Aarons Cottage

The room itself was small but had the basics: a TV, little fridge, free WiFi, and access to a shared kitchen with a fridge, stove, and microwave. It was clean, with free parking, though the pillows were uncomfortable and there was nowhere to unpack. The shower is just a head and drain beside the sink and toilet, without walls. There’s no pool or hot tub. What made this stay hard was the noise. Our room shared a wall with a room on each side, and sound seemed to carry unusually well. We could hear conversations, furniture moving, TVs, and other nighttime activity as if it were in our room, so there wasn’t much privacy. The kitchen noises came through too, including cooking and pans clattering. If you’re a light sleeper or want a quiet stay, this probably isn’t the place. A fully detached room might be a much better experience, but based on our stay, I wouldn’t recommend it.

For less than half what the big hotels charge, this is a classic Roger Miller style "motel": no phone, pool, or pets. We were within walking distance of two beachfront parks, and had free WiFi, a Roku TV, coffee maker, and window AC. Check-in is at 3 pm and checkout at 11 am. Our room was clean and came with plenty of towels, but there was no place for belongings beyond the suitcases. There’s a mini fridge in the room and a door to a shared kitchen. The rain-style shower drains straight onto the floor, with no walls. The bathroom mirror is oddly placed across from the toilet instead of above the sink.

Cottage 7 was just right for my first trip to the Big Island. It was very clean, affordable, and had everything I needed for a vacation. Getting to the airport, local restaurants, and shops was easy since they’re all nearby. I had a great time at Aaron’s cottage and would happily stay there again.

We chose the private cottage for our first Big Island trip, and it was spacious with a lot going for it. We found a private beach about a five-minute walk away. It seemed empty while I sat there, until I noticed a cruise ship in the background. Hope it stays under the radar! Hilo’s main spots were about 5-10 minutes away, with HVNP about 50 minutes out and manuna kea roughly 60 minutes away. It’s a great deal, especially if you book direct and avoid Airbnb fees. Only small gripe: the AC wasn’t running when we arrived, so I’d call it a 4.99.