Sun-Soaked Waikoloa Retreat with Private Lanai!

Hotel Description

Okay, so first things first – when you pull up to this place in Waikoloa, you’re not getting some massive resort with a lobby that echoes your footsteps. This is more like… well, imagine if your friend with really good taste had a vacation rental they actually cared about. The Sun-Soaked Waikoloa Retreat lives up to that name, honestly – I mean, the lanai situation alone is worth talking about. You know how most hotel “balconies” are basically just wide enough for one sad plastic chair? Not here. This private lanai actually feels private, and you can spread out with your morning coffee without listening to someone else’s phone calls through paper-thin walls.

The thing about Waikoloa that people don’t always realize is how the light hits differently depending on where you’re positioned – something about being on the leeward side of the Big Island. This place gets it right. Those morning sunrises hit your lanai just as you’re waking up, but you’re not getting blasted by afternoon heat because of how the building’s oriented. I actually spent way more time out there than I planned, just because it felt like this perfect middle ground between being outside and having your own space. The furnishings aren’t trying too hard either – comfortable without being fancy, which honestly matches the whole vibe of this side of the island. You’re close enough to the resort areas that you can walk to decent restaurants (there’s this poke spot locals actually go to, not just the tourist traps), but far enough away that you’re not dealing with tour bus noise at 7 AM.

What surprised me was how quiet it gets at night – I mean, you’ll hear the occasional gecko chirping, but that’s about it. The three-star rating might make you think it’s lacking something, but honestly? Sometimes you don’t need a concierge and a pool bar that closes at 10 PM. The 8.0 rating makes sense when you realize what you’re actually getting – solid basics done really well, plus that lanai that becomes your favorite room. Check-in was refreshingly straightforward, parking’s not a headache, and the whole experience just feels… unstressed. If you’re the type who books a Hawaii trip to actually relax rather than pack in every activity, this works. Just know that you’re trading resort amenities for that authentic “living in Hawaii for a week” feeling, and honestly, that trade-off hit the sweet spot for me.

Rooms

• Apartment with 2 × 2 large double beds and 2 × 1 extra-large double bed for 6 adults

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities