The Tropical Hideaway was a perfect getaway for the last portion of our Hawaii vacation. The property is open to nature (with screens so no bugs) and immediately makes you feel relaxed. The gardens are secluded and private, with access to a pool and a private hot tub. The host Kathleen met us on arrival, gave us a tour and some local knowledge guidance and then we never saw her again until our final day. But she was the perfect host and answered all my concerns or questions very promptly. When we were there, a potential hurricane was looming a couple hundred miles offshore, which didn't allow for much to do on the island, due to heavy rain and flood warnings. However we still were able to relax on the property and enjoy our vacation despite the bad weather.

My daughter and I really enjoyed Kathleen’s place. She was friendly and hospitable. The place was clean and had everything we needed. The best thing about this place is the location. To step was the most beautiful place to snorkel and I got lucky enough to see dolphins very close. The hot tub was a nice touch in the morning relaxing with my coffee. The bed was super comfortable. I really have nothing negative to say. It was like a lovely place.

Spent an idyllic vacation at Tropical Hideway on our visit to the Big Island. You won’t be near any hotels or condos, you’ll be in a beautiful garden setting with a screened in studio, private hot tub and garden. We went to Two Step snorkeling every day-it’s down the road. We ate local fish and garden fruits left for the guests. We were not interested in being tourists, we wanted to relax and spend Island time and Tropical Hideway delivered. Can’t recommend it enough if the condo/hotel life isn’t for you. Kathleen Carr is the perfect host: accessible but not intrusive. We’ll be back.

Tucked back from the main road, yet close to 3 of the most stunning bays I have ever seen, with easy access to snorkeling, kayaking, bodysurfing...AND I highly recommend you have Kathy (the owner) bring you swimming with the dolphins - truly one of the most magical experiences of my life!! If you want the luxury resort experience - head north, but for nature lovers and those who like exploring the ocean, this is heaven on earth. I'm already looking to see when I can return.

This is an absolutely charming, well equipped piece of paradise. The views both from inside and out are the stuff dreams are made of. Forget going to the store; Kathleen kept us well-stocked in fruits from the property. The hot tub right outside the door and heavenly shower made going to the beach a tough sell. The location is absolutely perfect with snorkeling, kayaking and the beach minutes down the hill. Here you have it all, views, privacy, magic.

It's a sweet place . Beautiful location, lovely ocean. Just relaxing a filled with vibrancy and beauty. Kathy is wonderful.

Tropical Hideway is basically a screened-in studio with kitchen and a covered but open private patio area that includes a gas grill, a (naked) hot tub, and a shower. At first, this city girl was somewhat taken aback by how *outside* everything was and by small drawbacks like having only a hot plate (with only one working burner) instead of a stove. But very soon I was enjoying pretty much everything about this beautiful little corner of Honaunau. It's on a hill above the road with neighbours nearby but hidden away. Even when it was hot out, we often had a cool breeze blowing through the screens. We were a five-minute drive from Pae'a (Two Step) for excellent snorkeling and a short drive from many other attractions and services. The only time the outdoor living got to me was when it rained. Even though the room is well sheltered, everything gets damp, which I felt when I climbed into bed. But it never bothered me for long. For an older couple like us, the sideways raised bed posed a bit of difficulty for getting in and out, especially at night when you're trying not to disturb the other sleeper, but we made it work. The owner and her partner live upstairs, and they are both very nice and helpful, as is the gardener. There is also another vacation rental on the property in the back. Sitting in our room surrounded by trees and garden, watching Netflix, and drinking White Zinfandel was pretty near perfect. I want to be back there right now!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ We stayed at the Tropical Getaway and were completely enchanted by the location and ambiance of the place. The website pictures are a true representation. The grounds are beautiful and quiet (bring earplugs though for the coqui frogs!). The bed was super comfortable. The whole place is screened in so you feel like you are outside all of the time, which we loved. Since it was so lovely outside this was welcome and wonderful. We loved the hot tub which is kept very clean. It is a very private spot and we felt like we had it all to ourselves. Kathy, the owner, was friendly and helpful. It was nice to meet her. The kitchen had everything we needed and was easy to use. The bathroom was super clean and the outdoor shower was easy to use and very private. We used the Getaway as a base for many adventures but our favorite was the Place of Refuge and Two Step snorkeling spot which were mere minutes from the Getaway. We enjoyed delicious avocados from the surrounding gardens. We couldn't have chosen a better place. It was so hard to leave!

We chose Tropical Hideaway due to its proximity to 2-step (best snorkeling on the island) and Kealakakua Bay. We were also intrigued by the promise of privacy and lack of city noise--and the reviews were uniformly 5-stars. The garden setting is absolutely peaceful and relaxing, the bed was quite comfortable, and the screens let the gentle breezes through at a perfect temperature. We were able to hang out in total privacy, which is much nicer than the rows of side-by-side lanais in big box hotels and condos. We adopted 2 "pet" geckos and enjoyed the beautiful sounds of the birds and frogs. The resident cats were a very nice touch. However, the online pictures and amenity descriptions were a bit misleading--the unit needs a good cleaning and an overhaul/replacement of the appliances and utensils. The ocean view is limited and has power lines running through it. Also the occasional trucks and motorcycles were surprisingly loud due to the proximity to the road and woke us in the mornings. Overall this was a relaxing stay but the above issues prevent a 5-star rating from us. Pros: Proximity to 2-step and Kealakakua, no other tourists or nearby businesses, TV has free Netflix, Kona Coffee farms nearby. Cons: Appliances need upgrade, unit could use thorough cleaning, bug bites, limited ocean view with power lines, traffic noise, little storage space, kitchen not great.

Loved my 12 days at this rental. Amazing gardens, fabulous pool and everything I needed to enjoy every moment. There is everything you need in the kitchen, the outdoor shower was amazing and the bed is very comfortable. Having no windows and just screens allowed a wonderful breeze to fill the unit and because of the rustic location this allowed the sounds of nature to also fill the unit. Ear plugs helped the first few nights but then was used to the noises and thoroughly enjoyed falling asleep and waking up them. The location is away from town and you must have a car to access stores. The snorkeling 3 mins away at two step beach was amazing and I was blessed to have seen dolphins, turtles and hundreds of fish. Thank you so much Ivy for welcoming me in Kathy's absence and thank you Kathy for your hospitality upon your return. Would return again in a heartbeat! Big Mahalo!!! Tasha