On the way back we saw a mother wale with her baby. Those guests looking for the five star treatment may need to find an alternative hotel. Stopped for a short break in Hilo, then off to fly through the mountains to see a 3,000 foot waterfall. Unbeknownst to them, the floodlights served as a beacon for plankton to gather on the oceans surface, thereby attracting the filter-feeding manta rays to feed on the huge schools of plankton. Visa Prepaid Cards will be delivered by Tango Card, Inc up to thirty (30) days before travel date. I can understand in theme parks, why you have to wear them, but adult paying guests at a Sheraton Hotel its insulting. 1995-2016 Honolulu Board of REALTORS. There's no beach, but the pool looked nice -- we were only there for one night and left early in the morning so didn't get a chance to see if it was super crowded during the day. We also have a new Director of Engineering, who is reassessing our maintenance needs, both within our guest rooms, and throughout our grounds. No beach in the area but I think there are ones a short drive away. All rights reserved. A Kona resort is partnering with a research organization to help protect a gentle ocean giant and is hosting an upcoming event for guests and anyone who wants to learn more. Join us for daily manta ray viewings at dusk at the Manta Center. It is important to stay either on the surface or on the seafloor to not harm or disrupt the manta rays as they come for their nightly feast. The decider was the resorts close proximity to the Manta Ray night snorkel, and the Manta Ray views from the ocean front rooms.On arrival, the Resort did look architecturally chunky with concrete, which was pretty much the style of the 60's, however once you enter the grounds and the foyers, you forget about the building and enjoy the tropical ambience of the open reception areas. Tennis courts and basketball courts available to use. While Manta Rays can dive to depths of 700 feet, they typically live at a depth of fewer than 70 feet. It has been provided by sources other than the Realtors Assoc. As a result, thousands of human visitors have also been flocking to this part of Hawaii each year to see Manta Rays in their natural habitat both from the shoreline and from below the surface. English Copyright 1995 - 2022. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page. We have shared your comments with our Rays on the Bay Chef de Cuisine, and appreciate the opportunity to improve our guest's experience in this area. All rights Reserved, Book Now Manta Ray Night Snorkeling Tours. Posted on wildlife. Diversmeet well ahead of the dive team to leave plenty of room for safety instruction, equipment use, and travel to the site. We hope to welcome you back to the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa in the future! Manta Heaven is located just offshore, close to the Kona International Airport, while Manta Village is about 6 miles south of Kailua-Kona, at the beautiful Keauhou Bay. Please be nice. We hope to welcome you back to the Sheraton Kona Resort in the future! The Reception and porter staff were excellent. Many operators are so familiar with the rays and their habits that theyve given them charming names like Re-Nata and Sugar Ray. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. AARP and its affiliates do not provide retail goods or services or discounts on such goods or services. They are dark on the top, and bleach white on the underside, which they flash as they twist and turn in the water. Note that manta rays are wild animals and that sightings cannot be 100% guaranteed. One local dive operator claims that 90% of visitors spot at least one and as many as five manta rays on a typical visit. The layout of the hotel is dated and confusing and doesn't show off the beautiful property to its best advantage. Saw one way out but the migration was just about over. Its one of the top ten things to do in your lifetime. The high volume of evening boat traffic and poorly lit rocky shoreline make swimming from shore dangerous and thereby prohibited. We were directly above Rays at the Bay, and it was lovely in the evening to have a drink on the verandah before dinner and enjoy the live music from downstairs and spot the rays. The decider was the resorts close proximity to the Manta Ray night snorkel, and the Manta Ray views from the ocean front rooms. As flotation devices light up the plankton, the manta rays come out to eat. We were directly above Rays at the Bay, and it was lovely in the evening to have a drink on the verandah before dinner and enjoy the live music from downstairs and spot the rays. The boats form a circle, place floating rafts with downward-facing floodlights into the water, then allow snorkelers to enter. Did you know the term dog days of summer dates to ancient Rome? Aloha Kelsey W,Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. Price is $129.25 per ticket, price for 1 Adult is $129.25, We offer a ride-along rate for guests that will not be getting in the water, Minimal snorkeling experience needed, but guests MUST know how to swim. And they really do nickel-and-dime you on everything (the water! Where the shore lights of the hotel (now the Sheraton) illuminate the coastal waters, these Hawaiian Mantas have been coming to feed on their favorite food marine plankton which they consume by filtering the food out of the sea water, which they run through their brachial filters. Please know that we are revisiting many of our procedures currently in place, as we look for ways in which we can improve our guest services and enhance your experience at our beautiful Resort. We flew into Kona airport and hotel was only a 15 minute drive from airport. During this 2-hour tour during sunset or after dark, slip on Manta Ray Night Snorkeling is so incredibly beautiful, you will count it as a highlight of your Hawaii experience. Manta Rays, For a deeper learning experience, visit the Manta Learning Center which was developed as a partnership between the Manta Pacific Research Foundation and the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay. November 11, 2017 We appreciate you sharing your comments with us, and have shared this with our management team. Your email address will not be published. We booked an Ocean Front king room and were not disappointed with the views. The hotel started to illuminate the waters with bright floodlights for guests to view manta rays swimming in the evening. Species you may spot while snorkeling Keauhou Bay, You can help us keep this page up-to-date by uploading your pictures to the photo gallery, or by sending us your comments via the contact form, Night snorkeling tour price (from $130pp. scuba, We are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed our beautiful Resort and amenities during your stay!We are very proud of our wonderful location, and signature Rays on the Bay restaurant; and are delighted that you were able to experience the majestic Manta Rays, in their natural habitat! Flew right over the only live volcano on the Islands.Huge recent lava flow which took out an entire town, only one small section of road left. The rooms, though, are dark and cavelike, with almost no natural light, especially the ones facing the parking lot. Mahalo nui loa! The Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa is right in front of the spot. diving, Required fields are marked *. For the health and safety of our guests and team members, and in accordance with State of Hawaii Department of Health rules and regulations, all guests are required to wear face masks unless eating, drinking or getting in/out of the water, as well as maintaining social distancing during the check-in process and while on the vessel. Not only is this a very beautiful property, with clean comfortable rooms but they have fantastic food. Keauhou Bay, and particularly Manta Village (the name given to the area in front of the hotel), became a popular place for people to come to view manta rays right on the shoreline easily. Please do NOT check-in at the boat as you will be redirected to check-in at our retail store. Many tour operators offer nightly snorkel tours departing around sunset to reach Keauhou Bay (from $130pp.). Swimming pool is really special with large slide, 2 special areas for small children, beautiful waterfall and many other features. These gentle giants began congregating upon Keauhou Bay since the 1970s, when the Kona Surf Hotel first opened. Divers are asked to rest on the bottom and often, to remove their snorkels so as not to injure the underside of the rays as they pass by. You can learn about their habits, along with how best to interact with these lovely animals in the water, or just a few feet from the shoreline. The room itself was tasteful, beds & pillows provided a wonderful nights slumber. Departure time varies based on the sunset. Our Hawaii Island real estate team have spotted groups of spinner dolphins leaping out of the water while standing on the shoreline Kailua-Kona. Thank you again for your review. Please see our partners for more details. The verandahs were large and would be fine for young children to play, as they were completely undercover and had solid rendered balconies. 2021 Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa. Some will take you to the site in a traditional outrigger canoe, which is without a doubt the most eco-friendly way to go! Be sure to get it rolled in your room rate (and really watch the price -- our price went DOWN about 5 times in the 6 month watch period and ended being about our cheapest room this vacation) as breakfast is $25 walk in rate and there is not much else close by. Attendance and parking for the Manta Talks event also are free. Was clean, friendly and helpful staff, free self park. The area boasts beautiful beaches, as well as some of the deep blues more exotic sea creatures. Once the sliding glass door was closed, no external noise filtered through from the outside verandah to the room.The room itself was tasteful, beds & pillows provided a wonderful nights slumber. Mahalo nui loa! DMCA Notice. The kids played in the huge pool whenever they were allowed and it was nice to be able to have a cocktail and something to eat around the pool. The decider was the resorts close proximity to the Manta Ray night snorkel, and the Manta Ray views from the ocean front rooms. In a holiday resort, shower caps & toiletries should be a given; but they weren't.. A marble/granite luxury bathroom is also generally a given.but not so here. These majestic rays glide gracefully and harmlessly within inches of snorkelers. holua kai, For more information click here! While Manta Raysare awe-inspiring and very large, their primary food source is plankton (and not you!) As a snorkeler, youll be warned about keeping your distance and staying on the waters surface, so as to observe the rays from above. We hope to welcome you back to the beautiful Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa, so we may share our culture and Aloha spirit with you once again! The two organizations will work together to observe and protect the giant manta rays of Keauhou Bay fronting Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa, while also educating guests and promoting responsible travel practices. This information is believed to be accurate. Mahalo nui loa! We also have a new Director of Engineering, who is reassessing our maintenance needs, in an effort to continuously improve our Resort. Once the sliding glass door was closed, no external noise filtered through from the outside verandah to the room. Breath taking, to fly right between two 3,000 foot high mountains. I will also view them at Rays on the Bay. All day bus tour, includes a pic-nic lunch stop. Check when booking. I'm from Minnesota, and it was tough on me. It took 2+ hours to get to each one of these. All rights reserved. Lit by the floating rafts, you can marvel at the rays from just feet away and peer into their mouths lined with brachial filters used to sieve the plankton from the sea. While the warm waters off the Kona Coast have long been their habitat, Manta Rays began gravitating to what has now become known as the Manta Village site in the 1970s. more. Aloha C0nstantlyOnTheG0,Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. Keauhou Bay, The decider was the resorts close proximity to the Manta Ray night snorkel, and the Manta Ray views from the ocean front rooms. We have ample space on board to store any personal belongings such as a small bag or backpack if you wish to bring one. Then flew over where the live lava spills into the sea. Today, the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay maintains the legacy of shining the floodlights into the water, and many tour operators bring snorkelers here to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience. These majestic creatures live in their natural, coastal habitat here in Hawaii and are often spotted at two magical locations on the Kona Coast of the Big Island. Thank you again for your review! The verandahs were large and would be fine for young children to play, as they were completely undercover and had solid rendered balconies. Some tour operators offer a free re-booking if you dont see any ray during your tour. While Manta Heaven further to the north sometimes hosts a larger number of rays, the Manta Village dive and snorkel site is known for its consistency. We had two afternoons poolside in October & did not have any problems with crowds or children. Ask C0nstantlyOnTheG0 about Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa, Ask Bowiememe about Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa, Ask happycamper519 about Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa, great experience, would reccomend to anyone, Ask Kelsey W about Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa, Ask Leeroy007 about Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa, Ask Bill W about Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa, We compared the lowest prices from 19 websites, Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel, We compared the lowest prices from 20 websites, We compared the lowest prices from 18 websites, We compared the lowest prices from 13 websites, We compared the lowest prices from 8 websites, We compared the lowest prices from 11 websites, We compared the lowest prices from 15 websites. Their wingspantypically reaches up to 15 feet across, though some have been found in other waters with wingspans as large as 25 feet across. The resort offers a unique vantage point for watching these breathtaking creatures in Keauhou Bay. Has a deck at night with spotlights where you can view the giant manta rays swimming. You will receive confirmation of your exact tour departure time when you call to confirm your reservation. Manta Village is considered one of the best locations on the planet to view manta rays perform their nightly feeding rituals and at close-hand! If you do self parking, there is an elevator in the main building not far from the convention center building (first doorway but not so obvious since it is back a bit) and this saves many steps going to your car. The room itself was tasteful, beds & pillows provided a wonderful nights slumber. This hotel has a huge pool with lots of space to sit. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. There are plenty of reputable operators and a quick google search will help you find one that best suits your needs. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. You will receive confirmation of your exact tour departure time when you call to confirm your reservation. Snorkelers grab onto hand straps attached to the perimeter of the floating rafts and are instructed to peer downward. This information has been supplied by third parties and has not been independently verified by Hawaii Information Service and is, therefore, not guaranteed. The next day my wife told she had the "best masseuse" in her life (Greg, at the Sheraton spa). If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. The Sheraton gets a huge boost from its beautiful setting, and its proximity to the big manta rays at night (note: Rays on the Bay has terrible food, but it's definitely worth going for a drink and to check out the rays swimming below - absolutely amazing!). We were directly above Rays at the Bay, and it was lovely in the evening to have a drink on the verandah before dinner and enjoy the live music from downstairs and spot the rays. Full terms and conditions of this benefit may be found at: https://www.expedia-aarp.com/lp/b/vacationpackages50prepaid. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the Expedia User Agreement and Privacy Policy. The breakfast buffet was part of a special rate for our room and was very good with many choices. marine life, Aloha Bowiememe,Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. After dark they shine a spot light into the ocean. Mahalo nui loa! This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes). , It comes as little surprise for tourists to arrive on the Big Island of Hawaii and be greeted by a , It remains evident that the high-end of the real estate market on the Kohala Coast is strongly influenced by desire , This Big Island escape, that lives like an oceanfront resort, has played host to celebrities, royal families, and was chosen . All goods or services and discounts offered via the AARP Travel Center powered by Expedia, are provided by third-party suppliers. After your snorkel adventure, grab a cup of hot cocoa or tea, cookies, sit back, do some stargazing and enjoy the city lights as we return to Kailua-Kona. Acclaimed marine biologist and filmmaker Rick Rosenthal also will show a sneak preview of his latest film, Alien Contact: Manta Rays.. We read many reviews on TA before selecting the Sheraton. The Kona Coast of Hawaii Island is a haven for wildlife lovers, particularly for those interested in marine life. Leave your opinion here. Although Big Island Now encourages respectful communication only, some content may be considered offensive. Naturally, theyve also seen sea turtles, humpback whales and of course, the graceful Manta Rays. The helicopter pilot hovered above so we could all see and take pictures.Next day went to the highest point on the Islands. If we had kids, this review might have been different, but as a fairly young couple on an anniversary trip, one night was plenty to give us the idea of the resort and then be glad we were moving somewhere else. With minimal snorkel experience needed (guests MUST KNOW HOW TO SWIM WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF A FLOTATION DEVICE), this adventure is suited for beginners as well as seasoned snorkelers. Outrigger Hospitality Group recently announced a partnership with Manta Pacific Research Foundation, a leading organization for manta ray research, education and conservation. Aloha happycamper519,Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. Rooms large and newly updated with a lanai. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Expedia pays a royalty fee to AARP for the use of AARP's intellectual property. Sheraton K, Guest Experience Team at Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa, responded to this review. Those that are a bit more cruisy will enjoy the hotel and their amenities.More. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. The Manta Talks event will provide a thorough examination of manta ray behavior, conservation and more. Check-in time is 45 MINUTES PRIOR TO YOUR SCHEDULED DEPARTURE TIME. However, we discovered on our last morning that we could have used our breakfast vouchers in the coffee shop, which for us was better suited. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters.This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. There are designated areas for snorkelers and divers and no free diving is allowed. PADI, We are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed our beautiful grounds and wonderful location for manta ray viewing! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed our wonderful rooms and friendly staff! PARKING The Manta rays come in to eat along the shore line. scuba diving, We had a great week at this hotel. Also, touching the rays is prohibited. Dress very warmly. Once the sliding glass door was closed, no external noise filtered through from the outside verandah to the room. The shopping centre (2 minutes away in the car) had two large supermarkets, so you didn't need to travel into Kona to the ABC stores.They're positives & negatives for the hotel. Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Please know that he is implementing new menu selections that take advantage of our local farm and sea communities. There will also be discussion about manta ray tourism along the Kona Coast, focusing on its history and growth and how humans can help protect the rays in their natural habitat. Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Ray's was Ok but lacked a variety of choices and different nightly menu specials would go a long way. Thank you again for your review. Naturally, you will need to be a certified scuba diver to partake in a night dive with Manta Rays. On arrival, the Resort did look architecturally chunky with concrete, which was pretty much the style of the 60's, however once you enter the grounds and the foyers, you forget about the building and enjoy the tropical ambience of the open reception areas. This information is provided by our partners, COMBO: Sunset and Manta Ray Snorkel Adventure, 22 reviews of this activity. We booked an Ocean Front king room and were not disappointed with the views. Once the floodlights are turned on, the manta rays arrive quickly and use the water column between the snorkelers and sea bottom to perform their feeding rituals. It is wonderful to have a like-minded partner with Outrigger who understands the importance of protecting this wild, natural and truly authentic experience and educating global visitors about the rich history of manta rays in Kona, Hawaii.. For questions concerning these issues, consult with either the Hawaii Real Estate Commission, your Principal Broker, or an Attorney. Aloha Bill W,Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. In this page not only will you see properties represented by , but also properties represented by other members of Hawaii Information Service. Some operators offer two-tank dives, so you can dive once before sunset, and then again after dark with the Manta Rays. Mahalo nui loa! I plan to be in Kona end of Oct 2021 and look forward to a snorkel venture to view these gentle giants! so they are unlikely to do you any harm. Subscribe to our email list and become the first one to receive exclusive offers and news right in your inbox. If you are planning on doing a lot of sightseeing, I would recommend staying and flying into Hilo. Manta rays are related to the shark family, and of course, to other types of rays like Sting Rays and Eagle Rays, yet they are the largest of the ray family. Thank you again for your review.
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royal kona resort manta rays