Correction: 6 Stars! My wife and I just returned from Kaua'i, which means we stayed at the Resort…read moreduring Hurricane Lowell. There were a number of amenities that we did have a chance to enjoy. (Koloa was part of the 92% of the Island without power.) But why the extra star? The manager used a bullhorn to talk to guests standing on their verandas to update the resort's response to the debris and damage. General Manager Owen let us know that communal-use barbecues were being set up for our frozen and refrigerated food. Gas generators were set up for cell phone and digital equipment recharging. As guests left the resort, their extra food and water were placed on a table for anyone to take. The front-desk staff, operating on card tables outside the entrance, continued to answer our questions confidently and compassionately. I can only imagine how wonderful this resort is when not in emergency response mode. I'm sure - just incredible!

We had a great stay! This was actually our first time booking a Marriott home/villa instead of the…read moretypical Marriott resort we usually stay at, and I have to say, I really enjoyed the change. One of the biggest perks? No resort fees or expensive parking! And honestly, when you have the ocean right there, who cares about the pools? The resort is right next to Lawai Beach, which I personally think is one of the best snorkeling spots on the south shore. It's rocky, though, so definitely be careful getting in and out. The beach is also a great spot for surfing, and the famous Beach House Restaurant is right across the street. The resort itself is a little outdated, but it's clean, functional, and perfect for a family. Having a kitchen is essential for us when we travel with the kids, and this place gave us that home-away-from-home feeling. Another huge plus is that it's almost like an Airbnb. There were tons of beach chairs, umbrellas, boogie boards, and floaties for the kids, which made beach days so much easier. They even left welcome snacks and coffee packets in the room for us when we arrived. Those little personal touches were really nice and made the stay feel extra welcoming. And the best part? Being able to sit on the balcony and watch the sunrise and sunset over the ocean. I could definitely get used to this.

Nice hotel & Our shuttle service driver Zac is amazing!!! He is always punctual, if not early! He…read moreis super friendly, helpful, and knows a lot of interesting facts about the island. Very cool dude! Highly recommend!! PS. Only suggestion would be to update the van, AC and a new door handle would be helpful. Thanks!

Cute little kitchen, one king and one day bed with a small dining table, couch and couple arm…read morechairs in a small living room like area. Balcony was small and overlooked a nasty looking stream. Frogs were soooo loud at night! The room was clean enough. I wouldn't walk bare foot through the place but we didn't see any signs of pests. The front bathroom had a ridiculously small shower and the second, bigger bathroom had a moldy shower curtain. I could look past these things if this place wasn't as expensive as it is. Pool was ok, hot tub was broken. The restaurant was terrible. It's only saving grace was the live music. I didn't get his name but the guy has a great voice. If you do go, sit at the bar and enjoy the music and great views. Best part of this place is the location. The town is small and overcrowded in the day time but at night it's quiet except for the crashing waves and loud frogs. Oh, and it's a bit ghetto when you have tenants (???) living there with their kids running around screaming and all.

Was there all last week & the resort was gorgeous! Favorite place to stay ever! Everything was…read moreperfect! We loved Happy Talk Restaurant overlooking the pool & all the tropical vegetation. The grounds are breathtaking including the pool & spa. We had a full kitchen & bought groceries for breakfast & lunch when we left the airport. We had a beautiful view from our condo! The resort is exceptionally quiet & peaceful even though there's a lot of people there. We loved it! Didn't have any problems! Can't wait to go back!

My husband and I stayed here for a week trip in the summer. I'm not sure how they can categorize…read morethemselves as a resort as you do have to leave the property to get basic needs such as breakfast and lunch. The two restaurants on the property open at 3pm, and are actually closed two days of the week (Wednesday and Thursday were the closed days when we were there). We had to go to the 1 Hotel Resort for breakfast and lunch, which isn't far and can be accessed through the hotels golf cart transportation system, but defeats the purpose of the resort being the destination itself. And if you plan on going anywhere, you NEED a car, there are no Ubers or Lyfts around. We felt stranded when we arrived from our flight at lunch time, starving, and learned the restaurants are closed for another 3 hours, until 3pm. It does have a coffee shop that has drinks, cold and hot homemade sandwiches and snacks for on the go, but the hours it's open depends. The flyer they hand out says it's open from 7am-4pm but we just watched them close today at 1:30pm. There's a QR code that says to scan for live hours, which tells me it doesn't follow the 7am-4pm time frame at all. How would we then know when it's open to plan for it? Thankfully we got in before they closed for a lunch snack. That said, the operating times that can be inconvenient and if you want a proper sit down meal it's not the place. I found myself confused at times, wondering who this place was for because at times I needed food or simply a place to sit, everything seemed to be closed, all the way to the detail of seating areas on a busy dinner night. It's almost as if this isn't a resort meant to be open or helpful for guests living there. Most of the staff is welcoming, I saw one review mention some animosity towards tourists which I could definitely sense at the front desk with one of the ladies, but the rest of the ladies were nice, I think it was just her. 1 Hotel definitely has better service, where they actually critically think to go above and beyond on getting you what you need, though that's expected due to the price difference. The room was clean and had what we needed, full kitchen, master bed and a separate space with a pull out bed that was useful for our family who stayed with us to help with our baby. Overall, I'd rethink calling this location a resort, it's nice but a bit misleading.

Enjoyed our stay. Pool was great and never too crowded. The towel exchange was simple and never had…read moreany issues. The non swimable beach was nice for sunrise and evenings. We didn't eat at the restaurant due to cost and minimal options. Staying in this area puts you mid island with access to great beaches, but, know you are still driving every day a min of 30 minutes to get to a more desirable beach if you're looking for calmer water and the ability to snorkel. The room was fantastic and slept my family of 5 well. Well stocked for cooking. My biggest complaint was the "Mountain View" is more like a parking lot and grocery store view. Also, if you're a lite sleeper, the roosters and road noise will keep you awake. I won't miss the roster crow at 4 am.

Due to hurricane damage to our hotel we had to get a new hotel the day before we arrived in Kauai…read more The Waipouli resort looks great online, the reviews were good, but my experience was very different. The lobby hours are limited, like 9am-7pm which is ok but not if you run into an issue past 7pm (which we did) The front desk staff is lovely and welcoming no complaints with them at all, they are doing their best with what they have. The room was ok it was clean but dated you can tell they havent updated things in a long time. The lamp covers are dusty and the sofa in the room has lost its shape. Our room upon entering was soo hot! We turned on the ac and headed to the pool. When we got back to the room it was even hotter like a sauna the front desk sent a guy to fix it but it didnt work so they were able to move us to a different room. The new room was exactly the same but with working ac. Thankfully our friends were at the Royal Sonesta so we would spend our days over there but upon arriving back to our room on day 3 we were greeted by a puddle of water at the entrance coming from the water heater/ac closet. The front desk was closed and we're checking out the next day so we just threw towels at the puddle and were happy to be leaving the next day. All night it kept leaking we used up all the towels available. I'm sure this resort was great at one time but now its dated, sad and lonely the pool water is murky and the surrounding area is covered in chicken poop. The whole resort could use a refresh. The onsight restaurant was closed during our whole stay, it's good the resort is across the street from Safeway and lots of restaurants. I would not return!

Loved my time here. Older hotel, but we'll taken care of. They even have a DVD machine we're i…read morecould grab a movie, old or new, to close out the night. Location is absolute perfection. The beach is the best on Kauai as far as im concerned. No crowds, peaceful, beautiful. And your surounded by everything you need. An amazing restaurant and bar, little shopping center, even a longs drug store. Perfection.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Kauai for the first time and stayed at the Aston Islander…read moreon the Beach. Booking through Costco was a breeze, and I felt like I got a good deal. Overall, I'd give my experience a solid three stars. First off, the staff was wonderful. Peggy at the front desk was the sweetest and made us feel right at home. The hotel grounds were stunning, with a beautiful pool area and lush surroundings. And those chickens? They were everywhere! A fun surprise for a first-timer like me. We had a garden-facing room on the third floor that still offered a decent ocean view. The room was a bit dated, but I loved having a little kitchenette with a fridge, microwave, and sink. Plus, the DVD rental in the lobby was a nice touch since every room has a DVD player. There were a few surprises, like no elevator, so lugging our bags up three flights was a workout. Our room wasn't ready when we arrived, but we got two free drink tickets for the Tiki Bar, which made the wait more enjoyable. However, the Wi-Fi in our room was spotty, and there wasn't much help available. Luckily, I managed to hop onto the neighbor's Wi-Fi to stream Netflix, though the local TV never worked, which was a bit of a bummer. The early morning rooster calls were definitely new for me, but I came to appreciate them as part of the island charm. Parking was tricky if we got back late, but on the bright side, the location was fantastic. We could walk to the Coconut Marketplace, and the vouchers and coupons we received were a nice perk. Overall, despite some hiccups, the beautiful island setting and friendly service made my stay memorable.

Looking for a serene and beautiful place to stay while visiting the island, or to move to and live…read moreseasonally or full time? This is it! Awesome homes! Gracious and welcoming staff. Stunning lobby and view point! Friendly owners and visitors! Great pools - two infinity pools overlooking the ocean below the lobby. A jacuzzi is nearby. Two more pools are located at the neighboring building, with waterfalls from one pool into the other. In the middle of these pools is a lava rock jacuzzi. Homes include 3 and 2 bedroom condos and ocean facing townhouses with private plunge pools. Tiki torches light up the property at sundown with the sunsetting behind the mountains. Hula shows are every Friday night, with monthly and holiday special hula. Sunrises at the infinity pools are spectacular! Hungry? The onsite restaurant, Hualani's, serves breakfast lunch and dinner. And the food is fantastic and delicious! Many items come from the local Hokuala Farm. And the views from the restaurant are amazing! Similar to those from the lobby, which is just above the restaurant. Onsite fitness facilities and a small spa for massage, complete the experience. A kids or keiki room with activity staff offer coconut paint, games and more. Activities staff also offer e-bikes, conventional bikes, bogey boards, snorkel gear, beach chairs, beach umbrellas and more. Concierge staff can book you on helicopter, napli coast tours and more. Plus, the concierge staff are so friendly and helpful for anything you need, like restaurant, beach and off property activity recommendations Two beaches are close by. One, Kalapaki, is a short walk away. Or, have the bell staff drive you there. The other beach, Ninini - also known as Running Waters, is below the property and available by hiking over a small lava field. The hike is not for everyone, nor is entry into the ocean at the small beach. Yet, I love it and am at the beach and in the water almost everyday. I'm a fan! So is Jamie! Highly recommend!

We've stayed here now 5 times. The staff has changed over quite a bit. Robin at concierge is…read moreexcellent. They seem to have worked out a lot of the glitches. In the beginning, the opportunities for kids activities was very slim. It has improved, albeit not everything is complimentary, so know that a head of time. There is no kids club that you can check your kiddo into, it's not like that at all. It would be so nice if they offered a 2.5-3hr hr program even just two days a week for ages 6-14 ex: 30-45 min tennis lesson, fishing 45 min, tea leaf bracelet making/shell necklace making etc. w/ simple kid lunch optional. Hualnai's restaurant service and menu are excellent. Oshi was our favorite! He's great with families. formerly. Note: no beach access from property you walk a short hike down the straits to the rocky outcrop. To massive tidepools. Not recommended to do solo. As in I'd want 2 adults w/ 2 kids kinda thing. Waves can get high and kids should ALWAYS be supervised there. Never turn your back on the ocean. It's beautiful but dangerous. A Timbers shuttle can take you nextdoor to/from Kalapaki beach. Say hi to Larry! Ask at concierge. It's a 5 minute ride. Timbers used to provide w/o asking cold water bottles in shuttle. Just ask if you want some. Timbers also has towels (I believe they still have fold up backup chairs) for beach to borrow. Just ask them. The prettiest teal buggy used to be offered to zip small groups to the beach but now it sits all day for sales reps. The upper family pool is now monitored via security camera and also no longer has pool toys to use or things to borrow (pails buckets for beach). All that is gone I was informed. Also, lunch/drinks no longer offered / no pool attendants at upper family pool. Call down to the restaurant Hualanis and put in an order and walk down yourself to pick it up is the only option. Poolside and bar service is still offered and lower pools. We're looking to visit Maui or Oahu next time. Overall it is beautiful and worth a stay but highly recommend doing things off property if you have kids ages 7yo and up.

Our first stay on his side of the island. Poipu is the sunny side and Princeville is considered the…read morerainy side. Although we visited this side last year for our 10 year anniversary, we decided to stay here in the Villas for my sons 18th birthday. We love the condo that sits virtually on top of the ocean. The crashing waves below you all day and especially all night while it lulls you to sleep. The kitchen has all the necessary tools to make meals which we usually make breakfast and sometimes lunch. The big fans help keep the condo cool(ours didn't have A/C) most of the time. Learning to close doors and windows at appropriate times is key. The two tvs and free wifi are wonderful for families that want to keep in contact with the mainland and friends on social networks. Rent a week here and bring a book or two. Kauai is mellow and just what we wanted.

We rented a condo at Popip Sands at Poipu Kai and were very pleased with our selection. The…read morelocation was ideal - right next to Shipwreck Beach - so close that you could hear the waves rolling in day and night, especially when you were chilling it on the nicely furnished lanai and enjoying the ocean view. The condo was huge and furnished with everything you could want for your vacation, including coolers, beach chairs, umbrellas, etc. I don't cook on vacations, but do want to be able to make some snacks or toast a muffin for breakfast, as well as brew coffee and have a place for my wine and beer! The kitchen was very well equipped with all the tools you would need to cook a gourmet meal. Fortunately we only needed the coffee maker, blender and toaster! I have never slept in such a comfy bed on vacation. I was almost reluctant to drag myself away on our last day. There was ample closet space and since we had 1.5 bathrooms, I had plenty of room to spread out my stuff in "my" bathroom! There was plenty of parking, gorgeous tropical planting everywhere, and the pool, which we used a couple of times was sparkling and clean. Plenty of umbrellas and lounge chairs too, and also an outdoor shower. The resort also had several gas bbq's around if you wanted to grill. The only negatives is that the place didn't have a/c and it got a little warm in the living room, even with the doors/windows open and the ceiling fans on. And since we were watching a lot of TV (the Giants/A's were on) a larger, HDTV, would've been appreciated.

I realize there is already a listing for Outrigger & Castle, but since so many of these are…read moreprivately owned and you can rent them through the owner via VBRO or other venues I thought it important to start one of these separate since the amentities are slightly different. 1) I stayed in Unit 422 in building 41. 2) http://www.vbro.com/178959 3) The owner uses Outrigger to checkin/checkout/cleaning First, these units are a great price for the value of being on the beach, availability of grills, beach chairs, beach towels, laundry, etc... Second, they have an Expedia desk that is VERY helpful in getting you hooked up with your activities. We booked our Luau on Maui, surfing in Kauai, Plantation Gardens reservation for dinner, and our helicopter ride on Blue Hawaiian through them. I have reviews on each of these separately in Yelp. Third, most of these do not have air conditioning. While most on the web say it is bearable in the rooms with fans... if you are used to air conditioning at home (let's say in TX or Florida) make sure you get a condo with AC. Last, be careful about where your unit is located. I will talk specifically about my unit below but depending on how you plan to spend your time you want to be aware of what the distance is to the beach, parking, etc... About our unit. -Ground level -BBQ grill directly across the lawn in back -NO view of the ocean, no peek of the ocean, long walk to the ocean -furthest away from Outrigger registration and the Planation Gardens Restaurant (only Bldg 42 is further) -4 (?) sets of towels in the unit at checking [important since there are NO towel services with the room unless you pay $10 to Outrigger] Overall for what we paid you can't complain about the location and value of the condo. The resort is on a beautiful beach, up the street from Poipu Grill (hole-in-the-wall with fantastic burgers) and only a 30 minute drive from the airport. Make sure you stop at Walmart/Costco, etc... for supplies before you get here. The kitchen is empty but has everything you need to cook in terms of pans and dinnerware. We did not cook or use the grill as planned. We did not look at cable, but the DVD player does in fact work and we watched a movie on it. The shower is tiled but I was missing my showerhead at home. Might have been easier to get the sand off :) You can hear the people above you walking around, slamming doors, etc... We really needed an air conditioner the first two nights, tonight it rained so it is okay. However, I will never book another condo without AC again. We survived, but being hot on vacation isn't any fun. Supposedly phone calls are expensive. I didn't really pay attention to the Outrigger rep when she started to explain because we have cell phones and really don't need to talk to anyone, but she said EXPENSIVE. They have beach chairs and boogie boards in the unit along with a small lunch type cooler. Keeping all this in mind do not hesitate to use the VBRO above to book this condo. Unless you book in the hottest days of summer and hate being hot like me or REQUIRE being really close to the beach there really isn't anything to complain about.

The condo itself was well appointed with respect to the furnishings, towels, toiletries,…read moreappliances, and they even left us a little snack. The view was not of the water, but of the cactus garden below. It was a bit dated but everything was in good repair. The problems that troubled me were: mosquitoes every night. My arms were completely covered with mosquito bites both nights. I would post a photo but don't want to gross people out. Five huge bites on my right arm, four on my left. My friend got a bite on her eyelid the first night. Also, the floors are paper thin. You can hear every footstep above. As all the windows are screens and open, you can hear everything. The check out time is also very early 10 am and they were completely unwilling to entertain any sort of a late check out. I don't know about others but I like an 11 am check out and better yet a late check out at 12 when I am on vacation. The doors are also all plantation style like the windows, so you can hear everything from the bathroom in the living room (if you know what I mean). The good side, the beach was close, the restaurant was good (although they close very early at 9 pm), and the staff friendly. For the price, I expected a much nicer place, a reasonable check out time, and not to be bitten head to toe by mosquitoes.