Nice Unit- but mixed bag... read all the way to the end

Guest: terracore (Juneau, AK)
Date of Stay: 04/03/11 Review Submitted: 09/05/11

I start this review on night 7 of 8 sitting on the lanai. The condo is very large and well appointed. We have prepared most of our meals in the gourmet kitchen and have found it to be equipped with every amenity necessary. The in-condo full sized washer and dryer have served us well, as have the beach lounge chairs and boogie boards. The unit comes with free high-speed internet which helped us fix a few emergencies back home. One thing that wasn't well advertised, but much appreciated, was the private garage in which to stow our rental car. Keeping it out of the sun kept it much cooler. There are some issues with the unit that need to be brought up, however. The master suite is advertised as "queen size" and I interpreted that to mean it had a queen sized bed. It does not. It has a full-sized bed which is smaller. It also advertised a whirlpool tub, and it has a regular tub- a regular bathtub. It is fancy in shape but has no jets, and no whirpool. Just a tub. My wife was especially looking forward to this advertised amenity that does not exist. The master bathroom is huge, at least as big as the "queen size" master bedroom, however it is not separate from the bedroom. There is no door separating the master bedroom from the master bath. This means that there is no privacy and no way for somebody to get up early and start getting ready without waking up their partner. The large mirror in the bathroom offers unrestricted reflected views from the lanai and other units to whoever is in the tub or shower. There is a small public-restroom-sized "stall" where the toilet sits, however the master bathroom without it's advertised whirlpool tub and lacking any doors, privacy, or sound dampening scores a huge goose egg. The unit was clean upon our arrival with the exception of the carpeting. It is stained throughout and borders on disgusting. With the non-refundable cleaning fee and the security deposit, one would expect the carpet to be free from such filth. Also, the full-sized bed in the queen-sized suite didn't have any pillow cases on the pillows. The neighbors upstairs were so loud, it hindered our ability to sleep and relax. A lot of thumping and voices heard via the ceiling. I had to inquire several times about getting our security deposit back. The final answer was "you'll get it on the very last day we are allowed to give it back according to Hawaiian law." We did get it back, but... really?

Owner response:We have since put a king bed in the master bedroom for the comfort of all guests. There are blinds on all windows and doors so there is no security issue. The carpet is cleaned professionally between each guest. All linens are provided. As per each guest's contract, security deposits are returned by mail 21 days after departure to allow for not only full inspection but all cable TV and other bills to arrive; it's very rare for any money to be withheld.

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

Everything you could want

Guest: MB (Twin Cities, MN)
Date of Stay: 03/17/11 Review Submitted: 03/26/11

This unit was perfect for us. It is VERY spacious - both within the unit and the grounds. There was not a thing we needed. The kitchen had every gadget and lots of pots/pans - more so than my own home. We were pleasantly surprised that the unit also included extras for a day at the beach - and even multiples of these items. The beds were the most comfortable we have every slept in. We thought it was in a great location for our agenda which included exploring all the regions but mostly the west and north sides. We looked forward to coming back "home" each day after going to one of many of the nearby beaches, hiking the Valleys or even a night stargazing ontop of Mauna Kea. We definitely intend on staying here again!

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

Exceeded Expectations

Guest: KE (Fayetteville, AR, USA)
Date of Stay: 01/08/11 Review Submitted: 02/13/11

The photos above are very accurate. We found the condo in great condition.The beds are amazingly comfortable - best we've slept away from home. The owners were easy to work with and the entire process was simple. The condo is in a great location for access to beaches, restaurants, and the airport. The condo is stocked with all sorts of things you might need (ex. beach toys and chairs, boogie boards, appliances, etc.) It would have been helpful to have a list of what was provided and where in the condo it was located. You will need a car to get around. I had wanted to rent a house and was hesitant to book a condo. However, this place exceeded our expectations. We would like to stay here again. Our favorite beaches on the island were at Waikoloa and Hapuna Beach State Park. Sansei (Waikoloa) had the best sushi and waitstaff, Luke's Place (Hawi) the best lava flow.

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

top notch

Guest: ST (San Rafael, CA, USA)
Date of Stay: 07/01/10 Review Submitted: 07/21/10

This was a fabulous condo in a great location. Luxurious, modern, good view, comfortable. The only negative on the location is that it's far from a large supermarket. Closest is a somewhat small market at Mauna Lani, otherwise Waimea or Waikoloa Village. Of course you could always stop at Costco by the Kona airport on your way over.

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