Fantastic. If only I…read morecould give more than 5 stars, because this rental home is off-the-chart awesome. The house is about 3/4 miles down a one lane dirt road. You're in the country here, far removed from hotel/motel tourist-type locations. The house itself is comfortable and inviting. There's a really nice kitchen that is the center of the main dining/family room. It's set up perfectly for relaxing with family or friends. From the lanai you have a view of the verdant hills while hearing the waves crashing at nearby Moloa'a bay. There are two kayaks at the house that you paddle downstream a few hundred yards to the beach. The beach at Moloa'a bay is great. We were there during some big waves, but still could swim there without fear of getting smashed to pieces. During the summer, it's apparently as calm as a swimming pool with good snorkeling. The backyard at Jade Lily is a magical spot, with a giant shade tree and the stream rolling by. There's a big gas grill that we gave a serious work out. The nightly cost for Jade Lily was a screaming deal. Dealing with the very friendly owners was a breeze. Without question, next time I'm in Kauai, I'm going to stay at Jade Lily.

We stayed in Emma's cottage for three nights and really liked it. Cottage is cute and comfortable…read more There's a great orange tree we used to make fresh oj every morning, with a little covered deck. And there are cute geckos hanging out inside. It's a bit of a drive to get anywhere (Hanalei, Kapaa), but as a base of operations it's pretty good. A few minor downsides - a bunch of small ants in the kitchen and some sort of biting bugs seemed to get inside somewhat; also there's not really a dining area.

This place is paradise at an unbelievable price. Beautifully furnished in Hawaiian decor and books!…read more. A tv with a choice of stations & DVDs (We chose South Pacific, filmed nearby, & My Big Fat Greek Wedding). It's more than a beautiful & comfortable bed; there's a good size indoor sitting area and private outdoor lanai where you can eat breakfast! THE CROWNING TOUCH: the room & lanai overlook a luscious roaring waterfall flowing in the Kilauea River, ensconced in a ravine of gorgeous tropical foliage. The river serves as beautiful white noise to block any noise (like morning roosters) but this is a very quiet place anyway. You can't get that guarantee at a hotel. ~ She leaves your beautiful breakfast outside your door in the morning. You eat alone in your room or the lanai in your PJs (if you like). There are no guests/strangers to meet. ~ The room has a ceiling fan & 2 personal fans for those rare 2 minutes when it's hot) 2 of the 4 walls open to the outdoors via half screened sliding windows and sliding glass doors. Breezes & beauty-no bugs. The bathroom also has louvered Hawaiian windows which look out on a beautiful private garden. ~ She provided delicious LION Hawaiian ground coffee for your in-room coffee maker,& fridge,microwave, picnic cooler, beach towels... TIPS: You may want to bring shampoo,conditioner,shower cap & to go coffee cup&lid (all from your last hotel ) MAHALO & enjoy!

I highly recommend this B&B. The view from the lanai is incredible, and my wife and I loved having…read moreNicki's generous breakfasts out there every morning. There are windows on three sides so the trade winds move well through the room. Although you don't get a private entrance, the room felt very private.

1 Star -- WARNING: This property management company will take your money and put your family at…read morerisk. We booked a week at Mele Kai (March 11-18) for two families, including kids, one of whom was celebrating a birthday on the island. Nearly $8,000. On March 10, with a massive Kona storm bearing down on Kauai, we reached out to Garden Island Properties to discuss our options. Our VRBO messages went unanswered. Our phone call went unanswered. When we finally got a text response, they told us the rain is what gives Kauai its nickname "The Garden Island" and suggested we bring "a flexible plan and rain gear." We weren't being difficult. We wrote back and told them we weren't opposed to being rained on -- our concern was flooding, loss of power, or being stuck on the island. I asked them directly: "Will my family be safe during this massive storm in your place?" Their response? They told us, "I don't mean to downplay the news coverage, but this is fairly typical winter weather for Kauai." They assured us the rental was "not located in a flood zone." Fairly typical winter weather. Not in a flood zone. Here's what actually happened: The Governor declared a STATE OF EMERGENCY. Roads in Poipu -- the exact neighborhood of this house -- were closed due to flooding. Ho'one Road and Ku'ai Road, right by this property, were shut down. The islands were hit with up to 44 inches of rain and 135-mph winds. Schools and government offices closed. Over 120,000 customers lost power across the state. Beaches were closed under brown water advisories warning of sewage overflow and hazardous bacteria. The Red Cross and Salvation Army mobilized relief efforts. Residents were evacuated into emergency shelters. So much for "fairly typical winter weather." So much for "not in a flood zone." And here's what makes it worse: the forecast they themselves included in their own message showed 90-100% chance of rain with thunderstorms and wind gusts up to 50 mph for EVERY SINGLE DAY of our trip. Their own evidence showed this was not typical. They sent it to us and still told us to come. We never made it to Kauai. We couldn't. It would have been dangerous and irresponsible to bring our families -- our kids -- into that situation. Garden Island Properties refused any refund. VRBO has been contacted twice by phone, was promised a resolution email both times, and as of this writing we've received nothing. $8,000. Gone. For a house we never stepped foot in, on an island we never reached, during a declared state of emergency that the property manager called "fairly typical." This is not a review about the weather. Nobody controls the weather. This is a review about a property management company that had every piece of information -- including their own forecast -- telling them this was a dangerous, historic storm, and they still chose to encourage a family with children to fly into it rather than do the right thing. I asked them point blank if my family would be safe. They couldn't even answer the question. They chose profit over safety. Period. If you are considering booking with Garden Island Properties, understand this: when things go wrong -- and in Hawaii, weather can go very wrong -- this company will not have your back. They will take your money, send you a canned aloha, and wish you luck.

I never leave reviews, but once in a blue moon I do business with a company that's so exceptional,…read moreand whose staff is so above and beyond that I find myself looking for outlets to let others know of my experience. This is the case with the people at Garden Island Properties. A week prior to our departure, we sadly had to cancel our travel to Kauai Island because our daughter was hospitalized. I had already paid in full for our three week rental (60 days prior to our departure date) and I did not purchase insurance. This could have been the end of the story because everyone had already been paid. But, the people at Garden Island Properties worked tirelessly to find another renter so we could recover some of our money. The humanity they showed, and the effort they made on our behalf has made me a loyal customer, and I plan to use them to help me with future rental properties going forth. I will also purchase travel insurance!

Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! When you come to Kauai the B&B at Leialoha Ti is the place to stay…read more Tucked away on the north shore it's private enough to relax and unwind, but super close to some of the greatest beaches on Kauai, and the NaPali Coast. The room is so comfortable and well decorated, with a spa worthy bathroom. There was a kitchenette which was perfect for packing lunch for the beach, and breakfast, provided by Colleen, your gracious host, is out of this world. We've stayed at the five star resorts on the south shore, and the Leialoha Ti stands tall next to them. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a great getaway to relax and recharge the batteries.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS. My wife, 6-month old and I stayed in the Plumeria Suite on the ground floor of…read morethis property at the end of May. In the end, we had to cut short our week-long stay. At the end of an exhaustive list of serious problems, the cockroach infestation got the better of us. On entering, you realize the place is totally misrepresented. Far from being a quaint Hawaiian throwback, the 'suite' hasn't had any love since the 70s. First, it's filthy: the fluorescent striplight housing throughout is full of dead flies and roaches, the skirting boards are black with dirt, the shower curtains are flecked with black mould, the grout is disgusting, the brown bathroom tiles are stained, the couches in the living room area are revolting (creases in the old grey leather are dark with years of dirt - we had to throw bedsheets over them just to be able to sit on them), the mattress on the master bed has broken springs that stick out, the curtains are non-existent, the beach paraphernalia is rusty and broken, the kitchen has the bare minimum of crockery and utensils (good luck opening wine with the pathetic corkscrew), the kettle was broken, the fridge had been painted white (assumedly because it was disgusting beforehand)... I really could go on. But the climax of this disaster was the cockroach infestation. We first saw a couple of roaches on our first night but the owner told us it was a tropical island and there was no avoiding them. We tried so very hard to swallow this until we visited other friends staying nearby in other houses that had been updated in the past half-century. Obviously, they did not have any problems with roaches. On the fourth night, we returned to a kitchen alive with cockroaches. We had passed the tipping point of a stray roach passing through - we never cooked in the kitchen and no food had been left anywhere. It's clear that the house needs fumigating. We left the following day and flew home. The owner was lovely at the beginning of the booking but, as the problems presented themselves, she wouldn't even entertain the idea of a refund. We emailed her immediately on arrival to explain that we wanted to leave and even offered to pay for a few nights (so she could retain some of the income from our stay). The answer was a resounding "no". She wouldn't acknowledge that the house is in a state of disrepair. She offered us a new kettle and a re-clean (which never happened) but, frankly, the place needs a total overhaul. If we had paid a third of the considerable price (over $2000 for the week), we might have had to accept that you get what you pay for. But, for over $2000, you expect a minimal level of quality. Here, the owners are cashing in on a near-beach location - they have absolutely no interest in putting any of their money into fixing this disaster zone. In the end, we have complained to VRBO and will be seeking a refund through Amex. Interestingly, the Hanalei Villa website no longer works and the VRBO listing has disappeared. Very odd; I just hope the health inspectors have closed the property and that the owners will be obligated to sort the place out. It's an absolute disgrace. For the record, we've travelled pretty extensively over the course of our lives, stayed in our fair share of shitholes, but this place is well over the line in terms of what is acceptable. Please, please go elsewhere.

Felt like a rock star on my honeymoon! This was a gorgeous modern house that was in the perfect…read moreplace. Steps from the Ocean (you can see from the house), right in town, yet this beach town still feels like your in the real tropical and private setting of Kuaui. Maile is awesome and couldn't find a more relaxing perfect setting with my wife.