This was our first trip to Kauai, and we wanted an authentic, non-resort experience that captured the beauty and essence of what the island has to offer. After a lot of research, we chose the Guest House at River Estate. We made an excellent choice.
The location was perfect for us and felt right at the heart of the north shore experience on Kauai. A beautiful ten-minute drive east to Hanalei for groceries, meals, etc., and a few minutes drive west to Tunnels and Ke'e Beaches. So, while the location felt secluded, it was not far from the areas we spent a good chunk of our time. There is a general store and cute little sushi hut right nearby, but we never actually got there for some unknown reason.
In terms of the property, it is beautiful with the highlight of the river running right by the house. The sound and sight of that river was really special. There are a few other properties nearby, but we still felt like we had a lot of privacy.
The house was lovely, well-maintained, and clean. Everything was as described, and there were no surprises or disappointments based on everything we read and discussed with Mark. We enjoyed meals on the lanai overlooking the river and the feel and furnishings of master bedroom proved to offer exceptional rejuvenating powers!
I would definitely recommend this River Estate to anyone looking for the same things we were, and after having explored a very good part of the island and seeing other options of where to stay, I can honestly say that I would more than likely just come back to River Estate - and I'm not the type of person who tends to come back to the same place again. It is a special spot.
My boyfriend and I are a flight crew and picked the RiverHouse for our stay in Hanalei for the peace and tranquility that you cannot find at a hotel. I was a little nervous at first because I had never used VRBO. The house lives up to all of the wonderful reviews and more! It is wonderfully secluded but only a 15 minute drive to Hanalei in one direction and 15 minutes to Ke'e Beach and the Kalalau Trail. The house itself has beautiful furnishings and a fully equipped kitchen. Mark provides a great music and movie selection as well as games, books , beach towels and chairs. Waking up to the roosters every morning makes a great start to a day in paradise. You will hear some dogs barking as well, but that is part of the local flavor. You are living near locals, not a generic touristy resort. We have traveled the world in our line of work and this house is the ABSOLUTE BEST!