Christmas 2011

Guest: Harry (-)
Date of Stay: 12/16/11 Review Submitted: 01/27/12

Dear Sylvia: Thank you so much for allowing us to rent your beautiful (really beautiful) places at Waikoloa this past holiday. We all had the best time we've ever had--and we've been going to the Big Island for 30 years. We loved your decor and appreciated the very nice (often Tommy Bahamas) furniture, rugs and bedding. I do want to make a confession and would like to know how much we owe you. We broke one of the yellow dinner plates in 201. Please send us an amount and we will send a check for that plate. Again, thanks so much for the use of your lovely homes. Regards,

Recommended for:

Yet another wonderful vacation!

Guest: Helena A.
Date of Stay: 07/15/11 Review Submitted: 11/20/11

This is such a wonderful place to stay in that I am almost reluctant to tell other people about it, I'm afraid it will be even more difficult to find vacant dates to rent it again, and I really hope that we will be back a third time... We spent a fantastic Christmas here this winter and when we saw that there were two available weeks in July, we couldn't resist coming back again. The condo is amazing, the lanai is even better in reality than on pictures, everything is clean, cozy, very well maintained and it is a real pleasure to deal with Sylvia. It is hard to imagine that a place so far away from home (we're from Sweden) can feel so much like home! Big Island is a fascinating part of Hawaii with so much to see and do and I sincerely hope that more people discover this fantastic island. Too many seem to be content with visiting only Honolulu and Waikiki Beach (yes, we've been there too!), thinking that, "ok, what's so special with Hawaii?". Just go to Big Island and it is obvious what you've missed! We really hope to be able to do this long journey again, there are still so many things we haven't seen or done yet. And when we do, your condo is our first choice! Helena, Mats, Caroline and Cecilia from Sweden

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So relaxing, everything you need

Guest: Lynn (Edmonds, WA )
Date of Stay: 09/07/10 Review Submitted: 10/13/11

What a wonderfully appointed home away from home. We spent as much time as we could on the two comfy lanais. The kitchen had everything we needed to easily prepare and serve meals. We appreciated the beach towels and various guide books to lead us to good beaches and sites around the island. Coming and going from the condo was always a pleasant time as we enjoyed the beautiful flowers and colorful birds. Just a perfect place to stay in the Wiakoloa area.

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

You Have Found Your Condo!

Guest: Mic (Massachusetts)
Date of Stay: 07/05/11 Review Submitted: 07/25/11

My husband and I rented this condo in 2001 and loved it then. We recently rented it again and it is now even better than before! Lots of room, CLEAN, comfortable beds, nicely decorated. I still can't figure out why anyone would rent a hotel room! Can't wait to go back!

Owner response:It was nice of you to leave a review on your stay at our condo. We welcome you back anytime! Mahalo, Sylvia

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+.

Paradise

Guest: Karen (Manitoba, Canada)
Date of Stay: 02/18/10 Review Submitted: 03/26/11

Beautifully decorated with lots of thoughtful touches, well maintained, a kichen with every gadget, comfortable beds, sunset views from the lanai, a large heated pool, a huge common BBQ area plus the one on the lanai, short drives to golden sand beaches - if these are the things you are looking for in a holiday condo, you needn't look any further. We enjoyed a wonderful week at this condo and are looking forward to returning again. The owner is so pleasant and helpful with any questions you may have. Thanks, Sylvia!!

Owner response:Hi Karen, Thanks for leaving the thoughtful review. So glad you enjoyed your experience and I'm delighted to receive a reservation for next year from you. We'll be in touch! Mahalo, Sylvia (Please note: the above listed reservation was actually for Feb. 2011 rather than 2010 as stated)

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

Guest: Mats and Family from Sweden (-)
Date of Stay: 12/22/10 Review Submitted: 01/03/11

Dear Sylvia, Thank you for a wonderful stay in your apartment! Everything was really great! At some time you might ask someone to check the middle lamp in the fan in the kitchen. It is probably broken. Also the temperature in the oven should be checked, I think it is lower than indicated, or it might be that we are not used to American ovens :-) We had the best time ever and even though Sweden is far away from Hawaii we really hope that we will be back someday, and in that case, your condo will be on the top of our list! We also would like to add that we really liked the cosy and warm style of your condo, it really felt like home. We can compare as we are now staying at a very comfortable and luxurious condo at Oahu (Ko Olina), but SO impersonal. Nothing compared to your place! So, thank you again for a wonderful time! Best regards Mats and family

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Another excellent stay for us here at the Vista Waikoloa

Guest: The Brady's (Seattle, Wa.)
Date of Stay: 11/13/10 Review Submitted: 11/23/10

My husband & I just returned from 10 fabulous day's on the Big Island. This is our 2nd time staying in unit A-201, we were here in May of this year & couldn't wait to return to what felt like a "home away from home". The condo is everything the pictures show it to be and more. The kitchen was used every night & morning, it is very well equip't with everything you could possibly need. We enjoyed having our meals out on the Lani watching either the surf in the morning or the sunsets at night. The bed is very comfortable and offers a good nights sleep. We took advantage of the boogie boards and cooler that are available for guests use, much appreciated, as it's one less thing we to had to rent. We had a blast boogie boarding at 69 beach, and snorkeling down by the Place of Refuge gave us an eye full of tropical fish to admire. We recommend buying fresh fish at "Bite Me" fish market located at Honokohou Marina, just south of the Airport. It's a great place to sit seaside and grab some fish taco's and a drink. All in all you can't go wrong choosing the Big Island and this wonderful condo for your vacation. I would also add that Sylvia the owner is a delight to work with. She is very attentive to your needs, from booking the condo to post arrival she is there spot on to make sure you have an enjoyable trip. Thanks Sylvia & Rod for another memorable trip to Hawaii, we'll be back! Mahalo - The Brady's

Owner response:Aloha Caroline, Thanks for the kind comments about our condo. It sounds like you had a great vacation. It makes us feel good to know our guests are happy and feel at home while staying in our home a way from home. Thanks too for your return visit. You are great return guests! Mahalo, Sylvia

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

Amazing Experience 9/9-9/16

Guest: Emily and Rick (Boise, ID)
Date of Stay: 09/09/10 Review Submitted: 09/18/10

My husband and I just returned from an amazing experience on the Big Island yesterday and are already looking at making plans to return next year. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in a serene and beautiful home away from home in Rod and Sylvia's condominium. We had everything we needed in order to cook the majority of our meals, to enjoy several days at the beach, and to enjoy everything the island has to offer. Sylvia was such an instrumental part in terms of our enjoyment in terms of her assistance in answering our questions as we planned our trip, touching base with us during our stay to make sure we had everything we needed, and providing timely responses to any questions we had while on the island. The condominium itself, as well as the complex was everything described on this website and more. The pictures on this site don't do justice to what you will actually experience and once you arrive, but they do provide you with a great idea of what to expect! The pool and exercise room were added amenities for us to take advantage of as well. We enjoyed the cleanliness and beauty of A-Bay which is in walking distance from the condo and it is a great way to enjoy the stunningly beautiful sunsets and sunrises (other than viewing from the Lanai of course). For those of you who are new to visiting the Big Island, we would highly recommend taking advantage of the the grill and fully equipped kitchen to cook several meals since it is much more cost effective. We recommend grocery shopping at Safe Way which is about 20-25 minutses away or at Costco depending on what you need and how many are staying with you. It is much more cost effective than shopping at the stores in either Queens or Kings market and the quality of the produce and meat is great. As far as restaurants go, we highly recommend Ron's which is located at King's Market based on the amazing service and food. If you are in the mood to venture downtown, Splasher's serves great hamburgers and has a great views. Ruth's Chris which is located 5 min away has great daily deals if you are seated before 6 pm (i.e. $39 a person for salad, side dish, main course, & dessert) and 25% off all wines on Wednesday's evenings. Although it is not cheap, it is well worth the cost to take a Helicopter Tour of the island and the volcanoes! We took advantage of a special from Paradise Helicopters with Pilot Steve that included a 2 hour flight and day in Hilo w/rental car provided for the same cost of just flying

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

E-mail from guest

Guest: Riki (-)
Date of Stay: 06/16/10 Review Submitted: 06/22/10

We loved your condos and will keep your information on file for when we return to the big island and suggest it to friends who may be going that way. We really loved how you have decorated the place--the colors, the furniture, and the artwork really give the island feel. The spacious unit with cozy furnishings, comfortable beds, beach gear, well-stocked kitchen, and convenient location to A-Bay beach, shops and marketplace made our stay especially relaxing. We cooked most nights and mornings, so the availability of olive oil, vinegars of all flavors, butter, spices and other kitchen condiments and accoutrement's were especially appreciated. Of course, we ended up with too much food since we stocked up at Costco; we contributed to the stash by leaving bottled water, rice, sugar, beer, and some other goodies in the pantry and fridge. Thank you for making it easy for us to travel with our family--the 2 units next to each other proved especially convenient. Best, Riki & Garin

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couldn't be better

Guest: scecjp (Seattle WA)
Date of Stay: 03/23/10 Review Submitted: 04/09/10

We spent 12 days in A201 in March/April 2010. The 6 of us (including young kids and older travelers) were quite comfortable in this very spacious and accessible condo. The location is a great base of operations for exploring the island and the condo itself is nicely decorated and very well appointed with lots of cooking and beach supplies. The kitchen is well-equipped and the washer and dryer are a great convenience. The lanai is particularly appealing--we ate every meal there! The owner is delightful to work with. We'll be back...

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