You get what you pay for....

Guest: Heather (Quad Cities, Illinois)
Date of Stay: 01/07/12 Review Submitted: 02/03/12

My family & I stayed at this condo in Jan of 2012. The Pros: The condo was clean and had many extras for cooking & going to the beaches. It's very close to the heart of Kona, so it was a great starting point to our "West Side" adventures. It's close to many shops, restaurants, the farmers market, & beaches. The price was very good for the location. The lanai was large and had a nice size table & lots of chairs. The other people who were residing in the condo units were very friendly... which is more than I can say for this owner. The Cons: I only give them an average rating because of the hostility I felt from this owner. 1st: there are no "time limits" in his ad on how long you can rent, however, my first e-mail from the owner stated he didn't usually rent for less than a week at a time in January, but since the dates were available "he guessed" he could let us have it. 2nd: I paid in full, by cashiers check (as requested) & I had to e-mail him to make sure he got our money, because after 3 1/2 weeks, I had heard NOTHING from the owner, and also didn't get the e-mail with the entry codes until 6 days before our arrival (which made me nervous). 3rd: it clearly states in his ad that the condo sleeps 4-6 (which is does nicely), when he sent me my contract he put in the letter that "5 people is stretching the accomodations, so try not to stress the place." We were a group of 5 ADULTS, we weren't planning on throwing a kegger. 4th: we were instructed to make sure to check in at the office upon arrival. Upon our arrival on Saturday, the office was closed & there was no where to "check in". When I spoke to the office manager on Monday, (in the elevator) he said not to worry about it. 5th: the parking garage smelled like rotting flesh when we first arrived. It was better after garbage was picked up... but not a good first impression. 6th: the one night we wanted to use the deck patio and BBQ grill... there was no gas in the grill. 7th: there was lots of info on "quiet" times to not disturb the other occupants. However, the karaoke bar that was across from the unit was so loud (at 3am) we had to keep the lanai doors shut to be able to sleep. 8th: the photos are decieving, the lanai that faces the ocean is the roof BBQ, not the condo's - it faces a building & side street. As a frequent traveler to the Big Island, I will not be renting this condo again. If I had felt more "Aloha" from this owner, I would have given this place 4-5 stars.

Owner response:As the owner, I didn't realize I was "hostile" toward the guest. I was honest in everything I said and what's on the webpage. The picture is from the unit's lanai and not from the common building's lanai so this is incorrect. A lot of owners in residential complexes don't like to rent for less than a week but I allow this renter to have just three nights and I stated as much to the individual. I told her that 5 people might stree the unit because one would have to sleep on the sofa in the living room and some people don't like this but others don't mind at all. Some renters have in the past stressed the unit by having additional guests stay that were not listed so I was just trying to be up front. The complex is a residential complex so the office is part time. The house rules provide states that if no one is in the office, you can fill out a form and leave it in the suggestion box as a check in. There are two common lanais with gas grills. Sometime, one might be out of gas due to use but I have never seen both out. Sorry the renter was not impressed with our unit but we try and make it as comfortable as possible to the majority of guests. Any reasonable suggestions for improvements are always appreciated.

Recommended for:

Returning again!

Guest: LesleyJon (Littlerock, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/17/09 Review Submitted: 10/27/11

This condo is the best kept secret in Kona. Well maintained, clean, comfortable, well furnished -- our choice year after year. Can't wait to return next month.

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

Perfect stay

Guest: b and p (Las Vegas,NV)
Date of Stay: 09/13/11 Review Submitted: 10/12/11

We loved the unit...very clean and decor was very nice. We were there with another couple and spent most of our time on the patio....very comfortable and relaxing...we will recomend this to friends and family that want to stay in Kona...Thanyou for sharing....

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

Guest: Tristan (-)
Date of Stay: 05/20/11 Review Submitted: 05/24/11

Mahalo nui...we enjoyed our stay this past weekend at your condominium. As I shared earlier, I had to do a presentation for the teachers at Kealakehe Elementary on Saturday morning. It was such a relief to come home to Kona Plaza and just relax and swim in the pool. We hope to return soon. Mälama pono

Recommended for:

Brilliant place to stay

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/21/10 Review Submitted: 11/19/10

We stayed for 12 nights in later October / early November and had a great time. The condo had everything we needed in it and was extremely comfortable. There was everything we needed to prepare meals or snacks and it was well stocked for the beach. The location is great - we spent a number of evenings sitting on the lanai watching the world go by and then going out to eat/drink without having to worry about drinking and driving. We've stayed in a number of locations / accomodations on the Big Island and this was perfect for us.

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