My wife and I rented a small house on Anini Beach at the north end of Kauai. The place was clean,…read morewith a well-equipped kitchen and within a stone's throw of the water. If you're looking for a getaway place away from tourist traffic, but with paved road access to the main routes, this is the place for you. The constant but soft sound of the surf, and the incredible sky at night when there are no clouds -- the only drawback is that you'll hate to leave this place.

My brother and his wife rented a home on Anini Beach in Kauai and used Serenity Vacation Rentals…read more My husband and I rented a home a few doors down but used Kauai Vacation Rentals. I am writing this review because the service both my brother and I received from Therese at Serenity was awesome! My brothers home rental was clean, well stocked, great location and priced right! The property manager was extremely helpful and friendly and went out of her way to make sure that our family had everything they needed for a great stay. My husband and I had rented a much more expensive home through Kauai Vacation Rentals. To contrast, our rental was not cleaned, the yard was overgrown, no beach chairs, umbrellas or beach toys were available. There were not enough towels, electricity was turned off in one of the master bedrooms and it was clear when we arrived that they were not expecting us even though we had booked the place 9 months earlier! I would return to Anini Beach in a minute, but I would only use Serenity Vacation Homes to book our home rental. You will love the location, the setting and the amenities offered! You will also appreciate the service you receive from Serenity.

Renting a Princeville condo managed by Na Pali. Arrived to a clean, well equipped 2 bedroom unit…read more Furnished nicely. All appliances are in good condition. Only critique is that 2 overhead light bulbs were burned out. I found new bulbs in the supply closet and replaced them. Condo is located on the Makai golf course. Pretty view looks out towards the ocean. Quiet and peaceful complex. The pool is clean. The hot tub is out of service with no repair date predicted. Despite these shortcomings I plan to return next year.

I recently used this realty agency for a 2 week vacation home rental for the second time. It…read moreappears that the first time, "we just lucked out" because the home we rented had been newly renovated. We were very excited to have the experience again and paid 2,600/week for a wonderful looking rental next to the beach. The price of this property was in line given location and size relative to the others listed on their website. NOT. We arrived at a house which was much older than appeared in the pictures on the website (scary flashback to online dating experience right now). It was a 2 bedroom with an additional master suite loft; we quickly discovered that one of the bedrooms was filled with mold as one of our party cannot tolerate it and couldn't go into that room. The floor in that room was not redone like the rest of the house; it was faded linoleum with what looked like cigarette burns all over it. Upon moving one of the beds to another room so that it could be used, there was a hole about the size of a golf ball that led directly under the house. Now in Kauia in this kind of house that actually means it leads outside, as there is no built basement AT ALL. Within three days, one of the burners on the electric (eek) stove had burnt out, the ballasts on the fluorescent lights in the bathroom and kitchen were fried (they're old, just fiddle with it a bit to turn it on said the realty - ??! huh?? I don't want to do that on vacation) and the dryer blew out. The worse is in this tropical paradise, we discovered many of the screens in the door and skylights had holes in them, so mosquitoes were streaming in day and night. The house had no broadband and promised a BBQ, which turned out to be an old portable hibachi that had rusted out, under the house. We had to call the realty to bring us another one. When asked why they would rent a house in such disrepair for this amount of money, they said, they do not really manage this house, they merely handle the bookings. What I ask is the point in renting a house all the way from New York City with an agency which can't quality control the condition of a property???

Our spot while in Kauai. Always a good time. Plenty of parking, large and clean pool, grounds are…read morekept and maintained. Chickens are obnoxious but it's their land.

Great condo community in the heart of Princeville. These units are huge, about 1600 sq ft each. The…read morepool is also very large and has a cabana where it has a kitchenette, bbq and ping pong table for all to use. The grounds are very well kept and designed nicely. Each unit has huge lanais to enjoy breakfast or lunch outside. Hanalei Bay is only 10 minutes away and Foodland is less than five. If you're a golfer, Makai is the best on the island and you can walk to the beach within 15 minutes. Overall, one of the best condo units in Princeville.

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!

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.

Had the most amazing stay at Fern Grotto Inn. It's a very cozy property with different sized guest…read morehouses 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.

Best place to stay if you want to be centrally located. They provide a home away from home for you…read morewith 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.

We're in the middle of a two week stay at Lae Nani. After traveling to Hawaii at least 35 times we…read morenoticed a common pattern. These units are individually owned. It's not a hotel but a condominium complex. Variations between units is common. Some units, including ours, haven't been renovated in a long time. The 1980's vibe includes broken ice maker, no a/c, problematic TV, and aging bathrooms. It's clean, the bed is comfortable, and the oceanfront view is superb. The grounds are immaculate, and the pool is large and comfortable. Management is friendly and helpful. The laundry facilities aren't in the unit, but a laundromat is on site, I'm sure the mixed reviews reflect the differences in units. We are returning in December, but have chosen a different unit (more expensive, but updated with beautiful decor and air conditioning! We booked through VRBO both times. I would advise you to shop carefully and ask questions prior to booking.

Resort is a joke. Besides the location, got nothing. Roaches, molded furniture, dirty pool…read more.. Office staff would not attend to the concerns. Beyond RUDE. Stay some place else

Aloha! This review is way overdue and is about our lovely experience staying at the Hale Makai in…read morethe Ginger cottage #4 back in May 2019. If you are looking for the perfect getaway, in need of peace, quiet, a place to detach from the hustle and bustle of city life and connect with nature, the Hale Makai cottages can provide all aspects of relaxation. Nestled in the depths of a tropical paradise you can find this exquisite beach front property with panoramic views of the ocean and as you walk out onto the sand you can witness a magnificent sunrise (am) and sunset (pm). We originally booked our stay in May 2018 however, due to the unforeseen flooding the Hanalei/Haena Area experienced in April 2018 which caused a lot of damage resulting in the closure of many businesses, the Kauai government imposed a strict ban for tourist to not be allowed to rent in areas that were hit hard, this was due to the safety of the tourist. So, Hale Makai cottages offered to re-book our stay the following year once the Kauai government felt it was safe again for tourist to rent and dwell in the Haena area. Susan play such an integral part in rebooking our stay in May 2019. She exhibited superb customer service and was always on point in answering all our questions promptly. We loved our cottage and it was equipped with everything we needed, comfy bed, linens, dishes, oven, stove, utensils, refrigerator, sink, living room, outdoor patio (we used to eat out every morning and night), soak tub, and beautifully smelling soaps and lotions locally made by Aunty Ina. The breeze felt so nice coming through into the cottage and it smelled like plumeria. It's about a 5-minute drive into the hip town of Hanalei and your surrounded by so many beautiful beaches that are not heavily impacted with tourists. When we were there it felt like we had our own private beach. We really enjoyed our stay here, the cottages are immaculate and the grounds are impeccably well maintained, just absolute paradise! Mahalo!

We have been staying at Hale Makai Cottages since 2006. We absolutely LOVE this place.Stayed here…read morein July 2023 & the new ownership does not disappoint! Matt & Chris were so helpful with our stay. The grounds are amazing & cottages located on the best beach. We will be back and look forward to our next trip.

It's a dump. Our unit was old, worn, and needs fixing. After three days of jerking around trying to…read morefix our TV they brought in a new one. The drapes are falling off the drapery rod. Paint peeling on the dorr frame of the bathroom. The guests above us constantly made noise even after we asked them to quiet down after 11pm. Even notified the management company. There are much better places. avoid this one

Best spot in kapaa. Very fun baby beach and walking distance to many restaurants. I have stayed in…read more3 different units and some are better than others. It is definitely a hidden gem and the ocean front views are spectacular