The interior of the condo was as described in the listing, there were no surprises. The ocean is literally right outside your livingroom windows (which are floor to ceiling). Even before getting up the surfers are catching waves and are so entertaining to watch. The air-conditioning was always appreciated especially after a warm day at the beach. The kitchen cupboards are well stocked and there's a large selection of spices and condiments left in the fridge, ie: catchup, mustard, mayo. Hairdryer, curling iron, clothes iron are also available and the stackable washer and dryer are a dream to use.There is snorkel equipment, floaties for the little ones, cooler on wheels and a beach wagon to put all your chairs and umbrellas in (much easier than carrying).The pool area is lovely with tables and chairs plus the lounge chairs for sunning. The only suggestion I might have for the owner is to have a couple of more comfortable bar stools for the lanai, which is very narrow but great for your morning coffee or your late night drink. There is a very small patch of sand next to the condo where the surfers enter the water but is very rocky, no swimming there. The nearest beach was Magic Sands Beach which is nice for snorkeling, boogie boarding and bopping in the ocean. Our stay was absolutely delightful and the use of a car was a real bonus. I already miss the sound of the crashing waves.
Communication was direct and precise! We had no problems whatsoever. The wall to floor windows bring the ocean right to you, sound of surf was so calming. We would watch the surfers at 5 am and all day long. The pool was temperature perfect and very clean. The spa was hot and kept clean. We walked to the shops nearby and enjoyed great ice cream there. You are going to love it here.
This property is perfect! The location is ideal. Check in was a breeze and the car was a huge bonus. We would definitely come back and stay again. Thank you!!
Master bedroom great view but bathroom not really private. 2nd bedroom stuffy and very soft beds. Fantastic kitchen and view from living room. Balcony a little small but ok. Location was great. Needs a fan in 2nd bathroom. Could never dry off, so very hot in there. We did not use the free car but for some that would be the best perk of all. Also, kitchen came with leftover food and spices and stuff which was awesome. We left water and snacks. Hate it when people throw all that away. Good time but with a little work on the place and updating a little would be perfect but was still very good!
Beautiful view of the ocean and sunsets! Could hear the waves crashing all night which was so amazing. Extra bonus that the condo came with a car to use. Russ was super easy to get ahold of and also very responsive. Would definitely stay here again!
Our group consisted of four adults from Wisconsin. The view out of the living room was amazing! You seriously can’t get any closer to the ocean without being in it. We spotted whales 4 different days of our stay! It was an amazing sight to see and free for the viewing. The surfers are out to entertain you at first light and continue on until dusk.Having use of a car was a true blessing and we definitely made use of it almost daily.If I were to vacation here again in Kona this would be my pick. I do wish there had been different chairs and a few more on the lanai. Also, a pizza cutter and casserole dish would’ve been helpful. We used the pool every day that we weren’t busy seeing the sights. It was never busy and most often we were the only ones using it. There are 4 beach towels available in the bathroom off the main bedroom to use. Beach chairs also.
You cannot get more 'ocean front' than this! This condo is unbelievable. Aside from the mind boggling view, this unit has a great floor plan, quality appliances, was immaculate, quiet and very comfortable. Russ is the most considerate host I have ever come across. He provided us with a detailed information sheet filled with restaurant/beach/activities recommendations. I recommend 10/10 and cannot wait to return.
Really fantastic view from the wall of windows facing the ocean! Easy to access, great location in Kona town. Bonus of having access to a car for our entire stay. Would highly recommend!
Our stay was absolutely perfect. Location was great - close enough to the shops and restaurants but not right in the thick of it so the condo is pure peace. The beds were very comfy and our family appreciated the 2 full baths and the full size laundry communication with the host was prompt we appreciated his list of recommendations. It was a great visit
Christiana G.
Dec 29, 2024
Daily view of surfers. Convenient location; close to town and beaches. Worked great for a family of 4. We loved every minute of our stay.
Great support from Russ the owner. He sent out information on the stay and events to do on the island. The best part of the trip was having a car that came with the rental. Clean and beautiful Condo. Would definitely reccomend to others. Can't wait to do it again.
Location is perfect. Nearby diving with dolphins was a highlight. Well stocked pantry
I don’t really know how to describe our stay besides wonderful. Our host was so helpful and did everything he could to make things easy. His property was gorgeous and the view was spectacular. We loved watching the surfers. He had everything you could think of including snorkel gear and chairs. We used the water cooler a ton. The car was a bonus that we learned to be the most valuable and easy thing ever. Thanks so much.
While planning this trip, my husband kept saying...Can you hear the waves from the condo? Needless to say, YOU CAN HEAR THE WAVES!!! Even with the doors and windows closed, you can hear the waves crashing on the beach!!!
The condo is very well-equipped. We went to the grocery store the first day and bought a few things for breakfast and it was great to get up in the morning, make breakfast and sit at the table watching the surfers or cruise ships go by.
Having the washer/dryer was a big plus for us because we were going to Honolulu after Kona for a few more days and this allowed us to pack fewer clothes for the rest of our trip.
Having the use of a car was such a bonus. Location of the condo is great for shopping/dining.
Our host, Russ was very responsive to any questions we may have had about anything.
To us, the only thing we wish that would have been better was the lanai. It was smaller than we had hoped for but of course, there's nothing that the owner could do about that. But sitting on the sofa looking out of the floor to ceiling windows made up for the small lanai.
Overall, it was a wonderful stay in Kona. Aloha to Hawaii for now. Mahalo Russ for sharing this wonderful place!
We absolutely LOVED our stay at this Banyan Tree condo. It was hard to leave after a week of waking up to the ocean right outside our window. The surfers and boats were so close and fun to watch. The condo has a nice layout and provided plenty of room for our family of 4 which included 2 teenagers. We cooked several meals in the kitchen and it had plenty of everything we needed. The large washer and dryer made it easy to cleanup at the end of each day. The car was convenient and definitely an added perk! I would absolutely stay at this condo again. It has been my favorite so far!
Been going to the Big Island for years and would definitely recommend this condo. The condo was clean and welcoming. We watched whales from the condo and the sunset where amazing
This place was a fantastic property to stay. You couldn’t be closer to the water. The sounds of the oceans waves were constant and peaceful. Russ was a fantastic host. He was very responsive, flexible, and attentive to his guests. His property is well taken care of. Not to mention, rental cars in Hawaii can be expensive, if he allows you to rent his, do it. It will save you time and money. Highly recommend this property to anyone.
This was a great experience.
Communication with Russ was great. Initially there were no pictures of the bathrooms and he promptly sent some. (The bathrooms are great btw.) He also hooked us up with a reliable ride from the airport.
Having the car at the place saved us a lot of time. Last year we spend two hours at Thrifty rent a car to get our vehicle. Not this time :-)
We enjoyed the sound of the surf.
One of the best Poke places in town is walking distance from the condo and there is a convenience store just across the street.
We would certainly stay at the Banyan Tree again.
We loved our stay and the views are exactly what we look for on vacation. The condo was comfortable and clean with excellent appliances. The owner is very responsive and helpful. We are looking forward to staying here again in the future.
You cannot get closer to the ocean! An astounding view and the mesmerizing sound of the ocean 24/7. You can look into the ocean and see the yellow tangs feeding on the rocks below. The condo is conveniently located near lots of restaurants, shopping, beaches and activities. It was very quiet despite being right off of a major road. Don’t missing sitting on a chaise lounge by the pool looking north up the coast line.
This unit is newly remodeled and exceptionally clean. The kitchen is well stocked with items you will actually use - for example, Tupperware for leftovers and ice packs for lunch on the road. The living room furniture is very comfortable for staring into the ocean or watching TV. The beds are also comfortable with foam toppers and choice of pillows. There are fans and AC in every room so it was never stale or sticky. We were visiting with two teenagers and appreciated the collection of games, snorkel gear and boogie boards. The inclusion of the car was over the top - it was amazing to avoid the hassle of a car rental.
Our host, Russ, was immediately responsive and gracious when we accidentally locked ourselves out on the first day! Before arriving, Russ gave us a list of fantastic suggestions for food and activities. We loved them all!
We plan to book again later this year!
