Frommer's Kauai - Jeanette Foster [88]
P.O. Box 819, Waimea, HI 96796. 80 8/335-6061. 12 units. $93 double the first night, $73 for nights 2–5. Cleaning fee $20. Extra person $5. 5-night maximum. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. In room: Kitchen, no phone.
Waimea Plantation Cottages This beachfront vacation retreat is like no other in the islands: Among groves of towering coco palms sit clusters of restored sugar-plantation cottages dating from the 1880s to the 1930s and bearing the names of their original plantation-worker dwellers. The lovely cottages have been transformed into cozy, comfortable guest units with period rattan and wicker furniture and fabrics from the 1930s, sugar’s heyday on Kauai. Each has a furnished lanai and a fully equipped modern kitchen and bathroom; some units are oceanfront. Facilities include an oceanfront pool, tennis courts, and laundry. The seclusion of the retreat makes it a nice place for kids to wander and explore away from traffic. They’ve added a spa on property, which is perfect to get massages as you relax in this tranquil setting. The only downsides: the black-sand beach, which is lovely but not conducive to swimming (the water is often murky at the Waimea River mouth); and the location at the foot of Waimea Canyon Drive—its remoteness can be very appealing, but the North Shore is 11⁄2 hours away. Golf courses and tennis courts, however, are much closer.
9400 Kaumualii Hwy., Waimea, HI 96796. 86 6/774-2924 (Aston Hotels and Resorts) or 80 8/338-1625. Fax 80 8/338-2338. www.waimea-plantation.com. 48 units. $197–$367 1-bedroom double; $253–$434 2-bedroom (sleeps up to 4); $299–$332 3-bedroom (up to 5); $536 4-bedroom (up to 8); $615 5-bedroom (up to 10). Children under 18 stay free in parent’s room. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant (Waimea Brewing Company), bar; large outdoor pool; Wi-Fi. In room: TV, kitchen.
4 The Coconut Coast
Where to Stay on the Coconut Coast
This is the land of B&Bs and inexpensive vacation rentals. In addition to those reviewed below, we recommend Opaeka’a Falls Hale ( 88 8/822-9956; www.opaekaafallskauai.ws), which has two exquisite units with pool and hot tub for $110 to $130 (plus a $50 cleaning charge).
A Rose by Any Other Name: Timeshares
Timeshares are very big on Kauai, only no one will say that dreaded word. It conjures up slick salesmen from the 1970s hustling people on the beach with promises of nearly free vacations in Hawaii if you just sign on the dotted line. Timeshares denote a condominium project that sells the same unit to several owners, who are allotted a “time” when they can visit the unit. Today, timeshare projects have gone upscale in Hawaii; major resorts like Marriott, Westin, Hilton, and Shell are now building mega-resorts with top-notch units, all furnished with the same top-drawer furniture and equipped with the best electronics and kitchen equipment. But they never, never, call them timeshares. The new, politically correct term is “vacation ownership”—but the idea is the same: Several owners have a share in the unit and are allotted a certain amount of time every year (from a week to a month) to stay in the unit. These respectable management companies make sure that the unit is well-maintained and even rent out the units if none of the owners wishes to stay there. Sometimes you can get “deals” at the various “vacation ownerships” because, quite frankly, they are trying to get you to buy the place (or at least a share in the unit). So guests are offered everything from a free snorkeling trip to a free vacation in Hawaii, if you are willing to sit through a sales pitch. All this is great, as long as you know what you are getting into. The so-called “45-minute” pitch may last all morning, and the sales pressure may not be your idea of a tranquil vacation. So buyer beware; even in paradise there are no free lunches (or breakfasts, or snorkeling trips).
EXPENSIVE
Aston Kauai Beach at Makaiwa One of the best things about this resort is the convenient location: close to shopping and visitor attractions along the Coconut Coast, and also