Wyndham Kona Hawaiian Resort

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

Any input on Wyndham Kona Hawaiian Resort? I have a hold on a two bedroom unit for October 2010 till tonight. Need to decide whether to confirm it or not.

[mshatty Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close mshatty]

Here's a review

Here's a link to falmouth3's review of this resort.

http://www.timeshareforums.com/forum...an-resort.html

[falmouth3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close falmouth3]

I was just going to say that we enjoyed it a great deal.

I think some of our members own there.

Sue

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

You know it's nice....I'm staying there for a week in July!

Now, what are you going to book to go with it?

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

With some of the reviews, it said you need second floor? Does RCI assign units or is that left up to the resort and can call ahead of time and request a second floor unit?

Actually we have two units on hold. We used a 2010 Orange Lake - East Village, Memorial Day Week and a 2009 Foxrun Townhouse - Fall Color, both are Two Bedroom Units.

[Jya-Ning Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Jya-Ning]

It is left for resort. I believe 2nd floor is for the view.

Jya-Ning

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

I stayed there on an exchange a few years ago and liked it so much I bought there. 2nd floor is requested by some who are worried about hearing the upstairs neighbors, and there was someone else who objected to the cats on the lanai on the first floor (there were far fewer cats the last time I was there than there were when that review was written due to the resorts active discouragement of feeding them). View from the second floor is not guaranteed either, most units are pretty far from the water so a water view will be distant at best, and it is possible to end up facing a neighboring building (the buildings are small 'hutlike' structures, each containing four units, two up and two down). You can call ahead to place a request, but owners do get priority. October shouldn't be overly full of owners, you have a decent shot at getting your request granted.

The decor is beautiful, the units are spacious, the large lanais are great, location so near to Kona town is also a big plus. I don't think you'll do better in RCI unless you prefer to be up in the "megaresort" area in Waikoloa and hold out for HGVC. I prefer to be in Kona, and I much prefer the Hawaiiana feel at KHR.

[Laurie Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Laurie]

I don't think you'll do better in RCI unless you prefer to be up in the "megaresort" area in Waikoloa and hold out for HGVC. I prefer to be in Kona, and I much prefer the Hawaiiana feel at KHR.

I love Kona too, and both Wyndham resorts in Kona would be near the top of my list for Big Island exchanges... and I wouldn't hesitate to stay at KHV.

But here's what I've posted before: if view is a bigger deal to you than architecture and decor, like it is to me, you have the possibility of a much better one at Royal Sea Cliff - plus it has 2 oceanfront pools, and some oceanfront beach/rocks to sit on. I took a chance at booking RSC when we had a choice of booking either KHV or RSC thru RCI, and lucked out with a totally refurbished one w/an outstanding lanai view, and was very glad I took the risk. October is low season which helped my chances. But architecturally it has less Hawaiiana feel, and I perhaps you have more risk of getting an unrefurbished unit (not sure where they'd be in the process by Oct 2010). And some of their units don't have a view, either.

(As far as RCI, in spite of so-so unit reviews, I'd also accept Sea Village for location + view.)

But I know you've been trying to settle on your Big Island exchange. KHV is a hundred times better than Paniolo Greens IMHO, great location and gorgeous landscaping, and all things considered, and especially if RSC isn't showing up, I'd confirm it - so's you can get on with your planning and excitement.

And your chances of getting your choice of units are highest during their low season like October. Just call a few times in advance, and get to sort of know their desk personnel. If they're as friendly as the RSC folks were, I don't think they'll mind trying to accommodate your preferences.

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Do we need to consider spending one night in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park? If so, where should we stay?

[falmouth3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close falmouth3]

There are a number of small hotels and B&B's just outside the park in a town called, fittingly enough, Volcano. If you want to see the lava flows into the ocean at night, you really should consider staying overnight in the area. Also, you can go back into the national park at night and see that the large crater isn't just steaming, it glows red at night!

We stayed here: My Island Hawaiian Bed and Breakfast Inn.

It wasn't fancy, but it was friendly and they gave us excellent directions to the lava flows and to some of the local sites on the way there.

While walking out to the lava flows, you will need close-toed shoes and a flashlight for everyone in your party. They do recommend long pants but very few people seemed to be wearing them.

Have fun! It was the highlight of my trip, even though we couldn't get close to the lava.

[starlifter Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close starlifter]

If you are military or prior military you might try the Kilauea Miltary Camp. We spent one night last year.

KMC is located within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawai‘i. KMC is a Joint Services mountain resort with full-service amenities, recreation, tour packages and more. Open to all active and retired military, members of the Reserve and National Guard, active and retired Department of Defense civilian employees including Coast Guard, dependents and sponsored guests.

Kilauea Military Camp - www.kmc-volcano.com

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Do we need to consider spending one night in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park? If so, where should we stay?

Our favorite, well the only B&B we've ever stayed at in Volcano Village is the Kilauea Lodge . Even if you don't stay there, consider having dinner there. It is one of the best restaurants on the island. Reservations are a must.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

We've stayed previously at Bed and Breakfast Mountain View and would stay there again in a heartbeat. We loved it.

Mountain View is a bit farther from the volcano; it's about halfway between Hilo and Volcano. It's still close enough to the park that it's easy to get to the park.

More importantly it's closer to the Puna Coast. The Puna Coast is a greatly overlooked area on the Big Island. Also, if the lava is flowing further to the east (as it was in August of this year) the only way to see the lava is via the Puna Coast.

There's a lot more to do on the east and southeast sides of the Big Island than viewing Kilauea. If all you want to do is visit the Park and the volcano, then Volcano will likely be more convenient. But if you want to take time to explore that area of the island, staying closer to Hilo will be an advantage.

[Laurie Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Laurie]

The Puna Coast is one of my favorite spots too - incredibly scenic, much less developed relative to Kona, and bordered by miles of shoreline where you can always find a private spot.

We splurged and stayed here for 2 nights (they waived the 3-nite published minimum):
Big Island Hawaii Kapoho Oceanfront Vacation Rentals Maui Condo Kihei Rental By Owner Big Island Home Hawaiian Islands Private Rentals

(we really wanted but couldn't get the 4-BR Paradise home, so took the 2-BR oceanfront home - they didn't have that 3-BR oceanfront one at the time, which also looks great - nor did they have the 1-BR oceanfront one.)

and snorkeled in warm thermal-fed Champagne pond.

There are lots of Kapoho private home rentals which give you direct access into Champagne pond thru the gated community (google for other rentals if you want) - you can get there from a public beach as well.

And nearby are other areas of public thermal fed ponds and warm-water snorkeling beaches. The fish there aren't as plentiful as they are at Kahalu'u beach in Kona (I think that's the name of the great little snorkeling park), but the warm water was heavenly!

To see lava at night from the western end, it might be more convenient to stay closer to Volcano. Last October 2007, there was no lava to view from the ground, but we could see an orange glow in the sky at night from our Kapoho rental house.

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

Went ahead and confirmed the two units, not will be looking for two units on one of the other islands for the front or back of the two confirmed. Thanks for all the information, it was helpful.