Vacation Rentals by Owner

River Estate-Rated 1of12 Romantic U.S.Properties-Lonely Planet. [#249] | View Property

Hanalei
Estate, 2 Bedrooms + Detached Unit, 2 Baths (Sleeps 4)
$275 - $325/nt US Dollars
Write a Review

Traveler Reviews (12)

• This is the place to rent in Kauai!

  This is the place to rent in Kauai!

  • Guest Christy
  • Date of stay 07/27/12
  • Review Submitted 11/26/12
  This is the place to rent in Kauai! It has it all--great views, great location, great decor, great amenities. The owner was very helpful and thought of everrything--from the music selection to the hot tub on the lanai, you won't want to leave. Wow!

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/2

• Exactly the atmosphere I hoped for!

  Exactly the atmosphere I hoped for!

  • Guest Angi
  • Date of stay 03/20/12
  • Review Submitted 07/09/12
  When searching for where we would stay, my primary hope in renting a house was to be in the 'real' environment. I wanted to really see and hear Hawaii. This did exactly that. The drive to the Guest House is down a long driveway lined with spectaluarly huge foliage, that I can only describe as prehistoric as I would imagine it. The sound of the rushing river just feet away from the house is soothing beyond belief. The sound of the frogs just after sunset lets you know you really are something tropical and amazing. The house worked really well for us. We went with another couple and we each had 18 month olds. I worried about being some place that wasn't 'childproof' and my concerns vanished quickly. Though the house is raised up (I don't now what that is called there) and there are stairs to the front door, it was simple to block access for the kids to get outside. If we had wanted to leave the doors open, we knew a quick stop at Walmart for a baby gate for the stairs would have done the trick. Inside, there really wasn't anything they could get into. The only issue was the coffee table, but what child doesn't find a way to get hurt with a coffee table around?! If you want secluded, tranquil, beautiful, peaceful, wonderful and waterfront, this is the place for you!

  Recommended for: Families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

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

• Fabulous Kauai property!

  Fabulous Kauai property!

  • Guest musclegrandma
  • Date of stay 01/22/12
  • Review Submitted 03/01/12
  The River House is a wonderful place to stay on Kauai! We can't wait to return there. The listing description and pictures are very accurate. What you see at the website is what you get. On second thought--no it is not--it is even nicer than portrayed. The house is spotlessly clean and well maintained. The wood floors gleam. It is nicely and comfortably decorated. The kitchen is well equipped. We prepared most of our meals there and walked past the beautiful dining table to eat on the table on the lanai with the fantastic view of the river and all the beautiful trees and flowers. We picked our own grapefruit, tangelos, lime, and avocado. What a treat for us coming from a snowy climate. The spa on the lanai feels wonderful after a day of touring. The grill is nice and large enough for four. We all slept very well as the beds were quite comfortable. The owner, Mark, was very helpful and I now call him a friend. He answered our questions about the area--especially where to snorkel and hike. He watched the weather and figured out the best times for us to do the activities we wanted. He made our bookings for a catamaran tour, helicopter tour, and luau. We were very well taken care of and everything went very seamlessly. Hanalei is a nice location. Don't miss stopping in at Tahiti Nui and sit in the George Clooney chair. Sunsets off of Ke'e beach and Hanalei beach and pier. Hike the Napali coast. Snorkel at Tunnels and Anini Beach. Drive to Princeville and enjoy the Kilauea lighthouse. Go to church at the Waioli Hui mission church and enjoy the hymns sung in hawaiian--they are very welcoming and it was a beautiful service. Take a day and drive to Waimea canyon and Koke'e park. It is a bit of a drive, but the scenery is breathtaking. Don't miss seeing the Napali coast by catamaran or a helicopter tour of the island. Yes, they cost quite a bit but we are glad we did both of them. The luau at Tahiti Nui is not to be missed. As you can see, you won't be bored if you want to go out and do things. Or do nothing and enjoy the island ambience right there at the River House. It is located in a beautiful and quiet setting and it is nice to just sit back and enjoy the property. Yes, we would definately recommend the River House to our friends and relatives. In fact, we already have. WE CAN NOT WAIT TO GO BACK!

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/5

• Our favorite place on Kauai, great for cooks, very well maintained.

  Our favorite place on Kauai, great for cooks, very well maintained.

  • Guest pantalonesgigantesca
  • Date of stay 11/25/10
  • Review Submitted 12/05/10
  I regret posting this because it will probably mean the schedule will fill up even more now :) River Estate is our favorite place to stay on Kauai, and its owner, Mark, is one of the most helpful, nicest guys you could ever meet. I will try to describe our style and that will indicate if it's right for you: - We went to the Kapa'a and Hanalei Sunshine (Farmers) markets, Hoku foods, and bought all our groceries for the week. We did all our cooking ourselves, except for the last night. The appliances are modern, the kitchen is clean and well-maintained, and the utensils are diverse and well-organized. - We spent most of our time vegging on the beaches, taking day-trips out around the island, and going for hikes. - On the rainier days, we were happy to sit out on the porch or inside in the living room and just read for a while. River Estate is a great place for this. Very comfortable environment. - The stereo has an iPod dock. NICE. - The house has A/C, even though you probably won't want to use it The master bedroom is all windows, but the location and privacy from trees mean you don't have to worry about neighbors looking in. I think what makes River Estate different from a lot of places is the amount of detail and care put into its presentation. We've stayed other places where everything just felt cheap and temporary, the owners knowing that the customers were going to trash it. River Estate is not this way. You treat it like your own home because it's kept clean and maintained so well. Just so I can provide some comments about who this isn't right for: I would say this is not the right location for someone who can't buy their own groceries or cook. Not the river estate in particular, but Haena/Eastern Hanalei. You're 15 minutes from food at all times by car (there's a little shop nearby but it's a convenience store). It's also not the right spot for someone who can't take a little rain here and there. The north shore is beautiful because of the rainfall. We didn't mind at all, and had no problem hanging out on the beach while rain clouds passed by, knowing they'd be followed with sunshine. Overall, A++, our favorite place on the island so far, and Mark is super helpful.

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

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

• WONDERFUL HONEYMOON! We're coming back!

  WONDERFUL HONEYMOON! We're coming back!

  • Guest Eric & Liz
  • Date of stay 10/03/10
  • Review Submitted 10/27/10
  I had been looking at different housing options for our honeymoon and was really hoping to find someplace that was private and secluded but was also close enough to the things that we wanted to do/see. I also was looking for a house that was in beautiful surrounding... I found that and more with the River Estate! The place was immaculate and had everything we could want... full kitchen, hot tub, A/C in all the rooms! We spent almost every morning eating breakfast on the lanai watching the river flow by... I wish we were back there right now! I've been to Kauai as well as Maui, Oahu and the Big Island before and this was the best place I've stayed by far and was exactly what we needed to relax and feel at home.\ The owner was wonderful to talk to and was very helpful over the phone! We had a wonderful time exploring the island and always looked forward to coming back to the house at the end of the day. We also spent a few days sleeping in, walking to the beach or around Hanalei town and watching a DVD while eating dinner. The north shore of Kauai is probably my favorite area in the world and the River Estate is now my favorite place. Thanks to Mark for making our time in Kauai such a dream honeymoon and for offering such a wonderful place for travelers to experience the majestic island of Kauai!

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

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

• Guest comment entered by owner

  • Guest Shannon and Alex
  • Date of stay 07/03/10
  • Review Submitted 07/09/10
  Aloha! We just spent the most amazing honeymoon at River Estate. What a great place to start the next chapter of our lives together. The house has the perfect setting, everything we needed and much more. We loved falling asleep and waking up the the sound of the river. Thank you so much Mark for sharing one of your homes with us. We are so lucky to have gotten to stay in such a wonderful place. We are both very sad to be leaving tomorrow but we know we'll be back

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

• Guest comment entered by owner

  • Guest Amalia and Mike
  • Date of stay 06/19/10
  • Review Submitted 07/09/10
  We were able to book four wonderful nights at River Estate and could not have asked for a better place to stay while on Kauai. This is our first trip to Hawaii and we decided to spend the first part of our honeymoon on the north shore. River Estate is perfect! Romantic, private, comfortable and luxurious all in one place. So wonderfully secluded we felt like we were the only people on the island surrounded by jungle. Kauai is just gorgeous and the views from every part of the island will never get old. Cook your meals here. There is nothing more relaxing than being out on the lanai drinking local beers to the sound of the river. Thanks Mark for such an amazing start to our honeymoon. We can't wait to see what else Hawaii has to offer but we're also very sad to leave! We will never forget our time at River Estate and will definitely be bac

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/1

• Guest comment entered by owner

  • Guest Marla and Joe
  • Date of stay 05/01/10
  • Review Submitted 07/09/10
  Nine years of visits and the romance goes on!!! Wow looking back to my comments from 2008 what can I add... The house is still the best and the view from the lanai is still my all time favorite. I can never get enough of the river and the sway of the bamboo. We're not much on sightseeing now because we love it here in paradise too much. Ya know between here and Hanalei is enough for us. Quiet evenings on the lanai with the whisper of the wind and a light rain...it's priceless. Mark is a treasure to share this paradise with us. Mahalo nui loa Mark! Thanks again for taking us out to Baracuda for the great dinner. We had a great time and next time we're there I propose cooking for us at the house. Speaking of next time we're thinking of a 3 or 4 week stay. I hope you'll be able to fit us in and we promise to leave! I can now face another few months of the grind! So sorry to go. xoxo

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

• A little piece of heaven on earth

  A little piece of heaven on earth

  • Guest Mary and Dave
  • Date of stay 03/22/10
  • Review Submitted 03/29/10
  The River Estate is, in my opinion, the absolute best place to stay in Kauai. These pictures are beautiful and true but do not capture this peaceful and private property with a lush tropical landscaping and a river running next to it. The house is raised in Hawaiian style giving one a feeling of living in a tree house. The interior is modern, convenient and tastefully decorated. If you decide to venture out, gorgeous beaches are close, as are rivers for kayaking and the Na Pali coast for hiking or snorkeling. The best part of venturing away, as we did for scuba diving in Poipu, is that you know you'll soon leave the crowds behind to return to your oasis of peace and tranquility. My husband and I, along with my teen son, celebrated our 25th anniversary here. We had a blast zip lining over lush valleys in the morning, and then shopping in the afternoon at the Farmer's Market for luscious tropical mangoes, pineapples, bananas and salad makings, and at the Hanalei fish market for some of the freshest fish ever. That evening we put together and enjoyed quite a feast with a champagne toast and a tropical arrangement that would be a king's ransom state side. Forget the shi shi restaurant...this was far superior! Our last day here came up too quickly and we awoke early knowing we needed to pack up for heading back home. One of my very favorite memories is of feeling a little chilly that morning, jumping back into bed with my cup of coffee with my husband of 25 years by my side, and watching the sun rise as we listened to the exotic birds call and the river rushing by. Now that's something to dream about until we can make our way back... Mark is a tremendous host. He was very gracious in sharing this very special place with us, and we felt blessed to be there.

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

  Owner response: Kauai is truly a magical place to experience. Reading all the positive comments that are written by my guests is just as rewarding for me as the experience of being on Kauai is for them. Mahalo Nui Loa

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

• • Guest Amy & Wayne Watkinson
  • Date of stay 07/09/09
  • Review Submitted 07/09/09
  The River Estate is pure heaven. Every morning the birds woke us up to yet another beautiful day. Only a short drive to Haena, which we thoroughly enjoyed!! Mark, you have a little bit of paradise on one of the world's most spectacular islands. Thank You!!

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

• Guestbook Comment

  Guestbook Comment

  • Guest Anonymous
  • Date of stay 03/01/09
  • Review Submitted 03/18/09
  This is a truly wonderful place to stay! Tucked into the forest next to a stream, the only sounds you hear are birds, the bubbling water, and the occasional dog. First-class and beautiful accommodations, tastefully furnished, high-speed internet, one of the best-equipped kitchens we've seen, and an incredibly helpful owner complete the package. First-class beaches are nearby, though not in walking distance.

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

• Paradise on Earth

  Paradise on Earth

  • Guest Anonymous
  • Date of stay 07/20/08
  • Review Submitted 02/22/12
  My husband and I stayed at the river estate 7/2008 it was an amazing experience. The best beach is only a short drive, the best spa as well (great Ayurveda treatments). When your here you unwind, slow down and just enjoy living. This home is where it all begins....what are you waiting for...book it.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Aloha Marilyn. It's so very kind of you review my property and recommend it after so many years. It took me completely by surprise and totally made my day today! I'm so grateful to know your experience here has been with you for this amount of time. Times like this let me know I'm doing a good job. Aloha Nui Loa! Mark Barbanell River Estate

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