Vacation Rentals by Owner

Not what we expected

Guest: Stacy (Wenatchee, WA)
Date of Stay: 12/26/11 Review Submitted: 01/04/12

We just returned from 8 nights at the condo and it did not live up to any of the reviews that we read. It has the potential to be a very nice place but needs a lot of maintenance. To begin, there were ants all through the house upstairs and down stairs- you even had to check your bed each night. The bedding and towels are all worn out- we had to wash extra bedding for the sofa bed because it was all piled on the floor in a closet. In addition the sofa bed was completely broken and the mattress was at a 45 degree angle. There is not a big screen tv in the master- it s smaller then a laptop screen. The whole outside kitchen area was very dirty- we were scared to use the grill. The dishwasher had to be run at least twice to get the dishes clean. The carpets are worn out and stained and there are marks on many of the walls. The list goes on and on of things that need to be fixed. If the condo were maintained to the level it said it was then I am sure it would be a very nice place to stay, but as it is right now it really needs some help. We would return to the area and the complex but not to this unit.

Owner response:OWNERS BEWARE! We have been renting our Golf Villa since November, 2005 and have met some wonderful guests we consider friends over the years. Many have been repeat (and "three-peat") visitors. When we received this unfavorable review, naturally we were dismayed. We called and emailed our guest immediately to apologize and address her concerns as we were stunned by her comments. We offered her a free three night credit on her next visit. Then, the next day, we heard from our housekeeper. She has been our caretaker and licensed manager for many years as well as many other units in the complex. She categorically denied the items in this review and assured us that the condo was prepared and set for these guests with great care as always and the condition of the unit was on par with the other units she services. However, When she returned to clean after their departure, she told us that the unit was left in "unreasonable disarray" as if a larger than allowed party may have occupied the unit. For this, she had to charge nearly double her average cleaning fee. Additionally, the upstairs sofa sleeper had been broken. She had thought that perhaps the damage to the bed was from jumping or "rough-housing." We have received no less than sixteen(16) 5 star positive rating reviews on our property. The guest who wrote this review never once contacted us by phone or email or sent a photo of her concerns. Had she taken a moment to do so, any and all issues could have and would have been swiftly addressed. Our written instructions and verbal conversations while booking a valued guest has always strongly encouraged them to call us anytime if they have a question, need or concern. The guests that stayed previous and checked out the day before (Dec 25) emailed a note that they enjoyed the unit and they have already made a deposit for a return visit to our condo next December. For these reasons, we are going to give the benefit of the doubt to our trusted housekeeper that the unit was in good condition and this review may be a way to cover the abuse to our home and damage to property. This guest has indicated she would return to the complex so we alerted our owner community to proceed booking this guest with great caution.

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Highly Recommend!!!!!!!

Guest: Robert (Los Angeles)
Date of Stay: 12/08/11 Review Submitted: 01/07/12

We just got back from our winter break and really enjoyed Scott & April’s villa! What a beautiful view from the back of the place and the pool was nice and close! We needed a crib and Scott arranged it so it was waiting when we arrived. It was great to catch some NFL on the big flat screen and the kids enjoyed their own TV in the guest room. We all enjoyed all the beach chairs and toys too! Even though we got a little rain one evening we still cooked on the outdoor grill and stayed dry under the covered patio. Thanks so much, we hope to come back and stay next winter!!

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

Beautiful in Every Way!!

Guest: Kim Milliken (Dayville, CT)
Date of Stay: 01/01/11 Review Submitted: 01/21/11

April & Scott - Thank you for allowing us to use your beautiful home in paradise! Our stay was for 7 nights beginning January 1, 2011. What an amazing place. It was so spacious and included everything we needed for the perfect Hawaiian vacation. The view from both lanai's was amazing. We explored the private beach, swam in the pool, sipped tropical drinks at the beach bar and grilled several times on the lanai. It was so hard to leave and we hope to return again to your beautiful oasis. Thank you again!! Kim & Gary Milliken

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

ABSOLUTLY GORGEOUS!!

Guest: Candie (Oahu)
Date of Stay: 08/30/10 Review Submitted: 09/06/10

Aloha Scott & April, Thank you so much for allowing us to stay at your beautiful home,we feel truely blessed to have had spend our anniversary,birthday and a relaxing vacation here at Maunalani. the pool, beach club,and the foodland was so convenient.But most of all the awesome sunsets out on the patio, it was just breathtaking!! Thank you so much!!! Me Ke Aloha Pumehana, Stanley & Candis Castro

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Fantastic & Breathtaking Property

Guest: Triathlon Fun (Colorado Springs)
Date of Stay: 03/22/10 Review Submitted: 04/01/10

Thanks to Scott and April for allowing us the privilege of enjoying the Mauna Lani condo. Every step in the process was simple and user friendly. The experience only got better as we settled in to enjoy our stay. The beach, the restaurants, the golf, the shops and all the special reasons for being on the Big Island were somehow better in our home away from home. Our family simply can't wait to return. Thanks so much!

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

Guest: Dave Boehmer (Gilbert, AZ)
Date of Stay: 11/03/09 Review Submitted: 11/03/09

My family and I (and Grandpa) want to thank Scott and April for a wonderful Big Island vacation while staying at their Mauna Lani Condo. The property was beautiful, well maintained and fully equipped. It was very comfortable and quiet in a beautifully landscaped tropical setting. Access to the private resort beach was the crown jewel - private entrance and parking at this beautiful, uncroweded beach which had shaded loungers was perfect for kids and adults alike! Excellent snorkling right there also as well as access to petroglyph trails and ancient fish ponds made for some great activities when we weren't treking around the island. Scuba there or at many of the shore-entry sites near by. Scott and April were excellent to work with, proactive in communications and were a great help with advise and tips since it was our first time to this island - a true pleasure to deal with them - thanks!!!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/01/09 Review Submitted: 03/17/09

We just spent a week in Scott and April's villa and found it to be absolutely perfect! It slept 8 of us comfortably and our four kids found plenty to do, either in the pool or kicking a soccer ball on the back grass. The view of Mauna Kea is stunning and we never tired of sitting on the lanai, watching it. The beaches in the area are numerous and diverse. The Beach Club was a treat for a day! The villa is the perfect distance for a walk to Starbucks in the early morning! The villa is so beautifully appointed, we could not imagine staying anywhere else!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/01/09 Review Submitted: 01/04/09

We spent several wonderful days here with family. The condo is extremely well kept, clean, convenient and the owners are a pleasure to deal with. The beautiful setting and many amenities made this one of our best vacation is Hawaii. We will miss this place immensely.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/01/08 Review Submitted: 07/29/08

Dear Scott and April: We had a fantastic vacation in Mauna Lani while staying at your beautiful condo. We really enjoyed the quiet, peaceful atmosphere and beautiful surroundings. Everything worked perfectly and the accommodations were faultless. Thank you so much for your help. Best Regards, Bill and Akemi Gardner

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Dave Burke (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 09/01/07 Review Submitted: 09/01/07

I stayed with a few friends for 11 days in late July of 2007. I had never booked through VRBO, but Scott the owner of the property made it really simple. The condo is absolutely amazing and easily sleeps 6. The pictures do not give it justice.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Ryan M. (Not Specified)
Date of Stay: 03/01/07 Review Submitted: 03/09/07

We had a fantastic 5 night stay here with our family and two sets of grandparents. There was plenty of room for our larger group. The kids loved the pool, just a minute walk away. Everyone loved the nearby 49 Black Sand Beach. We are amazed that we could enjoy just an exclusive beach. (There are $6,000,000 lots there for sale, if you are interested!) We were an easy drive (5-10 minutes max) away from shopping and dolphins at Waikoloa, resort beaches and other amenities, body boarding (boards included with the rental!) at Hapuna Beach, and sunsets at A Bay. After seeing lots of breaching whales from the Mauna Lani beach, we got to see them up close on a whale watching trip that left from the Mauna Lani Beach Club down the street. And like others have mentioned, there is no beating watching the sun come up over the golf course (and over Mauna Kea) from the lanai. Thanks for a great week! I didn't think about work once. Wish we could have stayed longer.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Terri & John (Littleton, Colorado)
Date of Stay: 12/01/06 Review Submitted: 12/06/06

Wonderful place, nicely furnished, loved the 42" flat screen. We SO enjoyed everything about it but the favorite was mornings on the patio with a cup of coffee, watching the sun rise over the mountain with all the changing colors on the golf course—quite stunning! Wish I was there right now.....

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Aileen & Bill (Tacoma WA)
Date of Stay: 12/01/06 Review Submitted: 12/03/06

We just spent Thanksgiving 2006 at this beautiful condo, and loved every minute of our time there. The condo is in a lovely setting, very quiet and relaxing ~ with beautiful views of the golf course & surroundings. Scott & April have furnished, decorated, and supplied any item you may need. We loved our time at Mauna Lani Golf Villa, and we'll be back. Meanwhile, we're sharing this lovely property information with friends & family. Mahalo! Aileen & Bill

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Rick and Eve Black (Colorado)
Date of Stay: 10/01/06 Review Submitted: 10/06/06

This is one very excited family!!!! Scott and Aprils larger golf villa is done, and we have already booked our 2 weeks. We stayed in their Waikoloa 2bdrm condo last year and had a wonderful time. The service we recieved was excellent and the place was perfect. So when Scott said they were building a larger villa in Mauna Lani, we jumped at the chance to take the whole family, which now boasts a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law and 2 grandchildren and of course we always bring Grandma. Scott and April have kept us informed of the progress and sent up to date pictures. It looks awesome and it is even in Mauna Lani, one of the nicest areas on the Kohala coast. We have been visiting the big island every year for the past 10 years and with the quality of service, the perfect accommodations and the unbeatable price, we can't imagine renting from anyone but Scott and April....Thanks guys!

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