Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo - a Doubletree by Hilton

The views over working Hilo Bay, the pool, Mauna Kea, and Mauna Loa are lovely. There’s a mini fridge but no microwave. The pillows were huge, firm, and hard as rocks. The art has also changed: the classy Kim Taylor Reece black-and-white Hawaiian culture photos are gone, replaced by ordinary tourist-grade pictures. The morning coffee moved from the open-air lobby to a claustrophobic little meeting room. After years of giving this place five stars, recent management and structural changes have soured us on it, and we likely won’t return. The biggest problem is mandatory valet parking at $30 a day. They used to allow self-parking in a lot across the street, and there’s plenty of parking space here. Paying $30 plus tax, tipping several times a day, and losing vacation time waiting in valet lines is a non-starter. Breakfast has changed too. Hilton gives an $18 per guest per day food benefit instead of a continental breakfast. It worked well when the lounge had reasonably priced grab-and-go options like spam musubi, pastries, and fruit. Now the only choice is the vastly overpriced Ka Lihikai restaurant, where breakfast costs nowhere near $18.

There’s nightly live music, a guest lounge with free coffee and fruit punch, and free poolside cabanas. The lounge coffee is the same as the dining room’s $6 coffee. Breakfast was quite good and reasonably priced, including dishes like braised beef rib loco moco. The main restaurant, though, had limited options and felt pricey, so we went next door to Hilo Hawaiian for dinner. Parking is valet only and costs $39 a day. We had a clean, spacious ocean-view room with a fridge and microwave, plus a complimentary drink per guest each day. This renovated hotel dates from the 1970s and has clearly had a lot spent on it. We stayed two nights, and it’s probably the best hotel south of Kona airport. All in all, a decent stay.

What stood out most was how well the staff looked after me. Kaylin gave me a gracious welcome at the front desk, and Raquel and Nicole at the restaurant suggested options that suited me perfectly. I loved the clean, comfortable room and its stunning view of the Bay, Mauna Kea, and Mauna Loa. There are plenty of outdoor places to sit and relax, and the property is beautiful. It’s tucked in a quiet part of Hilo while still being conveniently located. Free street parking was available right outside the hotel. This was my first stay in Hilo, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the place. I’d be delighted to stay again if I return.

Kai checked us in and made us feel at home, special thanks to her. The staff were warm and friendly, and valet parking was easy and convenient. Our room faced the ocean, which was a big plus, and it was clean and comfortable. We also enjoyed the restaurant downstairs, the bar beside the front desk, and the short outdoor walkway, a nice place to unwind. The property has several pleasant outdoor areas and a beautiful setting. It was convenient for visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and exploring the Big Island, and the location worked well in general. We had a solid stay and would come back.