Vacation Rentals by Owner

Fabulous home away from home

Guest: P (Seattle, WA)
Date of Stay: 04/03/12 Review Submitted: 04/26/12

Fabulous view, acomodations, ambiance, convienient to Kona, quiet with the beautiful ocean sound and peaceful. Wonderful kitchen, bathrooms, beds, linens and extras like ice chests and beach towels plus the washer and drier. I will rent again and again and recommend to everyone-fans really helped with the heat-lanai so relaxing to begin and end the day!

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

Perfect Location

Guest: Joanie (Napa, Ca.)
Date of Stay: 01/08/12 Review Submitted: 01/17/12

The condo was everything the owner said it was - a great lanai, terrific view, close to everything we wanted to see and do, including snorkeling, dinner cruise pier, and a beach for bogeyboarding. Alii Drive is a great road for walking and jogging. There is a public beach access path next to the condo, so many locals are surfing all day right out in front. It makes for a great show. Our favorite nearby attraction is the Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm located just south of the airport near the national energy lab. We also liked driving Saddle Road over to Mauna Kea and Hilo. Plan on spending a day at the Kilauea Crater. It isn't often that you can hike on an active volcano! The owner was very helpful, and the place was clean and well maintained. We highly recommend this property.

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

From Victoria BC

Guest: Leanne R. (Victoria, BC)
Date of Stay: 11/30/11 Review Submitted: 12/16/11

We had a wonderful time in this condo. The view was breath taking and the local surfers were just 200 feet away riding the great waves. The turtles came right up onto the rocks and could be seen coming up for a breath. The sunsets were fabulous with vibrant bright colors every night. Don was fantastic to work with as the toaster was broken and the frying pan worn out and he had them replaced within a couple of hours. There is no pullout couch but the 2 single beds and the queen beds were very comfortable. We enjoyed the snorkeling at kealakekua bay (Place of Refuge). Thanks so much Don!

Owner response:Thank you for staying with us so glad you enjoyed your stay!! Our mission is your comfort. A brand new sectional sofa is being delivered mid January 2012 along with new chairs for the dinette set.It will have a pullout queen bed so the queen air mattress is going into retirement. I think our challenge with cookware is the Big Island does not have natural gas so an electric stove is the only choice. I know it took me awhile to learn to cook on an electric stove so a few pans get sacrificed along the way, Aloha !

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Awesomeness!!!

Guest: Stone (USA)
Date of Stay: 05/23/11 Review Submitted: 06/08/11

We had a wonderful stay at Banyan Tree! The location is great; right on the ocean. We watched surfers daily out our window or just on the lanai. The only thing that I would complain about is that, since there is no air conditioning, we had the windows open and would hear the people below talking at early hours (6am and sometimes all night). There is a public park right next door to the condo and that is where the surfers congregate. Other than that, we had a blast and the condo is very nice.

Owner response:I just stayed nine days at the unit and was woke up one morning by the surfers. They are generally very quiet but their friends get excited when they ride a big wave. ( Banyan Tree Beach) is owned by the Kona Bali Kai Condos is not a public beach but can be used by the public. The Kona Bali Kai security guard is there to ask people to leave after 9PM. During the nine days I stayed ( May 29th-June 7th)nobody stayed at the beach past 8PM.

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

Million Dollar View

Guest: Tim (Helena, MT)
Date of Stay: 01/22/11 Review Submitted: 02/02/11

My nine year old daughter cried as we walked down the hall on our way out. As others have said, the place is as advertised. Everything was clean and worked well. Lots of extras like coolers, boogie boards, swimming noodles, towels and blankets. Many of the places I have stayed at on the islands smell musty and well used as you walk through the door. Not this place. It looks clean, smells clean and "feels" clean. I spent a lot of time searching for a place to stay in Kona from hotels, condos and VRBO's from Captain Cooke to Hawi. This seemed like the best deal available for our crew of six as I was looking. It did not disappoint. We went during whale season and saw a lot of spouting but also got to see two full breaches right out the front window. Watching the surfers also became one of our favorite activities. In fact we just missed what looked like a competition being held. The bottom line is I can't think of a better place to rest up, clean up, eat, drink, watch a sunset and recuperate from the day’s activities (Caught and released a 550 lb Marlin) on the Big Island, especially for the price. Communication with owner was good. The kids are already thinking of ways to get back to Hawaii and your property.

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.

Great place to stay

Guest: UpStater (Upstate New York)
Date of Stay: 12/27/10 Review Submitted: 01/10/11

This was an awesome condo, right on the ocean. The unit was very clean and Don was very easy and nice to deal with. The pool and hot tub were very well taken care of, and most of the time we had it all to ourselves. The views from the Lani were breathtaking and it was fun to watch the surfers every day. I would reccomend this property to my friends, and if we ever visit the Big Island again, I wouldn't hesitate in staying here again. It was pretty much centered to all the activities on the island. Thanks Don for a great stay.

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

Water, water, everywhere!

Guest: Linda (New York City)
Date of Stay: 08/22/10 Review Submitted: 08/31/10

Loved it! The pictures are exactly what it looks like. My husband, son and daughter-in-law stayed here for a week. We were particularly lucky that we stayed at this location with all the air, water and sky, because my husband hurt his back and ended up spending much of the vacation lying on the deck. Don was extremely acommodating and the location was excellent. We live in New York and truthfully if we lived closer, I would hesitate to rave for fear of giving up such a find! We enjoyed Bongo Ben's restaurant in town and my son loved Jack's diving company in town. Paradiso was the taxi company we used,the one time we needed one. They seemed more reasonable. Dana, the caretaker was very helpful as was the woman across the street at the very convenient grocery store. We would definitely come back again.

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway.

Banyon Tree March 13 - March 21

Guest: SAFA (Sun Valley, Idaho)
Date of Stay: 03/13/10 Review Submitted: 03/26/10

A perfect location and size for my two grandkids ages 5 & 7, two parents and two grandparents. The condo was clean, well maintained, well stocked with all necessary kitchen necessities, towels, sheets and comfortable beds. Quiet, save the sounds of surf. A small grocery right across the street. The views from within and the deck can't be matched, any closer to the water and you would be wet. The surfers put in directly below the unit and paddle out 100-200 yards to catch the waves. Three beaches lie within walking distance of the condo. The farthest south (about two miles) has world class snorkelling 30 yards off the beach. (excellent for the two grandkids) No recommendations on restaurants as we only went to coffee shops. Costco is the at the second stop lite after leaving the airport, prices are reasonable and definitely buy gas there as it was .50 - .60 /gallon cheaper than other gas stations. There are all the other box stores closer to town, so getting supplies is easy. Wednesday - Saturday the Farmers Market is open about 1 mile North of the condo on Alii Drive. Great fresh fruit and vegetables. We visited the volcano, mountains, Hilo, circumnavigated the island, visited many beaches for snorkerlling, boogie boarding (boards and snorkelling equipment are at the condo) took some hikes, ran every morning, and generally had a great time. This is a five star recommend at a reasonable price. We would stay again tomorrow.

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

Dream vacation in Kailua-Kona

Guest: dieuwke (Ozarks - Pierce City, Missouri)
Date of Stay: 12/28/09 Review Submitted: 02/01/10

I had been to Kona only once before. When I applied for this Condo, and saw the pictures, I could not belief how good it looked. The pictures are real!. When we walked into the place we could not believe our eyes of the beautiful surroundings just outside your window, and the waves crashing on the rocks, Spent a lot of time on the lanai watching the surfers early in the morning before sunrise. Sunsets are beautful. While there two cruise ships passed in front of the condo when they left Kona. Will keep it on my list to visit again.

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

Our stay on the island of Hawaii

Guest: Mike the Kike (Indian Wells, Ca.)
Date of Stay: 11/20/09 Review Submitted: 12/02/09

Beautiful setting right on the beach. Owners were a pleasure to work with. Will stay there again if available next time we visit Kona.

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

Our Most Excellent Vacation

Guest: Kzoo2+2 (Michigan)
Date of Stay: 09/26/09 Review Submitted: 10/10/09

Have you ever rented a place that when you compared the published pictures to the actual location, you were amazed that it was the same place? What a wonderful surprise to arrive at this gorgeous get-away and find that the pictures were a beautiful lead-in to this breath taking location. I wish I could capture the the sea sounds, the ocean fragrance and spray, as the waves beat on the rocks right in front of our place; the sounds lulling you to sleep each night and greeting you each morning. It was fun to watch the waves roll in and the surfers perfect their skills from the comfort of the wrapped view lanai. Our place was comfortable and clean and fully appointed. Everything we needed was right there...right down to beach towels and a cooler for our excursions. Who was to know that Ali'i Drive was "the place" to be. It was such a convenient location for all the things we wanted to see and do. The cute town of Kona was close by for unique shopping and great restaurants. Your everyday shopping needs were met with the Safeway, Walmart and Borders being equally close by. I knew from my first phone call with Don, the owner of the property, that this was going to be a great vacation stay. He was informative, helpful and very accommodating. My only regret is that we had such a short stay at such a lovely place. We definitely will make a return trip to the Big Island and we will definitely stay at this location again. Thank you Don for providing the setting for such a memorable vacation.

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

Paradise!!

Guest: Kona Lover (San Diego, CA)
Date of Stay: 07/07/09 Review Submitted: 07/24/09

This was the most amazing vacation I've ever had. It can only be compared to paradise. The ocean front view from all angles and the sound of the ocean had me wishing I could stay there forever. I slept out on the lanai just to hear the waves crashing and look at the stars. The condo has every ammenity and is very clean. It was great having my own front seat to the surfers, fishermen, turtles and fish. I am definately going back. The sooner the better!

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

The best location and view

Guest: Rebecca (Joseph Utah)
Date of Stay: 06/26/09 Review Submitted: 08/06/10

My husband and I and two teenagers recently had the most spectacular stay at the Banyan Tree. When you first enter the door and turn to walk down the hall, the view of the ocean is breathtaking. Almost every morning we watched dolphins spinning out the window while we sat on the couch. From the Lanai we watched turtles in the tide pool. If you love hearing waves, feeling the cool ocean breeze, observing turtles and dolphins you will love staying in this unit. To top it off, Don was more that accomodating making sure our visit went wonderful. We extended our stay and will be back!!!

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Big Island's Best

Guest: Bian (El Cajon, Cal)
Date of Stay: 06/08/09 Review Submitted: 06/18/09

Can't imagine going anywhere else. This Ocean Front is awesome. Starting with working with the owner we had a good feeling about our vacation. Getting access to the property when perfect. Our first walk down the hallway to the living room was absolutely breath taking and every time after was the same. Well furnished and ready to go, could not be better. The view great and the sunsets where postcard perfect. We saw and watched fish, sea turtles swimming right from the Lanai and or living room couch. Surfers from sun raise to sunset everyday. Professional photographers taking action shoots from the beach of the surfers. Snorkeling only minutes away. Downtown Kona only minutes away also. Perfect location. The sound of the surf in every room. We highly recommend to anyone or family. Would love to come back to Banyan Tree again. Thank you for a vacation of a life time.

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

Important non-disclosure

Guest: Luana (Carpinteria, Ca)
Date of Stay: 05/28/09 Review Submitted: 06/16/09

The ocean view is spectacular, turtles and surfers are right in front of you, and the property is near the town of Kailua Kona; however, there is one big problem which the owner did not disclose. Adjacent to the property is a small public park inhabited by locals and surfers and transients,some of whom spend the night. The loud activity starts at dawn, about 5 am, and continues until about 10p.m. The noise is not conducive to a relaxing vacation. The lanai doors have to be closed to drown out some of the noise, but it is too hot and humid to close all the doors and windows. The owner was not concerned when I emailed him about the noise issue. Everyone we spoke to in the condo complex is aware of this huge problem and sympathized that we were in the end unit which is affected by all of the park noise.

Owner response:This review is my first bad review in two years of renting and comes as no surprise. Sometimes no matter what you do you just can't please someone. Never heard a peep from the husband and the wife complained everyday to me, the building manager, and my gracious neighbors. We are a small building with only 20 units and we all know each other and talk at least once a month in a teleconference. My neighbors were sympathetic but they wondered why anyone would come to Hawaii on vacation to complain the whole time. I have never ignored the request of anyone staying at our place and always do what is necessary to make our place comfortable. An example of what we were dealing with was that I was told the TV was not working. I stated that the building manager would stop by as soon as I could contact him at a decent time as it was 7 AM Hawaii time. Instead his door was knocked on and he went to the unit to find out they had unplugged the TV. People are having fun like any other beach. This is the premier surf spot on the Big Island. Professional surfers come to this beach from all over the world.Occasionally there are surf competitions that can last all day. Personally I enjoy watching it with a front row seat. Much to my delight our next guests came in, called me on the phone to tell me how much they loved the unit and what a great time they were having with their family. This is how it normally goes! Aloha spirit means loving people unconditionally , so Aloha from me and my family.

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Guest: Robert Wood (Lake Tahoe California)
Date of Stay: 05/03/09 Review Submitted: 05/03/09

Hi Don, I wanted to thank you for renting us your beachfront condo. We felt at home the second we walked in. It really is an awesome place. The location is idea for all the Big Islands activities. The ocean views are second to none and the condo has a lot to offer. The condo complex is very clean and well taken care of. We look forward to our next stay. Mahalo, The Wood Family

Owner response:Thank you for staying with us and your kind words. We look forward to your return !

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/01/09 Review Submitted: 04/16/09

The stay here was fantastic - the condo was clean and comfortable and had a postcard view! We had a great time watching surfers, turtles, and whales while we ate. The pool and hot tub were a wonderful place to recap the days activites. 5 minutes to town and other beaches. We will definitely be back!

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What a VIEW

Guest: sdiegorick (Vista, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/27/09 Review Submitted: 04/14/09

This place is great! The location is very convenient just south of "town" but not far from anything. The unit is very comfortable and well appointed. If you need a beach chair, it's there. Umbrella, not a problem. Snorkel and mask, yep. I could not believe the view. Every afternoon we watched sea turtles right below the window. In the morning we saw tropical fish swimming in the water from the living room window. This was my favorite trip to the Big Island. Highly recommended !!

Owner response:Sorry to say we discontinued the snorkel gear due to three times we have ended up with 10 left flippers and everything else missing. We suggest you purchase a set at Costco or rent inexpensive at Snorkel Bobs.

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

Fantastic Ocean-Front Condo

Guest: MarlaET (Seattle, WA )
Date of Stay: 12/06/08 Review Submitted: 01/06/09

My parents, husband, toddler daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed this condo. The location was great- right on the beach and the property was quiet and well-equipped with a great pool, hot-tub and bbq. The apartment itself had many amenities, was spacious and very comfortable. We especially loved the windows over looking the ocean and the huge balcony. The owner was pleasant to work with and responded promptly to all communication and questions . We would definitely return.

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

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/01/08 Review Submitted: 11/18/08

Don, I can't tell you how much we enjoyed your home on the Big Island. We were blown away with the ideal location and incredible view (really loved watching the surfers). We're already looking forward to coming back next year.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/01/08 Review Submitted: 03/09/08

Don, your condo was amazing; much more than we ever envisioned and more than one can understand from the internet. We had a wonderful time on the island, but I must admit that the highlight of our entire trip was the view from that condo. Although the bedrooms were spacious, Bill and I chose to sleep in the living room on the blow-up mattress so we could fall asleep watching and listening to the ocean and awakening to the surfers! The condo was well equipped with everything we needed and the amenities at the building were fabulous. I think our favorite meal was when we barbequed steaks on the gas grill, sitting in the hot tub and looking at the ocean. We couldn't have wanted more. We'll definitely recommend your location to everyone who will listen.

Owner response:Mahalo For your Kind Comments. Our building renovation is finally complete after closing down for 5 months,so back up and running here in October !!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/01/08 Review Submitted: 02/28/08

This condo is fantastic. The views are breath-taking from the large lanai, living room, and kitchen. Everything is clean, modern, and beautiful. Full kitchen. Bedrooms and bathrooms were also great. Close to town, with a mini-mart right across the street. Security is good. I'll stay here again on my next trip if it's available.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/01/08 Review Submitted: 02/15/08

This is a great condo to stay in. The ocean is so close you have to close the lani doors to hear the TV. It's great. Very private unit on the end of the building. It's beautiful to be able to stand at the sink and watch the surfers..Thank you for letting us enjoy your wonderful condo. Barb G in Idaho

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: lauren_HAC120897 (hanalei, hi)
Date of Stay: 01/01/08 Review Submitted: 01/14/08

Amazing location. Beautiful to watch the whales, dolpins, turtles and incredible surf from. We lived on the lanai - ate our meals out there, read, watched the sunsets and enjoyed all the ocean life and beauty. The surf was perfect and two surf spots are steps from the condo. Overall a terrific choice for a vacation in Kona.

Owner response:The best compliments are from people in the vacation rental business ! Good luck with your rentals on North Shore Kauai.

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