Kona Islander Inn Hotel

Basically all u get is the room. 1st room had cockroaches every 2 minutes!!!! It was on the first floor, room 126 where no hot water ran. Parking is really bad, basically none. No daily service, no breakfast, only one bar of soap. Moved to 344 on 3rd floor, one cockroach. $69 a night, $59 for two nights... not really worth it.

First of all, this is not a regular hotel. Each unit is privately owned and therefore is decorated and kept up differently than other units. So it is hit and miss whether you might get a great room or a worn out rom. The owners pay a maintanance fee which keeps the unit cleaned but they are all different. So the room we had was very worn out with bugs in the bathroom. Even though we were there for two days, we did not have any maid service in our room until it was checkout time and then they were standing at our door ready to clean. If you are looking for "color" this is the place for you at its affordable price and great location. Just bring your flipflops for the shower and bug spray to arm yourself for bathroom trips and you'll be fine.

The experience started very poorly when we checked in after hours (about 9pm) and there were no staff present. The security guard gave us our key and we went to our room. The trash was full in a bag sitting near the front of the room, the sheets were completely off the bed, a few cockroaches were running about the room. Suffice it to say the room had not been cleaned and was not ready for us. Not a good start to a honeymoon. Luckily one other room was vacant and the trash was actually removed and the sheets on the bed. The place looked somewhat run-down, but was adequate to meet basic needs. The TV remote didn't work and there were occasional cockroaches. The grill out by the pool was actually excellent, but most else was mediocre to poor. Not the place for a honeymoon - somewhere with a cleaner look and maid service would have been much prefered (in hindsight). This might be the ideal place, however, for someone looking for a cheap deal and doesn't care if things are poorly maintained.

Well lets start with the fact that it is right on Alii drive overlooking the ocean and has a beautiful garden! One of the best outdoors I have seen at a hotel. Then we saw the room!!!! WOWZA! I have stayed in many hotels and this room was by far the funkiest. The floor and curtains were GROSS. The kitchenette had no stovetop and the dishes provided were mostly dirty. The bed sheets were the wrong size and didn't seem to have been cleaned. When we asked for new sheets, a small surfer girl behind the desk said "Its kind of like your home away from home, and the laundry room is around the corner" UMMM?? Ok....What that meant was, wash your own stuff, and don't expect any help from us. The good news is it was Hawaii, so we spent all our time outside, and this cheap hotel offered us a spot right in beautiful kailua town.

We had read previous reviews and were aware that some liked it, some didn't. The bedding was clean. The carpeting was dirty, The supplies were minimal, I couldn't even sweep the kitchen. A vacuum should have been available. Friendly staff. I enjoyed my stay in spite of the spotted carpet. We spent hours and hours enjoying our deck overlooking nicely manicured gardens with ocean view in background.

The location was great and the grouds were very nice. The rooms were great for the price. I would book here again.

We were "upgraded" from the Kona Islander Inn (located in heart of Kailua-Kona) to the Kona Magic Sands (3 miles south on Ali'i Drive). We checked in and out from the Kona Islander which had major parking issues. Check-in was quick and easy. From the outside the Kona Magic Sands looks old due to construction from concrete blocks. Masonry workers were resurfacing during the day and were fairly noisy. The on-site restaurant Jameson's was closed due to renovation. Not a big deal though. The Magic Sands is waterfront property and if you down like crashing waves, don't stay here. It is aalso nestled between two awesome state parks. Each condo unit has a designated parking space (big plus in Hawaii). There is also an on-site laundry facility. There is a wash-off area on premises. A BBQ grill is available in a privately locked grounds area. The grounds have an unheated family-sized swimming pool, sun chairs, patio tables and palm trees overlooking a stunning view of Magic Sands Beach and the ocean. There is no sandy beach on property but it is lined with a seawall due to a black lava rock at ocean's edge. Each unit varied in accommodation. Ours had an enclosed veranda with sliding glass and screen doors. This was a studio unit with a 27" flat screen TV and a queen-sized bed (fairly comfortable). The veranda could be parted with a Japanese-style sliding screen which had several holes in the paper. The dining option was a table on the veranda. The kitchenette had a full-sized fridge, an outdated cooking surface, microwave, coffee maker, blender and ample plates, cups and utensils for maybe 4 people. The spice rack was well stocked and there were some non-perishable condiments on the shelves. The bathroom and kitchen had nice tiles. The sink and toilet were clean and newer. The shower was okay but the fixtures showed signs of corrosion. Hot water flow varied by time of day as I don't believe each unit had its own water heater. There were plenty of towels. There was also a small closet with extra bedding, pillows, beach towels and some snorkeling masks. There is no maid service. A vacuum is in the closet. The air temperature was comfortable with 3 ceiling fans but this would not be sufficient in the summer months. The studio was pretty bug-free. There are several permanent residents and "snowbirds" in the complex which makes it nice for security. The coastal highway is kind of noisy during the day and quiet hours were enforced in the complex. There was a deadbolt for security. I wish there was a digital safe in our unit to secure valuables. There are not any shopping or restaurant options nearby. I consider this a plus but others may not. Overall, we were satisfied with the price and options. This is not a four star establishment but a pleasant surprise for the money.

The grounds and staff out standing. But there's always a but. The rooms are individual condos that are rented out through the front. So there are amazing rooms and then there's some that just don't cut it. Be aware and let them know if it's not up to snuff.

Room # 153 - great view of the ocean from the lanai. Tiles broken and curtains ripped. No maid service, extra towels or toilet paper. Some bugs and ants but overall a pleasant stay. Very convenient to shopping and restauraunts but very little parking at the hotel. You are getting what you pay for but we were not at the hotel much anyway.

I loved the location of this hotel! It was within walking distance of many restaurants and great shops! It has nice grounds and is very close to the ocean. The thing I did not like was the lack of room service (which I knew about that coming into the hotel), but because of it, the shower was disgusting--looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a long time. If you're able to overlook that kind of stuff, then this is a fine hotel; but if you're looking for super clean, new towels every day, etc., don't stay here!