Wild Ginger Hotel

There are enough parking spot for the hotel which is one of the good things, but the area around the hotel doesn’t look safe at all. The room conditions are not the same as shown in photos. In addition, there are windows but no curtains for them. If you really love nature, you can probably take this since the crickets were singing all night and they were really loud.

Fun historic hotel full of Aloha and a friendly staff! The hotel is conveniently located in downtown Hilo putting you within walking distance to the best restaurants and shopping. Finding available parking downtown can be difficult so this was a big plus. Also, unlike other hotels in the are the Wild Ginger offers free breakfast and doesn't charge a parking or resort fee. Finally, the artwork in the lobby was just incredible. Definitely the best examples of local art we found anywhere on the island. We highly recommend the Wild Ginger!

We pulled up and the building looked abandoned. We didn't stay. The eaves were rotting off, a main structural beam in the lobby was rotton on both ends, rails were rotten and painted over. Parking lot was dirty and un maintained. Homeless were less than a block away. I felt unsafe as well as the building was unsafe. The only cool thing was the M1088 military truck in the parking lot.

If you like Sailor Jerry, Donovan's Reef, and vintage tiki aesthetic, you'll enjoy Wild Ginger. Yes it really takes 20 minutes for hot water and there's no a/c, but the rates are reasonable, rooms are clean and breezy, staff are nice, and parking and continental breakfast free. The hotel was built in 1911 (16 years before the Royal Hawaiian) and the new owners are working hard to keep it nice. Enjoy the ceiling fans, coqui frogs, and 5 minute walk to downtown because you won't find another place like it in Hawaii.

Old building but perfect for us. Quick walk to Hilo restaurants. Staff was young and friendly. Rooms are basic but very clean and comfortable. The hotel offered free breakfast which was surprising given what we paid for the room. Parking was also free and we didn't have to pay a resort fee. Carvings in the lobby were incredible and offered fun social medial pictures.

We received so much more than expected. Free breakfast, friendly staff, no resort fees and fun jungle views. Windows seemed to be the original windows so they show a little age. Exceptional location, as it's only a short walk to Hilo's restaurants and shopping. The local art displayed in the lobby and rooms were the best we saw on the island. We learned that the local artist's name is Jason Mantis. Unfortunately, we also learned that Mr. Mantis doesn't sell his work. We would have loved to take a piece home! Overall a memorable hotel full of history and charm. Are only wish is that it had a pool...but then again the nearby beaches were so beautiful it's doubtful we would have used one anyway.

Tried very hard to overlook the potholes in the driveway and the broken eaves on the outside. But the garden was overgrown, debris on the roof visible from the stairs the uneven flooring, tiny room and ritual to get hot water killed whatever charm others saw. It may have been a beaute decades ago not now. Didn't stay.

This place is pretty interesting. I think it was built in the early 1900s and is in the process of updating. Everything was very clean, but you notice some details that warrant attention- guessing these are just not complete yet. The parking lot for example should probably be entirely repaved. The bathroom was very clean but there were some minor things there as well that you’ll notice. This place does have a really cool vibe. There is a common area just past the front desk that I saw quite a few people in and I, like others, ended up talking to other travelers as a result, something I think that happens a lot less at other hotels. The lighting and decor are pretty neat as well. Being an older hotel the rooms are overall smaller than newer hotels and the walls seemed a bit thinner. I would stay here again for the unique experience but if your significant other will be put off by an unconventional experience this may not be the best choice for your stay.

I knew I was in trouble when I pulled up and saw a building that had seen better days. Old palm leaves hung from the roof, a non-working military vehicle was parked on the side of the parking lot, and the parking lot itself was covered with large potholes. When I checked in, I saw ear plugs and asked if it was because of road noise (it backs into Highway 19). The clerk said no, it's because birds are noisy in the morning and frogs at night. My room was on the end, backing into the highway. With no AC, you have to leave the windows open. There was no TV and no internet in the room. The hotel looked like it was built in the 1960s and had not seen any maintenance. In Hilo, the rain and humidity play havoc. You have to stay on top of things or they go downhill quickly. Pipes in the bathroom were full of rust, and the baseboards had noticeable termite damage. I've stayed in some dives, but this one is about the diviest. Just because you have a few carved tikis in the foyer doesn't make ti quaint. The bedding did look clean, I'll give them that. I left and drove back to Kona - I was not going to endure road noise all night long!

Parking area is broken, room is very dirty, old flooring is unsafe. Shower is dirty, no hot water. Extremely loud road sounds, brled an pillows are terrible. This was called a premium room!

Expedia, your rating for this hotel is completely misleading. My wife and I checked in late (around 9:30 PM) and were shocked by the condition of our room. It was dirty, smelly, and poorly maintained. The sink had no hot water, the shower handle was broken and replaced with an actual plier, and the walls were paper-thin. The linens had a strong odor, the fridge didn’t work, and the entire room had an unbearable stench. We barely slept. To make matters worse, waking up early for breakfast was a mistake. We should have known better, as we had already lost confidence in the hotel’s cleanliness and service. This was an extremely disappointing stay, and I wouldn’t recommend this property to anyone.

Arrive at the property and from the outside it was a slum, a rat trap, totally unbelievably unkept, run down, unsightly, and filthy place! The room I was given was dirty and had stained sheets and filthy towels. I asked for my money back but was refused to be refunded the first day even after being shown two other unacceptable rooms. One room had a screen that was made 2-3 inches smaller than the window where lizards (on the island has Jackson’s camelians, geckos, mongoose, roaches etc.) and bugs, etc. could easily come in from a bamboo forest behind that room. Another room had mold and moss on the outside of the entire bathroom jealousies with a jealousy missing and openings in the screen/window. The ceiling fan light was burnt out and the room was obviously not cleaned because it had a paper bag with a used pizza box in it. I was shocked that hotels.com had a rating of 10 of 10 for this property. I’ve used hotels.com for well over 10 years and has never experienced such “False Advertisement.” This property scammed me out of my money because of their contract. There should be some recourse to having money stolen from me and others because of the horrible condition of places like this one. This is criminal… liars and stealers. No one should be subjected to having to pay for the first day for an unacceptably filthy rat trap hotel room that was totally unacceptable three times over (looked @ 3 rooms) which I did not and never would have ever!!!

Window broken, no window in the bathroom, no hot water in the shower. Dirty. Charge of 25 $ for a 25x25 cm towel that they could not clean.

Beside the gorgeous garden and an acceptable breakfast, the whole structure needs a major restoration. Broken windows, uneven floor, dust, rust just to name some of the issues

The bathroom floor and shower curtain were covered in green and black mildew. When we alerted the front desk the sink was completely clogged, their “repair” was to remove the clog at least enough so it could slowly drain over a matter of hours. Spider visitors gave us great company along the ceilings, probably being fed by the bugs coming in the rusty, old window screen inserts. Patio lounge chairs were strewn around unclean. The children’s “play house” had a danger sign to “keep out” - it looked like it may fall over at any moment. And it was close to a busy street with the sound of heavy traffic. Overall, the accommodations didn’t evoke romantic or rustic, old-times Hilo. They were decrepit and in disrepair. DO NOT believe the pictures they post online.

Reviews were very misleading. The staff was very friendly and helpful in getting a late check in. The property itself was very dirty-sticky. The room itself was dirty, the floor sticky, the door very hard to close as the entire building has a slope. No WIFI reaching the rooms. No AC. ripped screens.

The worst Hotel I’ve ever been to. The sheets where dirty, dirty socks laying on the floor, no a/c, the door seem like with one push it will open up, no hot water in the room and no toilet paper. If you are use to living out side this is the economical hotel for you. I literally checked in and checked back out after 10 minutes.

It was dirty, old, no bathroom door, bugs, i can go on and on. Gross. But staff was really nice

Did not sleep there. Very dated run down property. Found bugs in bed!!!!!!!!!’

Parking area is broken, room is very dirty, old flooring is unsafe. Shower is dirty, no hot water. Extremely loud road sounds, brled an pillows are terrible. This was called a premium room!

Pros: - located right in downtown hilo. Few minutes walk to restaurants and farmer market. - relatively clean - spacious room - complementary breakfast (bagel, croissants, banana, papaya, Pineapples, cream cheese, peanuts butter, butter, jam, juice, Coffee, tea) - the view is gorgeous. Windows overlook the forest, from the balcony you can also see the ocean - available parking space on site although limited. Cons: - biggest issue is noise. The walls are extremely thin to the point that you can hear details of conversion of neighbors, their toilet flushing, etc, you get the idea. - no wifi in our room at the end of hallway. - there were the occasional insects and bugs in the room, so you have to be comfortable with that. - the bathroom and shower have no door, so forget privacy with those you are sharing the room with Other comments: we had no issues with water pressure or hot water even though it's an old building. Apparently those on the lower floor hear even more noise as people are walking on their ceiling and it makes a lot of noise. Overall it's okay for one or two nights for the price you pay.

The property is described as unique old Hawaiian hotel, it is clean but unmaintained, would not recommend for more than a one night stay. No hot water, windows that do not close, bathroom door that did not stay closed, no TVs or air conditioning, very limited WI-FI signal and service desk staff. Shared the room with spiders, flying bugs and a gecko in one of the windows.

This is an old style Hawaiian property that needs to be updated and brought into the 21st century! The lack of tv & wi-fi in the rooms needs to be addressed. It is all very well being surrounded by tropical forest but that comes with constant loud birdsong ALL night long.

I actually stayed at the hotel twice due to a good Expedia deal, and the last two days were a slight improvement. The 'Superior room' wasn’t much different - the only additions were a floor mat, a stand up air cooler and bigger bed, otherwise it was identical to the Standard room. But the room was also on a noticeable slant which can't be good. I was disappointed that there was no shampoo or even soap in the bathroom - thankfully the previous guest had left their bar in the shower. And the front desk was unable to provide me with a receipt on checkout, because of their 'system' - by that stage I'd had enough and just wanted to get going.

The accommodation was comfortable with a nice little breakfast offered also. Unfortunately the wifi didn't work in the downstairs room I was in but worked fine up in the lobby area.

Dilapidated old hotel on the verge of sliding down a ravine. No AC,No TV, only warm water not hot water, bathroom door did not close, shower was ver slippery, no shower curtain lots of rust in the bathroom.But good Wifi and a comfortable bed. Not a good place for seniors as no amenities near by.

This is the worst hotel I have ever rented through Expedia. Hotel rooms were literally falling apart. Rotten walls, mold in shower stalls, holes in floors. The hotel is in a noisy area and you cannot close the windows due to air flow. This is a less than 1 star hotel.

Good location in Hilo and included breakfast. But the property is shabby, hot water is almost nonexistent, there is no soundproofing between rooms. Would not recommend

The walls are pretty thin so I'm glad there was no television.

Wow, this is a difficult review. When we got there it was late, around midnight. Thefront doorwas locked and there was no bell or buzzer so we knocked a few times and afters few minutes a young lady came and opened fhe door. She looked us up and said it was to late to checkin. After telling her mywife was pregnant and we needed our room she called her manager and they said ok. She checked us in and gave us our room key. We had ordered a double room but the one we got only had a king bed which wasn't helpful as we also had kid's with us. We brought it up and she said it was the only room they had and the only double was taken. She gae us a rollaway bed which barely fit in the room. When we went to take a shower we discovered that our room had NO hot water. We went to the desk and we were told that it can take a while and to run the hot. Water for 20 or so minutes. We let it run for 30 and no ht water. I think this is a horrible waste of water and money. We told them the hot water ever showed up and they said they have two communal baths in the lobby that have hot water. So we all headed up there just to find luke warm water in oe shower and a little warmer in the other. The place was clean, no bugs, no bad smells and clean linens. The building is in serious disrepair but it was the one thing i ejoyed. Thetrue to hawaii visual experience was great and the landscaping was beautiful. I wouldnt stayhere again if i need hot water.

I checked in and when i went to my room, it had not been cleaned from the last person-unmade bed, towels on the floor. I went to front desk and was told no one was around to clean room and no other rooms were available. I asked for a refund and made a last minute reservation at Reeds Bay hotel, was more expensive but was worth it to have a clean room, tv and kitchenette. Refund has not come yet.

Difficult after-hour check-in. Open door was hiding the key lock box, no instructions on how to use the room door security plus it hadn’t been set up properly according to a staff member who was staying late for another project and happily helped me out.

Check in was a disaster. Key was NOT left where specified. Took an additional 1 hour 15 minutes to get ahold of hotel staff only to get a key to a different room. The sheets appeared to not have been changed so I reversed the bedspread and slept on top. All in all I would rate this experience a 2 out of 10.

1. The pictures online are either not updated or not the same that are in expedia from the ones in the website. My advice to check twice. 2. I arrived at 7am to the airport and started calling the Hotel to check about a late check in, due to our schedule. I called the hotel 10 times, from my phone, and some other 2 or 3 times from my husbands phone. We had to drive back, because nobody was answering the phone, and we were worried about our stay and thought it was better to check if we could stay there or had to find some other place. They answered back at 3pm in my last call, but we were already on our way like 20min from there. I didn't appreciate it when the person on the front implied my phone was foreign, because either way, you can use any phone number with the correct dialing and get through. Because of this, we lost 3 hours, due to driving back and forth, due to a lack of someone answering the phone. Also they have 2 different phone numbers, which we called of course. 3. The bathroom was not entirely clean, there were used shampoo bottles and soap on the top of the shower. 4. Also the shower head had what appeared to be pubic hair. Very unpleasant to say the least. 5. Same shower, different hair types stuck on the walls. 6. Shower knob very difficult to deal with an OK temperature, it was either boiling hot or absolutely cold. 7. Door didn't close all the way through. 8. Transparent curtains to the outside. We felt un protected.

Loved all of the staff members. Always tentative and friendly

The room key didn’t work and after 10 pm no staff working on the premises an no one answering the phone. I almost ended up like homeless

Service was great! Very kind and respectful. Rooms are clean and nice. You definitely get bang for your buck. Breakfast is good. Walls are a little thin but its not bad. I enjoyed my stay and had lots of fun. Rooms feels very homey

Please help me send a message to ownership by choosing another hotel. After coming here, I investigated all the others in Hilo at this price range (and stayed at two) and this is by far the worst. I begged out of my six day stay and was told (after resistance) that they would. And comp my one night there. They held back $280. They told the Expedia services rep on my cel phone in front of me. They record and transcribe all calls. I even confirmed it with the manager. FYI - the rep could not get through to their listed number. Said that never happens. I had to leave because around a dozen of the amenities they list were not provided. Including AC. And no hot water (and pathetic pressure) or tv. The area isn't great. Planes cross right overhead. It is on the wrong side of Hwy 19 and the "better" the room's view the closer to the road noise you are. You hear every semi, car and motorbike all day and night. And no access to the water like the photos imply. Critters chirp all night. The jungle has swallowed this creaky, sagging structure. My room had a rusted sink and window apparatus. The window was frozen open. If anyone smoked, it came into my room. Lots of paint over paint. Paint on the comforter. Dent on the fridge. One window had a missing slat. Walls were paper thin. You could hear every neighbor. Their staff is just a bunch of teenage backpackers working for room and board. Their contractor, who was there pruning, told me that he keeps telling the owner about these issues..

I wish I were writing a different kind of review. Due to a flight delay and mechanical issue, I missed check-in at Wild Ginger. I called and messaged several times while stuck in Denver. I was told I’d only be charged for one night—which I understood—but I was billed for all three. Because the hotel doesn’t have 24-hour staff and their virtual check-in must be arranged ahead of time, driving two hours in the dark after nearly 20 hours of travel, with no guarantee of entry, wasn’t safe or realistic. Expedia tried contacting the hotel multiple times and received no response. I chose Wild Ginger to support a local, welcoming space instead of a big chain, but I was left out of pocket with no support—even with trip insurance. I did everything I could to communicate and resolve this. It’s incredibly disappointing.

Love the staff at this property. Always friendly, always around, and always with a smile. Mahalo nui

Walking distance to bus terminal,

This backs into Highway 19. With no air conditioning, you're stuck keeping the windows open. They have free earplugs, which should have been a hint. The clerk said they were for the birds in the morning and frogs at night. No, they're for the road noise. The property is NOT maintained. There's lotgs of rust and visible termite damage as well as potholes and an overflowing dumpster in the parking lot. There are no TVs and no Internet in the rooms. I've stayed at some dives before, but this one takes the cake. Just because they put a few carved tikis in the so-called lobby does not make it quaint. I stayed all of 5 minutes before dropping my key by the desk and leaving. I ate the cost of the room for one night. It wasn't worth fighting to sleep with the noise. To top it off, they put me on the end unit, which was the closest to the highway.

We pulled up and the building looked abandoned. We didn't stay. The eaves were rotting off, a main structural beam in the lobby was rotton on both ends, rails were rotten and painted over. Parking lot was dirty and un maintained. Homeless were less than a block away. I felt unsafe as well as the building was unsafe. The only cool thing was the M1088 military truck in the parking lot.

Very traditional Hawaiian property. Close to downtown, which is good and bad. Breakfast fruit was very fresh. Coqui frogs were noisy, but soothing for me.

Close to the airport and walkable to sunset on the beach and downtown restaurants

Nothing fancy, great location - walk to Hilo town for sightseeing and shopping. Don't expect luxurious accommodations

This is typical old school Hawaii, just like old school Florida. OLD!!! No bugs, very clean, but old. Didn't bother me in the least. Very convenient walk to restaurants and bars. Great crash pad after beach or exploring, perfect stay over if want a break from camping. No pool, no a/c, no TV.....no problem for me! I would definitely stay there again with out hesitation should the occasion arise.

The hotel is older and a little run down, but that was no surprise as they were very clear on the condition. Given that, it’s very clean and I had no concerns about the bed linens or towels. It all added to the character! It’s located just a few blocks from downtown which was fantastic, but I didn’t feel totally comfortable with the area to walk there by myself at night so I just drove.

Quite neighbourhood within an easy walk into Hilo town area. Very eclectic and historic establishment. Respectful and courteous staff.

Old fashioned historic hotel beside a beautiful jungle ravine with peek a boo views of Hilo bay. Rustic, simple, affordable lodging. Excellent breakfast included. Easy walk to downtown Hilo.

We needed a last-minute stay in Hilo on a family trip and Wild Ginger was available. I loved the old Hawaii feel. This was a welcome break retreat with the Coqui frogs at night surrounded by fruit trees. Breakfast in the morning was a nice surprise with fresh Musibis!

Loved it! The perfect simple stay. The location is perfect! Walking distance to everything. Rooms were extremely clean and the beds are very comfortable. The staff was so pleasant and energetic. The daily free breakfast is another nice touch. All and all the best value we received during our trip.

Felt like living in a jungle. Flies, bugs, spiders, even a lizard in the room. Towels were dirty and stained, amenities were expired, no hot water when showering. There was mold on the breakfast food items and coffee machine was not working and didn't have coffee available last 4 days out of 7 days stay.

For being over 100 years old, it's exactly what you'd expect. She's old but has so much charm. The room and bathroom was clean, and met our expectations. The fans and no AC was okay with us. The breakfast was nice too!

This property is exactly as advertised- old Hawaii with all the charm. Gentle breezes and gentle hawaiian music. Unfortunately new Hawaii has coqui frogs that are loud. The breakfast is the best, fresh prepared local fruit - papaya, pineapple and bananas, bagels and fresh baked croissants. Better than many high end $$ places.

Let's face it, you can't beat the price... and, you get what you pay for. We chose this place because we stayed here 3 years ago, and just loved the couple who owned it. So friendly. The motel was in need of attention 3 years ago, but the owners had big dreams. It was clean, eventually, you got hot water in the shower, and the breakfast was to die for. Fresh fruit, pastries, huge pot of coffee each morning, juice. That was three years ago. This year, apparently, new owners. First glance, we noticed that the interior had been painted, nice. But that was basically it. Reception was very nice, very patient with me, who had screwed up our reservations, thank you! Young people working there were nice, but aren't terribly clear with regards to their responsibilities. Hot water was sporadic. Breakfast this year about the same generic breakfast as at every other cheap hotel. No fruit (except one morning when a few bananas were sliced up). Bagels were frozen store bought ones. Banana bread was so dry. Keurig coffee, which is expensive, so goodness, get that 40 cup pot and brew; you'll save some money.

Service was great! Very kind and respectful. Rooms are clean and nice. You definitely get bang for your buck. Breakfast is good. Walls are a little thin but its not bad. I enjoyed my stay and had lots of fun. Rooms feels very homey

Location good. Good Price. Room is ok. Nice friendly staff. Cons: Only 2 towels in bathroom. Stairs too steep for seniors-should have been given room on street level. ( Was on lower level.) Ran out of food at breakfast. Was advised in advance that hot water was slow to arrive at shower but not available after running tap 5 minutes.

The staff was very kind and helpful, breakfast was pretty good, pastries, cookies, fruit. My room had no AC but the fan worked well. The room was over $100, maybe 120 but should have been priced about 70 since it had breakfast. When walking down the hallways and looking at the floor, the planks appear to be slanting, as if the property is sinking. If you walk all the way to the end theres a whole section of building that has sunk and isnt riped off or anything. Its kind of cool looking and my kids wanted to explore it but i stopped them. The room looked like all repairs were done by someone that youtubed it and didnt care what it looked like. They woman at the front desk warned me it was an older hotel but for real, that doesnt mean skimp on repairs. Theres a lot of overgrown on the property that blocks the ocean view. I could probably go on with this but i dont want to.

The hotel is a nice older traditional Hawaiian accommodation that is the right place if you are looking for a pleasant quiet stay in Hilo. The rooms are clean and comfortable. No TV present that would distract you from reading your book or listening to the tropical rain. The covered porch with comfortable furniture lets you sit outside and enjoy the view of the garden. But watch out for slippery floors caused by the rain. The breakfast is simple but it fills your belly. The staff is not paying attention to the breakfast buffet and you have to ask for dishes and knives or refills of creamer for the coffee. The water dispenser was also running empty while girls sitting at reception were playing on their phones. The dirty dishes were piling up and there was no good place to put them. The bathroom is outdated but functional, although it took 20 minutes to get hot water. Location is a short walk from the center. The outside of the building is uninviting and rough looking. If you don’t mind the poor breakfast service and lack of attention from the girls working there, it is a nice place to stay in Hilo.