For this trip to the Big Island we decided to do something different.

All of our trips include Volcano, but this time it was first place we headed. The Teapot was exactly what we needed. After 2 days there we no longer knew what day it was. This was the perfect way to begin our vacation.

We have been to the Big Island about 10 or 12 times, and this was the first time we've stayed at the Teapot, but it definately won't be our last.

We loved the Teapot Cottage. It is set in the most beautiful grounds. It has a fantastic hot tub and wonderful flora and fauna in the huge grounds. Everything that you could think of needing is provided. There are books (including vital travel books to help you plan), puzzles, games including a croquet set, a great selection of DVDs and a laptop with Wi-Fi connection. The kitchen is well stocked with an array of foods and not surprisingly teas. The bathroom has many toiletries provided so you don’t have to worry if you have forgotten or run out of something. There are even exotic “smellies” provided for a soak in the wonderful tub. The cottage itself is warm and inviting, you feel at home immediately.

The location is great. Volcano Village may be small but it has a lovely charm and lots of things going on if you seek them out. Although there are a small selection of restaurants in the Village (I counted five but could be more tucked away) we ate in three of them and they were all very good. To be honest this was ideal for us, I do not like too much choice and as they were all good quality it adds to the very relaxing feel of the place. Volcano National Park is a stones throw (a mile) so it meant we could have a good day hiking and still get back early enough to enjoy the hot tub and a DVD before going out for dinner. You can also reach the rest of the southern Big Island very easily as there is so much less traffic than around Kona.

Finally Bill and Antoinette were amazing hosts. They posted a stack of information about the National Park and other things to do about a month before we were due to arrive. This made our days in the Teapot the best planned days of our three weeks in the Hawaiian Islands. Bill was fantastic at advising us on getting to our flight on time as there had been some flash flooding in other parts of the Island, he was more than helpful and as a result we were on time and still very relaxed. I could go on and on about how great this place is, it certainly cannot be improved upon.

We stayed two nights at the Teapot and found a home away from home It was very clean and decorated with taste and charm. Every amenity was provided. Having a place to do vacation wash was such a luxury. The breakfasts were very tasty and plentiful...almost too much. The extra effort of our host bringing fresh delicious pastries to our doorstep on Sunday morning was beyond compare. The stark contrast of walking the lava fields and then staying at a lush green property was a total wow factor. I could go on and on about our wonderful experience, lets just say it was a very special highlight of our trip to Ohau,Maui, Kauai and the Big Island.

I should start by saying, I've never written a review but feel this deserves my time. We spent the first two nights of a 2 wk vacation on the Big Island at the Teapot. When we were making plans I was skeptical because I wanted my childhood vision of an "Hawaiian" experience and lodging. The word "Teapot" screamed European style to me. Lesson learned...neither books nor lodging should be judged by their name! The grounds were manicured, very "hawaiian", private and quite spacious. The area is lush (wet side of the island). The home is a cross between a bunglelow and cottage. It is small, but clean and well kept. It appears to have some original windows and several nice antiques. I'm sure they would welcome children, but I would say, leave them at home and enjoy the romance of this home/area! The kitchen is tiny so don't plan on baking anything (ha) anyway, you won't need to because each morning you will enjoy fresh scones or muffins, etc.as well as fresh fruits, coffee, juices, etc. Oh and the coffee is very good! The home literally has everything you would need from catsup to eyebrow tweezers. The bath is on the small side too but they are planning to expand. They collect their own rainwater and provide seasalts for soaking with an option to purchase more. There is bottled drinking/cooking water. You'll find an outdoor spa/hot tub area near the house which is secluded, clean and quite enjoyable. Stroll the path slowly and admire the little trinkets within the foliage. I'm sure I left something out, but being a little jet-lagged, I can just say, it was all good. It's so obvious that the owners, Bill and Toni, take great pride and care in the Teapot and are good people. Unfortunately we didn't get to meet face to face until we were checking out, but truly enjoyed their personalities. Given an opportunity to go back to the Big Island again and they still own the Teapot; no doubt we would stay... just LONGER! The Christeson's, Evansville, IN