My boyfriend and I were booked at the Kona Seaside, and right off the bat we were not thrilled with the additional fee for parking in the hotel's lot. We had 3 giant bags and 1 box as we were there for business, but there were no employees for helping customers with luggage. The room they put us in had 2 very small beds which wouldn't work for us because we booked a king size bed due to his 6'3" frame and our desire for a bit of romance. When we asked to change rooms they said they were sold out and we got what we booked. As we searched online for a new hotel to move to I called down again and [--] them out to the end of them telling me they weren't really sold out and in fact had a room with a king size bed if we wanted. After starting our time in kona sooo poorly we decided to stay elsewhere...we ended up there a total of 3 hours.

I stayed at Kona Seaside Hotel. It was a budget hotel but the friendly staff and the happenings made it all worth it. I was only in the hotel to sleep. The food was good. The hotel has a restaurant attached (near the back pool). It's great for breakfast. Dinner food is good at Quinn's (just in front of the hotel to the side of the parking lot). The Blue Cafe (also where you can use the computer and fax) is great for lunch and icy snow balls (go out front of the hotel to the side left near front pool then to the back where other shops are as well). You can visit all the beaches by taking the free tour bus. Catch the bus across the street towards the ocean front and beach near the big tree. It comes every hour. Also, the bus takes you shopping for food and other items.
I loved the White Magic Sands Beach. The big turtles swim pass in the water. They have night cruises and I enjoyed the shows. The hawaiian feeling is not there but you can take the tours (expensive) and eat the hawaiian foods (at certain restaurants) and get the feeling if you choose. I would visit the Kona Island and hotel again because it's close to the airport and it fits my budget.

If you are passing through on a round-island drive, a night here is perfectly fine. If you are seeking a more upscale resort experience, this place is not for you.

Of all the towns on the Big Island, Kailua-Kona is the most commercialized. It's an unfortunate time share, tacky souvenir, strip mall nightmare on an otherwise well preserved traditional island. But if you like places like Waikiki, well, fill your boots.

For me, Kailua-Kona was merely a one-night stopover, and since I have zero interest in beach towns and blocks upon blocks of tacky tourist shops, I chose the hotel most closely situated to the Kona Brewing Company, where I knew in advance I'd be spending the bulk of my one and only evening. And by the way, this is a great pub! Great food. Fantastic brews! This hotel is close to the brewery, and not far from the seaside strip, and the price is right. The room was basic, quiet and spacious, with fridge and balcony. They'll ding you 6 bucks for parking if you drive, but so what, such is to be expected in a resort town. Comes with the territory.

The other great thing about this hotel - it's close to the highway intersection that takes you north and clear out of town, which is directly where I headed upon walking up and checking out!

If I visit this region again, I will avoid this hotel and the resort altogether, and get a quiet lodging down south in coffee country, or up north in Hawi or Waimea. If you are honeymooning, spend the extra cash and go with one of the big 4-star places.

--Wayfaring Stranger

I wish I could say that I liked this hotel a little better. It is a family run operation and the staff was friendly. The room was large but severly dated. The bathroom was very small and sheets were paper thin. The price was affordable but on my next visit, I would pay more to have a nicer hotel. To be honest, each night we were there, the parking lot was full. It looks like a good choice for families, as they have two pools and a great location off of Kona pier.