My husband and I spent three nights in the Ocean Vista Suite in early September. Banyan Tree is a neat place but a little unorthodox for our typical vacation lodging. The accommodations were good and what we expected, with a bonus of beautiful fruit provided at check in. There is no A/C (which was typical in Hawaii), but there are a few fans and a nice breeze blows through the house, which is at about 1500 feet of elevation. The bed was comfortable and the room was a nice size. Drawbacks to the room were a small shower with finicky water temperature and that the kitchen and bathroom share the same sink. We didn't mind because we weren't preparing major meals, but if you're doing a lot of cooking it might be off putting to wash your dishes next to the toilet.

On site we enjoyed the beautiful property teeming with fruit trees and flowers. We also took advantage of the massage services with Maggie, which we enjoyed. The pool and hot tub looked inviting but we didn't have a chance to use them. Snorkel equipment and beach chairs to borrow were a plus.

A few quirks about Banyan Tree that we either missed in the posting or didn't learn until we got there. First, the house is in a lovely neighborhood, so to ease traffic they ask that you park off site on a nearby road. It's not a far walk, but a little unusual. Also, it's clothes optional after dark. The place is big enough that we never saw the other guests, but it's something to be aware of if it bothers you. Finally, check out time is pretty firm at 10:00 a.m., and that means out of the room and off the property. Our flight left late at night so we were not able to enjoy the property on our last day (we didn't ask, but there's a sign posted so we felt it was a hard line.)

The staff was great to work with and communicated before and throughout our visit. If you're looking for an affordable place to stay that's away from the downtown/hotel area of Kona, Banyan Tree is a great option that's a short drive away.