Had the most amazing stay at Fern Grotto Inn. It's a very cozy property with different sized guest houses and cottages. I stayed in CANAL A (Perfect for one person or 2 max). I was welcomed / greeted with a beautiful tropical floral arrangement. There were hibiscus flowers all over the room. The provided me a fresh lei on one of the towel arrangements, that I got to wear around my 1st day there. The place was so immaculate and clean! It was cleaner than my own house! It made me feel so good! Housekeeping prepared a welcome card and note with phone #'s for calls and txts. There was a kauai guidebook on the coffee table. They also had a binder with alot of tips, local recommendations and guides. The mattress is nice and firm, pillows are of a good quality. You will get wonderful sleep there. The plumbing worked well. The hot hot showers were amazing. It is on a removable shower head (just like I have at home) that is so convenient. You do have to take out your own trash, but they provide the trash liners under the bathroom sink. Paul and housekeeping happened to be on site when I arrived. They greeted me so warmly. I was having pain in my knees, and needed help with my luggage. Paul was so kind and helped me out. Cottage A was a charming studio. With a queen sized bed. There is absolutely everything you could need. Paul even prepared 2 beers, 2 water bottles and a box of chocolate in the fridge. It has both a fan and A/C wall unit that works very well! The kitchenette is stocked with everything you could need in terms of appliances, cookware, utensils, houswares, and even tupperware and ziploc bags. The cottage was well stocked with towels, bug spray, sunblock, extra blankets, etc. It was so thoughtful. Oh and the property has free laundry for the guests. They even provide laundry soap. It was outstanding. Such a huge blessing. They even have equipment: kayaking, SUP, ice boxes, beach chairs, beach umbrellas, water shoes, snorkeling equipment, etc. The freezer even has an ice tray and blue ice things to use for your daily picnics on the beach! I property has gorgeous flowers that bloom every day. You will be greeted daily with new orchids, ginger plants, ti leaves, etc. There is even a star fruit tree. Paul showed me how to pick when it's ripe (yellow color). I didn't have to buy fruit, I had so much organic star fruit, it was great! I had an amazing 7 night, 8 day stay. It was so quiet and serene. It's right on the river. Other guests were very nice to me. Every one is pretty quiet and keeps to themselves. It is well located 12 min from the airport. It is on the east side of the island, so you are pretty central to the north and south portions of the island. Nearby is a nice beach within 2 minutes - Lydgate Park. There are chickens everywhere on Kauai. But Paul thought of it all, the room comes with ear plugs. I enjoyed the roosters - it was a pleasant change from city life. I would like to return and stay at the larger cottage - the Ohana house next time! I would recommend this place to anybody looking for a safe, quiet, serene place to enjoy Kauai. read more

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Best place to stay if you want to be centrally located. They provide a home away from home for you with everything you need. You can even kayak or paddle board right from your backyard on the Wailua River. They have a special personalized touch with all the fine details specific to your stay. Very clean, efficient, and warm home feeling. read more

This was the perfect stay for our honeymoon! Great location on Kauai for easy travel days to popular beaches and sites, plus Fern Grotto Inn has direct Wailua River access for kayaking to the "secret waterfall" hike. All beach gear (chairs, towels, coolers, boogie boards), paddle boards, kayaks, and bikes are included - you literally don't need to rent anything else to enjoy the island. We stayed in the Garden Cottage, which had an amazing view of the river and was so clean and comfortable. Paul and the staff are so helpful and friendly, they take extremely good care of this little oasis. This far surpassed our expectations and we can't wait to return someday! read more

Fern Grotto Inn - Garden Cottage welcome - Hotels Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

We stayed in Ohana house. This is one of the best experience. The house has everything we need or will need: Kitchen very well equipped, more equipped than most average house (think coffee beans and coffee grinder, slow cooker, vitamix...) Lots of games and books. Lots of beach towels. I love little details like the cute folded hand towels with fresh flowers hidden in subtle places, the flashlight attached to the house key, the water bottles and local beers and chocolates in the fridge... We found everything we needed for an outing: kayaks, sup boards, coolers, water bottles, ice packs, umbrellas, water shoes, snorkeling gears, hiking poles... We as a family of 5 kayaked up the river to the secret falls. We used the sup almost daily. There are star fruits, custard apples,... and fruit picker to use. This is the kind of house we can just stay home and not get bored. The river only could keep us entertained for days. read more

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We stayed at the Fern Grotto Inn for 5 nights on our recent trip to Kauai. We were looking for something along the lines of a condo, where we could save money by buying our own food and having some cheap meals. We were planning on doing a lot of hiking and exploring, and really just needed a place to eat and sleep- nothing resorty. The Fern Grotto Inn was perfect for us. We stayed in the Garden Cottage, which was just the right size for the two of us. It's the cheapest cottage, so don't expect 5 star accommodations- there were a few glitches like a broken ceiling fan and one window that wouldn't close- but other than that it was just lovely. There was a grill we could use for dinners and a little seating area overlooking the river. Paul, the owner, is very friendly and provides coolers, beach chairs, snorkel gear, and more for you to borrow on your excursions. The location was great for what we wanted to do. I'm not sure if the east shore has as much going on as other areas, but for us it was great- we spent one day going north, one day south, one day west, etc. Kapaa seemed to be pretty centrally located for all that. If you're looking for a chi-chi place with a huge pool and fruity drinks, this is not the place for you. But if your plan is to spend time out and about with a nice relaxing 'home' to come back to at the end of the day, Fern Grotto Inn has what you're looking for! read more

Fern Grotto Inn - the Garden Cottage - Hotels Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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Everything was ok until our AC unit went out during 3rd day. Same day we contacted Paul but since we couldn't get ahold of him we saw this other woman who seemed to be the housekeeper, moments later Paul came into our unit and said he couldn't do anything about it and would take weeks to months to fix he had a defensive demeanor which was uncalled for because we were trying to be understanding then proceeded to tell us to sleep with windows open and left, which i will not do with many people walking and looking inside our unit since we were in front. Even if i left windows open to air out room you had to leave blinds open which made me uncomfortable and unsafe. I specifically narrowed on Airbnb AC unit rooms because I cannot sleep without it. He got upset when I asked for partial refund so opened dispute with Airbnb instead to avoid talking to him. I didn't come to vacation to be without AC for almost our whole stay and argue with strangers. Definitely would not stay here again. read more

What a wonderful place to spend our week in paradise! We loved being able to kayak up the Wailua River with the kayaks provided for our use; also, snorkels, masks and such. The room was tidy and comfortable with everything we needed. The property was lush with flowers and shrubs. We also enjoyed not having so many people around. The staff was friendly and helpful. We would love to come back! read more

All I can say is...wow. The owner has thought of *everything* and provides an incredible service and product. Five stars for the fresh flowers in the room, the well-stocked cottage (I mean, Ziplocs? Raw sugar??), the amenities on-site, and the location. I would stay here again in a heartbeat and would recommend it to anyone looking for a place to stay in the area. The other thing they get five stars for is the fact that the place is in very good repair. If you've ever been to the area, you know that showers can get moldy, fixtures can rust and rot in the briny air, and on and on. We found none of that here - everything was new, everything was in incredible shape. Even the BBQ in our little yard was tip top! There are fruit trees on the property and lots and lots of flowers - which you're encouraged to pick. Additionally, the owner/proprietor went above and beyond to help us on our final day, and you don't get that kind of service just anywhere. Only drawback is that it can be a little noisy with the fans on at night, but hey - small price to pay. If you're interested in having your own slice of paradise with no intrusion during your stay, check it out. read more

We chose the fern grotto inn because it was a good central location for us to base from - and it was perfect! We were able to explore the entire island easily day by day and got to come home to a what felt lime our own vacation cabin. The gardens are beautiful and what neighbors we did have we shared supplies with. Paul has a great collection of chairs, coolers, beach mats, water shoes etc... Be sure to check there before buying or renting anything - it's there for you to use and we took advantage - I can't tell you how many cheap styrofoam coolers I have bought thru the years to leave behind - the selection of Coolers alone made the toy chest worth it, though we also grabbed mats, boogie boards and chairs. :-) We stayed in the garden cottage and it worked well - huge tiled shower, coffee maker, toaster and fridge were all we needed - there are also bbqs for use, though we never got around to it.... It's like a cabin - no maid service etc, but if you need anything just ask and I am sure they will provide - the guidebook in the cottage proved invaluable in our explorations, get a jeep and use it, Washer and dryer available as well If you want a weekend cabin getaway this is the place! As far as geeko's etc...they made it even more fun we only got one tiny one as a visitor and actually were enjoying seeing any of them... We had ac, but only used it once - couldn't hear the sounds of nature when it was on so we went back to open windows and fresh air! read more

The Coco cottage was bigger than I thought it would be. If you want your very own backyard with a hammock and BBQ grill and want to park next to the cottage, then this is the place for you! Wonderful wonderful cottage! The photos on the website didn't do it justice. It's warm, cozy, and super sweet. We came to Kauai for our wedding ceremony and honeymoon and picked this place from a random google search and was blessed to have stumbled onto it. Housekeeping and manager thought of everything... From the warm "welcome-to-the-cottage" note and fresh flowers on the table to the welcome water bottles, beers, and chocolate box in the fridge to the coffee grinder and ninja blender in the kitchen to the bug spray and cortisone in the bathroom to all the in-betweens, Fern Grotto Inn/Cottages thought of everything! Plus, there's bikes and kayaks for us to use outside. We're literally right next to a calm river, so taking the kayak out for the first time in my life was so wonderful! Oh, there's free washer/dryer for us to use and there's an a/c in the cottage! A/C was a blessing when it was so humid outside. When we come back to Kauai again, we're definitely going to come back to this cottage! read more

First of all, if you are not into nature and all that it offers, this is not the place for you. If you are not into charming and cozy or the "just like home" feel, this is not the place. If you are not into geckos or bugs and little creatures like that, this is not the place. I am deathly afraid of geckos! I mean DEATHLY AFRAID! That was basically the only drawback to this wonderful place. I'm not going to give it less stars because I ran across one or two...this isn't a resort! The internet wasn't the greatest but it worked okay and when it didn't, I used my data. The cottage is situated right next to the Wailua river. The property has all the things necessary to enjoy the river FOR FREE! The cottage I stayed in was great! Neat and clean and equipped with everything! I'm a city girl so staying here was a big change than what I'm used to but I loved it anyway. It's very near the beach and bike riding and walking/running trails (I took full advantage of doing both!!). There's a swimming hole that I will not reveal here because I'm sure the locals just want to keep local (maybe the owner, Paul, knows about it but please be respectful to the people of this island and do not post the location). Right next door there's a great thrift shop; all the proceeds help the special needs community (I found a cute Roxy dress and Adidas pants there for practically nothing). It's close to the airport and Kapaa town so you are never too far from some great places to eat (see my other reviews). Would I come here again? Not sure and not because of anything negative about the place but because of my hang ups. The owner, Paul, was a wonderful host and it wouldn't be fair for me to give a bad review based on my city ways. The family I came with loved EVERY MINUTE OF THEIR STAY. read more

Hello, I am compelled to write this review based on my bad experience staying at Fern Grotto Inn in Kauai. When I stayed at Fern Grotto Inn in May this year, I started getting skin rash sleeping in their bed. I stayed in Canal A cottage. I became very itchy with red rash. Within few days after we came back from the trip, I went to see my dermatologist. She diagnosed me that I got bed bugs (mites) at Fern Grotto Inn. I was treated with anti-parasite oral medication as well as medication to use on my skin.   I have been in Kauai about 10 times over the last 10 years and this is the first time I had this bad experience. In addition, this cottage did not have AC for the weather 85 degrees with about 90 % humidity. When we were staying there, they are doing a lot of construction around the property and cutting coconut trees. This also made very noisy and unpleasant. We were charged $200 per night and ended up contracting disease. Please let the owner of this place to take care of bed bugs.  We will not be coming back to this place. read more

Fern Grotto Inn is an excellent choice for lodging on Kaua'i if you're looking for a place that is: -quiet -clean -well equipped (functional kitchen for preparing breakfasts/lunches; DVD/TV; swim/snorkel gear, washer/dryer (free), bbq grills) -well maintained -centrally located It's not exactly "away from it all" but it's far enough from the highway and hotel scene that you actually feel like you're on a tropical vacation as soon as you step outside. Being on the river is great! Food and services in Kapaa are just moments away. The owners are very very nice and quite helpful. The price is comparable to hotels offering much less. We'd definitely recommend this for anyone who doesn't need daily maid and room service. read more

My wife and I spent six nights at the Garden Cottage. We might be more active than a typical vacation couple - so take our review with this in mind. We based out of the cottage for hiking and beach journeys to the North, South and West side of the island. Being able to enjoy our own breakfast and cook at home was quite nice. Not having to nod hello to fellow vacationers and having four walls to our selves made it quite romantic. The kayak to paddle up the Wailua River was extra nice. Go early to avoid the tour boats. The kitchen was remodeled this spring and was top drawer. Great value. Paul was most helpful. read more

We stayed at the river cottage for 4 nights for our honeymoon. I was not looking for a chi-chi commercial place, I wanted a quaint cottage. It had fantastic reviews on tripadvisor, so I went for it. The place has character, but really needs to be kept better. It's really old and not sealed very well, geckos, bugs, and giant river roaches came into our room. I get it, it's lush, tropical, and by the river, there are lots of bugs, but not so nice in the room. I kept telling myself we were camping to make myself feel better. The major surfaces were clean, but if you looked closer, it really wasn't all that clean. Mildew at the foot of the shower, dirty and dusty corners everywhere, especially in the bathroom closet (only place to put your things) Disappointing. The location is a really good place to visit the different sides of the island. There was easy access to supermarkets and good food. The inn keeper was very nice and gave us some credit and offered us wine for problems we had with the toilet and air conditioner. read more

I kept telling my husband I wasn't leaving, and he drove me to the airport anyway :( The Fern Grotto Inn is absolutely lovely--a collection of older cabins/cottages/bungalows, sited on the Wailua River. A gorgeous beach is a short walk away. We spent five nights in the "Garden Cottage", and loved every second of it. Each bungalow is beautifully decorated with classy hawaiian touches and art, and has been spotlessly cleaned and maintained. I would challenge you to find a more comfortable bed on the entire island--it was heavenly (really nice sheets, too)! The Garden Cottage is small--a studio, essentially--with that fabulous king sized bed, a love seat in front of the television, a kitchenette with breakfast bar, and a bathroom with a large walk-in shower. Perfect for two people, but wouldn't work for a family (there's other, larger cottages for them). We had a lovely view of the river. Outside, there are gas grills and several eating and lounging areas in the tropical garden. There are shops and restaurants within walking or biking distance along a fairly new beachside walking path. The important thing here is the attention to detail--the owners have anticipated nearly every need and provided for it. Our cabin was fully supplied with basic kitchen staples (coffee, butter, jam, and a starter set of beer, chocolates and bottled water), guide books, decks of cards, beach towels, etc., etc. etc. Outside the unit, there are storage areas with flippers, beach mats, reef shoes, and the bikes and kayak. They're quite clever about this--there was a survey left in our cottage, and they ask for suggestions about what is needed--that way they can catch even those little things that you'd never complain or ask about. The downsides are minimal, but but even in this paradise there were a couple. For me, I missed having contact with the owners--we never saw them, and only heard back when texting a direct question. The attentional to detail was invisible, and meant that indepenence was required. That was our intention, but I would have liked to meet the person behind the plan, you know? Second, it's worth mentioning noise--although it was NOT noisy. I am pretty sure that the only places on Kauai you can avoid the sounds of chickens are on the big resorts, where they are removed. At the Fern Grotto Inn, and everywhere else in Kauai including beaches, cliffside viewpoints, secret waterfalls and trails deep in the jungle--there are chickens. You will see them and hear them, and it's best to view them as part of the charm. The highway is also only a block away, so there was some street noise. It was never bothersome, and we never opened the earplugs that were (of course) provided. Overall, this is a little bit of paradise, and I'd highly recommend making a reservation to get your own slice of heaven. read more

This was the icing on the cake for our wedding and honeymoon. We stayed in the River Cottage for 9 days and it was perfect for us. The kitchen was stocked with everything we needed to prepare meals, and the grocery store was close by. It was close to the main highway, so it was easy to get around. Family stayed in the Ohana House, and the yards and garden provided a great place to bbq and spend some time. The beach is in walking distance, there are kayaks on site to use, and the Wailua River is easy to access via the canal behind one of the cottages. There are biked to use on site, and a bike path not to far. Best of all, got the length of our stay, we felt that everything we had, the privacy of yhe location, and the price we paid couldn't have been matched by a resort. Very happy with The Fern Grotto Inn, and hope to come back some day. read more

Just the best place to stay on Kauai. Every detail is provided to make your stay feel like home. Great showers, flat screen TV, BBQ, kayak, beach towels and chairs, boogie boards, the list could go on and on. I especially love the manicured gardens and flowers growing all over the property, but i have to say the chickens were my favorite! They wander wild on the island and make their presence known in the mornings with a *cock-a-doodle-doo* which I found so much more soothing than the constant noise of the city where I live. read more

Awesome experience. great location, great service and hospitality. Just got back from spending a week with my wife and three children in the Ohana house. They all thanked us for choosing this place over a traditional hotel or resort. It very quickly felt like our home away from home. This beautiful old plantation house is very well kept and is equipped with everything you need and more. The property has several very cool native species of geckos, frogs , chickens, as well as fruit trees. It's direct access to the Wailua river and complimentary kayaks, makes exploring the beautiful Wailua Valley a breeze. From now on, if we are going to Kauai, we are staying at the Fern Grotto Inn. read more

This place is great - we stayed here two nights "last minute" and it is the kind of place that I want to go back and plan to stay at least a week to explore Kauai. It is quiet and private, yet centrally located. I am so happy that we found it and it really set the tone for a great first visit to this island. read more

The Fern Grotto was the perfect place to stay for our trip! If you like having all the accouterments of home - then this is the place! We rented a small studio cottage - complete with kitchenette, full bath, TV, wardrobe, couch/living area, and front porch. They have a washer and dryer for community use as well as a landline (cell reception was a bit spotty here). Free Wi-Fi, community coolers, beach chairs, boogie boards, snorkeling gear, kayaks, surfboards - all free for community use. It sure beats paying the rental prices for some of these things. Plus the unit comes complete with beach towels, kitchen utensils, BBQ grill etc. etc. - it's like you're borrowing someone's home for the week! Very quiet (by the river) and very comfortable. I cannot recommend it enough. I've stayed in plenty of hotels and it's nice to simply have your own 'home-away-from-home' and not pay resort fees or tip people when you want something simple. The rates are very reasonable - and Paul was excellent at upfront communication! We went all over the island so Kapaa/Wailua is central-ish to the north and south/west coasts and we were 30-40 minutes from everywhere else (that wasn't on the east side). Very pleased with our choice - I definitely recommend for Kauai visitors! read more

Stayed here with my girlfriend and her family in January. Great place. The location is awesome. Plenty of room. Everything thats included is the best. Hosts were super friendly. Don't forget to try the oranges growing on the tree! read more

I can't say enough good things about the owner, and the inn - what a gem! The rooms are all as clean and well-decorated as the photos show, and the grounds are beautiful. It is so well located, just a short walk to the beach or the boat launch for kayaking down the river. The owner was a complete sweetheart. I would return in a heartbeat. read more

Most enjoyable stay. We've been to Hawaii 8 times 5 times on Kauai. Always stayed at a fancy resorts. By far this has been our best relaxing time. Felt like coming home after every fun excursion we had. View from the garden cottage was soo very cool. Stars were bright at night very quite owners thought of everything to make your stay comfortable. The little things were nice. Enjoyed the flowers, geckos and plant life all about. We had a flash flood which made it a little adventurous. Paul came around made sure everyone was OK. And got a clean up crew right away. Never missed a beat. Can't say enough read more

Me and my boyfriend stayed in Garden cottage for 5 nights. We loved this small , cute place- ideal for couple. It was clean and well maintain. Interior was very Kauai- great atmosphere. There is barbecue outside so you can use it anytime. Kayaks and snorkeling gear for your use. Manager very friendly and helpful. If you are looking something different then huge resort, that's place for you!!! read more

Wonderful set of homes / cottages on the Wailua river. I stayed here with a work team and it was perfect for us. If your going to Kauai for a family reunion, photo shoot or other team type event the Fern Grotto offers a very unique lodging situation of a community of homes that are in a great location and affordable. Paul was extremely attentive to our needs and always available. read more

Super and Fantastic! What a great place to stay. I will not say good-bye but I will say until we meet again. Kauai is the only island we had not visited, but I am here to tell you we will return. And when we do we will return to the Fern Grotto Inn. We stayed in the Ohana House and what an awesome experience. Paul thought of everything when he opened up the inn. From the minute we got here it was like a home away from home in paradise. The house was stocked with essentials plus. Welcomed with a lovely welcome note, fresh fruit, water and beer in the frig. There wasnt anything more we could have asked for. Kayaks, ice chests , beach supplies, etc. all the amenities are found on his website and more. And Paul is so friendly and knowledgeable. Loved visiting with him and learning more about the island. I could write forever about this great vacation and experience, but I will just close by saying Kauai is a must for your bucket list and the cottages are the place to stay. Mahalo Paul and we will return. read more

We stayed for 8 days 7 nights. A great little place, quiet and a feel of home for a great price. Stay right on the river. Everything is within an easy drive 15 to 30 minutes, the beach that is one block away is very deserted. More populated beaches are within a 15 minute trip. Paul the owner supplies what you need for a day of adventure in the water (coolers, snorkel gear, chairs etc). If you want the amenities of a spa hotel this is not for you, if you want to know what it feels like to live on the island this is the perfect spot to have that experience. Three to five minute drive from Opaeka'a waterfalls, ten minutes from Wailua waterfalls, very easy access to airport, great for when you arrive no wait or check in, after the ten minute drive from the airport we were already, unpacked from our rental car and in the ocean enjoying Kauai 20 minutes after our plane touched down. read more

Aloha and muchos gracias to Paul and the Fern grotto inn team! The garden cottage was exactly what my husband and I were looking for to celebrate his birthday and our 10th anniversary! Paul is the most chill, gracious host - genuinely welcoming, I feel like he's family. The cottage and grounds were a little slice of heaven on earth - quiet, beautiful, peaceful, romantic and with just the right amount of nearby adventure! Fern Grotto Inn offers their guests complimentary use of their kayaks, bikes, snorkel gear and much more! They've thought of EVERYTHING. It's a fabulous location, close to the beach, geological and historical landmarks as well as shopping and restaurants. For our time here, it was our own little island home getaway that had everything we could need and was the perfect place to relax after the day's activities. We hate to leave and don't plan to wait 10 years to come back! We feel truly blessed for the amazing time we had! Mahalo and until we meet again! read more