Princeville or Sheraton Kauai
Aug 29th, 2003, 02:53 AM
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Princeville or Sheraton Kauai
After a week in Maui, my family (kids are 5, 9)is going to Kauai for 5 days in December. At this time we are staying two nights at the Sheraton in an ocean luxury room and then 3 nights at the Hyatt. I am hoping to do most of the exploring when we first arrived so selected a hotel that wouldn't really matter if it was top notch. However, I did want a great view and to wake up to the waves crashing so that is why I chose the Sheraton. Then I picked the Hyatt because of the great things I have heard about it but settled for a lagoon view since I heard the views are pretty far from the water anyways. Those last couple days will be spent mostly at the resort relaxing and enjoying the pool.
Having said all that, I am starting to wonder if I should change my two Sheraton days to the Princeville so that we could save ourselves some driving time while exploring the north side of the island while enjoying the views at the hotel. How many days would you plan to be on the north side? I realize that in December the weather is more rainy but does it really rain all day or just a bit here and there? Is taking a helicopter ride really the best way to see that side of the island since the hiking trails might be messy and the ocean is too wild during the winter? Please help!
Having said all that, I am starting to wonder if I should change my two Sheraton days to the Princeville so that we could save ourselves some driving time while exploring the north side of the island while enjoying the views at the hotel. How many days would you plan to be on the north side? I realize that in December the weather is more rainy but does it really rain all day or just a bit here and there? Is taking a helicopter ride really the best way to see that side of the island since the hiking trails might be messy and the ocean is too wild during the winter? Please help!
Aug 29th, 2003, 03:41 AM
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Unless a major kona storm comes in, it usually wont rain all day in princeville. December can be dicey weather wise, but if its sunny, you cant beat north kauai. A helicopter ride is the best way to see kauai. Most boat tours dont run in december due to large surf.(Even in the summer, the boat tours can be rough from the windswell)
Aug 29th, 2003, 04:04 AM
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We have gone a few times since Y2K staying several days in the Lihue and Princeville area towards the end of Hawaii's winter February-March and have not experienced much more than an hour or so of light 
rain. The larger problem for us was high surf or rough ocean conditions during this period that prevented us from one of our favorite activities: snorkeling and whalewatching/touring Napali coast by boat.
Fortunately Kauai is a small island and we found if you drive an hour or two to southern (e.g. Poipu Beach) or western kauai, we could escape the rain, and high surf. A closer more kid friendly beach/snorkeling option may be Lydgate Park, near Wailua. Also check out Wailua and Opaekaa Falls.
On our most recent visit to Kauai in March we saw an amazing whale "breachfest" right from our ocean front condo in the Princeville resort area-better than any whalewatching trip we have done in Maui or Kauai, though using a zoom lens videocamera is recommended.
We have previously done a snorkeling/whalewatching/sightseeing tour out of Port Allen (southern Kauai)and we only saw one whale breach, but we did manage to get an eyefull of the NaPali coast, suggest you bring dramamine etc.
I vote for staying at the Hyatt(ranked #4) and the Princeville(#2) because you will have experienced what most consider the top two resorts on Kauai.
rain. The larger problem for us was high surf or rough ocean conditions during this period that prevented us from one of our favorite activities: snorkeling and whalewatching/touring Napali coast by boat. Fortunately Kauai is a small island and we found if you drive an hour or two to southern (e.g. Poipu Beach) or western kauai, we could escape the rain, and high surf. A closer more kid friendly beach/snorkeling option may be Lydgate Park, near Wailua. Also check out Wailua and Opaekaa Falls.
On our most recent visit to Kauai in March we saw an amazing whale "breachfest" right from our ocean front condo in the Princeville resort area-better than any whalewatching trip we have done in Maui or Kauai, though using a zoom lens videocamera is recommended.
We have previously done a snorkeling/whalewatching/sightseeing tour out of Port Allen (southern Kauai)and we only saw one whale breach, but we did manage to get an eyefull of the NaPali coast, suggest you bring dramamine etc.
I vote for staying at the Hyatt(ranked #4) and the Princeville(#2) because you will have experienced what most consider the top two resorts on Kauai.
Sep 6th, 2003, 05:35 AM
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We just got back from 5 nights at the Princeville, the stay was disappointing, I liked it better than my family did, but there were bugs in the room and the beach is unswimable due to all the rocks in the ocean there. We wound up going to the Sheraton a couple of times to go to their beach and use their pool (this is allowed). My 9 year old and wife wish we stayed at the Sheraton. It was no way as fancy as the Princville, but it was nice.
Sep 6th, 2003, 09:28 AM
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Scott,
In your opinion the beautiful views from Princeville weren't worth it? How close are the closest rooms from the ocean at the Sheraton? How was the snorkeling at the beach by the Sheraton?
In your opinion the beautiful views from Princeville weren't worth it? How close are the closest rooms from the ocean at the Sheraton? How was the snorkeling at the beach by the Sheraton?
Sep 6th, 2003, 10:23 AM
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Ashley,
If I may offer my opinion, the views are indeed breathtaking and in most cases worth it but maybe not at the almost $200 more a nite it would cost you to stay there as you mentioned in another of your posts (unless of course money in no object).
And this is coming from someone who absolutely loved The Princeville.
If I may offer my opinion, the views are indeed breathtaking and in most cases worth it but maybe not at the almost $200 more a nite it would cost you to stay there as you mentioned in another of your posts (unless of course money in no object).
And this is coming from someone who absolutely loved The Princeville.
Sep 6th, 2003, 11:58 AM
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Ashley,
The rooms at the Sheraton looked alot closer to the Ocean than theywere at the Princeville. The room was nice at the Princeville, the special window is a great toy. The view is fantastic, and and so are the lobby, resturants and swim up bar. We like a nice beach with a swimable ocean, we also don't like bugs in our room and do not like to call 3 times to get rid of them. I don't think we snorkeled at the Sheraton.
The rooms at the Sheraton looked alot closer to the Ocean than theywere at the Princeville. The room was nice at the Princeville, the special window is a great toy. The view is fantastic, and and so are the lobby, resturants and swim up bar. We like a nice beach with a swimable ocean, we also don't like bugs in our room and do not like to call 3 times to get rid of them. I don't think we snorkeled at the Sheraton.
