Wow, what a wonderful place to stay on Oahu. While I wouldn’t call myself a local, I spent many years as a kid on Oahu and I have to say that the Lanikai Plumeria Beach Cottage exceeded my expectations. The location seriously cannot be better. It’s an easy two-block walk to Lanikai Beach, which is one of the most beautiful and peaceful beaches in Hawaii. I started most of my days with a quick dip at Lanikai. Kailua Beach Park is a 30 min walk away.
The parking spot that comes along with the Cottage may alone be worth much of the cost as public parking near Kailua and Lanikai beaches is hard to come by. I was glad to have a rental car to make a 10-15 min drive into the city of Kailua, which is a lovely residential town with many great shops and restaurants.
The Cottage itself is clean and full of the comforts of home. Looked to be recently remodeled. I almost didn’t need to go out to eat because the kitchen is so well equipped. No stovetop but the toaster oven, coffee maker, microwave and full sized refrigerator met most of my daily needs. The bathroom and shower are clean and roomy. I loved all the wall hooks to dry out swimsuits and towels. I also enjoyed the air conditioning periodically during the day, then opened up the windows for cross-breezes at night. I visited over the Christmas holiday and the cottage was charmingly decorated with outside holiday lights.
Kate is a gracious host and made me feel quite welcomed. She’s prompt with communication, and clear and fair with her expectations. For example, make sure to hose off the sand and take off your shoes before entering the house, which is what every kid in Hawaii is taught to do. I appreciated the beach equipment she supplied: chairs, umbrellas, snorkeling gear. She and her husband were great with recommendations on local restaurants. I hope to be able to return to visit soon. Mahalo and thank you to Kate for a delightful stay.