We traded our week through Interval International - who claims this property (both Kona I and Kona II) 5 star. We stayed in Kona I - the older side. It is in major need of renovation - and I'm very disappointed in granting them 5 star status with the things I saw. Rusting sinks, broken tiles and cabinets, a stove-top fan that would not turn off - and maintenance never came to fix it, a panel on the microwave was missing. The condo itself is decent - very spacious and comfortable...but really should not be awarded this status thorugh Interval International - especially as it needs some major renovations/face lift. Location is good. ***Please note, the resort refers you to the nearest grocery store - about 1/4 away at hte Keahou Shopping Center. Do not go there! It's rediculously over-priced, even for Hawaii, and there is not selection. There is a Safeway a few miles up Route 11, as well as a Wal-Mart next to the Safeway. I would recommend - as long as you can stay in Kona II - or once they renovate...assuming they know how bad things are falling apart.

We are Interval timeshare owners at Kona Coast Resort and just spent 3 weeks in various condos during Dec-Jan. We loved this place! We have stayed in both the new Phase 2 condos and older Phase 1, and both are great, for diferent reasons. Phase 2 condos are nice, newly refurbished and well decorated with a resort style "Tommy Bahama" type furnishings, with 2 bathrooms even in the 1 bedroom, and enough room (with the pullout sofa) for the 4 of us. However, we prefer Phase 1 condos because they are MUCH bigger. Phase 2 Condos are closer to the pool and restuararnt, and are not small by any means. But Phase 1 condos, particularly the second story condos with vaulted ceilings are HUGE. We have stayed in many great condos around Kona, and this was the largest I have ever been in. The kitchen is full size with more storage than we have in our own kitchen!! The docor is slightly older, but is certainly functional and clean. And we are not particularly pretentious people, so are not really concerned if the decor is slightly dated (wicker furnerature, etc, typical of most condos in Hawaii). There is also another pool near the phase 1 rooms that is also nice and quieter than the bustle of the main pool. The fact that this property even has a restaurant/bar, multiple pools, a gym, and some programming is a plus over many other condo poperties in Kona, which are just a room and a view. Bottom line, if you are used to time shares that have multiple restaurants and activities planned for you at all times, you may be disappointed by this place. But if you are like us, and just want a nice place to relax without the chaos and hassle of the "timeshare" experience, than this is the place for you. If 5 star quality decor is important to you, stay in Phase 2. If you are a large family traveling with kids and want space, stay in Phase 1. Overall, this is a fantastic place with great golf course and ocean sunset views.

We arrived at the resort just prior to the "Iron Man" events and Kona was quite busy. This was our second week in the Islands, having just spent a week in Maui at the Marriott. The four of us loved Maui and we loved the sightseeing and golf on the "Big Island" as well.

This resort was a major major disappointment. Except for the view of the ocean from the golf course, I have little positive to report. While we stayed at the Kona Coast II after the earthquake and the damage to the bar was certainly beyond their control, they were quite slow to get things up and running again (maintenance, broken glass, etc). The resort charges an extra $6.00 for air conditioning, which I find "chintzy."

The condos are less than exciting and showing signs of wear and tear. The kitchen was well-equipped however and we had no complaints regarding any of the kitchen utensils or supplies. The master bedroom and bath was far nicer than the second bedroom; but this is to be expected. However, the second bath was neither convenient nor comfortable. There was plenty of storage in both bedrooms though.

There were several maintenance issues in the condo, including lights that did not work despite repeated phone calls, outlets that had no power and a lack of outlets in the second bath. There is internet access, which for us, is a new MUST!

The amenities at the resort were sadly lacking. The pool is the worst feature. It is small with a limited area for sunbathing. The pool furniture is old and leaves a lot to be desired. It is hard to escape from small children if you are at the pool with your spouse and have no interest in the noise and splashing of myriad kids of other guests. There is no where to retreat from them. But the worst feature of the pool is the staff tending it. They are reclusive, hiding in their "little pool office" and excessively stingy with towels. Furthermore, they are not particularly polite nor are they helpful in any way.

As a base the resort's location has both positive and negatives. The worst negative is that the public beaches nearby are not very nice. We had to travel for an hour to get to a lovely beach close to the golf course at Mauna Loa. However, it is close to the village of Kona and to shopping and restaurants nearby.

Ultimately, I would have to say that none of us would ever stay in this resort again and we would not recommend that you stay there either. We have been trading resorts since we became Marriott owners in 1997 and unfortunately, this resort is at the bottom of the list. It is listed in the Interval book as a five-star resort. This is simply not the case.

Just got back from our stay at Unit 7106 at Kona Coast Resort. We were a family of 6 and stayed a week - booking through alohacondos.com.

We have stayed at KCR before through our timeshare exchange - all units at KCR are not created equal! Fred and Bonnie Nuttall's place is top of the heap... it is very nicely maintained with upgraded materials throughout. This is not a condo designed for rental, but for living - lots of extra touches like tasteful artwork, nice linens, and a master bath (just remodeled) that is quite luxurious. They have stocked their condo with all sorts of amenities, like masks and goggles, games, books, tennis racquets and plenty of dishes (not just 8!) and cooking utensils - you will want for nothing. The floorplan is great for giving lots of space for a large family and the lanais are a wonderful place to stretch out with a good book or have a nice meal. The location is quiet, although you can hear the tennis court with the doors open, but it was never before we were awake. Also, it is walking distance to some nice restaurants, shopping and 1/2 mile to a great snorkle beach. You will not be sorry you stayed here...