WorldMark Kona

It's about a 15 minute walk from the timeshare to Kailua-Kona shopping, so you don't really need a car to get to town for shops and restaurants. Parking was easy, WiFi worked well, and we liked having the grills. I was disappointed there was no gym, and the amenities are a bit lacking, but it's decent enough for a few days. The resort itself is nice, nothing fancy, and the standard Worldmark decor was comfortable for a couple. Check-in was quick and easy, and I appreciated that Worldmark staff didn't hassle me about attending a “meeting for a free stay.” The pool area was nice, though the hot tub was cool on the first day we used it. It had been fixed by our last day. We could hear people walking around in the rooms above us, so bring white noise or earplugs if you're a light sleeper. There are also lots of electronic lights in the room, so I'd suggest an eye mask if you're light-sensitive like me.

The room had a MUSTY SMELL, especially room 102. I reported it, but they couldn't fix it, and told me it's an ongoing problem at this property. Because of that, I would NOT recommend staying here. It feels unacceptable and like a health hazard, and we definitely won't return. It's sad that the maintenance fees we pay don't seem to go toward this property. Worldmark/Wyndham should do something. How can they expect people to buy more timeshare when the rooms smell musty? It makes no sense. There is no workout facility, and the concierge, an Indian guy, was very pushy at check-in about attending a presentation. On the plus side, the front desk people were nice, and you can walk to restaurants, 2 farmer's markets, an ABC store, church, and the beach.

The suites were spacious and in pretty good shape, and our family of 4 fit comfortably. They had cookware, laundry soap, and the other basics, which made it easy to cook and wash clothes instead of going out to find restaurants every time. The staff were very helpful, and Nani went out of her way to be kind. Kona's waterfront is walkable, though the walk is a little long. Be warned that internet costs $50 per week. One odd thing: in the middle of the night, the main room started smelling like dead fish. We traced it to the drain by the water heater in the utility closet. Thankfully, it was limited to that spot and didn't really affect anything.

The one good thing is that town is only a 10-15 min walk away. Otherwise, this place isn't what it used to be. Our room smelled musty and moldy, there were dirty dishes in the cupboards, and none of the TVs worked.