Located in Hilo, this holiday home is in the city centre and near the beach. Lyman Museum and Imiloa Astronomy Center are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Gilbert Carvalho Park and Joint Astronomy Centre. Pacific Tsunami Museum and East Hawaii Cultural Center are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with scuba diving and snorkelling nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and mountain biking.
University of Hawaii at Hilo - 7 min drive - 6.9 km
Getting around
Hilo, HI (ITO-Hilo Intl.) - 17 min drive
Restaurants
McDonald's - 10 min drive
Ohana Cafe - 7 min drive
Subway - 10 min drive
Kozmic Cones - 9 min drive
Antics Pizza - 10 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Private Tropical Guesthouse in Hilo with AC & Lush Gardens pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Private Tropical Guesthouse in Hilo with AC & Lush Gardens?
As of 24 Oct 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Private Tropical Guesthouse in Hilo with AC & Lush Gardens on 6 Jan 2027 start from £218, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Private Tropical Guesthouse in Hilo with AC & Lush Gardens?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Private Tropical Guesthouse in Hilo with AC & Lush Gardens?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Private Tropical Guesthouse in Hilo with AC & Lush Gardens?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Private Tropical Guesthouse in Hilo with AC & Lush Gardens located?
Located in the heart of Hilo, this holiday home is within 3 miles (5 km) of Wailuku River State Park, Pu'u 'O'o Trail and Kaumana Caves County Park. Ainako Park and Kaumana Springs Wilderness are also within 3 miles (5 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
This guest cottage is a great home base to explore the Hilo side of the island. It is only minutes away to Rainbow Falls. It is clean, quiet and comfortable. We have stayed here twice and would not hesitate to stay here again if we are lucky enough to be back this way in the future. The only thing missing was some beach chairs, but there are lots of picnic tables at the beach parks so it was not a big deal.
We spent 3 nights at this unit and found it extremely spacious for two people, very well-equipped, clean, detailed instructions and excellent lists of restaurants, places to visit, and museums. It is less than a 15 minute drive to downtown Hilo. We had visited Hilo before and since this time we had rainy weather, we visited three museums: Mokupapapa Discovery Center, Lyman Museum and Iamoli Planetarium. They were all excellent. One restaurant we recommend is Moon and Turtle, sit at the bar, and enjoy a wonderful meal. We would return to this unit with no hesitation.
We loved the property, and it worked perfectly for our few days in Hilo. We will definitely book this house again when we come back. It is close to down town Hilo, and was our perfect homebase for our adventures. Our host was responsive and so accommodating. 5 stars all the way
A wonderful guesthouse a few miles outside of town. It had everything we needed and the communication with the owners was great. The only small downside was the combo washer/dryer took 5 hours to do a very small load and we couldn't use it overnight because it was right next to the pullout bed.
The house was clean and updated. The kitchen was well stocked with everything needed to prepare meals. There were beach towels to use and a medium sized igloo cooler to use for day trips. The host communicated with us well and check in and check out was smooth. Great place to stay while in Hilo.
Overall our experience was pleasant the house was clean and fit my wife and I very well and we enjoyed our stay. Our only complaint was the electric gate remote used to enter and exit the property. It was very finicky and sometimes we couldn’t get it to work at all especially under heavy rain conditions.
Very nice, safe property. We actually ended up staying at another property through the same owners. Maintenance was being done at property. Very happy with communication! Property was clean and welcoming. Would recommend!
A very lovely guest house that is attached to the back of a main house. Complete privacy and quiet. Nice yard to enjoy. House has all updated appliances and decor. Very modern and comfortable. Set in a quiet residential area. I would definitely stay again!
The place was perfect. Very clean. Comfortable beds. Peaceful. We visited Hilo to see family and the location was 5 minutes from my mother -in-law’s house. We will definitely stay again.
Overall good property. Host is very friendly and responsive. However there were quite some roaches in kitchen area. Some are common in this area but it was quite a lot. Also listing pictures has playground for kids but that area is not accessible for renters.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 8 May 2026
Aloha Greg,
Once again, I apologize for the inconvenience you experienced during your stay. I truly did everything I could to address the concerns while you were at the property, including offering to have our pest control company come inspect and treat the area, which was declined.
Our property is treated monthly by a local pest control company, Will Kill Pest Control, to help ensure the home remains pest-free. In addition, the property is fully cleaned and sanitized after every checkout and receives a deep “white glove” cleaning approximately every three months.
In the 8 years we have been hosting, we have never previously had guests report an issue of this nature. After your checkout, we had the property inspected by our pest control company, and they confirmed there was no evidence of a roach infestation or nesting on the property. I also showed them the photos provided, and they advised that the roaches shown are not commonly found in Hawaii and may have been brought in through luggage or personal belongings. Since your stay, we have hosted three additional guests, and none have reported any pest-related concerns.
Regarding the playground, we understand the confusion. However, the playground is not listed as an advertised amenity on our rental listing. It is a private, non-commercial playground intended for our children’s personal use. Due to liability and insurance concerns, we are unable to allow guest access to that area.
We truly appreciate your feedback and ar
The place very comfortable. The AC was important for our adjustment to the humidity here in Hawaii. Sleeping with AC is a good way to start that transition. The rooms were spotlessly clean. The kitchen was ideal for preparing meals although we didn't use it much. The place felt like our little home away from home. So far it was the best place we stayed at on the big island. It is a little ways outside of Hilo town but it was cool to be able to peal back the layers of Hilo slowly. You do need a car to get around. This place would be quite nice with a small family. My son and I enjoyed it very much, having a bed each was really nice. My son gives it 5 stars as well.
We are AVID travelers, and have stayed in trailers in the desert as well as high end condos. Never had we been disappointed because a rental wasn’t described accurately, until this property:The good: Convenient access & very clean: safe location, great kitchen. A couple of issues with how the property was described: No grillNo patio furniture in screen room No beach chairs Had to DIY tighten the shower head as it was very loose and water was shooting out at the connection. When I messaged the owners to ask where the beach chairs, the grill and the patio set was, Stephanie soon dropped off a Webber charcoal grill. She also dropped off someSmall Walmart folding camping chairs. She said that they never had beach chairs for guests, however it was very much in the property description. Bed: had to sleep with a couch pillow behind my back as I was rolling into the middle of the bed as it dipped in the middle. (We are not huge people at 120 & 185 pounds)Garden wasn’t quite the lush tropical garden as described…There was nowhere to sit, no patio furniture to enjoy the space Combo washer drier was handy, but the machine isn’t balanced properly and despite following the directions was EXTREMELY loud when on spin (have to yell to be heard kind of loud) In the end, it was a convenient stay as we were out all day, but unfortunately I wouldn’t recommend for others. Note: After we checked in, the owner DID update the property description to be more accurate
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Oct 2026
Aloha Laura,
We are sorry you felt the property was not described as expected. That was never our intention. We take great pride in providing a clean, safe, and well-equipped home.
Regarding the outdoor furniture, we did explain during your stay that it had been removed because it was damaged by the two storms that recently brought significant rain to Hilo. We chose to remove the damaged furniture rather than leave potentially moldy furniture available to guests. The grill was also affected. Once you let us know you wanted a grill, we promptly provided you with a grill.
Regarding the beach chairs, we acknowledge that their mention in the listing was an error. However, when you contacted us about them, we promptly brought beach chairs to the property for you to use. We also corrected the listing to avoid future confusion.
The garden has not been changed from what is shown in our photos, although tropical landscaping can naturally look different depending on the season and weather.
We were unaware of the shower, washer/dryer, and bed concerns because they were not reported during your stay. Had we known, we would have gladly addressed them. Our mattress and pillows are replaced regularly through the same company that supplies the Hilton Waikoloa.
We are avid travelers ourselves and understand the importance of accurate listings and a good guest experience. We appreciate your feedback and have made corrections where needed. We sincerely wish you had enjoyed your stay
Thank you so much for welcoming us to your beautiful property! We had a wonderful stay and truly appreciated the immaculate cleanliness throughout—every detail was perfect.Your thoughtful amenities made our visit so comfortable, and we especially loved spending time in your lovely garden. It was such a peaceful retreat.The location is serene and scenic, though we did note it's a bit of a distance from nearby shops and stores. That said, it's a beautiful spot for anyone looking for a quiet getaway!We'd absolutely recommend your place to friends and family. Thank you again for being such a gracious host.
Lovely spot. Very clean and comfortable, and in a beautiful neighborhood. Great to have a kitchen, and a washer/dryer. Raul was nice, and very responsive to our questions. A perfect spot for our trip. Thank you!
The place was very nice and we thought the location was really nice, kind of tucked away from the hustle and bustle but still not too far from town. The AC worked great and kept us cool at night and they left a large container of filtered water in the fridge, which was super helpful. Overall, we would definitely stay here again!