I have done a search but haven’t found exactly what I was looking for. My wife and I are taking our 10 year anniversary to visit the Big Island and she agreed that going and seeing the race would be awesome. We would like to stay somewhere very nice and have a relaxed vacation. Should we stay in Kona or another area on the island and commute to Kona on race day. Also are there any resorts, hotels etc. that we should be looking into. Any help and tips would be greatly appreciated.
Royal Kona Resort was nice–not swanky by any means but clean, friendly staff & right there in Kona & close to everything. Close to Lava Java & that is important. Grab the Body Glove boat & go for an ocean tour, or scuba…margaritas at Outback are totally awesome. Pool & bar right next to the rocks, even has a private lagoon/beach.
look on VRBO for a condo. We live in Kona year around & its the best way to stay here.
If your proactive you can get a nice condo for $500/wk… There is a ton for rent and don’t think you need to stay right in Kona. Keahou is just fine and convenient. We live in town but most of the locals leave for the week of Ironman & rent their places out or just go camp…
Thanks for the responses thus far. T2mann are in the beginning stages of planning this thing and I started looking at VRBO last night. As things come along do you mind down the road if I pm you about other stuff we are planning. It would be great to the insight and knowledge of a local.
The only problem is that if you stay out of
Kailua-Kona, then you will more than likely need a car and that ups your costs a lot. And on race day it will be a pain to get downtown and park. You’d be there for the day and night.
clm
CLM,
If car is not an issue, then what are the drawbacks to staying out of town? I usually try and stay where I don’t know I am in the middle of a triathlon fest and so being away from Kona is high on my priority at the moment. Thanks for any feedback!
Rgds,
Wow! $500 for the week, really? What will $500 for the week get you? I’m not trying to be sarcastic but I just spent quite a bit of time finding a place and especially during IM week the price goes way up and many places require a 7 night minimum.
I used www.konahawaii.com and booked a 2 bedroom at Kona Sea Village (the closest to the pier they had available which is still 1.5 miles away) and it was a little more than 3x’s your estimate. Either I was jipped or your estimate is low?
A two bedroom condo during Ironman week would easily cost $1500. Probably more like $2000.
Echo the VRBO website. Did it last year and got a 1 bedroom condo on the beach on Alii Drive (run course) for the week. Only about 1 1/2 miles from the swim start and hey you can just sit out on the road and watch the runners come by. The place we stayed was the Kona Reef. Doing it again this year but getting a house. VRBO is the way to go.
Charlie
Definitely stay further out if you don’t want to be in Tri central. But the OP is coming as spectator for IM so I would guess he wants to take it in. And on race day, it’s much easier for spectators if you condo or hotel is within walking distance. It is a very long day.
clm
clearly I am very bad a booking things. Ours was ~$5k/week (disclaimer it is 5 bedroom house). I did not see anything remotely close to 500/week. A relative works for marriott and could get the hotel for 100/night (which I thought was great) but that is still $700.
Ours was ~$5k/week (disclaimer it is 5 bedroom house).
That sounds like the market price.