The Royal Kona Resort is located in Kona, one of the two major cities on the Big Island, the other being Hilo on the other side of the island. The resort is situated directly next to the ocean which offers scenic views during your stay. The resort has 436 rooms located in three different towers spanning twelve acres. The hotel is a mere 9 miles from the Kona International Airport and minutes from downtown Kona.
The lobby, like most hotels in Hawaii, is open-air and is accessed by walking over the pedestrian bridge spanning a Koi pond. The resort is split into three towers named the Alii Tower, Lagoon Tower, and the Bay Tower. All of the towers are six floors except for the Alii Tower which has seven and they all have two elevators. They all have oceanfront rooms and there is not a bad view even if you do not get an oceanview room. The Alii Tower could very well be classified as the main tower. It includes the reception desk, gift shop, and the two main restaurants on site, Don the Beachcomber Restaurant and Don’s Mai Tai Bar. The massage and spa center are located in the Bay Tower and is the closest to the town of Kailua-Kona. The Lagoon Tower has a beauty salon and laundry facilities.
The rooms are spacious with 390 square feet while a king corner room has 450 square feet. The rooms were being refurbished while I was there, which now consists of granite countertops, marble showers, new furniture, plush bedding and new fixtures. All of the rooms come equipped with A/C, refrigerator, in-room safe, color cable television, a private lanai, as well as many others.
The hotel offers a concierge service to assist in making reservations for dinner or activities around the island. The ocean around the Big Island is very rough which is why it is not famous for its beaches like the other islands. The hotel offers an outdoor swimming pool and a private beach area which contains a saltwater snorkeling lagoon. The lagoon is surrounded by huge black rocks which separates it from the ocean. The lagoon is also home to hundreds of black crabs which blend in with the rocks to protect them from predators. They are interesting to watch as you relax in the lagoon or sun bath on the shore.
The hotel also boasts it owns nightlife by hosting a luau every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday named Lava, Legends & Legacies. The Royal Kona Resort has also become a popular place to have weddings, which they offer different packages to make the most of your wedding and honeymoon.
The hotel charges to park your vehicle but it substantially less than most of the other hotels in the area. The hotel could very well be a budget hotel because of their prices but their accommodations and amenities speak luxury.