perfectdaysinkauai

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Area Code. All numbers in Hawaii have an 808 area code. Consequently when referring to local numbers in this guide, we don’t include the area code.

Time in Hawaii. Hawaii is two hours earlier than Pacific Standard Time (PST) and 5 hours behind US Eastern Standard Time. There’s no daylight savings time in Hawaii. So when daylight savings time is in effect on the US mainland, Hawaii is 3 hours behind the West Coast and 6 hours behind the East Coast.

Airlines. United (800-241-6522), American (800-433-7300) and Aloha (800-367-5250) offer nonstops from the West Coast to Lihu’e Airport (LIH). Aloha usually offers the lowest price. United also partners with Aloha and American partners with Hawaiian (800-367-5320) for flights through Honolulu. Hawaiian, Continental (800-523-3273) and Delta (800-221-1212) also have flights to Kaua’i through Honololu. Continental teams up with both Hawaiian and Aloha to offer flights via Honolulu. Continental without another partner is more expensive than paired with Hawaiian or Aloha airlines. Aloha Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines offer interisland service to Kaua’i. Aloha offers nearly hourly service.

Rental Cars. All major car rental companies are represented at Lihue Airport: Alamo (800-327-9633), Avis (800-831-8000), Budget (800-527-0700), Dollar (800-800-4000), Hertz (800-654-3131), National (800-227-7368), and Thrifty (800-847-4389). We recommend standard cars and SUVs if you need the room. None of our Perfect Days require 4WD cars, which are expensive and often difficult to reserve.

Weather. Kaua’i gets more rain on the East and North coasts than falls on other islands, but rain falls mainly at night. Rain during the day is a matter of minutes rather than prolonged downpours. Temperatures are pleasant, usually not higher than 80 degrees. The water temperature stays in the 70s. For a current weather report, consult http://www.weather.com or the National Weather Service at http://www.nws.noaa.gov and check Lihue, HI, for current weather at the Lihu’e airport. Bring sufficient sunblock, minimum SPF of 30. Constant trade winds will make it seem cooler and less sunny. You’ll burn before you know it.

Mosquitoes. Use a mosquito repellent containing up to 50% DEET.

Liquor Laws. Drinking age in Hawaii is 21.

Smoking. Smoking is banned just about everywhere indoors except in smoking sections of restaurants. Most vacation rentals and B&Bs prohibit smoking.

Emergencies. The main hospital on Kaua’i is located in Lihu’e: G.N. Wilcox Memorial Hospital, 3420 Kuhio Hwy., 245-1100. Fire, police and ambulances can be contacted by calling 911.

Places to Stay

In “high season” Dec. 16-Apr 14) or “low season” (Apr 15-Dec 15) Kauai offers an abundance of moderately-priced and inexpensive rooms at resorts, condominiums, inns and various kinds of guest houses and vacation rentals. The fall is one of our favorite times to visit Kauai for a combination of really good weather (cooler temperatures and less rain) and discounted rates.

The East, North, South and West shore and inland areas offer completely different places to stay as bases for sightseeing and activities. Lihu’e is a very central location but the main reason for staying nearby is the pleasures of Kalapaki Beach and its Kaua’i Marriott Resort.

Wailua, synonymous with the Coconut Coast, from Wailua River to Kealia Beach, and its inland area, Waipouli, offers historic sightseeing, excellent hiking and many delightful guest houses tucked away in the countryside and hills. Kapa’a, the largest town on the island, full of interesting shopping and eateries, is surrounded by comparatively inexpensive places to stay.

We admit to being very partial to the beauty and diversity of North Shore places to stay between Kuhio Highway (56) and the ocean. Find a comfortable place to stay in Anahola, Moloa’a Bay or the coastal areas up to and in Kilauea and you won’t want to spend much time elsewhere or at least not too far away.

With ‘Anini Beach, Princeville and Hanalei only minutes away, anywhere around Kilauea provides a perfect vacation getaway. But the Princeville Resort itself, on a plateau overlooking the beautiful beaches of Hanalei Bay, offers the largest collection of hotel, condo and vacation rental choices on Kauai. Of course Hanalei and Ha’ena are incomparable for beaches, natural beauty and the charms of Hanalei Town.

In sum, the part of the island where you stay, and even the sub-areas within East, North, South and West Kauai, will make a huge difference in your vacation experience. Likewise the type of lodgings within those areas, from luxury resorts and hotels to modest bungalows, cottages and tiny studios.

Condos on Kauai provide kitchens and more space than hotel rooms, usually with the sacrifice of maid-service. Make sure that your condo unit has a telephone, offers free local calls, includes a washer and dryer in the unit or the building, and has an elevator if it is multi-story. Check for discount rates for long-term rentals, room/car packages, and ask about oceanfront rooms where available.

We actually have catalogued more than a thousand vacation rentals and B&Bs on Kauai in addition to hotel rooms in every price category. In the following sections covering the East, North, South and West Shores we provide a selection of reliable accommodations of every type and price range, accompanied by web site addresses or telephone numbers where, in rare instances, the properties don’t show up on their own or other web sites.

EAST KAUA’I

On the East Shore, you can find good, economical oceanfront accommodations like the renovated Hotel Coral Reef (800-843-4659) that offer just the bare-bones basics and daily maid service plus ocean view rooms for less than $89/night. Others, like the Garden Island Inn (800-648-0154), one of our economy-class favorites, has no grounds and luxurious features but, for less than $125/night, locates you near fabulous Kalapaki Beach and provides daily room service (but no laundry facilities).

East Shore

Aloha Beach Shore Resort Kaua’i (www.alohabeachresortkauai.com)
Best Western Plantation Hale (www.plantation-hale.com)
Courtyard Kauai at Waipouli Beach Resort (800-760-8555)
Hale Lani B&B (http://www.halelani.com)
Honua Lani Gardens (http://www.honualani.com)
Inn Paradise (http://www.innparadisekauai.com)
Islander on the Beach (www.islanderonthebeach.com)
Kapa’a Sands Resort (http://www.kapasands.com)
Kauai Beach Resort (formerly the Radisson, 888-805-3843)
Kauai Beach Villas (http://www.kauaibeachvillas.com)
Kauai Coast at the Beachboy (http://www.kauaicoastresort.com)
Kauai Beach Hotel & Resort (http://www.kauaibeachhotelandresort.com)
Kauai Country Inn (http://www.kauaicountryinn.com)
Lae Nani (http://www.outriggeratlaenanicondo.com)
ResortQuest Islander on the Beach (http://www.resortquesthawaii.com/hawaii/propertyOverview.do?propertyGroupId=25565).
17 Palms Kauai Vacation Cottages (http://www.17palmskauai.com)
Wailua Bayview (http://www.wailuabay.com)

Many of our favorite places to stay on the East Shore are cottages and homes along beautiful Anahola Bay or Moloa’a Bay where you can walk for miles on sandy beaches, swim with the protection of offshore reefs, and enjoy comparatively luxurious private accommodations for whole families or couples either directly on a beach or within a delightful 10-minute walk. These include:

Anahola Beach House and Studios (http://www.alohavacationrentals.com/alohaloha)
Anahola Cottage (http://www.findrentals.com/10145.html)
Hale Maalea (822-2166)
Kaleialoha Oceanfront Accommodations (http://www.kauaialoha.com)
Moloa’a Bay Cottage (http://www.bestbeachhouses.com)
Paradise Found (http://www.rfreedom.com).

Other special lodgings and their natural surroundings are located:

inland near the foothills of Mt. Wai’ale’ale, like Kakalina’s B&B (http://www.kakalina.com);
at the base of Makaleha Mountains, such as Hale O’ Wailele (http://www.leapingwaterfalls.com) and Makaleha Mountain Retreat (http://www.makaleha.com);
near the Nounou Forest Reserve like Ihona Cottage (822-1234);
further inland behind Sleeping Giant Mountain like Makena Crest (http://www.travel-kauai.com/makanacres), Hempey’s Garden Island B&B (http://www.hempeys.com), Kauai’s Favorite Country Vacation Rentals (http://www.aloha.net/~wery/index-ach.htm) and Kauai Cottages at Sleeping Giant (http://www.kauaicottages4u.com);
in Wailua Valley, for example, Kalama Cottage (http://www.kalamacottage.com), and in Wailua Homesteads above Opaeka’a Falls, Lowe’s Cottages (http://www.lowescottages.com)

The East Shore area has plenty of B&B’s located inland from Kapa’a town like Alohilani B&B Inn (http://www.hawaiian.net/-alohila) and A Bed of Roses B&B (http://www.geocities.com/rosebedkauai) or in the Wailua Homestead, Candy’s Cabin (822-5451) and Rosewood B&B (http://www.rosewoodkauai.com).

NORTH KAUA’I

Kilauea, Secret Beach, ‘Anini Beach, The Princeville Resort, Hanalei, Haena Beach, and Wainiha Valley provide an outstanding selection of condos, guest houses, cottages, inns, B&Bs and hotel rooms, including:

Alii Kai I (http://www.kauai1.com/Alii_Kai_I_Kauai_Condos.htm)
Aloha Plantation (http://www.garden-isle.com/aloha)
Aloha Sunrise Inn (http://www.kauaisunrise.com)
An Angel Abode (http://www.travelkauai.com)
Anini Beach Cottages (http://www.aloha.net/~cottage)
Anini Beach Hale (http://www.yourbeach.com)
Anini Beach Hideaway (http://www.aninibeachhideaway.com)
Anne’s Condos & Studios at Princeville Resort (http://www.choice1.com/princeville_golf_condo.htm)
Devaki’s Vacation Rental (http://www.devaki-kauai.com/hanalei-vacation-rental)
Emmalani’s Kauai Cottages (http://www.kauai-vacation-cottages.com)
Hale ‘Aha (http://www.haleaha.com)
Hale Aloha (http://www.halealohakauai.net)
Hale Honu Townhouses (http://www.aloha.net/~coral-c)
Hale Ho’o Maha (http://www.aloha.net/~hoomaha)
Hale Luana B&B (http://www.haleluana.com)
Hale Manu B&B (http://www.bnbweb.com/halemanu.html)
Hanalei Colony Resort (http://www.hanaleibayresort.net)
Hardy’s Happy Hula Hut (http://www.hardyshappyhulahut.com)
Ileina’s Hanalei House & Cottage (http://www.hanalei-cottage.com/hanalei-kauai-cottage/hanalei-accommodations.htm)
Jasmine Nights (http://www.kauaijasmine.com)
Jungle Cabana, Jungle Bungalow and Jungle Paradise House (http://www.junglecabana.com)
Ivy’s Kauai Vacation Cottage (http://www.ivysplace.com)
North Country Farms (http://www.northcountryfarms.com)
Om Orchard Retreat (http://www.omorchard.com)
Princeville B&B (http://www.kauai-bandb.com)
Princeville Hotel (http://www.princeville.com)
River Estate (http://www.riverestate.com)
Sandpiper Village (800-487-9833, http://www.condobob.com)
SeaLodge (http://www.sealodge-kauai.com/)
Secret Beach Hideaway (http://www.secretbeachkauai.com)
Taro Patch Hale (http://www.hanaleivalley.kauaistyle.com)
The Cottage on Kaweonui Point (http://www.kauaioceanview.com)

SOUTH KAUA’I

Stay at a condo, hotel, inn-style guest rooms, cottages, private homes or B&Bs next to Po’ipu Beach, Brennecke Beach, along Lawa’i Beach Rd., and elsewhere within minutes of the south shore’s beaches or in Koloa, gateway to Po’ipu and less than 10 minutes from the resort. South shore choices include:

Alihi Lani (http://www.kauaidreaming.com/alihi_lani.htm)
Aloha Breeze (http://www.alohabreeze.com)
Bamboo Jungle House B&B (http://www.kauai-bedandbreakfast.com)
Castle Makahuena at Poipu (http://www.castleresorts.com/Home/accommodations/makahuena-at-poipu)
Embassy Vacation Resort (http://embassysuites.hilton.com/en/es/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=LIHPPES)
Garden Isle Oceanfront Cottages (http://www.oceancottages.com)
Hale Kua (http://www.halekua.com)
Hale Pohaku (http://www.vacationrental-kauai.com)
Hyatt Regency Kaua’i Resort & Spa (http://kauai.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp)
Jan’s Kauai Condos (http://www.cris.com/~equities)
Kauai Banyan Inn (http://www.kauaibanyan.com)
Kauai Condo’s at Po’ipu Kai Resort (http://www.hikauai.com)
Kauai Cove Cottages (http://www.kauaicove.com)
Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation Resort (800-688-7444)
Koloa Landing Cottages (http://www.koloa-landing.com)
Kuhio Shores (http://www.kuhio-shores.com)
Makahuena (http://www.grantham-resorts.com/condos/makahuena.html)
Marjorie’s Kauai Inn (http://www.marjorieskauaiinn.com)
Nihi Kai Villas (http://suite-paradise.com/nihi-kai-villas-kauai/nihi-kai-villas.html)
Poipu Bed & Breakfast Inn (http://www.poipu-inn.com)
Poipu Kapili (http://www.poipukapili.com)
Po’ipu Makai (http://www.grantham-resorts.com/condos/poipumakai.html)
Po’ipu Palms (http://www.poipuconnection.com/poipu-palms/index.html)
Poipu Plantation Resort (http://www.poipubeach.com)
Prince Kuhio (http://www.princekuhiokauai.com)
Pua Hale at Po’ipu Beach (http://www.kauai-puahale.com)
Sheraton Kauai Resort (800-782-9488, http://www.sheraton.com)
Suite Paradise Poipu Kai (http://www.suite-paradise.com/poipu-kai-resort-kauai/poipu-kai-resort.html)
Waikomo Stream Villas (http://www.grantham-resorts.com/condos/waikomo.html)
Whalers Cove (http://www.whalers-cove.com/resort.php/WHALERS_COVE)

WEST KAUA’I

The Kalaheo area is about 20 minutes from Poipu and you can rent excellent accommodations at very reasonable prices. A getaway from it all area, the Kekaha beachside has some of the best accommodation deals on Kauai in private vacation rentals and cottages.

Classic Vacation Cottages (http://www.classiccottages.com)
Coco’s Vacation Rental (http://www.cocoskaui.com)
Hall’s Plantation Estate (332-9111)
Kalaheo Plantation Vacation Rental (http://www.kalaheo-plantation.com)
Kaua’i Hideaways Guest Cottages (http://www.kauaihideaways.com)
Ole Kamaole’s Beach House (http://www.olehawaii.com)
PMRF Beach Cottages (335-4752)
Waimea Plantation Cottages (http://www.waimea-plantation.com)

posted by arno @ 3:05 PM