china_cat, check out vrbo.com (which you probably have already done) and also summitpacific.com

You might also want to ask questions on tripadvisor.com forums. They have a very active Kauai forum.

All of the places look wonderful.. I would love to stay at the one in Anini, but I wonder if it's not too secluded for us! We live in seclusion!!!!!

Have fun with your search.

Hi bbq.

We stayed here a couple of years ago and loved it

http://www.kauaivacationrentals.com/...s&Avail=&Stay=

Fabulous views. I spent months searching for a beach front cottage and couldn't find anything that had a better view than this condo.

Hi icee. You loose my e-mail address?

Excellent recommendations. Thanks!

we still haven't made a decision, but at this point we are leaning way from the locations in Haena, because its just too remote. So we are focusing on Hanelei, and trying to find that perfect something.

we did find one we liked a lot, but at $3000 its perhaps a bit beyond the budget.
http://www.princeville-vacations.com...rental-78.html

cm318, thanks for the recommendation. I have to agree with you, the views from the Pali Ke Kua condos are spectacular. And if we give up on beachfront,that one is definitely in the running.

aloha china_cat...

I would also shy away from Haena... the area is very secluded and I find it to be just a bit more "wet" than Hanalei or P'ville.

I've stayed at Pali Ke Kua, and while the views are top notch, the units can be a bit stuffy mid-late afternoon. They face west and the sun can get perty darn hot that time of day. No air cond... so if you want a lil nap after trekking around the island all day, it can be a bit toasty in the condo. Otherwise, it's a gorgeous spot.

Happy planning... ((R))

I researched many places to stay on the North Shore. Finally decided on this lovely condo at Pua Poa:
www.vrbo.com/37831
Although it is more space than you need, the price is excellent. Fabulous view, and two large PRIVATE lanais.
As I mentioned in a previous post, have stayed in cottages and houses previously but decided we prefer a condo with option of using pool if ocean is rough.

We stayed at Punana Aloha Cottage some years back. The house itself was very pleasant, but I have to say that I was pretty conscious of a regular stream of cars slowly cruising the road, just looking-- I suppose to check out possible rentals for next visit. All the same, those cars are not dead in front of you -- the property has a very large lawn, and shrubbery across most of it, then comes the sand road, and then the beach. More important to you, I think, will be that the swimming in front of the house isn't great. It's rocky in the water there, and pretty shallow just about all the way out to the reef.

thanks for the info Ckwald, its good to know. I'm surprised about the lack of swimming in front of the house, I thought it was inside the fringe reef that protects Anini Beach.

It seems like the only beach on the north we can actually be relatively assured of good swimming, where we can get a rental is Hanalei. Or the beaches near Princeville, except they all require a steep walk. And Doughty, in "Ultimate Kauai" even says the surf at Hanelei can be rough (although I know what you all think of him, so maybe I shouldn't take him at his word).

I'm finding it all a bit frustrating. Maybe Barbara is right, and I should find a place with a pool...

oh, and I should have mentioned...I love the one martym listed above, Moon Beach Cottage. It is very nice, and reasonably priced. And therefore, of course, completely booked in September. It figures, doesn't it? I better get a decision made, and fast...

Chinacat: The beach where my sister and I got caught in a riptide was Hanalei Beach. I had rented a lovely house called Paulele, which was just a block away from the beach. It was late May, and I was under the impression that the ocean would be safe for swimming that time of year. Although there is a lifeguard stand, no lifeguard was on duty. There were no signs posted, and the ocean looked calm. Other people were in the water. I always stay in water where I can stand up. All of a sudden, I was out deeper and could not swim back to shore. I know you are supposed to swim sideways, but I was still scared. Someone on a surfboard helped us to shore. The next day signs were posted. That was when I decided to always have a pool available. The only beach where I feel safe on the North Shore is Anini...close to shore. You might be a better swimmer...or more physically fit. Just wanted to share my experience so you are aware that even Hanalei Beach has its dangers.

bookmarking

My experience with Hanalei Bay is based on 5 trips all in the months of July and August. There were lifegaurds posted by the pavillion, whom we talked to on a regular basis. The water in the bay was like glass. No riptides, no waves in front of the pier, down by the pavillion or even closer to Pine Trees where the surfing is common when the surf is up. We swam laps in the bay every morning for two weeks and never had a problem. Small, beginner surfing waves were more common further down the beach you went just about in front of the Moon Cottage or so.

Good luck deciding!

China-it IS inside the reef at Anini-- it's just shallow and rocky there. The terrain is not uniform along Anini-- plenty of good swimming and decent snorkeling there, but not right in front of this house. We happily rented a house another year back down the road, on the other side of the public beach, & just crossed the road to "our own private beach" and swam there happily every day.

By the way, don't have illusions about "absolute" safety there because of the reef, especially if you swim in areas where there is no lifeguard. Never swim alone, & always be watchful.

Don't know if you have picked a place yet but we stayed in Devaki's studio in Hanalei Dec 2007. Here is her website
http://www.poi.net/~kevdev/
It was a very clean very large studio unit. It really had everything we needed and i felt responsibly priced. Devaki lives upstairs and is a really great hostess and wants her guests to be happy. You are about 1/2 block to the beach and 2 blocks to town. I liked that you can walk to everything and Hanalei Bay is one of the most beautiful spots around.
December is supposed to be huge surf and the whole week we were there no surf. My husband the surfer was very disappointed, it was completely flat.

I think somebody might have mentioned these condos (Hanalei Bay Resort)..they are individually owned, so you would just have to do your research (most have great reviews, some not so much)...we live on Maui and are going over for a long weekend at the beginning of April...hoping it is everything it looks like... :)

http://www.summitpacificinc.com/hanalei_bay_resort.html

china_cat? How's the search going?

iamq, thanks for asking...
I sent my deposit in on this place:
http://www.hanaleibeachhouse.com/
just last week. It was more than I originally wanted to spend, but we talked ourselves into it because it had everything we wanted. Walk to (Mostly) swimmable beach, walk to town, view, easy access (no 3rd floor walkups!), king bed, washer/dryer, a/c in the bedroom, ability to bbq on site, internet access. That was pretty much everything on my list.


I really came close to pulling the trigger on some of the Princeville condos, maybe Pu'u Poa, or Hanelei Bay, because they had a lot to recommend them. But Mr Cat really liked the idea of being in a real town, on a real beach rather than up on the bluff on the golf course.

Now I've nailed down Kaui and Oahu. Getting close on Maui. Still have to figure out BI...

Well done, I remember watching that place under construction.......looks fantastic!!!!

Now,,,,,,ssshhhhhh...........

gyppie...I'm sure it will absolutely suck. it's a pit, no doubt. With roosters, and gigantic mosquitos, and it rains ALL the time. right? have I got that straight??