6 Best Hotels in Kauai, Hawaii

Originally built in the early 1900s, these relocated and refurbished one- to five-bedroom sugar-plantation workers' cottages are tucked in a coconut grove along a lovely walkable stretch of beach on the sunny West Side. Swimming waters here are often murky, but morning and evening strolls on the black sand are special. Cozy homes of different sizes feature porches, plantation-era furnishings, full modern kitchens, Wi-Fi, and cable TV. Guests can use the swimming pool, barbecue grills, bocce court, and hammocks on the grounds, and eat on the wraparound porch of the family-style restaurant. This could be an excellent choice for informal destination weddings or family reunions. Waimea Town has limited shops and eateries, but it's close to Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Parks.

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.

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.

Once an oceanfront inn and now an affordable boutique hotel, this property remains no-frills lodging, but rooms—some recently updated—have a refrigerator and are comfortable, bright, and clean. It's adjacent to a public coastal walking and biking path. A big grassy courtyard opens to the beach, where a restaurant and lounge are perched on the sand. There's plenty of dining and shopping at the nearby Coconut Marketplace. 

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.