We were pleasantly surprised by this unit. The pictures honestly don’t do it justice. The unit is a very private, quiet, 2nd floor, corner unit with a view of the majestic mountains behind Hanalei as well as a peek of Hanalei Bay. The unit was very clean and well appointed for a studio unit including beach chairs and a small cooler. We appreciated the mini fridge and coffee pot and since we knew ahead of time it wasn’t a full kitchen, we planned our meals accordingly. We also liked that the comfortable bed had a quilt. Many times this isn’t the case in Hawaii and we end up feeling cold at night. The Hanalei Bay Resort is a classic, Polynesian style resort that feels very inviting the minute you arrive. The pool and spa are wonderful for all ages and is a short walk from the unit. The path to the beach is also a few steps away from the unit which we found desirable and great for our morning walks. We ate at the Happy Talk restaurant at the resort twice, both times we really enjoyed the food, service and ambience. For an exceptional upscale experience, we recommend dining at 1 Hotel next to the Hanalei Bay Resort. It’s expensive, but worth the treat! We will definitely check to see if this unit is available next time we are in Princeville! It’s a hidden gem.
The only drawback is the fact that the resort changes a daily parking and there is no other place to park. If you park on the neighborhood street, you will be fined. There is also a daily use fee for the resort. I would have preferred to know this up front before booking and not at the time we were given instructions by Vacasa. Also confusing is that we rented the unit through VRBO, but Vacasa is the manager, and The Hanalei Bay Resort checks you into the unit.
It would be helpful if the owner would describe this in their description.