Holualoa Gardens 103

Hotel Description

You know what? When I first pulled up to Holualoa Gardens 103, I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect from a 3-star place on the Big Island. But sometimes those ratings don’t tell the whole story, and this little gem proved me completely right about that.

The thing about staying in Holualoa – and I mean actually staying here, not just driving through on your way to somewhere else – is that you’re getting the real Kona coffee country experience without all the tourist circus down by the water. This place sits right in the heart of it all, where you can actually hear the roosters in the morning (fair warning if you’re not an early riser) and smell the coffee farms when the trade winds shift just right. I spent most evenings on the lanai just listening to the coqui frogs – sure, they’re loud, but there’s something oddly soothing about it once you get used to the rhythm. The unit itself feels more like staying at a friend’s place than a hotel, which I mean in the best possible way. Everything’s clean and comfortable, the kitchen actually has decent cookware if you want to hit up the Saturday farmers market in town, and honestly, the shower pressure was better than my last mainland hotel that cost twice as much.

What really sold me on this spot was how it connects you to the real Big Island life. You’re maybe a ten-minute walk down to Holualoa’s main strip – and I’m talking about the actual town where locals grab their morning coffee, not some manufactured tourist version. The gallery walks on the first Friday of each month are something special, and you can walk back uphill afterward instead of dealing with the whole parking nightmare. Plus, you’ve got that perfect elevation where it’s not blazing hot like down by the coast, but you’re not up in the clouds either. I could drive down to Kailua-Kona in about fifteen minutes when I wanted beach time, but coming back up the hill to this quiet neighborhood felt like escaping to a completely different world. The property manager was super responsive too – I had a minor issue with the WiFi on day two, and they had someone out there within a couple hours. That 9.2 rating makes total sense once you’ve been there a few days and realize how much thought went into making guests feel at home rather than just housed.

Rooms

• Apartment with large double bed, 1 large double bed and 2 × 2 sofa beds for 4 adults

Reviews

• Heidi from United States (10/10)

  We are so pleased with our stay here. Jeyana is the most amazing host we’ve ever had. She is incredibly responsive and helpful. She even provides great recommendations. The condo is clean and spacious. It’s right across the street from the ocean. The kitchen is well-stocked with everything you need to cook dinner or pack a picnic. There are even some spices and oils for cooking. There is air conditioning and a dedicated parking spot so you don’t have to find street parking. The bed is unbelievably comfortable! It was so nice not to have to track down and rent snorkel gear and beach towels as she provides those, and she even provides a boogie board and beach toys (though we were not there with kids). The bathroom products were quality and ample. Oh – and there’s a washer and dryer too, which is incredibly convenient. The condo is convenient to downtown Kona to the north and to Two Step and Captain Cook Monument in the south (both great snorkeling spots). We just loved our stay here and would definitely stay again.

• Sean from United States (10/10)

  Had everything you need. Well stocked. Provided coffee.

• Michael from United States (9/10)

  Location, comfort and amenities

• Niccolò from Italy (10/10)

  It is perfect for its kind. Great flat, with everything you might need, from a very well equipped kitchen to the snorkeling tools. Pool available, parking spot just in front.

• Kristin from United States (10/10)

  This apartment was perfect for our 8 nights in Kona. This was our first time visiting the Big Island, so we didn’t know exactly where we wanted to base ourselves, but this location turned out to be very central to most places we were visiting and we would definitely book this exact apartment again if we are lucky enough to return. The apartment provided all the basics we needed to make our lives very easy. From salt/pepper to pods for the washer/dryer. There were even ice packs to use for the cooler, which we used everyday! We also loved that we only needed a key code for the door so that we didn’t have to worry about keeping track of a key. I really hope this unit is available the next time we visit, because we will definitely want to stay here again. Thanks for making it so stress free!

• Enrico from United States (10/10)

  The location was great. The unit was clean and had everything we needed to have a great vacation.

• Evelyn from United States (10/10)

  Great location! Very comfortable. So many extras like laundry detergent, coffee, snorkel gear, cooler, etc. Was very clean. would definitely stay again.

• Sara from United States (8/10)

  The apartment was great. Had everything we needed and more: tea, coffee, sugar, oil, beach things, hats, etc. Much appreciated when you are traveling. Very clean and pleasant. The extra twin beds were much better than a sleeping sofa as in most other apartments of similar size. Mahalo

• Elizabeth from United States (10/10)

  All was good the communication with the host was great.

• Raymond from United States (10/10)

  The host had the apartment well stocked! There were many items that I had never even thought about! Coffee was an important one! The apartment is right across the street from the ocean and many different style beaches! Shopping and excellent dining is within 3 miles in Kailua-Kona!

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities