As Close to the Ocean as You Can Get in Kailua

• Wonderful Vacation!

  Wonderful Vacation!

  • Guest Missy
  • Date of stay 01/05/13
  • Review Submitted 01/17/13
  Our family of 4 thoroughly enjoyed our week at the Hideaway! The location really can't be beat! The house is right on the ocean, so my teenage daughters would lay in the lounge chairs to catch some rays right in the backyard and watch the waves crash on the rocks. We would eventually meander on down to Kailua beach or Lanikai beach (our favorite). The rental is definitely a bit weathered but what house that close to the ocean isn't. The pictures and descriptions are right on! The owners supplied anything you could think of for the beach...Chairs, coolers, boogie boards, snorkel gear (nice ones), bikes, etc. We saved a lot of money by using their equipment, which we really appreciated! It was also nice to buy fresh seafood and cook on the grill. Another money saving idea! A few things I would recommend would be 1. Hike to the pillboxes in Lanikai. The hike is moderate but only took about an hour round trip and so worth it! The view is stunning! 2. Snorkel at Lanikai. Hanama Bay is the obvious choice for snorkeling, but if you want no crowd and free, with no obligatory video to watch, we experienced good snorkeling right off the beach around the coral. 3. We also rented a paddle board in Kailua which we had fun with. Next time we want to rent a kayak! 4. Another thing we did was we took a surf lesson in Waikiki. That might be my favorite memory! The four of us had a lesson for $34 each. We found a coupon in the Oahu guide. The waves were gentle and we all stood on the boards and rode the waves! It was so fun! Bryn is great to rent from! I highly recommend this property!

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, families with young children, girls getaway, sightseeing.

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• Great for family!

  Great for family!

  • Guest Jade Princess
  • Date of stay 09/14/12
  • Review Submitted 09/27/12
  We 6 adults stayed at the ocean side rental for 8 nights. It's not 5-star quality, but for us as a family, it has everything we need. Wifi, full kitchen, all kinds of beach accessories (chair, umbrella, towel, fins, snorkel equipment, etc.), washer & dryer. Water pressure for the shower is very good. The owner answered our question promptly. The neighborhood is quiet & safe. One neighbor across the street brought over 2 large freshly caught sea bass one night. Talking about friendly Aloha spirit! The house is less than 10 minutes drive to the beautiful Kailua Beach; less than 5 minutes to Safeway; & less than 15 minutes to Kailua Town where you can find many restaurants & gift shops. What we enjoyed the most is the ocean in our backyard. Every night, we slept with the sound of the Paciic Ocean & ocean breeze.......This is the place for a family!

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

  Owner response: Excellent and accurate review. We have a lot to offer, but if you are looking for a 5 star hotel experience we do not offer that. Of course the 5 star hotel is not so close to a private beach and ocean, nor does it have a full kitchen and all the amenities in the garage including the full washer and dryer. It is also in a tourist area and we are in a very quiet neighborhood setting.

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• 20 ft from the ocean!

  20 ft from the ocean!

  • Guest East coaster
  • Date of stay 08/03/12
  • Review Submitted 08/10/12
  Just finished a week at As Close As it Gets...........it was all that we expected. We stayed in the ocean view and what a view! 20 ft to the crashing waves of the ocean. It's true you can't swim here but the beaches in Oahu are all beautiful especially Kailua and Lanikai beach right down the street. The apartment was the perfect size for 4. It was clean and comfy. Some reviews complained about sand and rust, I didn't see much of either and no bugs. It is salty and weathered but again the ocean is crashing 20 ft away! The garage is stocked with anything you need for a day of adventuring, chairs, coolers, mats, snorkel gear, towels.......even laundry. we met our hosts and they were helpful and friendly without being intrusive. This was the perfect place to rest and sleep after a day around the island. Its perfectly located to get anywhere on the island. You will need a car. It's not a 4 star resort and doesn't claim to be. It was like staying at a friend or family's home. Would highly recommend and return.

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

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• Great location and owners are great to work with

  Great location and owners are great to work with

  • Guest KTBH
  • Date of stay 06/15/12
  • Review Submitted 07/07/12
  We truly appreciated the owner's hospitality and enjoyed our stay. We appreciated how well organized the communications and instructions were, owner's responsiveness to any questions in advance and how nicely they didn't intrude but were very welcoming when we introduced ourselves. The location was very convenient, quiet neighborhood and short drives to Kailua or Lanakai beaches, and we were captivated by the wave action right outside our door (but do understand the property is not on a swimming beach). The only suggestions we have is that the living space downstairs is a little crowded for 4 adults and some improved/more comfortable seating in the living room would be helpful. Sure, most folks vacationing there won't likely be spending much time at the house, but for evening lounging it was a bit cramped. Otherwise, everything else was fine, and we especially liked the toys in the garage! If you're looking for something NOT in Waikiki and no hassles, we'd definitely recommend The Hideaway.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, families with young children, girls getaway, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Thanks for the review and I am glad you enjoyed your stay and time in Hawaii. Regarding the seating just to let people know what is there we have a Queen Futon that also doubles as a bed. The mattress is thick but it is probably not as soft as a couch. Couches can’t be used because the bed part is metal and the metal will drip rust onto the carpet. The other two chairs are wicker chairs with pillows. We also have some standard dining room chairs down stairs. We do have a computer room/office too so if someone wants to use the internet they can work comfortably in that room down stairs too. I think the most important points were mentioned. We are at the end of a cul-de-sac so it is very quiet in our area. Kailua Beach is just a few minutes away and we are even convenient to Waikiki which is about 30 minutes away. We really stock the garage with a lot of toys such as Boogie Boards, Bikes, really good snorkels and masks, and beach mats with blow up pillows. Thanks again for the review.

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• Fantastic location, Romantic, Great for Families!!!

  Fantastic location, Romantic, Great for Families!!!

  • Guest Brant W.
  • Date of stay 12/01/11
  • Review Submitted 01/08/12
  My wife, 3 children ages 5, 7, and 9, and my father-in-law rented this home in early December to be close to my family who live in Lanikai. The location couldn't have been better. It was a short drive to Lanikai Beach (one of the most beautiful beaches in the world!). The kids enjoyed playing on the beach and in the tide pools in front of the home. They also had a blast seeing the turtles and Turtle Cove which is just a short stroll from the home. I am a realtor in La Jolla, CA and own 2 vacation rentals and represent 12 others. I was very impressed to see the amenities that the owner provided including: masks and snorkels, beach toys, beach chairs, bikes, etc. We had a chance to visit with he and his wife and both were very warm and accommodating. My father-in-law spent a good amount of time sleeping out on the lounge recliners on the grass area in front of the home. This was his first trip to Hawaii and is already making plans to return next year. My wife and I slept with the windows opened so we could hear the waves breaking against the rocks. I would highly recommend this home and plan on returning in the future. Mahalo to the owners for making this a great vacation!

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Great points, Lanikai and Kailua Beach are two of the nicest beaches in all of Hawaii. Lanikai was rated the best beach by the Travel Channel for all the islands. Turtle Cove is a highlight for many and just 2 blocks away. You can see the turtles swimming around in water that is less than waist deep and at high tides they are always there. I am glad the amenities are appreciated. I purchased the best Snorkels that don’t allow water in and the best Boogie Boards and fins. We have nice beach mats with a blow up pillow and chairs too.

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• Kailua--good ocean viewing

  Kailua--good ocean viewing

  • Guest Mimi
  • Date of stay 06/09/10
  • Review Submitted 01/03/12
  Six of us stayed here on vacation and I loved the ocean and sunset being right at us--I feel like if you don't mind being a little crowded 6 is fine--however 2 couples would have been great for a little more privacy--it was in a great neighborhood for walking and close enough to drive to different great spots fo interest--I would definitely stay here again

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, girls getaway, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Thanks for the review and good points. There are two bedrooms which are private but with 6 people in the unit 2 people will need to sleep in the living area which means not so much privacy. If it is kids it is probably not a problem, but with two adults they might not have the privacy they want. Thanks for pointing out the convenience. I have a very popular Google Map I made of our location and markers all over the island of many of the fun things to do. You can get to it from my personal Website which there is a link provided under the Calendar section on this page. We like it here because it is quiet, a small town so not a lot of traffic, yet convenient to all areas of the island including Waikiki, the airport, and the North Shore. I also list travel times to popular destinations on my personal Website.

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• AK & FL miss Hawai'i!

  AK & FL miss Hawai'i!

  • Guest Missing Kailua!
  • Date of stay 10/05/11
  • Review Submitted 10/18/11
  Our stay was incredible! To wake up with waves crashing and to enjoy a cup of Kona coffee right on the beach in our pj's was amazing. The views were breath taking and so close to my favorite beach - Kailua. The home was very welcoming for 4 adults and convieniently located near everything. We enjoyed our stay immensley and will consider staying again if and when we travel back to O'ahu!

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

  Owner response: Glad they enjoyed their stay. This is what this rental is all about, waking up to see the sunrise out of the Ocean while enjoying your coffee or breakfast. It is about being connected to the Ocean the entire time you are in your unit. Kailua and Lanikai are the two nicest beaches on the island, if not all of Hawaii, and we are just minutes from both.

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• Loved Our Stay!! Wished we were there longer!!!

  Loved Our Stay!! Wished we were there longer!!!

  • Guest mdomaz
  • Date of stay 05/18/10
  • Review Submitted 10/13/11
  We stayed here pre-cruise for four nights, and quickly realized we wished we had more time. This is not a resort, but a home in a lovely, quiet neighborhood RIGHT on the ocean. We do not like big cities or large hotels. Quiet and relaxing is what we look for. This location fit all of our needs perfectly. We had the unit facing the ocean and it was simply nothing short of amazing. I always wished I could live on the water, but it never happened. At least for these few days we got to enjoy waking up to the view and sounds of the ocean. Yes, it can take getting used to the sound of the surf. For those who need absolute quiet to fall asleep, you may want to bring some earplugs. How gorgeous it was though. This was the absolute best view we have ever had on vacation. We found Kailua to be in a perfect location. Pretty much everything we wanted to see was within 20-45 minutes away. The home itself was clean and inviting. The owners lived in the same structure, so they are right on hand if you have questions or needs. We found the kitchen more than adequate, but agree that a dishwasher would be nice. They had beach items to be shared that were in the garage. You could also use the washer and dryer. We had four adults in this unit, ages 22-67. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. I just wished we had more time to actually enjoy the setting. We were on the go so much that we didn't get to spend as much time on the property as we would have liked. However, we made good use of the time we did have and really enjoyed our stay here. It was our first VRBO rental and it was a very postive experience. Since we would have needed two hotel rooms for our group, the pricing was reasonable. With our 22 year old daughter with us, we thought she would want to stay on Waikiki and we were going to try to accommodate her wishes as this was her college graduation present. However, when I showed her the hotels, she asked if we could stay someplace more quiet and scenic. I was thrilled not to have to stay on Waikiki and we all loved this home in Kailua!!! I have to disagree with the reviewer who said the photos were "staged." We found everything looked exactly like it did in the photos. No suprises!!! We would definitely stay here again!!!

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

  Owner response: Glad you loved your stay. For 4 adults this unit is ideal, and the next cheapest Ocean Front option for 4 adults in Kailua is $750 per night and a $500 cleaning fee plus tax, so this is really reasonable if you want to be on the Ocean. Thanks for letting others know it is not a resort. I am trying to convey that message so those who are expecting the resort experience can stay at a resort, but those looking for something as close to the Ocean as possible in Kailua can appreciate our rental. Compared to two hotel rooms in Waikiki, we are a lot quieter. The noise and commotion is the number 1 complaint I hear about Waikiki. Luckily we are just 25 minutes to Waikiki, so you can enjoy that scene when you want, but come back here to rest and sleep. Good point to about the sound of the waves. For those that need absolute silence they won’t have it here. The sound of the waves are always present. Most can get used to it very fast and it becomes like a white noise that covers up any other noise inside or outside the unit. It also depends on how big the waves are. On the big wave days you can also feel the waves lightly shaking the home when you are resting in bed.

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• Outstanding choice for Kailua

  Outstanding choice for Kailua

  • Guest Love Sand Between My Toes!
  • Date of stay 05/24/10
  • Review Submitted 10/10/11
  My cousin and I visited and loved our stay. This is not a plush luxurious unit which is why it is so affordable but it is a smallish, quaint, beachy shack so to speak with all that on the beach living moisture brings including imperfect paint and not so level floors. The luxury is in its fabulous location on the lava rocky beach with the fabulous ocean spray, water crashing just outside your kitchen/family room. If you're going for plush accomodations go to Waikiki but if you want local, quiet, pristine beaches and an incredible Shrimp Taco Truck without the crowds then Kailua is the spot and this is by far the best deal going!!! Very private away from the main beach area which is just a "few" minutes away. Fabulous "turtle" haven a short 2 block walk if that! The neighborhood is local and quiet. Waikiki is a only a short 23 minute drive but Kailua is truly paradise and this hideaway IS the place to stay for best price and location. My only recommendation to the owners is to change out the family room futon for a couch--comfort in mind...Aloha!

  Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, girls getaway, sightseeing.

  Owner response: This review is really accurate. We are not plush and luxurious. However, we are the only non-studio option that sleeps over 3 and has a direct Ocean View in Kailua. The next Ocean Front option in Kailua for families over 3 starts around $1,000 per night. Our Ocean View is direct, no roofs, no other homes, nothing but the Ocean in front of you in the morning when you wake up. I appreciate the suggestion about the couch and understand it. We tried couches here but the beds that come out of them are metal frames. Because we are right on the Ocean the beds then drip rust continually, staining everything under them. Also because the metal gets so rusty so fast they become hard to pull out. Thanks for the review, glad you enjoyed your stay.

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• True Hawaiian Experience

  True Hawaiian Experience

  • Guest Nathan
  • Date of stay 12/06/10
  • Review Submitted 10/10/11
  My wife and I stayed here for a few days and really enjoyed it. There are few times in my life that I have been as relaxed as I was here - you simply can't beat falling asleep with all the windows open and the sound of crashing surf leaving you in a state of total relaxation. The house is in a nice, very quiet neighborhood, and it's out of the way from normal tourist traffic. There is provided lawn furniture, so you are able to sit out back and absorb the sun while enjoying the ocean beating tirelessly against the coast. The kitchen is fully provisioned, and there is a TV hooked up with cable or satellite. Additionally, when we were there, there was a laptop hooked up to the internet for use along with wifi. The beds are comfortable; I would have had a hard time sleeping on the futon, but a kid would have no problem at all. Overall, the place was very cozy, and we really enjoyed our time there. IN RESPONSE TO THE PERSON WHO RATED THIS WITH 1 STAR: THIS RENTAL IS *NOT* A RESORT, NOR DID IT EVER CLAIM TO BE. If you wanted a resort, you should have stayed in one - there are many of them on Oahu! If you go into a private residence with such a critical mindset, you're not going to enjoy anything. My advice to you is to lighten up and enjoy life a little more. Yes, there are rusty parts on the house: as Oahu is a tiny island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the entire place gets bombarded with salty air, and everything on the entire island is rusty as a consequence. Almost nothing on the island, aside from resorts, is of 5-star quality - in this place, you are taking a step down from exorbitant tourist destinations and slipping into a low-profile, quiet, removed getaway. Yes, there will be some sand around the place, since it's right on the coast and gets salty, sandy air blown at it all day - isn't that why you went to Hawai'i in the first place? Again, I'll reiterate that this is NOT a five-star resort. Here, as with almost every residence in Oahu, there is no central air conditioning; however, the ocean breeze will keep you more than adequately cool. You will not be waited on; but you will love exploring the local cuisine. You will not have a pool and sandy beach right outside your door; however, the exquisite Kailua Beach is only minutes away (and the owners of this house provide you with beach equipment to take). If you are okay with experiencing life as the locals do, by all means rent this place! If you need to be pampered, go stay at a Hilton.

  Recommended for: Age 55+, romantic getaway.

  Owner response: We really appreciate this review as sometimes guests feel they are coming to a 5 star resort and are disappointed when they find out we are not a 5 star resort. We have a lot of offer, but when guests have an expectation that everything is going to be perfect and find a few things that are not they get disappointed. So hopefully you will keep this review in mind along with our Cons information I have posted on the homepage of our Website before you book our property. I just want every guest to have a good experience, and if your expectations are in line with what you get than you should be happier.

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$299 per night. During the Christmas and New Years Holiday the rate
is $399 per night, but during slower months and time slots that are still
available we will give you a rate
that meets your budget, so please visit the calendar at our Website to
check availability and then contact us to get your rate.

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.