My partner and I spent 5 days on The Big Island during an impromptu trip to Kailua-Kona and Captain Cook and we were so, so lucky to have the Bali Cottage booked during our stay. Firstly, the location of Karen's Bali Cottage could not be better. It is essentially a one-minute walk down the road to Manini Beach, which doesn't get too busy—bring sandals or water shoes to protect yourself from the volcanic rock—and doubles as a quaint picnic spot. Every day, we drove up 15 minutes up the hill to grab breakfast/coffee at spots like Da Kine Coffee or The Coffee Shack. Each night, we drove 35 minutes into Kailua-Kona for dinner. The cottage was perfectly "far enough" outside the main city to be a peaceful little getaway, while being "close enough" to be completely accessible. As for the cottage itself: You could not ask for a kinder, more communicative Airbnb host. Karen is just the best; we loved getting the chance to chat with her about her travels and her experiences owning property in Hawaii. The cottage is something you'll find indescribable; photos don't do it justice and you'll find yourself wishing you could show it to your friends & family in person. The outdoor shower was our favorite part: The water temperature was perfect, the rain head had great pressure, and the occasional gecko or local bird hanging out nearby made it really surreal. Our only piece of advice for future guests would be to bring some bug spray if you're susceptible to bites. The bed is enclosed by effective mosquito netting, but a handful of bugs made it in while we were sleeping and we both got a few bites during our stay. It's the nature of an indoor/outdoor setting, and with some preparation, well worth the trade-off. We would both highly recommend the Bali Cottage as a once-in-a-lifetime experience staying on The Big Island.