Best Things Nearby:
Paniolo Greens Resort is located in an area called Waikoloa. The developers of this area envisioned a place that people would come and retire who also would enjoy the slower, serene atmosphere of the area. Currently, the area is comprised of a shopping area called Waikola Village where you can find a few restaurants, a food market, gas station and a post office. Other retail establishments are being developed.
Because of its "out of the way" and central location, several points of interest are within a reasonable driving distance. Those points include Anaeho'omalu Bay ("A" Bay)and the beautiful black and white sand beach of Waikoloa off Hwy 19. Adjacent to this beach are the Hilton and Marriott Waikoloa Beach Resorts. Even if you are not staying at these properties, it worth a visit just to tour and enjoy the amenities. Take time to see the "Petroglyphs" (ancient Hawaiian writings), in the area. Further north on Hwy 19, you will find the Hapuna and Spencer Beach State Parks. Both of these Beach Parks have nice facilities. As a continuation of Spencer Beach State Park, you will find the Pu'ukohola Heiau (temple) where the last opposition to the unification of all of Hawaiian Islands under the rule of Kamehameha the Great ended. You can then take a scenic drive on Hwy 250 to the Pololu Look Out or continue to the east on Hwy 19 to the quaint town of Waimea and the Waipio Valley overlook.
Best Things About the Resort:
The grounds were very lush, very well maintained and manicured. This is very important when you consider that the resort is built in the middle of a desert surrounded by lava. This made the stay more bearable for my husband and I since we love greenery.
The staff at the resort were very friendly.
Resort Experience:
Aloha! We stayed in a two-bedroom/two-bath unit that overlooked the golf course. There was a balcony with table and chairs off the living room, a balcony off the master bedroom and French-styled doors that exited onto the balcony off of the kitchen. The furnishings of the living room and bedroom were adequate and themed appropriately for the paniolo (cowboy) setting of the resort. The upholstered chairs as well as the carpeting were in dire need of cleaning, however. When this was reported, the chairs were covered with a cloth, but nothing was done about cleaning the carpet. The kitchen and bathroom appointments were cheapish but clean. The unit also had three televisions with VCRS and a nice stereo system, which was an added benefit. The second level washer/dryer combo was very convenient. Be sure to remove and clean the lint filter in the dryer because sand passes through the filter, blocks air flow and it will take forever for you clothes to dry. The walkthrough closet between the master bathroom and master bedroom was great because you could enjoy the nice breeze without being exposed.
The resort charges a $5 per day "air conditioning" fee which I object to vehemently; not because it such a large amount but because everyone pays maintenance fees to cover these expenses. I was told by an owner that the fee was designed and instituted by the Owner's Association to reduce the owner's maintenance fees at certain properties. I don't think that is right. The area is quite windy, so fortunately, we did not have to use the air conditioning but it was also hard to leave the windows open because the blinds were not attached and blew all over the place making it quite noisy and difficult to sleep.
If you are a golfer or just want a home base for you vacation, I guess the resort would be ideal since it is set on a golf course and there is very little else to do. The staff does however try to create some diversion by providing some activities for a fee. The one amenity that really would have interested us would have been nice workout area. To me, three pieces of equipment in tiny, hot breakout area does not constitute a work out area.
Be careful about the tours and activities offered in the Orientation Briefing. Most were legitimate but two that we signed up for, sponsored by the resort, were very deceptive and did not offer what was promoted. Also, if you are not a "Shell" property owner, the only way you can get discounted rates is to use their Diamond Card and agree to attend a timeshare presentation. I had no problem with that except we were treated very rudely and belittled because we did not want to buy a timeshare at one of their properties. If you don't want to go through that humiliation, just call one of the local activity brokers like Activity Warehouse, Activity World or Activity Connection and use the time see more of this intriguing island.
Mahalo.
- Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
- Activities: Fair
- Amenities: Fair
- Unit Satisfaction: Fair
- Family Friendliness: Very Good
- Service: Good