Still love this place, but check-in was disappointing
I’ve been coming to the Royal Kona since 2008, and it’s always felt like a second home. The views, the nostalgia, and the aloha spirit are what keep me coming back.
This trip was for our wedding anniversary, but the check-in felt cold and unwelcoming. The woman at the front desk didn’t smile, didn’t congratulate us, and gave a vague response when I asked if they did anything for anniversaries. No effort, no follow-up. It felt brushed off.
We had also booked a room with one large bed and were given two smaller ones. We had to call down, get new keys, and switch rooms. Later in the stay, our key cards stopped working. Staff checked the door battery (which was fine), but still had to issue three different sets of keys before one finally worked.
The room and key issues were annoying but manageable. What bothered me most was the lack of warmth at check-in. I don’t know if it had anything to do with us being a gay couple, but something felt off. I’ve always loved this hotel, and I want to keep coming back, but that first impression really stuck with me. The aloha spirit I’ve always felt here was missing.
