#st regis princeville | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

thesixweekseeker · 7 years

Text

Kauai: The Garden Isle (North Shore)

(January 2017)

So we left the fabulous South Shore for the North Shore, and when everyone said we would love that area even more … they were right. It is a completely different vibe up there and beyond chill and laid back (not that Poipu was a raging all-night party, but still).

For our hotel up there, we chose Hanalei Bay Resort (HBR as the locals call it). It’s a beautiful property and the place to be if you’re a tennis player - I think there were at least 10 different courts on the property. They have a great pool with a swim up bar (bar only open on weekends) and the coolest part was the hot tub with a sand bottom. It was a weird funky feeling, and definitely a great idea for an early evening chill session. For an added bonus, HBR shares the same private beach and epic views as The St. Regis, which is a 10-minute beach path walk away. See below for the beach views and the view from our brunch there - view alone is worth the brunch price.

As much as I loved the HBR property and the proximity to The St. Regis amenities, my only complaint was the rooms. They are definitely very dated and the musty smell does match the décor. However, once you sit on your patio and look all around you, all of that matters less and less. The picture below is my completely unfiltered view from our patio there.

Unfortunately the Bali Hai at HBR was still closed, but we heard it was a fantastic restaurant and it’s supposed to open later in 2017. The lounge on the property, Happy Talk Lounge, was good and had a cool bar scene. I also have to give a little shout out to the owner/manager at Happy Talk because he is my hero. On the night we launched The Six Week (woot woot), it was late and raining and we were just going to quickly grab some dinner at the restaurant. However, the Grateful Dead (or two of its members) were randomly playing at the lounge that night, so the kitchen was closed off and the place was packed. That was a little pickle since there are ZERO restaurants on the island that deliver food (I was laughed at when I asked the delivery question), we literally had no food in our room and we had no car/available taxis to take us to town. Luckily, the manager prevented a hanger breakdown by offering the band’s remaining food for the night. That’s right, I was eating the Grateful Dead’s leftovers– no shame in my game. The best part ... all of that food was surprisingly Six Week approved. Insert happy dance.

So let’s back up since I left you hanging in the last blog post. As I mentioned, I was feeling ultra-confident in my surfing skills down in Poipu, and since the weather was perfect (again) we decided to venture into Hanalei Bay to shred the gnar. I caught an awesome long wave (first wave of the day) and was feeling so proud until a little punk of a wave came up out of nowhere. It proceeded to knock me over with my surfboard coming up to say a friendly little hello to my jaw and teeth. I immediately felt the tooth go from full to snaggle and that was it for my surfing that week. Big fist pump to my friend Mark who hooked me up with Dr. Shawn Murphy on the island and he got my chompers back to where they needed to be (ish). The Pacific Ocean has now bruised my jaw and ego, and took my first cell phone, but I’m going to win this battle.

Since I wasn’t cleared to surf, I decided to spend a few days on the paddleboard. The Six Week had officially started so I needed to hit my exercise commitments for those days - and what better ab exercise than this! I found Kayak Hanalei that was located right in town but also right by the Hanalei River – perfect if you don’t have gear and want to take a taxi into town. Look for Dock Dynasty (clever) and two entertaining young surfers, Reef and Devin, and they will hook you right up. One day I did the 2-hour paddle down under the Hanalei Bridge to the Hanalei Wildlife Refuge and on day two I added the extra hour trip out to the beach. Both paddles were amazing but if you can do the 3-hour paddle to see the wildlife refuge and the beach, I definitely would. There were times where I just had to sit down on my board and take it all in. There weren’t a lot of people on the river, it’s completely still and the scenery is just breathtaking.

When you get back from paddling, there are a lot of great food truck choices right by Kayak Hanalei. Since I couldn’t really chew for about 24 hours (scary flashbacks of my mouth surgery creeping up here) I was lucky to stumble upon Wishing Well and their fabulous Acai bowls. They have been around since 1983 and have the best version that I’ve tasted so far: Acai, bananas, organic almond butter, bee pollen, coconut flakes and chia seeds. I vote extra almond butter, hold the papaya – but regardless, you’re Six Week approved and feeling fab with their awesome little food truck experience.

Luckily, once I was feeling better, we tackled some chewing-allowed dining options on the island. My three top favorites were Dolphin Sushi, Bar Acuda and Hanalei Bread Co. By accident, we stumbled upon the best plan for Dolphin Sushi. They open for dinner at 5:30 and there is/will be a line before then that will make the entire dining room full right away. So, if you get hangry and impatient like your Seeker does, beat the system and go to the bar around 4:30. There is a very high energy bartender who will guide you with what to eat and drink, so grab some apps and cocktails and put your dinner order in for 5:30pm sharp. You will avoid the mass rush order and everyone is jelly when yours comes out first – winning.

We were told by practically everyone we asked (locals, tourists and people back home) that Bar Acuda was the best restaurant on the island. Usually with all of the hype I get disappointed, but I will agree with them, best on the island. Everything we had was fantastic (Beef skewers, Scallops, Octopus, Endive Salad, Ahi, olives – legit all fantastic) and the service was extremely fast. No Hawaiian time there. One of my favorite things was the North Shore Honeycomb (goat cheese, honeycomb and apple). They have this listed as an app, but we got it as a dessert and I would recommend saving it for the end. It was super rich, Six Week approved (ish) and the perfect way to finish our last meal on the island.

Well…not quite our last meal. It turns out we made another taxi friend on the island, Kohlohe from Sue’s Taxi, and he was kind enough to drive us back into Hanalei from Princeville on the morning of our flight. We needed to hit up our favorite local spot, Hanalei Bread Co, for one last breakfast meal (because the four meals we had there prior apparently weren’t enough). Since avocados are in season (and are about 3x the size) and their bread is fresh and phenomenal, we again went with the avocado toast + poached egg. I promise, that’s worth the 20-minute detour.

They also introduced us to Laird’s Superfood Creamer which is a quick/healthy add to your coffee without the GMOs, additives, and all of the other usual culprits. It adds a fabulous sweet taste from the coconut oil, and since I’m fully on the BulletProof coffee train, this gave me my fix. For all of my Six Weekers who travel and love their caffeine, I would highly recommend buying a pack. Don’t let yourself fall victim to the hotel or airport packets of creamer – you deserve more.

After we had our last meal, we made our way back to Lihue Airport to wrap up an amazing 10 days in Kauai. Though I HATED to leave, Maui has been a pretty stellar consolation prize so far. I fully plan to go back to Kauai, buy a tiny house, and spend at least a significant chunk of my time living in Hanalei Bay. But as we know, my plans change on the daily and this little global road trip of mine has just begun….

If you have any questions on this blog and/or The Six week, please email me at: [email protected].

Mahalo

0 notes

duncanbarker-blog · 5 years

Photo

We loved our stay on the beautiful Hawaiian island of Kauai, but it did take some planning. It was confusing trying to decide which side of the island we should stay on, whether or not to divide our time between two areas, and which accommodation was worth the high price tag.

Hawaii was a dream trip for us, as it is for many people, and we wanted it to be perfect.

Happily, my research paid off and our plan for the island was ideal. In this post I share what I learned about where to stay in Kauai including a comparison of the different areas, reviews of the accommodation we stayed in, and suggestions for alternative places to stay in Kauai.

Choosing The Best Area to Stay in Kauai

The first decision to make when planning your trip is deciding what side of Kauai is the best to stay on. Here’s a comparison of each area from (roughly) the most to least popular:

South Shore (Poipu)

Sunnier and drier most of the year

Calmer, swimmable ocean in winter

Easily accessible beaches

Wide range of accommodation including resorts and condos

Convenient for helicopter tours from Lihue, boat trips from Port Allen, and Waimea Canyon

Expensive

As we were visiting in winter (January), the South Shore was the area that was most recommended as it receives less rain than the North Shore. In practice, we didn’t find a difference in the weather between the two coasts and had little rain throughout our stay (just some cloudy days on both sides), but perhaps we were lucky.

The ocean was better for swimming on the South Shore, though, (some days were calmer than others and we still had waves), and we loved staying right on the beach (which wouldn’t have been affordable for us in the north).

Sunset from Kiahuna Plantation Resort in Poipu

North Shore (Hanalei, Princeville)

Green and mountainous

Beaches have stunning mountain backdrops

Rainier in winter

Big waves in winter so most beaches aren’t safe for swimming

Convenient for Napali Coast hiking (when open: the Kalalau Trail is currently closed)

Boat trips do not run from the north in winter

Many beautiful beaches to explore

Hanalei is the best town on the island

Expensive (especially Hanalei)

The North Shore is the most beautiful part of the island and one of the best places to stay in Kauai. We loved the mountain scenery, string of beautiful beaches, and cool town of Hanalei. Even though the road past Hanalei was closed in early 2019 so we couldn’t visit many of the popular beaches or Napali Coast, we still had plenty to explore.

Accommodation choices are more limited and expensive in the north, though, and it was further from many of our favourite activities (helicopter tour, boat trip, Waimea Canyon).

See our post on the best things to do in Kauai for all our favourite activities and restaurants.

The stunning Napali Coast on the North Shore from our helicopter trip

East Side (Kapaa, Wailua, Lihue)

Most populated area

Budget accommodation available

Convenient for North and South Shores

Wide range of restaurants and shopping

Close to historic sites, hikes, river kayaking, and waterfalls

Beaches not as attractive as in the north and south (but still nice!)

Traffic can be bad

We didn’t spend much time in the east as it didn’t feel as appealing to us as the north or south coasts. But many people love to stay here as it’s more affordable and convenient, especially if you can only choose one area as a base.

Wailua Falls on the East Side

West Side (Waimea Canyon)

Remote and less developed

Quiet

Drier and more barren than the rest of the island

Beautiful canyon scenery

Limited accommodation

Convenient access to hiking

Most people visit the west on a day trip rather than staying here, but if you are a keen hiker you might enjoy camping or staying in a rustic cabin in Kokee State Park (just beyond Waimea Canyon). Advance reservations are necessary.

Waimea Canyon

Should You Split Your Time Between Two Locations?

Kauai isn’t a huge island and you can drive from one side to another in about two hours, so you could choose to stay in one place and visit all the main attractions on day trips.

We wanted to avoid long drives, though, so we chose to divide our 11 days on Kauai between Poipu on the south shore (6 nights) and Princeville on the north shore (5 nights).

This plan worked out really well for us. We got to experience the best of both worlds and all our day trips were a manageable distance (the longest was an hour from Poipu to Waimea Canyon).

It is a bit inconvenient changing hotels, especially when there can be a six-hour gap between check out and check in times. I recommend requesting late check out and early check in times when possible, buying a cheap cool bag from Longs to store any food, and exploring the east coast on the way. You might also be able to use the hotel pool and facilities before or after checking in/out.

Despite the inconvenience, we felt we made the right decision and it would be hard to choose which coast we preferred. If we’d stayed on the South Shore, we’d probably only have made one day trip to the North Shore, and it was worth having much longer to explore. If the North Shore had been our one base, we’d have had to make multiple long day trips to some of our favourite activities.

If you have a week or more on Kauai, I recommend splitting your time between two locations, unless you are planning to spend most of your time relaxing at your resort rather than exploring the island.

Types and Prices of Kauai Hotels and Rentals

The most common types of Kauai accommodation are resorts (large hotels with pools, restaurants, and other facilities) and condo complexes (self-catering apartments, often with pools but fewer facilities). You can also find budget hotels, B&Bs, and house rentals, but these are less common.

If you want the full luxury Hawaii experience, perhaps for a honeymoon or anniversary, you’ll probably want to stay in a Kauai beach resort where everything is provided onsite and service is excellent.

The best resorts on Kauai are Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort in Poipu in the south and Princeville Resort (previously called St Regis) in Princeville in the north, but you can expect to pay over $500 a night (and possibly over $800 in high season).

View from the Seaview Terrace cafe in the Grand Hyatt

If you are on more of a budget (Kauai is not cheap!), condos are usually more affordable than resorts, and you’ll be able to save money on eating out, even if you only cook some of your own meals. We also liked having more space with a separate bedroom and living room.

We stayed in two great condos, Kiahuna Plantation in the south and Hanalei Bay Resort in the north, and have written detailed reviews of them below. For a beachfront condo expect to pay $300–400 a night including extra fees in high season, but in low season you can find better deals.

Kiahuna Plantation condos have a great beachfront location in Poipu

The cheapest accommodation is on the East Coast where you can find budget hotels such as Kauai Palms Hotel near the airport for around $100 a night. A budget beachfront option with pool is Kauai Shores in Kapaa with rooms for under $150. Airbnbs in Kapaa are also great value.

Note that you’ll pay higher rates for beachfront properties and even more for ocean views. It was important to us to be in short walking distance of a beach, so we paid the premium for this, but chose units further back from the ocean.

How to find accommodation on Kauai

You can search Booking.com for resorts, budget hotels, and condos on Kauai. For condos and house rentals look on Airbnb, VRBO, or contact a local agent. If you haven’t tried Airbnb before you can get $38 off your first stay here.

Make sure to check the final price when comparing accommodation. Tax and sometimes resort fees, cleaning fees, and car parking may be added as extra charges to the quoted rates.

Prices vary widely depending on the time of year and how far in advance you book. The cheapest months to travel are mid-April to early June and September to mid-December. Make sure you book as far in advance as possible in the high season.

Where to Stay on the South Shore of Kauai

Poipu is the most popular area in south Kauai. There’s a lovely beach, wide range of accommodation (although limited budget options), and plenty of restaurants and shops.

Kiahuna Plantation Resort, Poipu Review

We stayed in a condo at Kiahuna Plantation which is right on beautiful Kiahuna Beach (a quieter extension of Poipu Beach).

Of everywhere we stayed in Hawaii, Kiahuna Plantation is the place we most want to return to for an extended stay. We loved the location, beautiful grounds, and our comfortable condo with ocean view.

Sunbeds overlooking the beach at Kiahuna Plantation

Condos

Kiahuna Plantation is a large complex of one and two bedroom condos in cottage-style buildings spread over 35 acres of lush lawns that reach to the beach.

Condos have different owners and agents, so they are all decorated differently, and it’s a bit of a lottery which unit you’ll get. To avoid this we booked a specific unit (106) with the agent Great Vacation Retreats.

You pay more to be closer to the beach, but we were in the last row (on the 2nd floor of building 17) and still had an ocean view. We did have some traffic noise as we were closer to the road, but mostly we found it a very peaceful place. It took a couple of minutes to walk to the beach, but we could go barefoot over the lovely lawns.

Living area of our condo at Kiahuna Plantation

Our one bedroom condo was comfortable and well-equipped with good WiFi, a dishwasher, blender, rice cooker, beach chairs, and boogie board. There’s no A/C (which is common in Hawaii) but we didn’t miss it as the condo stayed cool and there are fans and screened doors to the lanai (balcony) that let in the breeze.

The bedroom is at the back and doesn’t have much natural light or view, but the bed was comfy and there was plenty of storage. The bathroom was simple but fine. The kitchen overlooks the living room which has a couch, dining table and chairs, and simple but homely tropical decor.

Sliding doors lead onto the lanai where there are another table and chairs and a couple of loungers for enjoying the ocean view. While you can’t see the sun sink below the horizon, the sky is beautiful when it lights up in shades of orange at sunset (see top photo). We often saw birds and even a few whales jumping out of the ocean.

Our lanai

Facilities

Kiahuna Plantation grounds

There’s no swimming pool on site, but guests can use the resort style pool, gym and tennis courts at the Athletic Club across the road for free. We never ended up using it as it was so convenient to head to the beach.

There was no washing machine in our unit, but the Kiahuna laundry room has plenty of machines and they take credit cards ($3 per wash or dry).

You can borrow beach towels and chairs from the hut by the beach.

There are a number of BBQs on the grounds. The beachfront ones are popular at sunset when everyone gathers at the loungers on the lawn overlooking the ocean.

Sunset at Kiahuna

The Plantations Garden restaurant is on site, but the menu didn’t look very exciting for vegetarians and we mostly self-catered.

Location

We loved the location right on Kiahuna (aka Sheraton) Beach. The beach is fairly narrow but has golden sand and is quieter than Poipu Beach around the corner. We always found a quiet spot just outside our resort. Sunrises and sunsets are beautiful.

Kiahuna Beach

On some days the ocean was calm and on others, the waves were up and beginner surfers were out, but we still managed to swim.

There are some lovely coastal walks from here. Head left to Poipu Beach where you’ll see monk seals and turtles and you can continue all the way to Shipwreck Beach and the beautiful Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail. To the right I loved to run on the sea path in front of the Sheraton resort and on to the Spouting Horn Blowhole about 3 miles away.

Poipu Shopping Village is across the road, so there are plenty of shops and restaurants in walking distance. For a bigger grocery shop we went to Big Save in Koloa, less than 10 minutes drive away.

The location was convenient for many of our favourite Kauai activities.

Details

We highly recommend Kiahuna if you are looking for a beachfront condo in a convenient location.

Confusingly, the resort is run by two different management companies, but I don’t think it matters which one you stay with. Check the latest prices of Kiahuna Plantation Castle and Kiahuna Plantation Outrigger here.

Other Poipu Hotels

If you’d prefer a classic resort experience, the Sheraton Resort is right next to Kiahuna on the same beautiful beach as our condo. Views are great (we had a cocktail at their beachfront bar), but the pool isn’t as impressive as the Grand Hyatt’s and gets crowded (but rates are more affordable). Check the prices here.

The Sheraton at sunset

The Grand Hyatt Resort is one of the best Kauai resorts. We had breakfast here after our coastal hike and it looked stunning, especially the extensive pools including a lazy river, saltwater lagoon, and waterslide. It wasn’t busy either.

The beach here isn’t swimmable, and it’s further from shops and restaurants, but you have seven onsite restaurants. There’s also a spa, golf course, tennis courts, and horse riding stables.

For a special occasion, the Grand Hyatt is a top pick. Check the prices here.

One of the pools at the Grand Hyatt Resort

Another stylish boutique resort with an oceanfront location between Kiahuna and Poipu beaches is Koa Kea Hotel & Resort. We often walked through here and it looked lovely.

If you are on a budget, options are limited but try searching for condos on Airbnb.

Where to Stay on the North Shore of Kauai

Hanalei Bay

Hanalei is the most desirable place to stay on the North Shore as the small surfer town has a relaxed vibe, beautiful beach, and some delicious food trucks and restaurants. Accommodation is limited, though, and there are no large hotels or resorts.

If you can afford and find availability for one of the vacation rentals there (especially right on the beach!), go for it, but most of us will end up in nearby Princeville (a 15-minute drive away).

Princeville is a planned community of upscale homes, a golf course, and a couple of resorts. It felt rather soulless and overly manicured to us, but there are beautiful views from the cliffside location, a few small but lovely beaches, and it’s convenient for exploring the North Shore.

Hanalei Bay Resort, Princeville Review

Accommodation at Hanalei Bay Resort is in studio, one or two bedroom self-catering condos, but it feels more like a typical resort with a large pool and many activities, and it was fun to have that experience for part of our stay. The mountain views are stunning and you pay much less than at the famous Princeville Resort next door.

Pool at Hanalei Bay Resort

Condos

Our biggest disappointment at Hanalei Bay Resort was on arrival. Despite requesting an early check-in twice in advance, our room not only wasn’t available before the 4 pm check-in time (which was fine), it was not fully ready until 5 pm.

We also found the decor of our one bedroom condo dated, and more like a hotel room than a home. This depends on which unit you get (we had no choice when we booked) as some have been updated.

Despite not getting off to the best start, we ended up really enjoying our stay.

While our condo was nothing fancy, it was spacious, comfortable enough, and fairly well equipped. It must have been a hotel previously as we had two connecting rooms—on one side was a large bedroom and bathroom and on the other was a living room, kitchen, and bathroom.

The living area of our condo at Hanalei Bay Resort

Unusually for Hawaii, we had air conditioning, although we never needed it and rarely used the ceiling fan either. The screened doors onto the lanai let in a breeze. There are a table and chairs outside both the bedroom and living room but no sun loungers.

The view from our balcony at Hanalei Bay Resort

Our ground floor room in Bougainvillea was just a few minutes from the main pool. We could see the mountains from our lanai, but the higher floor condos nearer the ocean would have much better views. We could also hear the live music from the pool every afternoon and in the evenings from the main bar (but it stopped at 9 pm).

Facilities

Hanalei Bay Resort pool

While our condo was nothing special, the grounds at Hanalei Bay Resort are gorgeous. Facilities include:

Beautiful large lagoon pool (chilly water in January but I still enjoyed swimming)

Ukulele swim-up bar where we enjoyed delicious cocktails every day! (Basic snacks are available)

Large hot tub under a waterfall

Live music every afternoon by the pool from 4–6 pm

Happy Talk Bar that serves food from 3 pm and has live music from 6–9 pm

Fire pit where you can watch the sunset

Small second pool

Gym

8 tennis courts

Beach gear rental

Daily activities including free Mai Tais on Mondays, free wine tasting, yoga, tennis clinics, hula lessons, and more.

Golf cart transport back from the beach if you don’t want to walk up the hill

Laundry room (coins needed)

Small shop selling toiletries, soft drinks, and souvenirs (no real food)

Some of the tennis courts at Hanalei Bay Resort

Location

The location of Hanalei Bay Resort is excellent, just a five-minute walk downhill to lovely Pua Poa Beach and a short drive to Hanalei.

Pua Poa Beach

The walk down to the beach is steep, but you can call for a golf cart back if necessary (we didn’t need it). It’s the same beach that the Princeville Resort is on and we headed up to their bar for a sunset cocktail one night.

The main bay is quite small and can be a little busy, but if you continue around you can find quiet but shadier spots. You can almost walk to Hanalei, but you get stuck by a river. There’s a reef here so the water is calm (experienced surfers head further out) and there’s a sandy channel where you can swim.

It’s also walking distance to the beautiful Hideaways Beach which has calm turquoise water and snorkelling. To get here, we walked down to Pua Poa Beach, up two elevators to the Princeville Resort reception, and out to the narrow path by their tennis courts. It’s a short but very steep muddy trail down to the beach, but it’s worth it.

There’s a Foodland supermarket a short drive away in Princeville, but for restaurants you are better off heading to Hanalei. There are no restaurants or shops in easy walking distance except for the onsite bar/restaurant and the pricey Princeville Resort next door.

Sunset at Hanalei Bay Resort

Details

Hanalei Bay Resort is ideal if you want a resort experience with the convenience of self-catering accommodation. Try to get an ocean view and updated unit if you can!

Check the latest prices of Hanalei Bay Resort here.

Other Hanalei and Princeville Hotels

The Princeville Resort is one of the best resorts on Kauai for a luxury experience. It cascades down the side of a cliff and the views of Hanalei Bay are unbeatable. There’s a nice pool down by the beach, but it’s not as impressive as the Grand Hyatt’s extensive pools.

We enjoyed a sunset cocktail at the Princeville Bar high up in the resort and it is beautiful. There are a number of other restaurants and bars onsite.

Check the latest prices at Princeville Resort here.

Sunset drink at the Princeville Resort bar

View from the upper levels of the Princeville Resort

For more condos in Princeville, check out Makai Club Resort or search on Airbnb where you can find a few budget options.

Accommodation in Hanalei Bay is very limited and pricey, but you can find a few vacation rentals on Airbnb such as this Hanalei Waterfalls apartment or beautiful three-bedroom cottage close to the beach.

See all the Airbnb options on this map:

Map of Where to Stay in Kauai

Here’s a map of the Kauai accommodation mentioned in this post. The green pins are for the places we stayed (detailed reviews above) and the blue pins are for others that look like great options.

For a more detailed map of recommended activities and restaurants, see our guide to the top things to do in Kauai.

Summary

When you are planning where to stay on Kauai the important thing is to decide what’s important to you. Hawaii is not cheap so unless money is no object, you’ll have to decide what to prioritise: ocean views, beach access, fantastic pool, kitchen, onsite restaurants, access to sights or whatever you decide.

On the East Side, you’ll get the best value for money, but you won’t have the views of the North Shore or as easy access to sights as in the South. You might also consider splitting your time between two areas to avoid long day trips as we did.

Wherever you stay in Kauai, you will have a wonderful time—it’s a beautiful island and stunning beaches and scenic attractions are always only a short drive away.

Enjoyed this post? Pin for later!

#kauai #hawaii"

0 notes