Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel Review: What To REALLY Expect If You Stay

Pros

Excellent beachfront location in central Kona
Pleasant, simple rooms with balconies; some have sofa beds
Beachfront pool with loungers and poolside bar
Multiple restaurants serving fish, sushi, pastries, and light fare
Spa offers a sauna, steam room, and all sorts of treatments and massages
24-hour fitness center, plus tennis courts and yoga classes
Game area with foosball, darts, table tennis, and shuffle board
Luaus held several times per week
16 event spaces for rent for up to 600 guests
Business center and free Wi-Fi throughout
No resort fees

Cons

Breakfast is incredibly expensive
On-site beach is small and not particularly picturesque
Older property in need of an update
Fee for self- and valet parking
Room service is not available

Bottom Line

Situated in the heart of Kona town and right on the beach, Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel is an upper-middle-range property that attracts business travelers and vacationers alike, including couples and families. The 452 rooms here are simple and comfortable, with soft lighting and good amenities such as flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and balconies -- but they're nothing particularly memorable and decor is a tad dated. Aside from a pleasant outdoor pool with loungers and rental cabanas, the hotel features a solid spa offering a host of body treatments and salon services, plus a well-equipped 24-hour fitness center and yoga classes (for a fee). The hotel also offers great perks for business travelers, including 16 meeting rooms and multiple dining options. Just note that breakfast isn't included and it's expensive. Travelers may also want consider the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Kailua-Kona, which offers a free buffet breakfast, but lacks a spa.

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Hotel & Amenities Photos

The Hotel

Beach

Pools

Restaurants and Bars

Amenities

Double Bedroom

Amenities

Fitness Center
Internet
Jacuzzi
Pool
Spa

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What are the Design and Scene Like at Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel?

Beachfront hotel with dated lobby; popular with tourists and business travelers alike

Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel is an upper-middle range chain hotel housed in an off-white block right by the beach. The lobby is dated and intensely colorful, featuring a loud carpet with a big floral pattern in hues of orange and olive evocative of the 1970s. A traditional wooden canoe is set as an artistic centerpiece right below rows upon rows of flags from around the world suspended from the ceiling. Although the property is in need of some updates, especially in its rooms, the grounds are pleasant and lush, with small yet manicured lawns dotted with a few palm trees, and a lovely pool deck that opens directly onto a small beach where guests can book water sports through a third party. The hotel attracts a mix of tourists (including families and couples) and business travelers, and the vibe is generally lively without feeling overcrowded or rowdy.

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Where is the Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel Located?

Convenient Kona location near shops and restaurants, and right on a small beach

This hotel is located right on the beach in the heart of the Kona town center, within walking distance of multiple restaurants, shops, banks, and other hotels. The area is quaint and geared toward tourists, and it's easy to get around on foot or by bicycle. However, a car is a good idea if you want to explore the rest of the island. Getting to the base of Mauna Kea, the tallest mountain on the island and home to a well-known astronomy research center, takes just under two hours. It's about a two to two-and-a-half-hour drive to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, while the Puna Forest Reserve in Pahoa takes just a little longer to reach. Getting to Hilo, the other main city on the island, takes around 90 minutes. The hotel is less than 20 minutes away by car from the Kona International Airport by taxi, and the Hilo International Airport takes about an hour and 40 minutes to reach by car.

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What are Rooms Like at the Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel?

Pleasant (albeit dated) rooms with flat-screen TVs, balconies, and free Wi-Fi

Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel offers simple, generic rooms, most of which have furnished balconies with full or partial ocean views. Decor is rather plain and dated, consisting of a mix of cream-colored walls and muted olive accent walls, along with matching throw cushions and oak-hued wood furniture. Dark carpets make spaces a tad gloomy, but soft lighting from bedside and desktop lamps are a cozy touch. Wall art is kept to a minimum, with just a couple of small framed geometric prints in each unit. Rooms have either two queen beds or one king plus a sofa bed, and the One-Bedroom Suites add separate living areas and extra bathrooms.

Standard amenities include flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, electric kettles, safes, and mini-fridges. Wi-Fi is provided free of charge throughout the property, and upgrades to high-speed internet access are available for a small daily fee. Like the rooms, bathrooms are simple, with large granite countertops and shower/tub combos. Bath and Bodyworks toiletries and hairdryers are provided.

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What Features are Available at the Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel?

Multiple dining options, an outdoor pool, small beach, 24-hour gym, spa, and ample meeting spaces

This hotel offers reasonable amenities, particularly when it comes to dining, although the lack of room service here is a downside for some guests. Honu's on the Beach Restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner, serving an overpriced but extensive buffet in the mornings and reopening again at dinnertime, when they offer seafood, sushi, and cocktails. Lunch and dinner are served at Billfish Poolside Bar & Grille, with lighter meals and happy hour specials, and there are regular luaus for dinner. Other alternatives include a small on-site ABC Store mini-market and Menehune Coffee Company, which serves pastries and grab-and-go items from morning through evening.

Wellness amenities here include an outdoor pool surrounded by lounge chairs and shaded tables and chairs. There is also a handful of cabanas that guests can rent for the day, and the poolside bar keeps drinks and snacks flowing. The beach right in front of the hotel is small and not particularly pretty, but the waters are calm enough for gentle wading. A water-sports kiosk run by a third party offers parasailing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboards. There's also a 24-hour fitness center with cardio and weight-training equipment, plus a yoga studio with group and private classes for a fee. The hotel's spa offers four treatment rooms, steam and sauna facilities, and a host of treatments ranging from body wraps to scrubs.

A spacious game area offers table tennis, shuffle boards, darts, bocce ball, and other family-friendly activities, but the hotel lacks a full kids' club.

For business travelers, this hotel offers 16 event rooms, the largest of which can fit up to 600 people. There are also a business center, free hotel-wide Wi-Fi, and concierge services ranging from valet laundry to car rentals. Self- and valet parking are available on-site for a fee.

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Things You Should Know About Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel

Also Known As

King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel
Courtyard King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel

Address

75-5660 Palani Road, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740, United States

Website

Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel