Volcano Forest Inn

We brought our own breakfast.

This place was a nightmare. I did not like it at all. First of all, there was no one to greet you and show you around. There was a keypad with a code (which we couldn't figure out), but finally someone came from inside to help us get entry. Then quickly went backup stairs. You walk into the kitchen area, which is very messing with multiple notes on the refrigerator cabinets and drawers, not to touch! Not a warm and fuzzy environment. We went down the hall to find our room from the text message we received via the "bookings" website. The room itself was nice, clean and spacious. No extra towels, blankets, or toilet paper, and the soap dispenser was empty. They supplied no shampoo, rinse, or bath soap. As a matter of a fact, we ran out of toilet paper, and through a text were told to go to another bathroom to "collect" another roll ourselves. Imagine that? The only positive thing I can say about this establishment was the beds were comfortable and the room was relatively clean. Even though the walls in the room we had had mismatched paint on the walls. Tacky. Then furthermore upon reading all the text messages auto sent from the Bookings platform, there was many threatening fees if you didn't put the keys where you were asked, or if you didn't lock the sliding door, and heaven forbid if you forgot something and had to reentry after your designated "check out" time you be charged a "fee"! This place was run like a youth hostel for wayward children!

The only nice thing about this place was the beds were comfortable. I wouldn't recommend this place. It's not warm and fuzzy. It's a boarding house with little assistance from the proprietor.

I was very disappointed in the VFI. It was a self check in. No interaction checking in...the whole place had notes and tape everywhere with instructions such as, "don't touch this", "don't go into this drawer", "don't eat anything in the frig that's not yours". I felt like I was back in college! We ran out of tp in our room and had no idea how to get more...we called the proprietor. They in turn texted us to go to another bathroom and under the sink to get it ourselves! Furthermore, they want to charge you for everything, if you don't lock the sliding glass door, extra fee, if you forget anything and need to contact them, another fee. Not very hospitable. The building itself had a lot of deferred maintenance. Tacky mismatched paint on the walls, all kinds of dryer lint all over he front lanai. I would not recommend this place to anyone!

Well maintained road into the facility. The room was quite large. The no contact self check in and check out was nice and did give you a sense of privacy at first, but very quickly you begin to wonder if that's just because the owner simply doesn't want to deal with people. After a while, you even begin to feel like Big Brother was always watching.

Tons of little extra fees. Thankfully we were able to navigate them and not incur anything ridiculous. A $60 standard cleaning fee - it's BS, but I get that it's the norm in many cases. However, you'd expect to get a clean room if everyone is having to pay this extra fee - milk stains on the walls, *countless* areas of the walls that were patched and not repainted, bathroom faucets with toothpaste spittle all over, a bathroom mirror straight from a 1950s Bates Motel style room, similarly with toothpaste and other stains... But if you drag dirt into the building with you, that's an extra fee. Don't turn off the lights? Extra fee. Use a dish or the coffee maker in the shared and unkempt kitchen without cleaning the entire kitchen after? More fees. Don't lock the doors when you leave? $$$. (The door thing makes sense when you see the layout of the facility, but it adds to the overall point that I'll get to in a moment) Need to contact the owner with a problem after 8? That'll cost you. Look, I get that this isn't a hotel. I expect that there is an extra level of respect and courtesy that is required of all guests. This is a private property, after all. But when you add all of these things together, it gives you an experience like they are doing *you* a favor by letting you stay there. We felt like we were on pins and needles the entire time, and we weren't even there for 24 hours. I was afraid of throwing things away because I'd be charged a waste removal fee. I pricked my finger at one point on something sharp in my luggage and was actually terrified that I would be charged a biohazard fee because of the tissue I left in the trash with 3 drops of blood on it. And what do you get for these sacrifices? An aging, outdated building that isn't kept up with, beds from the 80s, linens from the 60s, cameras in your face at every turn, and an overwhleming sense of dread.

Clean and quiet place. Not what I’d call an actual “B&B”. But he was upfront about that so it was what I expected. Definitely recommend it.

Location was convenient and close to the volcano but I recommend flying in to Hilo airport because Kona is 2 1/2 hrs away. I like the big rooms and the comfy king size bed. There is also a porch and chairs you can sit on outside. There was a kitchen you could cook in and a fridge you could store food. They had a list of close by restaurants with the numbers. Rooms were big and spacious. You get a code for the door.

People go to sleep pretty early, we got in at 9pm and everything was dark, we felt like we were going to wake everyone up. There is a loud humming noise or some kind of machine that kicks on all day and night so it was hard to sleep. Breakfast should be more specific on Priceline description, free breakfast includes granola bars, packages of oatmeal and pastries pre portioned in a basket in your room.

They stated there would be a $120 cleaning fee which was not shown at the time of booking

Very pleased with our experience at VFI. The place is absolutely immaculate and the owner is hospitality personified. My highest recommendation!

location is great. 2 min drive to the Volcano NP. The facility is also clean and spacious.

The house is rather old, electricity circuit cannt handle multiple appliance.