Keeping with the Big Island's great variations in geography and climate, the island offers many accommodation choices, all well matched to their coastal, upcountry, volcano or quiet seaside surroundings.

Hilo is the state's second-largest city. Settled along picturesque Hilo Bay at the southeast end of the lush Hamakua Coast, this historic town features a mix of bed & breakfasts, hotels and rental homes in various parts of town. The majority of the town's condominiums and economy and mid-level hotels are clustered along the tree-lined oceanfront roadway known as Banyan Drive. Traveling north on the Hamakua Highway you'll pass through a series of rural, former plantation towns, many of which offer comfortable bed & breakfast lodging.

An hour outside of Hilo, the Hamakua Highway bends away from the coast and heads upcountry into the lush ranchlands of Waimea and Parker Ranch. Still very rural, Waimea's lodgings tend to be of the rustic inn or bed & breakfast variety along the town's main street or not too far off the thoroughfare.

Kohala and Waikoloa, at the north end of the island's western coast, is often referred to as "The Gold Coast." This arid region is studded with luxury hotels, world-ranked beaches, Hawaiian historical sites and golf courses carved into ancient lava flows.

The wide-open, sunny Kona Coast occupies much of the western side of the island, stretching from Kohala in the north to Ka Lae on the island's southern tip. Kailua-Kona, the coast's centerpiece, is a bustling vacation town that is a home to a mix of accommodations -- economy hotels and inns, condominiums and rental homes.

For a completely different experience, on the upper southern flanks of the island you'll find Volcano Village, a forested town minutes away from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The Volcano area offers a historic hotel and a mix of rental cabins and bed & breakfasts.

Hotel brands on the Big Island include Outrigger, Castle, Prince, Mauna Lani Bay, Starwood and Four Seasons. The Big Island offers two 5-star resorts, Four Seasons Hualalai and Hapuna Beach Prince, and no all-inclusive resorts. Timeshare / vacation ownership opportunities are also available.