travsgirls

My husband and I love to stay in nice places. However we do bring our 2 well behaved children along so we prefer a non stuffy enviroment- which is a hard balance to find sometimes. We stayed at the Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island and were very happy. We've also stayed at The Four Seasons in the Bahamas (Great Exuma) and were also pleased. Giving these examples, I was hoping some of you could offer some sugg. on where to stay in Kauai. I'd also like to be near or on a nice swimming beach which looks like from the pics I see on hotel websites (I could be wrong) is rare thing in Kauai. They all look to be on rocky ledges. Thanks so much!

iamq

The hotel experience you seek might be more easily found on Maui.

The Hyatt and The Princeville Hotel are the two nicest on the island.

-Bill

Lex1

There are many beautiful swimming beaches on Kaua`i. The Hyatt faces Shipwreck, a pretty beach with lots of sand and nice rocks on one side to hike over. However, the wave action at Shipwreck can be brutal. Princeville (north) has very pretty beaches with spectacular scenic backdrops and good swimming.

jamie99

Hyatt on Shipwrech Beach is very nice, but like Lex says the beach is a little rought, you would need to either stick to the pool or walk/drive to another beach like Poipu Beach Park.

Might want to also consider Marriott, another one that is family-friendly. It is actually on Kalapaki Beach, which is part of Nawiliwili Bay, so it is on a bay (well protected) and not open to the ocean if that is important to you.

dolciani

It sounds like you may be used to the upscale properties so I would highly recommend the Princeville Resort. The views are "to die for" (looking out over Bali Hai) and the beach is lovely. Your children would enjoy a daytrip horseback riding from the Princeville stables to a waterfall. The food and service are the best on the island and the golf course is unbelievable (if you like golf). Not far from the hotel is the town of Hana-Lei (home of Puff the magic dragon). You can sign up for a sail around the North shore of Kaui and see dolphins swimming w/ your boat as you snorkel w/ turtles (sign up at the hotel or in the town of Hana-Lei).

Ag3046

I'm not a huge fan of the Hyatt. It is filled with weddings, and I found the nearly nightly wedding parties out on the lawns to be noisy. The beach is unswimmable because it has a very hard shoreline break and is too rough. It's Ok to sit on, but you really can't get in the water, and children should not get in the water because it is dangerous. They have a great pool system, but I find all those great pools to be fakey, and always prefer a great natural beach.

MBnancy

The Grand Hyatt in Poipu is a wonderful non-stuffy resort to stay at. The pools are great, water slide and all, but the salt water lagoon is nice too. Our granddaughter loved it. It's located right next to the ocean and has a sand entrance. You can rent kayaks, mats to float on, at their kiosk. We also take day trips, as everyone does, to other nice beaches for swimming during the week.

travsgirls

Thank you all so much! I felt from the pics of the Hyatt the beach/swimming there was not a high point.From web info I've been going through- I was leaning toward the Princeville.
I forgot to mention earlier- we also do like to stay in nice condos. We stayed at The Meridian on Grand Cayman and loved it! If there is a jewel of a condo property we'd give that a go in our decision making.

Kal

We wish we could be able to afford those places. #39;(
We keep getting stuck at The Islander on the Beach year after year.
Sheraton?
Mariott Waiohai?

I felt like Mario in Donkey Kong trying to get to the beach at the Princeville.
Great Sunday brunch, tho. Especially the company.

jtrandolph

We stay in condos. We liked the Kiahuna Plantation on Kauai at Poipu. We had an ocean facing one-bedroom unit looking across a huge lawn to the beach, where we could rent boogie boards, etc. I am not sure if this is a private beach, but it was not crowded.

There is an excellent restaurant just next door and a nice shopping center out of sight, but within walking distance.

If you consider this make sure that you specify ocean front. Some of the buildings are at the back looking out on gardens between them and the oceanfront units.

iamq

Kal, LOL! I feel the same. Those damn hallways with low ceilings are so damn claustrophobic. It reminds me of the Winchester Mystery House! Maybe they'll fix that when they remodel it into a St. Regis.

-Bill

tes68

Planning to visit Kauai and stay at the Point at Poipu (sunterra property). Any feedback.

susant100

What time of the year are you planning on going? During the summer months, the surf is bigger on the south shore.

I have stayed at both the Hyatt and Princeville and both have pros and cons. From your message, it sounds like the Princeville will be better suited for you. There are lots of activities nearby such as zip-lining, horseback riding, etc. The north shore is the wet side, so take that into consideration. We prefer the Hyatt, however, and have never run into any problems or issues with weddings, crowds, etc.

tes68

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. We actually have a timeshare through
Sunterra and can book the property formerly owned by Embassy (i think). We are going on the 4th of July weekend. I have 2 teenager daughters and worried that they won't have much to do. I wanted to stay at a hotel where I can just walk to the beach.

Thanks,

almost30

My husband and I went to Kauai last October for our honeymoon and stayed at the Hyatt - for the trip you are describing, I think you would really enjoy it! The beach is a bit rocky, but the waves are fun to watch and you can play in them as well. People were playing and laying out at the beach as well. The Hyatt's pools are perfect for fun too. It is not stuffy at all, but nice rooms and staff - restaurants and bars are very nice as well.

We also went to The Princeville for a terrific lunch and followed the road to state park beach near that resort - it was the prettiest beach and water we have ever seen. I cannot remember the name of it, but easy if you ask someone. You follow a long road and it is at the very end - the drive there is gorgeous.

almost30

My husband and I went to Kauai last October for our honeymoon and stayed at the Hyatt - for the trip you are describing, I think you would really enjoy it! The beach is a bit rocky, but the waves are fun to watch and you can play in them as well. People were playing and laying out at the beach as well. This is the way the beaches and waterfront it in Kauai.

The Hyatt's pools are perfect for fun too. It is not stuffy at all, but nice rooms and staff - restaurants and bars are very nice as well. They have a great dark wood bar that looks like a library and has live music in the evening, pool tables and outdoor patio seating - they serve food, so I am pretty sure you can take kids there as well.

We also went to The Princeville for a terrific lunch and followed the road to state park beach near that resort - it was the prettiest beach and water we have ever seen. I cannot remember the name of it, but easy if you ask someone. You follow a long road and it is at the very end - the drive there is gorgeous. Enjoy!

Lex1

The beach Almost30 describes is almost certainly Ke`e, at the end of the Kalalau Trail. It is pretty.
There are numerous sandy beaches, sans rocks, on the edges of Kaua`i (e.g. Polihale). I would not describe Shipwreck, the beach at the Hyatt, as rocky. It is frequented by rough waves, and, there is a raised rock lava trail at one end-great for walking/exploring/sight-seeing.
enjoy your trip.

tes68

Thanks for the info, I'm looking forward for the trip very much.