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This is a Beach Resort with a History and Many Loyal Repeaters Who Return Year After Year. It's not the newest luxury resort in the area, and it's not the right place for those who want the latest and greatest spa experience.
But what it lacks in modernity and in spa facilities, it makes up for with many other advantages. For one, it has one of the very best white sand beaches in the area, with sand that has a high silica content. No, it's not Amanpulo-style powdery, but it's definitely softer underfoot than other beaches in the area.
There are different room types, but we recommend the type that we had (review forthcoming) on a high floor, with a spacious bathroom, walk-in closet, and balcony off the bedroom as well as the bathroom. The king bed was comfortable, and there was space for our son's rollaway bed.
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We liked the way the wooden panels above the desk discreetly hid the flat screen TV, for a more classical look.
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Many hotels and resorts have eliminated welcome amenities from rooms, so we were happy to see the welcome amenities of fresh pineapple and banana bread in our room on arrival.
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The open air lobby includes a striking atrium that palm trees grow through. Treadmills have been placed outside, making it easy for avid fitness enthusiasts to get in their workout without having to go into an enclosed fitness center.
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Then again, you could also get an incredible workout playing tennis at the resort's award winning tennis program. My son enjoyed a couple of tennis clinics with other kids his age, with a superb and affable coach.
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Whether you're out on the water, on a treadmill, or playing tennis or golf, chances are you'll work up an appetite. And while breakfast wasn't particularly noteworthy, both of our dinners included some memorable dishes, particularly the ones that showcased local mushrooms. Seafood dishes, such as sashimi and seared scallops, were also expertly rendered.
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All of the dining venues are open air, making them more stress-free during the pandemic as well as scenic.
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Before sunset, don't miss live music and sometimes local dancing in the resort's popular open air bar:
Can you guess the name and location of this perennial favorite beach resort?
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Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on the Big Island of Hawaii. I live on the island and would have loved to have been your travel guide during your stay if I had known that you were coming. And if you want tips on things to do, best companies for touring, whale watching or swimming with the dolphins on any island, send me an email. By the way, I stayed at the Mauna Kea for a week last November and had a truly amazing time. The staff has the most aloha spirit I have ever experienced in any Hawaiian hotel in my… Read more »
I would like to add that I found the breakfast at the Manta Restaurant to be a highlight. The sweeping beach and ocean view, the gentle trade winds, and the dear staff who serve you and remember what you prefer make it a perfect way to start the day. Because they do not have the buffet due to covid, they bring the buffet to you with copious amounts of banana bread, pastries, juice, fruit plate, a different fresh smoothie each day, and a lovely breakfast entree and a latte.