This was our first visit to the Big Island, and although we typically stay at Marriott properties, we had no choice but to stay at the Hilo Hawaiian, a Wyndham property. Overall, it was a decent experience, though not quite on par with other hotels I’ve stayed at on other islands.
Check-in was smooth, and I appreciated the free upgrade upon request. If you stay here, I highly recommend booking an ocean-view room, it's worth it. The other side of the hotel only offers a view of banyan trees.
The hotel itself is dated but still clean and functional. We received two complimentary drink vouchers, which the bartender kindly honored the next day after we forgot to use them on our first night. There’s also a $10 daily breakfast credit at the on-site restaurant. While the food was good, it’s on the pricier side, as expected in Hawaii.
One highlight was walking along Banyan Drive at night, hearing the chorus of frogs, very peaceful. However, we did run into a nightly issue: loud music and laughter coming from local kids partying at the Coconut Island parking area below. It took away from the relaxing sound of the waves, so we ended up sleeping with the A/C on for white noise.
Hilo itself is calm and low-key, so if you're looking for nightlife, this isn’t the place. I'd also suggest asking the front desk for a microwave, there aren’t many dining options nearby, and the hotel food, while decent, isn’t cheap. So we used Walmart delivery.
Overall, I’d give this hotel 4 stars.
