please help me plan my kauai trip!!
 

Hi,<BR>I am planning my families trip to kauai for next easter. We are splitting the 10 day trip with 5 days renting a house in haena, my husband likes seclusion, nature etc. but the house has no pool so were splitting the time with a condo stay mainly so the kids can have their pool time. Can you suggest a condo that would be in a more quite non touristy area??<BR>Thanks for any help!<BR>Susan

I would not head to Haena that month, high probablity of rain on the North Shore. Many head to poipu to skip the rain of winter but I would head to Maui or the big island instead, more picturesq. Where are your other 5 days

that is the rain of winter and spring

I wouldn't rent a place on that side of the island. It's often raining there when it's sunny on the other side. I rented a condo in Princeville during a non-rainy period and we still got three days of rain that pretty much kept us inside for the entire afternoon. When you're on vacation, weather is a big part of your enjoyment so keep it in mind.

poipu side might be sunny but it is also not very scenic. I would consider another island entirely during this time. Just one opinion

Thanks everyone for the replies,<BR>what island do you think would be best in april.<BR><BR>Susan

For 10 days I would spend all the time on either big island or Maui. I would not break up the time on more than one island. My heart leans towards the big island first but you need to go online and see what pulls at your heart strings. A quick way to decide is to breeze through both Maui Revealed and the Big Island revealed by Andrew Dougherty (sp). They are concise and have enough info four an informed choice.

Hanalei Bay Resorts was a good option for us. It is nest to the Princeville Resort. It may be too touristy for you. It wasn't for us though. The grounds are quite beautiful - including a nice large pool. The views are exceptional. The beach is also just a walk down a paved path. Jana

We stayed near Poipu this May. Although the South Shore is different than North Shore Kauai, it is quite scenic. We stayed at Koloa Landing Cottages, so don't know about the condos in the area. I don't know what the weather will be like at Easter, but the weather was excellent in May on all of Kauai. Frankly, on Kauai, one does not need to rent a condo with a pool - our kids loved the ocean. There are excellent public beaches which are quite deserted on the weekdays. After visiting the beaches on Kauai, none of us liked the beaches on the Big Island.

Thanks everyone for your replies. Maybe<BR>I will be sorry, but I just booked a 2 bedroom condo at sealodge for $750.00/wk. I have the ultimate kauai guide and seen its gold-bar rating. I guess if it rains we'll travel south. I really want to be on the north shore.<BR>Thanks again,<BR>Susan

well done susan,,,,you'll have a wonderful time! Let go of the plans and enjoy. I hope to return to this magical island.

Don't worry Susan... even if it rains, it is still warm. The north shore is much prettier than the south (not saying that the south is bad) but you can usually escape rain by heading south for the day, which you would probably do anyways for a couple of day trips even if it didn't rain.

Only if you take me with you:)

Tell us how it goes Susan. They seem to have gorgeous ocean veiws there. I have often thought of renting there.<BR><BR>I wonder if Albatross will be at the Kilauea lighthouse that time of year. Remember to schedule a free guided hike with them 2.5 hours.<BR>If Easter lands in March next year you might get some whales also, and what a veiw you will have!

book a few weeks or more ahead for the guided hikes at kilauea lighthouse

Thanks everyone,<BR>Easter is april 20 this year and a few places I have checked with are already filled up. I was really interested in a place called hale o' wailele. which is a home with pool but it was booked. Also I found cottage rentals next to the marriott with full use of the marriott resort called pali ka kua? and they were reasonably priced. Thanks for all the responses!<BR>Susan

susan try Hanalei North Shore Properties<BR><BR>and Century 21 for rental properties.<BR><BR>Did you check out the sealodge very affordable and right on a bluff looking out at the water.

Sarah,<BR>Thanks for responding, I did book at sealodge!! I cant wait to go!!<BR>Susan

Could someone do me a HUGE favor and lookup Garden Isle Cottages in the ultimate Kauaii guide and tell me if its in there or they like it? It seems like a nice quiet place at reasonable rates but I am nervous its too good to be true. Thank you ever so much!! I have ordered the guide but am leaving for 3 week vacation and won't have iy till I get back.

go to Amazon online and look in index of book

Here's what Ultimate Kauai says about Garden Isle Cottages<BR><BR>4 units. A couple of duplexes very close to the ocean (an inlet/stream near Koloa Landing). Units are reasonably sized at 800 sq. ft. Bottom floors have full kitchens, upper floors have no stove. (In case you're wondering why they do that, the county recognizes additional units by whether they have stoves. No stove, no second unit.) Anyway, units are simply furnished and quiet. $140–$160. No credit cards.<BR><BR>If you want to see what they look like in relation to the ocean (or in this case the inlet) go here <BR><BR>http://www.wizardpub.com/kauai/krgardenislecott.html

Thank you VERY MUCH for the info; and the picture link was helpful. We are looking for a quieter place and I think this will work great. I am just nervous there will be something wrong with it!

When are you going to Kauai, Diana? We would like to go in February and my head is just swimming with all the properties I have seen for rent on the internet. I think half of them are probably already booked. I feel rushed, but I am hoping the 1,200 dollar air fare from the East might go down.<BR>

I am going in September and have only just made reservations so don't sweat as you are WAY ahead of me! I got this crazy idea to take my mother who has always wanted to go! Myself, Hawaii is not on my list of Must see places.... but my mom is worth the trip! I am just learning as I go......

Oops... I forgot to say that I went to the Northwest airlines website and they sent me to I think it was called avacation (with the "a" in front) web site and I got tickets for $625 which is out of Burlington Vermont which i think is very good. Good luck. I have never bought anything online before but it dsoe appear that I have real tickets!!

Diane she should sweat it Easter is high time in the island. And even if you did just get reservations. I can assure you that many prime spots for September booked up already. Don't know where you are going but I know Hanalei beachfront is tough to get for September and if you book ahead you will get better deals.<BR><BR>Not to offend Diane just don't want susan to get comfortable and miss out.

Diana- We have stayed at the Garden Isle Cottages. They are cute and simple, located in a quiet residential neighborhood. Lots of flowers, we could hear the roaring surf from our upstairs unit which was right on a little inlet. Tons of great walking paths in this area, easy to go down to the Sheraton for some "civilization."

ttt