My husband and I are thinking about an anniversary trip to Kauai early this May. We don't need anything fancy, just needs to be clean and on the beach. Is there anything we can find for around $200/night? Would we need to rent a car or will restaurants and shops be close enough to walk? Or should we rent a car and stay somewhere more secluded? Looking for any advice... Thanks!

There are a plethora of places to stay.

A relatively inexpensive place (although not quite as affordable since its rennovation) that is on the beach and near shopping and restaurants is Resort Quest "Islander" Hotel, just don't go in early/mid January when Kal is displacing most of the water in the pool. It's also centrally located so that you can drive north/south for site seeing.

You'll probably want a car for at least some of the time you are there, or you won't be able to go much of any place or see any sites.

Resort Quest often offers specials on their hotels, just Google search it.

There are tours that can take you up to Waimea Canyon and boat on the Wailua River. Otherwise to get to the beaches and sights north and south, you need a car.

Good one DB!!!! Kome to Kauai for Kal's Haole Made Rainbows!

pijeta -there are also some nice condos in Poipu area. Yes to rental car!

You need to rent a car regardless of whereever you stay. There are so many things to see and they are worth seeing on your own rather than via tour. So many great restuarants, as well. You may want to go to the Lizard Lounge for Happy hour and dinner one night in Kapaa, but decide to do a luau the next night. The island is easy to get around on with one main road and it's in excellent condition.

Look into Kiahuna in Poipu. If it looks like something you'd like, you can save 20% to 30% by going to vrbo.com and renting directly from an owner. You won't find Kal doing cannonballs in the pool here though.

-Bill

Anyone? Bueller?

At $200/night, your options for a resort or decent hotel is limited.

One option is the Kauai Marriott at Kalapaki Beach. If you become a Marriott Rewards member and use rate code M11, you might get a non-view room rate at $199 in May or June.

We stayed there on our last trip to Kauai. The positives: Awesome grounds, really nice pool, right on the water. The negatives: The rooms were musty and in need of remodeling. I sent a complaint letter to Marriott and the hotel manager responded, saying they were updating the rooms. If you read some reviews on other sites, some people still complain that the rooms are musty. The other negative is that the beach is not good for snorkeling. The water is calm, but very cloudy, I think due to the sand they trucked in to make the beach. The other negative is that it is on a small bay that also houses a port, so you;ll see cargo ships and small cruise ships coming in. Oh, and it's practically next door to the airport.