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Tags: Hotel Re-Openings / Hawaii Hotels / Hotel Opening Rates / → All Tags

Mauna Kea Beach Hotel to Re-Open on Dec. 20th

Where: 62-100 Mauna Kea Beach Drive [map], Kohala Coast, HI, United States, 96743

Hopefully the hotel will update the room photos soon. This is seriously from the Golden Girls era.

After shutting down for two years due to earthquake damage, the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on the Big Island of Hawaii, is expected to open again on Dec. 20th in a soft opening. The hotel, which is part of the Prince Hotels and Resorts, got a complete makeover in the process too. From the Honolulu-Advertiser:

The number of rooms and suites was reduced from 310 to 258 because some rooms in the main building were enlarged. The renovations focused on improvements to guest rooms and suites, restaurants, the lobby and other common areas, the company said.

The amenities found inside the rooms also got upgraded. They will now have 32 to 40" HDTVs, iPod docking stations, WiFi, complimentary bottled water, L'Occitane toiletries and Frette sheets. So it's safe to say that the pictures on the website are from the a few years ago. We hope, god how we hope.

We found rooms in January starting around $450 for a mountain view room. That seems kinda pricey so may we suggest Jaunted's guide to Hawaii on the Cheap if you're watching your pennies.

Tags: Hotel Deals / Hawaii Hotel Reviews / → All Tags

Hawaii Travel Deal: Orchid Sale at Five-Star Kona Resort

Where: 1 NORTH KANIKU DRIVE [map], Kohala Coast, HI, United States, 96743

[Ed. Note: Alex Salkever is the founder/editor of Hawaiirama.com.]

The Fairmont Orchid Resort is snuggled along the sunny Gold Coast of the Big Island in a posh enclave of hotels situated on lovely beaches. Kona has been on the come for several years now, in part due to the notoriety of the highly-coveted Four Season Hualalai.

Still, the Fairmont is the real deal (it also appeals to greenies as the hotel uses many green cleaning products) and Panda Online is offering a pretty sweet package. Here's the deal breakdown: Three nights at the hotel, round-trip airfare from LAX, and rental car are running $694 per person, assuming double occupancy, or nearly $1,400.

The hotel is throwing in a $200 credit towards any on property purchased plus free breakfasts. Airfares are currently running roughly $300 roundtrip or $600 per couple. Rentals cars during this hump season are running $35-$60 per day, depending on model. That means an additional $100 to $200 in savings. Add it all up and you get the hotel rooms for roughly $500, or $133 per night.

That's a total steal at a high-end Big Island resort. But you gotta book fast because deal ends on June 13.

[Photo: JMills]

Related Stories:
· Fairmont Orchid reviews [TripAdvisor]

Tags: Hotel Deals / → All Tags

Tropical Getaway Deals: Hawaii

Where: 68-1400 Mauna Lani D [map], Kamuela, Island of Hawaii,, HI, United States, 96743

With winter in full progression, everyone needs a little tropical getaway.

The New York Times reports that the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows on Hawaii's Kohala Coast (20 minutes north of Kona)is offering a fifth night free from March 1 to May 30, plus a $100 credit for each night. Rooms start at $430 a night, and must be booked by Jan. 31.

TripAdvisor reviews show mixed feelings about the hotel and staff such as this comical tidbit about the pool nazi/manager:

An arrogant pool manager who made us feel unwelcome. He was also scheming enough to put towels and magazines down on all the pool chairs and expected a tip to "release" them.

But almost all reviews had positive thoughts about the location and views. Which is what you go to Hawaii for anyways.

Related Stories:
· Deals [NY Times]
· Mauni Lani Reviews [TripAdvisor]