Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii

First trip to the Big Island after many visits to Maui, and the Fairmont Orchid delivered where it counts. Different vibe altogether: fewer tourists, fewer crowds, fewer restaurants, and a staff that feels genuinely rooted here. Many were born and raised on the island, and it shows in how they carry themselves. Service: 4/5. Arrival set the right tone: leis for the women, kukui for the men, and a genuine aloha spirit from the moment we walked in. Housekeeping was exceptional: turndown service, timely, high quality, consistently warm. The one notable gap was breakfast at the Orchid Court. Plenty of hosts, not enough attentive servers. Four tables waiting too long for coffee on multiple occasions. The omelet station cooks were clearly understaffed and overwhelmed, doing their best with long lines and not enough hands to keep pace. A word of advice: ask for a cover for your food immediately. The birds may find your plate before your server does, and they've clearly done this before. Management should make covers standard issue, not optional. Beach/Ocean: 5/5. The standout. Lagoon-style, family-friendly, with solid and convenient snorkeling: good fish, sea turtles, all within easy reach. Complimentary snorkel gear and no shortage of chairs. Walk the Ala Kahakai coastal trail in either direction; it connects the resorts and passes a historic fishpond with some impressive fish along the way. Day one we assumed we couldn't do it (you walk on sand briefly to get started), but it's very doable. Cool walk. Food: 4/5. Resort pricing is the reality here and across the Kohala Coast, so budget accordingly. Beyond breakfast, the food is solid. Don't miss the Kahakai Cruiser, an Airstream taco stand tucked behind the beach shack. Blackened ono, jackfruit al pastor, kiawe brisket birria. Easily one of the best meals of the trip, and it's right on property. Rooms: 4/5. Largely updated, comfortable, and well-appointed. Ocean view double double worked well for us. One minor note: the shower pressure is underwhelming, which matters here given the mineral-based reef-safe sunscreens you'll be washing off daily. I support the cause, but I need the water pressure to save me too. Fitness Center: 2.5/5. Hasn't kept pace with the rest of the property, and that's being generous. Older equipment, limited selection, and a dumbbell rack that borders on unsafe. I've seen more inspiring setups in hotel hallways. For a property at this price point and caliber, it needs a serious refresh. Spa. Didn't partake, but the outdoor massage area looked stunning. Parking tip: Self-park. Short walk, less expensive, no waiting for valet. Big Island Gems (don't skip these) - Manta ray night snorkel. Book early with Sea Quest. Other-worldly. These 1,000-pound rays are gentle giants and they will put on a show. Don't hesitate. - Waipio Valley Lookout. Non-negotiable. Just go. - Northern loop to Hilo and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Kilauea and the lava tubes are spectacular. Worth a full day. - Ala Kahakai coastal trail. Walk both directions from the Fairmont if you can. - Gil's Lanai near Hawi. More locals than tourists, and that's a very good sign. - Waimea Saturday Farmers Market and Waimea Coffee Company. Great morning stop. - Tommy Bahama at the Shops at Mauna Lani. Solid lunch. And don't sleep on - Juice 101 in the same complex — acai bowls and healthy sandwiches that punch well above their strip mall location. Good find. - Wildlife. Boars crossing the road, goats, monk seals on the beach walk, geckos, sea turtles. Keep your eyes open. - Download the Shaka Guide before you explore. Worth it. - Saddle Road (Daniel K. Inouye Highway) at night. Don't. Dark, foggy, no lights. Take the coastal route back. The extra 20-25 minutes are worth your peace of mind. Bottom line: A serene, elegantly low-key property with a genuine aloha spirit. Not stuffy, not modern. It feels like Hawaii. We'll definitely be back.

This has been our go-to on Hawaii for more than a decade. Sometimes we have strayed, but we have always come back, because some things are always true: The pool and pool deck are so massive that, even if the hotel is fully booked, there is always a pool chair and the pool always feels uncrowded. Hands down the best waterfront location on Hawaii. Staff is…mostly…great. We returned for the holiday weekend and while we enjoyed our trip overall, some things stuck out. We booked a Fairmont Gold suite. I still believe the Gold lounge is great. But our room had worn mattresses, some mildew in the shower, a very scummy and oily feeling bathtub floor, and the AC struggled to keep the room cool. We also heard about the AC from other guests and on TripAdvisor. The bathrooms have not changed in 10+ years, and lack ventilation. Mostly staff continue to be great. But I have to echo other reviews on TA: the hostility towards tourists has invaded the Fairmont. A few bellhops almost ran us over. At the shops, 2 of 3 storekeepers ignored us entirely. Front desk never acknowledged us. Food options across all venues have been reduced. But what we had (poolside) was good. Live music at the Luana Lounge is gone, as is the traditional property torch lighting (now it’s a guy with a blowtorch). Just enough lapses to make us think about another venue, like the new Rosewood. Makes us sad because we have loved and been mostly loyal to this hotel for years. Helpful hint: you cannot use both USB’s in your nightstand at the same time. It’s either/or. You can use the plug and one USB concurrently. Do not ask me why, in the age of multiple devices, this was the update selected.

This was our third visit to the Fairmont Orchid, and we will be going again next year. We stayed on the Gold Level, which included breakfast and afternoon appetizers and snacks. The rooms are always clean and tidy. The housekeeping staff is great at making sure all your room amenities are stocked. The property is beautiful. It has a beautiful water feature that runs through the property. Lots of lush vegetation and pretty birds. You can stroll along the ocean shore and capture the amazing Hawaiian sunsets. The overall vibe is peaceful and beautiful. But the main reason we keep going back is because of the staff. The first time we stayed here, we were grieving the loss of our son, but decided to take our vacation anyway. Well, it's super hard to keep all that inside. At one point I broke down to the concierge. Lora was so kind and sweet and really made me feel like it was okay to not be okay. Even in subsequent stays, she's always helpful and attentive to what we need and want. She's a joy to chat with. I lowkey think she's my bestie now. The lounge staff are super helpful and friendly. We feel seen, heard, and cared for when we're here, and that's why we will continue to go back again and again. If I were to offer any sort off criticism, I really do wish the food quality was just a little bit better in the restaurants. I also would love it if the Luana Lounge had just a tad bit more of a selection of snacks to order. Although, you need to order the mai tai. And if you like even sweeter, creamier drinks, get the Ube Coolada. Both of those drinks are sooo good. Hands down, one of our favorite places.

We stayed at the Fairmont, Gold floor, and it was absolute perfection! We were greeted by Lora, the concierge, who was extremely personable and knowledgeable. Every team member we met from that point on was wonderful. Rooms were well appointed and spacious. Pool and pool services were terrific The ocean cove was great for swimming and snorkeling. Highly recommend!

The Fairmont was outstanding! Top line service! Everyone was very friendly and helpful! Loved the property, they take very good care of the grounds and the whole property! One person in particular stood out, Samson was very helpful! I can't say enough about this property!