Description: In my experience with timeshare resorts, I’ve come to believe that Hilton sets the standard for accommodations. Two years ago we stayed at the Lagoon Tower of the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu and then this year the Bay Club at Waikoloa Beach Resort.
Technically Hilton has two resorts at Waikoloa Beach Resort, the Bay Club at Waikoloa Beach and the Hilton Grand Vacations Club at Waikoloa Beach. As I understand it, the Bay Club was originally built as residential condominiums, which explains the fact that each unit has far more closet space than the itinerant traveler will ever need. Other than noting that the Grand Vacations Club end is newer (and they are building even more units), I’ll limit my comments to the Bay Club.
With the closet space in mind, I’d recommend the Bay Club especially to golfers and families. Why? Well, by example our unit had a huge walk-in closet just off the main entrance. Large enough to accommodate either a roll-away bed or air bed, or numerous golf bags and other equipment, leaving the remainder of the two bedroom unit uncluttered.
Since it’s a little older, the interiors seem a tad dated, but if you’re coming to Hawaii to stay inside, why the heck are you coming to Hawaii?
Suffice to say that for two couples we all had plenty of room without anyone tripping over anyone else. With sleeper sofa in the living room, and the aforementioned walk-in closet as an option, I could easily see the unit handling 8 people with no problem (spring break groups please be quiet though).
The lanai is huge, bigger than most hotel rooms, with access from one bedroom and the living room. And the kitchen is adequate.
As far as the resort itself goes, it’s top notch. Two championship golf courses, wind around the grounds giving you wonderful scenery from every angle. I can’t help but wonder how they were built, given the fact that these courses are basically laid out atop a huge lava flow.
Resort guests enjoy privileges at both courses The King's Golf Course and The Beach Golf Course. They are probably relatively reasonably priced for the serious golfer, although out of range for an itinerant hacker like me.
You also have your choice of three pools here, two smaller ones at the Bay Club end and a larger, fancier one at the Reception Center. And there are tennis courts as well.
The location is good though, about 20 minutes north of Kailua-Kona, and maybe an hour or so from Hilo. Getting there is easy from the Kona Airport, as the car rental shuttle driver directed us; "just go to the highway and turn left at the traffic light. Drive to the next traffic light and turn left, then follow the road to the resort."
You can walk or drive to a number of shops and restaurants. In fact, the resort maintains a shuttle that will take you to the Hilton Hotel. That’s notable because there ain’t no free parking there broddah! As for food and stuff, you’ve got plenty of options. If you just want a snack for back at the room, you can pick up food supplies at Whaler’s General Store in the Kings Shops. Or just across from Whaler’s is Roy’s, one of the best (and priciest) restaurants around. There is also the newly opened Queen’s Market that features even more shopping and places to eat, just across the street from the Kings Shops.
The surrounding Waikoloa Beach Resort also offers an array of formal and casual restaurants, The King's Shops, and an oasis of lush landscaping and sparkling waterfalls.
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