Hilton Waikoloa Village

The grounds have so much to enjoy, including pools, a lagoon, the beach, kayaks, and paddle boats, and the atmosphere is relaxed. The resort staff, from servers to valet and bell staff, were friendly and helpful. A big shout-out to EMELY in Concierge Services. Our original room really wasn’t up to par, and she quickly found us a new one that was perfect and much better. She kept us updated throughout, which we appreciated. She was amazing.

The huge curved pool, with its caves, bridges, and hot tubs, is mesmerizing. In the lagoon, we snorkeled among lots of saltwater fish and saw eels, spotted eagle rays, and turtles up close. There’s also dolphin swimming, a spa, fitness and aerobics centers, and several tasty restaurants. It’s a bit pricey, but makes for an unusual, fun time with kids and family. The resort is enormous and beautiful, with splendid Indigenous Hawaiian and Asian artwork around the grounds.

For breakfast, there’s just one place at $52 each, unless you settle for coffee and an açaí bowl at the coffee outlet for $26. Self-parking is $48 a day and valet $55. Trying to find shade at the pool costs extra too, judging by the price list. Constantly bleeding cash isn’t fun, and we won’t return. We booked one night before our late flight and got upgraded to an ocean-view room in Palace Tower thanks to our AMEX and HH status. My wife and I were impressed at first by the size of the property and the monorail between towers. The room was amazing, but everything else was extremely expensive and dining options were very limited. Despite the advertised 1,250 rooms, we found just two dinner restaurants and one bar, scattered around the property. There’s no dining in Ocean Tower, only Nui Italian at Palace Tower and Provision Company at Makal Village. We walked out of the latter when we saw a 7 oz tenderloin priced at $97 US before tax and tip.

Freda in Client Services made my husband’s birthday weekend feel extra special. She welcomed us with warmth and a genuine smile, showed us the fun things to do around the resort, and surprised us with thoughtful touches. She even gave us a black-and-white friendship bracelet, and we loved it so much that we’re still wearing them at home. She also offered an upgrade to a suite in the Makai area, which we absolutely loved. The resort feels like a small island community, with breathtaking landscaping, a lagoon, oceanfront views, and a calm energy. Though it’s large, it’s well organized, and getting around by boat or tram was part of the fun. Staff were welcoming and professional in general, but Freda stood out and made the whole trip memorable. We can’t wait to return to Hilton Waikoloa Village and hope to see her again. It’s a unique place, more like a community than a hotel, and our stay was one we’ll always remember.