Uncle Billy's emergency proclamation

[kalianna]

Manago Hotel!!

[terracore]

I checked out the Hilo Seaside online not long ago. Different name and management now but boy did they go up in price. They must have done major renovations. I enjoyed my month long stay there a number of years ago quite a bit but I wasn't actually there much. I had a 2nd floor room overlooking the fish pond. The view was nice. The plumbing was a disaster. Sewage backed up into the bathtub one day. The shower was just frustrating with such miserable shower head until I went to the plumbing store, bought another and a wrench and replaced it. The room itself was well worn but not terrible. I thought the location was nice and for me convenient. I'd walk the Banyan Drive loop every morning starting before sunup. I became just one of the regulars doing that. Parking sucked. But at the time the price was fairly reasonable. Not now, unless they produced a miracle renovation. I need to find another modestly priced place to stay there. Fat chance?

According to their web site, their newer higher prices are just a suggestion:


https://scphotel.com/fair-trade-pricing/

[Obie]

The SCP was totally renovated. Nice rooms.

[oink]

Manago Hotel!!

I looked at that one online. The only issue I'd have is I like the Hilo side better.

[kalianna]

Me too, but when you gotta go, you gotta go (to Kona side). The other thing about the Manago is that thereʻs a potato chip store right next door. What other hotel can offer that?

[Midnight Rambler]

I just noticed that the review was from 2012. The last time I stayed there was in the early 2000's, so I guess no maintenance for 10 years would have had a detrimental effect.

Yeah they had a major decline between those two times, in the physical condition of the hotel, the friendliness of the staff there, and the kind of people hanging around. I was living on Oahu and stayed there around 2014 and it was definitely creepy.  Very sad to see.

[MyManao]

stayed there around 2014 and it was definitely creepy.  Very sad to see.

The one and only time I stayed there was in 1979. I was doing, for Uncle Billy, the remodel and conversion of the Kona Inn to what became all those shops on the makai side of Alii Dr. I needed to go to Hilo to interface with the County, and Billy arranged our stay there. It was very creepy even then. It was so overwhelmed with mold as to fix in my mind a firm never again. Everything that followed, from what I could tell, was par for the course. Billy was a slumlord.

[TomK]

I checked out the Hilo Seaside online not long ago. Different name and management now but boy did they go up in price. They must have done major renovations. I enjoyed my month long stay there a number of years ago quite a bit but I wasn't actually there much. I had a 2nd floor room overlooking the fish pond. The view was nice. The plumbing was a disaster. Sewage backed up into the bathtub one day. The shower was just frustrating with such miserable shower head until I went to the plumbing store, bought another and a wrench and replaced it. The room itself was well worn but not terrible. I thought the location was nice and for me convenient. I'd walk the Banyan Drive loop every morning starting before sunup. I became just one of the regulars doing that. Parking sucked. But at the time the price was fairly reasonable. Not now, unless they produced a miracle renovation. I need to find another modestly priced place to stay there. Fat chance?

Assuming we're talking about the same hotel (now SCP Hilo Hotel) I recommend it. It's been renovated and the staff is super-friendly and helpful. The rooms are not as cozy as those in the Hilo Hawaiian or Naniloa, i.e., they don't have carpeting, but the amenities are the same or even better. Parking is still an issue though. The restaurant is no longer part of the hotel, but you can still walk in there via the hotel's lobby.

The only issue I found was that the parking is as bad as it used to be, but it's not a deal-breaker and it's free.

The one hotel I would avoid is Hilo Reeds Bay. Awful place and one of only two hotels I checked out early due to the hotel itself.

[HiloJulie]

We had some very dear acquaintances stay at the SCP Hilo for over a month and they as well as my husband and I thought it was beautiful. The parking as you mentioned Tom was terrible - so much so that we had them just return their rental car and my husband and/or I would drive them around or just let them use one of our cars and take them back.

At first, I was amazed at the no carpeting. But in thinking more about that, being in a high humidity/rain location, I now think it's a brilliant design and decision!

[Chas]

Manago Hotel!!

I looked at that one online. The only issue I'd have is I like the Hilo side better.

Apparently I was wrong about the VRBO places. There are still plenty to choose from.

I stayed at this one about 7 or 8 years ago. Good if you have a large group.

https://www.vrbo.com/979018?dateless=true&x_pwa=1&rfrr=HSR&pwa_ts=1690246544391&referrerUrl=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudnJiby5jb20vSG90ZWwtU2VhcmNo&useRewards=true&adults=1&children=®ionId=755220897506078720&destination=Hawai%CA%BBi+County%2C+Hawaii%2C+United+States+of+America&destType=BOUNDING_BOX&latLong=19.61186%2C-154.94446&searchId=fce69b8d-2cde-4461-984f-be75609e7634&privacyTrackingState=CAN_NOT_TRACK&sort=RECOMMENDED&userIntent=&expediaPropertyId=19230174

Here's a smaller, much cheaper one. Never stayed there but it's down the street from the one above:

https://www.vrbo.com/734418?dateless=true&x_pwa=1&rfrr=HSR&pwa_ts=1690246519636&referrerUrl=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudnJiby5jb20vSG90ZWwtU2VhcmNo&useRewards=true&adults=1&children=®ionId=6063997&destination=Hawaiian+Paradise+Park%2C+Hawaii%2C+United+States+of+America&destType=MARKET&latLong=19.583336%2C-154.967027&searchId=c5199f65-e00a-4c80-a68d-e6e37bd46289&privacyTrackingState=CAN_NOT_TRACK&sort=RECOMMENDED&userIntent=&expediaPropertyId=34407832

Both are oceanfront and appear to be pretty booked up. Don't know if it's because it's actually booked or they don't go more than a few months into the future.

Note these are in lower HPP, so it's kind of "in the middle of nowhere". But I liked it. There are cheaper ones that are not oceanfront in the neighborhood. If you don't get oceanfront you WILL want A/C.