[trip style = beach + sun]
{Editor's Note: I'm in Hawaii (the Big Island) right now enjoying the black sand beaches and frothy surf, so I'll be taking a small break from TS and microblogging on my Editor's Diary instead. We'll be resuming our regular flight schedule next Wednesday. Mahalo!}
What I had a hunch I'd love the Lava Lava Beach Club before I even arrived, based on the name and logo alone! Having just spent the past few days at this recently opened, four-cottage Hawaiian retreat, my suspicions were correct---and then some.
Hanging out at the south end of a bevy of beach hotels beside the miles-long Anaeho'omalu Bay, this cabin quartet on a 10-acre, beachfront plot is a distinct departure from the typical Hawaii resort set.
Though the essence of a Hawaiian vacation is to spend the majority of your time outdoors, the cottages' contempo-aloha interiors make you want to split your day between beach, bed and shower. In a nod to its tropical terrain, each cottage has a personal lava wall-enclosed outdoor shower that spews water out of a bamboo spout! The cottages are open-concept and comfy with original art from artists like Mike Field hung throughout, making the orchid-adorned space feel like your own personal beach retreat.
The kind of place where you start and end your day in a bathing suit---not much else is required, so pack light---the only other must-have is the lava lava, a traditional Polynesian article of clothing {aka. a sarong}, but that's provided for you to keep. Mark my words, the nine-month-young Lava Lava Beach Club cottages will soon start to grace best-of lists, starting here. Trip Styler approved!
Trip Styler Tip :: If you like being right near the action, book cottage one, beside the Lava Lava Beach Club restaurant. If you'd rather go sight unseen, book cottage four.
Where Twenty minutes north of the Kona Airport {KOA}, between an 1859 lava flow and a white sand beach in the Waikoloa resort area along the Kohala Coast.
When December through March is Lava Lava's high season. Whale season is January to April. Sunset season is every.single.day.
Who/Why You like the idea of being near the action, but a little removed. Seven-pool resorts with swinging bridges and 15 restaurants are your nemesis. You'd rather sip Kona coffee in the AM and Longboard Lager in the PM while turtle and whale watching from your lanai.
Cost Rates hover around $450 per night year-round and include WiFi, parking, use of a SUP, a bottle of red wine {best sipped at sunset}, and nightly bevies and appies delivered to your cottage at 5PM. Each cottage is outfitted with a king bed, a double day-bed-come-couch and a kitchen.
More Sand-In-Your-Toes, Cottage-y R+B Sorobon Beach Resort – Bonaire Find more R+B hotels featured here, plus our it list of worldwide hotel picks.
[photos by @tripstyler taken while hosted by the Lava Lava Beach Club]