Surf, Sun, and convenience
Submitted: April 10, 2012
Stayed: April 2012
This was our first visit to Kailua-Kona and we weren't disappointed. D-26 is situated perfectly - a very short walk to town and restaurants, or you can relax on the lanai with the waves crashing in front of you. From early morning to early evening, you would often see locals surfing or catching some great waves on boogie boards. Or, you can meander down to the water's edge and check out sea turtles in the tidal pools.
The condo is very clean and has everything you need to make the stay enjoyable. When we arrived, the lights had been left on and a lovely basket of fruit and other goodies were left to welcome us - a very special treat. An added touch was the package of coffee beans - fresh Kona coffee each morning, mmmm!
When Bruce said that we wouldn't need to bring anything more than a swimsuit, he was right. Shampoo, conditioner, soap, blow-dryer...a well-stocked kitchen, a stash of books, DVDs, binoculars, beach towels, snorkelling equipment, and so much more. And, having full laundry facilities in-suite makes this feel like a vacation with the conveniences of home.
While you may want to cook many of your meals at the condo and spend much of your time relaxing at the pool, on the water's edge, or on your lanai...there were some local places that we thought were worth noting:
Food:
Lava Java (breakfast, lunch, or dinner...or just a coffee) - BYOB - no corkage fee
Basik Acai & Health Bar (amazing cold acai bowls with granola, fruit, etc),
Kona Brewery (pizza...and beer!)
Lighthouse Delicatessen - in Hawi - wow, BBQ pork sandwich is amazing!
Just a few of the things we did:
Road bike rental - BikeWorks - great staff, incredibly helpful, well-maintained and good quality bikes
Stand-up Paddleboarding
Boogie boarding
Night snorkelling with Manta Rays - out of Kona (wow...absolutely spectacular!)
Day snorkelling - large sea turtles, eels, a variety of beautifully-coloured fish
Cycling - IM bike course, but there are some great hilly rides on quieter roads that you can also try.
Hike/walk - continue past Hawi and hike down into the Pololu Valley - beautiful black sand beach.
Guaranteed...we will return to Kona as there are so many things that we didn't get the chance to see and do. Bruce & Alice's condo at the Kona Reef will be the first place we'll check for availability when making arrangements for accommodations. Thank-you for making this a trip to remember.
Recommended for:
Age 55+,
Adventure Seekers,
Tourists without a Car,
Sightseeing,
Romantic Getaway
Helpful votes: 1/1
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