Perfect start to our Hawaii vacation

Guest: Gala P. (Kansas City, Missouri)
Date of Stay: 11/13/11 Review Submitted: 05/08/12

We loved everything about Lagoon Shangrila. We wished we would have booked our entire trip here rather than spending time on the west coast of Hawaii. Comfortable and beautifully decorated, Lagoon Shangrila exceeded our expectations. The best part of the whole trip was getting to speak with Steve, one of the people helping with the property. He offered is invaluable information and tips about the best snorkeling spots, island ecology, etc. Thanks Steve, and thanks to Lagoon Shangrila for our lovely time.

Recommended for:

A gem!

Guest: Jo (New York)
Date of Stay: 04/21/12 Review Submitted: 05/01/12

This ended up being our favorite place to stay on the east side of the Big Island. Lagoon Shangrila was creatively designed and decorated with care. It was like visiting with relatives who work hard to make your time with them enjoyable. The large and well-stocked kitchen made meal prep with multiple chefs a pleasure. The tv area was a little small, but who wants to spend alot of time in front of a tv when in Hawaii anyway? Using the tidal pool as a focus for the entire home along with the outside living areas was genius! The window wall blurs the distinction between inside and outside and the covered outdoor eating space extends the family gathering area with class (and coverage during daily showers). Two separate sleeping areas made for nighttime privacy and the three full baths were great. The neighborhood was enjoyable to walk and the tide pools were really only a few minutes away. Really! Although first time visitors, we felt that we received a more realistic sense of living in Puna because of the location of Lagoon Shangrila. And we appreciated that the owners did such a great job designing and decorating this property. If we are lucky enough to return to Hawaii, we would definitely seek to stay in their home on the west side of the island along with a return to Shangrila Lagoon.

Owner response:Aloha Joanne. A Big Mahalo for taking time to share your thoughts about Lagoon Shangrila. Our mission it to provide Memories of a Lifetime to our guests. We will post your review on our website.. to share with other potential guests. We look forward to your return visit and please remember to ask for a "Returning Guest Discount" when you book. Aloha from Trisha and Sterling

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

A real gem

Guest: Franz W. (-)
Date of Stay: 04/06/12 Review Submitted: 04/10/12

Amazing how this peaceful place transforms you. The setting is unique, from the tide-pool and the hot tub, the wonderful lanai, the great noise with which the many frogs fill the lush tropical environment, the view from the barbecue (great place to do your cooking !), all the way to great snorkeling in walking distance. All in all a phenomenal place, with amenities more abundant than we have seen anywhere. The loving care started with a gift basket which greeted us on the table, carried on to loads of basic groceries provided for and did not end with a very helpful and swift response to the only issue we had -- which was self-inflicted ... It goes without saying that we found the place in a very clean and good condition, with everything well attended to. As is adequately pointed out in the description, the Shangrila is a little far out for those who want to explore more than relax. We combined both and could not have been merrier. Thank you, Trisha and Sterling, for a grand experience !

Recommended for:

Mendes family

Guest: Debra (-)
Date of Stay: 03/25/12 Review Submitted: 04/02/12

A wonderful place, you feel very secluded and tucked away in your own piece of paradise. Great location to all the tide pools. We had a wonderful stay at lagoon shangrilla!

Owner response:Aloha Debra and Tony.. Mahalo for taking time out to write a review on your stay at Lagoon Shangrila ! We always enjoy reading what our guests say in the review as we strive to provide "Memories of a Lifetime" to all who visit. We look forward to your return and please let us know that you are a returning guest and we will extend a "Returning Guest Discount". Aloha and Mahalo, Trisha and Sterling

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, sightseeing.

Jo and Jim

Guest: Jo (Nelson, bc, canada)
Date of Stay: 01/16/70 Review Submitted: 02/29/12

We loved our short stay at the shangrila lagoon. The home was beautiful and really well set up with all we needed to make ourselves at home . The location was great for exploring the Puna district and the volcano . We will definitely recommend this oasis to our friends. Our hosts were very accommodating re our arrival time. They left lots of information about places to see and where to eat, however we only ate out once as it was such a pleasure to dine outside in their garden . Thank you for sharing your lovely home.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Perfect

Guest: Christa (Vienna, Austria)
Date of Stay: 02/04/12 Review Submitted: 02/14/12

I came over to Hawaii with some friends and we stayed 3 nights in this beautiful house. Everybody was speechless! It was perfect and as beautiful as it promised to be. We enjoyed every minute. A great place to relax and hang loose. I will come back one day!

Owner response:Mahalo Christa, We are so glad to help make your Hawaiian Holiday Special. Looking forward to welcoming you back soon.

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

Our Stay at Lagoon Shangrila

Guest: Quiet David (Western North Carolina)
Date of Stay: 01/11/12 Review Submitted: 01/22/12

We had a wonderful time! Lagoon Shangrila was thoughtfully outfitted with everything you need for a relaxing, enjoyable stay. The natural pool filled with fish was just the crowning jewel. We'd love to return for another visit.

Owner response:Aloha David.. Thank you so much for your great review on Lagoon Shangrila. We are so happy that you found this beautiful spot for your vacation.. it is for sure...the real Hawaii. So much to do here and never enough time ! Please come back and bring your friends and family.. we will be happy to extend our "Frequent Guest Discount" to you. Aloha Trisha and Sterling

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

An Amazing Place to Stay!

Guest: Marcia G.
Date of Stay: 07/20/11 Review Submitted: 08/15/11

This house was our 2nd stop on a 4 week holiday to 3 islands, and we were so glad we made the choice to stay on the Hilo side at Lagoon Shangrila! The house is spacious (we were 4 adults and 4 kids), tidy, and did have everything you needed. The pond was a huge hit, and the hot tub was perfect after a long day hiking at the Volcano! The tide pools just down the road were spectacular! We are very well travelled in both the Caribbean and the Mayan Riviera/Mexico, and this is some of the best snorkelling we have ever done, hands down. It was wonderful to walk down the street, enjoy the tide pools, and then throw something on the grill for dinner while enjoying the peaceful yard. Trisha and Sterling have done a terrific job of making this property private and luxurious. It is about a 45 min. drive to Hilo, but it was perfect for us to feel like we were getting away after having been in Honolulu. The culture here is laid back and welcoming and we enjoyed chatting with the locals to find out about the hidden gems near by (the hidden black sand beach several miles down hwy 137 was one of the best places we visited during our 4 weeks in Hawaii) Do drive to the end of the road where the lava flowed across it and there is a new beach forming beyond the lava field. Do take at least a full day (or 2) in Volcanoes National Park and walk through the Kilauea Iki Caldera (4 miles), it is worth every step. Do go back to the Park at night to see the Caldera glowing orange, and the millions of stars in the sky (your park pass is good for 7 days) Do walk to the very end of the Thurston Lava Tubes-take a flashlight or you can't do this. Do drive the Chain of Craters Road right to the Sea Arch, the next big lava flow may destroy this area! Do take a helicopter tour over the active vent, a trip highlight! Do hike to Akaka Falls, eat at Cafe Pesto and Ponds in Hilo, visit the Japanese Gardens and Coconut Island on Banyan Drive. Do go to Big Island Candies and try everything! The Chocolate dipped Mac Nut Shortbread is to die for--we brought several boxes home with us! Enjoy the tropical rainforest, I do miss the beauty of it. We drove the south route on Hwy 11 to Kona for my husband to do the Manta Ray night dive-excellent, and the north route on Hwy 19 back to Hilo, and are glad we chose Hilo as our location, it was just a great place to stay to enjoy all that this island has to offer while feeling relaxed and refreshed as we moved on to Maui. Thanks Trisha & Sterling!

Owner response:Aloha Marcia.. Mahalo Nui Loa ! What a wonderful review you gave us on Lagoon Shangrila ! We just love that our guests enjoy the property as much as we do.. there is so much to do on this island and having a private and luxurious home awaiting your return from you daily adventures makes for a perfect stay ! We wish you beautiful travels throughout the islands. Come back and visit the Big Island again.. and bring your family and friends. We will be happy to extend a "Frequent Guest Discount" to you. Aloha ! Trisha and Sterling

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

Paradise in May

Guest: Misia (Quakertown, PA)
Date of Stay: 05/21/11 Review Submitted: 06/23/11

Aloha. My husband and friend and I stayed at Shangrila from 5/21 to 5/31/11. It was perfect. Shangrila is so pretty and peaceful we almost didn't leave to see the volcanos, farmer's market, tide pools, black sand beach, lava tree park, rainforest etc. Yes, you must drive to everything but the location is well worth it. Sterling answered my many e-mails full of questions in a timely manner. While there we had a problem with the tv one evening and we had a new one almost the next day. Wanting to see a "touristy" event I asked about a luau and Sterling recommened one closest to Shangrila which was still across the island. We had a great time and enjoyed the food and show. We ate at Pesto's in Hilo twice and at Pookies, a roadside diner, met quite a few locals who clearly have not gotten out of the '60's. It was like reliving our youth again. Weather was in the 80's and no humidity. One thing we almost missed was airconditioning. But in the evening the trade winds came through and every room has a ceiling fan so we were quite comfortable. Our long trip from and back to Pennsylvania was certainly worth it. Mahalo

Owner response:Aloha Michaeline, A Big Mahalo to you for taking time to write a review on Lagoon Shangrila. So sorry my response is so late, but it "fell through the cracks" and I apologize for that ! We are so happy you enjoyed your stay.. We strive to give our guests Memories of a Lifetime... so when you would like to return, please let us know and we will extend a "Returning Guest Discount". Aloha and Mahalo, Trisha and Sterling Lagoon Shangrila Hawaii Shangrila Vacations

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

Amazing

Guest: kandles (South Australia)
Date of Stay: 06/04/11 Review Submitted: 06/19/11

Words cannot describe how pleased we were with this place. Everything and I mean everything was perfect. Everything you could possible need was there for you in a cupboard or a drawer. We had such a lovely time here. A family of 2 adults, 2 children and another couple. Plenty of space, the tide pool was great, the hot spa under the stars amongst the coconut palms, AMAZING !!! A little far from Hilo, but it was a place we had planned our daily trips around so it was perfect. Spent a lovely early evening out at the tide pools snorkelling. Ate in town a few times. The Thai at Ning's was good as was the food at Black rock Cafe. Had the shaved ice at Wilson's by the bay. Waited an hour, but boy was it worth it. Overall, a fabulous stay. Would thoroughly reccommend the Lagoon Shangrila. Thanks once again to Trisha and Sterling.

Owner response:Aloha Kandy.. Sorry for late reply, but wanted to thank you so very much for taking time to give us such a great review. We love that our guests appreciate Lagoon Shangrila as much as we do. Please let us know when you want to return and ask about our "Returning Guest Discount". Aloha and Mahalo, Trisha and Sterling Lagoon Shangrila Hawaii Shangrila Vacations

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