Northshore Zen Retreat Beautiful, Private and Quiet

• :-)

  :-)

  • Guest nae nae
  • Date of stay 11/29/12
  • Review Submitted 01/18/13
  We stayed in the yen zen for 6 weeks it was perfect. Super clean and quiet. It felt like home. Definitely enough room for a small family. The owner kelly was really cool. We will definitely tell all our friends about this place.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Absolutely delightful place to stay!

  Absolutely delightful place to stay!

  • Guest Dylan
  • Date of stay 01/08/13
  • Review Submitted 01/16/13
  We just got back from staying at the Zen Retreat for a week, and what a wonderful week it was! The layout and attention to detail is wonderful, and its a truly peaceful place to stay. The location is great, right off of the main highway, and very close to all of the north side attractions we wanted to see. Kapa'a is a close drive, and we did most of our provisioning there. Its a long drive to the South side of the island, so plan accordingly, but we mostly just wanted to spend one day in the Waimea canyon and didn't bother with the South side beaches, so that wasn't a big deal. The North side of the island felt better to us anyways, it had a much better feel and more lush forests and scenery. While I suspect there were some gems we were missing due to being out of season, we were able to pick fresh tangerines, tangelos, and a few rambutan from the trees on the property yard and put them to good use both for breakfasts as well as a nice mixer for some local rum we picked up in town. Yes, you have to wander into the owners' part of the yard to get to them, but we didn't feel particularly uncomfortable with that. The weather was nice for the bulk of our trip, despite it being January, so we weren't there during the day for the most part, but on the rainy day that we did have, we could not have asked to be staying in a better place. The kitchen was quite well setup (one of our goals was to do most of our own cooking, so that was a huge selling point). The farmers markets on Kauai are wonderful and I can't recommend them enough for produce rather than going to the grocery stores. If I had to criticize at all, it would be that the laundry situation was somewhat as described by another reviewer, we found they were usually in use or at least had laundry in them. We didn't find this to be a huge deal, since we'd brought enough clothes and we managed to get our muddy hiking clothes washed to we could hang dry them, but its something worth noting. Only other minor issue is that the kitchen knives were dull as sin, and the sharpening steel has seen better days. I'm sure this is as much a reflection on me being picky (I tend to sharpen my mom's knives whenever I visit and help her cook), but having a chef knife with a usable blade would have been nice. Overall, I can't recommend this place enough. We have hopes of someday kayaking the Na Pali coast, and when we do this is where we'll want to stay!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Perfect North Shore Base!

  Perfect North Shore Base!

  • Guest Joel & Randi
  • Date of stay 06/15/11
  • Review Submitted 11/18/11
  My wife and I stayed at the Zen Retreat in June and I've been meaning to write this review for a long time. The accommodations were extremely comfortable and private. We thoroughly enjoyed returning to our studio each evening after spending the day exploring the island. We weren't around enough to socialize with the owners, but aside from the wonder decor, they provide a few extras that make your stay simply enjoyable. Access to chairs, towels, snorkeling gear, coolers, and a laundry room really added to our experience. I loved being outside of the typical tourist scene, yet having quick access to some amazing sites and beaches. I can't say enough about this place. It's simply the most comfortable I've been in an accommodation, hotel or rental, outside of my own home.

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

  Owner response: Thanks so much you guys. Have a nice winter and hope to see you next summer. Aloha, Kelly

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Best vacation rental I have ever stayed in! ROMANTIC!

  Best vacation rental I have ever stayed in! ROMANTIC!

  • Guest Jess
  • Date of stay 09/03/11
  • Review Submitted 09/27/11
  I can barely find words to express how thrilled we were with Zen Retreat! Never have I been in such a beautifully decorated place! So private and quiet, too! The location was great for us as well. We were there for our 10 year wedding anniversary and the Zen Retreat really made it feel romantic! I would stay there again in a heartbeat! Hosts are incredibly generous and helpful.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Thanks so much Jessica! Hope to see you again soon. Aloha, Kelly

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Absolutely amazing!

  Absolutely amazing!

  • Guest Rachel
  • Date of stay 07/19/11
  • Review Submitted 07/24/11
  My husband and I stayed here for 4 nights in July and we had a fabulous time. The pictures here don't quite do this place enough justice. The 'fung shui' and layout of the place is indescribable. This place has inspired me to redecorate my own home. It is a large, spacious studio that has all of the finest quality amenities: bamboo floors, granite countertops, very comfortable bed with high quality bamboo sheets, a nice area to eat, a comfortable futon for relaxing, and the most amazing bathroom and shower! I loved the open-air feel of the place. We were very comfortable sleeping with the windows open and loved the sound of the rain in the evening. This was a perfect place to relax and read a book, or to unwind after a busy day of hiking or sight-seeing. I loved the extra added touch of the fruit basket upon arrival - papaya, avocado, and mango all from trees just outside! We did get bit by a few mosquitoes around late afternoon/evening inside, but there was bug spray under the sink in the bathroom that we used and then weren't bothered. The mosquitoes didn't seem to be a problem at night after we turned out the lights. All in all the zen retreat was a place that I would come back to in a heartbeat. This place was better than any 5 star hotel but with much better value and so much more character!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Beautiful, comfortable and well-designed; centrally located

  Beautiful, comfortable and well-designed; centrally located

  • Guest JEFF
  • Date of stay 05/31/11
  • Review Submitted 06/06/11
  We spent 4 great nights here. Centrally located in Kilauea the cottage is about 10 minutes south of Princeville, 20 minutes to Hanalei, and 30 minutes to Ke'e. It' also about 15 minutes north of Kapaa, 30 minutes to Lihue/airport, and maybe an hour to Poipu. The cottage is beautifully designed with amazing attention to detail, especially for a rental property! The shower is incredible. The kitchen is great and well stocked with supplies. The 4 ceiling fans make it really comfortable, plus there's an A/C if you need it. The bed is very comfortable. The apartment has a TV with DirectTV and a DVD player and stereo... If I had to nit-pick downsides, they would be: 1. Throughout the north of Kauai it rains a lot, but for some reason this particular location (I think because it's a bit inland) rains A LOT, and it is therefore quite buggy also. A 5 minute drive usually solves the problem, but it did bum us out a little bit 2. I thought that the outdoor stuff (pool, hammock, etc.) were right outside, but in fact they're part of the owner's house, which is next door. They were totally cool with us using everything, but keep in mind that you will be in their yard (not yours) when using Otherwise, would strongly recommend this place!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Mahalo Jeff for your review! I'm glad you guys enjoyed the retreat. Sorry about the weather for your stay. We are actually in whats known by locals as a" banana belt "that runs thru Moloa'a and we normally enjoy much less rain then most other North Shore locations. It was just poor luck. Aloha, Kelly

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Pics just don't do it justice at all!

  Pics just don't do it justice at all!

  • Guest j and g
  • Date of stay 12/20/10
  • Review Submitted 01/06/11
  Our jaws dropped when we walked in the first night for our long-awaited Honeymoon - we expected cozy and pretty, but we were not prepared for how beautiful this cottage really is. The wood, the decor, everything is just well designed and elegant. It's comfortable and quite spacious. We came here after several days at the posh Koa Kea and frankly it was just as comfortable. The "welcome bowl" of fruit picked on their property (!!!!!) was absolutely wonderful, too! The kitchen is well-equipped and made us actually want to stay in and cook - everything to take advantage of the amazing fresh produce and fish Kauai's farmers markets offer (and Kilauea reputedly has one of the best around). There's a ton of stylish dishware and more than enough cups and mugs AND OMG A DISHWASHER. We certainly made use of the coffee grinder (go to Kauai Coffee! Worth the drive!) and set the coffee maker to wake us up every morning. This place really integrates all the comforts of home with all the wonders of paradise. And, honestly, the bathroom is just not adequately depicted in the photos - the shower is beyond awesome. It's a rain shower with an additional sprayer head, it's HUGE and it has a seat inside. The closet, too, is just massive. The photos don't show how well laid out everything is! We also really enjoyed the fun selection of books - there was a beyond-cute "Let's Learn Some Hawaiian!" paperback that inspired us to pick up a copy of our own at the ABC Store in Kapaa. The best part was probably looking out the window over the bed every morning and seeing all that gorgeous sky! The owner's yard is gorgeous. The area is absolutely stunning, and so quiet! Well, except for the errant chirping gecko or mooing cow (we actually never heard roosters) - and if those innocuous sounds bother you, um, don't vacation on Kauai, period. The only minor complaint we had, and it's tiny, is that the laundry situation was a bit awkward. The owner's laundry was in both machines most times, and we felt like we were invading their space. Laundry access was definitely a factor in our choosing this rental - we only packed 6 days of clothes for 18 days of vacation to save suitcase space. We're chalking it up to the holidays - we were here during Christmas/New Year's, so we're assuming things were hectic for the owners. Nearby stuff that we enjoyed included Princeville Ranch Adventures for ziplining, Kauai Mini Golf, and Anini Beach for snorkeling. Lots to see within a 15 min drive.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• A true retreat!

  A true retreat!

  • Guest krle
  • Date of stay 11/18/10
  • Review Submitted 11/29/10
  Cleverly designed place with highest attention to detail, feels like home.. perfect location half way between Lihue and end of Kuhio Hwy, quiet, secluded, a true retreat.. worth every penny!!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

  Owner response: Mahalo you guys, It was nice having you stay here and we hope to see you soon! Aloha, Kelly and Yen

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Greatest Energy

  Greatest Energy

  • Guest Lupe & Steve
  • Date of stay 10/18/10
  • Review Submitted 10/27/10
  This was our retreat following the wedding of our son. The photos don't even touch on the atmosphere, warmth, and comfort of this perfect apartment. Our son and new daughter-in-law were JEALOUS in comparison to their honeymoon rental. The meticulous work on planning and design is everywhere! The entire design is the work of a true artist and someone in touch with Zen energetic qualities that are meant to work their magic. It was wonderful to come home every night after a busy day. Thank you Yen for your friendly welcome. Thank you Kelly for stopping by to say good-bye on our last night. I want our future home in Kauai to be as comforting and welcoming as your Zen Retreat.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway.

  Owner response: Aloha Lupe and Steve, Wow, it's so nice to have guests that really appreciate plus write such wonderful reviews! Thank you! We look forward to your next visit. Kelly

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Beautiful!!!

  Beautiful!!!

  • Guest BT
  • Date of stay 10/06/10
  • Review Submitted 10/12/10
  The pic's don't really do this place justice... This was the best place I've stayed in years. The owners are really cool, the kitchen was top of the line, & the bed was very comfy... This was perfect for me & my wife. Don't pass up this one its worth every penny. Thank you Zen Retreat.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers.

  Owner response: Glad you enjoyed your stay! Mahalo for the positive feedback!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Additional information about rental rates

25% due at time of booking w/ balance due 45 days prior to arrival

Additional Fees and Taxes:

$90 cleaning fee and 13.42% tax