Big Island. Big Vacation.

The Big Island, Hawaii

Additional Research, Images

Hawaii’s Big Island is well named in one sense only – it’s physically the largest in the group. However, it’s not big in terms of population. Despite being quite thinly populated, the Big Island is a fantastic place for a vacation. Along with all the usual requirements of a vacation paradise – great weather, long beaches – it’s a diverse and fascinating place in itself. You can explore one of the world’s few island deserts, and, just a few miles away, go skiing! The slopes are to be found between the 13,000-foot peaks of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, which dominate the islands. Mauna Loa is home to one of the world’s greatest astronomical observatories, and…

But it’s probably best to stop there. The Big Island has so much variety and so many virtues that you could talk about them all day. The main thing that vacationers will want to know is, where’s the best place to stay?

One of the most popular resorts on the island is the Castle Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. Located on the island’s northeast coast, it has a well-established reputation as a resort that offers great service and facilities for prices that represent some of the best value in the vacation industry.

The resort, which enjoys fantastic views of Hilo town and bay, is only a couple of miles from the nearest airport, and offers guests a vacation destination that’s both tranquil and easily accessible. One of the very first things that you will notice about the Castle Hilo Hawaiian Hotel is its beautifully-kept grounds. Perfect for an evening stroll, these fantastic gardens combine oriental-style pagodas and lakes with a wide variety of local flora. The impression of care and attention persists as you walk into the lobby with its fine furnishings and friendly staff. For the price you pay, you really do get exceptional value for money at Castle Hilo Hawaiian Hotel – the décor and surroundings would not be out of place in a five star establishment.

The impression continues in the resort’s rooms, which enjoy a level of comfort and amenity which once again belies the price you are paying. Guests have a choice of a double room or a one bedroom suite with kitchenette. The rooms are quite spacious, and all include air conditioning, cable TV, phone and dial-up internet access for those vacationers who just can’t leave work behind them. In addition there is a day time maid service, and the front desk is open 24 hours a day to keep on top of guests’ needs and problems.

The only real thing that differentiates the Castle Hilo Hawaiian Hotel from a much higher category of resort is the relatively limited on site dining and activity opportunities. There is only one restaurant – the Queen’s Court – but it is truly excellent, serving a delicious array of continental and American cuisine in a friendly and informal atmosphere. The restaurant also has large glass windows so you can enjoy the great views over the resort’s grounds and the ocean as you dine. If you feel like a little variety during your stay there are a number of excellent restaurants a very short distance away. One of the best is the Kilauea Lodge in the settlement of Volcano – rated one of the top twenty places to dine in Hawaii, it’s worth a visit for its excellent situation and fine continental cuisine.

Likewise, there are lots of activities on offer in the Hilo neighborhood. Just a little way up Banyan Road from Castle Hilo Hawaiian Hotel is the Aquatic Perceptions Kayak and Scuba Center. The center is a great place to learn how to paddle and dive, and offers regular courses for beginners as well as services for more experienced watersports enthusiasts.

If your idea of a good time is a little more sedate, you might consider visiting the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. One of Hawaii’s major industries – apart from tourism – is the growth and export of plants and flowers to the mainland USA. The Botanical Gardens exhibit thousands upon thousands of native species, some of them exclusive to the Big Island. The Botanical Gardens are a particularly great place to visit if you’re an enthusiastic photographer – they’ve been consistently rated one of the most beautiful spots in the whole state.

Probably the best thing about a vacation at the Castle Hilo Hawaiian Hotel is the sense that you’re getting much, much more than you’re paying for. These days, too many vacation providers use the words ‘great value’ simply to mean ‘cheap’. The Castle Hilo Hawaiian Hotel is great value in the true sense of the expression: your vacation dollars go further here than maybe anywhere else.