When we want to get away and escape Kauai, the first place that comes to mind is the Big Island’s Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel. We just concluded our fifth stay there last week.
Where to find the best deal:
This is not the $69 night experience we told you about in February. The hotel’s website features some off season deals right now starting at $245 (about $100 less if you’re a Hawaii resident). We’ve also seen some air/hotel packages at well under $200/night and heard of successful Priceline bids (see betterbidding.com). It’s still going to be somewhat of a splurge but great value for all that is offered.
Features that bring us back each year:
Let’s start with free self parking and no resort fee. Throw in spectacular ocean views and one of the best beaches in all of Hawaii.
Hapuna Beach Prince is one of the northern-most properties on the Kohala Coast. That location usually bodes well during periods of VOG that normally cover the Kona area. Hapuna’s adjacent sister property, the legendary Mauna Kea hotel, is currently closed for renovation.
The grounds are beautifully maintained and the rooms are spacious. Standard rooms are 631 square feet and one-bedroom suites are 1230 square feet.
If you’re not into ocean swimming, there’s a huge infinity pool on the grounds. We also enjoyed sitting in the whirlpool watching the sunset.
What we like: Complimentary parking, no resort fee, beautiful and fragrant grounds, spacious rooms with marble baths, walk-in glass showers and comfortable beds, private front door and sliding lanai screens that allow for tradewinds to pass through, and finally the fabulous beach. Don’t forget the Northern location either with less VOG.
Our dislikes: Not many. This place always delivers and leaves us feeling satisfied and relaxed. On this visit, however, we thought the furnishings were showing their age as were the rooms. One room we looked at had a mildew smell. The sofa in our suite was futon like with no side cushion and lacked comfort.
Best views: Tower 3 which is oceanfront.
Will we be back? You bet. For us this is a place to relax and enjoy the beauty of Hawaii. Next time I’d like to try their Hapuna Suite but at (retail) $7,000 a night, it may be too much of a stretch.
Beat of Hawaii has not received any compensation for this review. We always pay our own way in order to remain objective.
My husband and I spent 3 days over the 4th of July in 2007 celebrating our 25th anniversary at the Hapuna Beach hotel and it was everything we could have wanted. The hotel upgraded us to a suite, the view from our room was spectacular. What a wonderful place to unwind and relax. We hiked up the cliff near the hotel, swam in the many secluded inlets around the area and enjoyed every minute of it. We would definitely reccommend it, and would stay here again.
I am not sure what the rate actually was because we booked the 3 island trip through VisitorCenter.com but it was affordable for us.
Thank you Pua!
There are three lifeguards at Hapuna Beach. Two in the larger southern section, and a private lifeguard in the northern Hapuna Beach Hotel section.
Jeff
Guess what, Jeff, you and I are not the only people who love Hapuna Beach and Mauna Kea Beach hotel. Mauna Kea Beach hotel will be partly reopened middle of December for the snowbirds. All the available rooms are already booked for that.
Just a short note regards a comparison of the two hotels:
Rooms of Hapuna (much younger hotel) seem much quieter than Mauna Kea Beach hotel. Maybe this will change after renovation.
Hapuna Beach has no life guards like Mauna Kea beach. Hapuna Beach can experience high surf and undertows during winter months just as Mauna Kea beach. It would be more comforting for families with kids to have a life guard on the beach.
Last but not least, we nominated ‘Beat of Hawaii’ with our ‘I love your blog’ award as one of our favorite Hawaii blogs.
Please, come and see for yourself http://kohalacoastweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/hawaii-blogs.html
and enjoy your award! Aloha from Pua and Keoki