Bears' Place Guest House

Note that the "Dining" score above is irrelevant because this property provides no food service. We are very glad we picked this place for our first trip to Hawaii. Our room was big, clean and comfortable. It provided everything we needed and more, including laundry facilities with detergent provided. Nannette's hospitality exceeded expectations. She even let us borrow a cooler for a two-day trip to the other side of the island (after we checked out of her place)! The guest house is not within walking distance to anything but one can't really enjoy the Big Island without a rental car, anyway. The drive to Kailua-Kona town was short and convenient. We would recommend this place to anyone. - Jay and Peggy

My wife and I stayed at Bears for 17 night (from 02/16/2012 to 03/04/2012). We read reviews before we made our reservation. What we like to say is on top of what other had said. Ann & Nanette have the experience and ability to choose good and quiet guests so every party there will have a enjoyable stay. We met both Ann & Nanette and they have got extensive knowledge of the Big island. It was a great stay for us and we will stay there when we go back to Big island next time. Tomoko and George Tokyo, Japan 03/13/2012

We had a great stay here. Nanette is an inspiration to me and so easy to talk to, it's obvious she takes pride in her guest house, she does such a fine job with this place. I felt welcomed and valued. Everyone should get a try of her passion fruit jam it is fantastic, plus her little surprises are always nice. location is close to airport and I would recommend car hire but car hire is needed if you want to be able to see all of the big island anyway.

A very nice place to stay. Breakfast awaits you your first day. Every night we came home to a snack waiting for us in our room which was a nice surprise. So nice to have beach chairs, beach towels, etc provided. We would stay there again but would rent the upsatirs suite where you have a better view from the Lanai.

We had a really wonderful stay at Bear's Place Guest House! Nanette and Anne made us feel so welcome . We loved the lanai , and the little treats that appeared every day- eg. cookies/ nuts/ chocolate. It was also great to have free access to beach chairs, umbrellas, and boogie boards . This is one place we will recommend to everyone we know!

Nanette runs a wonderful guest house. The views are great, and being 1000' above sea level, it gets nice and cool in the evening. We stayed 4 days in the Plumeria suite. The walls between suites were a bit thin, and so the other occupants could be easily heard. Late arrivals or early departures were the most noticeable. Nanette was very responsive to any requests, and provided surprise treats (cookies, nuts, chocolate truffles) in the evenings. The breakfast treats for the first morning were especially appreciated.

We stayed 10 nights at Bears place and loved it. Nanette is a great host, friendly, nice and knowledgeable about the area. We were in the Pulmeria Suite, very large and comfortable. Nanette left treats daily, a nice surprise when we got back. The next time we will try for the Orchid Suite as it has a full kitchen. Mahalo Nanette. Harry & Lorree ,Camano Island, WA

Summary: Great place to stay! Details: About 10 min. drive from airport and from the center of Kailua Kona, in a very quiet residential area. The hosts, Anne and Nanette, are very friendly and helpful. Choose one of the upstairs rooms because the view is outstanding. The kitchen is better equipped than any kitchen I have seen during my travels in Hawaii. The price is fair. The room I stayed at is huge. The bed is great and that's very rare. It couldn't have been cleaner (I will never understand why hotels and guest houses have carpets; but this one looked very clean). If you want to stay in the middle of a town, this is not for you. If you want to sleep on a quiet place - go for it! It's a shame (but also a chance) that it seems often not to be fully booked...

Bears' Place was everything their reviews said it would be. Clean rooms that looked exactly like the pictures, friendly and helpful hosts, and a peaceful setting within easy driving distance of beaches, dining, hiking and more. It's a knockout value, and I can't wait to sit on the lanai and watch the geckos play while drinking coffee on my next visit.

The place is very nice and clean. Each room has a large lanai with a beautiful view of the garden. The host was very friendly and knowledgeable of the surrounding attractions. The thing that I liked the most about this place is that every small thing shows that the host cares about making your stay as pleasant as possible. For example, even though they do not officially serve breakfast, they put one into our refrigerator the first day we arrived, so that we didn’t have to run around looking for food early next day. Each morning they leave at your door some fresh fruit from the garden. You can also gather whatever fruits they have by yourself if you like. Beach towels, boogey boards, beach chairs and cooler were available for free right in the room when we needed them. In case you want to cook your own food, they also provide you with a small electrical skillet on the lanai, very useful in the morning if you don’t feel like going out for breakfast. Washer and dryer are also free including the detergent. Overall, we had a very pleasant and enjoyable stay. I would definitely recommend this place and would stay there the next time I visit Hawaii.

This was a great home base for a friend and I who stayed in the Hibiscus room at Bear's Place. We had all that we needed and the location was great for us. Having access to washer dryer were wonderful, as well as loaning us beach towels and chairs. The owners/hostesses were friendly, accomodating and responsive. We would highly recommend the place and would definately stay if returning.

a very nice place to stay with a wonderfull garden. the view at the pinepeal suite is through the banana trees but it is so quite....

The guest house is very nice - The rooms were as showen in the pictures and kept very clean. The owners are open and friendly. We were able to "check in" late in the night and met them on the following morning! Based on being a guest house - we were very surprised and happy about a first breakfast being in our refridgerator (it is a guest house without breakfast!). Although we got some sweet surprisings daily! Thanks also for the good advices concerning our stay on Hawaii!! - Dinner met expectations, because there was no dinner available -

Nice place to stay, near Kailua and the beatiful beaches of North Kona/South Kohala. Rooms are perfect, big and clean, with a nice lanai and stuff to cook on the room. Our hostess were nice and friendly, and they gave us nice tips about where to go for bodyboarding and snorkel. If we ever go back to Hawaii we will stay back with them. Thanks!

The room was much bigger than expected. Wonderfully decorated & very clean. It really was lovely to stay here - it was just a shame there was so much to see in Hawaii otherwise we would have enjoyed spending more time here! Self contained & everything you need for a nice relaxing break & in a nice quiet area. Laundry room too so really everything you'd need. Some nice touches from the owners - welcome fruit & bagels in the fridge on arrival and little treats when we returned each day. It is a few miles out of town so a car is essential. Owners able to advise on best beaches for swimming and places to visit. Would definately recommend it as a place to stay.

we had a wonderful time on big island!!!! b&b was great and highly recommended!!!!! thanks a lot to nanette and anne!!!!!! hugs and kisses isa, günther, gabriel schermann

We spent a week in Bears' Place Guest House and truly found paradise! Anne and her granddaughter greeted us with open arms, showing us around the place and highlighting some great beaches for us. She also provided some very helpful hints about parking and shopping. The Plumeria Suite was delightful with a wonderful breeze always and a view of the Kona coast. We loved the tranquility of the guest house listening to the birds every morning sipping Kona coffee on the lanai. It was great being away from the touristy area, yet so close to do all we wanted. We felt like o'hana as Anne checked in on us daily, but wasn't obtrusive at all. We plan to return to Bears' Place Guest House as soon as possible! Laura and Eric Ebersohl

The hosts were very friendly and offered us everything we needed for an enjoyable stay near Kona. Although, the place is at about 15 minutes from downtown, it's still worth driving there (you already spend a lot of time driving on Big Island to discover different parts so it doesn't change much). The room/condo was very clean and provided us with everything my girlfriend and I needed in the kitchen but also to go to the beach. We highly recommend the place and we'll make sure to go back there if we ever go back on Big Island.

We stayed for 4 nights. Arrived late the first night. A little tricky to find in the dark but once there it was great. Although not a B&B, Anne provided our breakfast the first day and daily afternoon treats. Very clean and well equipped with very friendly, helpful owner. We really enjoyed the lanai and garden. I would love to return.

I stayed in the Orchid Suit, because I wanted to have the full kitchen,which was much better supplied than most vacation condos - good selection of pots and pans,dishes,blender and mixer,amongst other things. Anne and Nannette left breakfast on the first day, and little treats the other days. Nannette's tips for places to go and things to do made meter like a local. The house is above town, so a place to get peace and quiet, not the place to walk to restaurants and bars. About a 15 minute drive from the center of town. The environment is nice, starting from the outside, good convenient parking area, pretty, swell-kept garden, inside the units are good carpeting, furniture, and fixtures.

Wir haben die 3 Nächte im Bears' Place sehr geschätzt. Wir haben insgesamt 5 B&B's genutzt während unserer Zeit in Hawaii: wir haben nur gute Erfahrungen gehabt, aber Bears' Place war das beste. Der Raum war grosszügig, praktisch eingerichtet und sehr sauber. Zum Kochen eines einfachen Nachtessens und zum Frühstücken hat es alles, was es braucht und für an den Strand kann man gut erhaltene und saubere Kühlboxen, Buggyboards, Tücher etc ausleihen. Ebenfalls besonders geschätzt haben wir die super instand gehaltene und saubere Waschmaschine und den Tumbler. Aufs Meer sah man von der unteren Wohnung aus nicht, aber dank den Bananenstauden, dem schönen Garten und der Ruhe fühlt man sich wie in einer grünen Oase. Wir danken Anne und ihrer Familie für die herzliche Gastfreundschaft und wünschen ihnen alles Gute! We stayed for 3 nights at Bears' Place and enjoyed it very much. From all 5 great B&Bs we had during our holidays in Hawaii, Bears' Place was our favorite. The room was spacious, convenient and quiet. To cook an easy dinner and for breakfast it had everything one needs and for the beach, Eskys, towels, boogy boards etc were available (and in very good condition compared to other B&Bs). Thanks to Anne and her Family for their warm hospitality. Moni & Otto

We normally don't write reviews and read them with caution; however, this one is worth noting. Staying at Bears' Place far exceeded our expectations and, indeed, made our trip to Hawaii "special." From sitting out on the deck and watching the sunset to exploring the garden and picking tropical fruit... The rooms were clean, comfortable, and quiet. The hospitality spectacular with "treats" provided as noted by many of the comments written on their web page. We also appreciated being able to borrow beach towels, chairs/mats, and boogie boards and their local advice on where to go snorkeling/exploring on the Island. We would definitely recommend Bears' Place!

nice ocean view, cool breezes, lots of birds in the garden, lovely hosts

We were staying in the Plumeria Suite for 1 week (03/26-04/02/2011). On the first floor of this 4-Suites house. The location is very convenient : about 10 minutes from the Airport (no noise) or to Kailua. The Suite is perfectly organized, and the design artistic. We appreciate the surrounding balcony, the sun and the oceanview. We enjoyed the discrete presence of Anne and Nanette, and their useful help. It was a pitty to have to leave this charming and delightful House. Monique and Luc, a couple of french speaking Belgians.

We stayed at Bear's place for a week. We were staying in pineapple room. It was a nice and quite big room to stay with complete mini kitchen set and nice free laundry room. The owner is also so nice and advised us several places to go. It's just too bad that we didn't get breakfast and if any other person in other rooms, we could hear when they're moving. It's quite annoying though if it happened in the night or in the early morning when we were resting. But over all, it's nice place to stay.

Very hospitable hosts; very nice location, away from the hustle and bustle of town while only minutes away from great beaches and restaurants. Well kept and apportioned rooms with a panoramic view of the coastline. We loved it! Mike and Valerie A. - Woodburn, Oregon

If you're visiting Kona for more than 3 days this is the place to stay. 15 minutes from downtown in a quiet, secluded area. Large suites, treats and washer/ dryer make stay even better. I would definitely recommend this B&B.

We, a young European couple, stayed at Bear's Place for 5 nights. It was really nice, we had a lot of space in our apartment. We heard the people on the first floor, but it was not annoying. We liked it a lot and will surely return when we visit Big Island again. Nanette came by, and explained us where to go and where not to go. She was very friendly and helpful.

We stayed for 3 nights. Everything was clean and attractive. Upstairs guests could be heard moving around at night. sounding quite loud. Internet was spotty. Hostess was helpful.

Here is a guest house I would recommend to anybody. Situated in the comfortable air high up the side of Hualalai, Bear's Place presides over a small neighborhood, so there are the occasional sounds of domesticity around you, a dog, a distant rooster here and there, but I also heard a cow! Never saw it. The house is composed of a set of mini-suites, each one opening onto its own wide lanai, part of a balcony running the entire periphery. For one week, I enjoyed staying in the 'Plumeria', a large one bedroom unit with vaulted ceilings. The suite contained basic kitchen appliances for when I chose to eat in and flat screen TV in case I really got bored, which I never did. Nanette and Anne were fantastic hosts, stocking the fridge on arrival with breakfast items, and every day or so I would find a little gift of cookies, nuts or sweets, and sometimes a note asking me how my stay was. They both stopped by a few times to chat or offer area suggestions. I always felt as if I were staying with someone, not merely staying someplace, and that it the true measure of a B&B or guest house. Most of the time however, it was serenity. Cool breezes, golden sunsets (I watched whales breach off shore from the airport below) and passing five minute showers that could be heard approaching for a mile. If you are still fidgety and uptight after spending a few nights at Bear's Place, may I suggest a physician-induced coma. Five Stars.

We were very pleased with our accomodations at the Bears Place. It was clean and roomy and had everything we needed. Our innkeepers were very pleasant and offered help with restaurants, beaches, shopping, directions, etc. We would definately stay with them again!

Very nice place to stay. Wonderfull views, much of space and very friendly hosts. Mahalo.

Large, clean, spacious room; very nice inn-keepers; lots of amenities; beautiful lanai; very convenient to everything. The only negative is that we were cold mornings & night; need a small heater and/or blankets. Really enjoyed everything!

Diligent searching for a weekend getaway with Mainland visitor led me to Bear's Place, and I'm so glad we found you! Your home was just right for us to establish as a home base while we toured the Kona area. High enough that traffic, smaze, and noise were nonexistent, and close enough that we didn't feel isolated or out of touch. Our hosts were more than accommodating and helpful, and the family atmosphere made us feel right at home. We especially appreciated the wonderful books on local lore and stories. We now own two of the favorites cuz they were so worthwhile having our own copies! As vacation rental owners ourselves, we found all to our satisfaction re: cleanliness, amenities, and quality furnishing. I have posted Bear's Place information in our Kapoho home so you know that we liked it enough to recommend it to our renters. Mahalo for a pleasant stay and we will definitely return next we want to come to Kona.

Room and service are outstanding, but the water pressure is a little low and hot water is run out especially with other guests in other rooms in the shower.

[Resource Id: innkeeperresponse, Set: reviews]
If this guest had let us know, we would quickly have adjusted the electric back-up on our solar system to ensure plenty of hot water. Our water pressure is set at the recommended level, and we have not had a complaint on either issue in the two and a half years we've been in business.

- Nanette (innkeeper)

We thought that this was a really nice place to stay. We enjoyed going outside and having breakfast every morning. It was nice going back to the room knowing that it was cleaned.

Bear’s Place Guest House Nov. 2010 - Bear’s Place Guest House in Kailua-Kona, HI was an exceptional experience and exceeded our expectations. While researching I was already impressed by the 5 star reviews and comments it had! This was a no brainer. Reserving was a breeze. Nanette is a natural organizer and very helpful. We liked the convenient location 7 miles from Kona, close proximity to beaches, quiet neighborhood in a tropical serene setting; spacious suites are clean and comfortably casual. Nannette and Anne’s high standards prevailed. Bear’s Place also had all the amenities and more like, free parking, use of laundry facilities, WIFI, complimentary use of boogey boards +++. We think Bear’s Place is the Best place and the Best value on The Big Island. Check it out.

Nice, clean and friendly accommodation, very well for family with small kids. Due to high elevation pleasant temperature at night time.

This was my first trip to Hawaii and I was travelling with my wife. I could not have make a better choice to stay. This place was excellent in every aspect. Rooms were big, nice and clean, bathroom was also very big but best part was lanai, it was very quiet, very relaxing with garden view. I really appreciated hopitality from Anne and Nanette. They allowed us to even pick the passion fruits from the garden, can't get any better than this and their homemade Passion fruit jelly really hit the spot. This Place is about 15-20 mins drive from nearest beach but Anne told me a beach which was not in the map and that beach turned out to be the best beach for me in 12 days at Hawaii including Maui beaches. Overall very quiet, very relaxing and excellent place to stay.

Stayed here during Iron Man with the family. Nanette was a wonderful host who went beyond expectations! Short drive to town and beaches, but because we were going different direction every day location worked out perfect. Kids loved the fresh fruit, parents loved the lani to sit and watch the sunsets. New and clean house. Looking forward to the next time we can visit. Randy (San Diego)

We stayed here three days on our last visit and were extremely pleased. The hosts went out of their way to make us feel like valued guests. The combination of privacy and comfort was great! Hosts have lived on the island a long time and give great tips on where to go to the beach, for lunch, etc. The room was clean, spacious and attractive. We especially loved sitting out on the lanai (deck). We'll definitely go back again.

It was a really nice experience in a very peacefull and quiet environnement. The room was big, nice, confortable and very clean. For the price, it was definitely the best we got !! Owners are very friendly and everything is in a range of a 15-20 minutes drive.