13 Best Hotels in Kauai, Hawaii

Perched about as close to the water's edge as they can get, these one- and two-bedroom condos are the most luxurious on the South Shore. The rocky beach is good for snorkeling, and a short drive or brisk walk will get you to a sandy stretch. Two barbecue areas, big picture windows, spacious living rooms, lanai, and modern kitchens with washer-dryers make this small hotel a home away from home. Units are individually owned, so they differ in decor. Grocery stocking service and on-call massage is available.

Perched on a rocky point above the pounding surf—perfect for whale- or turtle-watching—these three low-rise buildings have individually owned condos with full kitchens and washer-dryers. All condos have large windows, and many have bedrooms on the ocean side; each unit either shares a sundeck or has its own lanai. There's an oceanside pool, and weddings are sometimes staged on a little lawn beside the sea. A sandy swimming beach is a 10-minute walk away.

If you're looking for lodgings that won't break the bank and put you just a block from gorgeous Hanalei Bay, look no further, as this is literally the only choice among the town's pricey vacation rentals. The four attached studio cottages are bare-bones simple; the chief appeal here is price and location. Besides a private bath and queen-size bed, every room has HDTV and Wi-Fi, as well as a kitchen or kitchenette. Outside, you share a picnic table, hammocks, soda machine, and barbecue with other guests.

Set back from the ocean's edge on a quiet road in the heart of Poipu, Hideaway Cove is a boutique vacation rental with three units ranging from studios to two bedrooms, each appointed with tropical-style furniture and original artwork. The two-bedroom top-floor Sea Breeze unit comes with a hot tub and grill. All units have air-conditioning and full kitchens.

An old rock etched with kanji (Japanese characters) reminds you that the site of this condominium gem was once occupied by a Shinto temple. Today, it's home to studio and two-bedroom rentals—all equipped with full kitchens and private lanai—either oceanfront or with ocean views. Studios feature pull-down Murphy beds to create more daytime space. Air-conditioning is a pleasant new addition.

Located in a residential neighborhood, this vacation rental includes quaint studio units near the mouth of Waikomo Stream, about two blocks from a nice snorkeling cove, and the Pool Cottage in central Poipu. The two tropical-theme studios each have a kitchen, a private patio with gas grill, beach gear, and easy front-door parking with one-step access. The cottage has a deck overlooking the lush garden and pool, and it is a super easy walk to Kalapaki Joe's to pick up breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

This longtime Kauai condo project consists of 42 plantation-style low-rise buildings with individually owned one- and two-bedroom units set on grassy fields leading to a lovely beach. The units vary in style, but all are clean, have lanai, and get lots of ocean breezes. Green-thumb visitors will enjoy wandering the Moir orchid and cacti gardens that surround the sugar plantation manager's home, which now houses the front office. Guests have complimentary access to the Poipu Beach Athletic Club, with its restaurant, pool, and fitness classes just across the way.

Ruling Hawaiian chiefs once returned from ocean voyages to this spot, now host to comfortable condominiums, and OUTRIGGER has created attractive plant, water, and rock features. The one- and two-bedroom condominium units are all individually owned, so some are nicer than others. They all have a full kitchen and a lanai. Though there's generally no air-conditioning, there's typically a good breeze. The landscaped grounds include lighted tennis courts and a large pool. The beach is swimmable, and the property is near shops, restaurants, and a coastal walking and biking path. There is a three-night minimum stay.

These older, plantation-style one-bedroom units with garden lanai have well-equipped kitchenettes and are clean and comfortable, with a queen-size pullout sofa for extra guests. This is one of the lower-priced options in the area, and you couldn't ask for a more convenient location for dining, shopping, and sightseeing: it's across from Waipouli Beach and near Coconut Marketplace.  Request a unit away from noisy Kuhio Highway.

Set down within an extinct volcanic crater known as Piha ke Akua, or "Place of the Gods," these two-bedroom condominium units in South Pacific–style townhomes are fairly spacious, with large windows, high ceilings, and full kitchens (some have air-conditioning). It's family friendly and one of the best-priced properties with ocean and beach proximity; Keoneloa Bay (Shipwreck Beach) is a great spot for family holiday card photos.

The condos here—many with cathedral ceilings and all with large furnished lanai and big windows overlooking the lawns—give the 85-acre development the feeling of a quiet retreat inside and out. All condos—one- to four-bedroom units, as well as two-level units with sleeping lofts—are furnished with full kitchens. Villas have air-conditioning and their own gym. Walking paths connect eight distinct resort zones to both Brennecke's and Shipwreck Beaches, but to swim or snorkel safely, walk the extra 100 yards past Brennecke's to reach calmer Poipu Beach. The eight-court tennis club is well established, offers pro lessons, and hosts tournaments.  As one of the largest condo developments in the area, Poipu Kai has a wide variety of unit styles and sizes, and multiple rental agencies. The one- and two-bedroom units offered by Aqua Aston are a good value.

White-frame exteriors and double-pitched roofs complement the tropical landscaping at this resort, which offers spacious one- and two-bedroom condo units—with full kitchens, bedroom air-conditioning, entertainment centers, and garden or ocean views—that are minutes from Poipu's restaurants and across the street from a nice beach. Four deluxe 2,600-square-foot penthouse suites have enormous lanai, private elevators, and cathedral ceilings. You can mingle at the Friday coffee hour held beside the ocean-view gated pool, or play tennis or pickleball. Fresh seasonings are ready to be picked from the herb garden to go with your poolside or courtside barbecue. In winter you can whale-watch as you cook.

Plumeria, ti, and other tropical foliage create a lush landscape for this small resort, which rents a four-bedroom/four-bath house and nine one- and two-bedroom cottage apartments. All cottage units have wood floors, full kitchens, laundry access, and are decorated in tropical shades. The cheerful 1930s plantation home set in a century-old plumeria grove has four bedrooms with private baths and can be operated as four bed-and-breakfast suites.