Kauai - Where to Stay - Late May
 

Planning a trip to Kauai for late May. I'll need a break, as this will be just after our NJ/NY GTG on the 21st. ((a))

Is this a good time, weather wise?

I've ordered the Ultimate Kauai Guidebook, but would like recommendations on where to stay. North, South, East, West Shores -- so many choices.

I'm looking for Condo or Cottage (1 br), around $1K (give or take a couple of hundred) for the week. Refrig/kitchen a must for OJ, coffee, fruit, snacks, wine & cheese.

Don't necessarily want seclusion, but also not densely populated areas. Walking to restaurants/shopping a plus.

I've been to Oahu, but this will be Mrs. Budman's first experience with the Islands. Will probably spend 2-3 days on either end of the trip on Oahu, just to do some of the touristy things.

Additionally, anybody else going to be in the area late May/early June timeframe (28th of May thru 3rd of June). Maybe a GTG for lunch, dinner, and/or cocktails? Hopefully, Kal can recommend the place. ((a)) ((b))

Have not been in May, but we have liked the condo's and awesome scenery we have experienced by stayed up north in the Princeville Resort area and found <font color="blue">Kauai Revealed</font> to be helpful in deciding.

Suggest you get an ocean-front condo preferably with beach access, though some mountain views are often dazzling as well. There are only a few restaurants in the Princeville resort and most are with the P'ville Hotel, best to drive a few minutes for grocery stores/shopping(maybe more driving((o))) etc. Have found <font color="blue">www.vrbo.com</font> a good place to start looking for condo's/cottages and also myself and other fodorites have posted previous trip reports of our travels there. Enjoy your stay in paradise! ((r))((B))((D)):S-

Hi Budman, can't help you with condos or cottages as we stayed at hotels--one night on the south shore, three on the north shore during May a few years back. Weather wise it was a beautiful time to be there. In January we are headed back to Oahu and, for the first time, the Big Island. I hope you and Mrs. Budman enjoy a wonderful trip! :-)

Budman,
I've only been to Kaua`i in July and August, BUT have heard that the weather in May is gorgeous. Our two previous trips have been to the Poipu area. We stayed with friends and at the Hyatt. We loved it there...quiet, warm and sunny most of the time.

For our trip this summer we are renting a small cottage in Hanalei on the North Shore. Hanalei is lovely and generally a pretty laid back spot. We'll be able to walk to everything and will be close to Ke'e, Makua (Tunnels) and all the other fabulous places on the north shore. There are tons of cottage rentals in Hanalei.
Here is the link to the cottage we are renting. http://www.napaliprop.com/plantation-cott

NaPali Properties, Anini-Aloha, Kauai Vacation Rentals and Grantham Properties are agents with good reputations.
Have a great trip.
-Bill

ahhhhhhhhh, bummer Budman...we will be there May 13th thru 28th!
One week we are staying on the East side at Pono Kai in Kapaa. Nothing fancy but clean and many units have nice views. Don't know where we will stay the other time..Probably one of the Marriott properties, unless we can get a deal somewhere else.
((r))((r))((r))....142 mo days!
i2

We stayed on the north shore the first week of June this year at the Pali Ke Kua condos, above the pretty and secluded Hideaways/Pali Ke Kua beach (a few doors down from the Princeville). We adored it, the views over the ocean and to Bali Hai are awesome. The north shore was beautiful then, with a few morning showers but mostly sunshine and also a calm ocean.

I have tons of info on the condo (and the great agency I used, Kauaivacationrentals.com...excellent people/website with fantastic photos and 360 degree viewers, and tons of properties to choose from) and our trip in general in my report at http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34508517.

Let me know if you have specific questions!

love
roxy

We were in Kauai the last 3 days of May 2004 and the weather was beautiful! We stayed at the Kapaa Sands in Kapaa. I think the condo was about $130 a night oceanfront.

Our weather in May is usually delightful -- tradewinds at 10-15mph, daytime temps 80-85, overnight temps 75 or so...you can stay north shore or wherever and expect very light rain (if any at all).

If walking to restaurants/shops is priority, there are lots of condos/cottages in Po`ipu near the shopping center; northshore you'd want to look in Hanalei for a house to rent (there seem to be _hundreds_!).

See the post by iamq for some excellent recommendations for property rental companies (renting direct from owner can be problematic...).

Have a wonderful time! 8-)

Thanks for all your input. Roxy, I bookmarked your thorough, comprehensive report. Nice work. Will read it when I get a free moment.

Looks like maybe South or East Shore would be a good base to explore/day trip to the rest of the Island??? Restaurants and shops and places to sit out on a deck to have drinks??

Any other thoughts? ((b))

Budman, checkout Suite Paradise's online rates. Around Poipu there's Keoki's Paradise, Roy's Beach House, Joe's on The Green and places in Koloa for starters.
I made some comments &amp; put links here:
http://mysite.verizon.net/resokgsc/hawaii2004/

Have a great trip ;)

South or East is good for restaurants and shops, but for sitting out on a deck with ((B))((D))North shore would be my first choice :S-

pspercy, nice photos and report. I'll check out the Suites. Thanks for your suggestions.

JohnD, North Shore looks nice, but I'm concerned that it's too far away to sightsee, hike, and do day trips to the other side/rest of the Island?

Maybe I just need to kick back and do nothing. ((a)) ((b))

Budman((B)),
If you were visiting in winter I would agree that East coast Kaua`i is a great location because you're in the middle, however even so Kaua`i is a small island and we've spent more time trying to drive across Manhattan, then to drive from one end of Kaua`i to the other, check <font color="blue">Ultimate Kauai</font> for driving times inside back cover. Suggest focusing on shopping and restaurants while visiting Oahu.

Since you're from our neck of the woods, I'll add at the risk of being :$:$:$ we feel that the <font color="green">lush</font> tropical mountain and ocean views which are most prominent on the North Shore make it one of the most beautiful places on earth and where you can hang out and do nothing. The most spectacular hiking and scenic beaches (e.g. Ke`e) we have experienced in Kaua`i have been along the rugged Napali coast trail-where the road ends north shore.
:S-
A day trip to western Kaua`i to check out Waimea Canyon is also worthwhile.

We loved Cliffs 4-207 in Princeville, all freshly furnished and decorated. They can be found at Kauaivacationrentals.com....$875 and they have ac, which you won't need...until you need it! Let me know what you think. It is as lovely as the pictures, and cooking with that view...priceless! Great conditioned gas grills at the pool area too!