Waimanalo Beach Cottages — Attraction in Oʻahu

I don’t normally post reviews, but our stay at Waimanalo Beach Cottages was terrible.

Here are our issues: Individual cottages: Cottage 1 - Brandan to email Cottage 3 - blinds in bedroom not working (Tommy fixed), cockroaches, dirty silverware & utensils in drawer, 2 stove burners not working, shower faucet fell off and hit guest on foot, back patio slats rotting, mold and mildew on windows and jams, faucet in kitchen is bathroom faucet & didn’t turn. Cottage 4 - air conditioner broken & toilet consistently running entire time (Tommy checked, couldn’t fix need to replace), no rods on blinds so couldn’t open or shut, FYI - guest left day early so let Tommy start on Saturday Cottage 5 - large burner not working, toaster only one side working, ripped bedsheet, TV not working (Tommy fixed), very old pac n play-thin pad, stained Cottage 6 - refrigerator in front of window, no hangers, stains on bathroom curtains, rusted mirror, no hooks Cottage 9 - mold and mildew on bathroom screen and frame, stopper had to be pried out, rust on mini fridge, counter broken, no range or oven, old front blinds top rusted couldn’t lower (Tommy did get them lowered) Cottage 10 - no air conditioner, sofa cushion ripped, loose refrigerator handle, loose sink handle, broken can opener, only one bowl, broken blinds, crooked picture hanging over TV, cockroaches Cottage 11 - broken oven handle & ripped chair cushion (Tommy did tell me about it, said last guest did it), refrigerator has rust & makes loud squeak when opened/closed, bad shower head & no stopper, outlets sparked when plugged in, broken blinds, bedroom door sticks, no toaster, dirty rug and carpets.

Waimanalo Beach Cottages charges exurbanite rates for less than what would be expected via their website. My suggestion is: Please DO NOT stay at Waimanalo Beach Cottages unless you expect to accept less than what you expected, and are willing to spend lots of cash for what you’re NOT getting.

We are currently asking for a reduction in our charges based on our grievances (see above) and Carolyn is overlooking and minimizing our concerns and refusing to issue us a rebate of our charges saying the Cottages are ‘rustic’. No…they’re not ‘rustic’…they are ‘run down’, plain and simple. She just doesn’t want to admit that her Cottages are run down and unacceptable.

We had a wedding there and every time I spoke with Carolyn, the rules and regulations changed. We were told we could only have 25 people at the Cottages/Wedding but then learned they’d booked a party of 30 for the week after we left…for a wedding Seriously ??? Carolyn is an opportunist and if you choose to stay...

Review: Cottage #1 Stay, Mid April 2024||During our week-long stay in Cottage #1, booked directly through the owner's website, we experienced a mix of positives and areas for improvement.||Pros:||The cottage was clean upon arrival, with several upgraded features including tile floors, countertops, air conditioning unit and furnishings such as the sofa/futon and bed/mattress.|Essential amenities like cookware (2 pots & 1 skillet) were provided, and we appreciated the comfort of the bed.||Cons:||While some aspects were well-maintained and upgraded, there were noticeable signs of neglect, including dated ceiling lights, tub/shower insert and shower fixtures, and issues like peeling paint in the bathroom.|Window locks were broken, and window blinds were improperly installed (not trimmed and far too long) and damaged, affecting both functionality and aesthetics.|The kitchen table showed significant signs of wear. The curtains were a 'handyman' install and impractical and highly annoying to manipulate closed for moments of privacy from the neighbors outside the window.|Basic kitchen supplies were lacking, which was inconvenient for our stay. Several basic items that we would have used but we don't typically pack for vacation were not supplied, such as, scissors, cheese grater, food storage containers, chip clips and salt & pepper.||Comfort:||The bed provided excellent comfort, although the futon/sofa was less so, and there was nothing available, except the floor, for resting drinks while on the futon/sofa.|Beach chairs were available but in limited supply, requiring early acquisition.||Parking:||Ample (free) parking at all times of the day & evening during our stay. All parking, including property owned parking, is directly outside the property's gate. Free street parking is 1-2 minutes additional walk from the property's paid parking lot.||Summary:||Despite the fantastic location, the overall maintenance and furnishing of the cottage fell short of expectations. While individual issues were not significant enough to warrant immediate complaint and we didn't want to spend our vacation addressing these with the owner, their collective impact left us disappointed that the property has not been maintained and decorated to its...

Review: Cottage #1 Stay, Mid April 2024

During our week-long stay in Cottage #1, booked directly through the owner's website, we experienced a mix of positives and areas for improvement.

Pros:

The cottage was clean upon arrival, with several upgraded features including tile floors, countertops, air conditioning unit and furnishings such as the sofa/futon and bed/mattress. Essential amenities like cookware (2 pots & 1 skillet) were provided, and we appreciated the comfort of the bed.

Cons:

While some aspects were well-maintained and upgraded, there were noticeable signs of neglect, including dated ceiling lights, tub/shower insert and shower fixtures, and issues like peeling paint in the bathroom. Window locks were broken, and window blinds were improperly installed (not trimmed and far too long) and damaged, affecting both functionality and aesthetics. The kitchen table showed significant signs of wear. The curtains were a 'handyman' install and impractical and highly annoying to manipulate closed for moments of privacy from the neighbors outside the window. Basic kitchen supplies were lacking, which was inconvenient for our stay. Several basic items that we would have used but we don't typically pack for vacation were not supplied, such as, scissors, cheese grater, food storage containers, chip clips and salt & pepper.

Comfort:

The bed provided excellent comfort, although the futon/sofa was less so, and there was nothing available, except the floor, for resting drinks while on the futon/sofa. Beach chairs were available but in limited supply, requiring early acquisition.

Parking:

Ample (free) parking at all times of the day & evening during our stay. All parking, including property owned parking, is directly outside the property's gate. Free street parking is 1-2 minutes additional walk from the property's paid parking lot.

Summary:

Despite the fantastic location, the overall maintenance and furnishing of the cottage fell short of expectations. While individual issues were not significant enough to warrant immediate complaint and we didn't want to spend our vacation addressing these with the owner, their collective impact left us disappointed that the property has not been maintained and decorated to its...