SPECIAL RATE THIS WEEK! Fantastic Waikoloa Vista Condo!

Here’s the scenario, booked this condo almost 6 months in advance mainly because if the central Waikoloa location and the price (under $300 for the busiest week of the year!). I was weary of the other reviews saying the AC is spotty, ice maker not working and washer/dryer being difficult, but pulled the trigger anyway, thinking they would all be fixed by December. Neither were!

So, literally 3 days prior to arrival, I get a call from the owner saying he is in the middle of replacing the AC and there’s a possibility it won’t be ready when I arrive! What? Why wait to get it fixed just before the busiest week of the year? Well, nothing I can do now as ALL other locations are booked.

Sure enough, arrived on the 24th and the repair guys we’re just leaving and informed us it will be ready in 2 days. Not to be dramatic, but it was HOT those two nights, really humid and stuffy. Needless to say, not much sleep on Christmas! We were partially compensated for the two nights, which was expected, but still considerate of the owner.

Another minor hassle is the owner takes a day or two to communicate with. All the security codes to the front door, pool gate, and the main entrance gate were wrong on VRBO. We had to piggyback on another car to get through the gate and got in the condo by the repairman. After a 6 hour flight, the last thing you want to deal with is being stuck outside the condo AND for it to be 85 degrees when you get in 

Other than the minor issues, the condo is fine. A bit dated in décor/tile/etc. but fine. As my wife said, it’s like a bachelor pad that’s not being taken care of. It would have been nice to have a Welcome Book, with an instruction sheet on the W/D, TV/Cable usage, Pool access, etc). Shouldn’t have to think about this stuff on vacation.

The condo has great potential, just needs a management company to take care of it. We would not book this condo again, to many better options around.

Pluses:

• Location is great. Close to the Hilton Waikoloa, Marriott and Lava Lava club.

• Roomy condo with nice terrace/lanai.

• Nice assortment of beach chairs/cooler/snorkel gear.

• Good price for the area.

Minuses:

• No instructions on W/D, TV, Internet, AC (need a welcome book with updated info).

• Small bugs in the kitchen, we had to store our food in the fridge or microwave.

• No immediate contact with owner.

• No AC for the first two days (I’m sure this is not a problem anymore).

We booked this place last minute after our first condo was a disaster and we had to leave. The owner, Bob, was really communicative and helpful as soon as I booked his place and made sure we were able to have a clean place to get into by the next day. Overall, the condo was really comfortable, spacious and enjoyable. We loved the views of the volcanoes, palm trees and gorgeous sunrises. The ocean view is just a small “peek a boo” view from the kitchen window. It’s a fairly short walk to the beach, which we enjoyed doing early AM and at sunset.

Unfortunately, the air conditioner was not working when we arrived and I tried calling and emailing Bob but I didn’t hear back until our second day there—we were basically sweating in the condo before it was fixed! We even spoke with the onsite condo officials but there was nothing they could do. As soon as Bob got my messages, he was able to get someone out same day and the good news is, the AC got fixed! The AC unit is very old, though, so hopefully he ensures this is not an ongoing problem for future guests. This is not a condo you’d want to be in without AC.

The condo is directly overlooking Waikoloa Beach Drive (a fairly busy in-and-out road), and with doors and windows open, there is a decent amount of street noise, but with doors/windows closed and AC on you can’t hear any street noise at all—and once the AC was fixed, that’s how we kept it so noise was not a problem and it was very quiet. The big glass sliding doors and windows allowed for great views even when everything was shut. If you’re worried about the street noise, honestly, it’s not that bad. I’ve dealt with much worse and this is bearable. But if you want totally quiet and doors open this place may not be your best bet.

The washer and dryer were a bit funky. The dryer especially was inconsistent with drying clothes and made an ongoing beeping sound while in use. Might be time for a fix or a new one? We didn’t use it that much so it wasn’t that big of deal but worth noting. Everything else was in good working condition and didn’t have any problems. Kitchen was well stocked; we cook a lot in places we stay and had no troubles here.

We loved the pool, it was very clean, beautiful and a salt water pool. Not too crowded at all. And Waikoloa area is easy access to a lot of amenities. It is a densely touristy area but hey it’s Hawaii.

Overall, we were very happy to have this place especially as a last minute booking! Thanks Bob!

The property was perfect for our trip with our teenage granddaughters. The location was the ideal place for access to the the shops and the beach. The condo provided everything we needed for a family vacation. The condo was large and spacious providing us with more than enough space. I enjoyed coffee every morning on the Kenai while the family slept. Then off to a beach using the provided equipment. Communication with Bob was great. We talked on the phone and texted several time leading up the trip and while there. This condo is certainly a wonderful place to stay and we are talking about renting there again next year

Good location. Quiet development. Nice condo, with plenty of room. The extra half bathroom a plus. Beautiful wrap around lanai. Beach equipment provided a nice extra. Nice pool and exercise facility. Enjoyed our stay! Thank you Robert!