Vacation Rentals by Owner

Wonderful place to stay!!

Guest: Laurie (Calgary, Alberta - Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/27/12 Review Submitted: 05/11/12

I stayed at the cottage at the end of April to the beginning of May. I came with my family of five and it was extremly comfortable for all of us. The beds were comfortable and there was plenty of space. The kitchen and bathroom facilites were wonderful - the shower was amazing. There are skylights all over and fans in ever room and I was never too hot or too cold. We used all the beach gear (chairs, boogie boards, snorkels etc.) they came in handy. I loved being able to see the beach from the cottage and we watched the sunset every evening. Ann was extremly helpful with any questions we had - she was very accessible. There are two pools in this facility and we tried them both out - they were always clean and well maintained. We rented a car so we went to a new beach everyday and we were very surprised at just how close things were. Driving was extremely good in the area and we found our way around quite easily. We also went to the beach that was directly across the street which was one of our favourite beaches. There was also a farmers market just down the street aways where we purchased some fresh fruit (very close). Napili beach was one of our favorites after going for breakfast at the Gazebo Restaurant at Napili Shores! A must! We also drove into the town of Lahiana where we went to the Lahaina Luau - also a must! Oh and Mama's Fish House (expensive) but worth it! There are so many things to do there and we throughly enjoyed ourselves. Hope to go back again.....Aloha!

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

Great Cottage in Maui!

Guest: Happy Vacationers (Victoria, BC, Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/07/12 Review Submitted: 04/19/12

I stayed at the cottage in April with my family of five and we thoroughly enjoyed our time there. There was plenty of space in the cottage for the five of us and the kitchen facilities were fantastic. The huge shower was great for rinsing the sand off after a long day at the beach! We loved the beach gear in the lanai (beach chairs, boogie boards, snorkels, flippers etc), all good quality and great to have on hand when heading to the water. We watched the Maui sunsets every night from the cottage (the view is beautiful) and were always amazed by the striking colours painting the sky. The walk to the beach was lovely, and the 13 year old in our family especially enjoyed that there is a "shave ice" stand on the way! We spent our late afternoons/evenings lounging and swimming at the pool, which was always clean, well-cared for and warm. We also rented a car, which allowed us to go to a different beach every day. Napili beach had some beautiful snorkeling, as did Kaanapali, especially by Black Rock (very close to the cottage). Fleming beach (about a 20 minute drive) has some great waves for boogie boarding and watching the surfers. Our favourite part of the trip was an excursion we took in Kihei with the Maui Dive Shop (ask for Captain Jeff and Tia). We snorkeled at Molokini, swam with the sea turtles and the dolphins and whales gave us a great show! The cottage was beautiful and was a very calm and relaxing place to spend our mornings, days and nights. I highly recommend a stay here in Maui!

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

Great location on West Maui

Guest: Darryl (Des Moines, IA)
Date of Stay: 03/09/12 Review Submitted: 03/20/12

Ann and Rohn are great owners. Ann responds immediately to any questions or concerns. The International property is well maintained. The pictures of the unit are an accurate representation of the cottage. The living area is large and spacious. Plenty of beach related supplies for a family to use. Good iPad/iPod playing technology in bedrooms and living area. Old Hawaii cottage atmosphere.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway

shocked and disappointed

Guest: Jack (Columbus, Ohio ,USA)
Date of Stay: 01/15/12 Review Submitted: 03/16/12

We had rented the property for almost three weeks. W#hen we arrived, the coffee maker was loaded with ants. We stored some food in the oven and in the refrigerator. After the first week, a call was made to the owner and Josh was sent out the next day to spray the counters and floor. Helped for a while, but did not last. At night we were hearing sounds in the walls or outside. While laying in bed one early morning, I saw a large rat come out and crawl across the top of the closet. This must have been the thing making the noise at night. I told my wife we had to get out there. Called the owner and the phone went to voice mail. Called Josh and went to voice mail. With in two hours we found a place to stay for the remaining four nights at a cost of $2,000. Gave Josh another call and it was answered this time. Told him the situation and he was going to contact owner. After we were packed and putting the key in the door the owner called. Explained the situation and told him we could not stay there and told him I expected a refund. Was advised to e-mail him when we got home which was done. No refund would be forth coming because we departed in such hast and they could have put us in some other condo but was never offered to us at the time. They sent in an exterminator and found no rats. I will not rent from this owner again nor through VRBO. We will stick with the resorts.

Owner response:This is the strangest thing. Even though time has passed since this guest’s visit, I am still surprised by what happened. With 16 other Guest Reviews currently posted for my Cottage, many visitors have written about their experiences. Of those, 13 reviewers awarded me 5 out of 5 stars and the remaining three reviewers awarded me 4. Obviously, my encounter with this guest (Guest) is an exception to my norm. Guest was challenging from the start. He wanted to stay 20 nights and negotiated relentlessly on price. This is fine; however, when it was time to pay his deposit he refused to do so in the form I accept (credit card). Rather, without my agreement he sent a personal check in the regular mail. When it finally arrived I was nice enough to accept it. As for his final payment of the remaining balance, it took me numerous e-mails and telephone calls to finally get that payment from him—fully 3 weeks late! I had actually cancelled his reservation by the time he paid. Upon his arrival I spoke with Guest on the telephone to welcome him and to explain that I unexpectedly had to travel to the Mainland for emergency surgery. I assured him that I had a team of service providers on Maui who would take care of any issues that arose in my absence, and told him that he could reach my husband and me via cell phone. After that conversation I did not hear from him for nine days. On the 9th day of his stay, Guest called to say that there were ants. I informed him that the Cottage is serviced by a pest control company that provides treatments quarterly, yet promised to arrange for a technician to supplement with an additional spraying. This was done within three hours of Guest’s complaint. Seven more days passed without incident. After staying in the Cottage for 16 days, Guest left me a curt voice mail while I was in the hospital having a second surgery. He said he had left the Cottage and would not be returning. His complaint was that although the ant problem had been alleviated, some had now returned. More, he complained about “suspicious noises” and even claimed to have seen a rodent. Without warning, he had disappeared; I was stunned. Guest e-mailed me after his return home and demanded a refund. Yet he did not want to be refunded for just the four nights he did not use; rather, he also wanted to be compensated for “emotional distress,” to the tune of nearly $2,000! I truly wish Guest had enjoyed his stay; yet I believe that with some people this is simply impossible.

Recommended for:

Comfortable place in a great location

Guest: Relaxed (Calgary, Canada)
Date of Stay: 11/22/11 Review Submitted: 12/03/11

Beautiful property with great layout that provides both private and common areas. The location was great with easy access to a beautiful beach. The International Colony Club property is clean and well maintained and we had the pool to ourselves more often than not. The provided beach equipment (snorkels, boogie board, beach chairs) was much appreciated. The only thing I would change is to have more essentials in the pantry (basic spices, cooking oil, etc.). Owner was a pleasure to deal with - would recommend!

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High expectations were met and much more

Guest: LouisG (Montréal, Canada)
Date of Stay: 11/06/11 Review Submitted: 11/15/11

We have to say that it was beyond our expectations: the pictures of the cottage do not give it justice: they are great pictures however the cottage is even more then great: two big living rooms, two bedrooms, two adjoining bathrooms, one huge shower and an amazing kitchen/dining area. There is no air conditionning however it is absolutely not required: our week's temperature was about 85 during the day and 75 at night and we were very comfortable the entire time, given there are ceiling fans in every room. The cottage is also very well equipped with everything you need: all the water equipment necessary for snorkeling or going at the beach, beach chairs, beach mats, towels as well as everything required on a rainy day: 42 inch tv with dvd and dish. The cottage's location is also ideal: 3 minute walk from Kaanapali park beach, which provides you with public bbq areas, amazing sunsets and what we found to be the best snorkeling in the area, much better then Black Rock and much closer: 15 minute walk to the Kaanapali Coffee farm, amazing views of the mountains and of the island of Lanai: 10 minute drive from everything for your groceries and finally 20 minute drive to the amazing small town of Lahaina, where you can do awesome shopping, visit the historical district or book a diving or snorkeling adventure. Last but not least, the owners were fantastic in providing us with all the necessary information to make our trip as enjoyable as possible and their cottage is a little gem that we will surely book again on our next trip to Maui.

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

Perfect Location

Guest: Mark B.
Date of Stay: 08/17/11 Review Submitted: 09/07/11

The first words out of everyone was that the pictures didn't do it justice. We loved the open floor plan which made us feel like we lived there. Also, having a grocery store within 5 minutes helped us achieve our goal of eating in and eating out. The beach access is easy and the beach is amazing. A great area to snokel with some rocks in the surf for the fish and a nice sandy bottom farther down. Black Rock is an easy walk. We are looking forward to our next trip to Maui!

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

Perfect Location

Guest: Exoectations Exceeded (Vancouver, WA)
Date of Stay: 08/17/11 Review Submitted: 09/07/11

The first thing we said was the pictures do not do it justice. It was more than we expected. The traditional open floor plan made us feel like we lived there. The jetted tub and large shower was probably the biggest hit. We also enjoyed having a grocery store within 5 minutes so we could experience a combination of eating in and eating out. The beach was perfect! A good area to snorkel and farther down the beach is nice and sandy. It is an easy walk to Black Rock and Ka'anapalli beach! We are looking forward to our next trip to Maui!

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

A slice of Heaven!

Guest: Jenna (Atlanta, GA USA)
Date of Stay: 03/06/11 Review Submitted: 03/20/11

This Maui cottage is AMAZING! Maui is a magical place to begin with, but then you throw in this cottage, and it is Paradise! It has a very rustic, down to earth, laid back, Aloha, island feel to it, but yet it has all the amenities you are looking for in a great vacation. If...When...I visit Maui again, I will DEFINITELY plan to stay here! Thank you to the Stark's for opening their lovely home to people to enjoy and to make beautiful memories. Aloha and Mahalo, Jenna Kopp Atlanta, GA USA 3/6/11 - 3/11/11

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.

A slice of Heaven!

Guest: Jenna (Atlanta, GA USA)
Date of Stay: 03/06/11 Review Submitted: 03/20/11

This Maui Oceanview Cottage is a Slice of Heaven! Maui is a magical place to begin with, but then you add this cottage, and it is paradise! The cottage is very warm and inviting and has a very rustic feel. It has all the amenities you need, but still gives you the laid-back, easy-going, Aloha, island feeling that you are looking for. If...When...I make it back to Maui, I will DEFINITELY plan to stay here again!!! Thanks to the Stark's for opening their lovely cottage to others to enjoy and such a wonderful place to make such beautiful memories. Aloha and Mahalo, Jenna Kopp Atlanta, Georgia 3/6/11 - 3/11/11

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

Great time in Maui

Guest: Van Visitors (Canada)
Date of Stay: 02/27/11 Review Submitted: 03/26/11

Thank you Anne and Rohn! Your cottage exceeded our expectations.....beautifully put together, our family and son had a wonderful time.....prime location. You know you are confortable on holidays when you feel like you are returning "home"......your place made it like this for us while we were on our trip. The personal investment you and ROhn made in coming to meet us shows the commitment you have in making sure that everyone that stays at your cottage feels comfortable and welcome. We will definelty be coming back! Mahalo!

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

Heaven on Earth!

Guest: Sandie (Sherman Oaks, CA)
Date of Stay: 11/05/10 Review Submitted: 11/14/10

From the moment I saw this ad, I knew it would be the ideal place for a vacation (and to celebrate my boyfriend's 50th birthday). We just returned from a week-long stay and are still in awe. Beautiful and comfortable accommodations (the pictures don't do the place justice at all). It's peaceful, picturesque and in the ideal location. We walked down to the beach each morning for a stroll, a swim and a snorkel and often ended the day with another stroll on the beach to watch incredible sunsets, though they are perfectly visible from the front of the cottage. Just 2-3 miles from Lahaina, where activities and restaurants abound, it was easy to get around and do the things we wanted. The property itself is well maintained and the folks that work on the grounds are so nice and friendly. The owner is incredible to work with and really goes out of her way to see that her guests have everything they need. Ann, I can't thank you enough for making our stay so personal and memorable. We'll most certainly be back :-)

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Like a Home Away From Home!

Guest: Jennifer (Kansas City, MO)
Date of Stay: 06/02/10 Review Submitted: 08/19/10

We spent a fabulous 2 months at the cottage in June and July 2010. My husband, 8-year-old son, 10-year-old daughter and I could not have asked for a better location from which to explore the island or just hang out at the pool. While my husband worked from the cottage, the kids and I were free to explore all parts of Maui: snorkeling, outrigger canoeing, lots of different hikes, Black Rock, the pool within 25 steps of the front door! We spent many sunsets across the street at Airport Beach – what an incredible view. In so many ways, the cottage could not have been more convenient. On top of all that, the cottage itself was wonderful. The open air and fans made it truly a Hawaiian experience. All of the amenities from beach towels and gear to beds and appliances were perfect and helped us feel right at home. I highly recommend this for any visit you make to Maui – whether for a week or two months. It is perfect for families but would really be great for anyone. We cannot wait to return!

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

A little gem!

Guest: M-Jo. (Victoria, B.C. Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/11/10 Review Submitted: 04/22/10

I have recently visited the beautiful Island of Maui and if that was not enough, my family and I stayed at this enchanting cottage.The resort is very keeped and close to local markets and shopping centers. Everything was perfect, very clean, beautifully decorated and spacious. We were 3 min. from the beach, probably the best one on the Island. In one day we snorkelled and spotted two turtles and lots of fish, walked and soak up the sun and even saw the whales for more than half hour. All from the same beach! Must go: the Feast at LeLe,ask Ann for suggestions, she's the best!

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

Lovely location, romantic home

Guest: Kelly, the older (Florence, az)
Date of Stay: 10/22/09 Review Submitted: 11/05/09

My children had never yet forgiven me for an absolutely horrible place in Barcelona that I found online( on another site) That is until now when I redeemed myself in their eyes by renting this "cottage". We in Hawaii for a wedding at one of the resorts across the road. Somehow people kept finding their way over to visit us because our cottage was more comfortable and better equipped than their overpriced rooms. It is a beautiful home, and a great value. Thanks Ann.

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

Relaxing week...

Guest: kellyobe (Forest Ranch, CA)
Date of Stay: 07/14/09 Review Submitted: 07/23/09

We had the most amazing time at your cottage on Maui this past week. The home was lovely and the beds were amazing! We slept so comfortably and now feel rested… I soaked in the tub a few times with lavender bath salts. It was a wonderful addition to our time there. Our daughters also enjoyed taking baths. I used the kitchen every day. We love the design! We are planning to remodel our kitchen, and looking at the design of your kitchen really helped give us a few excellent ideas. Steven is a huge music fan, and I am too! We thoroughly enjoyed the stereo and especially the speaker system you have set up. It really sets the tone for the place. Beach access is easy from the cottage. The kids loved walking there in the latter part of the days. The sunset is amazing from the front lawn. We had an amazing, relaxing week and look forward to staying here again...

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

Great for families

Guest: Darlener (Nova Scotia,Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/22/08 Review Submitted: 05/06/08

Great place to stay,especially if you are traveling as a family. It was really nice having a full kitchen and washer/dryer. The pool was practically right outside our door so the kids loved it. Great location, right across the street from Ka'annapali Beach. Good spot for early morning snorkeling. The sugarcane plantation train stops right at the cottages , it was a great ride for the kids. It is quiet compared to the resorts but that is just what we were looking for. It's just over 5 min. to Lahaina, so again it is very well located. The cottages is very well stocked, they seemed to have thought of everything. We would highly recommend this place to anybody looking for total relaxation yet only minutes from nightlife, shopping and beaches.

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

Shangri-La in paradise... not a pseudo-legend!

Guest: "M&M" (Fort Langley/Vancouver Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/06/08 Review Submitted: 04/14/08

The owners of this cottage have turned a "virtual" possibility into reality. They are most certainly sharing a utopian experience, at the least! We were pleasantly surprised at how spacious this cottage was, loved the authentic Hawaiian architecture and found it tastefully decorated. The party size shower and 2-person jetted tub were just glorious! We are not fans of air-conditioning, thus enjoyed the open-air design... plus it enabled us to experience Maui "au natural" enjoying the scent of the tropical breeze, serenaded by the songs of local birds. With the kitchen sufficiently equipped to prepare a few gourmet dinners, we still missed having an open-air lanai with grill. If provided, an in-door electric grill would suffice, as this is how we prefer to prepare the local varieties of delectable fish. We'd have liked a king-size bed, and with no glass windows to close (screens only) commuter traffic is quite loud in the early morning. The grounds of "The International Colony Club" are meticulously groomed and maintained, and the quiet pool (usually had it to ourselves) is directly across from the cottage. If we had to choose one favorite quality with this cottage, it is definitely the peace and quiet it provides after a busy day touring etc. If you like the hum of bustling resorts, you can visit several within a few minutes drive, and the nearby village of Lahaina has something for everyone in the way of activities, entertainment and dining. I would rate this property excellent, if it were located ocean-front.

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

Kaanappali Cottage Retreat

Guest: CB (Pennsylvania)
Date of Stay: 11/01/07 Review Submitted: 12/28/07

Peaceful but close to some of the best snorkeling and beaches. A short walk across the highway to a park with facilities. The cottage is well stocked with beach chairs, toy, etc. to make your time at the beach wonderful. Easy walk(flat 1-2 miles along the golf course) for adults to the Whalers Village shopping, black rock and other resort entertainment. Everything is close by but the cottage is very quiet (except for the birds which I found pleasant). The pool was very enjoyable to read and relax. There is no AC which was not a problem in November but I'm not sure about the summer. We had some problems 2 days with the water being turned off for repairs but I'm sure this was not the norm. We also had ants but the bait traps seemed to work while we were there. This is a very open(meaning no doors on the master bedroom) design cottage. We enjoyed the atmosphere and location and the price for the amount of space we had. I would stay again and recommend this place. Just be sure you don't mind the simplicity of a cottage versus a resort. There is something gained by each type of stay. Over all we loved it.

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.

Highly Recommended

Guest: emcleish (San Clemente, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/01/07 Review Submitted: 09/04/07

I gave 5 stars for all the accuracy, but, the photos and description were good, but the house/property was great! Better than they described!! The house is much bigger than it looks in the pictures. There's no ac, but the breeze is perfect, and there are so many fans - it was never too hot - you truly feel like you are in paradise! It's a short walk across the road to a great beach in Maui. They have all kinds of toys and extra sheets, etc. for the couches/beds. Plenty of space for a large family. We had grandparents and a 2 year old with us and it exceeded everyone's expectation. Thank you for a great stay!

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