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.

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.

Do you want an experience of a lifetime? Do you want to be a part of living history? Ever want…read moreto walk in the footsteps of those that dared to be a part of something so amazing words fall short? Book a stay at the Volcano House! The rooms take you back to a magical time, a time with character! The staff feels like family. The location....the location is beyond imagination, especially on nights like tonight when the fire and flame meet an unbroken gauze of the bewildered! Stay in the only place on the Big Island Mark Twain would recommend, talk to the family that hosts you, and experience the smells, sights and sounds of the past, present, and future! Make sure to have dinner....Get a reservation for the five star food and the attached Volcano House Restaurant ! Trust me!!!!!! There is Nothing like this in the world

After hiking this is the closest (and I think only?) place to eat in the park. The view is great,…read moreyou can see the volcano! Unfortunately the food wasn't great. My friend liked her steak salad but my pulled pork was very dry. I was able to save it with barbecue sauce. The staff is friendly but the wait can be a little long since this is one of the only spots to eat nearby

This place is not for everyone, but is might be for you! They are small houses/cabins in the…read morerainforest. Super magical and relaxing. Sit outside at night and listen. All you hear are birds and crickets. Yes it is not a 5 star hotel. Not everyone wants that. It is not that remote either. You could walk to great restaurants.

You cannot find a better place to stay in Volcano! The accommodations are spotless and pristine!…read moreThe setting is amazing and we were totally surprised how much value we received for our money! Totally enjoyed our stay!

We decided to spend a night on the Hilo side and booked this about a week before departure, so it…read morewas a bit of a last minute decision. It served its purpose for a quick overnight near Volcano, but it's not somewhere I'd choose to stay again. The room itself felt very outdated and in need of a refresh. What stood out more than the decor, though, was the cleanliness. There was noticeable dust buildup on the light fixtures and bathroom vents, which honestly felt gross and like such an easy thing to address. It's the kind of detail that makes you question overall upkeep. The property has a koi pond, but when we were there the water was pretty murky, which took away from what could have been a charming feature. Soundproofing is also minimal. You can hear just about everything other guests are doing, so if you're a light sleeper, that's something to consider. A couple other things to note, the check-in process is self serve so it is super simple and you can arrive anytime. The coffee pictured here was undrinkable for us and we ended up going out to buy some instead. If you're in a pinch and just need somewhere close to Volcano National Park for a night, it works. But with so many unique and cozy options on the Big Island, I'd likely explore other accommodations next time.

This hotel is such a gem. No front desk, but check in/check out was easy. We felt like we were…read morestaying in a beautiful tropical tree house! Comfy bed, very clean, fridge, microwave, hair dryer. We slept so well! The shower was fun - a lot of the space felt like you were in a cave. I'd highly recommend staying here! The perfect spot to stay while enjoying Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

Mixed feelings here…read more.. The room, location and amenities are out of this world, but the owner was... kind of grumpy. The very first thing that she asked from us is "paperwork," in fact complete credit card details in case we decide to bolt without paying for something or other... Needless to say we didn't exactly feel at home. A positive note with the awesome breakfast with a muesli of fruits served in a papaya: beautiful, exotic and yummy!

We loved staying at the treetop suite. Highlight of our stay in Hawaii was Maurice the ginger tabby…read morewho lived at the bamboo orchid cottages. He would always greet us at the car when we drove to the parking lot and follow us to our room for some hugs and cuddles. He definitely made the stay feel like home away from home. By far one of the best accommodation experiences we've had while traveling. Big plus for the breakfast being super super vegetarian friendly!