This was our very first airbnb and it was a special one! The banyan tree sanctuary is like visiting a family member and a yoga retreat all in one. The sanctuary is a community with one large house and several small bungalows scattered over the property. There seem to be several permanent members who live there and a couple of volunteers who are there to learn about the vegan and yoga lifestyle. I spell this out because it's a unique community and you should review their website before going. Everything is exactly as advertised so make sure it's the right fit for you - and for their sake! Some helpful details.
- it's not on the beach but centrally located. It's 15 min from the airport and all Kona activities and water sports. Very easy to get to by car.
- at the same it's WONDERFULLY secluded. It's up in the mountains where it's cool, dark, and peaceful. It's quiet at all times and really lets you relax.
- Rae and the volunteers are extra friendly and nice. He communicated very thoroughly and responsively leading up to the visit and throughout. He was as available as we needed him or as removed as you wanted to be. Perfect balance.
- we stayed in the kahuna room which was nicely appointed and comfortable. It was one of the rooms in the main house. We had a private bathroom down the hall which was clean and just like your bathroom at home. I'd recommend a room in the main house or the dragon room to get private bathrooms. Some of the bungalows have shared bathrooms that require an outside walk so be careful.
- there's several large community areas including a kitchen that's very clean for a community kitchen. Every room has their designated fridge space and everything is labeled nicely.
Some heads up:
- there are designated quiet times (after 9), and it feels like people could hear any noise you make in your room, so be prepared for that.
- there was a lock on our door you could lock while u were sleeping but couldn't when u left. So we had to leave our valuables unattended while we were out. We believe his is consistent with the community's principles of trust etc and so we learned to let our worries go. Everything was of course fine, but something to be aware of.
OVERALL:
it was a wonderful stay at a remarkably unique community. Our only regret is that we didn't make more use of the facilities. Just make sure it's the right fit for you.