futuredoc83

My fiancee and I are planning our mid-September honeymoon and Kauai is at the top of our list. Several folks have said that the Hanalei Bay/Princeville area is the best place to stay, but the options we like most are outside of our budget. Can anyone recommend other nice resorts/hotels on different parts of the island, or perhaps explain why the North Shore is the best?

jcb

I like the north b/c I think it is much more beautiful than the other parts of the island. But that is just my opinion. Others think the south is more beautiful.

What is your approx budget? Are you set on a resort? What are your requirements for this trip?

Congrats/best wishes on your wedding!

JB1968

We stayed at the Hyatt in Poipu and loved it.

I stayed on the North Shore one time in July and the weather up there was lovely. When we stayed in Poipu it was March, and sunny in Poipu but very overcast on the North Shore. I have no idea what that means for September though, but I'd certainly check on the patterns.

The whole island is so lovely and easy to get around so I'm sure you will love wherever you end up staying.

kadeycat

We stayed at the Best Western in Kapaa. It was centrally located so we could hit the Kalaulau trail and Waimea canyon equally easy. Rooms were suites with separate bedrooms. Large Lanai!! They have small kitchens which made the food budget stretch much further. There are 2 grocery stores within walking distance and several nice restaurants. Lapperts ice cream has a location next door in the shopping center. Nice walk in the evning air.

jcb

Don't know if this meets your budget or requirements, but look at Hanalei Bay Resort. (condos) Don't rent thru HBR itself, but from an individual owner or mgmt company. Here is one company, but there are several more rental companies plus several listings on VRBO.

http://www.summitpacificinc.com/hanalei_bay_resort.html

MeganMalia

vrbo.com (Vacation Rentals By Owner) is by far the best website to book affordable vacations everywhere, but particularly in Hawaii.

Tomsd

In addition to VRBO - check web pages such as this one for Condo rentals at our favorite place - the lush/beautiful North Shore of Kauai. If you rent for a week - you should be able to find something fairly reasonable in the Princeville/Hanalei area, and also check our timeshare place - the Cliffs Club - which can have some decent prices.

http://www.kauaivacationresorts.com/....html#Featured North Shore Rentals

Tomsd

Here is the webpage for the Cliffs Club and if you google around - you can probably find an owner who will rent their unit at less than what the resort assoc charges. They also have deals from time to time. Who knows - we might even rent out a week.

http://www.cliffsatprinceville.com/virtualtour.php

Tomsd

BTW - there is nothing wrong with staying mid-island - Kapaa, etc - and there is a good, protected snorkeling beach near there - at Lydgate Park. http://www.hawaiigaga.com/kauai/beac...gate-park.aspx

And the beaches at Poipu are great - but we just love the Bali Hai view of the North Shore. Here are some pics of Lumahai Beach - featured in the 1958 Rogers and Hammerstein WWII Love story/musical - South Pacific - where nurse Mitzi Gaynor at "nurses' beach" - "Washes that man right outta her hair" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052225/ Lumahai pics: http://tinyurl.com/cstv92b

And for other good Kauai scenes - a much newer movie - The Descendants with George Clooney - supposedly has some great shots of the North Shore/Kauai - although I am waiting to see it on cable.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1033575/

Tomsd

And here is a partial map of some North Shore Beaches - where you have to drive over 7 cute one lane bridges to get all the way to the end (about 7 miles?) - to Ke' beach - which also has a protected reef for snorkeling, watching the great sunsets (look for the "green flash".

It also has some great hiking - with the trial taking off up the hill right there, and out along/above the incredibly deep blue Ocean. http://tinyurl.com/6tgqo6f

BTW dos: Just don't leave any valuables in a rental car, especially in plain sight.

martym

Uhh--looks like OP's honeymoon was last Sept--hope they had a wonderful time--whatever hotel they chose.

Tomsd

Dang: How do they get recirculated like that?