So how do you find the right place for you from the dozens of Kauai hotel choices?  Start by figuring out what you want to do.  And when you plan to visit.

Virtually everyone who goes to Hawaii is looking for sunshine and pleasant temperatures.  Fortunately, there’s plenty of sunshine on Kauai all year long.  But there’s also plenty of rain.  So if you’re visiting during the winter, you’ll get better weather in Poipu Beach and the surrounding area.

Many of the Poipu hotels and resorts have rocky beaches, so if a sandy beach that’s safe for swimming is a priority for you, stay as close to Poipu or Kiahuna Beach as you can afford.

If your idea of the perfect Kauai vacation is just relaxing in a chaise lounge with a good book, the Sheraton Kauai, the Grand Hyatt Kauai, or one of the other Poipu hotels will probably suit you just fine.  But Poipu vacation rentals can be a better value because they give you the opportunity to have some meals ìat home.

Having a kitchen frees you up to eat in or out whenever you please.  And if you visit one of Kauai’s farmers’ markets, you can enjoy lots of tropical fruit for breakfast and have impeccably fresh local fish for dinner.

Kiahuna Plantation has one, two, and three bedroom units, and many have beautiful ocean-view lanais.  If you stay here, you can also use one of the barbecue grills on the lawn to make dinner.

Less expensive Poipu vacation rentals are available at Prince Kuhio, Poipu Kapili, and Poipu Kai.

In summer, there’s less rain and the seas on the north shore are much calmer.  During that time of year, you can pretty much stay wherever you like.  Many of the best Kauai resorts are in the Princeville and Hanalei area.

The best known Princeville hotel is the St. Regis Princeville, which used to be the Princeville Resort.  It’s recently reopened after an extensive renovation.  The view of Hanalei Bay are some of the island’s best.

With gourmet kitchens and private lanais, the Westin Ocean Resort Villas are the ultimate Princeville vacation rentals.  Their kids programs make them a great, if expensive, choice for families.

The Hanalei Colony Resort, Pu’u Poa, and the other Hanalei hotels are less expensive and still provide great access to the north shore beaches, restaurants, and shops.

Kauai’s east shore also has hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals in abundance.  And most are less expensive than the Princeville or Poipu hotels.  Because the east shore is more congested — traffic can be a real problem around Lihue — you’ll probably be happier on the north or south shore.