Frommer's Kauai - Jeanette Foster [95]
848 Kamalu Rd. (Hwy. 581), Kapaa, HI 96746. 80 0/821-4898 or 80 8/822-1605. Fax 80 8/822-2429. www.lanikeha.com. 3 units. $65–$80 double. Rates include continental breakfast. Extra person $15. 3-night minimum. No credit cards. From Kuhio Hwy. (Hwy. 56), turn left at the stoplight at Coco Palms onto Hwy. 580 (Kuamoo Rd.); go 3 miles; turn right at Hwy. 581 (Kamalu Rd.) and go 1 mile. Amenities: Free Internet access. In room: No phone.
Surf & Ski Cottage Even if you aren’t a kayaking/water-skiing/watersports enthusiast, this is a fantastic place to stay. Right on the Wailua River, surrounded by fruit trees and tropical plants, Surf & Ski Cottage is an adorable 22-square-foot, self-contained guesthouse. Essentially one large room (with a separate bathroom), the open, airy, high-ceilinged cottage has a complete kitchen, a TV, and a queen-size bed. Located close to the old Coco Palms Resort, the cottage is within walking distance of Kapaa’s shops, restaurants, and beaches. Kenny and Kathy Terheggen, the owners of Kauai Water Ski & Surf (who also live on the property), are a wealth of information on nearly everything to do on Kauai. If you plan to play in the water, this is the place to stay—cottage guests get a 20% discount on all outdoor equipment rentals and activities at Kauai Water Ski & Surf Co. (including water-skiing, kayaking, and surfing lessons, plus boogie board and snorkel rentals, and much more), which could really save you a lot of dough.
Ohana St. (in Wailua River Lots), off Hwy. 580 (Kuamoo Rd.), Kapaa. Reservations: c/o Kauai Water Ski & Surf Co., 4-356 Kuhio Hwy., Kapaa, HI 96746. 80 8/822-3574. Fax 80 8/822-3574. surfski@aloha.net. 1 cottage (with shower only). $75 double. 4-night minimum. DISC, MC, V. In room: TV, fridge, hair dryer, kitchenette.
5 The North Shore
Where to Stay on Kauai’s North Shore
Rosemary Smith, of Rosewood Kauai ( 80 8/822-5216; www.rosewoodkauai.com), has a range of properties from country homes and cottages to fabulous beach homes and affordable condos. Also try Hanalei North Shore Properties ( 80 0/488-3336 or 80 8/826-9622; fax 80 8/826-1188; www.kauai-vacation-rentals.com), which handles all kinds of weekly rentals—from beachfront cottages and condos to romantic hideaways and ranch houses—along the North Shore. Renting a home is a great way to enjoy the area’s awesome nature, especially for those who like to avoid resorts and fend for themselves. Shopping, restaurants, and nightlife are abundant in nearby Hanalei.
VERY EXPENSIVE
St. Regis Resort Princeville As we went to press, this jewel in the Sheraton crown was set to reopen. Formerly the Princeville Resort, the property was a palace full of marble and chandeliers, but after the multi-million dollar massive interior renovation, it has been reborn as a luxurious reflection of the island (rather than a European castle). With the new opening comes four new restaurants, a new spa, and St. Regis butler service for the suites. The location still enjoys one of the world’s finest settings, between Hanalei Bay and Kauai’s steepled mountains. Nearby are outstanding surfing and windsurfing areas, as well as a wonderful reef for snorkeling. The panoramic view from the lobby has to be the most dramatic vista from any hotel in the state.
The footprint of the building remains the same: stepping down a cliff, with the entrance on the 9th floor, and you take elevators down to your room and the beach. Each opulent room has such extras as a door chime, dimmer switches, bedside control panels, a safe, original oil paintings, an oversize bathtub, and a “magic” bathroom window: a liquid-crystal shower window that you can switch in an instant from clear to opaque. There are no lanais, but oversize windows allow