Close to some amazing stuff

Guest: hippoman (Menlo Park, CA)
Date of Stay: 10/01/06 Review Submitted: 11/09/06

Much of what I read before going to the Big Island featured Kona, but the Hilo side, especially between Hilo and the volcano, is amazing. Besides being a wonderful house, it gave us access to breathtaking beaches (go to Kehena and see what I mean!), lovely meandering drives in glorious jungle, and quaint towns that were quite a treat to explore. And the volcano--literally right up the road--matchless in its opportunities to see things you just can't see anywhere else in the world so easily. What a wonderful honeymoon this was! Thank you so much.

Recommended for:

Wonderful weekend get away!

Guest: Rennette P.
Date of Stay: 12/02/11 Review Submitted: 12/07/11

My family and I stayed at the Hale Ipo Retreat Home and we really enjoyed our stay for the weekend. The home is beautiful and was very clean upon arrival. The kitchen is well stocked with everything needed to cook for big family. Our party of 8 slept quite comfortably in such a spacious home. The property is fenced and the front entrance is secured with a locking gate. It rained all weekend so we did not venture out, but we were so happy and snug that we were sad that the weekend came to an end. Thank you to Beth, Sandy and Kerri for providing a wonderful and peaceful space to relax and enjoy some great family time.

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

Great get away for a weekend stay!

Guest: Rennette P.
Date of Stay: 12/02/11 Review Submitted: 12/07/11

My family and I stayed at this Hale Ipo Retreat and really enjoyed our stay. The home is beautiful and very clean and we had everything we needed. The transaction was very convenient and stress free. The beds were great. There were 8 people in our party and we all slept quite comfortably. I had one question about the property so I called the caretaker and she was very pleasant and helpful. It was cold and rainy all weekend long, as this is Hawaii's rainy season, so we did not venture out at all. We were happy to stay indoors and enjoy the home in the company of loved ones. We will be renting this home again in the future. Thank you to Beth, Sandy and Kerri for a wonderful weekend spent at Hale Ipo.

Recommended for:

Christmas get-a-way

Guest: Don (Upland, California)
Date of Stay: 12/23/10 Review Submitted: 01/14/11

My wife and I spent 7 days at one of the most relaxing VRBO houses in our experience of several years traveling around the world. As a trained French chef, I was pleasantly surprised by the kitchen cutlery, pots and pans. We had an enjoyable and delightful experience on the island. The house is extremely clean and I cannot think of any way to improve the accommodations. The house is easy to find and within a short drive to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Hilo. I have already recommended the house to several of our friends.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, pet owners, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

A Slice of Heaven

Guest: Anandaloha (Kea'au Hi)
Date of Stay: 10/17/09 Review Submitted: 10/26/09

I had the pleasure of using this home to conduct a private class for Reiki. The atmosphere of the home provides an instantly soothing serenity. This house is missing nothing in it's ability to provide a space for healing as it fills the need for relaxation and beauty. I have seen many vacation rental homes on this island. This one is by far the best that this side of the island has to offer.

Owner response:Thank you for posting this beautiful note! To hear your words makes our hearts warm --soothing serenity, relaxation, and beautiful elegance the vision that came to us when we became called to purchase and share this home. Aloha to you.

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

Awesome Big Island Trip

Guest: Brian Jordi (UNITED STATES)
Date of Stay: 10/08/09 Review Submitted: 10/13/09

Greetings, Suzy and Beth are more than accomodating with this particular vacation rental. The house is located within 10 minutes to KTA supermarkets, 30 mins to Hawaii National Volcano Park, 1hr away from Mauna Kea, and 20 minutes to Hilo Airport. The house itself is absolutely a steal at the price, comfort seems to be the major concern along with making one feel at home. I am from Oahu and decided to take some r & r time with close friends and wasn't disappointed. I will definitely come back to visit Big Island and stay at this property! Thanks again Suzy and Beth!

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

Truly a Sacred Place!!

Guest: Amy F (Nyack, NY)
Date of Stay: 04/21/09 Review Submitted: 05/27/09

Words can not describe the gratitude I feel to the owners of this home. They have clearly invested a lot of time and money to create a very healing and peaceful home, not to mention their attention to detail, cleanliness, and space! I intended to only stay 3 weeks, but ended up staying an additional 2 weeks (even though I had a free place to stay) because I didn't want to leave. The energy and vibe of the home is very soothing and supportive - a true home away from home! I highly recommend this place for anyone who is looking to hang there hat at night after exploring the island, or if you're just looking to get away and retreat from the world - this home is something special - a very healing, sacred place - there were days that I never left the house - it's that great!!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

SO BEAUTIFUL and PEACEFUL

Guest: DynastyBullies (Oahu, Kapolei, Hawaii)
Date of Stay: 02/12/09 Review Submitted: 02/20/09

We had the PLEASURE of staying at Suzy's beautiful house. Let me tell you, we have stayed at several houses in this area, and this one by far was the most peaceful, beautiful, serene place. They spared NO EXPENSE in their decorations.. and decor. It is just simply put, beautiful, relaxing, and superb. I could not even begin to put into words how nice and relaxing the house is. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED... could not ask for better people to deal with, to add the last touch to a great vacation! THANK YOU for allowing us to share your place!

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

Spectacularly Equipped, Comfortable, Spotless!

Guest: B3nT (Austin, TX)
Date of Stay: 06/03/08 Review Submitted: 02/13/09

I brought my wife and two adult children to Hawaii last \ year, and we stayed at Halo Ipo for the first week. It is a completely lovely house, wonderfully equipped and comfortable. The kitchen gets special marks for quality cutlery, and a nice assortment of pots and pans, and appliances, that enabled us to take advantage of the locally available seafood and produce. The Hilo side of the island is beautiful, as others have observed, and far, far more relaxed than Kailua. No traffic jams! The Volcano is 20 minutes or so away, Hilo 15; the small towns south and west are delightful and a far better depiction of Hawaii than the tourist-oriented Kona side. The little towns nearby, and along the eastern coast are not to be missed. The Kalapana Village Cafe is not to be missed, if old-fashioned drive-in fare - which thrives on the Big Island - strikes a cord with you. On a different note, the Thai restaurant in a town 1a few miles south (the one the gregarious caretaker next door describes as the "wild west" town - Pahoa?) is easily the best we've ever experienced. Beds were, as advertised, quality mattresses and fine linens; plenty of towels, 2 new bikes, good snorkeling equipment. Always a breeze, as the house is elevated, and wonderful views of the island mountains beyond Hilo. Nothing missing at all, and an ideal vacation rental if you want quiet rural surroundings, close to ocean, and easy access by car to nearby towns and parks. A spectacularly rugged lava coast is an easy fifteen minute walk down the lane and through the wood; great place to have a picnic, enjoy the ocean, or (popular with the locals, always a good sign) fish the surf.

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

Highly recommended!

Guest: Aida C. (Pepeekeo, HI)
Date of Stay: 10/02/08 Review Submitted: 10/08/08

My family and I had the nicest stay at your beautiful home. The location, amenities were perfect. We love the spacious living rooms, kitchen and bedrooms. We also enjoyed having coffee at your open lanai. My family from California were very impressed at how I found this beautiful place. I will recommend your place to stay at in this part of Hilo area. Excellent!!

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