Hi,

Planning a trip to Kauai (first time to any Hawaiian island) for this September for one week. Thought you erudite Kauai fans could help me pinpoint a place to stay (either small inn or rental on a modest budget...say $1200 or less for 7 nights).

To give you an idea of what we would ideally like: we love smaller inns, B&B's that aren't too doily-creepy, and rentals that give you a true flavor of the place. (In other words not condos that are 1 in 500 and not high-rise luxury hotels.) For example, in the Bahamas we loved the Greycliff Hotel, and in the BVI's we loved Hotel 1829. I tend to go through guidebooks looking for any hotel with keywords like "charming", "historic", or "with character". Of course, clean and convenient would be bonuses as well. A pool not necessary, but could be a bonus, as we plan to be exploring the whole island by car and hiking. Would love to have a romantic, memorable stay, so a place not crammed with kids would also be a bonus.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

AZWildcat, maybe you'd like to check this place out. Haven't stayed there but it has intrigued me for awhile, whenever I think of going back to Kauai!


http://www.marjorieskauaiinn.com/index.php

Several years ago we stayed at the Waimea Plantation Cottages. We had seen them on a segment of "This Old House". We, too, try to avoid the megahotels. They used to house plantation workers. Of course, they have been renovated. There was a small pool on the property, and the beach was not swimmable - but the property was beautifully landscaped and we had a lovely porch on which to sit and just veg out.

Kauai is our favorite island, September is our favorite month and the north shore our favorite area at that time of year. We lucked out in finding the perfect rental for us:
www.kauaivilla.com
It is around $1000 for the week. We couldn't have been happier there. So much nicer than a hotel, or a B&B. Almost felt like we were natives. Within easy walking distance to enjoy the luxury, beach and amenities of the Princeville Hotel without the $300-400/day pricetag. Feel free to e-mail me if you want more details. Photos at:
http://community.webshots.com/user/maggiwun
(Scroll down to Hawaii Kauai September 2002)

Well...I live on the northshore of Kaua`i, and in the interest of honesty, I've gotta jump in here, 'kay?

marjorieskauaiinn is a nice house -- but it's just that...a house...inland...nothing special about it from reports I've gotten from friends who stayed there last year. Nice owner, but...

kauaivilla is a condo...part of a complex of 3-level stand-alone units up here on the northshore. To call it a villa is reallllllly stretching it. Nice views, but it's a condo.

Waimea Plantation Cottages are certainly something different and _very_ Hawaiian. Orangetravelcat's review is accurate -- plus there is a very good on-site restaurant.

This place gets rave reviews from everyone:
http://www.kauaibeachrentals.com/

And this place intrigues me...has anyone actually stayed there?
http://www.poipuconnection.com/poipu-captn-jack/

Thanks for all the great suggestions and honest opinions! I knew I could count on this forum to come up with some interesting possibilities!

Any more ideas from those Monday morning web surfers at work? (I'm guilty as well!)

Topping for any more opinions!

Thanks!

Well, I don't know about the hotel, yet I wanted to inquire if/when you graduated, as I too, am an AZWildcat!
Just Friday I met a fellow sorority sister here-it's a small,small world!
I would love to know of a similar hotel
as we would like the same type of place for our future Kauai travels.
R5 (Class of 1977-Yikes!)

I second the Waimea Plantation Cottages. It's like going back to "old Hawaii". I saw a segment on Samantha Brown's show on the Travel Channel and had to fit it into a trip a couple of years ago. We started in Waikiki, moved to the Big Island with a week at that very unique Hilton, a side trip to a B&B near the Volcano Park, and had only a couple of nights before we had to be back on the Big Island for a business event at the Four Seasons. We LOVED Waimea. I will go back someday for a much longer stay. There's a brew pub right on the premises with good food and great beer - and we didn't have to drive anywhere to eat. We did stop and buy groceries down the road - it was great to have a kitchen after all that time in hotel rooms. Our cottage was simple but wonderful and right on the ocean. The ocean was rough, but how heavenly to sit out on our "lawn" and listen to the waves!

Razzledazzle:

Yes, I saw your other post about the sorority connection that had UofA in it. Small world!

I received my graduate degree in chemistry from the UofA in 2001, and moved away from Tucson that year (sad, sad...love that town!) Two years ago when we chartered a sailboat in the BVI's we ran across another sailboat called "The Wildcat"--complete with the official face of the Wildcat insignia on it. When we hailed them down, turns out the people were just chartering the boat, but I'm sure the owners were die-hard Wildcats.

I am thinking of splitting our trip up for part of the time at the Waimea Plantation cottages (thanks to everyone's rave reviews!) and for part of the time in another area of the island...just for variety and ease of driving.

Thanks again for everyone's input!

Hi AZ

Not cramped and something to remember I wonder if you are not thinking about this the wrong way. Did anyone mention the word condo? Its hard for me to stay in a hotel for more than 3-4 nights when I know condos are available at better prices and offer more space.

I also found them far more memorable than any hotel I have stayed at on Kauai. I think it is the high valted ceilings. I have traveled with kids too and there is nothing like having separate rooms for dining, sleeping, tving , outdoor dining. When you can get this under the price you mention for a hotel, I guess I don't get the hotel idea at all. I usually choose a stand alone condo. There are certainly plenty of those options out there with everyone scrambling towards the obvious complexes.


vbro.com for some ideas we have rented two of the three properties that say they are a block from Hanalei bay.

Hard to feel like you are in a neighborhood in Hanalei anymore but it its probably the closest you will get to a true neighborhood feeling before you hit Kilauea.

Last year we stayed in the Coral Villa at Hideaway Cove (www.hideawaycove.com). Just 2 buildings (ours had 3 units total) and the beach is just down the road. It was very nice and a great deal (barbequed on the big lanai almost every night). This year we rented from Kauai Vacation Rentals (www.kauaivacationrentals.com) and while I can't comment on the accomodations yet as we are going in the fall, the staff has been wonderful to deal with.