Big Island Travel Tips: START HERE If You’re Planning a Trip to the Big Island
The Big Island (also called Hawaii island) just might be the most unique of the Hawaiian Islands, but it’s also the one that gives visitors the most headaches when trying to plan a vacation.
I mean…it’s BIG.
Some people stay in more than one place when they visit and others feel like they spend a lot of their trip in the car. But it’s incredible.
It requires a lot of research though. I’ve got a dozen plus posts on the Big Island on this site (not including the other islands or general Hawaii planning posts)…that’s a lot of stuff you need to know!
To save you the chaos of trying to track them all down, this page is going to serve as home base for all of my Big Island travel tips.
Big Island Travel Tips
First things first…if there’s one post on my blog you’ve got to read it’s this one: Hawaii Travel Tips (the Top 25 FAQs I Get Asked about Hawaii. It’s not island specific, but it covers things like the best time to go, which island to pick, which airline is the best, tips for handling jet lag, the scoop on illegal vacation rentals, if you need a rental car, the must do things on each island, etc.
Everything You Need to Know about Visiting the Big Island
Where to Stay on the Big Island: Kona vs Hilo
This is where it all starts when you’re planning your trip. You’ll likely stay on the Kona side of the island where all of the beaches and sunny weather are, but it’s still a HUGE area.
There are places in Kona town, north and south of Kona along the beaches, farther north up around Waikoloa, and all the way up the Kohala Coast. And then you’ve got the Hilo and Volcano side. It’s where so many of the Big Island’s best sites are located, but it’s way less touristy so it can be harder to find a place to stay.
One of the most helpful posts on my site is this breakdown of Kona vs Hilo. It’s got pros and cons of each area plus specific recommendations on hotels.
The Big Island’s Best Beach Resorts Ranked
If you’ve narrowed the search down to a beach resort on the Kona side, I’ve got the scoop on how they all stack up here: the Big Island’s Best Beach Resorts Ranked.
***Want to save major $$$ on your trip to Hawaii? I get asked ALL the time how I’m able to travel so often to Hawaii and stay at really nice resorts. Well, my favorite travel hack is cashing in points to score free airfare and free nights at some of Hawaii’s most high end resorts. Read my full guide on the exact system I use to max out credit card rewards here. Seriously, it’s going to save you soooo much money.
Having a solid itinerary (even if it’s just a lot of built in relaxation time peppered with some activities) can make your vacation sooooo much better. I’m working on putting together a whole slew of different itinerary options for the Big Islands, but for now you can start here:
7 Day Big Island Itinerary (How “I” Would Spend a Week on the Big Island)
4 & 5 day itineraries coming soon!!
28 Things to Do on the Big Island
Unique things that you can ONLY do on the Big Island. This is a great place to start if you’re trying to decide if this is the right island for YOUR trip.
The perfect itinerary for a day trip from Kona to Hilo.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park One Day Itinerary
How to see the best of the National Park, whether there’s lava or not.
Where to Eat on the Big Island: My Favorite Places & 30 Spots for Every Occasion
If you’re anything like me, your vacation probably revolves a bit around where you’re going to eat. The Big Island has the full spectrum as far as places to eat (fine dining to food trucks). Here are some spots to get you started.
Going up to the summit of Mauna Kea for sunset and stargazing is one of the coolest (and most unexpected) things I’ve ever done in Hawaii. I don’t recommend doing this on your own (unless you’re just going to the visitor’s center). Read my full post on all the details of the tour I did.
Other Hawaii Planning Posts
Want more Hawaii planning info? Here are some of my best posts:
Which Hawaiian Island to Visit: Maybe you’re settled on the Big Island, or maybe you’re still trying to decide. This post will breakdown each island and help you figure out which one is right for YOU.
Hawaii Packing List (+ What to Wear in Every Scenario): Casual is the name of the game in Hawaii, but here are some specifics of the kinds of clothes you’ll probably want to pack.
