My wife and I made our reservation months and months ago, planning to "get away from it all" over the Christmas holiday. Being from Seattle, we were looking forward to some sunshine during what is typically a very cold December. It was wonderful to spend several days under the Kona sunshine! The Bali Cottage, while rustic was just as pictured. It was such a treat to shower and cook meals out of doors. It was like camping but with a real bed! I'm a mosquito magnet and even with repellent on I was definitely under attack but it was all part of the experience. The netting helped at night, however the creaking of the roof against the tree (which is literally IN the cottage) kept me awake most nights. When the wind blows, it definitely sounds like you're on a sailboat (but without the seasickness). Light sleepers: bring earplugs or use ear buds. I used mine along with a meditation app and it helped a lot.

Karen and Ron weren't around much as they were with family up the coast (it was Christmas, after all!) but we weren't in need of anything. We were shown where the market was, given tips on where to get a great massage and where to eat. We never lacked anything. There was even a lovely decorated and lit Christmas tree on the porch for us to enjoy every evening! The cat, Purry, was very sweet and friendly and a welcome visitor. We even had our first snorkeling experience and didn't have to rent gear or boogie boards as they had extra stuff there for our use! (Bring your own tropical water shoes, though; you'll need 'em for exploring the beaches!)

We really enjoyed our stay at the Bali Cottage! We knew we were in for a rustic experience and it didn't disappoint. If you require maid service with fresh towels and sheets every day, you might want to stay at one of the resorts. If you're down for a real "local" experience complete with neighborhood dogs, a braying donkey and a sweet little gecko, stay at the cottage. The Big Island really came to life for us and we credit it to the fact that we were in Kealakekua Bay living like the locals. We had a simply awesome time.