We could not have asked for a better experience or location for our week long trip to Hawaii. I mean, seriously- the location is PERFECT!!! Beach access, views that one dreams of when staying in Hawaii, proximity to Kona going north, local restaurants and groceries going south and an overall great central point to explore the island itself!
We opted to not pay the additional fees for air conditioning. We would open all windows and there were MANY fans provided in the condo to keep the air moving. The end of the warm June and July days would still be humid and uncomfortable, so the pool came in VERY handy. If we had to do it again, we might reconsider paying the additional fee for AC.
I was pleasantly surprised by all that Paul provided for our stay! There is a great washer and dryer in the unit, but he also provided detergent and Spray and Wash (which has never been the case in previous Air B&Bs for us!) Besides basic cooking spices he also provided plenty of bath soap, tons of towels, 2 boogie boards, 5 beach towels, a couple sets of snorkeling equipment, beach shoes in a few different sizes (which are essential for beaches on the Big Island), aloe and lotion for sun burns and plenty of paper towels, bath tissue, dish soap, etc to get through the week, and more!
The only thing that we had to trouble shoot was accessing hot water in the showers. This could be because there were renovations in a neighboring condo or due to the fact that we are on the dry side of the island, so perhaps water is more scarce (resulting in less water pressure making it take longer to get the hot water rolling). However, with the lower water pressure and some figuring out of the shower fixtures, it would take quite some time running the water before we could get it warm enough to shower. Paul gave us some suggestions that helped, but that was really the only issue we had to troubleshoot.
The beds and pillows were extremely comfortable! Four people can sleep very comfortably! We have three teenagers, so the third child slept in the living room. The couch is made from bamboo, so it's probably best suited for a smaller person or child who is shorter than the couch- but as a family of 5 we are always grateful to find a space that will accommodate all of us.
If I could offer any suggestions to those traveling I would suggest that one of your first purchases on the island would be bug spray. If you're not swimming in the pool, but are hanging out pool side, you will need it (as well as other places on the island). We are mosquito magnets, so even with spray we returned home with many itchy reminders of our time spent on the island. 😉 But it was SOOO worth it!!!
I hope these suggestions help you in planning and preparing for your trip! If and when we return, I know EXACTLY where I would want to stay! Thank you Paul for an amazing experience!!!