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Resort Features:
9-restuarants
2-Golf Courses
1-Putting Course
2-Shopping Areas
3-Pools
2-Ballrooms
Convention
Facilities
Museum
Kids Camp
Running & Walking
Trails
8-Tennis Courts
Full Service Spa
Sports Club
Wedding Chapel
Suites & Single
Rooms
Lagoon
Beaches
Whale Watching
Sailing
Boat Charters
Scuba Diving
Baby-sitting
Services
On-site Doctor
On-site Security
Dolphin Quest
POINTS OF INTEREST
Volcano National Park
Waipio Valley
Parker Ranch
Akaka
Falls
City
of Refuge
Volcano Winery
Pololu Valley
Kailua-Kona
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Winner
2002: Couples
Company's Most Romantic Family Vacation in the World |
The
Ultimate
Romantic (and Family)
Resort |
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By Laura Dawn
Lewis
Every couple needs a break from the kids
and reality and Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Big
Island of Hawaii allows you to have both, even with
the kids. From the moment your plane first touches
down you know this is going to be a new experience. |
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Arial view of Hilton
Waikoloa |
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The Kona Airport is the closest and just eighteen miles from
the resort, but you’ll exit the plane wondering if you’re in
the right place. The airport is situated on a lava flow, and
once you leave you are greeted by eighteen miles of some of
the strangest scenery in the world and Hawaii’s answer to
graffiti.
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For 18 Miles, the landscape to the resort is peppered
with white rock graffiti |
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Miles and miles of blackened earth
with sparse vegetation, decorated by thousands of
messages in white rocks. As you speed by you read the
“Tony & Angela 4-Ever” and “Class of 1997” messages
mixed in with thousands of others, legacies of those
whom have also made the trip. Suddenly, when all of
this becomes quite mundane, an oasis appears and you
realize you’ve reached Waikoloa.
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Two major resorts, The Hilton Waikoloa
and The Outrigger occupy this oasis cut into the lava flow of
an earlier eruption. Surrounding the resorts are shopping,
condominiums and two world class golf courses.
Enter the open-air lobby and the real
treats begin. To get to your room, you have 3 choices:
You can walk. To your left you’ll pass
through a promenade of upscale shops on your way to reach the
Lagoon Tower. To your right you’ll enjoy an exquisite museum
of Pacific Rim Art on your way to the Palace and
Ocean Towers.
You can take the train. This electric
monorail runs regularly between towers night and day and it is
the fastest way to your room
You can take a boat. A river connects all
of the towers and small boats navigate regularly between
towers. This is our favorite method because throughout the
trip you’ll be up close and personal with a variety of exotic
birds and wildlife. If you’re getting married, a boat is
reserved for the bride and groom. These boats were engineered
by Disney, which is just one of the reasons many visitors
refer to Waikoloa as the “Adult Disneyland”!
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If you or your children are fans of Peter
Pan, the swimming pool, which is actually shaped like a lagoon
with slides, caves, and waterfalls will have you thinking
you’ve just entered Never-Never Land. With plenty of other
children to play with, your children will be thrilled and
you’ll enjoy time together with your spouse. A separate
smaller pool is set-aside for adults only in the Ocean Towers
complex. |
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Insider Tip:
Appreciate the Staff
They are
rewarded for recognition and you'll be rewarded with
VIP service! |
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Our favorite thrill was waking each
morning and seeing the fathers on the putting course
below our room in the Ocean Tower teaching their children how
to golf. The resort offers something for everyone including
private ocean view enclaves, hammocks swinging lazily between
palm trees and the walk through astrology, complete with
statues and explanations of the Chinese Horoscope.
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Swimming
with the Dolphins at Dolphin Quest |
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One of the most popular activities is Dolphin Quest. It’s an opportunity for you and
your children to get up close and personal with one of
nature's favorite marine mammals in the water. We
didn’t get the opportunity to do this, but the family
we spent time with cited it as their most memorable
experience. |
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The resort nine restaurants, two shopping
areas, sports club, spa, two ballrooms, meeting and convention
facilities, sailing, paddle boats, two golf courses and one
18-hole miniature golf course/putting, three pools, a real lagoon,
eight tennis courts, scuba diving and whale watching, acres of
trails and running paths. The resort is located on the ocean.
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To Make the Most of Your Stay:
- Call 60-days prior to your arrival to reserve Dolphin Quest slots
for children, teens and adults. If traveling as a family,
ask about the newest “family encounter” option.
book online or call (808) 886-2875.
- If
celebrating something special (anniversary, birthday or
graduation) and you want a special dinner on a certain day,
book the restaurant and exact time of your choice prior to
arrival. You can
reserve online or by calling (808) 886-1234 ext: 54. Be
sure to mention the occasion at the time of booking.
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Insider Tip:
Bring Mosquito Repellant!
This is the
one thing we didn't bring and really wish we had.
The first night sitting out on the lanai in early
July resulted in 20 mosquito bites. Ouch! |
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- If
bringing children under 12, budget a day at kids Camp
Menehune ($65 per child. Family rates available). The kids
will have a blast and you and your spouse can spend the day
at the spa, golfing or anything else you can think of with
the entire day to yourselves, a hotel room and room service!
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Honeymooners, mention during booking that this is your
honeymoon and the resort will provide you with a
complimentary bottle of champagne!
- Set aside
an entire day to visit Volcano National Park. This trip
will take you all day. Volcano Winery is on the way and it
makes a great side trip. Helicopter rides over the Volcano
are available and will land near the lava flow. Several
curious tourists die or are injured each year from “walking”
on the lava that looks cooled. Make sure to impress upon
your children how dangerous this is if you go down to see
the actual live flow. Rates run between $200 and $500, and
accomplish the trip in around 4 hours.
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Insider Tip:
Bring your
Own Music on Tapes
A little dose of Hawaiian music
is great but difficult for malahini - newcomers -
to appreciate. Only one station comes in on
the Big Island and plays Hawaiian Artists Only.
The format reminded us of 1960's & 70's folk
music. The trip to Volcano National Park is
9-hours by car and at times the radio is the only
entertainment. |
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- Nightlife
is predominantly at the resort and if you’re looking for
Vegas style action, this isn’t it. Everything about the
resort is created for romance, couples and families. Unless
a convention is at the hotel, single people, loud music and
rowdy bars will be few and far between.
- The Hilton
and the Outrigger alternate Luau’s and work very closely
with each other on fireworks shows and other forms of
entertainment. Plan one night to enjoy a luau and budget
$50-$65 per person, alcohol is extra and the family photo
will run you about $25.
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Couples Company has chosen Hilton
Waikoloa as our most romantic family resort in the
world for 2002 for several reasons. After
consulting hundreds of experts and perusing mountains
of brochures, then visiting our top choices, Waikoloa
stood out for its beauty, attentive staff, privacy and
its ability to entertain children while pampering and
spoiling their parents. |
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July 4th
Luau at the Outrigger. |
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This is a legacy trip,
one you’ll need to budget for (about $12,000-$15,000 for a
family of four with airfare). It is also an experience
you’ll never forget and one destine to rejuvenate your
marriage and your family for years to come.
Congratulations Hilton Waikoloa Village!
Couples Company’s Top Romantic Family
Resort for 2002!
Hilton Waikoloa Village
425 Waikoloa Dr.
Waikoloa, HI 96738 USA
(808) 886-1234 or (800) HILTONS
Web site |
Download PDF Fact Sheet
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Information on the Couples Company
Escape Awards:
Couples Company chooses one resort or
destination per year to receive our designation as the Most
Romantic Family Resort/Vacation in the World.
Winners will stay posted on Couples Company for 10 years.
Once a resort chain or division is chosen for a specific
award, that brand cannot be chosen again for 5 years in that
category. The winning resort will not be under
consideration again for ten years. Other categories
include: Most Romantic (Adults Only) Vacation,
Most Exciting Couples Adventure and Most Intriguing
Couples Escape.
To have your resort or destination
considered for "Most Romantic Family Resort/Vacation 2003"
contact Couples Company directly for the application and
submission guidelines. Cruises are also eligible for
this designation or any other award. Cruises are treated
as "resorts". Applications for 2003 must be received by
December 1, 2002. Top three choices will be announced in
January and we will be visiting these for three days each
during Q1 2003. Category winner, 1st and 2nd runners up
will be announced in June 2003.
All countries and their destinations
are eligible except:
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Countries currently at war with the
United States, our allies or engaged in civil war
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Countries banned from visitation by the
US Government
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Countries or companies shown to be
harboring or funding terrorism or engaged in terrorist
activities
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Countries under economic or health
quarantines by the US Government
Submissions must be made in English.
Contact
Couples Company for more details.
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To get to
your room at Waikoloa, you can walk through a museum, take the
train or enjoy a boat ride through a tropical forest.
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| Waikoloa
is a legacy trip, a lifetime experience and on the high end
for budgeting. If bringing children, you'll want to wait
until your children are old enough to remember the trip.
Most of the children we saw ranged from 8 to 16 years of age.
During our visit over Fourth of July 2001, the split was 50/50
between couples without children and families.
Budgeting:
Rooms: $189-$620 per
night
Children under 18 can
stay with parents for no extra charge. Max Occupancy per
room: 4
Meals: budget $50/person
per day not including alcohol.
Camp Menehune for kids:
$65/day per child. Family rates available.
Transportation from
Airport: $45 each way
Average expenditure for family of 4
including airfare for 10 days:
Approximately $15.000.
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Deluxe
suites come with every luxury available including your own
Baby Grand. Individual rooms are also available.
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With 600
rooms, Ocean Towers is the largest complex and located at the
far end of the resort. Below this tower is the 18-hole
putting golf course and the resort hosts early morning tai-chi
classes on the knoll overlooking the ocean. |
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Special thanks to
Vicky Kometani and Thomas Wingham with Hilton Public Relations
for helping us gather the information and details so quickly
that were necessary to complete this feature.
Overhead, room
and dolphin photos copyright 2002 Hilton Corporation.
Remaining photos copyright 2001-2002 Couples Company. |
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