Bay Front Bungalow - Paradise

Guest: Kona Honu (Redwood City, CA)
Date of Stay: 01/16/12 Review Submitted: 02/04/12

This place was so much more than I expected. A small and comfortable house on a large lot and you walk into your own tide pool to snorkel. Plenty of lounging space on the lanai and around the property. Sitting in the evening on the lawn down by the water was wonderful. Quiet, no traffic, no hustle or bustle, the real Hawaii experience you may be looking for. We were confirmed Kona visitors, but the Puna District has captured our hearts. It would have been nice if kayaks were available at the property. I would have given the place a five star rating but it needs a good cleaning. If you want to get away from it all at a great price this is the place. We can't wait to return to this charming bungalow.

Owner response:Thank you for staying with us. The new owners are now providing kayaks too! And the bungalow is getting an update as well! Please come back and see us! - The Management.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, people with disabilities, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children.

Beautiful Property, quiet and relaxing

Guest: Travelbug (Vancouver, BC, Canada)
Date of Stay: 11/12/11 Review Submitted: 12/03/11

We stayed 5 nights and enjoyed the beauty of this property and the Puna Distract, the turtles in the lagoon, sound of waves, the lava tree forest, easy access to the volcano and a lot of other interesting drives and sightseeing. Do check out the farmer's markets in the area including a new night market in Kalapana. The photos of the property are exact and the cabin is an older well used vacation spot - it is clean and functional. The kitchen amenaties need to be updated/replaced (I realize things rust in the tropics but that shouldn't include cutlery, pots and cooking utensils.) Champaign pond is not worth the effort when you have your own "pond" in the front yard. There was construction happening in the property next door so be sure to ask if that is ongoing. All in all we enjoyed our stay and it met our expectations.

Owner response:Thank you for visiting us. We have replaced pots and pans and have new cutlery! Mahalo the Management

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+.

Paradise Found

Guest: Linda & Terry (Reno, Nevada)
Date of Stay: 05/07/11 Review Submitted: 05/11/11

We just spent 4 nights at The Bungalow. It's a fabulous location for exploring the Puna district and the Volcano Park. Very peaceful and relaxing even with construction next door. The Champagne Pond is within waking distance and rivals the Ahalanui pool. If you plan on visiting the Big Island, buy the tour book entitled "Hawaii The Big Island Revealed" by Andrew Doughty. There's a copy generously provided at the house:) We hiked to the lava swimming pool mentioned in the tour book. VERY COOL!! The only drawback, we had no cell phone coverage while at the house. Evidently, Verizon doesn't have the most extensive coverage nationwide! AT&T supposedly works in this area. Wireless worked great though. The house and property are clean and well maintained. It looks better than the photos indicate. Kitchen has all appliances and utensils you could want but no condiments or spices. We will definitely be back for a longer stay!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, people with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers.

Wonderful stay at Bay Bungalow

Guest: Lynda and Darrell (Olympia, WA)
Date of Stay: 04/13/11 Review Submitted: 04/25/11

We enjoyed a wonderful, relaxing week at the Bay Bungalow. It was far too short and we would love to return soon. It was fantastic to just walk across the lawn into the bay for snorkeling and just enjoying the warm water. Everything we needed was there and the house was very comfortable. The Bay Bungalow is convenient to lots of other sites and activities including nearby Kapoho Tide Pools, Ahalanui Hot Pool, Champagne Pond, the restaurants of Pahoa and Kilauea crater hiking. We can't wait to go back.

Owner response:Aloha Lynda and Darrell: Thank you for joining us. We hope you come back again soon! The Management

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

Quiet escape

Guest: Laura (June Lake, CA)
Date of Stay: 11/19/10 Review Submitted: 01/29/11

Spacious, clean, private, private community, easy walking. Of the 5 places we stayed in the islands on this trip, this was our favorite. Things don't have to be brand new to be perfect and yours was.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, people with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+.

GREAT LOCATION/POOR ACCOMODATIONS

Guest: Mitch (San Jose, CA)
Date of Stay: 11/05/10 Review Submitted: 11/15/10

The location of this bungalow is beautiful and peaceful but the accomodations are poor in our opinion. There is rust on the bathroom fixtures, door knobs, window cranks and even on a light switch. Mold and mildew on several surfaces. While the pictures look great they do not tell the true story. The nearby grocery store is very limited in its selection of quality food.

Owner response:Unfortunately, when you live right next to the ocean in Hawaii, anything that is metal will rust almost immediately. In the tropics, mildew is a constant problem, even with an excellent housekeeper paying attention to it. We will continue to do the best we can to offer low cost accommodations in a rural, beautiful tropical setting. The Management

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Just Perfect

Guest: bryant and family (Bloomington, IN)
Date of Stay: 05/30/10 Review Submitted: 06/08/10

What a wonderful property! We had such a perfect vacation. The swimming in the attached cove is amazing. Sea turtles are in there at all times. Champaign Pond was a mile walk away and the Kapoho tidepools were just a short drive. The setting is just paradise. The only problem is that the house is so pleasant and relaxing you don't want to leave to see all of the wonderful sites on the eastern side of the island. Do yourself a favor and stay here if you are ever thinking of staying in the area. Thirty minutes to Volcanos and Hilo. Just under two hours to Waipio Valley. Kitchen is great. There is no longer a gas grill or a swing.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/10/10 Review Submitted: 03/10/10

We have stayed in many places on the Hawaiian Islands and this house is still our favorite!If you are looking for a quiet place to retreat to, this is it! Waking up to the sound of the ocean waves coming into the bay, the rustle of the wind through the coconut trees and the beautiful ocean view were so relaxing! We enjoyed snorkelling in the lagoon with the sea turtles and the many colorful fish and relaxing on the lanai. We have wonderful memories of our stay!!

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Guest: Renee & Jim (-)
Date of Stay: 03/08/10 Review Submitted: 03/08/10

Thanks for having your great cottage available. What a beautiful spot, so nice & quiet. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay, hopefully we’ll be back on day!Thanks again for the great place!We loved the view~

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Guest: Louise & David (-)
Date of Stay: 02/19/10 Review Submitted: 02/19/10

Beautiful place – we wish we had longer here. Swims, walks, total peace and quiet. Thanks for making your place available ~ we will return. The only suggestions ~ we agree with the guests from 16th January – more than one wine glass!

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