The Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa is an excellent mid-price Big Island resort located just south of Kona on Keauhou Bay. Beautiful oceanfront grounds and a relaxed family setting await guests at the Keauhou Bay Resort, as does an ample array of overall amenities. The lava-rock beach that fronts the resort might not be ideal for swimming, but guests will find the large, multilevel pool more than adequate.

The Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa occupies the site that the Kona Surf Resort once did. After $70 million in renovations, it opened its doors to the public in 2005. The large, outdoor pool here was added during the renovation process, and guests both young and old are bound to enjoy it. Gardens and waterfalls surround the freshwater pool, and there is a beach area that helps to make up for the lack of sand at the real beach nearby. The children's pool area is ideal for the little ones, and the island's largest water slide provides extra excitement if you're looking for it. Should you prefer relaxing to zipping down the slide, the pool area's two hot tubs will come in handy. In addition to hanging out at the pool, guests at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa can also play sand volleyball, sign up for complimentary use of the resort's two tennis courts, or go over to the neighboring Kona Country Club for an unforgettable round of golf.

Families will appreciate the fact that the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort offers a children's program to help keep the little ones entertained. While the kids are busy enjoying cultural games and other fun activities, parents can steal away to the on-site spa. A variety of treatments are available at the full-service Ho'ola Spa, and it even features a salon with professional stylists. For those who prefer a good workout to a spa treatment, the complimentary fitness center is a great place to fit one in. When you're not keeping busy on the beautiful grounds of the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa, you can take the intra-resort shuttle to nearby Kahaluu Beach Park, where snorkeling and surfing are among the top activities. Heading into Kona Town to stroll along Alii Drive is another fantastic idea when it comes to things to do during your Big Island vacation.

Big Island Map

Fishing and whale watching are some of the other things visitors to the Big Island's west coast can add to their itineraries, and when you're not out and about taking advantage of area attractions, your comfortable room or suite at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort will provide you with a great place to relax. All of the 521 spacious rooms and suites here are modern in decor and feature cozy signature beds that ensure a good night's sleep. While not the most luxurious guest units on the island, the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort rooms and suites are upscale, and they boast plenty of amenities to help make your stay a pleasant one. These include a mini-fridge, a telephone with dataports, a safe, a hair dryer, a coffee maker, a large private balcony, cable TV, a radio alarm clock, and an iron. Wireless high-speed internet access is available for a fee, as is customary at many Big Island resorts.

As for your dining options at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay, there are two on-site restaurants and a casual cafe to choose from. Luaus are offered twice a week, and every Hawaii visitor is encouraged to attend at least one of these traditional dining experiences. When you just want to grab some appetizers or a good drink, the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort also features an oceanfront bar. There is a lot to like about the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa, and its more reasonable prices help make it a good fit for those who aren't interested in the loftier rates at such luxury resorts as the Four Seasons Hualalai. Should the rates at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay still be higher than what you have in mind, lower-priced Big Island resorts such as the Royal Kona are worth considering.