The short version:
We absolutely LOVE this place and cannot thank Trina and Matt enough for their thoughtfulness, and intentionality and hospitality. Trina is probably the best Airbnb host any of us has EVER experienced. Above and beyond. We WILL be back.
The long version:
We came to Honolulu on an end-of-summer Labor Day weekend girls' trip. Between us, we've traveled everywhere - Greece, Bali, Peru, Mexico, Vietnam, Singapore, Morroco etc. We are seasoned and discerning travelers. We follow the 4c's when looking for a place: clean, cute, comfortable, and close to various attractions. We want to feel safe and have a good time. I wish we could say we aren't picky but we have been around and seen some things so we are. With that said:
This Airbnb FAR exceeded our expectations in every single way. First, the space is incredibly clean and it looks exactly like the pictures. Everything is thoughtfully laid out and beautifully decorated. There are theme-specific custom labels so things were easy to find throughout the unit. It has a light pleasant smell. Just all things you want to see after a long flight across the Pacific ocean.
Trina and Matt generously provided all the things needed for a comfortable stay including beach stuff! We used their trolly to cart the provided umbrella and towels and flippers and snorkel gear to the beach which is approximately 2 blocks away. We had planned on renting all of those things but it was readily accessible in the unit. Almost everything we wanted to see was 2 blocks away. We did rent a car because we wanted to see Waikiki and Ko'Olina (about 40 minutes away) but we found street parking pretty easy the first two nights and then on the holiday we found it easier to park in a nearby hotel parking garage. However, if we were staying in Waikiki we wouldn't have needed a car at all. EVERYTHING is a short walk away.
The unit is tucked away from a busy street in Waikiki. We thought it was going to be super loud. There is some noise but since the unit is on the second floor, once we closed the patio door the sound is pretty muted. We slept peacefully and comfortably in a king size bed, the roll-out cot, and the pull-out sofa. No one woke up with sore backs or necks and each sleeping space was comfortably spaced out. We definitely could have shared the bed though if we wanted - it's huge.
The AC works great. The kitchen is well stocked. The bathroom is cute and functional. And if we needed anything (we didn't need anything but did ask for a couple recs) Trina responded within minutes. I could go on forever about how great this Airbnb is. I've already shared the listing with other friends. Thank you so much, Trina and Matt for a memorable and comfortable stay.