Hawaii: vacation rentals through VRBO and local agencies
My neighbors Melissa and David just returned from a trip to Kauai, Hawaii, where they stayed in a Hanalei Bay vacation rental. Despite rooming with ants and other critters in their less-than-pristine, jungle-immersed rental apartment, they are glad they skipped the resort option for this vacation.
“I guess I would stay in a hotel if I wanted everything taken care of and everything right there. But I think what we did made for a much better vacation,” Melissa said.
So many of us mainlanders opt to stay in a resort when in Hawaii, but what my neighbor says rings true for me: For a more do-it-yourself, and possibly more interesting and/or adventurous stay, vacation rentals can be a great option.
With high Hawaii-vacation costs in the flight and rental car-gas arenas, vacation rentals could also be the more economical way to go. In Kauai, I’m seeing prices as low as $75 per night for a studio in Kilauea. The more people in your party, the more you’re likely to save per person for a rental. Also, you won’t be charged a resort fee or a parking fee, and you can cook meals at home, if you like. At some rentals, you may have use of bicycles or snorkeling gear or other equipment free of charge as well.
My aforementioned neighbors are big fans of the popular VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner), but they acknowledge that the rentals aren’t always a sure thing. “It’s always a little bit of a mystery as to what you’ll find when you get to the place you rent, but it is cheaper than a hotel and much more comfortable,” said Melissa. “And they always have something in the price range you’re looking for.”
If VRBO sounds a little too mysterious for your liking, consider going through an established agency on the islands instead. There are many, but a couple of options include Maui-based Ho’okipa Haven and the Big Island-based Hawaii Vacation Rentals.
Do you prefer vacation rentals over hotels in Hawaii? Why or why not?
— Susan Derby, Special to the Los Angeles Times
[Photo: Thomas Curwen / Los Angeles Times]
6 Comments on “Hawaii: vacation rentals through VRBO and local agencies”
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June 15th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Hi Susan - Yes! I do prefer a vacation rental over a resort in Hawaii. It’s a great way to save money, have more privacy, space, and the comforts of home.
VRBO is usually where we begin our search. It’s a bit of a cumbersome site to use, but lots of times we find some absolute gems there. For example, we recently stayed in a wonderful brand new 2-bedroom condo in the Waikoloa resort on the Big Island for $150 per night. The condo had a fantastic lanai that we spent our mornings sipping coffee and having fresh papaya for breakfast.
One rule of thumb that I use with VRBO is to only look into properties that have lots of pictures. That way, you know more about what you’re getting into. If a property only has a photo or two, that sends up a red flag for me that there’s something to hide. The more photos I see, the more I tend to believe that the owner takes good care of the property. Also, don’t be afraid to contact the owners on the VRBO contact forms to ask questions and for more photos.
Your post covers some of the excellent reasons why you save money, but here’s an extra point to throw in. Most vacation rentals have a washer and dryer, so you can pack light. With more airlines charging fees for checking luggage, being able to pack light and travel with carry-on’s saves you money and the time to wait for the luggage. Bonus!
I’ve written a bit more about why condos are a savvy choice here:
http://www.govisithawaii.com/2008/01/30/why-staying-in-a-condo-on-a-hawaii-vacation-is-a-savvy-choice/
(I hope adding this relevant link is ok, if not, please remove it.)
June 15th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
We’ve used VRBO a number of times for our Maui accomodations and so far so good. Just remember you’re renting from a private owner, so tastes can and do vary.
Here’s three VRBO cautions we mentioned in a recent article:
1)The quality of the accommodations can vary considerably. Read the descriptions carefully and ask for references.
2)Comments posted from previous renters must be approved by the owner. They’re always positive.
3)Always pay with a credit card. If something goes wrong at least you can get your money back.
June 17th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Big thanks to both of you for all of this great advice for our readers!
Best,
Susan
June 30th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Hawaii is a cool place to visit on or off vacation, however I’m more into escorts resort and adult vacations in the DR at all inclusive packages. The erotic vacations resort also consist of golf court, fishing, casino at all inclusive packages.
November 16th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
We went to kauai last feb. It was better than expected. Our first place we stayed was very very dirty even the dishes and silverware were dirty, but since we wre gone for most of the day we survived. The next place we stayed was very different it was perfect clean and very well kept, with great views and very imformative hosts. We booked both listings from vrbo so you should really do some checking to make sure you know what your getting into also the last place we stayed was cheaper the the dirty one. We learned our lesson but we really like the vrbo site.
August 18th, 2009 at 10:00 am
Are there any blogs or books out there that have recommendations for VRBO’s in Hawaii. With everyone posting positive comments per the owner’s request, it’s hard to get the real skinny.