I am helping my sister and brother-in-law plan their first trip to Hawaii. They are spending 9 nights in Kauai but are on a pretty tight budget. So far I have them booked at the Hanalei Plantation Cottage (on imaq's recommendation)for five nights (nights 2-6)and the Hyatt on the last night(using a Hyatt Stay Certificate). I am trying to get a one night stay at the Marriot in Lihue for their first night as it's convenient for a helicopter ride and inexpensive (using Priceline) but have been unsuccessful to this point (128 has been my highest bid).

Also, I was looking for a place for them to stay for the remaining two nights (after Hanalei but before the Hyatt) possibly on the east coast since those would be the days they would be kayaking on the Wailua River, shopping at the CoConut Marketplace, and viewing the waterfalls, maybe hiking the Sleeping Giant. I looked into staying at the Wailue BayView which would be nice since it's oceanfront and none of their other accomodations would allow them to enjoy the sound of the surf from their bed. But the cost is 140. a night and then you have to pay 85 for cleaning and so it's almost 200 a night for only two night with the cleaning fee. Would anyone have another suggestion for a place to stay in that area that would be ocean front but a bit cheaper but CLEAN! Or is the Wailua Bay worth it? I have also tried to get the Marriot in Lihue for those two nights but again, I haven't won a bid yet. Suggestions????

Moving around to different hotels 4 times in 9 days doesn't make sense to me. You virtually lose a day moving from one place to another, by the time you get packed up and settled, time which could be used for relaxing or sightseeing. Kauai is so small you can drive just about anywhere within two hours. Why so many moves?

Have you considered a condo for their visit? You can find several very reasonably priced on vrbo.com and other sites.

i agree w/maggi--i don't think you need so many hotels--kuaui is small and you can easily drive to where you want to go! i liked the poipu area best.......just wanted to add that we drove from poipu up the entire east coast past princeville, stopping to snorkel at all the beaches and it didn't take us the entire day/night......

The north and south shores are different enough that with nine nights I'd consider moving once. But, not four times.