Orchid Cottage or Kimo's Hale
 

Has anyone ever stayed at either of these places? The Orchid Cottage (http://www.vrbo.com/22597) looks like it's at the east end of Anini Beach, but from the aerial photos, I'm not sure where the beach access is.

Kimo's Hale (http://www.kimosvacationrentals.com/index.html) is a yurt that is within walking distance of Kepuhi beach.

My wife and I are looking for something simple and private on the north side of the island for our 30th anniversary next June. We would like at least some cooking facilities but don't need a gourmet kitchen since we'll be spending most of our time at the beach. We'd like to be able to walk to a beach for some snorkeling and for nighttime walks. Maybe some of you have some other suggestions, too. I've been surfing the web for a couple weeks, so I doubt I've missed too much. We're trying to keep our costs to no more than $200/night.

Check out this cottage on Hanalei Bay. Walk across the yard and you're on the beach. My husband and I stayed there a few years ago. Very comfortable. http://www.aloha.net/~seek/index.html

Have you seen these places yet? I have no experiences with them, but when I searched, they looked interesting to me. Good luck!
http://www.aninibeachhideaway.com/
http://www.kauai-vacation-rental-han...se%20photo.htm
http://www.kauaiproperties.com/kauaiaccommodations.html
http://www.kauaiproperties.com/kauaiaccommodations.html
http://www.northcountryfarms.com/gardencottage.htm

Duh! I just re-read your question carefully and realized that you said you want a place that is close enough to walk to the beach. Sorry, some of the links I posted may not fit the bill. I apologize!

Regarding beach access from this part of Anini: If memory serves me there are at least two or three right of ways that pass between the beachfront properties that give you access to the beach. We parked along the side of the road near one of them and walked down a path and there we were.

This place is a little more than your budget, but it satisfies everyone of your requiements to "T". A 5 minute walk down the beach to the best snorkeling on the island.
http://tinyurl.com/elgos

-Bill

DesertBeachLover:

Orchid Cottage is set well off Anini Beach Road. Beach access is down the long driveway, across and then down Anini Beach Road to the nearest public path. Nice cottage (I've seen it from the outside); quiet location. Be advised though, that the accessible beach which is nearby, disappears during high tide.

Auntie, thanks for the info. From the aerial photos the beach across from the cottage looked really small, so I'm not surprised it disappears during high tide.

Martym, that link takes me to the website for a phone company...no cottages. I've seen this link on other postings and had the same problem. Do you know the name of the cottage so I can find it some other way?

DesertBeachLover, for the web site, you have to put in the entire line. It's confusing because only the first part ( up to the word "net" appears in blue on my screen)
so it's www dot aloha dot net forward slash squiggleything forwrad slash index dot html
all have to apear as the URL--i.e. make sure to add the see/index part as well.
I hope this doesn't confuse you even more!!!

DesertBeachLover:

Here's an easy URL to the place martym was recommending:
http://tinyurl.com/edzwq

martym:
long URLs can be easily shortened -- just drag it to www.tinyurl.com

Thanks for all the input. It's been really helpful. I still haven't been able to get any feedback at all on the Kimo's Hale yurt located near Kepuhi Beach. It seems to be what we're looking for - something simple and close to a beach and yet reasonably priced. However, I'm a little leary since I haven't been able to find any information at all other that just what the owner provided. The owners have been great at providing all the information I've asked for but it would be reassuring to get some feedback from a third party.

Thanks!

Easy for me to say, but trust your gut. If it feels right and seems right, go for it. We rented a place in Hanalei in 2005 and like you, I found no reviews or independent information about the place, which by the way is not all that unusual, even with the glut of information made available via the internet. The rental agent wasn't even very forthcoming and customer service oriented. It seemed right, good location, the price was right and it felt right. It turned out to be perfect. Too bad the rent jumped $250 a week, or I'd stay there again. I'm doing that routine again this coming summer with another rental I found on vrbo in Hanalei. Seems good, I know the location is excellent, sounds great, does not seem "too good to be true" (I stay away from those), we'll see how it works out.
Good luck.
-Bill