Name: Royal Kona Resort
Address: 75-5852 Alii Drive, Historic Kailua Village, Kailua-Kona, North Kona, Hawaii, United States of America, Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi County, US
Price range: $198–$645 per night
Rating: 7.95

What guests think

At Royal Kona Resort, travellers consistently praise the walkable oceanfront location and sweeping sunset views, while noting an older property undergoing renovations that can bring daytime construction noise, occasional facility closures, and rooms that feel dated.

Many guests find staff friendly and accommodating, though service at check-in and in the restaurant can be slow or uneven. Rooms are generally spacious with big balconies and great views, but noise from the luau or nearby bars and scarce in-room amenities like microwaves are common gripes. Extra charges for parking and a daily resort fee are frequently mentioned. Expect memorable views and convenience with trade-offs in age, noise, and value.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Oceanfront grounds feature a small pool, a popular saltwater lagoon, on-site bar/restaurant, and daily yoga; parts of the property are under renovation, which can cause daytime noise and occasional closures. Parking is on-site but paid; the gym and laundry are available, with mixed feedback on gym condition.

Related guest reviews

10

Sophia

Apr 26, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

The property is in a beautiful location with wonderful staff. However, it is a bit dated but they are working on fixing it as we noted during our stay. We were in tower 2 but I believe they are working on 1 now. They do need to update the gym but the morning yoga facing the beach was outstanding

10

Davina Anne

Jul 8, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

Great location near to Kona village. Right on the coast line, beautiful views. Resort is undergoing a “refresh” which is great. It is an iconic long standing resort in Kona. Only one pool but if you’re lucky you can sit right next to views of breaking waves.

10

Sherri

May 20, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Very nice property and well maintained. Excellent gym and laundry facilities. We would definitely stay again!

10

Zachary

Mar 1, 2025

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Stayed 3 nights

Stayed with the understanding that the property was under renovation at a discounted price. Despite the renovation, the areas were clean and the noise did not cause us issues. Room was spacious and comfortable, with a nice balcony. The room did show some ware and tear, which was not an issue, but did illustrate why the renovations were occurring. Hotel had gorgeous views and was convenient for pickup for excursions. Parking was paid but easy, and check-in and room access were quick and convenient.

8

curt

Nov 11, 2025

·

Stayed 7 nights

Pros: Nice staff, fantastic location, nice amenities, great property, views, pool, lagoon, value. Cons: Place is a little tired, maybe the time of year but hotel was a little understaffed, main restaurant was closed temporarily, other restaurant was just ok, rooms need towel hooks, hair conditioner Overall we enjoyed our stay here and would come back again.

8

Lilian

Apr 2, 2025

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Stayed 4 nights

I didn't like that the lagoon was closed, the information wasn't update on their system. I think they have hidden fees: resort fees, parking, room tax, county, excise, which are daily, we end paying an extra $217 which is a lot for me and I have not see it somewhere else. My understanding was that all fees were charged at the beginning.

8

Paul

Jan 5, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

This is a beautiful property in an excellent location, directly next to Kailua Kona, but the property is still undergoing extensive renovation & even areas that aren't listed as being under construction still need quite a lot of upgrades to make them up to the level they should be. Overall this makes the experience a bit overpriced for what they currently offer, but the staff is great & generally put in extra effort to make the stay enjoyable. Loved the daily yoga classes!

6

steve

Sep 15, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

7-story hotel, and only 2 water filling stations (2nd & 5th floor). None on ground floor. Elevator doors close in 3 seconds, so wear running shoes. Noisy construction all day.

10

Anastasia

Sep 1, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The hotel is very old and the owners are working hard to remodel it but it is taking a long time. The main restaurant is still closed, but the dining area around the bar is still lovely and the food good. It's at the quieter end of town and about a 30 minute stroll to the main part where most of the shops are but we still like to come here.

10

Andrea

Aug 12, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Enjoyed the restaurant and salt water lagoon

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Cleanliness

Cleanliness feedback is mixed: many reports of clean, well-kept rooms, but recurring mentions of musty odors, mold in bathrooms, gnats or roaches, and occasionally dirty pool areas. Housekeeping is generally responsive when issues are raised.

Related guest reviews

2

jessyca

Jun 1, 2025

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Stayed 4 nights

Room did not look like the pictures , bugs & an awful smell in the hallway and the rooms smell like urine.

8

Eileen

Aug 10, 2025

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Stayed 1 night

We had a room right on the rocks it was amazing! The only thing is that there were blood stains on the comforter and pillows. The tub needs cleaning it was old. The staff were great and very friendly. Food very good too! Views were amazing too!

6

Angelina

Apr 7, 2025

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Stayed 2 nights

The receptionist at the front desk wasn’t very polite. My room smelled of mold and there were signs of mold in the bathroom. The carpet felt dirty. There were wood planks everywhere as if there were some type of damage. The luau was amazing we were happy to experience it. The main area of the hotel is beautiful and clean.

8

Carolyn

Oct 23, 2025

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Stayed 2 nights

Was a little run down. Found a large cockroach when we first got there. It ran out of our room and into the hallway. Found 2 more little ones at the same time, and never saw any others

2

Stephane

Jul 19, 2025

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Stayed 2 nights

I recently stayed at the Royal Kona Resort and the experience was far from what was advertised. The hotel is under major renovation, which was not clearly disclosed during booking., the pool was dirty, the shower didn’t work properly, and there were trash bags in the hallways every day. The experience did not match what was shown on social media or the Expedia listing.

4

Leonardo

Aug 9, 2025

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Stayed 2 nights

Old hotel with a weird stench

10

LUZ

Sep 25, 2025

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Stayed 4 nights

Clean room staff was amazing

10

Adriana

Nov 15, 2025

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Stayed 3 nights

Beautiful and clean room. Wonderful staff, incredibly kind.

6

Danielle

Mar 27, 2025

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Stayed 3 nights

This property is in a great location, and on the outside looks great, but when you get to your room or really look around, the property is old and run down. There are lots of repairs that need to be made. Things were closed for repair or broken while we were there. We had an issue with our bed because it felt like 1000 kids had jumped on it for years (staff was awesome and they did bring in a new mattress). The bathroom had mold growing in the tile in the shower, the ice machine was broken, the salt water lagoon was closed for repairs, etc. Overall its a great location, has friendly staff, has a resturant and a bar and has nightly events, however, attention to details need to happen on and around the property.

6

Mario

Apr 7, 2025

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Stayed 1 night

Staff was excellent and curteous. But….. Room 227 had baby cockroaches everywhere in room. Free mai ties were cheaply made. They provided me resort credit fee and free parking for the cockroaches. I understand its an island, but they definitely need to get a handle of the infestation in room. Need to invest on a monthly maintenance service to control.

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Rooms

Rooms are spacious with large balconies and memorable ocean views, but many feel dated, with noisy or aging A/C, small or uncomfortable beds, and limited in-room amenities like microwaves. Nighttime noise from the luau or nearby bars is reported in some rooms.

Related guest reviews

6

Sandra

Jun 12, 2025

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Stayed 6 nights

Room had a great view, but also had so many gnats and other bugs that would convince me not to stay at this hotel again. A couple members of wait staff were rude.

8

Jorge

Jul 24, 2025

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Stayed 8 nights

noisy in the room air conditioner was making to much noise.

8

Michael

Mar 24, 2025

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Stayed 2 nights

I stayed in ocean view room in a tower being renovated so got a nice discount. well worth it considering what was in the room and mattress/shower quality. my room had an ocean view on the side of the tower with 2 quasi comfortable high top balcony chairs (not loungers). the pool area is small but adequate. I did hear waves crashing all night so be aware if not your thing. very walkable to lots of local food and drink options made it a plus as well as 20 min from walmart/target. $25 daily parking fee is reasonable. stayed for the in-house luau which was my first luau and enjoyable. Overall would recommend renovation tower for a good stay at a good price.

10

Lisa

Aug 25, 2025

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Stayed 1 night

Loved the location! The resort had many amenities and the Luau could be seen from the pool and our balcony. Rooms are a little dated but they were clean. Loved the property and location. You can walk into town.

6

Carl

Jun 24, 2025

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Stayed 4 nights

Very out dated hotel. Needs renovation badly. The place looked nothing like the pictures online. Room was spacious, but the bed was hard, the sheets were incredibly thin, there was a 2 inch gap under the door so you could hear everything outside in the courtyard including a frog that kept chirping all night. There were gnats everywhere including dead ones all over the bathroom floors and counters. Outside and the surrounding area is nice. There is a lagoon on the east side of the property that is kind of secluded and is a great place to get away from the craziness at the pool. All in all, I wouldn't stay here again.

6

David A

Mar 13, 2025

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Stayed 5 nights

It’s an older hotel, nothing fancy, but good location. The WiFi signal in the south tower was too weak to connect. The ‘hot’ water was just luke warm. Are you a coffeeholic like me? The coffee is the tea-bag type that mostly tastes like water - no coffee provided for guests otherwise - we bought some instant coffee which was much better. Otherwise we would stay here again.

10

Alyssa

Sep 23, 2025

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Stayed 1 night

We had a huge corner room with a lovely view. Rooms were nice, though older. Could tell that renovations are being done, just not all at once.

8

Timothy Woo

Jun 27, 2025

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Stayed 3 nights

Great location hotel with convenient parking lot. The room I had needs a little bit of updating though. Would have given five stars, except there are lots of gnats flying around the room and bathroom. The tower I stayed in had a frog or bird that made noises all night.

10

MISS NATALIE

Oct 13, 2025

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Stayed 7 nights

Lovely clean room with fantastic views. The staff were lovely, the cleaner was fantastic. The pictures look like there’s a kitchenette but it’s just a sink, fridge and coffee maker. It would be useful to have some more basic - reusable items in the kitchenette.

8

Michael

Mar 5, 2025

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Stayed 3 nights

Excellent location, location, location. On the point, beautiful sunsets from the room or bar/pool. Near shops and restaurants. The staff were friendly and responsive, availability of services good. This resort is older, noticeable in the rooms; loose plumbing, noisy ventilation, a heavy, sticky sliding door to the lanai. However, the bed was very comfortable, linens and towels fresh and clean. Restaurant service was very slow, the food just okay, a lively bar.

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Service

Staff are widely described as friendly and accommodating, with several guests noting helpful upgrades and attentive housekeeping, though experiences vary. Some report slow or unwelcoming check-in and inconsistent bar/restaurant service.

Related guest reviews

6

Ajay

Sep 2, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

bar service is not good and bar tenders rude!

10

Roshni

Aug 15, 2025

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Stayed 2 nights

Great staff onsite! Let us check in early, and accommodated us on our way out. Great view from the property too.

10

Kerry

Oct 17, 2025

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Stayed 1 night

Staff was great. Go to the Bar Dean and his crew will great care of you. Food was really good for a hotel.would go back if I visit Kona again.

10

Brett

Nov 7, 2025

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Stayed 4 nights

Staff is great

10

Adriana

Nov 15, 2025

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Stayed 3 nights

Beautiful and clean room. Wonderful staff, incredibly kind.

10

Coreena

Aug 15, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Ann at the front counter gave me excellent assistance she was great and everyone was very nice

10

Joseph

Jun 28, 2025

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Stayed 7 nights

Excellent service from staff, Ebby, Ron, front desk staff, housekeeping, wait staff. Rocco and the bell staff. May my stay exceptional. Special thanks to Jay

6

Christopher

Jul 31, 2025

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Stayed 4 nights

I recently booked a trip through Expedia, drawn by the promise of an ocean-view room at a beautiful resort. However, upon arrival, I was surprised to learn that the tower we had been assigned to was under renovation — complete with scaffolding blocking the view and construction noise scheduled daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. This critical information was never disclosed during the booking process on Expedia. Had the hotel’s front desk staff not informed us at check-in, we would have unknowingly walked into a situation far from the relaxing beach experience we envisioned. Fortunately, the hotel staff was incredibly helpful and upgraded us to a room in a different tower, away from the construction, with a truly stunning view. Their excellent service salvaged what could have been a very disappointing start to our vacation. While we’re grateful to the hotel for their honesty and hospitality, we’re very disappointed in Expedia for not providing full disclosure. When booking a vacation, transparency is key — and this experience has made us hesitant to trust Expedia with future travel plans.

6

Daniel

Aug 13, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

We were staying here for our honeymoon. Promised a champagne bottle that never came. Spa isn’t really part of the hotel and they didn’t answer 3 times when I called during business hours.

6

RENE

Jun 30, 2025

·

Stayed 6 nights

Still love this place, but check-in was disappointing I’ve been coming to the Royal Kona since 2008, and it’s always felt like a second home. The views, the nostalgia, and the aloha spirit are what keep me coming back. This trip was for our wedding anniversary, but the check-in felt cold and unwelcoming. The woman at the front desk didn’t smile, didn’t congratulate us, and gave a vague response when I asked if they did anything for anniversaries. No effort, no follow-up. It felt brushed off. We had also booked a room with one large bed and were given two smaller ones. We had to call down, get new keys, and switch rooms. Later in the stay, our key cards stopped working. Staff checked the door battery (which was fine), but still had to issue three different sets of keys before one finally worked. The room and key issues were annoying but manageable. What bothered me most was the lack of warmth at check-in. I don’t know if it had anything to do with us being a gay couple, but something felt off. I’ve always loved this hotel, and I want to keep coming back, but that first impression really stuck with me. The aloha spirit I’ve always felt here was missing.

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Location

Oceanfront and walkable to Kailua-Kona’s shops, restaurants, and nightlife, the location is a consistent highlight. Some guests note nighttime noise from nearby venues or the luau.

Related guest reviews

10

Anthony

May 16, 2025

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Stayed 7 nights

Resort itself was so gorgeous lots to do around the area. Walking distance to downtown Kona many shops and restaurants.

8

Elmer

Aug 12, 2025

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Stayed 4 nights

It's close to stores and restaurant.

10

Heidi

Jul 28, 2025

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Stayed 3 nights

Great location and walking distance to restaurants. Gorgeous sunset views

10

Lisa

Aug 25, 2025

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Stayed 1 night

Loved the location! The resort had many amenities and the Luau could be seen from the pool and our balcony. Rooms are a little dated but they were clean. Loved the property and location. You can walk into town.

10

Zixuan

Aug 18, 2025

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Stayed 5 nights

I really enjoyed my stay at Royal Kona Resort. The room had two large floor-to-ceiling windows with stunning views, which made every morning feel special. The price was very reasonable, offering great value for money, and the stay was extremely comfortable. The location is excellent — restaurants and attractions are all within walking distance. Overall, it’s a perfect combination of comfort, scenery, and convenience. I stayed in Room 679 and have one small suggestion. The sliding track of the middle window facing the ocean only allows it to move about two-thirds of the way across, so from the bed I could see only about one-third of the full view. It would be wonderful if all the windows could slide fully to the right so that guests can enjoy the entire ocean view.

8

Shea

Jul 10, 2025

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Stayed 8 nights

The location was in walking distance of most restaurants and shops.

10

William

Jun 19, 2025

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Stayed 5 nights

Liked that our room was right on the water. Heard the waves 24/7 and beautiful sunset dinners. Also close to town.

10

Jonathan

Sep 1, 2025

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Stayed 4 nights

Good location, friendly staff. Nice place to stay for vacation.

8

Michael

Mar 5, 2025

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Stayed 3 nights

Excellent location, location, location. On the point, beautiful sunsets from the room or bar/pool. Near shops and restaurants. The staff were friendly and responsive, availability of services good. This resort is older, noticeable in the rooms; loose plumbing, noisy ventilation, a heavy, sticky sliding door to the lanai. However, the bed was very comfortable, linens and towels fresh and clean. Restaurant service was very slow, the food just okay, a lively bar.

8

Bipin

Aug 29, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great Location. We had ocean view from our room we and loved it.

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Dining

On-site dining earns many compliments for food, drinks, views, and the luau, but service can be slow and the main restaurant or outlets are occasionally closed or understaffed. Some guests chose to eat off property for better variety or speed.

Related guest reviews

8

Gwen

May 2, 2025

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Stayed 2 nights

The staff were extremely helpful and accommodating. The food, drinks, and entertainment in Don’s Mai Tai bar were also great. The rooms are a little dated but I think that’s being addressed with the current remodel.

10

Christina

Aug 26, 2025

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Stayed 1 night

Loved the location and the ocean view from our room was amazing. My Prim Rib dinner was Delicious and cooked to perfection. Can't wait to bring the family.

10

Sandra

Aug 11, 2025

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Stayed 2 nights

We are big fans of Don the Beachcomber—staff, food, drinks, and view are amazing .

8

John

Dec 15, 2024

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Stayed 4 nights

The restaurant was closed the entire time. I was pissed. Instead they had everyone eat at their Sport Bar which meant that single guys (like me) ended up sitting at a high table in the bar. I didn't pay resort prices to sit at a high table in a sports bar. DO BETTER! Plus, they are woefully understaffed which meant ALL THOSE PEOPLE were trying to eat in one restaurant that is understaffed. Wait times were regularly 30 minutes. More staff means more seating means lower wait times. Again, BE BETTER! It's just managed in a way to make as much money as possible off of a captive audience. I don't appreciate being squeezed for my hard earned cash while I'm at a RESORT on vacation. The people/ the staff are great and they are their only saving grace because the management is terrible. I will NOT be back.

10

Kerry

Oct 17, 2025

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Stayed 1 night

Staff was great. Go to the Bar Dean and his crew will great care of you. Food was really good for a hotel.would go back if I visit Kona again.

10

MAYA

May 26, 2025

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Stayed 6 nights

Beautiful resort, it’s older yes but as a travel snob and for the price it was very nice. The restaurant on the property was absolutely incredible ate at it 4x (gluten intolerant and also a food snob from CA - I swear it’s delicious) has the most stunning view. Staff works hard and has to deal with a lot, they do seem burnt out but if you talk to them and are polite they warm up. Overall great older resort, very accommodating, oh and the luau was amazing! If you stay in the second or third tower you’ll be able to watch on your balcony probably a few times! Very quiet past 8pm never heard anything or other guests talking through the walls like so many other hotels… easy parking and walkable to the main shopping area. FAST elevators! Get the fish tacos! Oh and 2 free mai tais 10/10!!!

10

Alexandra

Feb 9, 2025

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Stayed 4 nights

I loved the daily morning yoga, how close it is to the town, and listening to the waves at night. The restaurant service was often slow, but bar service excellent. The pool and towel attendant are wonderful! This was our second time there with the return specifically by choice. We love this hotel/resort and will be back again someday!

10

Anastasia

Sep 1, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The hotel is very old and the owners are working hard to remodel it but it is taking a long time. The main restaurant is still closed, but the dining area around the bar is still lovely and the food good. It's at the quieter end of town and about a 30 minute stroll to the main part where most of the shops are but we still like to come here.

8

george

Feb 28, 2025

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Stayed 7 nights

Older hotel Restaurant closed Leaf blower during the day was very noisy On water so great views

8

Arlene

Mar 30, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Dining choices were not great unless you left the property. We LOVED the staff at the pool, and we applaud the gal who dove in to save a little girl who was unaccompanied in the pool and lost her footing. There was a gentleman who worked at the pool as well who was a wealth of information and just so pleasant to talk to. Also loved that you provided sunscreen! As for the staff in the bar/ restaurant….they all seemed overworked and were not as pleasant to deal with. We did not enjoy our meals there and made a point of going off site to eat.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Month	Average price
January	$210
February	$221
March	$197
April	$183
May	$185
June	$197
July	$201
August	$186
September	$185
October	$201
November	$174
December	$208

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18 $285	19 $285
20 $263	21 $235	22 $227	23 $225	24 $237	25 $246	26 $249
27 $219	28 $225	29 $220	30 $237

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $237	2 $286	3 $241
4 $302	5 $278	6 $360	7 $374	8 $645	9	10
11 $276	12 $251	13 $213	14 $229	15 $232	16 $232	17 $232
18 $213	19 $229	20 $217	21 $229	22 $229	23 $232	24 $229
25 $229	26 $213	27 $213	28 $198	29 $213	30 $211	31 $213

Royal Kona Resort

Prices for Royal Kona Resort

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Room, 2 Double Beds, Partial Ocean View

Room, 2 Double Beds, Oceanfront

Room, 2 Double Beds, Ocean View

Lagoon Tower Renovation Rate Standard Room

Room, 1 King Bed, Oceanfront

Lagoon Tower Renovation Rate Oceanfront Room

Room, 1 King Bed, Ocean View

Room, 1 King Bed, Corner (Oceanfront)

Lagoon Tower Renovation Rate Ocean View Room

Standard Room, 1 King Bed

Room, 1 King Bed, Partial Ocean View

Lagoon Tower Renovation Rate Partial Ocean View Room

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds

Guest reviews of Royal Kona Resort

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about Royal Kona Resort

Considering this hotel for your Kailua-Kona trip?

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