Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Islander on the Beach

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Islander on the Beach

Hi, I read some good reviews about Islander on the Beach. I'm not expecting the Hyatt or Sheraton at this resort but has anyone stayed in a gardenview room? Also, which building should I avoid? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

I am assuming (since you did not say) that you mean the Islander on the Beach in Kauai. We stayed there last year and were quite satisfied because we got a very good deal on the internet. Our room was gardenview - nothing fancy but everything worked. It is on the beach but be careful about swimming there unless it is pretty calm. The location is quite good since it is about half way between the north and south shore - making it an easy drive to either. Also it is about a 2 minute drive to Lydegate Park (the safest swimming area on the East coast of Kauai). And it is just behind a shopping plaza that has decent restaurants and souvenir shops. Overall especially considering the good internet deal we got we were very satisfied with the Islander on the Beach.

Islander On The Beach is on Vaimaanga Beach, Rarotonga, Cook Islands South Pacific http://cookpages.com/IslanderOnTheBeach/

Thanks for the information. I am referring to the resort on Kapaa, Kauai.

have you run a "text search" or checked out the "rants and raves" for this place?

Stayed there last October on our honeymoon. I would echo JMM's comments. Nothing fancy, but clean and the staff was fairly attentive. Good if the price is right. The central location does make everywhere on the island easily accessible. Sleeping Giant is a good hike nearby that's not overly strenuous, but with great views. You should definitely have breakfast at Eggbert's in the shopping plaza across the way at least once. Hope this helps.

Aloha Arlyn, This Dec will mark our 11th trip to Kauai and The Islander. To agree w/ JMM and Kevin, not a 4* hotel by no means but nice rooms, people and the location is hard to beat. A lot of good restaurants w/in walking distance. So are Safeway and Foodland. No road noise either. The only noise complaints I've rcvd from friends who have gone over with us or on stayed there on our recommendation complain about the ocean noise since it IS right "on the beach!" Beach is swimmable but there are better ones nearby. We like ocean front in the Molokai wing (the wing closest to Kapaa Sands side)as you don't get the p.m. sun in the window which can warm up the room a bit. The Sand Bar pool bar is nice too, especially when Karen is working as she makes the world's best mai tais! The Sleeping Giant is one of the underrated hikes on Kauai...but when you talk Na'pali Coast, just about everything else pales in comparison. An Eggberts omlette can keep even me full just about the whole day...and their pancakes! Yikes! Kal

Are the Islander on the Beach and Kaapa Sands side by side? I have been debating between those 2 for our stay on Kauai in August. Prices look about the same. Any thoughts/comparisons? Thanks!!

Laurie, OOOPS! I got my "Kauai Sands" mixed up with the "Kapaa Sands"! Sorry. The hotel next to the Islander is the Kauai Sands not the Kapaa Sands. The Kapaa Sands is just a short walk down the road from both, tho. We've had friends stay at both places and both were OK and suited for their needs. Neither are 4* places. The Islander has more oceanfront/oceanview rooms. If you get placed in one of the back rooms at the Kauai Sands, you overlook the parking lot and the back of The Islander. At the Kapaa Sands condo, you may get a unit in the back with little or no view. Not a very good swimming beach right there. Mostly lava cap. We also like the pool/jacuzzi and the pool bar at The Islander. But, once again, not a 4* hotel either. Hope this helps. Kal

Thanks for the info Kal-have decided to make reservations at The Islander. Now trying to decide between Garden View for 78.00/night (+tax) and the Ocean View for 113.00/night (+tax). It will be a 5 night stay after 7 nights on the Big Island. Do these seem like typical prices for this facility and is the ocean view (or ocean front) worth the extra money? Thanks, Laurie

Laurie, I thought the $113 for OV sounded a bit high compared to the reservations I made for June. Go to Travel-Hawaii.com. Using their rate calculator for August (I used the 10th), I came up with ocean FRONT at $145/ night with 5th night free. After figuring in the free night and taking off the 11.4% tax, I have this working out to equivalent to $103 per night. I've used this agency before with no problems.