My husband and I are planning on travelling to Hawaii for a week this summer with our two girls (13 and 17). I'm leaning towards Kauai but want to make sure I have a hotel with a nice beach for the kids. Any suggestions? I don't want to go super budget but 350/plus a night at Princeville or Sheraton is a tad high. Any suggestions?

Kiahuna Condos? Lawai or other condos near The Beachhouse restaurant. Good snorkeling beach right there.

The Sheraton probably has the nicest beach but may be too expensive.

Some 1-2* hotels along the CocoCoast/East Shore but the beach isn't as good as Poipu/No Shore beaches even tho people surf and snorkel there.

Maybe a rental up in Anahola, Anini or Hanalei?
196 mo' days until I'm smelling SPF 40+

Yes, skip the hotel and find yourself a great condo with a pool. You would be best off exploring beaches anyway!!! Oh a house on Hanalei!!! Try vrbo.com or kauivacationrentals.com.....the best beaches of glorious kauai are not found on a hotel property, and dining in one or 2 nights is a good thing too. Princeville is filled with affordable places....explore. Kal, gald you're coming to Boston! Lou...

I second the suggestion that you stay in a condo at Kiahuna Plantation on the south shore. They have a great beach. They provide free towels at the beach. You can also rent snorkel equipment and boogie boards there. My daughters love the place. A two bedroom unit with partial ocean view should be in your price range. Poipu Beach is just down the road. Also, there are a lot of great restaurants in the area including one on the condo grounds (and lots of golf courses if you or your husband are so inclined). While I rent direct from one of the owners, Castle Resorts and Outrigger are the rental outfits that handle Kiahuna. Have a great trip.

Ditto everything Kal, Gyppielou, and Travelermebe said.

We stayed last year at the Kiahuna and loved it! We got a two bedroom with ocean view for under $300 (rented from the owner found on vrbo.com) this past January. Beach is great--gentle enough to play in but enough waves to make it fun. The beach the Kiahuna is on is the same beach as the Sheraton and like Travelermebe says you can get towels, beach chairs, etc from the activity shack on the beach.

For a central location right on the beach...condos at Lae Nani? Check tripadvisor.com for reviews, outrigger.com for pix/descriptions. If you want to exlore other beaches, you are right between the gorgeous white beaches of the tropical North Shore, and the "dry-side" golden sand beach at Poipu.

Cali,
We've had a few friends stay at Lae Nani and liked it. Some are repeat customers.

The Hyatt Regency in Kauai is absolutely beautiful. I stayed there, and rank it as my all time favorite place in the world. Check out their website, and strongly consider it. You will love it. It has everything there.

The beach at the HYatt is nice, but it's not a really good swiming beach in my opinion--- alot of rocks, etc. The hotel is beautiful and the pool is great- stayed there for aweek---
Also stayed at Hanalei Bay Resort. Located right next door to the Princeville and uses the same beach as the Princeville. Great for snorkeling and swimming--

Last summer our family stayed at the Marriott Waiohai which is right on Poipu beach. Our two sons then 16 & 20 enjoyed snorkeling and the pool at the hotel. There is a small shopping center with restaurants and quite a few shops to roam around in within safe walking distance. The hotel is condo style so we liked having two separate bedrooms, living room and kitchen, 3 tv's and washer dryer in one of the bathrooms. I don't know the price or availabilty, they are selling as timeshares. We used Marriott reward points to stay. The place is brand new and still doing some indoor construction that shouldn't interfere. Good Luck and have a blast!