I stayed at an Airbnb in Hawaii for just $113 a night. From the outdoor bathtub to lush gardens, here's what it was like
This glamping Airbnb in the rainforest on the Big Island of Hawaii cost me just $113 a night.
The natural beauty and luxurious amenities, like the outdoor bathtub, made the stay worth it.
Although it feels remote, the property is pretty close to the beach, downtown Kona, and the airport.
Located on the slopes of a dormant volcano, Holualoa is a small town just outside of Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii and a popular hub for artists and coffee connoisseurs.
For only $113 a night, I stayed at an Airbnb there that's surrounded by a lush botanical garden.
It's within 20 minutes of the beach, downtown Kona, and the airport, and has three furnished glamping tents, an outdoor bathtub, and much more.
Here's what my stay was like.
Glamping is perfect if you want to be in nature without giving up the luxuries of indoor living
Modern glamping started gaining popularity in the early 2000s, as it offers campers desirable amenities, like warm beds and running water.
This particular experience in the Holualoa rainforest has an extra-large tent outfitted with a queen-size bed, storage space with extra towels and blankets, a charging port for electronics, and a bedside table with cute decor.
There are also three windows that can be unzipped to let in the fresh air.
The Airbnb also had an alfresco kitchen with basic necessities, plus an adjacent lounge with couches, a hammock, meditation pillows, and a calming water fountain.
There are also three bathrooms, one of which has a relaxing outdoor tub.
Being immersed in the natural beauty of a Hawaiian rainforest and botanical garden was incredibly serene
Being able to start my day by intimately connecting with nature while bathing in the tropical rainforest already made the price of my stay worth it.
During my stay, I walked around and admired a variety of flowers that were growing all over the property.
I also heard the songs of local birds and a nightly symphony from coqui frogs, which was a lovely sound to fall asleep to, despite it coming from an invasive species.
I also made friends with some of the animals that live on the property, including the owner's dogs and a cat who loved the outdoor bathtub.
The surrounding area has cool spots just a short drive away.
The Big Island is an ideal locale to visit world-renowned beaches, too. Before arriving at my Airbnb, I had a relaxing day at Hapuna Beach, which was recently named the No. 1 beach in America by Tripadvisor.
There's also Kona coffee available, locally crafted brews at Kona Brewing Co., and a dormant volcano you can explore by hiking up Hualalai.
Plus HiCO Hawaiian Coffee serves some great ube (purple yam) lattes and you can see lava at Volcano National Park.
Overall, I thought this Airbnb offered a unique experience and I liked that there was plenty to explore in the area surrounding it.