New Poipu vacation rentals near Poipu Beach.
The Poipu Beach area is one of our favorite places to stay in Kauai. The beaches are safe and swimmable all year long, it gets less rain that the North Shore, and there are lots of good restaurants to choose from.
Until now, Poipu vacation rentals didn’t have the same level of amenities you’d find at Waipouli Beach Resort & Spa on the East Shore or the Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas. But the new Villas at Poipu Kai offers all the bells and whistles, including hardwood and tile floors, stone bathrooms, and kitchens with granite countertops, and SubZero Refrigerators.
Located in the Poipu Kai Resort complex, the Villas has 27 condos in eight plantation-style buildings. All have full kitchens, washers and dryers, and free WiFi. There’s also a spa, swimming pool, and fitness center. Poipu beaches are about a five minute walk down the pathway that runs through the resort. And there are two golf courses nearby.
Both garden and pool side villas are available. One-bedroom, two-bath condos start at $269 a night. Two-bedroom units start at $299 a night. With travertine floors, 1,200 square feet of living space, and two full baths, these are a great deal for families. The five-bedroom model will sleep more than a dozen. And the four-bedroom pool side penthouse has two master suites.
It’s a short stroll to numerous restaurants and bars. The Grand Hyatt is a few minutes to the south, and Brennacke’s and the restaurants in the Koa Kea and Marriott Waiohai are in the other direction.
A grand-opening special makes the Villas an even better buy. If you reserve a three-bedroom condo before August 31, 2010, you’ll get a rental car free for seven days. You must complete your stay by December 15, 2010 and stay a minimum of five nights.
Great deals on Kauai vacation rentals at Kiahuna Plantation.
Kiahuna Plantation is one of our favorite places to stay on Kauai. And it’s especially nice in winter, when the surf is pretty big on the north shore of Kauai.
Spread across 30 beautiful, beach-front acres, Kiahuna Plantation has 333 units in 42 low-rise buildings. The grounds are landscaped with mature tropical plants. The beach is great for swimming, surfing, and sunning. There’s a wonderful restaurant on site, and lots of other restaurants within walking distance.
Each of the units has a bedroom, a kitchen, a private lanai, and daily maid service. And all have good access to the beach.
Right now, Outrigger has rates as low as $169 a night for stays in February, March and April. Since this is one of the best Poipu vacation rentals, it’s a terrific value and significantly less expensive than the other properties in the area.
How to pick the right Kauai hotel.
There are Kauai hotels for bargain hunters, luxury seekers, nature lovers, families with kids, and everyone in between. In addition to hotels and resorts, Kauai vacation rentals are another great option for those who want to enjoy all the comforts of home while they’re on vacation.
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.
