First off, this property is nowhere near the map indicator on VRBO. I was hoping for a place with easy access to Volcanos NP and Hilo, but this is down on the coast, 15 minutes away from... well, everything. I thought we were booking a secluded cottage up in the hills, but this is just a house in a neighborhood.
I sure wish I had looked closer at the amenities, because the lack of air conditioning was difficult to manage in June. You can open up the house a lot, but it only does so much.
Those were the biggest challenges, but unfortunately the list doesn't stop there. For one, it's a noisy neighborhood... lots of chickens and dogs, loud at all hours. Big problem with open windows at night. There are also a lot of animals/bugs inside the house -- some cute, some not. What's really wild are the grounds. It could be gorgeous, but the landscaping is totally neglected, and it's pretty unsightly. That's a common theme inside the house as well. The furnishings are really old; strangely for all the space there is a shortage of comfortable seating; the provisions (towels, kitchen stuff, etc.) are adequate but not plentiful by any means.
There are some positive points. It's a big house; lots of room. The rustic charm may appeal to some; it's definitely not a resort experience. The outdoor picnic table is great, and to my surprise we had hardly any mosquitos.
All told, it could be great, but needs a lot of work.
