Epicurean T.
Yelp
I find people usually take time to write a review when a stay is bad. I had to take time to write because of how pleased we were with our stay at the Volcano Village Lodge in Volcano Hawaii. We travel the world from one end to the other and I rarely find paradise in the simplest form. Yes, I think the place brought romance back into our mundane lives. I know it brought a better appreciation for nature and life.
First, the staff called us by name when we arrived on the property much like I've grown to expect on Singapore Airlines in business class. Jamie was amazing from the moment we got there she treated us like a special guest. Kelsea and Jamie were closer to the level of individual service I've come to know in Asian hotels.
The small little retreat in the rain forest shouldn't be called a B&B from my perspective. I would say it is a LODGE in a secluded rainforest that speaks of a sophisticated African safari and not some divided up home offering a nightly bed with morning food.
We loved having breakfast waiting for us in our room when we awoke every morning. I detest getting dressed and going to a common area for breakfast when we can be romantically secluded in our own remote love nest. My gracious, the ability to have breakfast on my own clock, in my bed, as a couple having left our children at home and without the grotesquely high room service fees. Room service at a resort on the Kona side set us back $85 for coffee, fruit and two oatmeals. Here I didn't even have to put on a robe to greet room service. The food was in our refrigerator waiting for morning. I admit this may not be for everyone, but it met our needs perfectly.
During our entire stay we never meet any of the other guests which was perfect for me. My interactions with the two young ladies was all I needed. I can only tell you that feeling privacy and no mass numbers of tourists increased my pleasure. The Ritz on Maui is wonderful, the Four Seasons on the Kona side is spectacular, but not having to cross paths with umpteen tourists made me happy. I much prefer being a traveler to a tourist any day.
Why Americans are determined to put TVs in every room I don't understand. There was a TV in our room, but it was a joy to learn that it wasn't connected to the outside worlds blabbering. We did, I confess, watch a couple of movies one night from the collection they offer. It was perfect for my romantic soul. Again, great if you are willing to escape reality.
The town of Volcano was everything (or less than everything) I wanted. It really isn't a town, but more like a select assortment of quaint little dives on a side street between Hilo and the volcano attraction. In the town there is a quilt shop, country store that felt so Americanesque, a fun tiny hardware store that screams 'investigate me', and a delicious Thai restaurant. Mind you, the Thai restaurant, gift shop Americana and the hardware store all connect seamlessly. We don't have anything like that in the big city!
Spending the days hiking and the nights at the Volcano and relaxing was amazing, romantic and fun. We drove north to the black beach. How much fun running barefoot on a black beach. The drive further north was (here comes my word of the day) amazing. There is a lot to see in the area.
We enjoyed touring the local winery, going to some local place that had art, eating delicious pizza, visiting the coffee shop in the convenience store, hiking numerous locations, meeting some of the locals and meditating.
The Lodge was perfect for me taking time to meditate. I went beyond my usual and felt an exhilarating connection with nature.
Don't go to the Lodge expecting a typical, traditional hotel experience and certainly not a boring, mundane B&B. For me, the time at The Lodge, as crazy as it may sound, conjured up images of an American version of the book and movie Out of Africa or a classic love story set in the wilderness. I felt a million miles away from civilization yet able to live and explore in a most civilized fashion