Keauhou Kona Surf and Racquet Club Townhouse#185

Our family worked remotely for a week here 1st week of Dec. Wifi was strong and reliable. Unit was exactly as described and more. First, the location is one of the best in the complex. Front door is a few steps to the pool; on the other side are unobstructed oceanfront views. Other units have a low wall or garden in the back but this unit almost looks like it has an infinity edge towards the ocean (even though rocks were below the edge). Best feature is the patio deck framed by two palm trees with comfortable patio table and chairs to view daily gorgeous sunsets. 180 degree ocean views are enjoyed from living room, kitchen, master bedroom and bath. We liked the townhome configuration with no one above or below us and both bedrooms upstairs. Owners are generous in their supply of towels, sheets, extra pillows, beach umbrella/chairs, and snorkel gear. We appreciated thoughtful touches like high quality pots and pans, strong ice maker, soap dispensers, toiletries, and even darkening curtains to minimize afternoon heat load. Unit has no a/c but there were plenty of fans to cool down the condo. Condo was super clean. Pride of ownership is evident in the complex with well manicured grounds, beautiful tropical foliage throughout and plentiful holiday lights and decorations. The icing on the cake is Knutson & Associates. I’ve worked with many property management companies and they are top notch. I echo all the praise in previous reviews for their superior customer service, attentiveness and great communication. From the start, their goal was to ensure I had the best experience. And I did. Mahalo for a most enjoyable and memorable stay. We were sad to leave but when I return, I will not hesitate to book with Knutson & Associates.

Manager's Response

Beautiful location on ocean front - hear the waves all day long - unbelievable sunsets

Manager's Response

My family and I loved our stay here! My dad has been begging me to write a review because he feels the view and "backyard" (aka, the ocean) was the nicest we will ever have. The beds and rooms were comfortable and clean and check-in/out was very easy. We felt very safe and at peace in this quiet and calm community. If we ever visit Kona again, we will very likely book here.

Manager's Response

Having my family close with the ocean and pool to give them peace and joy.

Manager's Response

We rented this home for 2 weeks and we had a great time. The views out the back door are amazing and the pool is literally steps from the home. The property managers were quick in their responses and very helpful when needed.

Manager's Response

You can't get much closer to the ocean than at this property. My favorite is watching the waves crash and listening to the waves at night.

Manager's Response

Even after researching rental properties, we were blown away when we arrived here! The back door opened right out onto the ocean, and we spent a lot of time in the mornings and evenings on the lanai before and after the day's adventures. When we needed something resolved after hours, the property manager was attentive and solved our problem immediately. Throughout our stay the rental agency kept in touch with us and was responsive to our communications. Not to mention all this for an excellent price! The condition of the unit had a few rough spots, and other than the master bed the mattresses weren't terribly comfortable. But overall we feel like we got exactly what we paid for and had a great experience!

Manager's Response

We really enjoyed our stay at this rental property. It was a gated community, quiet, clean, and had parking right in front of the unit. The pool was perfect for kids, it had a shallow area for them to swim and wade. We would stay here again.

Our booking was significantly decided by considering the previous reviews. We were not at all concerned about having to leave the windows open, and actually love to hear the waves through the night. However, the biggest overall problem was that even with the windows open we were very uncomfortable through the night due to heat. This was most nights we were there (6 night stay). A couple of nights it rained which helped the temperature a bit. Had we known how uncomfortable the nights would have been even with the windows open we would not have stayed here, and in fact, would not return to this townhouse. The townhouse is exactly as advertised and the pictures are accurate. The management company is great and we really liked the app that they have available. One morning we woke to a dead scorpion in the bathroom and it wasn't much of a concern as we are from AZ and quite used to them - - just had no idea they were also on the Hawaiian islands. The location of this townhouse is wonderful and the shopping center close by is great. We enjoyed the Tropical bar and grill several times, good eats and drinks there.

Maybe it was just the July weather, but even being right on the water it was just plain too hot through the night with all windows open to get a comfortable nights rest and prepare for the next days adventures. I'd recommend looking for a place with A/C or look up average temps if you are traveling there in other months of the year. It seems that either it was just inordinately hot when we stayed or everyone else missed providing that feedback.

The townhouse is exactly as advertised. The amenities and condition were great with the exception of no A/C. The owner could install a cheap window unit (or two) and it could make all the difference. As you walk around the rest of the units in KKSR you'll see that many of them do have added A/C.

Manager's Response

Town home was what they had described. Good location for all the adventures and outings we did. The only downside to the stay is at night in the master bedroom the ocean is very loud as the waves crash on the rocks. Needed to shut the windows at night limiting the air flow in the room for comfort. We love Hawaii so its hard to say anything negative about this beautiful island.

Manager's Response

Freaking amazing. Great condo. Perfect view. Perfect everything. The pool was a little cold from switching over the water, but it was still perfect. Can't wait to book another vacation.

Manager's Response

My wife and I had a wonderful time staying in unit 185. Very relaxing, drinking coffee and eating our papaya just outside the unit right by the ocean before we went out for a run and then a swim in the pool just outside the unit across the drive. Location made it real easy to get to our favorite eating and happy hour places. Will definitely consider this for next year.

Manager's Response

Great location for Kona activities. 1 minute to snorkeling or surfing at Kahalu’u beach. Convenient strip mall half a mile away for groceries / restaurants. 15 minutes to Kona Town.
Nice having patio / lanai right on the ocean walk.

If heading to Volcano Natl Park, Hamakua Coast or Ka Lae (South Point), you might want to stay in Hilo, Waimea, Volcano, etc. to cut down on long drives and experience the other towns. But if your trip is focused on activities around Kona, this is a great location.

Manager's Response

Very pleased with our choice, which fully lived up to our expectations. Very conveniently located with patio overlooking waves breaking on lava below. Spectacular sunset views. Only slight problem was need for shutter to be erected on patio for two days of stay because of high waves. Conveniently placed within resort close to pool. Also very close to extensive shopping centre with supermarket and close to good snorkelling at Kahalu'u beach. Good access to number of historical sights along the west coast. On trip to Volcanoes National Park, we enjoyed the quiet rural Ka'alaiki Rd from Na'alehu to Pahala and on the return trip saw number of turtles on black sand Punalu'u Beach. Art galleries in Holualoa Vilage well worth a visit. Overall a very enjoyable stay and would certainly recommend to friends. Note so sure about long term prospect for site if sea levels rise! Enjoy it while you can.

Manager's Response

Obviously, we had an incredible time on the Big Island - how could you not?! This rental was lovely and close to everything. We spent every sunrise and sunset on the lanai, enjoying the view and the sound of the waves. The pool was great and the sandy beach just north of the property was a wonderful surprise.

Manager's Response

Knutson Properties hosts a great vacation experience. I have been visiting Kauai for over 20 years and decided to try a trip to the big island this year.I found Knutson Properties through VRBO. They pictures represented the property and my condo was very clean and well maintained. I would use them again.

Manager's Response

Every aspect of our experience with Knutson & Associates for our stay in Kona was wonderful - from the initial reservation months ago through the slightly extended check-out on our last day. The staff, including a very responsive Blake, took care of any questions or needs we had very quickly and completely to our satisfaction. Such a professional management company makes such a difference in the quality of the property, the customer service and the vacation experience.

The townhome was exactly as described and expected, based on the pictures on the listing. We ate every meal (when at home) on the oceanfront lanai - at that exact table you see with the palm trees and water steps away. Our family of 5 was very comfortable, and the two-story set-up was a big part of that - bedrooms upstairs and living area on first floor. We loved having the huge pool just outside our front door and the ocean out our back.

The location was fantastic for all of our activities in the area, too. A full-service grocery store (KTA) is two minutes away in a shopping plaza, and the Beltline to get around the area quickly is nearby too. The main commercial area of Kailua-Kona is about 15 minutes up Ali'i Drive - just far enough away from the crowds for us.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, two great beaches we enjoyed nearby are Kahalu'u Beach within walking distance with fantastic snorkeling and Magic Sands Beach a short drive away with easy parking.

Thank you for a fantastic HI experience!

Manager's Response

The location is perfect, you have the waves in your backyard, the house is cross street of the pool, very close to a shopping center that has restaurant and KTA grocery store.
The house itself is in good condition, the only thing I need the owner or rental should consider is to update the bedding and towels. All the bedding look very old and so are the towels, I mean I wouldn't give them to use for my guests. And it is not that expensive to buy new towels and bedding.

Wonderful sitting on back deck as waves hit the rocks below. Clean and in good repair, with a few minor exception of no consequence.. much better than staying at a fancy hotel. Great pool and barbecue area.

Beautiful Oceanside Condo, conveniently close to everything but not crowded or congested.

Memories of sunsets you can take with you. What a delight!

Manager's Response

The Townhouse was clean but not new. The furniture

Manager's Response

Perfect Location and Ambiente and vacation home. The whole Family enjoyed it very much.

Manager's Response

Great place right on the ocean and close to Alii drive and lots of beaches and restaurants without being in the center of a busy tourist area. Lack of air conditioning made it slightly uncomfortable during the hottest part of the day, but the ocean breezes cooled us at night.

Manager's Response

The accommodations were clean and decor was pleasing.

Manager's Response

It was great except the dryer didn't work. The sliding door didn't work but the management company quickly sent a person around to remedy the situation.

Manager's Response

Our experience from the time of reservation to leaving the resort was joyful and seamless. Knutson & Associates was very accommodating in changing our dates without hesitation when we requested a change due to flight changes. The town home's beach front location is absolutely mesmerizing from its ocean views, gentle breezes, beautiful sunsets. Need groceries - No worries. The town home is located within walking distance of a mini-mall. Enjoy snorkeling in reef & tropical fish laden cove located about a half mile away.

Manager's Response

LOVED the Condo, the location, the neighbors were awesome, the pool, the Lanai, all the comforts of home. Only bad thing was the place needs a very GOOD clean job throughout the condo from top to bottom.

Manager's Response

Excellent. Well worth the money. Staff from Knutson are friendly, helpful, organized and sometimes - funny!

Manager's Response

The town house we stayed in was perfect for three adults and would be good for a party of four. But, more than that, things would get a little crowded. The property was perfect!! We enjoyed all of our meals on the lanai overlooking the ocean, used many of the house items throughout the week and did our part by donating a rice cooker for all to use. We did experience some high ocean swells, which meant that the storm door had to be closed from Friday evening through Sunday late morning, that was a bummer. In closing, we all had a wonderful time and look forward to using this property again!!

THIS CONDO WAS AWESOME, VERY CONVENIENT LOCATION CLOSE TO ALL THE EXCITEMENT. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT KNUTSON (BLAKE) WAS AWESOME, VERY FRIENDL AND HELPFUL. I WILL DEFINITELY RETURN AND RENT THIS CONDO AGAIN.

Manager's Response

The oceanfront location was breathtaking. Lanai area is the place to eat meals and watch for dolphins,whales which we saw from here in our short stay. Lanai area feels pretty close to neighbours, but this unit is one of the best for proximity to the ocean and some privacy. There was a small storm while we were there - crashing waves put me to sleep, but my wife found the sound mildly disturbing at night. Kitchen cabinets are a bit worn, but this was a great place to stay. We were so busy with other things that we didn't even have a chance to try the pool and tennis, which we would have if we had stayed longer. Close to Keauhou Bay for snorkel boat outings to Captain Cook area, and easy drive along Ali'i Drive right into Kailua-Kona downtown.

Manager's Response

We had a great time- spent a lot of time in the pool and in the ocean.

Manager's Response

We enjoyed the condo. We were very disappointed in the Knudson staff.
Our dryer did not work which wS a huge bother. There was no extra key for theat the Knudsen office when he went to pick it up to get into our unit on Friday. The. He couldn't come back over the weekend we had to wait till Monday we had to leave our only house key to get in for him to use. He called said he couldn't fix it he would come back Tuesday. He came back Tuesday said he couldn't fix it so we ended up with no dryer and had to take time out of our busy work schedule to go to a laundromat and wash our clothes. I called Knudson several times but they couldn't help with the situation. The condo was great but the support staff was poorly run.

Manager's Response

This was the second time that we've stayed at this condo. We really like the location, the view and the property.

The owner should provide an umbrella for use on the lanai. The sun and sunsets are outstanding, but protection from the sun in the afternoon would be a tremendous asset.

Manager's Response

Completely on the water. If you like the roar of the sea, this is the place for you. It was nice for the kids to be able to walk out the other way and directly to the pool.

Highly recommended.

Great location. Property was a little dated but very clean. All the faucet

really enjoyed the sound of the waves

We would definitely rent this place again. You can walk ten minutes north on Ali'i Road to the beach park for some really good snorkeling, with turtles, even! The sights and sounds from the lanai were amazing. We saw humpback whales and spinner dolphins from our lanai, as well as beautiful sunsets, and the sound of the surf put us to sleep at night. The pool and tennis courts are right across the way from this unit, and there are tennis racquets and balls in the upstairs closet. This property was built on and adjacent to a rich archaelogical site, which is a shame because I'm sure a lot was destroyed in the process. Within a short walk from your door you can find petroglyphs, remains of a "Men's House," and even what is believed to be the residence of four Hawaiian kings.

However, if you rent #185, bring some brightly-colored tape and mark the step between the entrance area and the living room. I hope Knutson will mark this step in some way! But until they do, it is a real hazard, and several of us stumbled and even fell the first couple days we got there, until we taped it to make it more obvious.

Manny of the appliances did not work or were worn out and the electrical problems caused our stay to be less than pleasant.

We reserved the property a year ahead. We were told some issues with the interior would be fixed. They weren't. The home is very cluttered with too much furniture and too many knick knacks. There was dust on all the pictures and the floor was not fully cleaned. We killed 2 cockroaches. There was food on some dishes in the cupboards. Too bad, because the location is fantastic.

95% perfect, very nice!! Just want to mention that when we arrived the lock box was already set to the code in my letter from K&A and the key was not in the box. I had to call the resident maintenance guy Albert to open the unit. We were a bit paranoid after that about someone using the missing key to enter the unit while we were out. I called Nick and left a message, then later talked to a lady (forgot her name) at K&A who was very helpful. Other small complaint was no password for the wireless internet. Other than these 2 things everything else was excellent! Thank you!!

From the moment we arrived at the gates the vacation rental was what we expected. The unit itself was roomy. We loved the fact that the bedrooms were separated upstairs from the living quarters. Everything we needed was there from a well-stocked kitchen, cozy lanai, bedding, towels, etc. We could see the pool from our place but even though it was close it was not loud. It was convenient to get groceries up the street at the mall. The beach to go snorkeling was mile up the road. There was so much to do from exploring the rain forests, driving to the top of one of the volcanoes as well as a spectacular sunset, to walking in old lava tunnels. We even took a helicopter ride around in Hilo on the other side of the Island to see the lava/waterfalls! The difference in landscape is almost indescribable. We enjoyed the unit and would recommend it to everyone! Our place was so comfortable and the beds were just right.

We had a wonderful time staying in this condo. The location couldn't be any better. The first night we had trouble sleeping because the crashing of the waves was a new wonderful sound for us, however the next 6 nights were amazing! We were traveling with 2 teenagers and they enjoyed the condo as well. I would love to stay in this location again.

The location is excellent. The condo is right on the ocean front and the view is amazing.

The condo complex is gated; a very nice feature. Although the condo is slightly outside Kona, there is a neighborhood shopping center very close by.

All in all we enjoyed it and will stay here again if the price is right!

We really enjoyed the condo, the location and the amenities. We couldn't have asked for a place closer to the water with more spectacular views.

We had all our dinners on the lanai as the sun was setting. We enjoyed the use of the portable grill for outside cooking. A sun umbrella would be a nice addition to the lanai furnishings, however we were able to borrow an umbrella from a neighbor during our visit.

We very much appreciated approval for the late checkout, given our flight schedule.

Bob and Eileen

This townhome has an incredible ocean view and it is right out the sliding glass doors!! We can not express how wonderful the view is. The home does not have A/C and it did get a little uncomfortable even with the ceiling fans. We would stay here again.

Great experience. If staying in Kona again, I will most definitely stay here again. Knutson was very easy to work with and everything went just as detailed in their communications.

If you would like to stay away from crowds and listen to the Ocean and birds, this is the place to go.

Good place to stay but wish it had air conditioning.

We loved condo 185 and would love to stay there again. The location was great for snorkeling and surfing. The view from the porch was fantastic! We enjoyed hearing the surf at night when we went to sleep. I have already recommended it to people we know.

I left a note about this. there was no extra rolls of tolet paper, just what was on the roolers,and no extra roll of paper towels. The black chairs at the dining table were peeling off and left little black pieces all over your back and legs, had to cover them with a towel.

Manager's Response