Vacation Rentals by Owner

If you like the constant sound of the ocean this is the place for you!!

Guest: Hawaiibound (Kalispell, MT USA)
Date of Stay: 04/12/12 Review Submitted: 05/20/12

I looked at several ocean front condos before deciding to stay at Banyan Tree #204. We had 2 main criteria, a direct oceanfront view close to the waves, and a comfortable bed. I spoke with Candace about her property and we decided it was the place for us on our first trip to the Big Island. We have been to Hawaii 5 tiimes now, and have always stayed in an ocean front condo. When we opened the door to this condo we were blown away!! We love to hear the ocean and left both sliding glass doors open whenever we were in the condo. The sound of the waves lulled us to sleep every night, and the pillow top king size bed was very comfortable. We rented this condo for just my wife and I, even though it is a 2 bedroom because of the view and location on the water. The condo is approx. 3 miles South of Kona on Alii drive and is nicely situated between Kona and Keahou. We are both in our late 40's and absolutely loved staying here. We did not want to leave!! Everyone told us that 10 days on the Big Island is not a very long time, and I would have to agree. We only touched on the things we wanted to see and do. A return trip in the very near future in already in the planning stages. Candace, the owner of the condo is outstanding. I called her a few times before we arrived with questions, and she is more than happy to give suggestions. The condo is very newly remodeled and we had everything we needed, and them some. The condo is located in a nice area that is a little out of the main Kona area, which is what we were looking for. We did not hear any traffic from Alii Drive as we always had the doors open listening to the ocean. Honestly, I don't even know if the condo has air conditioning as we used the ceiling fans and left the doors open. We also love to watch the sunset every night and this condo has a direct view to watch the setting sun. If you are looking for a beautiful condo, with comfortable beds, direct ocean front views and sounds, you can't go wrong with Banyan Tree #204. We will be back!!

Owner response:Mahalo Dave! I am so happy to hear that you had a fantastic time vacationing in my slice of paradise! Many, many thanks for your kind words. I look forward to your return. With Much Aloha, Candace

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

Wonderful Spring Break

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/10/12 Review Submitted: 03/18/12

What a great holiday! This beautiful condo is very clean, stocked with everything you could ever need for the beach, and has a view to die for! We loved it so much that it was difficult to get going to see the rest of the island. Even our teenagers wanted to just chill out at the condo. The kitchen is lovely- stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops and stocked with everything you can think of. We really appreciated having enough paper towels, toilet paper, soap, etc to get a good start on our two week vacation. Thanks so much for a wonderful holiday !

Owner response:Mahalo for you review! I too am mesmerized by the view and can sit for hours upon hours taking in my surroundings! It is just so magical. And it truly warms my heart to know that everyone in the family had a great vacation! With much aloha,Candace

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

Our 2nd Stay

Guest: Dave S. (Iowa)
Date of Stay: 01/29/12 Review Submitted: 03/20/12

This was our second stay at Candaces’s condo and it was as wonderful as the first. We love this location for our daily walks and the on-ocean view has to be one of the best in the Kona area. We enjoyed many quiet days and dining –in using the well equipped kitchen and on-site grill. Our restaurant recommendations this year are Fish Hoppers and Kona Inn for calamari and seafood main dishes, Humpy’s and LuLu’s for inexpensive happy hours and sunsets during dinner. We enjoyed excursions to the top of Mauna Kea, Kahua Ranch BBQ, and the Waipio Valley mule drawn wagon tour. If you are an inexperienced snorkeler, Kahalu’u Beach is just a couple miles south, flat and clear water with plenty of friendly tropical fish to see. It would appear that the secret is out on this condo if one looks at the availability calendar. We are partly responsible for filling up the calendar as we have already booked our 2013 dates.

Owner response:Mahalo for your review! I really appreciate the time your have taken to not only write such an amazing review, but also to let other vacationers know of your great local finds. Very helpful! I am so thankful for your return each year and I look forward to hearing about your next years adventures! Many, many thanks! With much aloha, Candace

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Great Location

Guest: Kayne29 (Calgary, AB)
Date of Stay: 12/22/11 Review Submitted: 03/14/12

My wife, two children (13 & 10) and I spent Christmas 2011 here and had a fantastic time. Nice quiet location, but close to everything you'd ever need. The Banyan Mart right across the street was very convenient for the little things you forgot, and their beer & wine was actually cheaper than at Walmart. All the beach equipment was great, saved us time & money, we added a Volleyball to the collection. My boy appreciated the XBOX too. Candace was great to deal with, we had no issues with this rental at all, we will be back!!

Owner response:Mahalo for taking time to write your wonderful review. It warms my heart to know that you had a great vacation and I look forward to your return! With Aloha, Candace

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

INCREDIBLE VIEW...SENSATIONAL VACATION...OVER THE TOP CONDO!

Guest: Al (Boise ID)
Date of Stay: 08/15/11 Review Submitted: 10/26/11

We had such a great vacation. We absolutely did not want to leave. I am not one to write reviews but I had such a great experience renting this condo that I had to share with everyone! My husband and I and our two teen aged sons entered the condo and our mouths hung open. It was the best ocean view ever! We couldn't believe our eyes! I wanted to take the furniture home with us. And the boys loved the XBox 360. And we also loved the Xbox too because my husband and I had time alone at sunset to sip a mai tai or two while they played Xbox and it was so romantic! The view from the master bed was amazing. We could have stayed at the condo and never left. But we did and the Big Island was beautiful. We are going to recommend this condo to our family and friends..and we will definitely be back!

Owner response:Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to write your review! It is greatly appreciated. The XBox does come in handy for everyone. My boys love to play the XBox and I love to watch the sunset with my hubby. It is a win, win for everyone! I look forward to your return! Mahalo,Candace

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A True Ocean Front Jewel!

Guest: Christy C.
Date of Stay: 08/07/11 Review Submitted: 10/13/11

We never rented from an owner before and stay mostly in luxury hotels. We were so happy when we arrived and walked through the front door...wow, what a magnificent vacation condo! You can literally see the ocean sitting down in every room. The view is a 10, simply incredible. The place has everything you need and then some, fully stocked kitchen with every doodad imaginable, blender, coffee grinder(nice),toaster, pots, pans, glassware, etc. Boogie boards and beach chairs provided (really?). The interior is like a suite at a luxury hotel with attractive furnishings, soft beds and fluffy towels. The place is also spotless and the cleaning staff they have folds the towels into little shapes along with the ends of the toilet paper...honest. They even give you paper towels and dishwashing soap, so thoughtful and convenient. We had one of the best vacations ever and we will be coming back for sure. Chris Las Vegas, NV

Owner response:Mahalo Christy! Thank you for taking time out of your daily schedule to write your kind words. It is greatly appreciated. I look forward to your return! With Aloha, Candace

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

This place is the best in Kona...don't waste time with the others!

Guest: Wade M. (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 07/15/11 Review Submitted: 08/03/11

My family just returned from the best Hawaiian vacation we have ever had. We go to Kona every year and finally found this place. Absolutely incredible and it is less money than we paid last year for a so-so place. Take it from someone who has stayed at many properties in Kona, this property is far away in a totally different class than all the rest. No comparison, period! First, you are right on top of the ocean, 15 feet away maybe. It has an unobstructed ocean view (one of the only in the complex that is not blocked by trees), quiet...all you hear is the crashing waves. The interior is out of this world, rich dark wood cabinetry and thick granite slabs everywhere, stone flooring, ornate tile work in the baths, stainless steel appliances in the kitchen, dark bronze fixtures. Get the picture? The place is like a model home! How about fluffy linens, towels and sheets, dark wood furniture that looks like it came out of a Tommy Bahama furniture ad. To top it all off, these guys provided boogie boards, beach chairs and coolers! I probably would have spent another $200 to rent these items for the 2 weeks I was there, but they were included free! I am not done, they actually have an Xbox 360 with 2 controls and Tv's in every room. My boys were in heaven. My wife who cannot be out of touch on her computer, yes free wireless internet is included as well. A really good selection of movies and books (including The Big Island Revealed guide book)that tells you all of the hidden beaches and places to explore. The place was spotless when we arrived and looked like it was never rented, like brand new. Great location close to everything just outside of Kona about half way to Keahou with a ground level garage with your own parking space. It was nice to have an elevator for unloading the suitcases, groceries, etc. We are going back to this place every year. We already booked for next year. The very friendly owner Candace told us over half of her renters are returning guests.

Owner response:Wow! Thank you so much for your wonderful review! I truly love to share my Hawaiian getaway with other families and it makes me so happy when I hear that my guests had a great experience! I am so glad that you and your family had a fantastic vacation and I look forward to your return! With Aloha, Candace

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

Perfect Family Fun

Guest: Double D's (Utah)
Date of Stay: 06/04/11 Review Submitted: 11/20/11

After planning and saving for years to take a trip to Hawaii, we are so glad that we stayed at Candice's piece of paradise. Everything was perfect! The location, the views, the surfers and the condo itself all added up for an unforgettable trip. We had 3 boys with us who loved walking out each morning to see what the ocean left behind. The surfing show right outside the condo was amazing. The manager of the condo was very friendly and helpful. All of the beach toys and coolers, mats and towels made it easy to take off on adventures without adding a lot of expense. We loved it and can't wait to go back someday. Thanks Candice

Owner response:Thank you so much Matt and Cheryl for your wonderful review! It was so nice of you to take time out of your daily schedules to write this review. And I know your lives are busy! It makes me so happy to hear that your family vacation to Hawaii was awesome. Your boys would love to watch the ocean during whale season...it is incredible. My boys could sit all day and watch the surfers, dolphins,fish, sea turtles and then you add the whales..they love it as do I! Again, thank you so much and I look forward to your return. With Aloha, Candace

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

Wanted to Stay Longer

Guest: Dave S. (Iowa)
Date of Stay: 01/12/11 Review Submitted: 02/02/11

We were very pleased with Candace's condo. It was everything that the HomeAway Unit 167137 description said it was, and more. We enjoyed the sound of the surf, watching the surfers, and the confortable chairs on the lanai for just relaxing outside and watching the gorgeous sunsets. We grilled several times and the unit is well setup for food preparation if one tires of dining out (which is difficult as there are so many fine places to eat in Kona). The Kona Brewery (beer and pizza), LuLu's, and Humpy's were great places to eat, get there before 5:00 PM to get a front row seat for sunsets. The master bed was very comfortable for us, and we often have trouble sleeping on beds other than our TP. We stayed for three weeks and wanted to stay longer. This unit will be at or near the top of our list for our next visit to Hawaii.

Owner response:I also sleep really well on the pillowtop bed. I liked it so much that I purchased the exact bed to sleep on every night at home. I am just missing the sound of the waves, which I also love! Thank you for your kind words! It was a true pleasure to be able to share my little slice of heaven with you both! Many thanks!

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Right on the ocean!

Guest: Janelle (St. Cloud, Minnesota)
Date of Stay: 12/22/10 Review Submitted: 01/29/11

Our family of 4 enjoyed this property on our first two nights on the Big Island. It's spacious, clean, good location on the water - in fact, the crashing waves were so loud, our Minnesotan ears had to adjust to it! Pictures are all accurate - that really is the view off of the deck/lanai. Wow. Short drive back down to many restaurants. Very reasonably priced for a good experience. Recommend for families, plenty of room for all to get ready and move around. Thanks!

Owner response:Thank you so much Janelle for the kind words. I am so very happy that you and your family had such a wonderful vacation!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, sightseeing.

Guest: Sidney Steel (Idaho)
Date of Stay: 03/19/10 Review Submitted: 03/19/10

What a terrific unit you have! When I was looking to rent, I really didn't pay that close attention to the fact that very few places had the pool oceanside. Delightful to flop down in a chaise and watch boats, surfers, cruise ships and whales. The helicopter was great! Highly recommend the ride. We took the volcano/valley landing tour. Great suggestion for people who only visit a week and prefer pool time to car time. Someone has great taste in furniture!

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Hawaii Wedding Here we Come

Guest: Sarah&Ben (Portland OR/Vancouver WA)
Date of Stay: 03/02/10 Review Submitted: 04/16/10

My New Husband an i rented this condo for our Wedding in Kona. We were here for 2 weeks and loved every minute of it. The Condo was perfect. The pictures do not do justice of how nice it really is. We were able to cook in our wonderful Kitchen and enjoy the BBQ and have drinks on our very on leni at Sunset. We also were able to reserve the pool/BBQ area for a family gathering after our wedding. The Complex Manager was very nice and he helped us a lot. The pool was a nice little surprise ocean side. The view from our balcony was to die for. Very romantic, and very comfortable. We did not want to leave. There were friends of our who also stayedin the same Complex and our condo by far wsa one of the nicest there. I think some of our friends were a little jelouse! We will be returning in the future for sure. This was the best trip we have had. Thank you so much for sharing with us your amazing condo.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A terrific unit!

Guest: Sidney Steel (Idaho)
Date of Stay: 01/09/10 Review Submitted: 03/29/10

What a terrific unit you have! When I was looking to rent, I really didn't pay that close attention to the fact that very few places had the pool oceanside. Delightful to flop down in a chaise and watch boats, surfers, cruise ships and whales. The Helicopter was great. Highly recommend the ride. We took the volcano/valley landing tour. Great suggestion for people who ony visit a week and prefer pool time to car time. Someone has great taste in Furniture!

Owner response:I love the pool at Banyan Tree! What a view! After a hard day of sightseeing, the pool is the perfect end of the day solution! Thank you for your kind words, and I look forward to having you stay in my slice of paradise again!

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

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/13/09 Review Submitted: 10/13/09

This condo was everything that was advertised. The owners spent a boat load of money on this unit. We enjoyed watching the surfers from the balcony. When it says right on the water, they are serious. Sleeping at night with the waves crashing was wonderful. This is a first class VRBO rental and would return again!

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Best Vacation Ever!

Guest: Luke and Christy (Charleston, SC, USA)
Date of Stay: 09/18/09 Review Submitted: 10/14/09

We visited Kona and stayed at the Banyan Tree Sept 18th-25th, 2009. The place is gorgeous! The view was better than we imagined. Everyday, we watched the surfers. We would count how many surfers were out there! Several days we watched the cruise ships passing by. The sunsets are spectacular! It was so amazing and relaxing! We didn't want to leave! It was such a pleasant experience dealing with Candace (the owner) and making the reservations! Thank you Candace. We can't wait to visit your place again! It was the best vacation ever!

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

Guest: J Johns (Idaho)
Date of Stay: 08/25/09 Review Submitted: 08/25/09

Bummer, I've got to go home! This is the best place we've stayed in Kona. My family and I have stayed at Kona Reef, Kona Bali Kai, and Kona Royal Sea Cliff to name a few and they don't remotely compare. Here , I write a mere 20 feet from the water full of sea turtles-WOW!! We've also stayed at the Hilton Waikaloa and no way, I'll take this hands down! I am a definite repeat!! I love it here! Thanks Again!

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Bummer...I have to go home!

Guest: J Johns (Idaho)
Date of Stay: 08/18/09 Review Submitted: 08/25/09

This is the best place we've stayed in Kona. My family and I have stayed at Kona Reef, Kona Bali Kai, and Kona Royal Sea Cliff to name a few and they don't remotely compare. Here, I sit as I write a mere 50 feet from the water full of sea turtles-Wow! We've also stayed at the Hilton Waikaloa and no way, I'll take this hands down! I am a definite repeat!! I love it here!! Thanks again!!

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

Awesome condo

Guest: Jill, Barb, Dede, Gene, Kathy, & Rick (Royal Arkansas USA)
Date of Stay: 05/07/09 Review Submitted: 07/14/09

This is truly a beautiful condo, beautifully furnished and has many extras to make your stay great. It is obvious the owners take great pride in their place in paradise. The view is absolutely awesome and sitting on the lanai watching the surfers, boats & turtles was so relaxing. There were 6 adults in our group and those that stayed in the 2nd bedroom did have difficultly sleeping because of the traffic noise (the bedroom is on the street side of the condo) so if you are using this bedroom you might consider bringing earplugs. The owner is very pleasant to deal with and the rental process is done very professionally.

Owner response:Well, I guess with a 5 suitcase rating, the noise couldn't have been too bad! Seriously, we have slept in the back bedroom, even our elderly parents have. Never has anyone mentioned sleeping difficulty. The only reason you will need earplugs is to block out the noise from the ocean waves. Michael and Candace

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Daryl Clark (Boston, MA)
Date of Stay: 03/11/09 Review Submitted: 03/11/09

Absolutely wonderful!!! If every VRBO was like this, the hotel industry would go out of business. I wouldn't stay anywhere else if I went back.

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Better Than the Pictures

Guest: Ajay & Jaseca (Lynnwood, WA USA)
Date of Stay: 01/28/09 Review Submitted: 02/05/09

You're on the ocean. The pictures don't represent a zoomed camera shot. You're right there. You hear it all day, all night. It puts you to sleep. The pool is under your balcony. It's quiet. The whole place has been remodeled. The condo is awesome.....my wife and I were absolutely thrilled when we got there. Clean, beautifully decorated, and the owners obviously take great pride in their home away from home. It's got everything you need. Only 2 1/2 miles from great snorkeling. Only a couple miles from town. A small neighborhood grocery is across the street. Surfers all day long. We saw whales, cruise ships, and sunsets all from our balcony. We can't say enough. You won't be disappointed. Thank you to these owners for sharing their beautiful condo. A++ Thanks, Ajay & Jaseca from Lynnwood

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

Paradise

Guest: Carol & Mike (Chesterton, IN)
Date of Stay: 01/17/09 Review Submitted: 02/11/09

WOW! Everything described in this property description was more than accurate. It was wonderful to sit on the balcony and watch the surfers during the day and the sunset in the evening. It was in a convenient location with restaurants and shops nearby. The interior of the property was up-to-date and very neat and clean. I would recommend this property to everyone. There is not one negative comment on this property. Carol & Mike Elaine & Art

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

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/01/08 Review Submitted: 05/04/08

By far the nicest vacation condo we have ever stayed in! The furnishings, kitchen and baths are incredible. The ocean is so close you could see the fish in the water. What a value for the $. We will be back next year, and the year after that. Dick J.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Mark & Sarah (Swindon, UK)
Date of Stay: 10/01/07 Review Submitted: 10/27/07

Absolutely lovely. A lovely, well furnished condo with fantastic views. Everything you need for a great holiday is provided. We had such a relaxing holiday. In fact, we had such a lovely stay that we didn't want to leave. Highly recommended.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Donald H. (-)
Date of Stay: 09/01/07 Review Submitted: 09/15/07

We didnt want to leave ! The unit is beauifully furnished with first class amenities . Incredible views, sea turtles, surfing, it doesnt get any better. We look forward to returning. This is a ten , Aloha and Mahalo to the owners!

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