Kona @ Magic Sands Oceanfront Beachfront - Hawaiian Koa Wood Beauty

I was wary when I made this reservation. First, payment in full was required up front. this scared me a bit - I was entering into a transaction in which I was taking all the risk. The other two condos on Maui and Kauai we are renting on this trip did not require full payment until two weeks prior. Also, this unit is an efficiency, and our preference was to look for a one bedroom. However, Google maps and "The Big Island Revealed" confirmed how close to the surf we actually would be, so we took the risk - AND IT PAID OFF.

This place, unit #107, while showing it's age a bit, was all we needed and, to be honest, what we ended up preferring. The efficiency set up meant that we'd be sleeping just eight feet from the sliding doors that are at most 40' from the surf. The pounding surf made the stay sooo special. After full day road trips to the volcano and the windward side it was great to anticipate getting back to Magic Sands and opening the doorwall and letting the surf lull us to sleep.

Did I mention Magic Sands? It's the most terrific little beach I've met so far. It has great snorkeling (right in front of the condos), great surf, and a great mix of sun and shade in the morning.

As for the unit - I said it showed it's age a little, but it's had a graceful aging process. The koa woodwork throughout is beautiful and the built-ins are a great size for keeping your notebook PC and all of your travel info an little gear at hand. The stove is a tiny 24-incher (our Costco pizza had to be cut first to fit in the oven) but the kitchen was very well equipped - every pot, pan and utensil we needed was there, including a decently equipped spice rack and lots of mugs (even a stainless steel travel mug!), glasses, etc.

The bed was great, the pool was great the BBQ was right outside our unit (although you have to walk around to the locked gate, even from a first floor unit - we never understood that) and it worked great and provided opportunity to meet some of our temporary neighbors. The view of the water from the BBQ area was constantly changing - all manner of swimmers, surfers, outriggers, sail and power boats, spinner dolphins - you name it - paraded by. And it you don't like snorkeling, just wait for some good surf at the breakwall. As the waves curl above the reef right beyond it, you can catch brief glimpses of the tropical fish as if you were looking into an aquarium!

All in all, Magic Sands #107 is the best bang for your lodging buck in Kona.

This was our first trip to Kona, Michael booked us in short order and we've stayed at other properties he has as well. It was better than expected. Yes the kitchen is small but you can see that from the pics. Sleeping with the sliding glass door open is the only way to go, ocean surf pounding all night. The location is a perfect launch pad for whatever you want to do. And yes, it's true about Magic Sands, the sand does actually disappear. We witnessed this towards the end of our stay. Luckily we went back 6 weeks later with the kids, stayed at a different property of michaels and the sand was back. Yes, it's a small condo but clean and everything that's advertised. Just hope the restaurant opens soon.