Vacation Rentals by Owner

AMAZING rental condo!!!!

Guest: Carleigh C.
Date of Stay: 05/08/12 Review Submitted: 05/21/12

We stayed at the Banyan Tree condo for a girls trip to celebrate recent graduations from college. It was the PERFECT location- oceanfront view and close to town! The pictures and descriptions were accurate, and far exceeded our expectations. The condo is equipped with kitchen supplies, cleaning supplies, beach gear, towels, etc. Anything you would want- they have it! The property was very clean and well maintained. The owner went above and beyond by recommendations of local eateries and activities not to miss on the Big Island. Our favorite part of the condo was the lanai. We stayed out there to watch the locals surfers, morning coffee, and any meal we ate at home! It was also a great spot to watch the sunset. I would recommend this property to anyone visiting the Big Island; you will not be disappointed!!! Some restaurants not to miss in Kona are: Basik, Killer Tacos, Humpys, and Lava Java. Also make sure to visit the state beach Hapuna. Mahalo!!

Recommended for:

Great Family Condo

Guest: leah (Medicine Hat, Alberta Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/10/12 Review Submitted: 04/30/12

We just stayed at this condo for our first family vacation since our baby was born. Our family of 5 plus infant stayed here very comfortably. The condo is very clean and centrally located. The property manager is very friendly and was always on site. The view is amazing and there are always surfers right outside your balcony. Our garburator broke while we were here and I emailed the owner right away. He got in touch with me immediately and had a service man repair it the same night! We did talk to another couple that wasn't happy in their condo, so I would be careful on which unit you're looking at. I would definitely recommend 401.

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

Minnesota Family

Guest: Minnesota Mom (Minneapolis)
Date of Stay: 04/02/12 Review Submitted: 04/10/12

We were very pleased with our recent stay at Banyan Tree condominiums. We brought our two boys, ages 10 and 14. They really liked having their own bedroom with twin beds. This unit is on the 4th floor and has an amazing view. The photos are very accurate. Every morning we relaxed with our coffee on the lanai and watched the surfers right outside our back door. When the tide was low we saw turtles resting on the tidepools at the condos next door. The condo is very clean, comfortable and well stocked. We enjoyed having the thick beach towels, the beach mats, and cooler. The beds were very comfortable (and we are picky about our beds!) and the sheets and bath towels are of very good quality. The kitchen is well stocked with plenty of dishes, pots, knives, etc. We looked at a lot of places on VRBO and decided what we really wanted was a place with a great view of the ocean and this place did not disappoint. The location can't be beat - not too close to all the hub-bub of downtown Kona, but not too far that you can't drive down there in about 5 minutes. We really appreciated the assigned parking right under the building and the security of the building. We felt very safe leaving our windows open at night and falling asleep to the sound of the waves. The building has about 18 units from what we could tell; the pool is very clean and literally right near the ocean. There's a hot tub too. It's all beautifully maintained by the building manager, Dana, who is very helpful and friendly. We had the pool area to ourselves every day. The condo location served as a good launching pad for all our activities. We drove to Volcano one day, drove up north twice, visited several local beaches, tried out many dining places on the water and took a boat trip with Sea Quest, which was amazing. I highly recommend them. We rented snorkeling gear just up the street at Millers. Mark got us all outfitted in less than 30 minutes. We also ate at Da Poke Shack just around the corner from Millers. Very yummy. Bhavesh, the condo owner, was very accommodating throughout the entire process. He was easy to communicate with via email, always responding quickly. We had no problems at all and would definitely return. The only suggestion I would have is one more comfy chair to sit on in the living room area. Other than that, the condo is nicely furnished with a sofa, wooden chair, dinette set and very nice furniture on the lanai. We ate out there several times. We'll definitely return!

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

Great rental for your Big Island vacation!

Guest: Sara (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/26/12 Review Submitted: 03/31/12

This was the prefect rental. Centrally located to town with a short walk into shops, restaurants and the farmers market. The condo was right on the ocean and had all the necessary amenities you would want on your stay. Very clean, newly renovated and the decor was very upscale but still had the appeal of the Hawaiian islands. There was a beach right next to the apartment where we were able to catch two days of sea turtles eating in the tide pools and could enjoy the beautiful sunset from the lanai in the evening. I would stay here again no question. The price is right, the kitchen/bathroom amenities are plush, nice linens and the location is ideal. If you prefer being able to relax in your own little place, cook/BBQ a few nights and be steps from the beach stay here, you will not regret it.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

Beautiful Oceanfront Condo!

Guest: Paige (Surrey, B.C., Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/11/12 Review Submitted: 03/29/12

I would highly recommend this accomodation to anyone! My husband and I stayed there for 2 weeks with our two sons. The room and building are extremely well kept and clean. The view from the deck is breath taking and you can view the many surfers in the morning or gaze at the sun setting on the ocean in the evening. We spotted turtles, fish and other sea life right in front of the condo. Location was great as it is only a quick 5 minute drive to all kinds of wonderful restaurants and markets. We enjoyed our stay very much and will definately be back!!

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

We love Kona!

Guest: Mills (Fairfax, ca)
Date of Stay: 03/03/12 Review Submitted: 03/07/12

We have been to Kona, many times and have stayed in hotels, condos and houses. This time I wanted to be right on the water to watch for whales and dolphins. The dolphins have met those expectations but we are still waiting for the whales to put on a show. Hopefully they will come. This condo has a great view. It is very clean with nice furnishings. Everything we could ask for. The location is great and our whole group loves this place and would love to come back. We love the beach umbrellas, beach towels and chairs.

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

Love this Condo

Guest: Vi (Reno, Nv)
Date of Stay: 02/21/12 Review Submitted: 03/01/12

Have stayed at Banyon Tree before, but this unit is supurb. The owner has taken great care to make sure the guests have everything they need for a wonderful stay (even called on our arrival to make sure we were satisfied and comfortable. Very clean, great beds and bedding, well equipped kitchen, wonderful lanai for just relaxing and watching the world go by. If and when I return to Kona it is the only place I will stay. Absolutely love it. Slept every night with the glass doors open to hear the waves and enjoy the sea breezes from the 4th floor. Very peaceful.

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

Valentine's stay at Banyon Tree

Guest: Bluerij (Gresham, OR)
Date of Stay: 02/14/12 Review Submitted: 03/06/12

My wife and I stayed at this condo with one other couple for five nights in February of 2012. The condo location is directly on the oceanfront and offers a fantastic viewing spot for one of the best surfing breaks on the island. The condo is beautifully decorated and maintained to high standards. The kitchen is very well equipped and the common quarters are comfortable. There is a table for dining on the lanai which provides a sense of privacy along with the beautiful ocean view. The master bedroom has its own master bath, but can be somewhat stuffy in the evenings, even with the fans provided. The front bedroom with twin beds is on the Aliki Drive side and can be noisy with the windows open at night for ventillation. Both the queen and twin beds were very comfortable for our sleeping tastes. Although snorkle gear is provided with the condo, you may want to rent from a local snorkeling & dive shop. There are severa l nearby.. The rates are very reasonable and the equipment is a step above what's provided at the condo. Most beaches and restaurants require a drive, although there is a walkable beach to the south. It's nice to have a designated parking space with the condo. The building is very secure with electronic access to elevator and doors. The owner called soon after our arrival to inquire if the condo was cleaned to our satisfaction and if we had any needs or concerns. He seems genuinely interested in his client's satisfaction with the accommodations. If you are thinking about visiting Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, I would highly recommend a tour from one of the Island's tour companies I would recommend a stay at this condo for those who want a place centrally located to many of the island's attractions, who don't mind driving to restaurants if they're not eating in the condo, and who value beautiful, clean accommodations with a "to die for" ocean view.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, sightseeing.

Just as advertised

Guest: Woolmonkey (Tacoma, WA)
Date of Stay: 01/22/12 Review Submitted: 01/30/12

This condo is just as advertised. Beautiful location and view. We got to watch the sunset every night from the comfort of the balcony. Everything was clean and well-organized. Owner was very responsive. The condo is 3 miles or so south of Kailua-Kona. Technically within walking distance. There is a trolley that runs up the drive. There's also a public beach right next store and a GREAT place called Da Poke Shack which has super fresh and tasty poke in lots of varieties. It's about a 5 minute walk away. We would definitely recommend this to our friends, and would stay here again. It does have 2 twin beds and a full size bed in addition to a convertible sofa, so it's more geared to families than couples traveling together.

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

very accurate listing

Guest: BWCAlover (Eau Claire, Wisconsin)
Date of Stay: 01/13/12 Review Submitted: 01/26/12

We found that every aspect of this listing to be 100% accurate, form the breath taking view from the lani to every aspect and descripton of the accomodations. The Banyan Tree complex is centrally located alone Alli Drive and is very well maintained. The pool area is very secure and private and we found ourselves the only ones using this area everytime, it felt like we owned our own ocean front property. The owners even called a couple days after arriving to ensure the check in process has flawless and that the unit is meeting our expectations, it made us feel right at home and comfortable. Warning: Falling asleep each night and waking up every morning to the soothing sounds of the ocean is very addicting and will make it very hard to fall asleep once you return home. :)

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

Perfect location, beautiful condo, amazing view

Guest: M&M (Illinois)
Date of Stay: 01/04/12 Review Submitted: 01/13/12

We have just returned from a weeklong stay at Kona. We had an amazing time. The condo was very comfortable, clean and beautifully appointed. The view from the balcony is spectacular! One could spend a whole day watching the surfers and listening to the waves. Occasionally you might be able to spot a school of dolphins on the horizon. It is very peaceful even though it's right next to a small but popular beach and right on the Alii Drive. The location is perfect for all outdoor activities; close to downtown Kona (shopping and dining), diving and beaches. There is a small convenience store across the street if you run out of essentials and don't feel like driving to the shopping mall (about 10-15 min away). Great place to relax or starting point for island excursions!

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

accurate description

Guest: Chicago (Chicago)
Date of Stay: 12/19/11 Review Submitted: 01/06/12

Not only was it very clean but the amenities were great. It was so awesome to have nice kitchen accessories/utensils as well as detergents and brand new sponge/paper towels. Plus we had ample supply of clean towels. Loved the stackable full size washer/dryer right in the room. The view on the balcony was spectacular. Layout of the condo was perfect. The only small non essential thing that prevented this from being rated excellent was driving into the facility & the elevator. It was a bit run down looking. But it really didn't matter once you get into the condo itself!! And the location was great as it was minutes from the "town". Will definitely stay here again when we come back!

Owner response:Thank you for the great review. The Home Owners' Association was trying out a new maintenance company for the common areas like the elevator and parking area, they have since switched back to Dana, the resident manager everyone was previously happy with. So the common areas should be looking good again. Thank you for the feedback.

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

Great Location and Even Better View!

Guest: SevenOaks (Texas)
Date of Stay: 12/09/11 Review Submitted: 12/23/11

The condo was excellent, in a great location, has an incredible view of the ocean for watching surfers and whales (in season) and had everything we needed, plus a lot more. The only complaint comes from my wife because the mattress on the bed was very firm (a plus or me but not for her).

Owner response:Thank you for taking the time to give us this great review - we are happy to know that you enjoyed your stay in our condo!

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

Amazing view.

Guest: oafc (Manchester, England)
Date of Stay: 12/04/11 Review Submitted: 04/30/12

We stayed for 4 nights in Dec, after our son's wedding in California. The view was amazing, to see the turtles swimming down below was awesome . The condo was equiped to a very high standard and was extremely clean. The owner phoned to check everything was to our expectations. Yes it was.!!!! Only drawback was because there was no air-conditioning , a couple of extra fans would have been useful. The condo could probably do with an extra chair in the sitting area . Would certainly stay there again. Well done Bhavesh.

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

Amazing views and well appointed place.

Guest: Maverick (Rohnert Park, California - USA)
Date of Stay: 11/23/11 Review Submitted: 11/28/11

We spent 4 nights at this wonderful property and loved falling asleep and waking up to the sound of the surf. The waves were crashing just outside the lanai and we had an amazing view for breakfast, watching the surfers catch a few waves. The Condo has everything that one needs and we really enjoyed the beach chairs and umbrella. Would definitely recommend this place, nice, clean and well located just a short drive from downtown Kona, the magic sand beach and some wonderful snorkeling spots.

Owner response:Thank you for this great review of our condo!! We have a great team looking after our property and guests and they take pride in making sure that you have a nice clean condo for your stay.

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

Perfect

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/26/11 Review Submitted: 11/02/11

I've stayed at this property before, so I knew what to expect with how awesome the place is. It's a spectacular view of the ocean. The surfers are there from dawn to dusk. It's close to downtown Kona, but far enough away so that you don't feel like you're in the "touristy" area. Small, local grocery store across the street if you run out of basic supplies. Beautiful, accessible beach just south. Listening to the ocean waves 24/7 will energize your day and put you to sleep at night. The kitchen is fully equipped, I hosted a 30th birthday party there for 15 people with no problem. The lanai is very hard to pull yourself away from. Everything is very clean. Beautiful in every way, the pictures don't do it justice. Easy launching point for Kona, the airport, diving, and only 30 minutes to Kealakua Bay. It's an ideal spot to explore the island or just stay inside for a day off! Mahalo.

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

Perfect

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/26/11 Review Submitted: 11/02/11

I've stayed at this property before, so I knew what to expect with how awesome the place is. It's a spectacular view of the ocean. The surfers are there from dawn to dusk. It's close to downtown Kona, but far enough away so that you don't feel like you're in the "touristy" area. Small, local grocery store across the street if you run out of basic supplies. Beautiful, accessible beach just south. Listening to the ocean waves 24/7 will energize your day and put you to sleep at night. The kitchen is fully equipped, I hosted a 30th birthday party there for 15 people with no problem. The lanai is very hard to pull yourself away from. Everything is very clean. Beautiful in every way, the pictures don't do it justice. Easy launching point for Kona, the airport, diving, and only 30 minutes to Kealakua Bay. It's an ideal spot to explore the island or just stay inside for a day off! Mahalo.

Owner response:Thank you for this incredibly nice review of our condo!! We were so happy to be able to welcome you back to our condo. Thanks to your verbal feedback, we've installed solar shades, new window coverings. We hope to welcome you back again sometime in the not too distant future.

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

Great location in Kailua-Kona

Guest: Debbie (Alexandria, VA)
Date of Stay: 09/24/11 Review Submitted: 10/17/11

We really enjoyed our stay at Banyan Tree. This unit was super clean, had just about everything you could need, and is in what I think a great location. It's close enough to the village for all the restaurants and bars, etc., but not too close so it's fairly quiet. I say fairly because although the master bedroom was perfect and I loved having the doors and windows open to hear the ocean, it was apparently a bit noisy in the front room in the mornings due to trash pickup - but not too bad as it wasn't everyday, and you can still hear the ocean! There are some very nice beaches in walking distance, one which has particularly great snorkeling, plus you can watch the surfers or body-board yourself right outside the door. The only complaint I would have about this unit is there is no iPod dock or even a radio in order to listen to music, the TV seriously needs updating and you could do with some new beach chairs. Other than that it was great and I would definitely stay there again!

Owner response:Thank you so much for your wonderful review and constructive feedback. Just as you suggested, a new flat screen LED HD TV, a new internet enabled blue ray dvd player, a new iPod dock (great idea) and new beach chairs and beach umbrella have been purchased and installed for our future guests. We hope to welcome you again sometime soon.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great home away from home

Guest: Janet & Steve (Hudson, Wisconsin)
Date of Stay: 01/24/11 Review Submitted: 02/05/11

Thanks so much for sharing your condo. We had a wonderful vacation. The weather was great and the fish at "snorkel beach" were spectacular. We enjoyed the Lanai every morning and again at sunset. The surf was roaring so we had plenty of surfers to watch and often saw whales. Very beautiful and spacious condo!

Owner response:Hi Janet and Steve, Thank you so much for your lovely review of our condo - so glad you had a great time on the Big Island!! Sounds as if you lucked out - you saw the whales - and lots of surfers as well!! So happy you enjoyed staying at the condo! Hope you come back soon!

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

Wonderful Condo Right on the Water

Guest: Suzy (Henderson, Nev.)
Date of Stay: 10/04/10 Review Submitted: 10/16/10

We had a great week at the Banyon Tree Condo during the Ironman Triathlon Race. The run part of the race went right by the condo, had a turn around and came back by the condo. We got to see our son in his run twice as he ran by the Banyon Tree where we were sitting. The condo had been newly refurbished and was very clean. The kitchen has granite counters and all the dishes, pans, and gadgets that a cook could ever want - we did a lot of our meals here. Especially enjoyable was the balcony where we could read, or eat while watching the surfers out hitting the next big wave. We had the big double doors open most of the time to get the cool ocean breezes. We definitely will stay here the next time we plan a visit to Kona.

Owner response:Suzy: Thank you for your kind words. We are very happy that you and your family enjoyed our home. Hope your son did well in the Ironman contest. We look forward to having you back again.

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

TASTEFULLY DECORATED, COMFORTABLE, OCEANFRONT CONDO

Guest: John and Joan (Sitka, Alaska)
Date of Stay: 09/11/10 Review Submitted: 10/03/10

This condo is extremely clean, high end and tastefully decorated. Loved the ocean waves 24/7, falling asleep to and waking each morning. The condo is very spacious and comfortable, stocked well with all the amenities you need for the cooking. The deck out front is nice for evening dinners or coffee in the morning. We watched surfers every day as well as canoes, boats, and that beautiful sun going down every evening. It's not far to town if you like to walk and it's nicely located nearby to local beaches where we spent every day snorkling and swimming with sea turtles. We highly recommend this unit and will certainly make this our first choice going back.

Owner response:John and Joan, We are so happy you enjoyed staying at our condo! You were our first guests after the remodel and are so pleased that our interior designer got it right! We look forward to having you back.

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

This Rental Is Sooo Nice - Great Views, Beautiful Finishes, Fully Equipped!!

Guest: Nicki (Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/10/10 Review Submitted: 09/21/10

We could not believe how nice this vacation rental was!! We were so comfortable in this condo - it felt like home as soon as we walked in. Everything was high-end and beautifully coordinated. It rained one day and we stayed in and played board games. The views from the lanai were always mesmerizing - we got to watch surfers, dolphins, boats and canoes - and so close to the sea - we could feel the ocean spray on windy days!! The kitchen was fully equipped and we took full advantage of it - fresh tropical fruit and juices for breakfast but gourmet home cooked food at night a couple of nights when we felt like staying home....Thank you Prince for helping us out on the price!! We will be back!!

Owner response:Nicki - Thank you so much for your lovely review - we are so pleased that you had a great time in our condo!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/05/09 Review Submitted: 08/05/09

A lovely property and fabulous location. On the water, close to public beaches, nice pool, private parking, excellent security. Wonderful restaurants & grocery nearby. Cable and internet included. Watch the surfers from morning til night!

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/04/09 Review Submitted: 08/04/09

When I walked through the door of this condo on the very first day of our Hawaiian vacation, I gasped. The expanse of the ocean was fully visible through the wall of glass that enclosed the living room. From that second the ocean became a presence in all of our home activities. The master suite is adjacent to the living room and connects directly to the balcony thus the sound of the waves featured prominently in sleeping, dreams and waking. The long balcony that extends from the living room holds a table comfortable for sharing meals and so watching the local surfers in the morning and the unobstructed sunset in the evening became a component of our daily eating. The condo is exceptionally clean, furnished tastefully and stocked all imaginable household items as well as toys for ocean play. It is located minutes from outdoor markets (where you can find fresh Plumeria lei’s as well as local produce) grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, liquor marts and tourist shops as well as lovely beaches where local kids body surf and play in the waves. This is a beautiful vacation spot and when you must leave you will find you long for the sound of the waves lulling you to sleep and gently waking you in the morning.

Recommended for:

Hawaii Luxury

Guest: Mr. P (Colorado)
Date of Stay: 07/24/08 Review Submitted: 08/08/09

At the Banyon Tree you will find the best views of the ocean from the west wall of windows. In the mornings, catch the surfers riding a morning wave. The unit overlooks one of the few spots for surfing on the whole west coast. This balcony is also ideal for viewing the last rays of sunshine as the sun sets over a gorgeous ocean. Watch for the green flash! If you are the adventurous type, you will be happy to know that you have easy access to some great adventures; Kayaking, surfing, hiking, sight-seeing, and my personal favorite, cliff-diving. Just south of the Banyon Tree you can find a place to challenge your inner fears of falling. Take the plunge or just enjoy the scenery. Either way, I encourage you to find The End of the Earth. Being a vegan makes life as a tourist a little more difficult. At the Banyon Tree I was able to cook my own meals with simple ingredients that are found around the corner. Come back to the Banyon Tree after a long day, clean up, and set out for an interesting night on the town for food, music, or shopping.

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