Hello all,

I know there are some very helpful and knowledgeable people when it comes to Kauai and I could use some help. Thinking about planning a trip to the island next spring (late April/early May) and could use some advice on a place to stay on the north shore. I have been and stayed at a fancy 1 bedroom cottage near Kilauea overlooking Secret Beach and enjoyed that but it's not available anymore. I was thinking something in the Kilauea area or Hanalei. Looking for something kind of reasonable but somewhat fancy too. Of course I'm always open to other suggestions if you have them because you never know what gems you'll find if you ask! Thanks for your advice!!

Haven't stayed there but a friend of mine owns a condo at Hanalei Bay Resort. I visited a few years ago and the place is really nice, with two gorgeous pools and on a cliff above the beach. If you don't want to walk back up (or down) the hotel will take you on a golf cart to the beach. Only drawback is the bar and restaurant is not open at this time - it may or may not be open in May, they are working on it now. Construction noise is not a problem except for one building possibly. Sorry don't know anything about Kilauea.

I've stayed at this place in Hanalei: http://surfsisterhawaii.com/accommodations.html

It's reasonable but not fancy. It's a block and a half walk to the little shopping are where Bar Acuda is located and about 2 blocks to Hanalei beach. I liked being able to easily walk to restaurants and the beach.

It's small. The shower is located outside. But it was clean and pretty and a great deal.

Also check out renting a 1 BR condo at the Cliffs Club in Princeville. www.cliffsatprinceville.com,

We have had a timeshare there forever - and like it.

Hanalei Colony Resort is also very nice - but as noted - may not have full services. They have a great swim around an island type pool - and it's an easy walk down to the beach, which is essentially private.

Tomsd, are you confusing Hanalei Colony Resort with Hanalei Bay Resort? Hanalei Colony is not on a swimmable beach and has a coffee shop and full service restaurant, Mediterrean Gourmet.
Hanalei Bay does not have a resto or the Happy Talk Lounge open yet but will be done this summer, possibly in May.
Also HCR is near Haena and HBR is in Princeville.

We've stayed in two of the cottages at Hale Makai: http://www.halemakaicottages.com/. It's a couple hundred yards down the beach west of Hanalei Colony Resort, so as jamie99 says, the beach there isn't much for swimming. We found snorkeling to be pretty good though, during the summer months anyway. And we Love the location.

Thank you all for your comments so far. Good to know about HCR and the non-swimable beach it and Hale Makai are on. I'll have to check out HBR to compare and see what that is like.

Jamie - my bad. HCR is about 3-4 miles beyond Princeville - and has a decent sandy beach - but is more for snorkeling - I would agree.

Hanalei Bay Resort is next to the St. Regis - atop the cliffs in Princeville.

Uno mas - it's not unswimmable at HCR at all - as there are some sandy holes - but it has a lot of reef/rocks - which make for good snorkeling.

I am more Hanalei-centric so my suggestions are for there.

We have rented from Na Pali Properties and like their selection of rentals in town.

There are lots of choices or vrbo.com for Hanalei. I would recommend that you stay on the ocean side of the highway and on Weke Road if possible.

If you like walking to the beach, restaurants, bars and shopping, Hanalei is a good choice.

HCR is closer to ten miles/25 minutes from Princeville, at least it was last year when we were there.

weke - maybe you adapted quickly to "island time" - but it's only 7 miles or so from Hanalei town to the end of the road - Ke'e Beach - and HCR is about halfway there. I would say ten minutes max.

There also isa BBQ area at the resort - and one day - we bought some fresh fish from the Hanalei Dolphin and cooked it for dinner. Very relaxing way to spend the afternoon/evening.

Tom, you said that HCR is 3 to 4 miles from PRINCEVILLE. That is just NOT true. Like much of ye information, it is based on recollections of yours that are years old and not on facts.

I'd guess it's 4 - 5 miles from Hanalei town to the HCR, but I KNOW it's 7 one-way bridges (if you count the double-bridge as 2). One of my favorite drives in the islands....

Yes, FITheC it is a wonderful and unique drive, whatever the length. Maybe I AM on island time when I make that drive, but isn't that a GOOD thing? I think so. I usually never break 25 mph on that drive. There is one straight away by Lumahai where I can get up to around 40 mph or more for about a mile, but why bother?