because our timeshare at the Pono Kai Resort is Saturday to Saturday and my last tournament softball game was also on Saturday, Wyatt and i had to find a "new" place to sleep that night. with their great Yelp reviews and proximity to the airport in Lihue, "we" decided on the GARDEN ISLAND INN. a very cute boutique hotel across the street (technically the Kuhio Highway) from the beach with (as i hope you can tell from my pictures) a strong art theme. everybody who worked there absolutely went out of their way to make us feel welcome and the breakfast spread made for great snacking. comfortable room and the air conditioner didn't keep us up all night. quick heads-up there's NO elevator -- we were on the third floor and after two-a-day​ games, all those stairs were a challenge. when i woke and glanced at my sleeping son, i was reminded he's growing up and not my "little boy" anymore​. i blame it on his fondness for poke. read more

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Cute place with very friendly staff! Great location. We stayed here one night during our recent vacation and we really enjoyed it. The hotel is located right across the street from the Marriott property and the locals surf spot at K-bay. There is a hot and cold water dispenser in the lobby as well as cookies and pastries at the front desk throughout the day. Our room was very cute, decorated with colorful walls and bedding. The room and the bathroom was very clean. We had a good night sleep. There is a large garden on the property full of beautiful trees and plants. We even got some organic tangelos from the tangelo tree, big juicy and very tasty! The staff were very helpful and gave us alot of good information on what to do and where to go. definitely recommend! read more

Garden Island Inn - Hotels Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

When I left my swimming costume in the room, they called and left me a voicemail to say so and then kept the bikini until I came to pick it up yesterday before my flight back to the mainland. When was the last time a hotel called to tell you that you'd left something behind? I'm seriously impressed. read more

The Garden Island Inn has to be my favorite hotel experience I have ever had! I highly recommend staying here when in Lihue! The hotel itself is stunning! There are so many unique details everywhere you look! It creates such a magical and homey feeling! The rooms were very tidy. One common problem I found when researching hotels in Kauai was cockroaches. Never once did we see them at the hotel! Just toads, geckos and chickens! The staff was very helpful and welcoming. There was a light breakfast and coffee every morning which was very nice. And so many places within walking distance! They also give a scavenger hunt at check in! My husband and I loved this! This gave us some great ideas of things to do! And we found this such a cute idea! My husband and I will be staying at the Garden Island Inn next time we go to Kauai! read more

We stayed here because we arrived one day before our timeshare was ready. I was drawn to this place because of its location and because of the wonderful reviews. And the reviews proved to be true! While this place doesn't offer the luxurious feeling of a name brand five star hotel, it offers so much charm and has so many personal touches that it makes name brand hotels seem cold and unfriendly. Here are some of the personal touches. We only stayed one night, so this list is by no way exhaustive! 1. The lady who checked us in (Angela) was so sweet! Very smooth and quick check in. Angela told me about all the amenities and helped me pull a few bananas off the tree in the lobby to enjoy. They were delicious! 2. They offer a treasure hunt activity where if we hit a certain number of area landmarks and restaurants you get a prize. What a cute idea! We didn't do it since we were only staying one night, but I love the idea! 3. There are beach toys, movies, and board games you can borrow in the lobby. They will also give you some microwave popcorn. Oh and most rooms come with a microwave, additional sink, mini fridge, and dishes - enough for you to enjoy restaurant leftovers! 4. The continental breakfast in the morning is wonderful - fresh fruit, breads, pastries, yogurt, and ... the best fruit custard pie I've had in Kauai! The pie is made every morning by either the resident manager or the owner. Serious yum. 5. Every part of this inn, from the walls in the room to the ceiling to every inch of this property, is thoughtfully decorated. It's colorful and artistic. 6. The staff is incredibly welcoming and friendly. Angela let my three year old feed the fish in their small pond and left a note in the morning for the morning front desk person, Cherie, to wait for my little guy to feed the fish. So thoughtful. When I asked Cherie her name because I was writing a yelp review, she said that "it's not a name but it's the whole staff that makes this place great." I completely agree! I think we'll be adding a night to our timeshare stay in Kauai on future trips so we can come back here!i read more

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Such a cute place. The outside looks like an apartment building with 3 floors. There are trees around the property with a sitting area under a tree. A lot of Christmas lights on the trees. There's also a koi pond. They serve coffee and treats in the morning, in the reception area. They also have a wall with items that you can rent for free. Like DVDs, beach chairs & noodle floaters and beach towels. The AC unit, shower, and two beds (1 queen, 1 full). Well, the room that we got. Small fridge, coffee maker, with coffee and tea. The shampoo/conditioner, soap, and lotion are organic but they are not to take home with you like the hotels. Lol. This Inn was across the street from Kalapaki Beach, ABC store, just to name a few. It's also a 5 min. walk away from the Restaurant Row shopping mall, but it's more like a center/plaza. Would I stay here again? Yes I would. Would I recommend this Inn? Yes read more

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Booked this spot from Expedia because all of the hotels were booked or outrageously expensive. Luckily I got a room here and it was in Lihue which was close to the wedding I was about to attend. The people here were very friendly an kind. I was worried that the room wouldn't have A/C or anything but it had a huge King bed and A/C with internet. There were two sinks and a coffee maker. I would definitely stay here again. read more

My Aloha Abode: Staying here was like staying in my Auntie Aloha's place, but without the family obligations. I was greeted with warm smiles and courteous professionals. The rooms were clean and spacious. I had a ground floor room so I heard the parking lot. At night all I heard was the soothing ocean waves. The location cannot be beat! I not only heard but saw the ocean from my window. Nawiliwili Park was across the street, the Kaua'i Bus stop was in front of the hotel, and I could walk minutes to Kalapaki Beach, Kalapaki Beach Hut and other food sources. Across the street was Anchor Cove with ABC and other retailers and further down was restaurant row. I would highly recommend this hotel to others! I shall be staying here again the next time I visit Lihue, Hawai'i. read more

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Koi and bananas that you get to cut from the tree yourself in the lobby! Now that is awesome. Also have full compliment of complimentary beach gear, including boogie boards. Very A+. read more

Garden Island Inn - Hotels Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

This hotel was great for my family they offered towels, Beach Chairs and other stuff that you may need for the beach that's right across from the hotel. They treated us with a great welcome when we arrived. They brought us papaya fruit for breakfast and have complimentary coffee and granola bars in the office. I also enjoyed our room it was really nice with a microwave and a refrigerator. We had the top floor and it was very nice I'll be sure to come back to stay there again when I visit Kauai which I might add is a beautiful island. read more

This is a hidden gem we were blessed to find! The colorful artwork was welcoming. The rooms were clean and spacious. We had a kitchenette that was wonderful. We stocked the refrigerator and used the microwave! Every morning we went to the office and had delicious coffee, fresh fruit, granola bars and homemade pie or cake. The grounds are lush. No matter what time we got back our room was clean and tidy! We cannot wait to go back! read more

This was the best little hotel we could have asked for!! Awesome location, clean rooms, super helpful staff, reasonably priced !! Would stay here again in a second !! The lobby is filled with snacks, beach towels, boogie boards, coolers etc. that is for guests to borrow. read more

We love this adorable and super comfortable hotel. Always very welcoming with yummy snacks after a long night traveling. Cozy beds and spacious rooms with a friendly staff. Nice nice nice. If they had a pool my family would go bananas and never leave. Beautiful scenery. Just love it. read more

We were very happy with our stay here! It's hard to rate in stars -- no, this is not a 5-star resort. As evident by the affordable price, it's more of a 3-star accommodation. But they provided 5-star service for what they are, hence the rating. Staff are beyond friendly. My husband inquired about ice to learn there was no ice machine, but the staff bustled off and returned with a gallon ziplock filled to the brim with ice in no time. Rooms are clean, eclectically decorated with beach art, fresh flowers provided daily. There's a small fridge, microwave, coffee maker, TV & DVD player. Many things are complimentary -- lobby is stocked with movies, books, beach towels, snorkel equipment, boogie boards, etc. We filled up our water bottles every day from the filtered water machine & grabbed a few granola bars. Easy walk to the beach, ABC Store, Duke's Barefoot Bar & many other restaurants and shops. Only negative is there is some light road noise, but we weren't bothered by it. You're going to be listening to rosters no matter where you are on Kauai, so what's a little road noise? If you're looking for an affordable hotel on Kauai, you can book here with confidence. read more

Got a family suite here. Lovely. Kitchen, bathroom, small dining space, king bed, and 3 twin beds. Fell asleep and woke up to an artificial waterfall. Colorful decor by a local artist and clean serene facilities. Steve the host was very friendly and courteous. They lend you beach towels, sunscreen, aloe gel, umbrellas, etc at the office. Walking distance of Kalapaki beach. There was a complimentary box of macademia milk chocolate in the room with a thank you note which was really sweet. They also lend you DVDs if you ask, and give you a bag of popcorn with it. They have a koi pond which is cute, and an outdoor patio area where you can sit and chill, play games. there's also a green garden area where you can lounge on the first floor. Has lots of mosquitos tho. Only prob: trail of ants in the room. Steve came up to the room and helped us. pay close attention to any additional charges. according to my parents: charges that were not mentioned during check-in such as "extra-person charge" We reserved a room for five and realized they charged 10 extra dollars per night for 7 days. Got the money back read more

The Garden Island Inn is one of my favorite places on stay in Lihue. For the price, their rooms are decent and the staff are friendly; a microwave, utensils, plates, cups and a refrigerator are located in each room. Also, the hotel features wi-fi, which is relatively fast. Extra points for offering free parking. read more

Not 5 stars 'cause it's fancy but because it was excellent. Stayed in the 2 bedroom condo overlooking bay/beach with pool and tennis court right outside. VERY clean. Great price for HI accommodations. The people made it extra special! They will loan you anything they have for free to use while there. From DVDs to beach gear (snorkeling equip) to golf clubs! Ever have a place offer free loaner clubs before? Not me. Fresh fruit from their trees in the lobby in the AM and original art on every door and in the rooms. Crazy colorful. read more

Garden Island Inn - View from the pool - Hotels Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

This is a solid 3-Star quality hotel with 5-Star quality service. Yes, the rooms need updating, but the location is prime and the service is unparalleled. The selection of beach gear (umbrellas, towels, boogie boards, snorkeling gear, and beach toys) is plentiful. They also use the honor system to check these items out which was much appreciated. The breakfast items were free and delicious. They have a welcome snack pack including water bottles, popcorn, and granola bars. These were very much appreciated at 10pm when we arrived. We will be back. read more

I had an amazing experience at the Garden Island Inn. It was so great, I had to create a yelp account so I could write this review. Everyone who worked there was incredibly sweet and kind. I had a kayak trip planned for my second day of my vacation, and I didn't have socks. I went to the front desk to find out where I could buy some, and got a recommendation. I went back to my room, and five minutes later the front desk woman called me. She had called up the owner's wife, who brought me her own socks to wear. She gave me two pairs of her own socks! At 8 o'clock at night! I was flabbergasted, because I've never received such great treatment. In addition, the room was comfortable, and came with a microwave, coffee maker, and fridge. I stayed at the Marriott for a few days after I stayed at the Garden Island Inn, and I was shocked at how much more the Garden Island did, for a far smaller price. The Marriott rented out umbrellas and snorkel gear for a surprisingly steep price, and other things like that, whereas the Garden Island Inn had them available to everyone in their lobby, along with DVDs to watch, free coffee (the Marriott does NOT offer that!), and books to borrow. I highly recommend the Garden Island Inn. I've never been treated so well at a hotel and I really appreciate everything they did for me. read more

GREAT value for the money. I was just there with a group of 8 ladies for almost two weeks. We needed somewhere inexpensive, clean, conveniently located, and with kitchenettes. This fit all of our needs plus some. Free (and reliable) wi-fi, free (and easy) parking, helpful and friendly staff, plus all kinds of extras (beach towels, boards, sunscreen, coffee/tea/baked goods....). As other reviews state, if you're looking for a resort kind of experience, this is not your place. If you're looking for an easy, local, comfortable stay- book it now! The location has quite a selection of walking-distance restaurants and shops. This made finding food (and drinking at dinner) very easy for our group. (This rates as a moderately priced hotel, but for the area I would qualify it as inexpensive.) read more

This was a perfect landing spot for our 4-night stay on Kauai. Convenient for someone set to explore the whole island, close to the airport but never noticed planes. Clean, simple, friendly, quiet place to put your head down between adventure-filled days. Recommended in the Kauai Revealed guidebook as a "solid gold value" and it is. Pretty front yard. Clever backyard waterfall drowns out street noise. The mini-fridge, while great for our beverages and leftovers, didn't quite freeze the ice trays. We didn't make use of the coffee maker or microwave but it was nice to have them anyway. Our private balcony was small but large enough for two chairs and a table to enjoy a drink after a long day. The "ocean view" description might have mentioned palm trees in the park across the street obstructing the actual water view, but we were usually coming back after dark anyway so that didn't really matter to us. LOVE that they offer free gear for you to borrow-- beach towels, snorkeling gear, beach chairs/mats, books, DVDs, coolers. We saw a pair of geckos on the exterior walls a few times on the way to our room, which I hear are natural predators for roaches and other bugs-- so I was happy to see them. Apparently a teensy baby gecko thought our room was a great spot, but we put him outside where we were less likely to step on him. read more

DO NOT BOOK AT THIS HOTEL I booked a night at this hotel 4 months before my travel date. Now a week before I am traveling to Hawaii they have called to tell me that they are cancelling my reservation and refunding my money. It is one week before winter break starts and there are no hotels available. They refused to take responsibility for their error, claiming it was a "computer glitch". They eventually offered us a free night on a future stay, but that does not help us find another room the week before we are do to leave for a mid-winter school break vacation. read more

The Garden Inn is a great place to stop and stay because of its unique beauty, fantastic staff, & reasonable prices. The beds weren't the best in the world, but we're not staying in Kauai to sleep in kick ass beds. read more

My stay with my husband at the GII was amazing! This was our first stop after landing into Kauia. We were immediately greeted by the friendly front desk hostess, Angela. She makes you feel at home and provides you with anything you need (movies, popcorn, beach towels, snorkeling gear, boogie boards, etc). The breakfast spread is comprehensive, beautiful and yummy! The hotel shower is nice and hot. The hotel is earth friendly, using plates and coffee mugs versus your usual plastic wear. They also use refillable shampoo/soap/lotion, therefore minimizing waste. The decorations are super cute and give it an island flare. There are cute restaurants within walkable distance and a nice beach stroll. The location is also very convenient. Also can't forget that we loved the small kitchenette. Feels more like an Airbnb then a hotel. Would definitely come here again! Thank you for making us feel welcome! read more

Older but updated and very artsy touches. Great location!! The staff are wonderful. So many nice touches such as : homemade pastries, bananas still on the vine hanging over their lobby fountain with koi, free use of paddle board, chairs, beach towels, games, etc! Plenty of free snack bars and a filtered water machine to fill up your bottles.. Just a great place. read more

The mission of our trip to Kauai was to hike the Napali Coastline. WIth that said, this was the perfect place to stay for just two nights. The room was very clean, the workers there provided excellent customer service and even though the inn was along the street, the waterfall in the back drowned out any noise there was which made our stay even more relaxing. There was also a cute kitchen area with a microwave, utensils, plates, cups and a refrigerator. If we ever visit Kauai again, we would definitely come back! :) read more

I'm a fan. Island feel type of hotel. This hotel is older but is very clean, close to the beach, airport, small shops and eateries. The small lawn out front gives a relaxing place to sit and eat the provided complimentary pie, bananas and coffee in the morning. They offer lawn chairs, umbrellas, games, DVDs, towels and more for their guest to use during their stay. The staff are very friendly and I believe the owners live on-site. I stayed in a studio type of room on the first floor which included a full size bed, mounted flat screen tv, kitchenette sink, microwave, coffee maker and mini refrigerator. The photos on Trip Advisor are pretty accurate on how the hotel and rooms look like. If I were to stay here again I would request a room on the second floor to get a balcony so I could enjoy the beautiful view. read more

I love love love this place. Boutique style hotel with cute rooms. Comfortable bed and great decor. I believe there is an artist in residence who is highly talented. The place is all lit up with cool lighting . All of this wouldn't be reason for me to love this place as much as I do but the thing that really sets this place above others is the staff. Super duper nice!!!! We will be back. read more

Exceptional place to stay in. Wonderful and welcoming owners. Beautiful garden, incredible art in the rooms. You will never want to leave this place. read more

We were looking for an affordable place to stay where we could basically sleep and beach hop from every day. I picked Garden Island Inn based on the great reviews and we were SO glad we did. The staff were terrific and could not have been more welcoming or helpful. Plus- the place is immaculate and I am a stickler for clean. The people who work here do more than just work- it is clear it is a labor of love. You just don't get this kind of welcome in other places. Incredibly great that they have everything you need for the beach from towels, to chairs, umbrellas, coolers and more. Angela made great recommendations for beachs and places to eat and Cherie and Joyce were both really accommodating and helpful. They make you feel like you are truly guests in their home in the loveliest ways possible. read more

I enjoyed my stay here. All the other reviews were on point and I don't know what else to say other than I loved the staff, distance to the beach and restaurants, decorations, and free beach goodies! read more

Very nice place to stay. The staff are very friendly and helpful. The place itself is not a Marriott, but just as nice as it fits into the culture and natural surroundings. I really enjoyed walking through their garden path when going to and from our room. The room had a lot of personality, rather than just being another hotel room. They had various items in their office, which they encouraged us to borrow and treat the space as our closet. We also learned the cinnamon mixed into the coffee grounds makes for really good coffee. read more

This place is awesome. Front desk really helpful. DVDs, board games, books, snacks, water at front desk. Super chill and funky. Great location. read more

Garden Island Inn - Hotels Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

I've stayed here about four times so far. This is a clean, quaint, cute, comfortable, inexpensive local style Inn. The staff is always been friendly and helpful and we love staying here. They have colorful art all over. If you are looking for a Hyatt or four seasons, please go elsewhere. If you want a local style, clean comfortable and inexpensive place, stay here! read more

The place is a gem! We stayed here for 4 nights, in one of their suites, and our friends stayed in a smaller room. Both rooms were fantastic! Comfortable beds, very clean (Not one bug!)! The people running it are full of Aloha Spirit! Our suite was one huge room, with a fold out couch, and a kitchenette (sink, fridge, microwave). The view, across the street from Kalapaki Bay, was great! They loan out everything you need for a day on the beach! One morning, there were bananas offered, straight off their tree. Another morning, papaya! Always coffee, snacks, and water offered, in the office. We hope to stay here again someday, and would recommend this place to everyone! Aloha! read more

CUTE QUAINT FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL :). though most definitely not the most luxurious spot on the island, it's quirkiness is enjoyable and something i've never experienced before in an inn. i'm sure other folks can attest to this and fully detailed their experience, so i'll spare you and simply say i would recommend this inn. read more

At first I thought the decor was cheesy (and it kind of is), and was thinking about booking elsewhere but this place has so much charm! There are snacks and pie every morning. The two women working the front are kind and generous. There's a book exchange, snorkels, beach towels, etc yo borrow. Great location. Highly recommend. read more

Loved staying here. My friend and I needed a place last minute and I'm glad we chose to come here. They went above and beyond at meeting our needs and were extremely welcoming. The rooms are kept nice and the beds are comfortable. Great pricing too. It's located to so many things and they give you a fun list and map for things to do in the area! Mahalo, garden island inn! read more

Great location. Original decor (turns out it is valuable artwork by a local). All amenities. Comfortable and spacious rooms. But what really sets it apart from the cookie-cutter corporate fleece you at every chance hotels is the staff. Friendly and helpful with invaluable insider info on where to visit, how to get there and what to eat. This is what I imagine true Aloha to have been like years ago before being over commercialised. My boys and I hiked, biked, swam, snorkelled and fished ourselves silly for 10 glorious days all over Kuaui using the centrally based Inn as our base. Garden Island Inn is a full value, full service family vacation. read more

We needed a place to stay one night before our condo opened up. I was so surprised by how awesome this place was! Great location next to a great beach. Close to food & shopping. Beds were comfortable & AC worked great. Check in was a breeze and there were snacks in the lobby and our room as well - would totally stay again :) read more