Where to stay - Condo

Hi there!

My boyfriend and I are planning a trip to Kauai (July/August). We would like to stay in a condo so we can prepare our own meals - bbq etc. board shorts and bikinis all week... some hiking, snorkeling, paddle boarding and beautiful scenery. Could someone please give me some suggestions on where to stay? We are looking for ocean front walking distance to beach and some entertainment, coffee shops etc.

I%26#39;m not familiar with the different areas of Kauai, so that would be helpful too.

Thank you all in advance.

Where to stay - Condo

In the summer, I%26#39;d definitely recommend the north shore. That is the greenest and lushest part of the island. And in the summer that will be the best place for snorkeling. All the north shore condos are in Princeville on a bluff above the ocean, so none of them are ';beach front';. There are a couple of beaches that can be accessed from Princeville via a steep path.

From what you have written, it sounds like you would be happier with a private home/cottage in the Hanalei area. That is where most of the north shore restaurants, bars and shopping are located. Try vrbo.com, but I%26#39;d try to find something ASAP. Most of the best places are probably already booked.

You could also stay on the east or south shores. The east shore is the commercial center of the island. You can find coean front lodging there but the beaches are generally not swimmable since they are not reef-protected. I%26#39;m not a big fan of the south shore, but many people love it and will be able to give you some more input on places there.

Where to stay - Condo

How many nights will you be visiting? I would also recommend the North Shore if you are spending a week to 10 days. If you%26#39;re spending 2 weeks (or more), I would recommend splitting your stay between the North Shore and South Shore (Poipu area).

North Shore - I would recommend the Hanalei Bay Resort, but only through an individual owner.

South Shore - you have a multitude of options here, depending on your preferences. Kuhio Shores is my personal favorite as it sits out over the water and you can hear the ocean 24/7 from every unit in the complex. It%26#39;s next to a small snorkeling beach, but for swimming it%26#39;ll be a short drive to some wonderful beaches.

The following links will give you some great options:

http://www.summitpacificinc.com/

http://www.parrishkauai.com/

%26lt;%26lt; We are looking for ocean front walking distance to beach and some entertainment, coffee shops etc.%26gt;%26gt;

On the North Shore you won%26#39;t be oceanfront, really. Ocean view yes. Princeville where the condos are located, are on a bluff with beach access either down a steep trail or paved path like at HBR.

Most of the restaurants and ';entertainment'; if you can call it that, are in Hanalei about an 8-10 minute drive away.

It sounds to me like the East side of the island is more what your looking for. I would look at Kauai Coast Beach Resort, Waipouli Beach Resort,Lae Nani or Wailua Bay Villas. Those are all walking distance to ';coffee shops'; (Eggberts) and ';entertainment. Just a side note. The East side beaches are too rough for swimming except Lydgate Park.

Kauai doesn%26#39;t have a lot of entertainment except at the major resorts. In Coconut Marketplace you%26#39;ll find some and at Tahiti Nui in Hanalei.

The trouble with your requests is the North Shore will have the best snorkeling conditions and beaches but unless you rent a house in Hanalei ($$$$) you won%26#39;t have much as far as eating places in Princeville. Depending on where you stay you could walk to The Westin for breakfast and hopefully at HBR they can get it together and open their lounge for breakfast, lunch and dinner soon.

You other option is the South Shore. If you need to be walking distance to shops and restaurants look at Kiahuna Plantation.

www.wizardpub.com/kauai/kauaerials.html

Thank you for your responses. Do you think I%26#39;ll find more of what I%26#39;m looking for in Maui? I%26#39;ve been to Maui a couple of times and loved it but was thinking about checking out Kauai this time but it seems like I cant get all that I want in one location. And, I forgot to mention golf, we love to play golf. Should I be looking for a condo in Kaanapali/Lahaina area on Maui instead of Kauai? I want to hear the waves at night and eat dinner on a Lanai overlooking the ocean but also everything mentioned above... Thanks again.

There are a number of places that match your requirements. I did not see a budget. How much are you willing to spend each night?

Kuhio Shores in Poipu (south shore) is a great location and may be what you are looking for. You can also check out other condos in Poipu in the Brennecke%26#39;s Beach area (Poipu Kai, Nihi Kai, Poipu Shores, Poipu Palms, Makuahena). Poipu Sands is closer to the Grand Hyatt and might be another option. We are staying there in June for easy access to the Hyatt (restaurants, shopping, golf). Poipu also has a nice golf course not affliated with the resorts called Kiahuna.

There are some great homes in Hanalei that would be close to shops and restaurants and Hanalei Bay that others on the forum can help you with.

You can also check out Hanalei Bay Resort. It is built in a valley that faces Hanalei Bay. You can walk down a nice pathway (or the porter can drive you) to a nice beach. There are a few restaurants open in Princeville. summitpacificinc.com/hanalei_bay_resort.html

Not really close to a lot of restaurants (they have one on site) is a place farther down the road from Hanalei. They have a great beach that is usually very nice (ocean conditions can vary anywhere).

www.hcr.com

I%26#39;m not a big fan of Maui anymore. My first trip to Maui (Lahaina) was in 1979 and I made at least 10 trips there in the 80s. It is just too built up and crowded for me these days. That is why we love Kauai.

Slim:

You just need to remember that Kauai is a small island. To get from one end to the other is just a few hours.

If you stay up North where the snorkeling is (plus a gorgeous hike) then you might just have to drive 10 minutes to get some breakfast at Wake Up Cafe. (trust me that is worth the drive) If you stay on East side then drive 40 minutes to the North Shore for ocean activities.

I think the South Shore will give you 90% of what you are looking for.

Check out Kuhio Shores. Beach next door, Restaurant next door (not for breakfast though but eat on the lanai in the mornings, barbeque, gorgeous views, close to other beaches, shopping and more restaurants.

http://www.kuhio-shores.com/

You will be hard pressed to find anyone recommending Maui on this forum. Don%26#39;t get me wrong, many of us have enjoyed Maui over the years and still consider it a nice place to vacation. However, if you want a truly lush, tropical surrounding, with still some ';life'; to it, Kauai cannot be beaten in my mind. Unless you are staying at a first-class resort like the Hyatt, though, Kauai is a place not so much to be pampered, but a place for lots of outdoor activity. jebett and martik have provided some excellent suggestions on what would meet your needs. It might be best to take a look at the condo options in more detail and then ask more specific questions.

I shall cast my ballot for the South side, i.e., Poipu. Now, this is not because the North shore is not good for a July/August visit but because South Shore is a personal favorite.

To add a few words here, Poipu Beach Park is great for snorkeling practically year-round and one should not neglect hiking opportunities in Waimea Canyon/Kokee State Park which is a heck of a lot closer to Poipu.

If the OP wants to compare some condos on the South Shore, surf right onto www.suiteparadise.com to see what is available and at what rates.

Anna

For SS, check out this website:

www.ParrishKauai.com

They rent specific units instead of a category (ie. Ocen View, GardenView, etc.)

Kuhio Shores is rented by several websites. Take a look at this one to start: http://www.kuhio-shores.com/

Since you said July/August I would say Hanalei. There are lots of water activities off Hanalei Bay (ie., paddle-boarding) and you can hit the dining places in town (Java Kai is my fave coffee shop) within a few blocks walk. You will even find music at/night. I%26#39;ll have to disagree with those who say Hanalei homes are all expensive. There are quite a few in our research that are reasonable (some are upstairs/downstairs units)--they may not be 4 star but there are plenty on VRBO.com and with local rental agencies (need to start looking now). This is a cute/funky beach town with a great vibe for young couples...have a great time!