The Shores 5 at the Waikoloa Beach Resort

The location is fantastic, and the facility is beautiful. Some of the staff were wonderful, though one valet seemed grouchy, perhaps because the team is overworked. The sales pitch for owners can get pushy near the end of the month or year, when it feels like they’re trying to meet quotas. It’s a great place to stay, but a few things need attention. As owners, we knew our room was cleaned once every seven days, but nobody told us which day. When we called, they said we’d missed it and would have to wait a day or two. We asked if they could at least change the towels and make the bed, but were told there weren’t enough staff. They eventually brought fresh towels and linens, and we made the bed ourselves. There was also a strong urine smell when the fan ran. We reported it, but it was never fixed. Neither remote worked properly, and those problems went unfixed too. We even bought a candle to cover the smell. Given what we pay as owners, I’d expect them to have enough staff to take care of these things.

The beds were hard, but the balcony had a decent view and was a nice spot to relax. The beach and pool are lovely, and the accommodations are decent, with large bathrooms that have been recently remodeled. The buffet was only a little better than the one at the Days Inn in Des Moines off the highway.

We’ve returned many times over the years for work and vacations, and still love this place. It’s family friendly, easy to get around on foot, and has fun little water slides. The views and service are great. Food choices nearby can feel limited, though having a car helps with that.

The setting is beautiful, the location is handy for food, shopping, and walks, and our recently upgraded room was kept very clean by housekeeping. Gabriel, the hotel manager, also made a sincere effort to communicate and address our concerns, and we appreciated his professionalism. Even so, the stay fell short of what we expected for the price and seriously affected our vacation. Renovations were ongoing, with loud work starting every morning. Opening the balcony door let in strong paint and chemical spray fumes, making the room uncomfortable. On one day, we were given a beach towel with dried blood on it, which was completely unacceptable for a hotel charging premium rates and resort fees. If you love snorkeling, the hotel beach may disappoint. The water is murky and there are barely any fish to see. Beach 67 is about a 15-minute drive away and has great sand and lots of fish. There’s also a local-recommended trail along the hotel beach toward the Hilton that’s worth exploring. The round trip takes about three hours.