first time to kauai

planning to go to kauai early 2010. looking for best one bedroom condo hopefully on beach. open to suggestions on where to stay.

first time to kauai

That%26#39;s going to be a long wait... but worth it. Now is probably a great time to reserve something since there are so many deals going on. A good place to check is www.vrbo.com. There are a bunch of options there from condos to homes. I would definitely go with a condo. You can usually find one that has a kitchen - meals that way can help save $. Waipouli Beach Resort is a great place and it is right on the beach. All the units are brand new and may be a bit more expensive - I think its worth paying a bit more for something new and nice. They have great furnishings and the pool is very nice and large - even with lots of people at the pool it didn%26#39;t feel too crowded. Good luck.

first time to kauai

Here%26#39;s another vote for using the vrbo website. Eliminating the middle man (such as a rental agency) often results in very good prices. The downside is you are frequently dealing with an owner directly so the safeguards are not in place. Be sure to ask to speak with a previous renter for references if you find a place of interest. We%26#39;ve have had exceptional luck using the site (for three previos vacations), and booked for our upcoming Kauai trip a year in advance.

Be aware of the Kauai requirements for rental certificates on any properties outside of the designated VDA areas. (You can search on this forum for more info.)

Happy hunting!

Sip - very good follow up info. That is good advice for anyone looking to get a rental on Kauai - make sure everything will be approved or that there is a refund option if not.

huggungsfan,

What month are you planning on coming over? A rule of thumb on Kauai for most folks, summer in the north and winter in the south. Spring is a transitional time for the north and fall is usually still great in the north. You will have a hard time finding a one bedroom on the beach, especially on the north shore. I am not as familar with the north shore as I am with the south shore. So let us know what month, which side of the island you are leaning towards and your interests and the forum can make specific recommendations with websites.

Marti

p.s. I%26#39;ve never used VRBO for rentals on Kauai. I like having a local, reputable company to rely on while on the island.

South Shore condos on the beach:

Kiahuna Plantation

Kuhio Shore (beach next door)

East: Waipouli Beach Resort, Kauai Coast, Kea Lani (not good swimming beaches in this area)

North Shore: Hanalei Bay Resort (beach at the bottom of paved path), Puu Poa (walk to beach is steep), Pali Ke Kua (on the bluff above the beach like all other condos in Princeville), Hanalei Colony (on the beach, older condos not for everyone. Remote, no tv or internet), Westin (filled with kids, timeshares)

http://www.summitpacificinc.com/

Like Martik said all this will depend on when you go. I think the best months are May-Oct.

If you choose to stay east side ON the beach, take a look at Kapa`a Sands. It%26#39;s a little gem of a complex, only about 35-40 units. The oceanfront ones are about 30 yards from the ocean. Or less. They%26#39;re studio condos but have plenty of room for two, and full kitchens. We always got one with a Murphy bed that gave us lots of living space when folded up into the wall.

thanks info helpful,if anything else comes to mind let me know

hugginsfan, we just returned from Kauai. We had a two bedroom suite condo at the Marriott Waiohai for 5 nights. We were right on Poiopu Beach on the south side of the island They have both oceanfront and oceanview. The Sheraton around the cove also has oceanfront, but I am not sure about the size of the units.

We stayed at Secret Beach Hideaway for the last 4 nights on the north side of the island in Kilauea. All three cottages there are large luxurious bed room suites with stunning ocean views and a path down to Secret Beach near the lighthouse. Secret Beach Hideaway has a web site.

I hope you have a great trip!

Aloha!

Richard