The Bay House

Very nice, clean and inviting B & B! We stayed in the Palm Room which is pictured in the photos. We had a nice view and it appeared that all the rooms would. Comfortable beds, soothing spa and a pretty good breakfast! The manager was super; helped us with directions and local activities. Our shower head broke and it was fixed the same day! I would recommend and stay again if I was to travel to Hilo again. Bethany’s for our wonderful stay!

The Bay House is as cozy and comfortable as it is inviting! It is perfectly situated for exploring Hilo and their breakfast is awesome! From free parking, to free wifi & free umbrellas – everything about this establishment is amazing!
If you’re thinking of staying in Hilo, you can’t go wrong with The Bay House!

We had a great time here. Our room was great, and the breakfast we were served was better than other BnBs that I’ve stayed at. It was a great way to start the day, eating breakfast on the patio overlooking the bay. The owner is super friendly and made us feel right at home. There are lots of little touches around the property that set it apart from other places I’ve stayed, like the high-​end shampoo products in the bathroom. The only thing that I’d advise people to be wary of is that the pictures on the website don’t really show how close together the rooms are. Our room, while very private on the inside, was right next to the common room/​kitchen area, so we could hear people getting their breakfasts in the morning. If you want to sleep in, this probably isn’t the best place to do it. That being said, if you’re up early then this is a great option.

My wife and I really enjoyed The Bay House and would return in a heartbeat. This was our first visit to Hilo, where we spent a few gloriously relaxing days, taking in the sites and enjoying our time in paradise.
The Bay House view is perfect. It overlooks the bay and, honestly, is about as picturesque as it gets. We loved the sounds of the waves crashing outside our window – it felt like we were sleeping on the beach.
The breakfast each morning was quite good (i.e. mixed meat/​eggs, fresh papaya, banana bread, cereal etc.) and the room was very clean. We enjoyed some time in the hot tub, especially after a cooler day 4-​wheeling around Waipio, and the parking was good too.
Overall, a fantastic first-​time visit to Hilo and The Bay House. We were glad we decided on the B&B experience – good times.

i usu dislike BnBs b/​c I have felt like they are not as nice or convenient as hotels. SO not true here — Tina keeps an IMMACULATE place, each rooms was beautiful, soft high thread count sheets, clean floors, clean bathrooms with aveda products. listening to the waves at night while you fall asleep — even the coqui frogs (although i’m sure annoying to those that live there) are part of the charm. easy to park, easy to get breakfast in AM right outside your door — your basket of fruit, eggs, make your coffee, eat yogurt, get toast etc. plenty of towels, books, guidebooks, flashlights, umbrellas — really she has put so much thought and care into this place. and yes i am anti-​social and don’t want to have to interact with other guests and here you don’t. just get your food and go back to your private lanai and look out on the bay and feel blessed to be there. we were the only guests for 2 out of 3 nights which was nice. the last night another couple came — it can get a little loud right outside your door when they are preparing their breakfast. also while technically very close distance to downtown hilo, there is no sidewalk and people are driving at highway speeds and no light for you to cross — so kind of dangerous. we only walked once to hilo, afraid to be roadkill so drove the rest of the time.

I spent three relaxed days at Bay House in January and if I find myself in Hilo I will definitely stay here again! I actually picked this place based on the reviews and the name (Bay House is my apartment’s nickname so I have a natural affinity). My husband had to work the first few days of the trip (they have solid wi-​fi if you need it), so I spent most of my time in the hottub or reading. The views from the balconies and the backyard are SO tranquil.
Hilo isn’t that big so the location is close to just about everything, and the parking is easy. Breakfast was the same each morning and strictly continental, so if you’re a fan of big morning meals make plans to head out for some grub. Our hosts were very accommodating and yet almost invisible, my favorite kind of B&B experience!

The hospitality at The Bay House is second-​to-​none. From the welcome sign politely requesting the removal of one’s shoes at the entrance, it is clear from the get-​go that this is someone’s home being opened up to you. A nice change of pace from resort living in Hawaii, this Hilo bed and breakfast is quaint, comfortable, clean, but also, a touch luxurious. The proprietors do a great job providing their guests with wonderful amenities, like a bed stacked high with all types of blankets, linens, and pillows, as well as fancy salon products in the bathroom, an upgrade from even most high-​class hotel offerings. Free wi-​fi and a common area with take-​out menus, maps of Hawaii, and island-​centric literature add a little live-​in library feel to your stay.
The Bay House sits within a semi-​secluded jungle setting and the chirping of coqui frogs and sound of rolling bay waves are a constant once the sun goes down. I found this natural soundtrack to be a soothing background for a good night’s sleep — some of the best slumber I had during my stay in Hawaii was in this guest room (we stayed in the Palm Room). This is the type of soundscape music masseuses and insomniacs use for relaxation purposes. Accept no substitutes here, of course — we’re talkin’ about the real deal, live concert experience with this one.
The cats however, are another story — crying, fighting strays that may have been trying to murder one another just before sunrise. I’m no feline homicide expert, but some of those kitty screams were vicious-​sounding. Also, I happen to hate cats, so while my tired side wanted nothing to do with this battle outside my window, my evil side isn’t exactly about to intervene in some cat-​on-​cat crime.
Anyway, come morning, the breakfast here is served in homey, mosquito-​netted, picnic baskets and comprised of fresh papaya, pineapple, banana bread, cereal, juice, coffee, and the vegetarian shopping list goes on. If you’re a shameless carnivore like myself, you may crave a sausage link or bacon strip or five. But if local fruit and homemade baked goods are all you need to jump-​start your day, then this meal will most likely be heaven on earth. This is breakfast crafted to be best enjoyed out on the patio furniture on your lanai, bringing you closer to that dining-​in-​the-​wild feel.
The view of Hilo Bay from your private balcony is nice, but nothing mind-​blowingly exceptional. Unless you’re talkin’ about Hawaii in general, and then every view everywhere on these islands is exceptional. The backyard also features a jacuzzi to bring you that much closer to the bayside backdrop. And just further down along the water’s edge from this cliffside relaxation is the «Singing Bridge» to Downtown Hilo, a short enough distance to be convenient, yet detached enough to make this bed and breakfast inn still feel all your own.
Yet it is the accommodating experience of being a guest in someone’s well-​kept home where The Bay House excels. When we had an early flight to catch the morning following our last night in town, we informed the owners that there was no need to prepare us breakfast as we would be leaving before sunrise. In an unnecessary attempt to compensate us for this lost meal, the proprietors gave us some of their own family’s home-​cooked dinner and a home-​made hot sauce to take with us on our journeys. We initially booked a room here as a home base for visiting volcanoes (a quick 30 miles away), and if you’re looking to do the same, it’s safe to say The Bay House aims to please.

Stayed here for a couple of nights and was beyond pleased. Hosts were very friendly and accommodating, always available for any questions or needs. Rooms were very comfortable, with beautiful hawaiian comforters and down pillows, very cleanly and well-​kept. Don’t even get me started about the view. As soon as you enter your room the gorgeous backdrop of the bay, the swaying palm trees, and the ocean breeze hits you. Also very wonderful to wake up to a peaceful sunrise on the bay. On top of the scenery, there was a jacuzzi right on the cliff, which was very inviting at the end of the day, a nice place to sit and unwind.
As far as service went, the innkeeper was very welcoming and had lots of advice on what to do while we were in Hilo. She recommended the Akaka Falls hike (a beautiful hike in the Hamakua area), the Hilo Farmer’s Market, and the Volcano National Park hike (a must for anyone visiting the Big Island!). She always had a fresh tray of cut papaya, hard-​boiled eggs, banana bread, and an assortment of cereals, teas, and a pot of coffee out every morning. If we ever needed anything all we had to do was knock on the door connecting our common area and the host’s private home, and she would be there to assist.
The location was also extremely convenient, being only a 5 minute walk to downtown Hilo, the farmers market, and Hilo bay. It was like our own little place right in town. It was our first time to Hawaii, but will definitely not be our last, and if you are looking for a great place where you can both experience the beauty of Hilo, as well as feel extremely welcomed and well taken care of, I would absolutely recommend this place.

Eye popping view on Hilo Bay. Cliffside jacuzzi. Walking distance to downtown Hilo over the Wailuku River. Really convenient location. Breakfast consists of all fresh local fruits, yogurts, baked items, toast, coffee, juice, etc. Each guest room gets its own basket that you take and eat on the privacy of your own lanai. Hosts were nice but not obtrusive. Guests have a separate entrance and common area. Free wifi and ample parking. I would stay here again in a heart beat.

I stayed at the Bay House in January. It was so wonderful, I created a TripAdvisor account to write about it (my first online review). SInce I have been Unilocaling, I’d still like to share how amazing this place is so I hope nobody minds a little cross-​posting action since there’s only one other review here currently. It really did hurt to leave the Bay House:
Following a wedding on Oahu, I booked a little vacation time on the Big Island (Hilo and Kona) during my first trip to Hawaii. I found Bay House on the internet and after reading the nearly unanimous reviews on Trip Advisor, decided it would be my home base in Hilo. I arrived after an early morning flight from Oahu and a subsequent helicopter ride. I had let Tina know my estimated arrival time in advance and she left ample instructions for me if she wasn’t there when I arrived. Seeing my gorgeous room (Harbor Room) and the stunning view (at which I actually gasped) immediately offered some wonderful and restorative energy. The room is beautiful with an incredibly comfy king sized bed, sofa, desk, TV (though I didn’t turn it on), private lanai, free wifi, and bathroom with plus towels and toiletries. In addition to all of the guidebooks (both in the room and common area), they have thoughtfully added flashlights (for visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in the darker hours) and have beach towels and umbrellas available for guest use. Breakfast was wonderful too… amazing fresh fruit and bread (blueberry one day and banana the next) with juice, coffee, milk, yogurt, nuts, hardboiled eggs, and cereal available as well. It’s presented beautifully in a basket along with trays to take out to your lanai (which I always did). I ended both of my days in the jacuzzi, listening to the crashing waves, and enjoying the view.
Some reviewers in Trip Advisor commented that the tree frogs made their stays difficult. I didn’t find them to be loud at all. I clearly heard the ocean, their little sounds, and nothing else with my screened windows open each night. This made for blissful sleep.
And I love Hilo. The downtown area is charming and quaint with some interesting shops and restaurants. But also make sure to venture a little farther out too with your rental car (which you really should have here). I found amazing lau lau at a restaurant recommended in Lonely Planet as well as fantastic fresh fish at the Hilo Bay Café. There’s so much to do in the area: waterfalls to explore, gorgeous beaches (complete with some friendly sea turtles), downtown (mere steps away), the botanical gardens (to which I didn’t make it this time), the Hilo Farmers’ Market, Akatsuka Orchid Gardens, helicopter tours (I liked Blue Hawaiian), and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. I didn’t make it up the coast (There’s always and hopefully a next time!) There’s so much to do.
I was devastated to leave the Bay House and Hilo, which felt like my own, little private paradise thanks to the special touches and thoughtfulness of Tina and her husband and the location. It was everything I wanted and needed (and honestly, made the much more touristy Kona, where I went next, seem rather disappointing and commercial).
And a final thought… I’ve also seen several reviews over on Trip Advisor, where I had done much of my early research, that somehow say in a list that Bay House wouldn’t be good for single travelers. I heartily disagree. I was there alone and would happily go back alone. It’s a great escape (though if I found someone special, I would bring him too).