A Great Deal in Great Location!

Guest: Eric & Melissa (Kailua, O'ahu, Hawai'i)
Date of Stay: 11/24/11 Review Submitted: 12/06/11

We chose this property to be close to the beach and within striking distance of tourist attractions, such as the Kilohana Plantation Railroad and the Wailua River boats, appropriate for 2 young girls under 4. We got that and a lot more! We found a house that more than matched its description, with the signs of recent upkeep obvious. The amenities in the house matched its material condition, even allowing us to cook our Thanksgiving dinner with ease. Although we did not make use of them, the surfboards and snorkel gear appeared in good condition. We made full use of the "Baby Beach," enjoyed relaxing on the lanai in the evenings, and certainly took advantage of the numerous nearby bars and restaurants on nights when babysitting duties fell to the grandparents. All in all, the house was big enough to provide us the space we needed for 4 adults and 2 toddlers, convenient to everything we wanted to do, and equipped to allow us to do as much, or as little, as we wanted on our recent vacation.

Owner response:mahalo for your positive review. We work very hard to make the vr as nice as possible and really appreciste it when the guest send in a positive review. You are a great family and hope to see you folks again soon. the manager duke

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

BEST VACATION RENTAL ON KAUAI!!!!

Guest: TOMMY & SARA (LAS VEGAS, NV.)
Date of Stay: 07/07/11 Review Submitted: 11/20/11

MY FAMILY OF 4 INCLUDING 4 EXTRA ADULT FAMILY MEMBERS HAD STAYED HERE OVER THE SUMMER IN JULY. THIS WAS THE ROOMIEST HOUSE WITH MORE THAN ENOUGH SPACE TO ENJOY A COMFORTABLE VACATION! THE LOCATION IS OUTSTANDING. SHORT DRIVE FROM THE AIRPORT. CLOSE TO MANY BEACHES. WALKING DISTANCE TO RESTAURANTS & STORES. THE PROPERTY WAS COMPLETELY CLEANED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM UPON OUR WALK-THROUGH WITH MANAGER DUKE. MANAGER DUKE WAS EXTREMELY NICE, PROFFESSIONAL & VERY WELCOMING. ANYONE WHO WOULD EVEN THINK THIS RENTAL IS NOT A GOOD DEAL IS HALLUCINATING! MY MONEY WAS WELL $$$PENT HERE....I WOULD NOT STAY IN ANOTHER HOTEL AGAIN...WHEN CAN YOU BUY STEAKS & BBQ OFF YOUR LANAI AT THE END OF A LONG DAY OF SURFING??? THE AMMENITIES ARE WELL WORTH STAYING HERE. THE PROPERTY WAS BIG AND IT PERFECTLY ACCOMMODATED OUR GROUP. THANK YOU TO MANAGER DUKE, YOUR RENTAL WAS VERY RELAXING, EVERYTHING WORKED JUST FINE. THE OUTDOOR HOT SHOWERS WERE GREAT FOR MY KIDS AFTER LONG BEACH DAYS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MANY ,MANY MORE VACATIONS WITH YOU!!!!! ALOOOOOHA :) BEST RENTAL EVER!!!!!!

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

best vacation rental house in the world

Guest: crystalgirl (florida)
Date of Stay: 01/05/11 Review Submitted: 11/09/11

Aloha duke, just wanted to let you know again that my family and me had the best time at your vacation rental house. I have used vrbo many times and your house is the very best vrbo we have ever stayed at. The house was a lot bigger than the pictures show. We loved the privacy and peace but yet we could walk to the beach and breakfast at ono very easily. Thanks for teaching my dad how to stand up paddle board. He is already talking about getting a board here to go out on the lake. I really love the furniture in the room I stayed in. That desk was so cool and the wood so beautiful. My favorite thing was the early morning sunrise. I would get before everyone, go out on the lanai, watch the sunrise, and then go for my walk on the path. I got to met a lot of great people and really look forward to next year there. Both parents are coming so it will be a full house this time. Thanks again for all your great service, especial fixing the Internet. I will have a better computer next time with a stronger signal. We are going to try to stay two weeks next year sand will get you the dates as soon as I know when I get off work. See you soon Crystal

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

had a great time

Guest: mack (california)
Date of Stay: 03/22/11 Review Submitted: 11/09/11

I saw the bad review that duke got and wanted to let everyone know that we had a great time and loved the house. Everyone has ths right to their opinion but we were there and stayed in the house for 10 days and never had a problem. The manager duke was great. We went surfing with his boards for free. The house is big. Lots of room. It was a very easy walk to the beaches. and we also loved baby beach. How anyone can not like baby beach -- well we love it. I read about noise from the boat ramp and fishing boats. we never experienced any noise. Matter of fact it was very quite and solitude. Anyway I just wanted to let everyone know that the vacation house is a great house in a very good location and you will have a wonderful time there.

Owner response:aloha dave, thanks for the good review. It sure helps when you get a bad review. It is hard to make everyone happy but I sure try. I had a great time with you and your family. The dates you want for next year are available. book now to get those dates. I have new surfing and boggie board equipment for the house. see you soon the manager duke

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

love the house/love baby beach

Guest: eroekdlesd[pak[psks (oceanside Ca.)
Date of Stay: 07/02/11 Review Submitted: 11/08/11

I have stayed 2 times at this vacation house. It is definite the best value around on the east side. The house was great with easy access to shopping and beaches in the area. For several days we never even needed to use the car. We could walk to everything we wanted. My two children just loved baby beach. We were there almost every day. The water was clean and warm and in certain areas, it was shallow so they could play in the ocean and practice their swimming. They also met many other children there and all played together. You could really feel the aloha from all the Kauai families at baby beach, we have made some great friends there. We never had any extreme noise during our stays at the house from the boat ramp or the kuhio hwy. The house was very clean with lots of extras amenities for us to use. The manager duke let us use his good surfing equipment when we all went to Hanalei bay for surfing. We had the best time and learned how to stand up paddleboard. We have already booked the house again for next year and can't wait to get back. Anyone that does not like this vacation house is crazy. Nothing is perfect all the time, but with duke as the manager, you just got to ask him to take care of the problem and his does it. You can em me any time for my opinion on this wonderful vacation house in kapaa. Rhonda

Owner response:aloha dave, thanks for the good review. It sure helps when you get a bad review. It is hard to make everyone happy but I sure try. I had a great time with you and your family. The dates you want for next year are available. book now to get those dates. I have new surfing and boggie board equipment for the house. see you soon the manager duke

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

Worst VRBO I've ever stayed in

Guest: Honest Reviews (Corvallis, OR)
Date of Stay: 10/13/11 Review Submitted: 10/17/11

The price for this place was great and we all thought we were getting a good deal for a place to stay in. But the photos are deceiving, making this place appear to be just off the beach and in a nice quiet area. Which it is only 2 car length off the only highway in Kauai, and very loud and busy. Not to mention that the house is surrounded by the fish loading dock, which is very noisy both late in the evening and early morning. Baby beach is close, but it is a dirty, not very popular beach. When we arrived at 4pm (our check in time), I would expect to have everything in order, and instructions on use, etc at the house. The opposite was true. Things weren't done, the carpet had just been cleaned and weren't fully dry. The cable wasn't working right, and the manager spent 2hrs there trying to work on that and other "minor" problems with the house. Leaving 2 times for things that were "forgotten." This shouldn't be in a VRBO. All this should be in place for the paying inhabitants to enjoy their vacation. Later, we found sugar ants everywhere: in the kitchen, bathrooms, and living spaces. Yuck! The king size sheets had a large rip in the corner. Just overall the place was dirty. Oh and the "equipment fee" for the equipment is a joke. The equipment is meager at best. Cracked boogie boards, a warped foam surf board. I wouldn't use the snorkel masks for fear they've never been cleaned. The manager is nice, but honestly it doesn't seem like he can manage his place very well. I would suggest staying somewhere else. The bottom line price after the equipment fee and cleaning fee didn't end up being such a "great deal."

Owner response:This is the very first unhappy GUEST we have had in the eleven years. WE STATE THAT THE VR IS A SHORT STROLL TO TWO BEACHES-- ABOUT A MINUTE OR SO TO THE BEACH. THERE IS A GOOLE MAP THAT SHOWS EXCATLY WHERE THE PROPERTY IS. THIS IS THE VERY FIRST GUEST THAT HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT THE NOISE FROM KUHIO HIGHWAY IN ELEVEN YEARS. WE ARE CLOSE TO KUHIO HWY, BUT THERE IS A 5,000 SQUARE FOOT LOT WITH A HOUSE ON IT IN FRONT OF THE VR HOUSE. MAYBE SEVEN BOATS THAT GO OUT OF THE DOCK. I HAVE NO IDEA OF WHAT NOISE THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT. I RAISED BOTH MY DAUGHTERS AT BABY BEACH ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER KAUAI FAMILIES. BABY BEACH IS BEAUTIFUL AND UNIQUE FOR THE SHOLLOW SWIMMING NATURAL POOL THAT IT OFFERS. WATER IS CLEAR AND WARM. I CHECKED THE VR MYSELF. IT WAS CLEANED AND READY FOR A CHEK IN. PLEASE NOTE, I AM A HAWAII REAL ESTASTE BROKER WITH OVER $100 MILLION IN TIME SHARE SALES WITH 16 RESORTS THAT I HAVE HELPED SALE OUT IN MY CAREER. I HAVE SOLD IN VAIL COLORADO AND HAWAII, THE VERY TOP TIMESHARE RESORTS IN THE WORLD. I KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO HAVE A CLEAN UNIT WHEN YOUR GUEST CHECK-IN AND MY VR HOUSE WAS VERY NICE. THE CARPERT WAS 90% DRY, I WAS THERE AND THE GUEST AND I BOTH SAW IT AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT BIG DEAL. IT WAS 100% DRY IN 30 MORE MINUTES. THE GUEST TOLD ME THR CABLE WAS FIXED. I SAW IT WORKING. THE OTHER MINOR PROBLEMS WERE THREE LIGHT BULBS THAT WERE OUT. I WALKED ACROSS THE STREET TO ACE HARDWARE AND BOUGHT LIGHT BULBS AND REPLACED THEM. BEFORE I LEFT I CHECK ALL THE AREA FOR ANTS. EVERYTHING LOOKED GREAT. I HAVE A COMPANY THAT MONTHLY CLEANS FOR ALL BUGS IN THE VR HOUSE. ANTS AND BUGS IS AN ON GOING MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. IF YOU HAVE ANTS OR ANY BUGS YOU JUST CALL MAINTENANCE AND WE COME AND TAKE CARE OF IT. NO BIG DEAL. THE VR HOUSE JUST HAD a 6-HOUR CLEANING FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. THIS IS A 2200 SQ FT HOUSE TWO LEVELS 3 BED 2 BATH. YOU JUST READ THAT THE CARPET HAD JUST BEEN SCRUB, SANITIZED. VACUMED AND WAS STILL A LITTLE WET. I OF COURSE WALK THE HOUSE WITH THE GUEST AND ASKED THEM IF EVERYTHING WAS ALL RIGHT. THEY SAID IT WAS. IF SOMETHING WAS DIRTY WHY NOIT TELL ME THEN SO WE CAN FIX IT. THERE IS NO EQUIPMENT FEE CHARGE—IT IS ALL FREE WE HAD NEW BOGGIE BOARDS, NEW SURFBOARDS, ALL THEY HAD TO DO IS ASK. THE GOOD STUFF IS LOCK UP NOT JUST LEFT IN THE YARD. MOST PEOPLE HAVE THEIR OWN SNORKEL GEAR.WE KNOW THAT WE CAN DO BETTER AND WE ARE MAKING AN EFFORT EVERYDAY TO DO THAT. THE MANGER DUKE

Recommended for:

great family vacation

Guest: deb and ryan (-)
Date of Stay: 01/06/10 Review Submitted: 05/16/10

first time for us staying in a vacation home. I will never stay in a hotel again. with my 3 kids and husband, this is what we needed. Lots of space and right next to the beach and baby beach for the kids. beast vacation for us. want to come back next year and do all the things that we did not get to do this time. duke was great and the house was super. it had everything and best of all it was private.

Recommended for:

Guest: tracy and bob (-)
Date of Stay: 01/28/10 Review Submitted: 05/16/10

best vacation ever. the boys played at baby beach every day. I mean every day. bob went fishing and caught a fish which we barbaqued in the yard. best ever fish I ate. I still do not even know what it was... loved the house which we couod stay longer. a week is not enough next time 2 weeks...

Recommended for:

Guest: ryan (-)
Date of Stay: 01/07/10 Review Submitted: 05/16/10

first time staying in a vacation house rental. wow great- it was like we were not tourist. first time to surf-- need pratice house is great love the location. we walked to almost everhting except when we went sigh seeing. we are coming back thanks duke for evereything you are a great cook

Recommended for:

home away from home

Guest: moana girl (Ohio)
Date of Stay: 10/06/08 Review Submitted: 03/11/09

What a great vacation This house was great. We really liked how easy it was to just park right in front of the house and not have to walk a long way to the hotel room or condo like we had to do on our other vacations to Hawaii. Next we loved the house. It is much bigger than we thought. It has everything. The new 52" Sony HD TV was a surprise because you never see that in a vacation rental. The owner goes out of his way to get the best he can for his guest in the house. The kids really loved baby beach. We spent more time there than any other beach for the kids. We have two boys 3 & 7 years old. The people at the baby beach we so nice and friendly. We got to know many of them had just had the best time with barbeques right on the beach. Then on the other side of the new bridge was Kapaa bay and the new ocean front walk and bike path that went for over 10 miles. We walked it almost every day for about an hour. Last time we were on Kauai we stayed in Poipu on the south side. We like the location much better of this house in Kapaa because it is more central to the Island and not as crowded as the south shore. The owner showed us some of the secret spots that were not crowded and beautiful. Then the surfing lessons that the owner set us up with was so much fun for the whole family. I never thought that I could surf. But I did it and have the pictures to show all my girls friends back home. Of course my sons just want to surf all the time now, but they will just have to wait until we get back. It was nice to eat right on the lanai with the ocean and stream view. There is a large park right out in front of the house that was fun for the family to play around on. It is just a great house and a great value. I really shopped around and could not find anything even close to the internet price that the owner was offering. All in all, the house and the aloha was great.

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