Kauai Trip....where should I stay ?

[tikiyaki]

Aloha All...

Me and the misses are gonna be on the Big Island for most of august, and want to squeeze in a Kauai trip...maybe 3-5 days depending on schedule.

I've yet to do any real reading on Kauai, what part of the island or town do you recommend we stay at ? Most bang for Buck, most beautiful (yea, that's a dumb question, it's ALL beautiful, I know)

We'd love the sunniest part of course, most beautiful beaches, must see spots etc, and the most affordable spots...

Help would be much appreciated.

[pzarquon]

Re: Kauai Trip....where should I stay ?

Important question: What's your price range? I've been reading up a lot on luxury resort properties, but that may very well not be what you're looking for.

Also, what are your priorities in a vacation? Peace and quiet and isolation? Beaches and outdoorsy activities? Golf? Family friendly? Romantic? "Real" Hawaii, like a B&B, or lots of ameneties and comforts where you don't even have to leave your room?

[Mike_Lowery]

Re: Kauai Trip....where should I stay ?

If I were visiting Kauai, I'd stay at the Kauai Sands. Quasi ghetto-@$$ hotel (bordering on motel), but it's right on the beach, near sightseeing spots, and there's shopping everywhere. It's located along Kuhio Hwy in Kapaa.

[tikiyaki]

Re: Kauai Trip....where should I stay ?

PZ....I'm anti-luxury resort I hate the word "upscale", because it's really just another word for overpriced. I like funky Mid Century architecture, so a cool modern Jetsons looking place or a Tiki style A-Frame is always a plus.
Lots of old Hawaiiana tropical decor. Like The King Kam or Seaside Hotel in Kona...

"Also, what are your priorities in a vacation? Peace and quiet and isolation? Beaches and outdoorsy activities? Golf? Family friendly? Romantic? "Real" Hawaii, like a B&B, or lots of ameneties and comforts where you don't even have to leave your room."

The sound and / or view of the ocean is always a huge plus.

Golf : no

Peace and Quiet : if that means no late nite Surfer parties next door or a crazy Bar underneath - Yes.
Normal tourist noise is fine.

Romantic : yes

Beach : Yes

Real Hawaii : yes, but like I said, I especially like the 50's and 60's places.

Amenities : WI-FI and Air Conditioning (just in case of extreme hot temps) the only real amenity I look for. I don't need a bell hop, room service, a chocolate on my pillow, turn down service or any of that stuff. Actually, I like condos, but that place Mike Lowery mentioned sounds great too.

Kapaa sounds cool. A friend of a friend oepened a Mexican joint there recently called "Burritohead".

I guess I just wanna be in a really pretty spot, that's close to some cool places to visit, and a nice beach to swim at.

Like I said, we're definitely not resort types. I like the more funky places.

[greentara]

Re: Kauai Trip....where should I stay ?

I spend a lot of time on Kauai and Kapaa is a great little town ~ old HI for sure...if you have a car visit AniniBeach it is usually almost deserted and incredibly beautiful. (Drive all the way past the park and you will find a long strip of beach.) There are rental properties there but you definitely would need a car. Personally I would stay away from the South Shore, Poipu ~ very touristy. If you stay in/near Kapaa try the Blossoming Lotus restaurant ~ fantastic food!!! I don't know of any places to stay on Kauai because I always stay in the property I'll be living in when I move. Of course the canyon is a must see, but simply drive around the island and stop where ever you see signs for "another road side attraction". Kauai is truly Nirvana.

[tutusue]

Re: Kauai Trip....where should I stay ?

This might be a bit pricey but it looks kinda cool...especially it's location. Auntie Maria (mele.com) on Kauai recommended it to someone a couple of years ago and I hung on to the link!

[Mike_Lowery]

Re: Kauai Trip....where should I stay ?

This might be a bit pricey but it looks kinda cool...especially it's location. Auntie Maria (mele.com) on Kauai recommended it to someone a couple of years ago and I hung on to the link!

daaaamn, I haven't seen an aloha.net URL in a minute.

tiki...there are a couple plantation-era hotels in Lihue that have been redone and are muy romantic:

Garden Island Inn

Kauai Inn

Kauai Palms Hotel

They show up on Google with good details and customer reviews.

[helen]

Re: Kauai Trip....where should I stay ?

Also have to keep in mind the ocean conditions around most of Kapaa beaches are kind of rough.

[tikiyaki]

Re: Kauai Trip....where should I stay ?

daaaamn, I haven't seen an aloha.net URL in a minute.

tiki...there are a couple plantation-era hotels in Lihue that have been redone and are muy romantic:

Garden Island Inn

Kauai Inn

Kauai Palms Hotel

They show up on Google with good details and customer reviews.

Thanx everyone...Mike, I really like the look of the Sands place you suggested. Very 1960's Motor Inn style... I'll be looking on vrbo.com too.

Keep the suggestions comin tho', I like to learn as much as possible about stuff.

[Wanderlust]

Re: Kauai Trip....where should I stay ?

got back from kauai in june. stayed at the resortwest on the beach in kapa'a. excellent location, rooms, and staff. booked it on priceline as part of a package.

[jungbum]

Re: Kauai Trip....where should I stay ?

Planning to go to Waimea Canyon for couple days.. could you recommend me some places? BTW, I don't have a car.. and I heard it's about 18 miles one way? Is there a tour package that last for about 3-5 days?

[Miulang]

Re: Kauai Trip....where should I stay ?

Planning to go to Waimea Canyon for couple days.. could you recommend me some places? BTW, I don't have a car.. and I heard it's about 18 miles one way? Is there a tour package that last for about 3-5 days?

How are you planning to get to Waimea Canyon without a car? The closest towns to Waimea Canyon are Kekaha and Waimea.You can also camp in cabins at Koke'e State Park (further up the road), but they are rather primitive accommodations (and it gets chilly up there at night). It's kinda hard getting around Kauai without a motor vehicle because public transportation is nonexistent.

We stayed on the Coconut Coast (between Lihue and Kapa'a) because it was sort of halfway between Poipu and the Princeville resorts. We spent 2 1/2 days on Kauai...one full day we went up to the north end (Hanalei and Princeville and Haena) and the other full day we went south to Poipu, Hanapepe, Waimea Canyon and Koke'e.

Miulang

[GeckoGeek]

Re: Kauai Trip....where should I stay ?

BTW, I don't have a car

Uh, you might want to re-think that. Kauai is "small town" and spread out. Are you planning on biking? Walking won't cut it.

[Mike_Lowery]

Re: Kauai Trip....where should I stay ?

How are you planning to get to Waimea Canyon without a car? The closest towns to Waimea Canyon are Kekaha and Waimea.You can also camp in cabins at Koke'e State Park (further up the road), but they are rather primitive accommodations (and it gets chilly up there at night). It's kinda hard getting around Kauai without a motor vehicle because public transportation is nonexistent.

We stayed on the Coconut Coast (between Lihue and Kapa'a) because it was sort of halfway between Poipu and the Princeville resorts. We spent 2 1/2 days on Kauai...one full day we went up to the north end (Hanalei and Princeville and Haena) and the other full day we went south to Poipu, Hanapepe, Waimea Canyon and Koke'e.

Miulang

We got public trans, altho it's not as intricate as TheBus. If you're sightseeing (and not with a tour company), you definitely need a car. Attractions are far apart and often remote.

Planning to go to Waimea Canyon for couple days.. could you recommend me some places? BTW, I don't have a car.. and I heard it's about 18 miles one way? Is there a tour package that last for about 3-5 days?

You should check out the National Tropical Botanical Gardens at Limahuli (in Haena, at the northern end of the highway). Awesome, awesome views of Hanalei Bay with several waterfalls in an archaeological preservation site. Just as nice (although slightly artificial) is NTBG's Allerton Gardens in Kalaheo. The beach on that property is ridiculous. Call them if they'll be charging visitors on that day. Saturdays are always free.

[Miulang]

Re: Kauai Trip....where should I stay ?

I liked Ke'e Beach a lot. I wish we had taken the time to hike up to the heiau that's up there (supposedly dedicated to the goddess Laka, who was said to have created hula). Kilauea Lighthouse is also an interesting place to visit because of all the seabirds that nest there.

For crass commercialism, I enjoyed visiting Guava Kai Plantation in Kilauea and sampling all their stuff, and on the south end (near Koloa), the Kauai Coffee Company gives out free samples of their coffee.

Fern Grotto is kinda cool too. I guess they just started allowing people to visit again after it was closed for a year due to rockslides. There's also a couple of heiaus on the banks of the Wailua River leading up to the grotto that have historical information posted (part of Wailua River State Park).

Miulang