While the Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo is nothing luxurious, it’s one of the most convenient hotel chains that allows you to visit the Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii without spending too much time driving.
Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo is a DoubleTree by Hilton resort, and therefore, you can use Hilton Honors points or the Hilton Free Night Reward to redeem for a free stay. However, the room rate is often reasonable. Thus, if you have the American Express Hilton Aspire Card, you can also use the Amex $400 Hilton Resort Credit.
Location
Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo is in Hilo and it’s about 40 minutes drive to the Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is the only hotel in Hilto that participates in the rewards program, which is Hilton Honors.
While the Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo is a true oceanfront resort, there’s no beach. The resort sits on the beautiful lava rocks with an incredible full view of the Pacific Ocean. Nonetheless, the ocean view is amazing there, and you may encounter a few sea turtles on your room’s balcony.
Hilton Diamond Room Upgrade
Warning: please check your final bill at check out to ensure the hotel charges you the right rate that you booked on your reservation. The resort tried to charge me a lot more. I wonder if the high rate is the upgraded rate and not the standard room rate that I booked. The upgrade should have been complimentary, and I quickly got the billing issue resolved after showing my confirmed reservation rate.
As a Hilton Honors Diamond member, I got an upgrade to the Oceanfront Corner Room with a Lanai. I booked the least expensive standard king room, but I remember I put a note to request an oceanfront room with a balcony. The upgrade was wonderful with an amazing ocean view from the corner room.
Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo Oceanfront Corner Room Review
The corner view room of the Pacific Ocean is breathtaking. While the room is not that modern, the view really stands out because the balcony is huge for being a corner room. The ocean view and the lava rocks view with several sea turtles sighting from the seventh floor out of the balcony are amazing. Moreover, you can hear the waves crashing, and we left the doors open at night so we could fall asleep to the wave sounds at night. More importantly, there were no annoying bugs or mosquitoes to bother us either.
The king bed and pillows are very comfortable. Although I was expecting the room size to be bigger and more spacious, it was not a major letdown because we spent time mostly outside the room on the balcony anyway.
The bathroom, on the other hand, has a bathtub and a sink along with a non-bidet toilet. The water pressure, though, isn’t as strong as I hoped for, but it’s okay.
Overall, the Oceanfront Corner Room view makes all the difference about the room. I am really happy that Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo upgraded me to that room for being a Hilton Honors Diamond member.
Executive Lounge
None
Welcome Amenity
Hilton Honors Diamond members receive MyWay 1,000 Hilton Honors bonus points per stay.
Food and Beverage Credits
Free one welcome drink as part of the resort fees.
Also, Hilton Honors Diamond members get $18 food and beverage credit per person. So, if there are two of you, it’s $36 total. You can use it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or drinks at the onsite restaurants and bars. However, make sure you charge the dining bill to your room, and the system will automatically take care of it.
Breakfast
Breakfast is no longer free for Hilton Honors Diamond members staying in the USA properties. Instead, Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo gave us a $36 food and beverage credit ($18 each), as I mentioned above, to spend for dining expenses, including breakfast at the onsite restaurant.
Dining
There are two bars and both serve food too. One bar (Hula Lounge Lobby Bar) is in the lobby with limited food, and the other one (Ka Lihikai Restaurant) is by the pool, and it has more food choices and also where you can enjoy breakfast.
Resort Fee
There is a $39 resort fee, and includes the following:
- Two water bottles per stay
- Wi-Fi access
- Toll-Free calling
- Two snorkels per day
- Two rounds of 9-hole golf per day
- Two selected drinks per day (see the picture below).
- Lobby beverage station
Please note that if you redeem a completely free night stay, Hilton waives the resort fee.
Parking
Valet parking only, and it costs $25.
Pet Policy
The resort welcomes service animals only.
Housekeeping
Yes, available.
Internet/Wi-Fi
Yes, complimentary, and it is part of the resort fee.
Bottled Water
Yes, inside the room is part of the resort fee.
Early Check-in
I checked in around 3:30 pm, and the regular check-in time is 4 pm.
DoubleTree Cookies
Hilton’s DoubleTree brand is known for its cookie at check-in. The staff handed me the cookies for the party when I was in line waiting to check-in. But I also saw some guests did not get them, so if you want them, they are free and delicious, and you can ask the check-in staff. I also got a couple more at check-out 😉
Late Check-out
Late check-out at Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo is possible, but you must ask the morning of your check-out date to confirm. The regular check-out is 11 pm.
Spa
None
Fitness Center
Yes, on the first floor.
In-Room Safe
Yes, in the closet
Robes & Slippers
None
Swimming Pool
The pool at Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo is on the ground level. It’s also an outdoor pool, but it’s small and does not look nice. Loungers are also available around the pool, and the pool restaurant is close by, so you can get the pool services, too.
Beach Amenities
The Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo is an oceanfront resort; however, due to its location, there’s no beach as lava rocks surround the resort. However, the resort’s grounds are full of lounging chairs for guests to enjoy the panoramic view of the ocean. If you want to snorkel, you can get free snorkeling gear (part of the resort fee) at the front desk. Moreover, the resort also has friendly handrails for guests to get into the water to swim. See the following pictures.
Contact
- Phone: +1 808-969-3333
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo
How to Stay at Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo – a DoubleTree by Hilton Free?
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