Vacation Rentals by Owner

Just me and the Kid.

Guest: Ed and Jake (Hampstead NC)
Date of Stay: 03/31/12 Review Submitted: 04/08/12

Great place, really laid back and very quite. All the water equipment you need, awesome pebble beach and warm ocean water. good base camp for the Volcano side of the island along with South point and the Black Sand beach. Sam has everything you need along with a Weber Grill that will cook your Hawaiian grass feed beef in about 8 minutes. Just a great place for my son and I. Sam even let us drop our bags off super early on Saturday which was a great help! Thanks Sam!!!

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

Home away from home

Guest: Skip (Lancaster, PA)
Date of Stay: 03/17/12 Review Submitted: 04/03/12

We enjoyed making ourselves at home in this spacious unit. Views of the ocean are fabulous from the wrap-around porch/lanai, and we enjoyed eating meals out there. Sam is a courteous and helpful host. The most spectacular thing about this location is the unobstructed ocean view - the facility is certainly adequate, but not anything fancy. The furnishings are rather dated, but everything was spotless, and the towels were soft and fluffy. I would recommend this property to a friend who is looking for a place with cooking options and plenty of living space, but not to someone who wants a fancy modern place.

Owner response:Aloha, Thank you so much for your comments. We have updated our furnishings since you were here last and appreciate your suggestions! Aloha, Sam

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, sightseeing.

Good value for location

Guest: Natty B (Moscow, Id)
Date of Stay: 03/12/12 Review Submitted: 03/21/12

This is an excellent option if you are into being close to a great pebble beach for snorkeling and don't mind being quite a distance from restaurants, stores, etc. The property is roomy, comfortable and clean, with 270 degree views from the wrap-around lanai. The beach is private and secure. you don't have to worry at all about leaving possessions on the beach while you snorkel or swim. The only downside is you will want to cook and there is only a toaster oven and a single plug-in electric burner to cook on in the kitchen (plus a very nice gas grill outside), and no automatic dishwasher. This wasn't a concern for us, but might be for others. The many upsides, including the kayaks, the view and Sam's gracious hospitality more than made up for any inconvenience. We hope to return.

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

Sam's Place was Gorgeous

Guest: DK (Moscow Idaho)
Date of Stay: 03/12/12 Review Submitted: 03/20/12

We stayed at Sam's place at Pebble Beach over Spring Break this year. What a wonderful spot to be. We walked in to the place and the first thing I noticed was the lanai and the view of the ocean and surrounding area. As I was sitting before unpacking the car, a whale was spouting as she was swimming past. The sunsets are gorgeous and the location to Pebble Beach is a short walk. The snorkling off the beach was some of the best we have experienced and we snorkle alot. I loved the place. We had bought food for breakfast and for packing a lunch when we went elsewhere but when we saw how wonderful our place was, we drove back to a store to buy food we could cook and sit and enjoy our own place. Why go elsewhere when we already had a wonderful view and relaxing home. You cannot go wrong staying at Sam's Place. Sam is also very knowledgable and full of information so ask him about where to go etc. We enjoyed the use of the kayaks too. We took the double kayak to Captain Cook where we enjoyed other sights. The pictures do not do justice for this place; it is very roomy, immaculate, and decorated with local items. We have gone to many countries using VRBO and this is one of the best places we have stayed. My husband and I both loved our stay and hope to go back again in a couple of years. I would definitely recommend staying here. We only picked up food one night for take out (fish and chips) -- otherwise we barbecued so we could stay and enjoy our place.

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

Best vacation ever!

Guest: Suz (New Mexico)
Date of Stay: 12/18/11 Review Submitted: 12/31/11

Our family (parents and 2 teenage boys) stayed at Sam and Annie's apartment in Kona Paradise for 12 days in December 2011. Although we did visit other parts of the Big Island (volcanos, Kohala Zipline, Rainbow and Akaka Falls), we probably spent 70% of our time kayaking and snorkeling from the pebble beach. It was so great not to have to rent kayaks and snorkeling gear and drive to kayak/snorkel! If you go, be sure to kayak north to the black sand beach that is just beyond the small "island" - about 2 (or 2 1/2) miles north of the pebble beach. We always had that beach to ourselves, and the fish and sea turtles were awesome. We really hope to return next year, with an underwater camera and spotlight (for night viewing of manta rays). Thank you Sam and Annie for a wonderful vacation, and for sharing a very special part of paradise!

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

Wonderful Unobstructed Views and Very Comfortable Place to Stay

Guest: Frances (Los Altos, CA)
Date of Stay: 12/09/11 Review Submitted: 12/19/11

My husband and I spent six nights at Sam's unit and I couldn't have asked for a better place to stay. We enjoyed the view and the comforts so much that we were not motivated to leave, but we did make time to visit Pebble beach three times. I am very susceptible to mosquito bites, so I wanted to make a special mention that I only saw a couple the entire time we were there and using mosquito repellant easily kept them away. Even though it was only my husband and myself, we enjoyed having two bathrooms, so we could each have one to ourselves. Meeting Sam was a delight!

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

Highly recommended.

Guest: Eric (United States)
Date of Stay: 11/23/11 Review Submitted: 04/13/12

We celebrated our 25th anniversary here. It was amazing. Meals on the lanai . The sound of the ocean and birds. It was very peaceful. My wife loved seeing the Gecko's at play. Sam was the best host. Like a good waiter. There when you wanted him. The house is clean and feels private. Actually the pictures don't do it justice. It feels modern and comfortable. He shared mango's from the neighbor Annie's trees with us.Her place is down the hill. Closer to the beach but not quite as good of a view. We almost rented her place instead of Sam's. Neither one will disappoint. The road is steep but we enjoyed the view on the way down. We were a little intimidated by the pebble beach and didn't snorkel it till the last day. Wish we would have tried it sooner. The reef is beautiful. We're not sure why so many people made negative comments about it in the travel guides. Maybe the water was rougher when they went. A word of caution about the kayaks. They are good boats but be careful loading them on your roof. Ours slipped off and damaged the roof and hood. It would probably have been fine on the Wrangler with the fiberglass roof but we had to file an insurance claim. Thanks to Sam for an unforgettable stay.

Owner response:Hi Eric, Thank you for the nice comments. So sorry to hear about the rental car. Come back and stay with us again. Aloha, Sam

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

Great views and away from the tourist

Guest: CO Travelors (Boulder, CO)
Date of Stay: 10/05/11 Review Submitted: 12/28/11

Sam's place was great. Sam was able to recommend some great snorkeling that was 15min drive from his place. The beach by the house was also nice, and my husband was able to catch a fish right off the shore. We also enjoyed taking the Kayak's provided out. If you want a place that is relaxing, peaceful, and off the beaten path this is the place for you. Plus you can't beat the price and all the extra's that come with it. At night it is so quiet and the views are great. Sam is a great host with a lot of tips and recommendations. He recommended a fabulous restaurant for our last night which we would never of found without him, and let us extend out checkout time since no one wasrenting the place for a few days, which was great because we got to go to the beach one last time and get a shower in before heading to the airport. He also helped us out when we had a mishap with our rental car. Location was a nice spot between the National Park and Kona. Aloha and thanks for everything!

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

Awsome stay

Guest: Sonny (Everett, WA)
Date of Stay: 07/21/11 Review Submitted: 08/08/11

Stayed here on Aug 21 - 27 Sam's place was excellent we had a great time there from the short walk down to the beach to the quitness at night....

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

Kona Paradise

Guest: Bama family (Madison, AL)
Date of Stay: 06/24/11 Review Submitted: 07/05/11

My only regret with this location is not staying here longer! The description was perfect and the property was beautiful. Sam was a wonderful host and gave us lots of information. Not only did he provide the normal linens, he provided soap and shampoo, bottled water was in the fridge, along with condiments. This property does not have A/C (a concern for an Alabama native) - but it is not needed with the wonderful ocean breeze. The property is in a nice neighborhood that is away from the resorts. We explored the Volcanoes and snorkeled at Captain Cook. Wished we had the time to have used his kayaks at the neighborhood beach. Would love to go back and stay at this location during whale season. I would recommend this property to anyone wanting to stay on the Kona side of the island. We honestly felt more like we were staying with a friend than renting the bottom floor of someone's house.

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

A great, relaxing place to stay

Guest: Loved Hawaii (Hayden, ID)
Date of Stay: 03/23/11 Review Submitted: 04/11/11

This was a delightful place to stay- quiet, clean, and spacious. It is close to great places to snorkel, kayak, explore, relax, and not too far to get the supplies you might need and want. The property was well set up with kayaks, snorkel and beach gear, nice BBQ and kitchen equipment/supplies, large lanai overlooking the ocean. It was very spacious for the 2 of us but could accommodate more people. It is easy to come back early enough to BBQ some fresh fish and veggies and enjoy the sunset but hard to leave early after a relaxing breakfast of fresh tropical fruits and Kona coffee on the lanai. Sam was helpful and there are a lot of things to do within driving distance, be sure to stay long enough to relax and explore!

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

Away from the Crowd

Guest: Phil (Lumsden, Saskatchewan, Canada)
Date of Stay: 01/07/11 Review Submitted: 01/26/11

We enjoyed the location. It's away from the resorts but close enough to Kona and the Volcano Park for sightseeing. The deck overlooks the ocean and we watched every sunset from there for our entire stay. We particularly enjoyed watching and listening to the whales playing just off shore. One of them woke us up one night slapping his tail on the water and "blowing". The suite was fully equipped with even shampoo in the shower. Sam is friendly and knowledgeable about the area. There were plenty of flowers in bloom during our January stay and lots of birds to watch as well. We'd stay here again.

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

Paradise Cove - Wonderful Hawaii Experience!!

Guest: John (Phoenix, AZ/USA)
Date of Stay: 12/22/10 Review Submitted: 01/10/11

Staying at Sam's place was a great experience. We found it easily, It is about 45 minutes or so from the airport. We spent Christmas here and we very much enjoyed our selfs. Sam is a gracious host, the property is clean and Sam has bottled water, paper towels, detergent, mustard, ketchup, etc there for you. As it is a one bedroom with the walk around porch we put our children in the bedroom and slept on the futon couch in the living room. This allowed us to make coffee in the morning and sit on the porch and not bother the kids. We walked to the water, we used the kayaks, boggie boards, beach chairs, and some of Sam's snorkle gear. It is a perfect setup if you want to be away from the big city. It is an easy drive to the Volcano, the beaches, probably 15 minutes from Captian Cook. I can't say enough, except if you are going to Kona and want peace and quiet book Sam's place. You won't be disappointed.

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

Our second stay - fabulous as the first

Guest: happy vacationers (Victoria, BC)
Date of Stay: 11/08/10 Review Submitted: 11/23/10

We are a couple who have stayed here for the last two vacations. We love the peace, privacy and most of all the expansive view. We enjoyed being able to BBQ the amazing seafood we bought nearby, to be enjoyed with the local produce and fruit. For anyone wanting a home like place to either explore the big Island, or just enjoy the beach and views - we'd highly recommend it.

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

Great vacation!

Guest: Orphee & Denis (Quebec City, Qc, Canada)
Date of Stay: 08/21/10 Review Submitted: 08/31/10

The week we spent at Sam's place was more than perfect. The place was quiet, large, clean and the kitchen has everything we needed. We listened to hawaiian music in the stereo and read travel guides and books about hawaii from the bookshelf. The neighborhood is quiet and safe. A 2-3 minute walk will take you to the pebble beach (it was too hot for us though, we felt like we were the meat on a giant charcoal!). Anyway Hookena beach park was really close. Some of the finest snorkeling spots in Hawaii are a few minutes drive (near Captain Cook momument at Kealakekua bay and at the right of puuhonua o honaunau near the boat ramp). We really enjoyed the snorkeling gears and kayak! It was also a good base to explore South Point (our favorite place on the island) and the volcano park as well as the wonderful white beaches of South Kohala. If your idea of vacations in Hawaii is not a crowded beach near a giant resort, Big Island is were you want to go. Plus, if you want a friendly host, a nice and quiet place to stay near all the great things to do and see, Sam's place is were you want to stay!

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

Great spot in Kona Paradise

Guest: outdoor diva (Evergreen, Colorado)
Date of Stay: 08/05/10 Review Submitted: 09/04/10

We stayed here with our 2 daughters (12& 14) in August for 5 nights. Great spot to relax and explore the Kona side of the island, avoid the crowds and big resorts. We loved snorkeling at Pebble Beach, a five-minute walk from the property. The property is comfortable and clean, and as described in the listing. There is a queen and a twin bed in the bedroom, and a futon in the living room. The kitchen has a full fridge and a two-burner cooktop plus a toaster oven, and there is a gas grill on the lanai. We borrowed the kayaks one day and kayaked across K Bay to the Captain Cook monument for snorkeling. The owner, Sam, was easy to talk to, welcoming, and helpful. He was a great source for background and local info, but also very respectful of our time. (you know how some owners just keep you chatting forever and won't let you get out and vacation?) We would definitely recommend this property to other travelers who wish to experience Hawaii in a way that allows you to get a sense of how real people live here, rather than in a high-pressure resort atmosphere. We bought snorkeling gear at Walmart and explored the beaches up and down the Kona Coast - our favorite was our own Pebble Beach and the Place of Refuge, but don't miss Hapuna, Kapoho Tide Pools, and South Point. We wished we'd had more time for more snorkeling adventures. Most nights we would stop at the Choice Market in Capt Cook and grab some fish to grill for dinner, and stop at Keikos on the way home for ice cream. Just be aware that this property is located about 35 minutes south of Kona town, and plan accordingly. We thought it was definitely worth it, and we saw a lot of the island and explored lots of cool beaches. Wished we'd had more time, of course! After 5 days here we spent 3 in Volcano (should have had at least 4) and then 2 days outside of Hilo (that was enough time over there). A fabulous and relaxing trip.

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

Quiet, secluded vacation spot

Guest: DLS (Belgium, WI)
Date of Stay: 06/27/10 Review Submitted: 07/02/10

Sam's place has a beautiful view of the ocean and the sunset over the ocean...incredible. We really enjoyed the beach--there was only one other family on the beach. It was very nice to be away from the crowded beaches of Kona. The black pebble beach had a plus over a sand beach--no sand in everything you own-- but you should get a cheap pair of stretchy deck shoes to wear on the beach and in the water. The scenery is very beautiful and snorkeling was excellent...and, again, we had the entire ocean to ourselves...no crowds swimming in your way. We had 5 people staying in the house (the youngest was 17) and we felt there was plenty of room. The place was clean and everything we needed to kayak and/or go to the beach was provided. It got a little hot in the kitchen/living room when we cooked supper indoors, but the ceiling fans were great to have and sleeping was comfortable with the fans going. Sam was very helpful and friendly. I would recommend this place to anyone.

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

Beautiful Views

Guest: Bob and Jo (Fayetteville, Georgia)
Date of Stay: 05/05/10 Review Submitted: 05/24/10

Aloha Sam, We loved the time spent at your lovely home overlooking the bay. The landscaping was beautiful and the wrap-a-round lanai was great for watching the spinner dolphins and sunsets. The location was a perfect base for exploring the island and convenient for snorkeling and kayaking. We appreciated your knowledge of the island and the use of the kayak. Mahalo Bob and Jo

Owner response:Thanks, Bob and Jo! It was a pleasure having you! Aloha, Sam

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

A great "Get-a-Way"

Guest: Greg and Elaine (Limington, Maine USA)
Date of Stay: 04/01/10 Review Submitted: 05/18/10

This property is located in a really nice neighborhood, and is just a short walk to a black pebble beach.We enjoyed eating on the lanai, watching whales and dolphins swim by. Little gecko's also were fun to watch.This appartment was very clean and spacious. Sam was very friendly and willing to help, and has a neat "muscle"car in the garage.If you are looking for a quiet place to stay, and want to be away from the big town life, you might want to consider staying here.Great Kona Coffee is also grown and processed near by.The price is right, and so is the vacation property..............

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

Guest: Tyrrell & Jeff (Menlo Park, CA)
Date of Stay: 01/06/10 Review Submitted: 01/06/10

Tucked into the lush volcanic hillside with spectacular views of whales and breathtaking sunsets- a comfortable respite awaited each evening. We enjoyed the seclusion and quiet nights that were interrupted only by the rush of spouting whales, Sam is wonderfully kind sharing not only his kayaks and gear but his knowledge & experiences of Hawaii. We felt that we were far enough away from the touristy hustle and bustle and yet a 15+ minute drive from groceries, Captain Cook, and our favorite- Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park.

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/09 Review Submitted: 08/01/09

We very much enjoyed the amazing view from the large lanai of this very clean and quiet apartment. The owner very generously lends his kayaks and tanks and weights for diving. We were delighted the house was 2 or 3 munutes walk from the beach. The reef off the beach was great for scuba and snorkeling (probably less so when the ocean is rougher.) This is the perfect away from it all place!

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/05/09 Review Submitted: 07/05/09

Perfect peace undisturbed by sounds of trains, planes or automobiles was what we found here. We spent hours on the lanai enjoying the sound of waves, bird song, the scent of frangipani, the antics of the geckos, and the sunsets. On the days when we chose to be more active, we found great snorkelling, hiking and kayaking nearby. Volcanoes National Park is a longer drive through charming, sleepy little plantation villages. Sam has made the apartment extremely comfortable and keeps it in excellent order. THis is a lovely place from which to explore the Kona Coast - thank you Sam!

Recommended for:

Guest: Olivia and Erik (-)
Date of Stay: 07/05/09 Review Submitted: 07/05/09

We enjoyed the stay at Sam`s place a lot and spend almost all mornings and evenings on the lanai with the scenic ocean view. Beautiful snorkeling and diving was easy accessible and we even went out for a short kayak-tour. Sam was very kind and helpful and we would definitely stay at his place again! Cheers Olivia and Erik

Recommended for:

Guest: Ruff
Date of Stay: 04/16/09 Review Submitted: 04/15/09

Aloha Sam, Thanks again for letting us use your rental unit. We have really enjoyed our time here and staying at Divers Paradise Cove was a big part of that. Your place is so peaceful and calm and we really enjoyed our time on the lanai watching the wildlife. We saw birds, mongoose and even a whale. The entire vacation has been a blast with the extra pleasure of being able to spend some time with our son. Once again, thanks for everything. Mahalo, Tom & Dawn

Recommended for:

Guest: Cary & Karen
Date of Stay: 02/08/09 Review Submitted: 02/07/09

Sitting on the verandah of Sam's Place, the rest of the world seems to have temporarily evaporated as your eyes rest on the ocean trying to spot a wandering whale. Tucked onto the hillside, Sam has a great little apartment ... just perfect for two. The kitchen is well-equipped, the living room is comfy, there's two showers, there's a couple of TVs to keep you entertained... what more could you need? Ah, perhaps a store and a restaurant. Those are about 20 minutes away on a picturesque road... which is fine, because you see, we were desperately seeking seclusion. And found it at Sam's. If you'd like to know any more thoughts from us, please contact the booking agent who will send your queries on. Cheers, Cary and Karen

Recommended for:

Guest: Cary Evarts (Majuro Marshall Islands)
Date of Stay: 02/06/09 Review Submitted: 02/06/09

My wife, Karen, and I just spent a week at Sam's Place. And what a week it was: Watching whales wander past in the afternoon, hearing them splash and blow at night; enjoying lounging on the verandah catching some rays while reading pulp fiction; lying in bed at sunrise watching the view materialize... The apartment is just the right size for a couple and well laid out. If you're desperately seeking seclusion, with supermarkets and restaurants 20 minutes away, Sam's is the place for your vacation. (And, no, nobody paid me to write this rave...) If you'd like more impressions, send a query to the booking agent. Cheers, Cary and Karen

Recommended for:

Guest: Michael14 (Monterey, CA)
Date of Stay: 11/27/07 Review Submitted: 11/27/07

We loved the place! It was nice and quiet and there was a great view out of every window. You can see the ocean from your bed! There was everything we needed and more--stuff in the kitchen for making snacks and, of course, Kona coffee, not to mention all the gear for kayaking, diving etc. I definitely would stay here again. It was exactly what we are looking for and there was definitely room for a few more people there (it was just the two of us).

Recommended for: