Exceeded our expectations!

Guest: Jill & Marty's Family (Long Beach, CA, USA)
Date of Stay: 01/30/10 Review Submitted: 02/09/10

It can be a little scary renting a condo online, but our family of 12 decided to try Ko Olina Beach Villas for our family reunion this year and we are so glad we did. The condo AND property exceeded ALL of our expectations and we are planning our return! This condo was the favorite of the two. Not only for it's beautiful furnishings and amenities, but also because the owner, Damian, made the entire process so easy! He had Eric meet us at check-in to help orientate us to the condo and property. We also discovered that the Ocean Tower was by no means secondary to the condo we rented in the Beach Tower. The two towers are a very short distance apart and both have close and easy access to the pools and beach lagoon. The floor plan is such that, even with 10 or 12 of us gathering together in the evenings, we never felt cramped. The kitchen with top of the line appliances and a large island and bar is a dream and situated so that many can gather around to visit or help the cook! The balcony is larger than it appears in photos and its large table and chairs added even more room and brought the wonderful outdoors in. We found the floor plan not only roomy, but it also allowed much privacy with each bedroom having it's "own" bathroom. The beds very comfortable as well. Ko Olina Beach Villas fabulous pools, spas, fitness room, Koi ponds and landscaping rival 5-star resorts. The bbq's, which we used several nights, were very handy. The lagoon in front of the property is great for taking swims or for young children. Knowing there was on-site security along with secure buildings was another bonus, Our family (in a large rented van) took many day trips that we found worth sharing. Everyone's favorite was the Hawaiian Fire Surf School providing surf lessons at great uncroweed and safe beach nearby. We also enjoyed our hike to the top of Diamond Head - what a view! The ATV rental a Kualoa Ranch was lots of fun. And, the beautiful course at the Ko Olina Golf club was a big hit by the golfers in our group - and it is literaly across the street from the condos. Of course, Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial should not to be missed. As for restaurants, nearby Roy's was fabulous - and accommodated our big group. Everyone raved about their meal. We also liked the sidewalk cafe at the Marriott timeshares next door and Outback is always good. Lastly, we stocked up on food AND snorkel equipment at the Costco just about three miles away.

Owner response:We are happy you enjoyed your stay ! We hope that we will see you again in the future. Damian

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

Best Family Vacation Ever

Guest: Quentin and Eva (Burnaby, BC, Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/21/11 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

We heard about your condo through a friend at work. She spoke very highly about her experience. She sent me the link and the pictures of the condo and lagoons were beautiful. It wasn't until we arrived that we realized that the condo and the lagoons in Ko Olina were even more beautiful than the pictures themselves. The condo was fully equipped with everything we wanted. The salt water pool was my favorite, and the lagoons were crystal clear. We even got to swim with a giant sea turtle in Lagoon 2. I was most impressed with how well the property is maintained. I love to cook so the gourmet kitchen equipped with Wolf and Sub Zero appliances were a definate plus! Thanks for the amazing experience. Looking forward to coming back and staying at your place again, Eva and Quentin

Owner response:We are glad to hear that we/Ko Olina exceeded your expectations. Anna tries to keep everything top notch. Right down to the pots and pans. It looks like it was put to good use. We often say the pictures just do not do it justice and you have to go there. Some people do not believe it until they get there. The turtles in lagoon 2 are great. There is a family of three that hangs around there. Look forward to seeing you again. All the best, Damian & Anna Marie

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

Ko Olina Getaway

Guest: kellymcm01 (louisville, ky)
Date of Stay: 04/02/11 Review Submitted: 04/18/11

Beautiful 3 BR unit in perfect condition. Lagoon and beach area very nice for children. Pools at the facility are beautiful. Costco nearby for great deals on food and supplies--excellent fresh fish that can be grilled out by the pool. A perfect vacation spot. Ko Olina is absolutely a gorgeous area, and a great base from which to explore Oahu.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Perfect!

Guest: Anna (Vancouver,BC)
Date of Stay: 03/20/11 Review Submitted: 03/28/11

Our family just got back from our Hawaiian family vacation yesterday and could not think of one negative thing to say about our stay! I've been to Oahu in the past but regrettably stayed in Waikiki. After staying in this condo, I would never ever stay anywhere else. This condo was amazing! The rooms were spacious for the 8 of us. The three bdrms/three full baths were clean and spacious. The master suite also slept my sister, her husband, and 2 kids well (not sure how they all slept in that king size bed, but they did...hehe). The kitchen was everything you would want in a kitchen at home- "wolf" range, dual dishwasher, sub zero fridge and large sink. The balcony was large and faced an open field with a view of the ocean...absolutely quiet!!! The condo also had 4 boogie boards, kids and adult snorkel set, styrofoam coolers, sand toys and floaties-which was perfect because we were traveling with kids. The amenities of the villa was great. Although we didn't have access to the fitness room, the lap pool and the board walk was plenty enough to stay active during our trip. The kids pool was great for families and the poolside grills were always available ("Wolf" BBQ grills by the way). I've never felt so safe leaving my bags and gear by the pool or by the lagoon. There were gate entrances everywhere and security was great. Even though the public does have access to the lagoon outside the Villa, the beach was never really crowded and still felt safe and very clean. Snorkeling in the lagoon directly outside of the villa is a must! There were alot of fish and we also saw sea turtles!! There are only two other hotels close to the Villas, with the Disney resort being the fourth large hotel in Ko Olina, which is great because you know that there will not be a bunch of crowds. Lastly, the owner of the condo (Damien) was more than helpful with the whole booking process. He made the transfer of payments super easy too. He responded to emails right away and was honest every step of the way. I was a bit hesitant booking online with an owner I've never met, but Damien eased those worries. He even emailed a bunch of places to see, eat and shop so that we would be organized once we got to the condo. What can I say...from a girl who has always vacationed in resorts in the Carribean, I think I've become a Ko Olina convert!!!!!

Owner response:Anna, We are happy you were able to put everything to good use and that you had a great stay. Ko Olina truly combines so many wonderful things you just can not beat it. From perfect uncrowded beachs....yes on Oahu, to being close to all the action. From Costco literally around the corner, or a short drive to Waikiki and even the North Shore. Yet when you drive through the gate everything slows down a bit. You can feel secure and relaxed. I often say that it is one of the best kept secrets in the islands. There is a reason that Disney decided to invest and build their own resort here. We hope to see you in the future and thanks for being our guest. All the Best, Damian

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

the best property I've ever vacationed

Guest: Barbara (Houston, Texas)
Date of Stay: 03/26/11 Review Submitted: 03/27/11

When i need to relax, I close my eyes and focus on the wonderful time I had in Hawaii. What an incredible vacation... it was a perfect 2 weeks! While being in such a tropical paradise would have been enough, your condo put it over the top. It was like staying in a luxury resort with all the comfort and privacy of being home. The unit was tastefully decorated, spacious and centrally located. The view from the terrace was a perfect place to read, eat, drink coffee and peacefully watch the sun come up or have a cocktail in the evening. The beds were incredibly comfortable and the kitchen included state of the art appliances...perfectly stocked for cooking.Not only did it include every cooking utensil but many thoughtful essential cooking ingredients such as spices, coffee filters and cleaning products. Sunning at the private beach or poolside were equally relaxing and beautiful. The location of the unit afforded an ocean view but with total privacy. The 3rd floor location provided quick access to the pool, beach, exercise room and other amenities. It was difficult to distinguish guests from other condo owners because all were "at home". The facility was never crowded like most hotels or other rental vacation spots. I have recommended your condo to others looking for the perfect vacation. It is equally accomodating for a family vacation or couple. I am already planning my next vacation.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, people with disabilities, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

the best property I've ever vacationed

Guest: Barbara (Houston, Texas)
Date of Stay: 03/26/11 Review Submitted: 03/27/11

When i need to relax, I close my eyes and focus on the wonderful time I had in Hawaii. What an incredible vacation... it was a perfect 2 weeks! While being in such a tropical paradise would have been enough, your condo put it over the top. It was like staying in a luxury resort with all the comfort and privacy of being home. The unit was tastefully decorated, spacious and centrally located. The view from the terrace was a perfect place to read, eat, drink coffee and peacefully watch the sun come up or have a cocktail in the evening. The beds were incredibly comfortable and the kitchen included state of the art appliances...perfectly stocked for cooking.Not only did it include every cooking utensil but many thoughtful essential cooking ingredients such as spices, coffee filters and cleaning products. Sunning at the private beach or poolside were equally relaxing and beautiful. The location of the unit afforded an ocean view but with total privacy. The 3rd floor location provided quick access to the pool, beach, exercise room and other amenities. It was difficult to distinguish guests from other condo owners because all were "at home". The facility was never crowded like most hotels or other rental vacation spots. I have recommended your condo to others looking for the perfect vacation. It is equally accomodating for a family vacation or couple. I am already planning my next vacation.

Owner response:I am glad you enjoyed your stay. Ko Olina is truely an escape. You now have an alternative that keeps you close to all the activities yet the seclusion offered by this gated resort. With shopping only 5 minutes away yet it seems like a different world once you enter the resort. We are always happy to hear that the kitchen and Villa met your needs. Anna Marie always looks for ways to improve what we have in the kitchen and wants to make sure that you have everything you could need. It is also our home away from home and we figured our guests will enjoy the same things we love. Please come again! Damian

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, people with disabilities, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Excellent beach villa rental!

Guest: Barb P (Vancouver, Canada)
Date of Stay: 11/17/10 Review Submitted: 02/02/11

We had a wonderful time staying in Damian's unit. The condo is beautiful and spacious! The three bedroom and 3 full bathroom set up worked really well for our large group. The kitchen is well-stocked with a lot of those pantry staples e.g. spices, olive oil, etc. so that was very convenient. In fact, we contributed some imported beers and left them in the wine fridge for the next group to enjoy! There is a Pack and Play, a booster chair, and kids' cutlery in the unit so that was perfect for our 16 month old. Our toddlers had a grand time going to the secluded beach every morning to play (with the many beach toys that are available in the hall closet). The town of Kapolei is nearby (only 10 min drive away) and very convenient for restaurants and also stopping into Costco for picking up reasonably priced groceries. The Waikele Premium Outlets is also fairly close by to satisfy our shopping fixes! Damian made the rental process so easy and our deposit was returned in a timely fashion. Even when our airline rescheduled our flights at the last minute, Damian was extremely accomodating and was able to shift our booking, thankfully. Also, Eric Binger is the contact person in the area and he was very helpful and professional. We could not stop raving about staying here! We would definitely stay here again and have already referred a friend who wil be staying in Damian's unit in April 2011.

Owner response:We are glad that everything worked out. We actually had a few of those beers when we got here thanks very much! Thank you for the referral and we look forward to having them as guests soon. We are here again escaping the winter storms on the east coast for a week for our annual board meeting. Hope to see you again! Damian

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

Excellent Place To Stay Highly recommended

Guest: Brian & Lilibeth (Long Beach, Ca)
Date of Stay: 08/20/10 Review Submitted: 08/29/10

Damian is so nice and a pleasure to work with. He answered all our questions promptly and he makes us feel welcome at his place. Eric was very nice and professional in showing us the unit. The beds are very comfortable. We usually have a hard time sleeping at other places but at this place we slept well and woke up ready for another day. Everything in the place is high end, clean and beautiful. The unit is spacious and the table by the lanai is nice, we spent most of our time there. The kids loved all the pools and the lagoon is so clear. We had a wonderful vacation, this is our third time in Hawaii and we can say this is the best place to stay in Hawaii. We will definitely come back at this place hoping to stay 2 weeks instead of just 1 week and We are already recommending your place to friends and families planning to go to Hawaii. Thank for everything Damian .

Owner response:Brian & Lilibeth, We are very happy that you enjoyed your stay. It is always good to hear that. We have almost every meal out on Lanai as well when we stay there. Before we had this place I wish there was something like it for us to stay. Everytime we go back there are improvments in Ko Olina. I think with Disney building their new resort Aulani in Ko olina that more people will discover our private hidaway in Hawaii. Let us know when you are ready for another stay. Mahalo for being our guests! Damian

Recommended for:

Great Location, Great Furnishings, Great Owners!!!

Guest: Cheryl (San Diego, CA)
Date of Stay: 07/24/10 Review Submitted: 08/07/10

We just got back from an eight day trip to Ko'Olina and we couldn't be happier to have stayed here. We were doing a family vacation with six adults and one toddler and the condo was PERFECT! The bedrooms, bathrooms, and all the furnishings are fantastic and beautiful and the place is so kid-friendly! All the appliances can "lock" so any button pushing is rendered useless by the little ones. They even have kid utensils, plastic plates, beach toys and the pack n play came in handy for the kiddo! No need to spend $$$ on rentals for munchkin! While there, we decided to buy a high chair/booster seat so we wouldn't have to rent that either and we left it there at the condo for future renters. Damian, the owner, is seriously the nicest and most accommodating owner I have ever dealt with for vacation rentals. Our original flight to Oahu was canceled, and we could not get on a flight until 24 hours later, plus our returning flight had to be pushed out two additional days. Damian was so understanding and was so flexible with our schedule. Really a great guy. The unit is on the outside of the building so it was away from the noise of the lap pool and was very private, a real plus for us. Plus, parking is super close to the unit, just an elevator ride up, and the pool and lagoon are a two minute walk from the unit. Really fantastic and very relaxing. The kiddie pool was a great way to get our toddler to "enjoy" the water, and the lagoon was very relaxing, not crowded at all. If we make another trip out to Oahu, no doubt we'd stay here again!

Owner response:Cheryl I am glad that everything worked out for you and that we were able to work with your flight schedules. We know how stressfull traveling can be and we want you to have a true escape when you get here. We try and put as much as we can in the Villa to make it easy. Thanks for the Booster chair! I am glad you got good use out of what we have in the condo. We hope that you will be our guests in the future. Aloha, Damian

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

Elegant yet comfortable beach villa

Guest: Donna (Livermore, California)
Date of Stay: 06/15/10 Review Submitted: 08/02/10

We stayed at this beach villa for ten amazing days. First of all, the owner, Damian, was so great to work with. He quickly responded to our inquiry and provided us with helpful information about the Ko Olina area. When we arrived, the beauty and cleanliness of the villa surpassed the quality of all the other places we have stayed at. We had amazing views from our lanai. We were steps to the beaches and pools. We are a family of six and found the accomodations perfect. The master bedroom is on the other side of the villa away from where our four teenagers were sleeping. We used the BBQ's at the pool to prepare several of our meals which we always ate out on the lanai. We took Damian's advice and shopped at the nearby Costco which was so convenient. We rented surfboards and caught waves at nearby White Plains Beach. We also took advantage of the walking path along the four lagoons and enjoyed beautiful jogs along the beach. We went to Waikiki to shop and enjoyed the fact that it was only a 30 minute drive away. We enjoyed being in the tranquil environment of Ko Olina, but were grateful that we could sightsee and never drive more than 45 minutes to get anywhere on the island. We highly recommend the North Shore with its pristine beaches and laid back vibe. By far, this was the best vacation rental by owner we have ever experienced, and we have been doing this for several years. Damian was a total pleasure to work with and we will return to his property again (next time without the kids!!!)

Owner response:We are very happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay in our Villa and Ko Olina. All to often I hear people say they would never stay in Oahu. I tell them they have never stayed at Ko Olina which gives you the feeling of being on the outer islands with all the advantages of everything else to do close by! from Waikiki...which I would never really stay at to the North shore all an easy drive. I should have mentioned the Shark Cage swim on the north shore ...your teenagers would have loved it....may be next time. Costco is a blessing...if you forget something it is so close or you can grab shashimi or poke for a lunch. You just can not beat the location....a world away yet close to every thing you need especially with a family. By next year there will be more choices for stores and restaurants all with in walking distance. Especially when Disney opens the Aulani in August 2011. There are times when we go and never leave the resort anymore...unless we have guests or to visit the many friends we have made there over the years. Thanks for being our Guests, Aloha Damian & Anna Marie

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, girls getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers.