how should i split up the 5 nights in Kauai
 

I'll be spending 5 days/5 nights in Kauai in the month of August. I'm certain I'll be staying in two different locations, the Princeville Resort in the north, and the Hyatt in the south. Which location has more things to do? how should I allocate the 5 days in Kauai? I'm the type of person that want to see and do everything, dont want to miss out on any national parks, snorkel sites. please help. what exactly is there to do in Kauai in terms of attractions?

We have a new visitors website -- loaded with info and links to all sorts of things:
http://www.kauaidiscovery.com/

Choose the activities that interest you, find out where they are, and that should help you decide how much time you want to spend at each hotel.

Have a _great_ time!

My husband and I spent 5 nights on Kauai last fall spending 2 nights at teh Hyatt in the south and 3 nights at the Hanalei Colony Resort in the north. The only activities out side the hote we did in the south was to drive Waimea
canyon and do the helicopter ride while storing it at the Hyatt after we had checked out. In the north we only went to Tunnels & Kee beach and hiked part of hte Kahala trail.

Hope this helps

Both ends of the island have loads and loads to do if you are a hiker/outdoors person. But I understand your time crunch. I would want 2 nights at the hyatt (as soon as you get off the plane) and 3 nights in Princeville. You are going to be running all over the place with two locations in that short time but I think you will enjoy both places and it will be nice to have to do the 2.5 hour car treck from North Shore to the canyon. Just get into those hotels through your luggage in the keep if rooms are not ready and don't let check in eat into your short time there.

Not sure what end Kauai is on your stay if it is the first stop on island visit then crash first day at the Hyatt, hang around the pool. Best location on the island for this in my opinion. Princeville is lovely and the view is incredible but the grounds at the hyatt are exceptional in my opinion.

want to hike, walk but not too sternuous on first day take a stroll on the small rock cliffs to the left of ship wreck beach. A stunning view once you loose sight of ship wreck.

day 2 up to kokee park you want to take your SUV onto the canyon trail, shave off up to 3 miles by using an suv, picnic walk as far as you like for stunning views of the canyon unhampered by look out point crowds. Towards the end of the day get back into the suv and head about 30-40 minutes east to Polihale beach, you will recognize it from a number of car commercials but no expected crowds. Say good bye to the day here at sunset and head back to town for a great dinner out.

You aslo want Kahalau look out on this side, get the walking trail that leads you there not the drive up unless pinched for time. You also want the blowhole at sunset.

North shore....Lighthouse grounds tour you can only reserve once on the island, do that first thing on your trip, this is not to be missed.

there are other trails you can look up and others will suggest.

what is the lighthouse grounds tour? it sounds very fascinating.
are there any snorkel excursions in kauai that i shouldn't miss? I know in maui there are snorkel tours to molokini and lanai, are there anything similar in kauai? i know there's the napa li coast that i want to do. any snorkel tours in the south?
u mentioned 2.5 hrs drive to waimea canyon from the north, can i go there from the south? or the road is only from the north? thanks.

I have to leave so just a quick response. Lighthouse is always open for lookouts but the grounds tour which highlights wildlife projects of area birds is great and there are lookout points on this tour not accessible to regular lighthouse visitors. Its free though and available on a first come first serve basis.

meant to say earlier that you won't have to do that 2.5 car ride if you are staying at the Hyatt. If you were coming from Princeville and if my memory serves that is how long the car ride is. I could be off... its a been about 3 years for me. Its a trip you don't want to do if you don't have to. In my mind that would be the only reason to split up time on the islands if you want to explore kokee and the North Shore. You are not traveling all that way just to check out hotels. right?

Talk to yah later




The hikes are more important to me than the snorkel spots. So I will let others fill you in on them.

Other key places I like on North Shore, kea beach, tunnels beach.

call kokee national park they can mail you a map of hiking trails in the park.

I also like the awahawaphi trail. Ok I just butchered that title. Can someone help me out here?

seems like there are alot of hiking in kauai. i'll have to look into that. i'm up for any free excursion, you mentioned the lighthouse is free? how advance should i reserve this? and where do i go about making the reservation?

I would try booking right before you leave but usually its ok if you book a few days before.

Hiking is always free and many paid excursions/activities involve what you can see on a free hike.

there are all levels you don't need to be in tip top shape for each hike. My sister who was over weight and completly out of shape loved the Kahala trail near Lihui. It was more of a walk than a hike with picnic spots along the way. I think it is the Kahala trail it is in the Kauai the ultimate guide

I think you are wise to be staying in both locations. We spent the whole time at the Hyatt and drove to the north shore only once. To me, a day trip there is just not the same as BEING there. I would spend three days north and two days south. I wasn't aware there was a lighthouse tour but just walking around there on your own is a wonderful experience. While on the south side visit Waimea Canyon, of course, and the spouting blowhole. Snorkel at Poipu Beach. Eat at Brick Oven Pizza. Didn't get to spend enough time in the north to offer suggestions other than the lighthouse. It rained the one day we went up, didn't get to spend enough time to enjoy the lovely beaches/snorkeling.

We just stay on the East/CocoCoast so we don't have to use a day packing/unpacking. Central location and a few mins to/from the airport.

But why anyone would even WANT to go to Kauai is waaaaay beyond me.
They have bugs there!!! And these bugs have no nightlife! :-"

I think Kauaian Bugs should have there own Forum.:O)

Kal,
BUGS!?!
That does it.
It's the last straw.
The rain I could live with.
I could deal with the boredom unitl I got home to my exciting life.
I eat well at home, so the lousy restaurants are something that I tolerated.
But BUGS! Oh God! Where will I go on vacation now?

Thanks Kal.

-Bill

did someone say lousy restaurants in kauai? i wouldnt be surprised b/c when i was in maui and oahu last summer, i dont recall having any good meals except for one in maui, David Paul's Lahaina grill, thought it was extremely expensive.
did someone also say they were bored in kauai? are you being sarcastic?
if i stayed in the East, how long is the drive to the North Shore? Princeville is VERY expensive I just realized, does anyone know where to get a good deal on teh Princeville Resort? I'm willing to spend $300/night, taxes included. is that even possible for the princeville resort?

The Lighthouse cost $3 per person to enter last year, not sure if the price has risen. The gates are open from 10-4. It is run under the auspices of the US Fish and Game/National Wildlife Refuge. I worked there when I lived on Kauai, it is a beautiful spot.

Last I heard there were no more guided tours of the birding areas up on Crater Hill. (This new policy was put into effect by the new refuge manager; maybe he has now relented due to popular demand but I doubt it! )

Crazy4Hawaii have done the walking around the lighthouse its nice but the tours were better. Too bad that they don't offer them anymore. They talk you to some cliffs that are not accessible if you just walk into the lighthouse area. Would still check to see if tours have started up again. Don't know how they will get donations if people don't see what they are preserving but that is not something I know a whole lot about.

Who is looking for discounts at the Princeville. I would call travel agents on Oahu. Would also see if AA rates are available. Renting a condo on the princeville estates will not be as expensive of course and you will have more space.

sarah, i'm looking for discounts at princeville hotel and resort. I've heard so many good things about them that i really want to try it out there for a few nights. but of course i'm not crazy enough to pay $400/night. AA right now has teh lowest rate of $360/night, i think they're tax included. but i still want to see if there is a better rate out there.
let me know if u need the exact dates of my stay, i havent even decided on how to allocate the time, but it's definitely in august for 3 nights. thanks!
if princeville resort is out of the question, then i will start researching on the condos in princeville. but b/c i had a bad experience with condos last year at maui ( i stayed at royal kahana), i really prefer big resorts this time.

check out rates through Pleasant Island holidays. Also call travel agents based on Oahu. I would thumb through a yellow pages at your library not sure if online discounts will be the same. They often have deals not advertised to mainlanders. I am in NYC not a travel agent just a dreamer good economy permitting.LOL

iamq,
Should we tell kalunchi about all of the "you know whats" on "you know where"?

:-?

Kal,
What and reveal the secrets you've discovered during your research? :$
-Bill

Kal,

Copywrite it and then vault it before the you know who lets the you know what, out of the bag....ssshhhhh!!! Kaluncha, did you check the spg rates?