Fodor's Expert Review Lava Lava Beach Club

Spend the day swimming at the beach just steps away from your private lanai and fall asleep to the sound of the ocean at these four artfully decorated one-room cottages, located right on the sandy beach at Anaehoomalu Bay. It's a short stroll to the adjacent Lava Lava Beach Club bar/restaurant, which serves lunch and dinner daily. Ride your cruiser bike in the morning to the nearby coffee shops at the Kings' Shops and Queens' MarketPlace.

Photo: Lava Lava Beach Club cottages provide all the comforts of a private home, the convenience of a beachfront hotel, and the excitement of a surf shack

room

All four of the luxury cottages at Lava Lava are similar, with one specifically created to be ADA compliant. Open air bedrooms, Hawaiian daybeds (punee), and plenty of comfy seating on the spacious lanai invite guests to do lots of lounging. Décor is bright and contemporary beach chic – it’s very well decorated without being cluttered. All of the art is done by local artists, and each cottage has dossiers with information about each artist. Cottages come with a kitchenette fully stocked with dishes and modern appliances and a dining area. The west coast of Hawaii gets very hot, so there is also air conditioning that works very well.

Photo: Lava Lava Beach Club cottages provide all the comforts of a private home, the convenience of a beachfront hotel, and the excitement of a surf shack

bathroom

For those looking for a wonderful bathroom experience, this is where you’ll find it. A beautiful shower, separate water room for the toilet, a lovely sink, and a separate vanity all make up the indoor bathroom. The outdoor shower, however, is what makes this a truly special experience. A high rock wall and wooden fencing give even the tallest guest the utmost privacy so that they can enjoy the smooth stone and lava rock floors while surrounded by banana trees and other island plant life. This shower can be accessed from both inside and outside to help keep the sand out of your cottage. Incredibly luscious organic products from Malie Organics in Kauai round out the island experience.

Though the inside shower is definitely nice, you really shouldn’t even bother with it. Just like most of your vacation should be spent outside, so too should your showers be done outside. On clear nights you’ll have views of some of the most beautiful star-filled skies on the whole planet – don’t deprive yourself of that.

lobby

The cottages are limited service, and guests can drive straight past the Lava Lava restaurant to find their cottages tucked away in a lava field. Guests can just walk right into their accommodations and find their key, a welcome note, and a guide book that thoroughly outlines all of the perks of the hotel. Checkout is just as easy, making a lobby irrelevant.

pool

There’s no need for a pool when the ocean is just steps from your porch.

spa

Two spas are available at other hotels nearby, with information provided in the guide book.

gym

Lava Lava makes stand up paddleboards and bicycles available for guests at no additional cost. One gym is available at other hotels nearby, with information provided in the guide book.

dining

The great thing about these cottages is that if you bring in your own food and drinks on the way in, you never really have to get back in your car until you’re ready to leave. Cottage guests also receive a cocktail and pupu (appetizer) delivered straight to their patio during happy hour time. In addition to self-prepared food, guests can walk just 15 yards to the Lava Lava restaurant to find a menu that includes happy hour specials, daily fish preparations, and island twists on classic foods like hamburgers and ribs.

Lava Lava no longer takes reservations, instead providing diners with a beach side playground with ping pong, beach views, and more. As a guest of the cottages, however, just let the host stand know which cottage you're in, and you'll move to the top of the list.

drinking

The bar is also a huge draw, with delicious and strong cocktails (the “Big Bamboocha” will definitely get your vacation started well), specialty cocktails in take-home glasses, and a good wine menu.