Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The ISO

    3.0 (87 reviews)
    InexpensiveHotels

    The ISO Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - The ISO

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Lila C.

    We are very happy with this hotel! It has a great location, comfortable rooms, a nice bathroom, and excellent service. The breathtaking ocean views add to the experience. The courtyard space is a unique touch, allowing you to take in the stunning ocean scenery, enjoy mesmerizing sunsets, and relax to the soothing sounds of the waves right from your room. It truly creates a peaceful and immersive oceanfront experience.

    Joey W.

    The only nice thing about this hotel is all the rooms have views of the ocean. It's more of a motel than hotel. The interior of the room is very bricky so it feels like you're in a dorm room. There aren't a lot of lights in the room so it can be dim. The room didn't feel super clean and the room had a lot of areas with rust. They do have fresh grab and go breakfast in the morning. They serve cereal, muffins, danishes, yogurt and apples.

    The sounds of the waves at night 3
    Bryan D.

    The ISO was sooo lovely. In my opinion, the large hotel companies, though very nice, don't capture the true feel of what Kauai has to offer. The ISO is quaint, but spot-on for what we wanted for a cozy, home-y feel. Great staff, complimentary grab-and-go breakfast, yoga, amazing location, water dispenser, bikes for borrowing. Oh, how I miss this place so much.

    Not very romantic having two beds when we are a couple who booked the reservation last year WELL IN ADVANCE
    Cecilia M.

    The cost to stay here is fairly reasonable, especially since you get some gorgeous views of the ocean. I reserved an Oceanfront room, and honestly, that is not what we got and not what we paid for. An Oceanfront would provide a more direct view of the ocean. What we got would qualify for an Oceanview. It actually appears that none of the rooms are really Oceanfront. Please remove the Oceanfront from your advertising because they are NOT Oceanfront. They are Oceanview and partial Oceanview rooms at best. The other issue I have is that the room was booked way in advance and reserved back in 2022. I requested a king bed. Upon arrival, I was informed they could only provide a room with two double beds. They had a king-size bed, but that meant getting an Oceanview instead. I was informed they do not guarantee the bedding. That is disheartening when the room was booked quite some time in advance. I didn't want my partner and I split up into two beds! The hotel has a restaurant connected to it that opens for dinner that has been open since 1973. We did not eat there but prices seemed expensive. It is convenient if you want a nice dinner looking at the ocean and not have to drive somewhere, though. Both the restaurant and the hotel seem dated. No elevators! If you are traveling with luggage, be prepared to haul it up the stairs if you stay on a higher floor. The bathroom had cracks in the wall. The shower handle was loose. Towel rack fell down from hanging a towel on it. Bed and pillows hard. The screen door was hard to open and close and even had a hole near the screen handle. No "do not disturb" sign found in the room, but luckily, I don't think anyone entered our room. There is no table inside the room if you want to eat or have coffee. There is a fridge with a coffee maker on top of it. There is no telephone in the room. No microwave in the room, but they have a community one in the lobby. Soaps provided smelled wonderful. There is a pool but no hot tub. Chairs seem old that are by the pool and facing ocean. The beach towels provided to us were old and didn't feel soft and plush. If you plan on doing anything in the ocean like snorkeling or swimming, I suggest driving to a different beach. This beach is too rocky for those activities. If you want to sunbathe, then you're good. There is a fire pit lit up before dusk, which was a nice touch. I like the ability to use bicycles, and you just sign a waiver and return the bikes when done. You can request a bike lock, but there are no helmets. The bike riding was my favorite perk of the stay. You are provided plastic water bottles that can be refilled with free water, also found in the lobby. There is grab and go breakfast provided in the morning, starting at 7am with prepackaged muffins and danishes, granola bars, fruits, yogurt, cereal, milk, and juices. Group yoga is also provided. We did not participate, but I did see it from the balcony. They had workers cleaning the pool and sweeping the area while the group did yoga. Idk I wouldn't want to hear or see all that when trying to zen out, but that's just me. Let me also mention that you will see many chickens and roosters roaming around. You might not need to set a morning alarm because you will hear crowing around 5 am lol just a warning. The stairway leading to our unit was next to the place where the towels are cleaned and a distressed area behind the dumpsters. This was just an eyesore to me. The housekeepers are nice anytime I bumped into them, though. Another thing is that if they're cleaning a room, you will see trash piled into the walkway, so this is also an eyesore. The walkway is skinny, so I had to walk around Q-tips, empty cans, and bags of trash. I interacted with three different ladies in the lobby, and they all seemed nice. Honestly, if you're looking for a place to stay on a budget, this is okay, but don't expect anything luxurious from it. The resort fee is ridiculous considering how old the place is and in my eyes, it just covers the use of a pool, the breakfast, and yoga that you may or may not utilize.

    Delaina F.

    We love this hotel. It is not a 5 star place, but I rate ot because it's perfect. Kauai is charming and not luxury. This hotel is Kauai. The pool is beautiful and on the beach. They have a good dinner. The bread is great. Breakfast was pastries. I love that they have water in the office and refillable water bottles

    Sally W.

    Such a horrible place to stay Carol at front desk was rude won't look you in the eye asked to store luggage and she said no and I'm not going to look out for it covid is the reason so if you had plans you have to wait till 3.00pm so didn't offer pool towels to sit at pool. Said helicopter ride instead I don't think she likes her job and not a happy camper I hope she comes to business so I give everything she wants

    Just outside our room.
    Dena C.

    The staff was extremely kind. Was a beautiful view and right on the beach. Not fancy but clean and near restaurants and shopping. Can't wait to bring the kids and grandkids.

    Hotel room

    See all

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Gia N.
    18
    3
    1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jon W.
    582
    7
    2

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lanc L.
    26
    57
    9

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ember F.
    200
    19
    13

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Beth H.
    489
    64
    0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sai F.
    0
    16
    0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of C L.
    1
    179
    29

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bob M.
    0
    12
    6

    5 years ago

    Lori at the front desk was super helpful and friendly. Thank you for taking good care of us. We are enjoying our stay very much!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 3

    The ISO Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The ISO

    Is there an onsite gym?

    No, there is not. However, there is a walk/bike path and free bike rentals.

    View All 2 Questions

    Review Highlights - The ISO

    In my opinion, the large hotel companies, though very nice, don't capture the true feel of what Kauai has to offer.

    Mentioned in 18 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay - Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay - Pool

    Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay

    (390 reviews)

    $$

    stayed here for 1 night before our 4 day backpacking trip on the kalalau trail. super relaxing…read moreafter a 5 hour flight- it was nice to walk to the neighboring beach to stretch out before our trek. they were able to keep some of our bags safe as well- when we came back, they were still there! friendly front desk tons of sitting area as amenities- if you are rolling up with a big group, this is a great area to reconvene. love that a water dispenser is available here too

    From the perspective of a lifetime Hilton loyalist who has stayed in many Hilton Garden Inns in my…read moretime, this is better than most. It has all of the requisite HGI necessities such as clean, standardized rooms, available breakfast made to order, and a price point that does not break the bank compared to big resorts on Kaua'i. I had a comfortable stay here with easy parking, a comfortable room, and good wi-fi. It doesn't hurt that you can see the ocean from some rooms and that the property grounds have some unexpected nice touches such as a koi pond water feature, a spacious airy lobby open to the outside, and easy self parking for a fee. In this genre of Hilton portfolio hotel, it hits a bit above its expected weight. What keeps it in the 4-star range (instead of 5) is its location. It is relatively near Lihue and the airport (about a 12-15 min drive) but far from any of the major resort spots that Kaua'i is really known for (like Poipu or Princeville). Its location is just a couple of minutes drive outside of Kapa'a and if you are not looking for a high end vacation resort experience, this will suffice as a place to lay your head with confidence while helping you respect a moderate budget. It is not cheap by most HGI standards but it is reasonable by local Kaua'i lodging standards. A rental car is a must if you choose to stay here because there really is nothing around you within easy or safe walking distance. That is a problem if you are here to be a tourist and see some sights and places that The Garden Isle is known for. It is this location that keeps the pricing here down but the inconvenience factor high. I liked this property for what it was and I would stay here again if my reason for coming to Kaua'i was for anything other than a higher end resort experience. I'm sure there are even cheaper places to stay on this island but then again, I don't think that the Salvation Army has a loyalty program or a koi pond.

    Kauai Shores Hotel - Family enjoying the grounds

    Kauai Shores Hotel

    (358 reviews)

    $$

    I think this was 4 stars but giving 5 because I think overall rating should be at least 4…read more Check in was easy. Parking was easy (didn't have trouble finding a spot at all. I could see how parking is annoying if you have to valet but valet is at least free). Room was upgraded and nice. Beach was awesome. Lava Lava was decent (beautiful views). Lots of shops nearby. Staff was friendly and helpful and attentive. Good location. Would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Kauai!

    While visit Kauai, we chose KSH because it got great reviews and felt like a central spot to the…read moreairport, food places and to the north side. From check in, we had friendly service from the front desk to valet. (Self) Parking is limited but you can valet for free. Just send a text to have your car ready. The room was a bit cozy for my liking, 2 queen beds for the three of us (hubby and 19 yr old son), but it did its job. We were mostly out. The plus was the lanai. We had a 2nd floor room, considered an ocean view but it faced the restaurant (lava lava club) and open field. There is a quiet time enforced so it doesn't get noisy after 9 pm. But you also get to enjoy the live music from the restaurant. There are water filling stations which is fabulous! Tip- use the one in the lobby! It comes out a lot cooler. You wake up to waves and can walk the shore or sit and enjoy the sunrise. Or opposite: watch the sunset! A short walk from coconut marketplace- enjoy shaved ice, eat at a restaurant, shop at various boutiques. Check out ABC country market- food, souvenirs, snacks, musubis, gelato and more! Cons: The shower pressure needs to be turned up. The AC works well but the bright light of the temperature kept me up. I wish we could turn that off. The tv guide wasn't working and we had to press the channel button up or down to watch. This is a nice choice if you're looking to stay in Kapaa. I would absolutely stay here again.

    Waipouli Beach Resort & Spa Kauai by Outrigger - Sunrise Greeters

    Waipouli Beach Resort & Spa Kauai by Outrigger

    (181 reviews)

    Upon arrival we were greeted by an amazing and friendly staff. The rooms are beautiful. The views…read morefrom the lanai is stunning. We had breakfast on the lanai each morning. The kitchen has modern, high quality appliances. I can only wish my fridge/freezer was this big at home. Ice maker kept with our demands. The onsite restaurant, Oasis By The Sea, had good food and fabulous drinks. Drinks poolside is hard to beat. The beach is enjoyable, but not for swimming. The pool more than makes up for that. My little one loved the kiddie area in the pool.

    This was our first visit to the island of Kauai and wanted to stay in an area on the east side of…read morethe island. After looking at prices and reviews we decided on this location. We arrived early in the day so we're not able to get into our room but the staff held our luggage and recommended a few places to eat and watch football. Once able to get into our room which was on the 3rd floor looking over the pool area but far enough away from the noise. The room was quite large with a great kitchen area with granite counter tops and nice appliances. Also a large bathroom with tub and separate shower area as well as two toilets. It was a one bedroom. There was a small lanai off the bedroom and you could open the sliding door from the living room. There was also a washer/dryer in the room. The view from the room looked over the whole pool area which has a winding pool that you can walk around over to the main pool. They also had gas grills to use and many people did. One note is if you open the sliding door in the living room area and don't match up the line in the top of the doors, the air conditioning doesn't go on. We thought the air conditioning quit. After calling the front office someone came within an hour. Told us about the line. We also had an issue with the washer and after a call to the front desk a maintenance person was there within an hour. The staff we interacted with were very friendly and very helpful. Giving us recommendations for a place for fresh fish to grill. There is also a small restaurant which we tried a few nights for some drinks and appetizers. The views of the ocean are great. There are also chairs to sit on the beach area and enjoy the water. The beach is not large but very clean and nice to relax at. There is a shopping center across the street to buy things for the condo. We will stay here again next time in the area.

    1 Hotel Hanalei Bay - Mountain View Two Queen

    1 Hotel Hanalei Bay

    (164 reviews)

    $$$$

    Had a really good overall experience here…read more View/location is obviously spectacular. Room: Ocean view studio suite is nothing short of incredible. High floor with a perfect view of the bay. Open layout with a large bathroom and huge walk in closet area. Service: Was overall really impressed . Wife had an allergic reaction to something one evening. We called the front desk who unlocked the on site shop to get her allergy medication after the shop had closed for the night. All of our servers at the restaurants were very friendly, pleasant, and warm. Housekeeping was slow and did not make up our room during the few hours we were out from morning to early afternoon, but we called the service team and it was made by the time we got back from dinner. Fitness center was spacious and had plenty of equipment/machines - never felt crowded despite being busy. Restaurant food: The breakfast buffet and dinner meal we had were very good. The buffet in particular was great - so many dishes, omelet station, delicious Hawaiian coffee, etc. Main complaint is that the hotel felt quite packed (including the pool and beach area). We went during peak season so I guess this is to be expected. Tough to avoid though given this will always be a popular destination for non hotel guests as well. It's expensive for what it is, especially compared to international resort destinations at the same price level (a function of proximity to CA I guess) but overall was a worthwhile stay. 5 stars for the views and service t(hat went above and beyond).

    Ever since I saw Jurassic Park and watched that little dinosaur with the popped collar spit in…read moreNewman's face, I knew I wanted to visit Kauai. Now, was that scene actually filmed there? Who knows. I was a child, and a guy who lived down the street that my mom made me call "Uncle" told me it was. I've trusted that man with absolutely zero credentials for over 30 years. Well, I finally made it to Kauai, and let me tell you... it is absolutely gorgeous. Lush. Green. Rainy. And now I also look like Newman from Seinfeld. The circle of life. I spent four nights at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, and it was... nice. Let me start with the good. My room was beautiful, the views were incredible, and the grounds are spectacular. Tropical plants everywhere, waterfalls pouring down the mountains, and postcard views in every direction. Now... the not-so-great. The food was aggressively mediocre. By day three I was fantasizing about a microwave burrito like it was a Michelin starred meal. I would've fought someone for a Cup-O-Noodles. I think it's called 1 Hotel because it's the one hotel around, and they know you've got nowhere else to eat. Unfortunately, all three restaurants seemed to have the exact same menu. Room service, The Sandbox, and the sushi restaurant all blurred together into one very expensive wagyu smashburger. The staff? Honestly, I can barely review them because I hardly interacted with anyone. Nobody bothered me, which some people probably love. The pool is beautiful... but there are nowhere near enough lounge chairs. Every morning it looked like the midwest trophy wives stormed the pool deck at 6:00 a.m. to reserve every chair with towels. If you want to sit within eyesight of the water, you're going to need an alarm clock and the competitive spirit of a suburban mother on vacation. Which brings me to... the kids. Look, if you have kids, that's wonderful. They're just not for me. Splashing. Screaming. Running. Falling. Crying. Parents yelling at their kids. Parents yelling at other people's kids. Kids somehow yelling at adults. It was like spending the afternoon inside a Dave & Buster's that happened to overlook the Pacific Ocean. If you're looking for a quiet couples getaway, I'd probably avoid summer break. There is an adults-only pool, but it's pretty small and mostly occupied by guys taking "business calls" while crushing Michelob Ultras. There's also a tiny beach area that's... ehhhhh. Now the spa? That's where this place shines. The second you walk in, it smells incredible. The kind of smell that immediately convinces your brain you've become a much healthier, more emotionally stable person. I got one of the best massages I've ever had from an amazing therapist who somehow found muscles I didn't even know existed and negotiated a peace treaty with all of them. I walked out feeling completely relaxed, refreshed, and significantly less judgmental about everything else. I'd absolutely go back for another massage, and next time I'd definitely book a facial too. My biggest surprise was the cleanliness... or lack of it. For a luxury resort, it never quite felt polished. Dead flies sat on windowsills around the property. The carpets always looked a little grimy. There was a half-finished iced coffee sitting outside my elevator that stayed there for a day and a half. None of it was a huge deal individually, but after a while you start noticing all the little things. Overall, I had an amazing trip because Kauai itself is one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited. Would I go back? Absolutely. Would I stay at 1 Hotel again? Probably not. For what they're charging, I expected luxury. Instead, it felt like I paid luxury prices for a really nice hotel that still needed someone to walk around with a rag and a trash bag. If I'm spending that kind of money again, I'd probably book the Four Seasons.

    Kauai Coast Resort at the Beachboy

    Kauai Coast Resort at the Beachboy

    (141 reviews)

    $$

    This a Shell/Wyndham resort timeshare property. It has nice studio and kitchenettes. Most do not…read morehave elevators and it is 22 short steps to each floor. When you check-in, they will take a credit card for incidentals and charge about $18/day resort fee on top of other costs. Then they will direct you across to the concierge/1st timeshare contact to get first sales pitch. You can skip and just leave after getting key. I listened to others get the standard offer to get gifts to sit thru a pitch. My room was studio 3rd floor, 44 steps to top. No kitchen, but microwave and fridge. Interesting note is that AC unit is connected to sliding door. If open, it shuts off. Patio is nice, overlooking grass area with BBQ spots and tikis. Grill equipment is in room. Main lobby has bar and restaurant. Coffee in AM and juice is early PM. Good middle spot on the island so you can go north or south when exploring. Due to (prior?) homeless issue (I had no issue), they only have ice at the main desk, also you can get other items like coffee refills there as well. Limited gift, food shop area, but there is a nearby store with all you need. We had no significant issues, other than avoiding the timeshare pitch. Nice location, clean, it is a humid location because it is near the beach and it rains regularly. There are sometimes they leave remodeling items in parking lot, which fills quickly after dark, and the outside trash can also fill quickly. Lots of chickens, which you can't avoid in the islands. I would return in the future.

    Check in was a breeze until they told us we must go to the concierge for our wristband keys. What…read moretranspired was an aggressive interaction in which the concierge misled us into believing we were required to sign up for a "safety briefing" which is "required for all guests" staying at the resort. She insisted that all guests go through the process to maintain the "safety and security" of the resort which was completely false and untrue. Instead of feeling the Aloha spirit we felt intimidated and unwelcomed. Aside from the timeshare aggressive pressure sales pitch from the concierge the resort was great. The units have a full kitchen, large living room, separate dining area and comfortable bedrooms. The ice maker in the freezer does not work but ice is provided at the front desk. The pool and hot tub is beautifully maintained and the grounds are groomed daily. The housekeeping and grounds staff are very helpful and friendly.

    The ISO - hotels - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...