Such a great place!

Guest: Bo W.
Date of Stay: 01/09/12 Review Submitted: 02/01/12

Our expectations were totally fulfilled. The longer we stayed in the cottage, the better we liked it. First of all, it is perfectly situated, weather you are going south east towards Waimanolo, south to Honolulu or north to the North Shore. Just a 30 minutes drive and you have lots of activities in reach. Our favor´rite beach was Waimanolo Beach and we also had very close to Polynesian Cultural Center, a must. We really enjoyed the breakfast on the deck in the mornings and the sip at something refreshing out there in the evening. The kitchen had everything you needed, unfortunately the BBQ was out of order the week we were there, but the owner promised to fix it asap. You sleep easily 4 adults in the cottage and there were a large extra bed suitable for 1-2 smaller children. If you plan to arrive at night, bring a flashlight. First the entrance to the property is not very easy to find even in daylight, but look out for a big stone wall. Behind the entrance in the stone wall, you will find the gate to the property, though not very obvious house number. Also, if it is dark, you really need the flashlight for the key box. Everything was clean and in good order, the WiFi worked perfectly, the TV also and we had good use of the washer and dryer. In all, a great place with very good value for the money. If we ever get back to Hawaii, we would sure consider renting it again. Can be highly recommended if you are not eager to live in the Waikiki melt bowl!

Owner response:Thank you for your fine review! You confirmed that it's a unique hidden retreat in a great location and with all the amenities needed for a memorable island get away...all for a good value! (sorry about the BBQ which I didn't know about/now replaced; and as mentioned in direction info-'bring a flashlight' if arriving after dark) Hope you can make it back before too long! Mahalo!

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beautiful place!!

Guest: saskia (Netherlands, Europe)
Date of Stay: 04/22/11 Review Submitted: 05/22/11

we had big expectations already because of the nice pictures, but is was even better then that! What a beautiful place and great way to spend your holiday! Having breakfast on the deck in your pyjamas with tropical surroundings, direct sight of a beautiful bay and birds all around you, beats every 5 star hotel! We can really recommend this place with all our heart!

Owner response:Aloha Saskia! Thank you for your 'rave' review...so thrilled you enjoyed your stay and plan on coming back! It really means alot to us! We strive to make the place beautiful and comfortable! Mahalo!

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

"THE" side of the Island - THE perfect retreat, THE perfect hideaway!

Guest: grace is enough (Woodstock, IL)
Date of Stay: 04/05/11 Review Submitted: 04/18/11

WOW! This was our big "splurge" and it more than paid off! I was on Oahu in the mid 70's and had never been to the "Kaneohe" side -- what a great find! This place is perfect in so many ways - you definitely feel secluded (even though you know you have neighbors) and the views of mountains - especially in the morning - you will know what paradise must be like. We took many "road trips" on the Windward side (getting over to Honolulu is nice, but you find a lot of traffic -- The Bus is a great way to get around in town) and everywhere we went, all the people we met -- it was one big hug of Aloha! I never thought I'd choose Oahu as my favorite island, but staying here changed our perspective - we'd come back to this Bayside Country Cottage Retreat whenever we could. When you're out the road, don't miss the Crouching Lion for Mai Tais and Jessie's amazing mahimahi! Haleiwa Joe's in Haiku was over the top for dinner - the ono was prepared PERFECTLY and the lilikoi creme brulee was "all that and more." There are lots of places to stay, but if you want to really FEEL Hawaii - this is the place for you. It was surely "THE PLACE" for us.

Owner response:Aloha Laura, Thank you so much for your fine review! So glad you had such a great adventure and enjoyed the cottage so much. And thrilled that you'd like to come stay again in the future! All the best! Mahalo!

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

Country setting enhances the vacation experience

Guest: Keri (Northbrook)
Date of Stay: 11/04/10 Review Submitted: 02/04/11

We found the house and property to be very pleasing and it helped make for a great vacation. We actually loved the "green" side because it was so beautiful with the mists in the mountains, the sun shining through the clouds, and all the flora. If you want to get to sunshine it's really an enjoyable and not very long trip away. The house is conveniently located to groceries and hiking trails, and great beaches. We didn't eat dinners out locally because our Central time hunger struck while we were out adventuring. The house has all the conveniences you need for cooking any meal though and we had all we needed for breakfast and snack preparation. We loved the deck and the tea house. We made use of the beach items that were provided. It was also great to have the washer/dryer. All in all it was a memorable stay, thanks in part to this beautiful property. Dian was really great through all phases of renting it as well.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers.

Amazing Week!!!! Which is not enough!

Guest: Jitka S (Boulder, CO)
Date of Stay: 05/11/10 Review Submitted: 05/25/10

We stayed in the Bayside Cottage for a week. It was better than advertised. The views, accommodations, ambiance, and tropical feel were amazing. The location away from the highway and palms surrounding the cottage make you feel as if you are on a deserted tropical island all by yourself! We loved and will cherish our time there with great memories of a tropical paradise. We even made some new lizard friends.

Owner response:Thank you, Jitka! So thrilled you enjoyed your stay and that you were pleased with the accommodations and tropical ambiance. Look forward to hearing from you in the future. Dian

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

Magical

Guest: cfcruz808 (Oregon)
Date of Stay: 04/30/10 Review Submitted: 05/12/10

As beautiful as the pictures are, they do not show just how beautiful, peaceful and magical the home is. Sitting on the deck and overlooking the bay watching the sun rise and the honu playing in the water just takes your breath away! Relaxing in the hammock in the cool tradewinds is the perfect end to the day. Dian was so welcoming and we could not have asked for a better vacation. We will be back for sure. This is THE place for your Oahu get away!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children.

Guest: Jessica101 (Oakland, CA)
Date of Stay: 06/14/09 Review Submitted: 06/14/09

We just returned to the mainland, after spending a wonderfully relaxing week at this cottage. We could not have been happier with the accommodations. The house was well-stocked with towels and linens and was very clean upon our arrival. The house itself is beautiful and private, situated in a serene and picturesque setting. There would be plenty of room for a family of four, but the cottage can also be used as a luxurious, romantic retreat for two. Coming from California, the humidity took some getting used to, but the cottage is well-equipped with ceiling and table fans. We were so glad that we decided to stay away from the crowds of Waikiki (although it was a quick half hour drive to downtown). The east side of Oahu is much more scenic, with the vast ocean on one side and majestic mountains on the other. We are leaving Hawaii and this cottage with many fond memories.

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Guest: Karan Garg (Fairfield)
Date of Stay: 05/14/09 Review Submitted: 05/14/09

Beautiful vacation cottage with serenely magical views, paradise. Cozy and private, away from the chaotic chatter of Honolulu but still close enough to everything that you might want to check out on a HOLIDAY :-) A big thumbs up!

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Guest: Eric and Julie Dahlkamp (Riverdale, Utah)
Date of Stay: 05/14/09 Review Submitted: 05/14/09

What a wonderful homecoming! I lived for years about three houses down from this spot in Waikane. To be back again was wonderful - to see the mountain, feel the cool windward breeze, enjoy the rain, have Chinaman's hat off my front porch again, to be centrally located for just about everything on Oahu - it was grand. The island is green on the windward side for a reason - it rains, so enjoy it. But when the sun is out, which is actually a lot - it is glorious! If you want sun anytime, or on a drizzly windward day, just pop up to the north shore or over to Waikiki side and have all the heat you want! We spent the three drizzle days in the sun elsewhere and then the four sun days of our week back on the windward side - beautiful. Fun to always come home to cool sleeping weather. Having the opportunity to show my wife Julie everything I remembered was a blast. Nothing much has changed in 28 years and the pace of life on the windward side is blissfully uncrowded and casual as ever I remember it. Loved your house Dian. Thanks.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/01/09 Review Submitted: 03/16/09

We walked in the front door of this lovely cottage and said, "Wow!" We've rented many condos and houses in Hawaii over the years, and this is by far the nicest. It is beautifully decorated, immaculately clean, and generously and thoughtfully stocked. It is spacious and open, with gorgeous mountain and ocean views, yet very private thanks to the lush landscaping. We were delighted with everything about this home and hope to come back.

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