Big Island (Kona & Hilo) from Rochester, Nov 19–24: $2,602 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- $756 per person, $678 below the typical fare on this route
- Sea-view king room at Tranquility Guest House, rated 9.2 from 97 reviews
- Typical highs of 80–81°F in Kona for Nov 19–24
The catch: United flies with 2 stops and takes 15h 29m on the way out, and a checked bag is about $160 for two, not in the total.
Worth it if a two-stop, 15h 29m flight is fine for a volcano-and-snorkel week; skip it if you need a nonstop.
Worth it if you can sit through two stops: $2,602 for two, all in, covers United flights at $1,512 plus 5 nights at Tranquility Guest House at $937 and its $153 in property fees, with taxes and fees included. You leave Rochester on Thursday, Nov 19 and come home Tuesday, Nov 24, 2026. The flight isn't nonstop: it has 2 stops and takes 15h 29m on the way out.
The total, before you go
$2,602 for two · 5 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $1,512 |
| Tranquility Guest House, 5 nights, two guests, taxes in | $937 |
| Resort fee, collected at the desk | $153 |
| The total, before you go | $2,602 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $160 |
$678 per person below the typical fare on this route.
Not in it: seat picks on basic fares and a checked bag (about $40 each way per bag on United, $160 for two round trip); the resort fee is counted above. Prices are what we found at the time shown; the booking site’s checkout is the binding one.
The flight
$756 per person, round trip
$1,512 for two, taxes and fees included · United · 2 stops · 15h 29m
Out Thu, Nov 19, 6:10 AM – Thu, Nov 19, 4:39 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| United | $756 | 2 stops | 15h 29m |
| United. Operated by Republic Airways DBA United Express | $1,129 | 2 stops | 14h 49m |
| American + Alaska. Operated by Envoy Air as American Eagle + Alaska as Hawaiian Airlines | $1,200 | 2 stops | 17h 17m |
Prices checked Oct 15, 2026, 8:20 AM EDT. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
Tweak this trip
Why now
At $756 per person, the fare is $678 below the typical fare on this route. That's 47% under the $1,434 median of our earlier checks and the lowest we've seen in 30 days. For these dates we saw fares from $756 to $1,548 per person. Late November falls between Kona's Ironman weekend in October and the humpback whale season, when the Kohala Coast peaks from December through March. Typical highs are 80–81°F with lows near 70°F, and the normals show mostly overcast days. That's warm enough for a night snorkel with manta rays and a kayak morning on Kealakekua Bay. The prices were all-in when we checked, but they can move, so look at the live price before you commit.
The kind of trip this is
This is a nature-and-beach road-trip island: volcano craters one day, coffee farms and snorkel bays the next. It suits couples or friends who like to drive, hike a little and get in the water, with walkable Kailua-Kona as the base. The pace is easy mornings and full days out, with five nights to split between the Kona side and a drive to the volcano.
Weather in Big Island (Kona & Hilo), Nov 19–24
Typical highs 80–81°F, lows near 70°F this time of year
| Day | Typical high | Typical low | Typical weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Nov 19 | 81 °F | 70 °F | Overcast |
| Fri, Nov 20 | 80 °F | 69 °F | Overcast |
| Sat, Nov 21 | 80 °F | 69 °F | Partly cloudy |
| Sun, Nov 22 | 81 °F | 70 °F | Overcast |
| Mon, Nov 23 | 80 °F | 70 °F | Overcast |
| Tue, Nov 24 | 81 °F | 70 °F | Overcast |
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com · averages, not a forecast
Where to stay in Big Island (Kona & Hilo)
All three are in Kailua-Kona, the walkable seaside town with coffee shops, snorkel tours and mid-range hotels. Tranquility Guest House is the best value and the one in our total: a King Room with Sea View at $937 for 5 nights ($187 a night), rated 9.2 from 97 reviews. It has no free cancellation, and its $153 in property fees is already counted. Aston Kona By The Sea is the 4-star, ocean-front pick, with a one-bedroom suite at $2,280 for the stay ($456 a night), rated 8.3 from 327 reviews and $359 in fees at the property. Kona Mansions is the flexible pick: a one-bedroom apartment at $1,050 ($210 a night), rated 8.6 from 26 reviews, with free cancellation and $172 in fees at the property.
Tranquility Guest House
$937 for 5 nights, two guests · $187 a night
See roomsAston Kona By The Sea
$2,280 for 5 nights, two guests · $456 a night
See roomsKona Mansions
$1,050 for 5 nights, two guests · $210 a night
See roomsAll hotels in Big Island (Kona & Hilo) for these dates
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Where in Big Island (Kona & Hilo)
- Kohala Coast (Waikoloa, Mauna Lani, Mauna Kea): The island's sunniest resort strip with golden beaches and golf.
- Kailua-Kona: Walkable seaside town with coffee shops, snorkel tours and mid-range hotels.
- Volcano Village: Rainforest B&Bs at the gate of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
- Hilo: Rainy east-side town near waterfalls and the volcano, at budget rates.
- Captain Cook / Kealakekua: Coffee-farm country above the best snorkelling bay.
What to do in Big Island (Kona & Hilo)
- See the Kilauea caldera at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
- Snorkel with manta rays at night off Kona
- Kayak and snorkel Kealakekua Bay at the Captain Cook monument
- Stargaze from the Mauna Kea visitor station
- Walk the black sand of Punaluu Beach
- Tour a Kona coffee farm above the bay
Tours and tickets in Big Island (Kona & Hilo)
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Getting there and around
| Airports in Rochester | Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International (ROC) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Big Island (Kona & Hilo) | Kona International (KOA), Hilo International (ITO) |
| Flight time | 15h 29m (2 stops) |
| Distance | 4,726 miles each way |
| Time difference | -5 hours |
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
What 5 nights in Big Island (Kona & Hilo) costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $1,512 |
| Hotel, 5 nights (Tranquility Guest House) | $937 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 5 days for two | $1,300 |
| Total for two | $3,749 |
Flights and hotel are the prices we found; spending is a planning estimate for an upscale destination, per person per day times two.
Price history: Rochester to Big Island (Kona & Hilo)
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $756 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $756 (Oct 15, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $1,434 |
| Price checks | 6 |
Good to know
- Passport: no passport needed for travelers from the United States: a government photo ID is enough for Big Island (Kona & Hilo).
- Currency: US dollar (USD).
- No passport needed, and you pay in US dollars.
- Kona is 5 hours behind Rochester.
- The outbound flight leaves ROC at 6:10 AM and lands in Kona at 4:39 PM, with 2 stops.
- A checked bag is about $160 for two and isn't in the $2,602 total, and neither is spending money.
- Tranquility Guest House has no free cancellation; Kona Mansions does.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Worth it if the flight doesn't bother you. The fare is $678 per person below the typical fare on this route, and the guest house is rated 9.2. The catch is 2 stops and 15h 29m on the way out.
How much is the whole trip for two?
It's $2,602 for two, all in: United flights at $1,512, 5 nights at Tranquility Guest House at $937 and $153 in property fees, with taxes included. A checked bag, about $160 for two, and spending money are extra.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip, and you pay in US dollars.
What's the weather like?
For Nov 19–24, typical highs are 80–81°F with lows near 70°F. The normals show mostly overcast days with one partly cloudy day, which is still warm enough for the beach and snorkeling.
Is 5 nights enough?
It's enough for Kona's bays, a coffee farm, a night manta snorkel and a day trip to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The 15h 29m flight takes up most of your first day.
Which airport do I fly into?
This fare lands at Kona International (KOA), close to the Kailua-Kona hotels. Hilo International (ITO) serves the island's east side.
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All trips from Rochester · Big Island (Kona & Hilo) from every city · Prices on this route · Trips in November 2026 · Home
Big Island (Kona & Hilo) in pictures
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