but $225 for cleaning between guests should be covered by the nightly rate.
For the price, this place should offer more. At a minimum, they shouldn't have up charges for a/c and cleaning... but it still needs work.
Overall I really loved the Big Island; tons of adventure, beautiful landscapes and variations in climate all here to enjoy. The missing element to our trip was a nice place to relax, recover, rest and recharge. I will search for a better place next time or just pack a tent.