Comments on: Why Staying in a Condo on a Hawaii Vacation is a Savvy Choice

By: Jenny

Jenny — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 04:49:14 +0000

I know this post is from 2008, but now taxes are 12.42%!

By: A Hidden Indian Paradise, Chinese Hutongs, An Hawaiian Condo Vacation and Green Travel | Travel Blissful

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 23:17:45 +0000

[...] Go Visit Hawaii, you can read an informative post on Why Staying in a Condo on a Hawaii Vacation is a Savvy Choice. Apart from the obvious reasons, privacy and more space, a condo stay allows you to pack lighter, [...]

By: Sheila

Sheila — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:46:00 +0000

Hi billso – thanks for your comment and insight!

I have to say the licensing thing is confusing for us visitors. I’ve contacted the various counties and organizations and very few people want to give a clear answer.

I’ve heard varying information about licenses. Here’s what I’ve been told:
- Condo’s located in large vacation type condo communities are usually not required to get licenses.
- Liscenses are mainly required for single family homes – either renting the entire home or rooms as in B&B’s
- The Big Island is basically unregulated at the moment.

Any additional authoritative source you could point us to would be much appreciated.

By: billso

billso — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:08:55 +0000

Great article! Always check to see if the vacation rental has an accommodation license. Many of the condo and apartment rentals that are listed on the web do not, and they offer various deals to "get around" Hawaii's laws, including 30 day leases. No accommodation license means no recourse for you, the renter, when something goes wrong.

By: Sheila

Sheila — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 01:58:28 +0000

@ Dave – thanks for clarifying that point about housekeeping service at ResortQuest.
@foxnomad – oh yes, just cooking your own breakfast can save a bundle, especially when most hotels have breakfast buffets that cost $20 to $35 per person!
@ Gudrun – thanks for sharing your experience. I can certainly see how staying in a condo would suit a family with children more so than staying in a hotel room.

By: Travel Rants Blog Carnival- Week Six

Travel Rants Blog Carnival- Week Six — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 18:03:33 +0000

[...] Go Visit Hawaii: Why Staying in a Condo on a Hawaii Vacation is a Savvy Choice [...]

By: Gudrun

Gudrun — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:42:17 +0000

I completely agree, condos are the way we prefer to travel. With two small kids, the extra space and the ability to cook our own meals is a fantastic benefit. Last time in Maui, since we were staying in a condo we could go to the best seafood store nearby and buy our own fish to cook dinner. It was wonderful and much less expensive than eating out! And, the washer/dryer combo with two kids is a necessity too – great post!

Cheers,

By: foxnomad

foxnomad — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:53:06 +0000

Great ideas, just cooking at home will save lots.

By: A Hidden Indian Paradise, Chinese Hutongs, An Hawaiian Condo Vacation and Green Travel « BLISSFUL TRAVEL

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:55:27 +0000

[...] followed by a walk on your own. At Go Visit Hawaii, you can read an informative post on Why Staying in a Condo on a Hawaii Vacation is a Savvy Choice. Apart from the obvious reasons, privacy and more space, a condo stay allows you to pack [...]

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:57:10 +0000

“You won’t have daily maid service to make your bed or give you fresh towels.”

ResortQuest Hawaii provides this service. It’s the same type of service you would expect at a hotel.

Disclosure: I work at ResortQuest Hawaii.

By: Sheila

Sheila — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 20:15:10 +0000

Hi David – $105 per night with a nice view and location in Maui is an awesome find. Especially considering that the last hotel room stats indicated that the average room rate in Maui was $269 per night!!
I think I could put up with some bamboo stencils for a rate of $105.

By: David

David — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:22:43 +0000

I guess I’ll add my 2 cents. We just spent 3 weeks in a condo on Maui. The condo has a nice view and is in a location we like. The owner had remodeled since our last stay in the unit so we were looking forward to a upgraded unit. Let’s just say that their idea of remodeled and ours differ. (see time warp comment above and add bamboo stencils to the walls)

But then again it does have a nice view and the price is right. $105 per night

David

By: Sheila

Sheila — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:36:14 +0000

Oh my goodness, Angie. I read your balanced review of that house. The infestation in the dishwasher would have been enough to drive me crazy. I’ve been to Hawaii enough to know that it’s not unusual to see those kind of “friends” even in 5 star hotels, but that dishwasher sounded like a nightmare! You might want to consider writing a review on TripAdviosor as well. Thanks again for sharing your experiences.

By: Angie

Angie — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:05:17 +0000

We usually have those experiences with the interesting decor when we’re booking a package deal and stay at the Mahana on Maui. The ones that Pleasant Holidays books doesn’t have a particular standard they make the owners keep up with or anything but the views are so good that we don’t mind the wormhole we walk into. One said it had just been “remodeled” and apparently their idea of remodeled was new shag carpeting. LOL

We’ll look through TripHomes.com or HomeandAway.com as well as VRBO. Sometimes Rentalo.com too. The one thing I don’t care for is when they have guest books on those b/c the owners will censor less than favorable reviews. On this one, all I said was that for $450/nt I thought that the pool needed a heater at a higher elevation and I didn’t think
the toilet paper should be limited but the rest was complimentary when there were other issues. The owner refused to publish it and I didn’t think that was right for future renters so I did an objective review on my blog.

http://truealoha.com/blog/2007/08/08/big-island-vacation-rental-nanahounua-retreat/

Thank God for blogs where you can be honest! I’m not trying to take business away from anyone, I just know I would’ve liked to have known those things going in. But live and learn I guess.

Angie

By: Sheila

Sheila — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:55:44 +0000

Hi Christian – Turtle Bay is a really nice area. I just wrote about Kihei being Maui’s best kept secret and I’d say that Turtle Bay might be Oahu’s equivalent. I think it’s just gorgeous there. What’s the latest on Turtle Bay Hotel? I read that the state government is considering buying it. I’d really hate to see it go away from being a hotel.

By: Christian

Christian — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:55:53 +0000

Here’s a list of condos available at Turtle Bay that I found:

http://www.turtlebay-rentals.com/site/PropertyList/page__2/1913/default.aspx

By: Sheila

Sheila — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:44:06 +0000

Hi Angie -Thanks for your comment.

Oh my goodness, “metallic wallpaper” and 20 year old silk flowers. How funny!

When I’m condo hunting online (usually on VRBO), I only consider the ones with enough photos that you can tell if it’s decent or not.

I’ve drooled over photos of many Hawaii rental homes that I’ve seen online. I bet it’s amazing to have your own private pool! There’s a rental home on Molokai that I’ve had my eye on. It has it’s own private pool. *Sigh* ….one day.

Do you have any favorite rental companies that you use?

By: Angie

Angie — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:19:36 +0000

“Some are beautifully decorated and others make you wonder what were they thinking. ” I had to laugh b/c we stay at condos and boy we’ve stayed at some that are stuck in a time warp! From metallic wallpaper to silk flowers that haven’t been changed out in a minimum of 20 years to some of the most antique looking appliances but we’ve never regretted staying at a condo regardless of the decor. The past few years we’ve taken to staying at vacation homes so we have a pool all to ourselves too which is nice and I’ve found some surprising deals from $250+ for places with a private pool and great decor.

By: Sheila

Sheila — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:34:22 +0000

Hi Lissete — Good point about condos making more sense on stays of 5 or more nights. Generally the longer you stay the better deal you can get.
The first photo was of the sunroom in Pu’u Po’a Condos (unit 409) in Princeville, Kauai. Its was a really, really nice condo with a million dollar view. I think I still have the owner’s e-mail address, in case you’d like to contact him.

By: Lissete

Lissete — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 05:22:43 +0000

Condos all the way! Especially for stays of 5 or more days. I need to know where that 1st picture is from! Amazing!