~~~ Return to Paradise ~~~

Guest: Silvia & David (In the Shadow Of Yosemite ~ California~ USA)
Date of Stay: 07/04/09 Review Submitted: 08/03/11

Sweet and lovely only begins to describe the essence of Gini and Steve Martin's "Somewhere Estates" peacefully located in the pastoral environs of the Wailua Homesteads mere minutes from the nearby Coconut Coastal towns of Kapa'a, Waipouli, and Lihue and within easy reach of everything else on the island. So much of our hosts personality is evident in their aloha lifestyle and in what they have to offer their guests: Our cottage was in a splendid state of readiness upon our arrival on the 4th of July. Due to a flight delay, we arrived on island in the dead of night. Concerned that Gini would be worried, we let her know... she said not to worry because the cottage would be open and waiting for us whenever we arrived. We navigated our way to our home away from home for the next 15 days in a refreshing Kauaian rain shower. Everything was exactly as Gini said it would be. There was fresh bedding, towels, freshly cleaned bathrooms and kitchen, and spotless floors. The surrounding landscaping was treating us to the night scents and aromas that can only be found on this magical island! We had indeed returned to paradise!!! In our humble opinion and echoing the opinions of our fellow reviewers, this is THE place to stay while visiting Kaua'i. Our heartfelt thanks to you Gini for making this wonderful experience possible and to you Steve for thinking of new ways to make future guests even more comfortable.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children, romantic getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

Best Family Deal for Extending Stay in Kauai

Guest: Traveling California Family (Upland, CA USA)
Date of Stay: 06/01/11 Review Submitted: 06/21/11

My family spent 10 days at this Wailua cottage and couldn't have been more pleased. The house is situated up in the cooler and quieter country of the Wailua Homesteads, and yet is centrally located, with quick access to Kapaa and the main highway, which takes you north to Ha'ena or south to Poipu. The place was clean and well-stocked with towels, sheets, kitchen supplies and beach gear with plenty of room for two teen-age kids, mom, and dad to stretch out and find some space. We loved waking up to birds singing, drinking coffee on the lanai, and falling asleep to the sound of frogs--and maybe a little rain. The grounds were beautiful with lots of greenery and flowers. Gini and Steve helped us with information prior to our departure that allowed us to make some decisions and reservations before arriving. While staying at their cottage, Gini and Steve were both helpful and informative, but not intrusive. We had never been to Kauai so wanted to make the most of our of stay which meant trading in a beachfront condo for an extended stay. The kids will agree, the money we saved to spend on zip-lining, rafting, touring, snorkeling, and renting a soft-top Jeep made staying off the beaten path worth it. Every morning we were up early, ate breakfast at home, packed snacks and drinks in cooler, and headed off to our adventure. Returning home to our cool quiet garden spot at the end of the day was perfect. Then we would all take a quick shower (two bathrooms in this place - a real plus for a family of four) and head out to one of the delicious restaurants in Kapaa, minutes down the road.

Owner response:Thanks guys....It was a pleasure have you folks staying here. Hope you will be back and that you keep in touch. Mahalo and Aloha Steve and Gini

Recommended for:Sightseeing, age 55+, families with teenagers.

AMAZING!!! :)

Guest: Lindsay (Nebraska)
Date of Stay: 10/06/09 Review Submitted: 01/09/11

Gini and Steve were amazing hosts! Gini was great with emailing me extra photos and information prior to our trip. We stayed for 10 wonderful days for our honeymoon. All the little extras like snorkel gear, beach chairs, etc. were great to have. It was great to have Gini and Steve close if we needed anything but they never intruded on our privacy either. We can't wait until we can come back to stay because it was such an amazing experience the first time!! :)

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children, romantic getaway, age 55+.

Wonderful experience and a great vacation !!!!!

Guest: Ken and Monica (San Antonio, Tx.)
Date of Stay: 06/25/10 Review Submitted: 08/24/10

I'm so glad we chose to stay here for our vacation. Gini was an excellent host...answered all questions, but also gave us plenty of privacy. The central location was perfect. Just minutes away from the ocean but tucked away in the tropical surroundings....very peaceful. Wish we could have stayed another week. The house was great...clean and ready for our arrival... much better than being stuck in a small hotel/condo room with a mini fridge and a hot plate. The cool breeze at night was great...didn't need the a/c in the summertime. That's unheard of in Texas. The fern grotto and Smith Family Luau down the road is a definite must. We hope to plan another trip in the not to distant future and will definetly call Gini to stay here once more. Thanks again, Ken and Monica

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing, families with young children, romantic getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

Guest: Jason & Laura (-)
Date of Stay: 08/11/09 Review Submitted: 08/11/09

Great place to stay, away from the insanity of all the commercial resorts. To experience the island like a local, you've got to live like one. This cottage was clean, bright, and close to town. Pleasant lanai for those trade wind breezes. All in all, a great place to stay!

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Guest: Dale, Deb and Heidi (Alaska)
Date of Stay: 04/06/09 Review Submitted: 04/06/09

We always use VRBO for our stays in Kauai. This was a great place, kid friendly, real nice screened porch for morning breakfast or just relaxing. Steve even cut down some bananas from the yard for us. Nice quiet location, centrally located. We will be back on our next trip. Dale, Deb and Heidi Alaska

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Guest: Kerstin and Markus Pizka (85659 Forstern Germany)
Date of Stay: 02/13/09 Review Submitted: 02/13/09

We stayed here with our 1 year-old son from Dec 25-31, 2008. We got a port-a-crib and a high chair for him, which was very comfortable. We enjoyed the stay in this cottage as it is laid-back and you can be on your own. It is very spacious and you have really everything you need! The owners are very friendly. We would definitely come back again.

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Guest: Teresa Morrison (Aledo, TX)
Date of Stay: 07/09/08 Review Submitted: 07/09/08

We had a great stay and Gini was so helpful in so many ways. The cottage is cute and centrally located. The view to and from the cottage is breathtaking. Thanks for everything.

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Guest: Amy & Katie (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 06/05/08 Review Submitted: 06/05/08

Mahalo for the lovely stay!! The cottage was convenient to visit both sides of the island and to also be near restaurants, shopping, and the airport. But very quiet and quaint. The porch is wonderful for late night and early morning relaxing. We really appreciated all the things that made our vacation so comfortable- the beach supplies, washer/dryer, coffee maker, and the 2 bathrooms!! Thank you, we had a wonderful time!

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Guest: Heidi and Eric Sonsino (Ashburn, VA)
Date of Stay: 03/25/08 Review Submitted: 03/25/08

Our stay in the cottage couldn't have been more perfect for our Honeymoon. Everything was better than we expected. The location is perfect and the cottage is so cute and welcoming. A lovely "home away from home." Gini is so sweet and kind. We enjoyed all the sounds of nature and were even pleased to hear the raindrops coming down. We highly recommend Gini and Steve's cottage for your stay in Kauai! Mahalo and Aloha! Heidi and Eric Sonsino

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