Frommer's Kauai - Jeanette Foster [60]
What to Do If Your Dream Hotel Turns Out to Be a Nightmare
To avoid any unpleasant surprises, ask lots of questions when you make your reservation. Find out exactly what the accommodations entail, particularly the cost, minimum stay, and included amenities. Ask if there’s a penalty fee for leaving early. Read the small print in the contract—especially the part on cancellation fees. Discuss the cancellation policy ahead of time with the B&B, vacation rental, condominium agent, or booking agency so you’ll know what your options are if the accommodations don’t meet your expectations. Get this in writing so there are no misunderstandings later.
When you arrive, if the room you’re given doesn’t meet your expectations, notify the front desk, rental agent, or booking agency immediately. Approach the management in a calm, reasonable manner, and suggest a constructive solution (such as moving to another unit). Be reasonable and be willing to compromise. Do not make threats or leave; if you leave, it may be harder to get your deposit returned.
BED & BREAKFASTS Kauai has a wide variety of places that fall into this category: everything from the traditional B&B—several bedrooms in a home (which may or may not share a bathroom), with breakfast served in the morning—to what is essentially a vacation rental on an owner’s property that comes with fixings for you to make your own breakfast. Make sure that the B&B you book matches your own mental picture of it. Would you prefer conversation around a big dining-room table as you eat a hearty breakfast, or just a muffin and juice to enjoy in your own private place? Laundry facilities, televisions, and private phones are not always available at B&Bs. We’ve reviewed lots of wonderful places in this book. If you have to share a bathroom, we’ve spelled it out in the reviews; otherwise, you can assume that you will have a private bathroom.
There are a few things you should be aware of before you book your first B&B. You do not have the “run” of the house. Generally there is a guest area, which may have a small refrigerator for the guests’ use, places to sit and read, and perhaps a television. You are not renting the house of your hosts. And generally they do not allow cooking (especially in their kitchen).
The lower rate at B&Bs can be attributed to no daily maid service. You might have to make your own bed, and unless you are staying 3 or 4 days, your sheets will not be changed.
Due to Kauai County restrictions, most of the B&Bs do not have certified kitchens, so they can only bake, not cook breakfast. Several hosts are very clever and have recipes for “baked French toast” and “baked” eggs, but generally expect a continental breakfast.
The advantages of a traditional B&B are its individual style and congenial atmosphere. B&Bs are great places to meet other visitors, and the host is generally very happy to act as your private concierge, offering tips on where to go and what to do. In addition, B&Bs are usually an affordable way to go (though fancier ones can run $250 or more a night). The disadvantages are lack of privacy, usually a set time for breakfast, few amenities, generally no maid service, and the fact that you’ll have to share the quarters beyond your bedroom with others. In addition, B&B owners usually require a minimum stay of 2 or 3 nights, and it’s often a drive to the beach.
VACATION RENTALS This is another great choice for families as well as for long-term stays. The term vacation rental usually means there will be no one on the property where you’re staying. The actual accommodations can range from an apartment in a condominium building to a two-room cottage on the beach to an entire fully equipped house. Generally, vacation rentals are the kinds of places you can settle into for a while: They have kitchen facilities (sometimes a full kitchen; sometimes just a microwave,