F2 Waikoloa Beach Villas

Hotel Description

You know what caught me off guard about F2 Waikoloa Beach Villas? It’s actually got this laid-back residential vibe that most Big Island resorts completely miss. I mean, when you’re driving through Waikoloa Beach Resort – past all those fancy hotels with their marble lobbies and uniformed staff everywhere – these villas just feel refreshingly normal. Like, you’ve got your own little slice of Hawaii without someone hovering around asking if you need turndown service.

The units themselves are honestly pretty solid for what you’re paying. We’re talking real kitchens (not those sad hotel kitchenettes), decent-sized living rooms where you can actually spread out, and lanais that don’t feel like afterthoughts. The furniture’s maybe a bit dated – think early 2000s tropical chic – but everything works and it’s clean. What I really appreciated was the washer and dryer situation, because let’s be real, after a few days of beach time and hiking around Mauna Kea, you’re going to need it. The bedrooms are spacious enough that you’re not bumping into each other, and the master suites have those ceiling fans that actually move air around (crucial when the trade winds die down).

Here’s the thing though – location-wise, you’re sort of in this sweet spot where you can walk to Anaeho’omalu Bay in about ten minutes, but you’re also close enough to jump in the car and hit up the good stuff. Queens’ MarketPlace is right there when you need groceries or want to grab dinner without cooking, and honestly, the parking situation is way less stressful than trying to deal with the chaos at the big resort hotels. I actually ended up preferring this setup because you can do the resort thing during the day – use the beach, maybe grab a drink at one of the hotel bars – but then come back to your own space where you can make coffee in the morning without paying $6 for it. The complex itself has a couple of pools that are usually pretty quiet (especially the smaller one), and there’s this little BBQ area that hardly anyone seems to know about. Check-in was smooth enough, though the property management office keeps weird hours so don’t expect to sort out any issues after 5 PM. The only real downside is that some of the units face the parking area instead of having any kind of view, so definitely ask about that when you’re booking – trust me on this one.

Rooms

• Holiday Home with 2 × 1 extra-large double bed and 2 × 2 single beds for 4 adults

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities