Vacation Rentals by Owner

Mrs. Wonderful loves this condo.

Guest: Mrs. Wonderful (Texas)
Date of Stay: 04/18/12 Review Submitted: 05/12/12

My husband and I have stayed in this condo several times in the last few years. We love the comfort, cleanliness, convenience, and, most of all, the view. The photos and information in the listing are exactly what you get. No unpleasant surprises. The owner is very attentive to your needs and has a handy man on call at all times if the need arises. Good restaurants, grocery stores, farmers' market, and snorkel beaches within 3 miles. If you are looking for a quiet, laid back spot to relax that has a beautiful view, this is it!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Surf & Turtles

Guest: M & D (Yakima, WA)
Date of Stay: 01/14/12 Review Submitted: 04/25/12

My wife and I spent two wonderful weeks in this oceanfront condo listening to the surf, watching turtles and enjoying wonderful sunsets. The third floor location provided great ocean views and a private, quiet atmosphere. The location was close to shopping and entertainment which made it easy to enjoy many of the activites in Kona. Covered parking made the car much cooler than other vists to the islands. We enjoyed it so much we booked another two weeks in 2013 shortly after we came home

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

Absolutely Delightful

Guest: Lorene and Steve (Saint Paul, MN)
Date of Stay: 07/23/11 Review Submitted: 08/17/11

For the two of us and our teenage son this condo was perfect. The location, lanai, and ocean view within 50 feet of the surf was a highlight of our stay on the Big Island. The Condo was clean, roomy, comfortable, and had all of the amenities we could possibly need. We stayed there during the last week of July when it was warmest and did not miss air conditioning at all. The ceiling fans and ocean breezes kept us cool and comfortable. Going to sleep to the sound of the surf was soothing and relaxing. Our son spent a lot of time in the pool and hot tub and loved it--good place to meet people. We all referred to the condo as "home" when we were there and it felt like it. If we were the Siskel and Ebert of Hawaiian condo reviewers we would rate this one two thumbs up!

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

Fantastic Stay

Guest: northerntraveller (Whitehorse, YT Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/10/11 Review Submitted: 03/31/11

From the very minute we walked into the condo it felt very comfortable and inviting. The view from the lanai is incredible and we started every day there with our coffee. We are a family of 4 (2 teenagers) and there was plenty of room and everything needed to have a wonderful stay. We thoroughly enjoyed the sound of the ocean every night. It was nice to have the full equipped kitchen and we cooked a couple of great meals there.Once we arrived Ken checked in to make sure everything was ok and before we arrived he gave us some great tips on beaches, restaurants, etc. I would absolutely return and would recommend this condo to my family and friends. Recommend renting a vehicle so that you can explore, get to the restaurants and major grocery store.

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

Great view, but VERY noisy

Guest: Jill (South Bay, California)
Date of Stay: 09/24/10 Review Submitted: 10/03/10

We loved the view from the lanai. It was a great place to enjoy breakfast in the morning and a Kona Brewing Co. beer in the afternoon. But when it came time to sleep, it was just way too loud for my boyfriend to sleep. The idea of the gentle surf lulling him to sleep sounded appealing. But this was anything but gentle. It was not a gentle lapping of water on the beach. It was a thundering crash of water on the rocks. I was OK, but he ended up sleeping in the front bedroom which was stuffier (ceiling fan did not work) and there was some noise from late pool-goers. Also, while there are a lot of ceiling fans, there is no A/C. Which I knew going in. But next time it would be a consideration for me. Part of why we chose this place was because of the play pen for the baby. So that was a great benefit. As for the rest of the condo, it was great to have laundry right in the unit. The kitchen was set up nicely with plenty of kitchen equipment. We didn't really cook, but we loved having the toaster, coffee maker, etc. The pool area was great and the lobby was nicely appointed. I did bring my own beach towels, and I was glad I did. The beach towels provided were very small. The condo / furnishings are not the newest, but for the most part things are in good repair. The location was good, though not really walkable to town. Would I recommend to a friend? Maybe. But with strong warnings about the lack of A/C and the noise from the ocean.

Owner response:I usually contact each guest either during their stay or right after to see if they have any suggestions for improvement. The last one said, "How do you improve on perfection?" I was about ready to call Jill when I saw her comments. So I called the guests who checked in one day after Jill's departure. Here is what they told me. They said the fan in the guest bedroom is working fine and they have not been disturbed by any noise from the swimming pool area. I reminded them that a call to the front desk or security will take care of the noise. The pool closes at 10 pm. They also said that they are using three large beach towels and two regular towels since there are five adults. I plan to stock 6 large towels in the condo at all times--sometimes they walk awayl And they love the ocean sounds, so they sleep with their bedroom/lanai sliding door open at night. And they enjoy the ocean breezes as they are escorted through the condo by a ceiling fan in every room. I am sorry the condo didn't meet all of Jill's expectations but, as we can see, people have different preferences. I always provide the phone number of our maintenance guy on the island in our Welcome information. If anybody has any difficulty they can call him or contact me by phone or email. We are here to help make everybody's stay as pleasant and comfortable as possible. My wife and I want everyone to enjoy the condo as much as we do. Thank you, Ken Nelson, Owner

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

Perfection!!!!!

Guest: MJKH (Los Angeles area)
Date of Stay: 08/18/10 Review Submitted: 01/07/11

This beautiful condo was absolutely PERFECT for our Hawaii vacation. The ocean sounds were hypnotic and soothing. We dropped the sunshade on the lanai during the day while we were out scuba diving and sightseeing so it was cooler when we came in at night. Opening the doors in the evening brought in the ocean breezes and all of the ceiling fans worked well. The kitchen was well supplied for our early morning breakfast on the lanai. We swam with the turtles in the tide pools right in front of the condo. We watched the surfers and paddle boarders as the sun set over the ocean. People still don't believe that the picture on my phone actually came from our lanai! Friends who were staying at the Hilton were jealous of our condo! When it was time to leave, our hands had to be pried off the lanai railings because we did not want to leave. AMAZING VACATION !!!!!

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

An incredible stay!!!

Guest: Kevin (Park City, UT)
Date of Stay: 07/18/10 Review Submitted: 01/09/11

My family brought my wife's parents here for a two week stay during the summer of 2009 and had such an incredible stay that we brought my parents back here during the summer of 2010. Ken's condo is just awesome and we lacked nothing. Sleeping with the sliders open to the lanai and listening to the surf was heaven on earth. We really enjoyed breakfast on the lanai and watching the sea turtles, dolphins and the surfers. Then there was dinner on the lanai and the incredible sunsets. We are planning a trip back for 2011 and we will definetely try and stay here again.

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

Excellent for people who love the sound of the ocean and want to be right on the beach!

Guest: turtle watcher (Alameda, CA)
Date of Stay: 07/06/10 Review Submitted: 01/09/11

This lovely condo is really right on the beach. When the tide is out, you can see sea turtles feeding right from the balcony. I slept in the master bedroom which opens onto the balcony. I was able to leave the sliding glass door open and listen to the sound of the ocean waves all night long. It was so relaxing and I slept so soundly! The condo is just like the pictures and is very nice. There is parking right under the building with easy access to the elevator. I loved being right on the beach, with no road or buildings between the balcony and the water. It is a wonderful location!

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

Best condo to stay on the big island!

Guest: Joel (El Cerrito)
Date of Stay: 05/22/10 Review Submitted: 01/09/11

I've stayed in several condos in Hawaii but this one surpasses them all. The location is superb (walking distance to the downtown area). The view of the sunset is absolutely gorgeous from the lanai with the sound of the ocean water. We met so many new friends including the many sea turtles (honu) that brightened our mornings! We will definitely be back again and I would recommend this to all my friends. Two thumbs up! Thanks Ken!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Kona Bali Kai-Ken's condo

Guest: Monty (Eureka,CA)
Date of Stay: 05/02/10 Review Submitted: 01/10/11

We've stayed in Kona several times before but have enjoyed your condo the best. Everything a vacationer needs is included here. Can't beat the lawn, the beach for sunning, the rocks for tide pooling and the convenient parking. Many items provided by you made this trip stress free. We were 2 couples, 60 yrs old and had a great time. Your lanai is tops--we had a wonderful two weeks and will remember this trip fondly. The lack of a/c concerned us too but we never needed it anyway. Yes the ocean can be a bit loud, but where else can you be this close to the water enjoying a drink while watching the surfers, fisherman,sunbathers,cruise ships and sunsets? Not too many other places I think. Thanks for all of the aloha Ken.

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

loved it

Guest: Terri (Ontario Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/26/10 Review Submitted: 01/09/11

My husband and I rented your condo for 2 weeks in April 2010. We loved the condo---perfect for us--ocean gazing, from the lanai---my favourite thing. Also turtle watching and daily sunsets from the lanai----will miss the sound of the surf-----so relaxing. Your condo has everything to make one feel at home.....hope to return

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

Thanks For Sharing Your Home

Guest: Ron and Dee (Colbert, Wa. 99005)
Date of Stay: 03/10/10 Review Submitted: 04/01/10

We wanted to thank you for sharing your condo with us over the last several weeks. We will miss the sound of the surf putting us to sleep every night. The view was incredible, the condo comfortable and lacked nothing for our visit. We have marked your condo site in our favorites and when our travels send us back to the Big Island we will be in touch. We appreciated the specialized information that you provided prior to our arrival regarding things to do on our vacation. The grounds and unit were well maintained and secure which added to our overall experience. Thanks so much for sharing your special home away from home with us.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway.

Excellent vacation condo

Guest: Lomi (Portland,OR)
Date of Stay: 03/25/09 Review Submitted: 04/02/09

This is a beautiful place to relax and soak up the sun and ocean view while in Kona. The condo is beautifully decorated, spacious, and clean, and well stocked kitchen with kitchen items - all you can want. Nice pool, great jacuzzi, and spectacular view. We'll come back!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car.

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Craig and Marilyn (Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/01/09 Review Submitted: 03/16/09

Ken, your condo has absolutely everything anyone could possibly need while on vacation. Your deck and the views were stunning. The whales,the dolphins,the turtles in the tide pools and of course the magical sunsets all added to our great accommodations. We hope one day we can be lucky enough to return. You helped make a dream come true for a couple of frost bitten Canucks. We can't thank you enough.

Recommended for:

Guest: Joan Peterson
Date of Stay: 01/30/09 Review Submitted: 01/29/09

We loved this condo. It was more than promised on the website. The lanai was our favorite place to read,relax and let the ocean soothe us. From the lanai we watched surfers, turtles bouncing in the tidal waters, palm trees swaying, and even some whales spouting. The furnishings were excellent. The location is great and we hope to return next year.

Recommended for: