Dane B.
January 2024
Overall a pleasant experience and stay.
Steven M.
January 2024
Location and view were great. Place was dirty, lanai furniture was rusty as was the ceiling fans in each room and refrigerator. No dish towels or dish rags to wash dishes. All dishes need to be washed before use. No crock pot and no stool to reach glasses in upper cabinet. Overall, very dissatisfied.
T T.
January 2024
Perfect location and simple!
Sharon N.
December 2023
After I spent the first hour wiping down “EVERYTHING” so we could then feel comfortable enough to relax. The floors weren’t clean so you couldn’t walk without shoes even in the middle of the night.
Sorry to say for the amount that you pay the view still isn’t worth it.
Sharon N.
November 2023
After I spent the first hour wiping down “EVERYTHING” so we could then feel comfortable enough to relax. The floors weren’t clean so you couldn’t walk without shoes even in the middle of the night.
Sorry to say for the amount that you pay the view still isn’t worth it.
Sharon N.
November 2023
After I spent the first hour wiping down “EVERYTHING” so we could then feel comfortable enough to relax. The floors weren’t clean so you couldn’t walk without shoes even in the middle of the night.
Sorry to say for the amount that you pay the view still isn’t worth it.
Mark R.
November 2023
Wonderful location, great pool area, and everything exactly as promised. Loved the ocean view.
Mark R.
November 2023
Wonderful location, great pool area, and everything exactly as promised. Loved the ocean view.
Vicki
October 2023
The view from the property is amazing. The condo itself was clean and well maintained and well stocked. Very much enjoyed my stay. Will use this property again.
Blaine and Libby B.
September 2023
Condo was as expected. Dated but adequate. The kitchen rug was very dirty. Definitely needs cleaned or replaced. Dissapointed there was not a fresh kitchen sponge.
But fun to watch the surfers from the deck. Pool and bbq area very nice and close to downtown.
Blaine and Libby B.
September 2023
Condo was as expected. Dated but adequate. The kitchen rug was very dirty. Definitely needs cleaned or replaced. Dissapointed there was not a fresh kitchen sponge.
But fun to watch the surfers from the deck. Pool and bbq area very nice and close to downtown.
Tami S.
August 2023
We have stayed at the Kona Reef a few times before & chose this unit for the view over Honls Beach to watch our family snorkel. The complex is walking distance to restaurants & shops & 2 farmer markets. The unit had everything we needed for our stay (dishes, utensils, beach towels, beach toys...). We noticed the dishwasher soap drawer was not opening after a wash, & not accessing the soap, so we dropped the soap into the bottom of the tub & rewashed everything again. We let the owner know & they responded quickly with an email. This particular unit is a bit darker than others...not sure if it's the original light fixtures in the hall or the entrance being on a lowered level. It looks like the owners are starting updates...laminate is definitely a better choice for a beach unit than carpet. The bedroom still has an odor possibly in the floorboards or closet. The whole unit could really use a deep cleaning from the baseboards to fans to popcorn ceiling & dust ruffle of the bed. Placing the electrical cords would also help with dust/dirt collection on them. Overall, we really enjoyed our stay. Can't wait to see what this unit will look like with more updates! Thank you!
Tami S.
August 2023
We have stayed at the Kona Reef a few times before & chose this unit for the view over Honls Beach to watch our family snorkel. The complex is walking distance to restaurants & shops & 2 farmer markets. The unit had everything we needed for our stay (dishes, utensils, beach towels, beach toys...). We noticed the dishwasher soap drawer was not opening after a wash, & not accessing the soap, so we dropped the soap into the bottom of the tub & rewashed everything again. We let the owner know & they responded quickly with an email. This particular unit is a bit darker than others...not sure if it's the original light fixtures in the hall or the entrance being on a lowered level. It looks like the owners are starting updates...laminate is definitely a better choice for a beach unit than carpet. The bedroom still has an odor possibly in the floorboards or closet. The whole unit could really use a deep cleaning from the baseboards to fans to popcorn ceiling & dust ruffle of the bed. Placing the electrical cords would also help with dust/dirt collection on them. Overall, we really enjoyed our stay. Can't wait to see what this unit will look like with more updates! Thank you!
Marion W.
March 2023
Communication with property manager and maintenance was great. The location was awesome.
Marion W.
March 2023
Communication with property manager and maintenance was great. The location was awesome.
Julia W.
February 2023
Have stayed at many units in this complex before and almost all have been great. This one was very dated and not particularly clean. Housekeeping did a good job but unit needs deep clean. Kitchen adequate but had limited tools/pans (nice small rice cooker but no big spoons for cooking). Two worn out fry pans, two smaller saucepans and a big pasta pan. Drinking glasses (2?), etc. for the price (with all taxes and fees), was overpriced compared to similar units we have rented. Confusing times for checking out, contract said 10, note in condo was 11. Housekeeper was gracious and told us not to worry. Generally: pool very nice, grounds well kept. Couldn’t find parking on property for one night so had to park on road where people were sleeping in or near their cars.
Julia W.
February 2023
Have stayed at many units in this complex before and almost all have been great. This one was very dated and not particularly clean. Housekeeping did a good job but unit needs deep clean. Kitchen adequate but had limited tools/pans (nice small rice cooker but no big spoons for cooking). Two worn out fry pans, two smaller saucepans and a big pasta pan. Drinking glasses (2?), etc. for the price (with all taxes and fees), was overpriced compared to similar units we have rented. Confusing times for checking out, contract said 10, note in condo was 11. Housekeeper was gracious and told us not to worry. Generally: pool very nice, grounds well kept. Couldn’t find parking on property for one night so had to park on road where people were sleeping in or near their cars.
Laura F.
February 2023
Stayed for three nights, enjoying the lanai at any time, walking to restaurants, outrigger paddling, dip in the sea, visiting. Comfortable, clean, great spot!
Laura F.
February 2023
Stayed for three nights, enjoying the lanai at any time, walking to restaurants, outrigger paddling, dip in the sea, visiting. Comfortable, clean, great spot!
viktoria r.
January 2023
We arrived first night, went to dinner, came back and the sofa bed was broken. We notified owner/handyman next day. It wan't able to fixed right away so they brought over an air mattress. The boys had already slept terrible ( one laying on a 30 degree angle the other on the floor) and an air mattress is not what we signed up for. We left property and stayed somewhere else. We asked for a refund, got Vrbo involved. We never did get a refund, involving Vrbo pointless as they told us to arrange with property owner who never had any intention of giving us our money back even when bed was broken. To me, this is a breach of contract when you expect one thing and it is not provided. He said"Stop your "breach of contract" nonsense. A queen inflatable us no different than a queen sleeper sofa. In fact, it is more comfortable and new queen sleeper was delivered next day. Thers was no breach, things break, it happens. Accomidstion was made." The bed was not able to fixed until last night of our four night reservation. We Did Not Get a Refund. An air mattress is for camping not staying in a condo. Do Not Stay At this Property. I'll never stay w/ Vrbo again.
viktoria r.
January 2023
We arrived first night, went to dinner, came back and the sofa bed was broken. We notified owner/handyman next day. It wan't able to fixed right away so they brought over an air mattress. The boys had already slept terrible ( one laying on a 30 degree angle the other on the floor) and an air mattress is not what we signed up for. We left property and stayed somewhere else. We asked for a refund, got Vrbo involved. We never did get a refund, involving Vrbo pointless as they told us to arrange with property owner who never had any intention of giving us our money back even when bed was broken. To me, this is a breach of contract when you expect one thing and it is not provided. He said"Stop your "breach of contract" nonsense. A queen inflatable us no different than a queen sleeper sofa. In fact, it is more comfortable and new queen sleeper was delivered next day. Thers was no breach, things break, it happens. Accomidstion was made." The bed was not able to fixed until last night of our four night reservation. We Did Not Get a Refund. An air mattress is for camping not staying in a condo. Do Not Stay At this Property. I'll never stay w/ Vrbo again.
Carl
January 2023
I didn't like that there wasn't an inside lock on the door and everytime I sat down to relax my toddler took off out the front door. All the staff was friendly and the area was beautiful. Got a view and access to one of the few sandy beaches on Kona for sure. Trolly stopped outside complex. Our unit definitely had bed bugs in the pull out couch. 4/5 star
Jennifer C.
December 2022
Easy check in, no issues, did not have to communicate with anyone. Beautiful location, close to everything.
Jennifer C.
December 2022
Easy check in, no issues, did not have to communicate with anyone. Beautiful location, close to everything.
Steven W.
November 2022
Great property! It’s so nice to vacation in a condo. I also loved the location, being next to a beach and minutes from town.
Steven W.
November 2022
Great property! It’s so nice to vacation in a condo. I also loved the location, being next to a beach and minutes from town.
Linda C.
November 2022
This condo has a great location at Kona Reef. Beautiful pool, hot tub, grilling area for lounging and watching the sunset with other residents. Condo lanai has a lovely beach, sunrise view. Walk to town or easy drive to Kona beaches. comfortable with needed amenities. This is our 3rd visit.
Linda C.
November 2022
This condo has a great location at Kona Reef. Beautiful pool, hot tub, grilling area for lounging and watching the sunset with other residents. Condo lanai has a lovely beach, sunrise view. Walk to town or easy drive to Kona beaches. comfortable with needed amenities. This is our 3rd visit.
henry i.
October 2022
Looks like some updating is happening, carpets in pictures are gone, floors are now hard. Still a bit of smell of mold, my allergies flared a bit. Everything else was great. Location was walking distance to Kona shopping, watched the sunrise on the beach every morning from the lanai, and snorkeled on the beach, lots of fish and even a turtle.
henry i.
October 2022
Looks like some updating is happening, carpets in pictures are gone, floors are now hard. Still a bit of smell of mold, my allergies flared a bit. Everything else was great. Location was walking distance to Kona shopping, watched the sunrise on the beach every morning from the lanai, and snorkeled on the beach, lots of fish and even a turtle.
Steve P.
October 2022
Location was great, short walk to restaurants and local businesses.
Renata B.
October 2022
Many thanks for 5 hour later check-out, that help us so much!
Renata B.
October 2022
Many thanks for 5 hour later check-out, that help us so much!
Roman T.
October 2022
The apartment is not bad, but outdated. Needs more attention to detail and cleanness. Bigger TV required. The AC unit is in the living room and doesn't provide cool air to the bedroom. Signs of mold in the bathroom on the shower head and around.
Roman T.
October 2022
The apartment is not bad, but outdated. Needs more attention to detail and cleanness. Bigger TV required. The AC unit is in the living room and doesn't provide cool air to the bedroom. Signs of mold in the bathroom on the shower head and around.
Steve P.
October 2022
Location was great, short walk to restaurants and local businesses.
Felipe M.
August 2022
Nice location đź‘Ś 5 minutes walk to town perfect view love it
Felipe M.
August 2022
Nice location đź‘Ś 5 minutes walk to town perfect view love it
Tina S.
July 2022
Immediately upon arrival we all noticed the smell of mold/mildew. There was mold all around the tub and kitchen sink. There was trash under the kitchen cabinets at the toe kick area. The AC unit had to run 24/7 for 2 days upon arrival just to get the small condo to 75° and the fan in the bedroom turned on but didn’t actually move any air. The view was as described, ocean view to the park which was littered with homeless. It was in a convenient location, not to far to walk to food/shopping if you didn’t have a car. I will never rent this space again, spend a little more to get a place that’s clean.
Tina S.
July 2022
Immediately upon arrival we all noticed the smell of mold/mildew. There was mold all around the tub and kitchen sink. There was trash under the kitchen cabinets at the toe kick area. The AC unit had to run 24/7 for 2 days upon arrival just to get the small condo to 75° and the fan in the bedroom turned on but didn’t actually move any air. The view was as described, ocean view to the park which was littered with homeless. It was in a convenient location, not to far to walk to food/shopping if you didn’t have a car. I will never rent this space again, spend a little more to get a place that’s clean.
karen C.
July 2022
would definitely stay at at the Reef in Kona Hawaii again, would not stay in the condo number we were assigned. Others in our party had very clean rooms
karen C.
July 2022
would definitely stay at at the Reef in Kona Hawaii again, would not stay in the condo number we were assigned. Others in our party had very clean rooms
Isabel D.
May 2022
Exactly as advertised. Hoping to be back later this year
Iris J.
May 2022
Apartment has a beach view, nicely located close to restaurants and water activity.
Donna
April 2022
The location is perfect to enjoy the downtown area. The balcony has
Ocean views but overlooks a homeless camp. The unit
Was full of cockroaches.
Shelly N.
March 2022
We saw bugs soon after checking in. Messaged host with no answer. Called the next morning and he acted “surprised” that there were bugs. Imagine my shock when I read a recent review stating about a pest problem. I contacted VRBO about the situation. They stated the host has to resolve within 24 hours. The host did send a handyman out with bug spray. The handyman( he stated that he was not the property manager, just the guy who does jobs for the host) admitted that the unit had not been cleaned for a while. There is plenty of food source for the bugs. He also said a previous renter would not let the pest control people in to spray. None of this is my fault. The handyman and my husband eliminated all bags, cardboard boxes and trash. I ran a load of dishes full of dried food on them. In the evening, we started to see them in the bedroom. That is the time we took our stuff and left to launder EVERYTHING. Spent additional time fumigating luggage, etc. I finally told host I had vacated the property. He stated that he would refund the remainder of my money IF I cancelled the rest of the trip. Another hour on the phone with the VRBO people I accomplished closing the trip. The host continues to claim that he can’t rent it because I have the booking. The VRBO people are telling me he has to be the one to clear the reservation and refused to do it. We are currently at a stand-still with the process. I never complain and I never give bad reviews, but this fellow put me in a condo fully aware of the condition. I spent 2 days of my hard-earned vacation and a lot more money making other accommodations and cleaning my belongings. I would highly recommend passing on this unit. The condo is beautiful it is this unit and this host that is difficult to deal with.
Xiaomei L.
March 2022
This is an apartment located in a quiet but very convenient neighborhood.
Pros: Great location. Beach in walking distance/under the window, Beautiful views
Very convenient. Walking distance to food, convenient store, tour shops etc.
Cons: Need pest control. You can see them everywhere in kitchen and bathroom, especially early morning or middle of night, when you turn on the light in the dark.
I literally only use utensils in the washing machine. Or need to at least rinse them before use.
Check out option to ask us put everything in the washer and start a laundry before we go, as well as all dishes, cups in dishwasher. I kind of understanding this. But we got up at 3 am to catch our flight, and this requirement make it a little bit inconvenient in this situation.
Overall, I like this place, but may take a second thought if no pest control being done and they are still there
Gary D.
March 2022
If you like the sight of the ocean, smell of fresh air and the sound of waves crashing on the lava, then this is for you.
Randy H.
February 2022
We enjoyed the location.
Douglas B.
January 2022
Perfect location
Deana B.
January 2022
We loved this condo! Very quiet but great location! Looks out on Honl's Beach so you can't beat the views. Pool area was great and a very active group of regulars seem to meet every day and gather nightly for the blowing of the Pu shell. Was well stocked with everything you could need.
William M.
January 2022
Very nice! Kitchen has what you need, and it’s not bare. Spectacular view of beach and ocean. Very quiet complex. Nice grills, spa, pool. very well kept up. Thanks!
Nathan M.
January 2022
Great view of the ocean from the balcony, had some chairs and beach towels in the closet, only problems were AC did not work well at all and it was a little dusty in some spots. Easy check in and check out, and property manager Kenneth was always quick to respond and very nice! Overall I would definitely stay here again and enjoyed my stay!!
Suzanne E.
December 2021
Was a great location near Restaurants and stores The guide was spectacular.
Crystal R.
October 2021
My husband and I visited from Kaua'i for a small reunion with classmates and a visit with our adult son who lives in Kona.
Pros:
-The location is superb; next to Honl beach so you overlook the beach and you can see families and their activities; close walk to the main area of town for restaurants and bars; generally quiet area
-Comfortable Sofa bed so that our son could stay with us for a few nights
-Very nice pool, jacuzzi, and well-lit barbecue area with brand new grills. It was never busy when we used it.
-Perfect place to see the beautiful orange-red Kona sunsets with a nice grassy area with lounge chairs for viewing.
-A nightly performance of resident conch shell blowers for entertainment after the sunset.
-Liked having a coded entry rather than keys--making it convenient every time we entered the condo.
Cons:
-Due to the carpet and its close proximity to the beach, the air can be musty when you first walk in. Putting the fans on and getting the sea breeze through helps clear the air.
-The light/fan system in the bedroom was a little confusing to us.
-The elevator/floor design of the property was a little challenging for us at first.
All in all, we enjoyed our stay and the condo was a good base for us. We were very comfortable and hope to return again next year.
Rich S.
September 2021
Perfect Kona location and the Kona Reef would be my preferred complex to stay in that area. Also, the unit has a nice view of the beach on the side of the complex. Not quite as pretty as views looking out at the ocean where you can see the sunset but maybe better as you avoid being heated by the sun in the direction this unit faces.
Decor is quite dated and carpet may be past the end of its lifespan. Internet was poor, slow with frequent down time. Television is small and far from where you sit. Ceiling fans were dirty. Amenities are on the skimpiest end I've seen with 2 rolls of tp for a week stay and only 1 single use shampoo and conditioner. Little to no beach gear.
For the complaints about cleanliness, the unit does get very musty when closed up. However, if you leave it with the balcony doors always open and the fan on, it does air out.
However, with the location, complex and conveniences like easy garage parking and fully equiped kitchen, I gave it 4-stars.
Terry N.
August 2021
Overall our stay was good. As a former resident in Kona and having serviced this complex for appliance service, a few key issues are the AC units. Most in the complex are just a single window unit in the living room and if not cleaned regularly, get moldy and being right on the water, get rid of carpet as it also attracts mold. An easily solvable issue. Other than that, location is great as one can just walk to downtown Kailua village where trying to park can be difficult.
August 2021
Pros:
Location of condo is great and has a nice view.
Cons:
The place has a terrible moldy odor. All doors and windows were open when we arrived and this was probably to try to make the smell less noticeable.
The towels were wet in the dryer when we arrived. We ran it for an hour while we left to do some work (no wifi so couldn’t work at the condo, see below) and they were still wet when we returned so we couldn’t even shower after a long day of travel. The “extra towels” provided were hand towels. There was one towel hanging on the back of the bathroom door that had not been washed.
The place didn’t appear to have been cleaned properly prior to us arriving. There was sand in the shower and the coffee maker was not washed. I wiped a few drops of water that got on the floor with a paper towel. It was black when I picked it up.
Wifi was not working. We reset the modem as instructed by the host without any luck. He suggested we call the internet provider to try to troubleshoot it ourselves. This was a huge issue as we needed to work. We had to leave the property to work multiple times so the condo was worthless except to sleep in. When messaging him about the wifi not working, he said he thinks the last guest reset it. Obviously he knew there was an issue when I reached out and this is unacceptable. Supposedly a maintenance guy came to fix it but it still didn’t work. Kept getting “connected without internet” errors on all devices. Host said it was working fine for him and he connected from outside. But his instruction sheet specifically says the internet won’t work outside the unit so how did he connect? Internet miraculously worked for one full day before checking out.
The host was incredibly rude and unapologetic for all the issues while trying to message to find solutions to these problems upon arrival. He told me multiple times that we should maybe just leave and he can refund us some money.
Other things to note- there is only one beach chair. Just seems odd for a beach front condo. Also, the fridge was set at the warmest temperature so it has to be adjusted if you want to keep cold foods at a healthy temperature.
Overall, I’d recommend avoiding this place and host at all costs. I use VRBO and the competitor all over the world as I travel quite a bit and I have never had an experience as poor as this one. Honestly, never even left a poor review until this one. Hope to save someone else the trouble.
Steve P.
July 2021
We loved the lanai and the pool and hot tub were used often! Parking was super easy and the directions given to us were detailed and spot on. The extra beach supplies were a great bonus along with the amazing view of the ocean and public beach. Mahalo!!
Rochelle V.
July 2021
This is a great condo for so many reasons--great location with a view of small beach, walking distance to shopping and restaurants, pool, hot tub, sunset view from beach area on property, fairly well stocked full kitchen, comfy bed and comfy sofa bed (rare!).
Our main issue was the smell. The whole condo just smells really moldy and old. I'm not sure if it's the carpets or if there's a mold problem in the walls. But it hits you as soon as you enter. I was tempted to light a candle or buy some Febreze, just to make it more bearable, but fortunately we didn't spend much time inside. The smell would lessen a bit after we opened all the windows and ran the fans for a while, or maybe we just got used to it. It seems like this is something that the owners could/should probably resolve with some effort (removing the source of the smell, changing out the carpet, and maybe new paint?).
The furniture and decor is a bit old and it would be great to have a few more folding chairs available to take to the beach. Other than that, it's a great condo that I would absolutely return to if the smell issue was resolved.
June 2021
Great View and ocean breezes. Nice complex easy to walk around town and to beach. We liked it a lot. Maybe not the best place for cooks - dull knives and not even salt and pepper in the cupboard, but overall beautiful stay here.
Dawne R.
June 2021
This property is situated nearly in the heart of Kona making it an outstanding "jumping off point" for any active vacationer.... and, that view!
May 2021
I liked the view. That said the condo was a little dirty and had roaches. The bad part were the neighbors though. We couldn't leave the doors open with all the pot smoke wafting up. Also there were several nights of loud partiers returning from the bars waking us up at 2am. With all that ,we went and stayed at another resort for the rest of our time.
Use the "Visit Owner's Website" link to read more reviews from the reservation site, including the latest reviews submitted by recent guests.