Kona Kai Oasis

The day pass we were offered for Alexander’s pool wasn't practical, since it was about a 30-minute walk from the property. The place felt neglected, with minimal upkeep and fixes that seemed superficial. The pool and hot tub were lukewarm, only half full, stained with dirt, and had sputtering jets. It was still marked under repair, despite reviews mentioning the same problems three years earlier. There was little privacy around the pool, and nearby guests could easily see us from their window, which made us uncomfortable. The rooms had mildew smells, peeling paint, rusty fixtures, chipped tiles, and damp bedding. The shower had almost no pressure, so I couldn't wash my hair, and the faucet was held together with caulking. Noise and security were also problems: the walls were very thin, people were loud outside my window late at night, and the doors and gates were left unlocked. I paid the same rate for two rooms even though one was much smaller. Kona Kai Oasis was disappointing and nowhere near the quality of Alexander’s, despite how it was presented. It felt like they send people here when Alexander’s Guesthouse is full, so they don't lose the revenue. I felt ripped off, especially when other Airbnb‘s nearby charge the same for better quality.

We had a good stay at Kona Kai and would likely return. It's at the end of Duval, so it's quieter, and close to two Duval Loop stops and the Thirsty Rooster bar and liquor store. Our room was big enough for three adults and a child, with a kitchenette that had a mini fridge and freezer, sink, toaster, Keurig, and microwave. That made bagels and coffee for a light breakfast easy. Check-in and check-out are fully contactless and worked well. We arrived before check-in, though, and had to leave our bags beside the porch since there's no office. It wasn't a big deal because the gate uses a code and everything was safe, but it may be useful for others to know. My only real minus was the lack of an ice machine or water station. You can get water and ice across the street at Southwinds motel, where we stayed on a previous trip, but having it on site would be nice.

We had an easy check-in, smooth communication, and a clean, comfortable room at Kona Kai. It was great having our dog with us. The dog beach and Duval are both about a two-minute walk away. We'll definitely stay again.

The good parts were the cold AC, comfortable beds, and an easy walk downtown. The rest felt pretty grimy. The carpets were stained and made me want to keep my shoes on. The pool and hot tub were dirty, cold, and not maintained, so we only dipped our feet and felt too put off to get in. There were three of us, but we couldn't find three usable bikes. Some had flat tires, others missing pedals, and there were various maintenance issues. When I mentioned it, they said the bikes had been checked the day before and were all working. Lol, sure. The cramped little bathroom had a gross shower. There was hair in it when we arrived, dusty headboards, stains splattered on the doors, and a torn-up nasty chair in the room that should just be thrown away.