This post will focus on our experience with our condo in Princeville and I will post about other portions of our trip in coming posts.
First of all, when traveling with the kiddos, condos are a great option! They generally give you more space and they have amenities like a full kitchen and a washer and dryer that are priceless when you have kids. They often can end up costing less for a longer trip than staying in a hotel (especially when you factor in the cost of eating out or going to a laundromat.)
When searching for a condo, you have a lot of different options. Craigslist, Homeaway, VRBO, and FlipKey are all available nationally (and sometimes internationally). We searched all of these sites but weren't able to find just what we were looking for.
If that happens to you, do a google search for condo rentals in the location you are looking to visit. When we did that, a few more local sites popped up.
We ended up renting through alohacondos.com which has properties available on the Big Island, Mauai, Kauai, and Oahu.
Sadly, I don't have any of my own pictures of the property where we stayed. I wasn't initially planning on reporting on this trip so I focused less on taking pictures and more on spending time with family.
We found a great three bedroom, two level condo in the Nihilani at Princeville town home complex. It had a huge kitchen and eating area, two and a half baths, three lanais, and was close to all of the beaches we wanted to visit.
Kitchen and Dining Area (photo credit)
Since we packed all three of us into two carry-ons and a personal item, it was very necessary to have the laundry facilities. It was especially nice to be able to throw our swim gear into the laundry every evening so it stayed clean and always dried faster after going through a spin cycle in the washing machine.
Master Bathroom (photo credit)
Since we brought my mom along with us on the trip, we had do get a little creative with the sleeping arrangements. At home, our kids currently have their own rooms. This helps a lot at nap and bed time since they both like to talk or sing themselves to sleep.
Second Bedroom (photo credit)
With the second bedroom being used by my mom, we decided to put our youngest in the walk-in closet that was off the master bath. It was just big enough to fit a pack-n-play in it and stayed plenty cool. It was also nice during naps because it was a little darker in the closet than anywhere else in the condo.
Another benefit of renting out a condo is that they can also come with access to different types of gear. The condo we rented had a pack-n-play and highchair available to use for free. They just asked that you request it in advance.
They also had tons of beach and pool gear in the garage that you could use free of charge. It was nice not having to get sand toys for the kids or rent snorkel gear (or sit in the sand instead of a beach chair).
Garage with beach supplies (photo credit)
One thing that could be considered a negative of staying in a condo is that not all of the properties around you are being inhabited by vacationers. In the few condos we have stayed in while visiting Hawaii, there are always people who live there full time. Sometimes, you can feel like you are a bit of a nuisance to regular residents.
In the Nihilani, there were a number of rules that needed to be followed regarding use of pool toys and noise in the pool, garbage disposal, and parking. It's important to familiarize yourself with these types of rules before renting or arriving at the property.
Pool at Nihilani at Princeville (photo credit)
Unlike a hotel, if you knowingly break a rule, you may not be the only one who gets in trouble. It's possible that since you are considered a guest of the condo owner, they may also get fined or be reprimanded in some other way.
In the end, I'm very happy that we spent a good portion of our time in Hawaii in a condo. It was much better than a standard hotel room and provided us all of the convinces of home.
Have you stayed in a condo during vacation? If so, what did you like or dislike about it? Would you do it again?
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