renting a beach house-Oahu
 

Will be in Oahu late January/Early Feb. We are thinking about renting a beach house on the North Shore instead of a hotel. Does anybody have experience or advise on this?

Assuming you DO realize the waves on the North Shore will be extremely high that time of year, I recommend you check out www.vrbo.com, which is vacation rentals by owner.

Great idea! As Postal said the waves are really high in some spots. But, we were ther in December and some days saw huge waves (awesome) others not much. Even with the huge waves, there are many spots where swimming is OK.<BR><BR>We rent half a duplex on the North Shore every other year or so. Going back in May for 2 weeks. I would recommend it highly. Many sites to choose from. Just go to google.com and type in Oahu rentals. You'll get plenty of sites.<BR><BR>Here is the place we rent (pictures are outdated). Right on the water. I talked to the owner the other day and she just re-did the whole place. New tile furniture, etc. Have a great time.<BR>Duane<BR>http://www.cyberrentals.com/HI/BlackOAHU.html

We highly, highly recommend the north shore as a destination - had the vacation of a lifetime there last Sept. Rented the same place as Duane (above) - beautiful grounds, awesome beachfront lanai, friendly people, nice cottage. There's nothing like rolling out of bed and having your own (affordable) breakfast on that lanai, with the sight and sound and smell of that wonderful Hawaiian beach. It was a wonderfully low-key, casual, and affordable vacation.<BR><BR>Reasons we'd recommend the North Shore: lack of crowds, amazing variety of (mostly deserted) beaches within easy driving distance, only 40 min. or so to Honolulu/Wakiki for sightseeing there, friendly locals, plenty of restaurants/services in Haleiwa (10 min. away from this cottage). We very much enjoyed saving money cooking for ourselves - a couple of nights we bought fresh ahi from beach fishermen, and grilled it on the lanai - I cannot imagine the finest (and MUCH more expensive) restaurant providing me with a more delicious and romantic dining experience than those dinners on that lanai! Fresh pineapple from the Dole Planation (10 min. away) too!<BR><BR>We're saving up and hoping for Hawaii again in '03, and hubby wants to go back to the exact same place, he had such a wonderful time (I think we should try for the same kind of vacation on Kauai.....)<BR>

Hens4th,<BR>Awesome location isn't it. I talked to Patricia the other day and she just put $6,000 worth of improvements into the place. It will be even better. But, you can't buy that type of location anymore. <BR><BR>We did stay in Kauai for 2 weeks about 10 years ago and it was really nice too. Stayed in the Princeville area and had a condo right on the edge of very high cliff overlooking the water. Great location to watch the sun rise. <BR><BR>Unlike most people, I still like Oahu the best, mainly because of the North Shore accomadations. More stuff to do all within 1 hour.<BR><BR>Duane

Duane, Let's not let my husband find out about the improvements to the cottage - I'm having a hard enough time as it is convincing him we should try another island next year. He absolutely LOVED that cottage, and our whole Oahu vacation. But since we've already seen Oahu, and can only afford to go every other year, I insist on "seeing more of the world". Hoping we can find a similar vacation rental/experience on Kauai.....<BR><BR>(Don't you get irritated and angry at the posters on this forum who badmouth Oahu i.e. "you'll hate Oahu, it's just a big city with a beach" etc. My gosh, don't they ever leave Wakiki?!)

try<BR>www.bradleyproperties.com<BR>&hearts;

Hmmm, sounds like you're describing a place I may be planning to stay. When you say "talked to Patricia" -- does she live in Silicon Valley? If so, I'm excited at what I'm reading. My husband will love it!

I do get a little irked when people say that Oahu is just a big city, too crowded, etc. Obviously they have never stayed where we stayed. But, that is their opinion and that is OK. Keeps it quieter for us :~)<BR><BR>I've spent 2 weeks on Kauai and a short time on Maui and I still like Oahu the best. I will be going to the Big Island in May for a few days before settling in on the North Shore.<BR><BR>I like the idea that I am in the middle of nowhere and can sit for hours without seeing a single person on the beach but in 45 minutes I can be in the heart of Waikiki. <BR><BR>Dot, Patricia does live somewhere in California, not sure where. Very nice person, easily to get along with. <BR>Enjoy,<BR>Duane

Hensforth and Duane: we have a three bedroom cottage reserved near Mokuleia for January. We chose it because we thought that it would give us a little more room with our 2 kids (ages 5 and 8)than the Beach Colony units. It is quite a bit more expensive and doesn't have a pool like that place you rented. Any advice? Could you have put two little people in your unit and not been on top of each other. Thanks for your advice!

Yeah, we could have stayed w/2 kids in this cottage and been fine. Upsides: the living room is quite large, and has 2 "twin/couch" things for sleeping, perfect for putting the little ones down to sleep on while you enjoy the late evening on the lanai. There's also a very large closet/dressing area off the bath, w/plenty of room for belongings and luggage. Downsides: the bedroom, while roomy enough, separates from the living room with just a set of those folding doors, kinda thin, and noisy and awkward, so if privacy is a concern..... And the kitchen opens off the area where the kids would be sleeping, so you may have trouble making a quiet pot of coffee for the lanai before they wake. <BR><BR>But all in all, I'd think you'd love this cottage, especially considering the reasonable cost. And I'd think it would be kid heaven, and wonderful for a (small) family. The beach is literally 6 paces in front of the lanai - the kids can frolic in the waves while you watch relaxing on the lanai (we had mild surf in Aug/Sept, though - Jan. would probably be rougher). Plenty of beach for walking, and we collected a pound of shells. The next main beach to the west(?) (you have to drive there - 3 min. away) is a "windsurfers" beach - we spent a couple of afternoons just sitting on that beach watching the action - I'd think kids would really enjoy it.<BR><BR>Hope this helps.....and I KNOW you're going the love Mokuleia.....

hens4th,<BR>Thanks for your prompt advice. Will now have to decide which way to go! We are looking forward to our first Oahu excursion 'cause gosh, as much as we love the outer islands, the px's and direct flights into Honolulu from the west coast are pretty great. Also, in regards to your planned Kauai trip, there are some out of the way little spots with pretty good values- try Jungle Bungalow on the Northshore, Rosewood B & B near Kapaa (a little inland but charming), a websearch on Kalaheo rentals (out near Waimea and Polihale on a long stretch of beach- with very predictable sunshine) and Bali Hai Rentals- an agency that books all kinds of units on the Northshore. There is also a kayak company on the Northshore with 2 very cute Hanalei Rentals. Am blanking on the name. None appear to have the value of the Mokuleia Beach Colony but still are well priced options.

mj: thanks so much for the Kauai advice! Weirdly enough, I just last evening spent an hour chatting w/hubby on whether he really wants to save/spend the money for Kauai in '03 - and he DOES! I'm ready for some heavy internet Kauai cottage research. But gotta insist on oceanfront - we're from Kansas, so most of our "Hawaiian dreams" involve a beachfront lanai, and our own grill and cooler of beer, and the sight and sound and smell of the surf, and palm trees waving in the ocean breeze.....you know!<BR><BR>Have you gotten "Driving and Discovering Oahu" by Richard Sullivan? We thought it a most awesome guidebook for our 1st-time trip.....

Whever you go see that the property has monthly exsterminations, curtains blocking sun on bedroom windows, no nearby public camping. Find out how far you are from public beach access (sometimes people gather at night). <BR><BR>I used drivng and discovering Oahu after I lived there. I found the photos great but the material content like the addresses and phone numbers to either be absent or wrong. It is certainly a good reminder of what you want to see on the island with visuals. I do however think you will need a comprehensive guide on the island. We found it flawed for driving directions as I recall also. Just getting over the pali (from Lanikai) and into Honolulu we needed to buy a map think something that basic should have been better detailed in the guide.BTW when I lived on Oahu I did not drive.

PS I just returned from Kauai and Kayaked with Kayake Kauai. They are the largest Kayaking outfit on the island. I also previously thought of those rentals but after Kayaking on the river I would advise against. <BR><BR>They start renting Kayaks at 8am to families and groups. Imagine the laughing sometimes crying kids rolling by your bedroom at this hour. You are also at a significant distance from the beach. <BR><BR>I have to say that I like renting in Hanalei and near but not directly on the beach. You have more privacy when just a short walk from the beach but you don't need to hike down to the beach the way so many do in Princeveille. We were on the beach early morning back around noon until dusk and once with the full moon, shadow chasing. You do occasionallly see bonfires on the beach at night and drifters can congrigate at the pavillian. Want to also be a distance for the slaming doors of the Pavillian Parking lot. <BR><BR>I know it sounds like a lot of negatives but I think if you visit Kauai or any island you will see that much of what I have mentioned makes up quality properties.<BR><BR>Remember you don't want someone to tell you how many miles a one location is from another. You want them to tell you how many minutes to drive.Curvy roads make driving distances longer than they normally would be.

PS love Oahu also the cultural and historical info on that island is more available than any other island. Food selection is also the best on this island. I also like Oahu because you have a better opportunity to vacation inside of a long term community rather than a vacation compound. <BR><BR>However if you have the idea of an isoloated vacation with little to no people than I would suggest Kauai or the Big Island. North and Windward areas of Oahu do offer open spaces but if you are from the country as my sister was last year you might still find these places too busy.

Hey guys! Great discussion! Tell us more. Am interested in Kauai as well as Oahu.

The little cottage sounds neat. Did the surf keep you awake at night?

Oh, no, not at all - the sound of the surf was what put us to sleep - so very relaxing.....

Speaking of surf crashing.... we have rented a charming little house in South Kona right on Kealakekua Bay (you'd love it Hens4th. Let me know if when you are ready for a Big Island trip.)One of my kids who was about 6 at the time decided that we should all sleep on the big lanai one night so my husband, a good sport, hauled all of the beds out on the lanai. Well, of course, the kids decided it was too scary out there but after all of his work, we let the kids sleep in the house and we slept outside. I don't know which one of us got less sleep. The surf was HUGE that night and crashed up on the rocks. At some point I noticed these very large inch worm type created crawling all over the trunk of a tree leaning up against the lanai railing. We both dreamed of tsunamis and giant worms. We hastily moved our bed back into the house the next morning and from then on listened to the surf while tucked into our lovely little room. So much for an idyllic night near the ocean!

Make that "creatures" not "created."

MJ have a link for that house on the web. I am curious to see what it looks like.

All this talk is getting me anxious to go. I have over 8 months to wait and a couple of smaller vacation between now and then, but I am really looking forward to getting away.<BR><BR>This time we spent the miles to get first class tickets so it should be even more special. Can't wait for my Kona coffee on the lanai, grilling some fresh fish up for dinner, the list goes on and on. Can't wait.<BR><BR>And yea MJ, you can probably get by with the 2 kids. Not sure what your other rental looks like, but this would probably work. We did have our grandaughter stay over a couple of nights while we were there last time.<BR><BR>Duane