Fantastic cottage and diving; definitely coming back!

Guest: Teresa (Cupertino)
Date of Stay: 10/30/11 Review Submitted: 11/09/11

We had a superlative experience staying at the SuGar cottage and diving with Gary. Best trip ever. We will definitely come back to visit early and often. If you enjoy exploring the ocean with snorkel, kayak, or scuba, in a tranquil, pristine corner of Hawaii's tropical paradise, this is a fantastic place to be.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers.

So much fun!

Guest: D & G (British Columbia, Canada)
Date of Stay: 09/17/11 Review Submitted: 10/05/11

We had a wonderful time staying at SuGar Cottage. They are the nicest hosts without being intrusive. It was a great advantage having their recommendations for eating establishments, which Dive Boat companies to hire, directions etc. Garry took us snorkeling and we swam with dolphins, and saw so much amazing coral and fish, a white tail shark and spotted eagle ray. All in 2 hours, honestly I don't think we would see that many different types of sea life walking around the Vancouver Aquarium. We were also able to borrow their tandem kayak and all the gear that goes with it for our own snorkelling adventure. Staying in the cottage is like being in a tropical jungle, you are surrounded by the sounds of frogs and birds, and we were even given a papaya freshly picked from the tree outside our cabin. We were very happy with our decision to stay there.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+.

Great hosts

Guest: dutch (Northern Alberta)
Date of Stay: 02/06/09 Review Submitted: 09/29/11

My husband and i stayed at SuGar cottage 2 years ago and are thrilled that we will be able to do it again in December! Gary and Susan were very approachable and though time did not permit us to do all we wanted, we will remedy that this trip. The laid-back pace of the Big Island is just what the doctor ordered for R&R. See you soon! dutchess

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, age 55+.

Great hosts, great service, great place!

Guest: Steve, Kelly and Kasia (Virginia)
Date of Stay: 07/02/11 Review Submitted: 07/20/11

We were three adults with a week to spend on the Big Island and SuGar Cottage was the first of three VRBO properties at which we stayed as we worked our way around the island. It could not have been a better place for us to start! The cottage is very quaint and surrounded by tropical forest that gives it a very secluded feeling. It has a good kitchen where we made all of our meals (There's a Costco in Kona, stop and stock up to save some serious $$), the screened porch was great for eating meals and just relaxing, and of course Gary was the best possible guide / mentor for snorkelling that we could have asked for at any proce... let alone that he gave us his time and loaned us equipment at no additonal cost! Our first snorkelling experiences were amazing, and we are now inspired to get dive-certified just so we can go back and dive with Gary. The cottage was just as represented in the decription and photos in the listing, it was easy to do the transaction because they are set up to process credit cards quickly and easily, they kept me informed via email and were quick to answer the phone and any questions that I had, and just made the whole experince delightful. Our only regret, as many others have said, is that we couldn't stay longer!

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

What a deal!!!!!

Guest: Ann Marie (Chester, Virginia)
Date of Stay: 06/27/11 Review Submitted: 07/02/11

This is the greatest steal of a deal -especially if you like to dive for FREE! We loved our stay in this charming cottage. Gary is a wonderful and helpful host. He really cares about your safety on the dive. My son loved catching lots of geckos outside the cottage. Gary let us eat one of his papayas off the tree. Hookena beach is nearby for swimming and snorkeling. Two-step is also great for snorkeling. Even where Gary took my husband to dive was a great place to snorkel for my son and I. If you are lucky enough to stay here, it will not dissappoint!! -Lewis Family

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

Not the place we expected

Guest: anonymous (british columbia)
Date of Stay: 03/03/11 Review Submitted: 06/29/11

This was NOT the five star experience we had expected. We were appalled that a cleaning fee is charged at this accomodation. Yes, on the surface it was pleasant, but we quickly saw the truth. For instance, the blinds were very dusty, the ceiling fans were covered in dust, and if you check the water cooler be sure to look at the area the water is actually coming out of (we saw a lot of mold growth). Also the convertable bed didn't look like it had been cleaned for a while as finger nails were found. The bathroom also has no fan or window and a rusted tub. And it was very loud nights due to the cacophony of creatures at night. If you are up for living with the birds, spiders, cockroaches, and lizards, you should be fine. To be safe, we suggest buying your own bottled water. If it wasn't for the friendly owners we would have given this a one star.

Owner response:We are sorry that we can't always satisfy all of our guests' needs. It is interesting that these guests were scuba divers and were taken out on many dives at no charge with us supplying air, weights and other diving needs as well as guided tours. This service alone would have been $100.00 for each dive per person and they stayed four days at our cottage. We are located in a rural area on the Big Island with lots of trees and beautiful foliage. Privacy is guaranteed at our 3 acre parcel. We prefer the sounds of nature (birds, frogs etc.) to street noises like automobiles and other city cacophonies. Contrary to our guests opinions, we work very hard to keep our place clean. Why were there no complaints while our guests were here? We always tell our inquires that we are not in the city (Kailua-Kona). Our cottage is very clean and comfortable and is a great place as a nucleus to explore all parts of the island.

Recommended for:

A wonderful stay at Sugar Cottage.

Guest: Pete and Judy (Ladysmith, BC, Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/20/11 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

The cottage was well furnished, clean and easy to find as pictured and described in the listing. All the amenities were supplied and the cottage was very comfortable for my wife and I, and two tall teenage boys. It is a great retreat for those wishing to avoid the tourist traps and noisy city, and who enjoy waking up to the songs of frogs and birds (including chickens). It is a convenient location for those with a car who want to explore the south and west areas of the island including the wonderful swimming areas around Captain Cook. Our hosts, Gary and Susan, were wonderful; welcoming and taking pains to ensure we had a good stay without being intrusive. Gary is an expert diver,and took Judy on some wonderful dives, while the boys and I used his kayaks to explore the coastline. Judy had not dived for a while but felt very relaxed and safe under Gary's guidance. Both Gary and Susan shared their experience and knowledge of the Big Island, with obvious affection for the place, and had us laughing our heads off with their great sense of humour. A great visit folks, and one we would definitely like to repeat in the future.

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

Perfect honeymoon spot for Big Island adventurers

Guest: Lee (Edmonotn, Alberta, Canada)
Date of Stay: 02/15/11 Review Submitted: 02/28/11

This place was perfect for us! Lots of privacy, our hosts just a phone call away, and well located to access the many adventures on the island. Having laundry facilities was wonderful. The kitchen was well stocked with dishes and cooking gear-- very helpful as one of us can't eat in restaurants due to allergies. We would definitely recommend this cottage and will return the next time we're back on the Big Island. Our host also took us out kayaking and diving and his patience and experience were very much appreciated.

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

A great way to start a Big Island adventure

Guest: Dick & Jill (La Canada Flintridge, CA)
Date of Stay: 09/17/10 Review Submitted: 11/14/10

We're not divers, but we love to kayak and snorkel. It was great to have Garry guide us on our first Hawaiian snorkel in 25 years. We had Honamolino Bay all to ourselves and the dolphin were a thrill. It was a nice drive to South Point for the Green Sands hike. SuGar Cottage is very comfortable, and very private. We fell asleep to a chorus of whistling frogs, and awakened to the roosters. There is a full kitchen, and a romantic screened lanai for dining, which is great as there are few restaurants near. We had a great time.

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

Scuba and Relaxation

Guest: Don (East Tennessee)
Date of Stay: 09/07/10 Review Submitted: 10/20/10

Our first experience in Hawaii was staying at Garry and Susans SuGar Cottage , Scuba diving with Garry, visiting the southwestern coast and Volcano Park and enjoying the beauty. What a Deal!! Our experience was tremendous and you'll find Garry to be the best host. From the nightlife sounds, quiet countryside and relaxing atmosphere, we couldn't have had a more enjoyable time. Accomodations were very clean and comfortable and gave us a real feel of true Hawaii. We hope to see Garry and Susan again sometime--we'd do it all over again!!!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers.