Hilton Waikoloa Village in Waikoloa Village, HI

We spent 2 night at the Waikoloa Village and would have definitely stayed longer if our plans had been flexible. It is a huge complex with everything you could ever want. My favorite part was the ocean view balcony. We left the slider open at night and were able to sleep to the sounds of the ocean. The lagoon in the center of the complex was also a great spot to sight some turtles and other marine life. We were mostly doing off site events but did grab breakfast each morning at the Coffee shop in the Maki tower. THe food and service were great. I would definitely come back to try and experience more of the hotel amenities and events.

Today is March 3rd. I found out I was double charged just before my trip. I made a reservation in advance through the hotel website on January 21, 2025. On February 6, the same amount I paid on January 21 was debited. I contacted the advance reservation department, who told me that they only made one withdrawal. I certainly did not make a reservation on February 6. I checked with my credit card company, and they said that it was likely subject to a chargeback. I trusted the hotel and paid in advance, so I am very disappointed with this outcome. I am in the process of contacting the hotel, and hope that it will be resolved before my trip. I sincerely hope that the hotel will refund my money. Everyone, please be sure to check your bill.

My daughters and I had an amazing time at Hilton Waikoloa Village! This resort is absolutely stunning, with breathtaking views and so much to do. We especially loved the private lagoon, perfect for snorkeling and kayaking, and the variety of activities available kept us entertained the entire trip. The grounds are beautifully maintained, and the entire atmosphere feels like a tropical paradise. Whether relaxing by the water or exploring the resort, every moment was fun and memorable. We had a blast and can’t wait to come back! Highly recommend!

(Would give 2.5 if I could, but they don’t deserve the round-up.) You know that feeling when you arrive at a resort and think, "Wow, they’ve thought of everything?" Yeah… this is not that. The Hilton Waikoloa is a stunningly located property that somehow manages to fumble nearly every aspect of the guest experience. It’s as if they built a gorgeous playground and then decided, "Eh, that’s good enough." The Good (Because I’m Fair) • Location: It’s in a beautiful spot. No actual beach, but the lagoon is great for kids and a good intro to snorkeling. • Pools & Slides: Genuinely fun and well-designed. If you’re traveling with kids, they’ll love it—and the resort knows it, which is why they put in minimal effort elsewhere. • Dolphins (Neutral Zone): My kids were horrified by the captive dolphins, but if you enjoy watching them from afar, it’s kind of neat. Just don’t pay for the actual experience unless you enjoy dropping a small fortune for what amounts to a blink-and-it’s-over encounter. The Bad (Brace Yourself) • Service? What Service? With rare exceptions, the staff ranged from indifferent to outright rude. Had issues with our room (dead power outlets, burned-out light bulbs, general wear and tear), and not only did they not fix them, but they made me feel like a nuisance for following up. Because, you know, nothing says vacation like project-managing basic maintenance. • Price Gouging at Its Finest: The resort fee is just the cover charge for the real fleecing. Everything—food, activities, even parking—comes at an insultingly high markup. • Food Options = Culinary Stockholm Syndrome: • Dinner? Hope You Like Overpaying. After 5 p.m., your choices are: • A fancy ocean-view restaurant where the food was so bad it would have been offensive at any price, let alone what they charge. (Best thing we ate? The kids’ chicken nuggets. And they were aggressively average.) • An Italian place that was okay but priced like a Michelin-starred Manhattan restaurant. • Lunch? Hope You Like Mediocrity. A handful of overpriced, forgettable options that exist purely to drain your wallet. The Ugly • Labyrinth of Inconvenience: The layout of this place is comically bad. Everything is far. Forget something in your room? You’re either committing to a trek or just going without. This is especially delightful when traveling with kids, who are guaranteed to forget something crucial. • No Actual Beach: For the price, you’d think they’d have ocean access. They don’t. We rented a car (and paid their $50 per night parking fee) just to escape to real beaches. • Worn-Out & Neglected: The whole place looks like it peaked a couple decades ago and has been coasting ever since. Maintenance seems to be more of a concept than a practice. • Zero Aloha Vibes: With very few exceptions, the staff couldn’t care less. The whole place operates on a one-and-done model—trick you into coming once, squeeze you for every dollar, and make no effort to earn your return visit. Final Verdict Disappointing. If your goal is to burn money while being mildly irritated, this is the place for you. Otherwise, there are so many better options. We won’t be back.

This is NOT a 5 star resort! We visit at least one of the Hawaiian islands every year and stay in beautiful resorts and this was NOT one of them! From the 6 hour excursion to get into the actual room that we booked after being scammed by an “upgrade “ and being put into an ocean view NOT an ocean FRONT…. When we finally got into our ocean front at 8pm the bathroom was covered in mold, the fridge wasn’t working, the soap dispensers were COMPLETELY empty and the room was genuinely filthy and hadn’t been updated since the 70s. On day 2 we got switched to another ocean front in the same tower one floor higher because it would be “cleaner” which it was, however it was still beyond outdated and the customer service was below standard (for a Holiday Inn Express). Do NOT spend that kind of money on “ocean front” unless you like the 70s and mold!