If I could leave ten stars for this place I would. from the get go, the staff here was wonderful…read moreand so welcoming. You can tell they put so much effort into the little touches and details of the cabin. We stayed in the skylight house, and were greeted every day with fresh fruits and pastries, fresh flowers, and the most dreamy and beautiful setting we have ever seen. Literally cannot recommend this place enough!

Stay here for an amazing experience! My husband booked this place for our honeymoon/vacation and I…read morecannot have been more happy to stay here. Wish we stayed here a little longer to enjoy the hot tub! Our host, Jenny, was very helpful and inviting. She gave us a tour of the grounds and provided some information about Volcano National Park. The sanctuary provides all the amenities you'll ever need: mini fridge, sink, bowls/plates, heater, utensils, TV, DVDs, books, plug ins, coffee maker, coffee grounds/tea, juice, milk, creamer, cream cheese and spreads for the baked goods, soap, dish wash scrub, etc. You name it, they have it. The bed was so comfortable, clean, and relaxing. I enjoyed the outside shower and hot tube! Enjoyed the nature all around us. The only downside was the WiFi connection. We were only able to get 1 bar inside the cottage. Our host was able to reset it in which worked great for awhile but returned to the same bar later that night. If we ever come back to Hawai'i, I would love to stay again!

We had a unique and wonderful experience at Volcano Village Lodge. The rooms are located in the…read moremiddle of a rainforest with floor-to-ceiling windows so you feel you're right in the middle of nature. The friendly and helpful staff made sure we had a great experience. Breakfast each morning was filling and delicious. They were even able to accommodate my dairy-free diet, which I really appreciated. If you're lucky, the moist and rich homemade brownies will also be available in the lobby. Just be sure to stock up before the office closes each day. We ordered picnic lunches from the lodge for our day hiking at Volcanoes National Park. While the sandwiches were average, the lunches included wine and an impressive number of snacks. The snacks lasted all day and we even had enough to bring some home on the plane. The property is only a 10-15 min drive to Volcanoes National Park making it easy to get there. One thing to note: the wifi was very unreliable during our stay. This could be a pro or con depending on your needs.

First question first: would we stay here again? Yes. It's a charming, quiet, unique place to…read morespend a few nights in a rain forest. The Volcano Village Lodge rates high on the cool factor. You get your own suite separated from the others and you're positioned up into the jungle in a glass room. The surroundings are quiet, and at night, even sort of magical as the frogs begin singing. Everything is wood and natural looking. You're at an elevation because of the volcano uplift so while there's no air conditioning, the place cools off nightly at night. There's no TV signal (though the room has a TV with DVDs) and there is a wifi signal, but it's spotty. You decide whether this is a plus or a minus. Personally, I find being insulated from modern digital interruption to be a plus, though I suppose that could be achieved anywhere by just turning things off - which I never do. The staff here are friendly, funny, and wonderful. A definite plus. The Volcano Village Lodge buildings themselves are a bit shopworn. They're clean, but just a little tired, I'd say. The place looks like it hasn't had a major reinvestment in a while, and the jungle dampness must be relentless on the wood. The "town" of Volcano has some rough spots. I refer to them as meth-houses, but I don't really know. There's a nearby sign installed by a property owner asking people not to dump pig guts on their property. I give it four stars out of five.

What a beautiful luxurious and romantic place to stay in Volcano. Don't think twice about booking…read morethis spot, you won't regret it! We stayed in the white lotus suite and this suite was 5-Star hotel material if not better. We loved everything about it: the king size bed, private parking, views of the rainforest from inside with all the glass windows, breakfast is provided, full jacuzzi bathtub that comes with bath salts and bubbles, double shower, double sinks, heat lamp above tub, and access to private patio to enjoy breakfast with a view. I would go back here in a heartbeat next time I come to visit. The owner is very sweet and you can tell that he is very attentive and thoughtful when it comes to the rooms that he builds himself.

Amazing in every way! We had the most magical four day adventure and loved everything about our…read morestay in the Rising Moon suite. John is the most gracious of hosts and went out of his way with so many thoughtful touches. The breakfasts were different every day and so very delicious. The soaking bath tub was such a welcome treat after long days adventuring. Highly recommend this little slice of paradise!

Our respite stay after a full day of chasing Volcano Craters and remote petroglyphs…read more Ten minutes from the park exit, just had dinner in the park. Works out great , self check in. Old fashioned but just right for the Area.

This was a great fond for us. We have never been on this island. Literally 3 minutes from Volcano…read moreNatl Park. We stayed in Rm 9. Convenient path to car and hot tub. We used the hot tub 2x and it was perfect temp. I thought it was crazy for a gas fireplace in room. We used it 3x because it was rainy here. Staff was helpful by providing us ice and utensils and glasses that we could leave in room. They don't want you drinking the water so they provide a 5 gal jug of water. Good to bathe in but not drink. They provided a small fridge, coffee maker, toiletries. The room was big enough that they could have added a coffee table by fireplace to set your drinks on. No TV but we had our own electronics. WiFi was on point. Ample parking. They don't do daily room service unless you ask. The sound of the birds at night is amazing. They communicate right away via text for anything you need. I would definitely stay here again.

We booked online for a Kama'aina rate for two nights at the Rainbow Falls Cottage and it was a…read moremagical experience: no TV, no wi-fi (there is, but you have to be in the main building for it to work), no phones. Instead, you will hear chirping birds, maybe the meow of the resident cat Pumpkin, the purring and cooing from the group of domesticated pheasants that roam the property, and the coqui frogs at night. Ownership changed from Hale Ohia Cottages to the current Volcano Village Estates after COVID. RAINBOW FALLS COTTAGE: Rainbow falls was larger in person than what it looked like on their website to me, at least. The cottage has small two-person porch, a bedroom, a kitchenette area and bathroom. The porch was small but just right for 2 persons. The chair cushions were kind of worn down but who cares, you're outside! The table had an uneven surface so we put our wine glasses on the porch rails. The main room had a queen sized bed which was rather soft and gave us backaches, but some people may prefer a softer bed. I ended up sleeping on the chaise lounge one night, mostly due to husband's snoring, but I did like the firmness of the lounge chair. Lighting in the room was very well thought-out. You can tell the owners have traveled to hotels and places with poor lighting and made sure this didn't happen on any of their properties (read my review for the Royal Kona Resort); there were many lamps and side-lights which you could use for mood as well as reading/packing. There's a gas fireplace you turn on with a remote, and it kept the room comfortable at night at the end of April, when temps went down into the upper 50s. There's no air conditioner as the temps up by volcanos are cooler. KITCHENETTE: Very well thought out, with small ceramic dishes, bowls, coffee cups, glass drinking glasses and wine glasses and silverware. I packed disposable paper plates because most places I've been to don't supply dishes/utensils, so this was a classy and nice surprise. There's a coffee maker with the inn's signature coffee blend enough for two cups; a mini-fridge with a freezer and a microwave. Breakfast is placed in the fridge daily for you so you can eat it whenever you want. First day it was 4 banana pancakes and a fruit platter. Second day was my favorite with "Volcano Blossoms"; eggs in a tortilla cup (vegetarian) or ham cup, which was very well thought-out and separated with waxed paper. My husband loved the egg in the ham cup. It was super tasty, wish I had the recipe! It also came with a fresh fruit plate. BATHROOM: The shower was a bit dark and small, but it's an old cottage and this was it's charm. There's a flexible shower hose that sometimes started making dripping noises at night, so I'd put the shower hose head down toward the floor and that took care of the problem. Shampoo/conditioner in dispensers on the wall. Mini bar soaps and fluffy, clean, amazing towels provided daily. Very comfy bathrobes also provided and we used those for the hot tub. Hot water plentiful. Toilet has dual-flush system. Seats are cold in the morning, but hey, you're in a rainforest! OTHER: Parking, free, no ridiculous "parking fees" like at other resorts. There is a carport with 3 covered spots but we just parked outdoors on the property. Hot tub near the cottage for use, large towels in a bin. Very relaxing in the early evening hours with a glass of wine, listening to the coqui frogs. The cottages provides you with a flash light so you can walk a few feet back to your cottage without a problem. Most of the cottage lights are already on at night on the porches, so it's not a big problem. We didn't get to see any stars in the night sky when we went as it was overcast, as a treat for us is to see the sky without city light pollution, but if you're able, go out into the evening and see the bright stars and maybe some shooting stars as well. A full moon night would be an extra bonus for ambience. We had a housekeeper named Valerie who kept our cottage spanking-clean. I actually had never seen a cottage or inn-type place that clean before. SPOTLESS. Even the mirrors, every corner, clean. Of course the carpet was a bit worn, but that's due to time, and you're supposed to take your shoes off, Hawaii-style, but I am sure some guest trudge in with shoes, a big no no in Hawaii. Valerie was super friendly and answered all of our questions regarding places to eat, things to see, etc. The lady that checked us in and who was there daily was also very nice. We got texts daily asking us if everything was OK, now that is FIVE STAR!! Although there were other guests, we didn't hear any noise. It was very quiet, serene and calm. At times we found ourselves whispering for no reason at all to preserve the quiet of the place. No mosquitos that we encountered here, as we were prepared with repellant but didn't need to use it. RETURN FACTOR - 100% YES, next time in the Pineapple Ohana Cottage as it has it's own private hot tub.

I would rank my recent two-night stay at Volcano Village Estates one of my worst hotel experiences…read more My complaints center in four areas--food hygiene, safety, room cleanliness/condition, and total lack of owner communication. On day two of our stay, there was a cockroach on our breakfast inside our refrigerator. The innkeeper told me that in a rain forest, it's common to have insects in the rooms. I told her my concern was that the cockroach came in on the food, which raises significant concerns about food preparation and hygiene. (As an aside, I would not recommend opting for "breakfast", which was meager. For example, our first breakfast for two people consisted of two small burritos, which you had to heat yourself in the microwave, a kiwi, a tangerine, and a dozen grapes.) My safety concern was that there was a non-functional smoke alarm in my daughter's room when we arrived. Because there is no HVAC system, portable heaters are provided for heat at night. The innkeeper addressed the issue, which was due to a dead battery. A quick AI review (and yes, AI is not perfect!) says, "Hawaii requires functional smoke alarms in all residential dwellings, including hotels, rental properties, and multi-family homes. These alarms are generally mandated to be hardwired with battery backups, interconnected, and tested regularly." The system was not hardwired and obviously hadn't been tested. There were significant issues with room cleanliness/condition. My daughter's unit had a half eaten/half melted ice cream treat in the refrigerator when we arrived. Our room (called Papa) had unfinished plywood floors and walls except for the bath area, which was finished. The innkeeper said the owners "preferred it that way". On each side of the bed, there was a small carpet remnant that was dirty and stained. In our bath area, vanity lighting consisted on a single low wattage pendant light that was inadequate for shaving, make-up, etc. I raised all these issues with the innkeeper on the day of our departure and suggested that an adjustment on our room fees would be reasonable. The property manager responded promptly with an adjustment of about $100. I then suggested that a single night refund of one room fee would be more reasonable, but she said that the property owners would have to approve that, and I could expect a response in 2 days. Not receiving any response, I have since texted the innkeeper multiple times and was assured on each occasion that the owners would respond. Nothing has happened in three weeks. I write this review as an experienced traveler (over 50 countries) and as a vacation rental property owner. There are a multitude of problems with Volcano Village Estates compounded by the owner's indifference in addressing legitimate concerns. I would not recommend staying here.

What an amazing place to stay. So close to Volcano National Park. We were able to catch this mini…read moreeruption and arrive within 10 mins. The Coffee and banana bread were spot on. Would recommend staying here 100%. The Staff was so friendly and accommodating. We didn't actually check in until 10pm. Very easy to find. The room was clean and comfy. The only thing we missed out on was asking for their banana bread recipe.

About the only positive thing I can say is that it's close to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park…read more The issues: - Upon arrival around 5ish PM, there was no one around to greet us. Finally someone was running around and told my travel buddy to look for an envelope in the basket. - The room: Small, kind of musty/moldy kind of vibe. The bed was small and squeaky. You need a key to turn on the electricity. Also, there is no TV! - No potable water in the room. The provided water in the carafe had mold on the lid. - Bathroom: The shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel were all filled about 1/4th of the way. The shower gel wasn't even labeled. Very little counter space for toiletries. - Breakfast: I was expecting something a little more substantial. There were papaya boats and banana bread. - No shoes inside policy. Sorry, I wasn't leaving my shoes outside the room. Rain? Bugs? Heck no! All in all, I didn't see the value for $285 for a single night. This was my first time ever staying at a BnB and I didn't feel like it was very hospitable.

The Lava Pond Lodge was perfect, I will definitely be staying here again. Talk about a great…read morelocation, right by the Volcanos national park. The other guests were so nice, the breakfast was great. The host was amazing & provided great options for hikes, tours, sight seeing, and food.

This was our first experience with a bed and breakfast. What a fabulous first. The breakfast was…read moregreat. Various pastries and papaya, fresh coffee and a different entree every morning . Sarah would make suggestions based our plans for the day. She always,made excellent suggestions for both activities and restaurants. Sarah kept us informed about local things such as the Hulu exhibition by local schools. Great way to observe the culture of Hawaii. Also about the Cooper community centers Thursday sale. An opportunity to taste the local fare and purchase items that were crafted in Volcano Village. Lava Pond lodge is close to volcano national park and all the fantastic sights to see and explore and great restaurants . Outstanding vacation, and the erupting volcano just added an exciting touch. Loved the rain forest and the peacefulness of the area. Highly recommend the Lava Pond Lodge.

What a beautiful rental! We stayed here in December 2015. It's obvious that Liz put in a ton of…read moreeffort to make her guests feel welcome. We booked our rental through VRBO. The process was easy and Liz was very responsive. We had no problems with booking. This rental is located in Volcano which is a VERY small town. There are literally three restaurants in a ten mile radius and they aren't cheap. Do stop at a FoodLand and pick up groceries prior to coming. Rental is located 3 miles from the Volcano State Park which is great if you want to explore that park. We spent 2/3 of our trip in Kailua-Kona and 1/3 at this rental. The house is extremely private and located in the middle of a rainforest. Although it's beautiful, it also means it rains a lot (especially when we were there). Luckily, there were umbrellas for our use. Some of the amenities that I enjoyed included a fully operational kitchen for cooking, BBQ and deck in the back, Costco muffins in the freezer, dehumidifier (totally necessary in a rainforest), washer/dryer, wood stove (so cool to heat the house), candles around the house, beautiful decor (Christmas tree and lights in December), recently remodeled, and it was CLEAN!!! Some rentals have terrible mattresses...this one had some indentations in it, but for the most part, I was comfortable. We use VRBO 90% of the time when we travel. This has been my favorite rental to date. Thank you Liz for such a wonderful experience!!

Originally when planning our first trip to Big Island, my husband and I planned to set up a home…read morebase in Kailua-Kona and drive around everywhere. I'm sooo glad we changed our minds and decided to split our time on the island, which included a stay at Hale 'Ohu B&B. Location: The location is 10/10! Big Island is very much "drive everywhere" type of place, but even so Hale 'Ohu was incredibly convenient. It's only a few min drive from Volcanoes National Park (a def highlight of our trip!) and it's also close to some stores and restaurants. While things in the area close early, we loved that the park is open 24/7. We took full advantage of this by visiting multiple times per day, with breaks in-between as needed. The sunset views and nighttime glow were superb! Common areas: The garden and rainforest walk were lovely surprises, with lots of flora and fauna throughout the property. It was a bit damp the day we explored, but that actually seemed to enhance the vegetation rather than take away from the experience. The lounge area was small but mighty, with lounge seating and some drinks and small snacks available. Room: The room fit our needs perfectly. There was a bed large enough to comfortably sleep 2 people, a small dining area by a window, and a kitchenette with a fridge. Breakfast was set up in the fridge before each morning so you could enjoy it at your own leisure. The bathroom was well-lit and toiletries were provided. Given the time of year and location, the room and surrounding area were a bit damp, but a dehumidifier was provided and helped out. Hosts: We met Nicole at the front desk and she was incredibly friendly and helpful, offering tips and advice for our visit. (We also think we saw Gabrielle from a distance and exchanged a friendly wave.) Tbh I'm not sure when we'll make it back to Big Island, but we loved our stay at Hale 'Ohu and would absolutely consider staying here again in the future.

Hale Ohu We stayed here from April 27-30…read moreThis is quite possibly an actual paradise located in the small volcano village, it's a 10 minute drive from the Volcano National park. We stayed in the bamboo room. The room is immaculate, has everything you may need. There were detailed check in instructions before arrival. Nicole greeted us with a huge smile and answered our questions patiently. She gave us several recommendations on the park and things to do. The room is within a rainforest and is immersed in nature. Parking spots on premises. We heard lovely Hawaiian honeycreepers during day and the frogs at night which was amazing. The room has a breakfast nook, coffee, tea, kettle, fridge, microwave. They even have robes and shoe cleaners! There's a hair dryer. Bathroom is spacious and well stocked, with an amazing shower. Every little thing has been thought of. Umbrellas outside to use, dehumidifier in the room. Other amenities are WiFi, smart TV, heater, heated bed. Highly recommend this heavenly rainforest "house of the mist". We will definitely return and stay here when we are back in the area.