Anini Beach House
 

Has anyone rented this house before or know anything about it? I am interested in the location on the beach, is it near the camping area? Also, would this beach be good for my two girls to swim in (ages 10 and 7)? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Ashley, we have booked it for beginning of August. I can answer your question when we return if you can wait that long...

Is this the one that rents for $2000 per week for two people, in low season? 2 BD 2 BT right on the beach? I believe I found the right website............ According to "Best Beach Vacations: Hawaii" by Rick Carroll, Anini Beach is Kauai's safest for swimming and windsurfing because it's protected from the open ocean by a great, fringing reef. And he says it offers the best snorkeling on the island......... I'm ready to go!:-)

Hello Ashley (& Maggi too!). If this is the house you're thinking of:
http://www.vrbo.com/12189
Yes! My husband and I rented it for a week in Sept 2002 (gosh it seems like just yesterday!). The house is in a great location, very nicely furnished with stainless appliances, beautiful lighting, and doors that open up all the way across the front. It is actually across a tiny road from the beach, about 3/4 of the way into Anini. Far from the campground. Yes it will be perfect for children, very calm water, and we borrowed (rented) a kayak from a neighbor (whose dog enjoyed napping on our lanai :) and went snorkeling almost every day. In fact, I recommended it to Maggi, whom I met while in Kauai! So I hope you all like it - my rep is on the line here! Seriously, the house is (was - this was two years ago now) nicer than the web pics show. The master bedroom has a hill of flowers behind it, with sliders that open onto it, as well as onto the front, so the breeze was fabulous - and scented! We enjoyed the (small) jacuzzi tub in the MBR too. Any other questions, feel free to email me at joanleak at hotmail dot com, or ask here. When are you going?

P.S.: I meant to include the website in my above post:

http://www.beachhouse.com/search/det...Origin=Secrets

One more thing, in "The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook"........ they also say how safe Anini Beach is EXCEPT on the Western end where the water flows out, and says that you should avoid that area. (I'd read up on Anini Beach because I am considering staying in that area when I go back to Kauai.......:-) )

Yes, that is the correct house! You said there is a road in front of the house...does it get much traffic? How far is the walk to the actual beach? I assume there is nothing but the road between the house and the beach? Could you hear the water at all from the house? I know being on the reef that there probably is less waves on the beach itself but maybe waves crashing against the reef? I love that sound! How far was the drive to Kapaa or to Hanalei? (thinking of dinner options). Thanks for your help! I am planning ahead to next July. Two other rentals that I was considering are already booked that far in advance!

Ashley, the road does not get much traffic at all, because it dead ends at the river mouth about a half mile beyond the house. It is a very family-oriented beach. We saw other children in the houses nearby. It is not really a walkable beach because there are rocks strewn along (very beautiful), but you can walk beside the beach on the little road if you want. The house came with two cool floating loungers - I actually read a book while floating one day, it's that calm. You can hear the ocean yes, but not a roar. There is good surfing on the way into the house, but it's flat calm in front, because the reef veers away (too far to swim to for the kids, but kayak-able). It's probably 200 feet from the lanai to the water. Takes about 15 minutes to get to Kailauea Lighthouse (good lunch place there) and about 20 to Princeville (shopping), 30 mins to Hanalei (great dining). There is a good kids-level boogie boarding beach at Kalihiwai Beach, the next cove to the east. If you email me, I'll send you a couple of photos of the house.

...This is bringing back some wonderful memories - thanks!

Also, I noticed that several different rental companies are listing this house. How should I decide which one to use or are any fine?
Also, Joan, do you have any pictures you could share?

Joan,
I would love to see the pictures and the beach area if possible. My email is:
[email protected]

Thanks so much!

Done!
We rented the home directly through the owner...I found it through the Slow Travel website. He has another home in Poipu area but we decided on the North Shore (a great choice for us). His neighbor was the caretaker, a nice lady who lived a couple doors down (her dog and her kayak :). Have fun deciding!

Ashley, just returned Sunday and as promised I can report to you that this house is nothing less than spectacular. I knew it was nice, because Joan recommended it, but I was not prepared for the gracious attention to detail and the fabulous wrap-around lanai with the view of Anini. The house is past the camping, around the curve and about halfway down to the end of the road. The water was shallow and very safe. In fact, it was the only really calm water I saw on the entire island this trip. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. We, also, have some pictures posted at:
http://community.webshots.com/user/maggiwun

Hi Maggi,

Some really nice shots. Anini is great isn't it? It reminds me so much of the lagoons of the islands of the South Pacific. The house (both the houses in your albums actually) look terrific. If/when we get pact to Hawaii, I may check it out.

Thanks!

Ken

Lord Balfor,
Thanks! I have admired your pics on webshots. Would love to go to that area some day. I'm sure the photo ops(as in Hawaii) are limitless. Son and DIL were there a few years ago and brought the most beautiful pics (see www.wunschl.com) as well. Someday...

Whoa! Small world. I saw that website address (www.wunschl.com) and realized that I know your daughter-in-law through her own wonderful Epinions reviews and travel pictures (as well as a few e-mails) and have long been a fan of her work. She's one of the best writers on that site - though like me, hasn't published much lately.

For those of you out there who have not yet visited www.wunschl.com, I highly recommend it. It is perhaps the best personal website of a Tahiti vacation on the web, complete with great photos, links to wonderful trip reports, and even really cool video clips (especially the shark feeding).

Ken

Ken, that will make her feel really good - she has "retired" from travel writing and reviewing (for awhile, anyway) because we are going to be grandparents in November (yippee!) and she is directing her considerable talents into getting ready for the baby.

Well congratulations (to the grandparents AND the parents).

Personally, I think YOU are getting the better part of the deal. Being a grandparent is way better than being a parent. Much more of the fun stuff and less dealing with the not-so-fun stuff.

Enjoy the addition to your family and be sure and tell Tifany "Hi" from me (I've not "spoken" to her in ages).

Ken

Maggi,
Thanks for posting so quickly about your stay and getting back to me about the Anini Beach House! Unfortunately we already selected another house and I was hoping that your report would not be so glowing...I hate thinking of what I might be missing! But I am sure I made a good decision for my family. Thanks again!

Everyone: Thanks for sharing information on the Anini Beach House. My husband and I have been trying to find a nice, upscale house rental on the North Shore (Anini or Haena) for our anniversary next June. Everything we looked at in Haena was either too expensive or smaller than we wanted. The Anini Beach House looked so great (plus the great reviews), that we booked it for one week for next June. I can't wait! Can anyone tell me how close the house is to restaurants? Als, how far is it from Haena? We're thinking of taking a boating excursion to tour the Napali Coast (from the North Shore).

Ashley - just out of curiosity - what house did you choose?

Thanks, Longtail

Longtail,
We are splitting our time (4 nights each) between a beach cottage (Moloa'a Bay Cottage) and a fancier house with a jacuzzi, hammock, and small pool right on the ocean bluff (Keoniana Kai) which is featured on the Re/Max Kauai website. I was planning on renting the Anini Beach house but the owner increased the rates alot compared to the 2004 rates for our family of four and then upped the security deposit because we have children (10,7). If you don't mind, I would be interested to know what rates the owner quoted you?

Ashley:

We were quoted $2400 for 2 people in the high season and $2600 for 4 people. The Mola'a Bay cottage looks beautiful, too. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time!

longtail