Review of the Vintage Royal Kona Resort in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island

Vintage Hawaii is something that always catches my eye, and the Royal Kona Resort is just that. On the outside it’s got the vintage architectural stylings of the 1960s and in the rooms it’s quiet and comfortable. Every room has its own lanai adding to the vibe that you may need to make a batch of Mai Tai’s and relax in your aloha shirt to watch the sunset. It’s a whole thing. While it may not be over-the-top luxe, it’s delightful and you’ll have a great visit.

The Royal Kona Resort isn’t the fanciest option in Kailua-Kona, but I really love the feeling here, the public spaces and the secret snorkeling cove. Have you gotten to stay at the Royal Kona Resort? What was your favorite element? I’d love to hear from others anything that stood out to them or if you have any tips for room requests here. Please leave a comment or send us a note if you have something wonderful to share about this vintage Kona stay!

Why Choose the Royal Kona Resort

Of course you have several options for nice places to stay in Kailua-Kona, but I like the Royal Kona Resort for a number of reasons. I like the location, being just outside of the downtown core, I really enjoy the outdoor spaces all around the property, and I LOVE the snorkeling cove. I’ll start there. The Royal Kona Resort has its own snorkeling cove full of life! This is one the best places to snorkel with kids, and as an adult who’s done tons of snorkeling I was loving the creatures we were finding, including some beautiful eels. It’s just awesome to be able to stay in the Royal Kona Resort and walk down to the cove and explore. It’s really special.

I also very much enjoy all the outdoor spaces around the property. When you arrive the lobby is outdoors and there’s a wonderful koi pond. As you poke around the property you’ll find TONS of tiki carvings and art, and it’s also really wonderfully vintage. I really enjoy hanging out the pool and enjoying the whales off the coast, I love the Hawaiian music and the vibe is wonderful.

When you look at a map of Kailua-Kona you’ll see that the Royal Kona Resort is at the south side of town. While you might think that’s not awesome, it actually is. Being here you’ll be close enough to walk to everything but far enough away that it feels like you’re just in your own pocket of the Kona Coast. It’s also really nice for leaving for exploring each day because it’s past the traffic of downtown. I know that might not seem like a big win, but there are times when the traffic into Kailua-Kona is a pain and you’ll be in stop and go traffic for an inordinate amount of time. So the location of the Royal Kona Resort is great!

Book the Royal Kona Resort here!

Room Options at the Royal Kona Resort

There aren’t tons of room types at the Royal Kona Resort, but that’s okay. You’ll find that all rooms are spacious enough for four people to function well and all rooms have a large lanai / deck / balcony, so even if you’re visiting Hawaii with kids you can easily be able to relax in your room at the end of a long day of scenic highways on the Big Island. We stayed here before heading out on our Hawaii UnCruise sailing and it was perfect for us.

The room options at the Royal Kona Resort include two doubles, a king, or a corner room. The difference between all these is mostly the type of bed and then the view. When you book a corner, you’re getting more outside space. You’ll either be able to book ocean view or standard, and then while the hotel is undergoing a renovation (2024) you may also be able to get a better deal on a room that’s not yet been renovated.

I tend to not care what view we get when we’re at a hotel, unless it’s looking into a gross alleyway, but here at the Royal Kona it’s worth booking a room with a view. It’s not bad to look or into the flowering trees or towards the other hotel towers, but if you can have a view of the ocean and a wonderful lanai to watch the whales from, why wouldn’t you? The cost difference in the two room types is about $40 per night.

Royal Kona Resort Amenities

The Royal Kona Resort has all the amenities that you’d expect of a resort hotel in Hawaii. You’ve got your beautiful public spaces, carved tikis all around the property, a pool above the Pacific Ocean… There’s a great fitness center (could use an update though) and also a spa on property.

There’s a wonderful restaurant on property too, Don’s Mai Tai Bar and Breezeway Lounge. I love getting to sit on the giant lanai enjoying lunch and having one of the 15 different types of Mai Tai’s they offer. We had one meal here at the Royal Kona Resort where we sat ocean-front and had a mama and baby humpback whale breaching just off the shore while we ate. Also, Don’t Mai Tai Bar has live music nearly every night, primarily local or musicians from around the islands.

Voyagers of the Pacific Luau at the Royal Kona

The Voyagers of the Pacific Luau happens at the Royal Kona Resort. It’s a great event and if you are able to go to, it’s both fun and a great celebration of a Polynesian cultures. The food is good and the fire dancing is great. This was a great experience for our whole family. If you can book the Voyagers of the Pacific Luau in advance, do it. It’s worth setting time aside and enjoying the show at the Royal Kona Resort if you can.

Parking at the Royal Kona Resort

Parking at the Royal Kona Resort is $25/day. This is for self-parking. If you’re just hanging around Kailua-Kona or doing tours from town or that will pick you up, you won’t need a car. For plans that include Hawaii Volcanoes National Park or other activities along the South Shore, up to Waimea or over in Hilo (check out our Hilo Travel Guide) you will need to have your own vehicle.