Paradise Getaway- Clean and Affordable

• So-so

  So-so

  • Guest barbara p.
  • Date of stay 01/30/14
  • Review Submitted 02/05/14
  The owners were easy to contact; and the rental was clean and affordable as stated. However it was a little too dark and secluded for us. We arrived after dark and no street lights, kind of spooky. Then the roosters started. All night we heard roosters and birds. (I never heard of roosters crowing at night)...it was weird. We had to keep windows open and fans on to move air and stay cool; really had trouble sleeping with all that noise. Rental was well stocked with anything you might need; however TV was small. Convenient location to explore the volcano and Hilo beaches.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing.

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• "We thoroughly enjoyed staying"

  Guest comment entered by owner

  "We thoroughly enjoyed staying"

  • Guest Josiah S
  • Date of stay 08/26/13
  • Review Submitted 01/22/14
  Kirsten was an amazing host even from afar. We never actually met but everything went as planned and very smoothly. Kirsten was also very helpful in giving us tips to make our trip better. The listing and info was all accurate. We thoroughly enjoyed staying at the Paradise Getaway, would do it again, and recommend it to others! Thanks for helping make our recent trip to Hawaii so enjoyable. We really liked your place. Thanks for the breakfast on arrival and for the fresh pineapple (the person overseeing the property, I assume, left it for us downstairs one day). Your tip for the discount Hawaii car rental was great and we ended up using it. With the free additional driver, it was the cheapest option. We also made use of the Big Island Revealed guide book that you had available at the house several times during our stay and enjoyed all the little extra comfort at the house. We made use of the little cooler and beach towels on one outing. The washer and dryer were convenient too. It was nice to come back and relax and watch a little TV in the evenings then wake up and have coffee and breakfast before venturing out for the day. We loved Volcanoes National Park, went there two different days. We were celebrating our anniversary which turned into an engagement atop the volcano! We then had dinner at the Volcano House's Rim restaurant which was perfect. Besides that we liked "the strip" in Pahoa and tried out the Thai and Mexican restaurants there. I'd only been to Oahu before and liked the Big Island better. There was more beautiful natural surrounding to look at, it was less touristy, and I thought the food was better. I'm vegetarian and it was pretty easy to find good options for me. We went zip-lining one day in Kapa’au and used Big Island Eco Adventures II. We'd definitely recommend them. Not only did it allow us to see a different part of the island by driving to Kapa'au but our tour guides were super cool and gracious. It was my first time and they were great at helping our tiny group of four feel safe and comfortable. I hadn't been on others for comparison but my partner was talking about having to brake and land yourself on other zip lines. This one was more hands free because the tour guides helped with each "landing." I also went for my first ride in a helicopter. We did a volcano and waterfall helicopter tour using Blue Hawaiian helicopters. We also had a good experience with the people there. We stayed seven days and did much more then I mentioned h

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• Lovely cozy cottage for our family of 4

  Lovely cozy cottage for our family of 4

  • Guest Briana M. (Denver PA USA)
  • Date of stay 11/25/13
  • Review Submitted 12/19/13
  This home was just perfect for our short stay on the Island. We picked this home over many for it's convenient location, yet away from it all. We flew into Kona, spent the day exploring the southern coastline, witnessed the Volcano at night and headed for this home. The home is about 25 min to Volcano National Park, 15 min to a hot water lagoon, and 15 min to Hilo. Groceries, gas, and a Subway are nearby which was nice. The house is fully equipped to grill and cook great meals. We made great use of the cooler, taking our lunch with us during the day. The space was perfect for us, kids shared the futon and we took the bedroom which isn't really a separate room, but it worked fine for us. The bathroom is spacious and clean. Our kids loved the faucet. Having the washer/dryer was so helpful too because we were able to travel light. Wish we would have had more time on the Big Island to explore and relax. The owner were very informative and communications were great. Definitely a great value. Hope some day we can return.

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

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• A Nice Getaway

  A Nice Getaway

  • Guest Joe and Cheryl (Haines)
  • Date of stay 03/04/13
  • Review Submitted 03/26/13
  The house was clean and quite comfortable. The welcome bowl of fresh fruit was tasty and a nice touch. The location was conveniently close to the beaches, markets, etc. The owners were extremely informative about activities. The house was a delightful place to relax at the end of busy days. The grill, snorkel gear and boogie boards were most appreciated, as well as the washer/dryer. We would most definitely stay here again.

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

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• Great experience in Ainaloa!

  Great experience in Ainaloa!

  • Guest Carrie (Orlando)
  • Date of stay 08/02/12
  • Review Submitted 08/13/12
  I really enjoyed my stay in the little cottage. It was very clean and comfortable and had every amenity I could have needed. Communication with the owner was excellent and I felt welcome borrowing their home. The directions were simple and accurate. The welcome fruit basket was lovely. Internet services were flawless, water was plentiful and fresh. The grounds were beautiful. I would definitely stay again and I'd recommend the place to family and friends.

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

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

• Awesome

  Awesome

  • Guest Denis (Nyc)
  • Date of stay 07/05/12
  • Review Submitted 07/21/12
  My wife and I had a fantastic one-week vacation here. The apt locates in a quiet area, it's very clean, looks new. There are some maps and tour books. We found the blue book is very useful. The owner, David and Kiesten, are super nice. They allow us a late check out. We are glad choosing this place.

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

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

• Cute and clean in the Puna district

  Cute and clean in the Puna district

  • Guest j-low (Seattle)
  • Date of stay 12/03/11
  • Review Submitted 12/05/11
  Our family of four needed something clean and affordable to explore the Hilo side. This house was perfect! It was beautifully clean and had a queen bed, double futon, and all the basics for a nice stay. The newer construction and vinyl windows reduced much of the frog noise this side of the island is known for. We spent some of our time in Hilo and some at the volcano and this felt like a pretty central spot. Would definitely stay again!

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

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

• Comfortable Green Living

  Comfortable Green Living

  • Guest Heather (Aberdeen WA)
  • Date of stay 07/28/11
  • Review Submitted 09/25/11
  Kristin and David’s vacation rental is a peaceful destination within paradise. Staying at their home, you get a feel for what it’s like to live like a local: green living, few tourists and peaceful comfort. The location is in a residential neighborhood that is quiet and at night the sounds of nature come alive, something you won’t hear in Hilo or Kona. It’s a short drive to Pahoa where you can get some great Thai food, espresso, groceries and essentials. I really liked the “throwback” culture of Pahoa; hope it’s not commercialized anytime soon. Hilo is about 30 minutes away and has some beautiful parks and well-stocked fresh produce at the farmers market. The residence itself has a nice design. The ‘traditional’ carport for enjoying the outdoors, a large wrap around deck and a very large yard great for examining local flora. The interior is new: kitchen cupboards laminate wood-flooring, vaulted ceiling, lots of closet space. It was clean upon arrival and there were plenty of cleaning supplies for keeping it so during our stay. The local hosts had fresh fruit and treats waiting for us. The best part of all was the exposure to “sustainability”. I hadn’t thought much about it until I experienced it. Water catchment and solar panels for heating the water; ways to live green and reduce your dependence on utilities providers, and that’s just a beginning. It was a great introduction to green living and has impacted my thoughts on sustainability in my own home. I have stayed in many homes on the islands through VRBO. I would highly recommend this property for 3 reasons 1) Green living/sustainability 2) local vibe and no tourist’s 3) comfort. If you need a fourth- its VERY reasonably priced!

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

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

• Delightful, Clean, Charming, and Quiet!

  Delightful, Clean, Charming, and Quiet!

  • Guest Kimmy (Anchorage, AK)
  • Date of stay 08/13/11
  • Review Submitted 09/15/11
  My husband and I stayed here in August for 2 weeks to complete our home in the same subdivision. In addition to being very convenient, we really enjoyed it here. Everything was as we were told it would be, and exceptionally clean and well-kept. The photos really don't do this house justice. We had concerns about the amount of hot water due to it being solar-powered only, however, that was never an issue even on a rainy day. I ended up needing to extend my stay due to some delays with our house, and the owners were very accommodating. Also, no need to be concerned about the location in reference to activities in the area, as it's only 5 miles from Pahoa and about 16 from Hilo. You can play all day, and return to nature's peace here. There is plenty of beautiful scenery to visit along the Kapoho and Kalapana coastlines about 8 to 10 miles away, along with a couple beach parks in the same region. Hilo also has zoos, botanical gardens, ziplining, etc. I highly recommend this property, and would stay here again.

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

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• we loved it

  we loved it

  • Guest lovedthebigisland (california)
  • Date of stay 05/08/11
  • Review Submitted 06/05/11
  We loved staying in your home with our twin girls. Everything was clean and well stocked so we didn't have to buy much. The kitchen was perfectly equiped since we prepared all of our meals at the house. It felt like home away from home. Thanks again for everything. The Madls

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

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Fees:

• Cleaning: $68 + tax
• Tax Rate 13.4%