Nanea Kai is a fantastic way to stay in Kauai. The house is set up to sleep 6. When you arrive it…read moreis ready to go. Beach toys, chairs, coolers..whatever you need...already there. It is situated 1 min and 25 seconds from the water when walking...trust me...I timed it. There are banana trees and papaya trees all around the house and when the breeze blows you can hear the leaves rustling...a great way to fall asleep....it is a 2 story house. It has a parking garage, a washer/dryer, a fully set up kitchen, dishwasher etc etc. When you arrive, the owners has a basket of fruit and a fresh bag of Kauai coffee to greet you. The bedrooms have A/C but we never used them, just turn on the ceiling fans and open all the windows. Since the house is set off the street, it is very quiet and private. You can see the ocean from the Lanai (patio), which also has a BBQ and you can hear the waves too. Basically you show up with a few clothes and you are ready to have fun. Poipu beach is an 8 minute walk...c'mon...it doesn't get any better than this. Reservations are easy, send the owner Mark an email asking about available dates and he will get back to you quickly...I highly recommend staying here...I almost don't want to let this secret out but at the same time I also want the owners to do wellso here ya go...my best Kauai secret....

Terrible experience. Started with the toilet being turned off and the toilet tank empty when we got…read morethere. Reached out to the property manager and they said everything was working fine before we walked in the door??? Took them 18 hours (8:51 p.m. to 3:03 p.m) to fix it so we didn't have a working toilet through the night. I had to find a bucket on my own to use to fill with water and get it to flush. We also could walk about 8-10 minutes down to the beach and use those filthy toilets or ask the local restaurants. Next issue was a concern of our privacy in the bathroom. There was a large hole in the wall (partially covered with a picture) and I mean LARGE that led to a closet/storage area. If someone was in the closet, they could see directly into the shower. The hole was big enough to where someone could tip the picture out and literally grab you. Pictures attached. When I raised this with the property manager (who you never actually see on site), they simply said that nobody was in the closet so don't worry about it. Lastly was the bathroom was disgusting. More pictures attached. I asked for a partial refund and they said they would mail us a check (even asked for the mailing address). No check ever arrived and they stopped responding to my follow-ups.

The host, "Pete", double booked our room, shut the door in our face when we arrived and refused to…read moregive a refund. We arrived the day after the start of our rental agreement. He claims we "No Showed", but we clearly showed up and stood face to face with him as he fumbled through an explanation as to why it was our fault that he rented our room to someone else. VRBO failed to honor their rental guarantee which states we 'have the right to enter the rental for the ENTIRE duration of our rental term'. Throughout the process of trying to get a refund, Pete repeatedly sent multiple inappropriate text messages to my wife telling her to "F$#% You"... "Sh@# Head". He only stopped after we filed a harassment report with Kauai Police. We are considering pressing charges. Pete is very two faced and what he says to in front of you is not how he feels or what he thinks about you when he is behind a computer screen. Don't let him SCAM or BULLY YOU. GO ELSEWHERE

http://www.kauairentals.com/hale-moku/ Star # 1 the views…read morefrom the ocean front vistas are just as expected from the website photos. Fantastic! Star #2 the privacy of the property is more than anticipated. Star #3 the three bedroom suites & children's room were perfect for my family size. Empty star #4 she is an old girl this house. Furniture (dining room chairs with broken backs) stained carpet & loose deck rails with pealing paint date her noticeably. Website glamour shots are from years ago. Empty star #5 leaky ceiling over the stairs. Had to unclog toilets a few times.

My girlfriend and I had a great stay in Kauai Garden Cottages (KGC) from 9-15 January 2014. We…read morestayed in the Torch Ginger suite, and it was beautiful. We also were fortunate that the second cottage was unoccupied, so the back porch, which is shared by both cottages, we had completely to ourselves. We wanted a place where we could hide away from the more "touristy" spots, and KGC was perfect. Kalaheo is a nice little village that's somewhat "off the beaten path," especially compared to Poipu right down the road. Also, the cottage is less than 10 minutes from the Kalaheo Cafe' and Coffee Company, a great little place where we ate breakfast daily. KGC was reasonably priced, clean and very comfortable. There is a laundry room, an ample supply of towels, both for showers and for the beach. They provide two complimentary beach mats which were very handy. The room has a small refrigerator and a microwave and a coffee pot. (They provide the first day's coffee.) Also, don't forget to look in the nightstand drawers. They have a copy of "The Kauai Underground Guide" which we found very useful. Some things to note. KGC was perfect for us because we didn't want to be in the more heavily populated tourist areas on South Kauai. However, from the front door to Poipu Beach is about a 20-25 minute drive, so if you have a late evening craving for Lappert's Ice Cream (which we did almost nightly), you're looking at about a 40 minute round trip. The wireless internet works great (we were able to stream Netflix with no issues), but the cell coverage is spotty. Also, if you've been to Kauai before, then you know about the chickens and the roosters. You'll hear the roosters crowing bright and early...but I think you'll hear that anywhere on Kauai. Overall, KGC was a great place to spend our vacation. If you're someone that wants to enjoy the beach and outdoor adventures by day, then retire to peace and quiet by night, then Kauai Garden Cottages will be perfect for you. One final thought...I met Thayne on the day before we left. Otherwise, we never saw or heard from the owners. I saw another review where the writer felt there were privacy issues, and I can tell you this is definitely NOT the case. Our room was very private and very quiet. Also, I accidentally left my Kindle behind in the room, and Thayne was kind enough to mail it back to me, even providing a tracking number. We couldn't be happier with our experience with Kauai Garden Cottages.

Our family stayed in the Torch and Orchid suites for three nights and they were wonderful. The…read morelocation was secluded enough to make us feel like we were far away from tourists, yet a short drive to all of the highlights on the south side of the island. We were greeted by the friendly owners who offered great tips about where to eat and what to see close by. Unlike Ashley B's nasty review, the owners were not intrusive whatsoever. It actually felt comforting to know someone was nearby to make sure nobody broke into the place while we were away. The patio was a great feature. Very serene and beautiful, BUT - the freakin' rooster should be on KFC's next dinner menu. Damn thing started crowing at 4:30 am. Kauai is inundated with the birds, almost to the point of being a plague. Bring a slingshot. The downsides: -No TV (kids were a little disappointed, but we were out most of the day anyway.) -WiFi was a little touch and go and we had no internet on one of the days. -No hair dryers (wife and daughter weren't too happy about that.) -Lighting was not adequate at night, even with all the lamps and overheads turned on. Despite the minor downsides, we had a great time and would recommend Kauai Garden Cottages to our friends and family. Mahalo & Aloha.

Why do tropical paradises have to have all those noisy damn little birds?!…read more ************************************************* Lest you think me a nature hater, please hear me out. Darling wife and I arrive on Kauai at two in the afternoon having gotten up at 3:30 am for a 7 o'clock out of BWI for oldest son's wedding later in the week. Everyone says that you have to "power through" and try to stay up as late as you can the first night or your biological clock will be all out of whack for the rest of the week. So I gather the wedding party at The Point--subject of a later review--for drinks and pupus. We manage to last until 11:00 pm (5:00 am East Coast time). We settle in at the Honu Kai for a good night's sleep. What do I hear at 5:30 in the morning? The growing crescendo of the incessant chatter of tropical birds drowning out the crashing surf. So in a sleep-deprived state, due to the little twitterers, I'll attempt to tell you about the Honu Kai. These are spacious, fully-equipped, two-bedroom villas with a separate kitchen, living area and washer/dryer (absolutely a must for re-circulating beach towels). Master suite with separate bath and king-size bed. Decent price, a little over $2000 for the week. You are 50 feet from the water and can see turtles cavorting in the surf. Good location for the beaches and restaurants on the South Shore. A short walk from the popular Poipu (Brennecke's) Beach. You've got free wifi which is cool. Also, there's a pool and jacuzzi on the premises. On the down side they lack air conditioning which would be nice for the first couple of nights until your body acclimates. Lastly, you're right on the "dead man's curve" of Poipu. So expect to hear the sound of some squealing tires as lubricated drivers attempt to negotiate the turn a little too fast. That said, Kauai is a pretty sleepy place, and there's not much traffic after 10:00 pm.

We just stayed at Villa 3 and really enjoyed it. The location cannot be beath, although the…read morepassing traffic is loud. The owners of Villa 1 are very unfriendly, very rude people. We did not know (nor does it state anywhere on brochures or ads for these villas) that the grassy area near the cliffs is their private property and we were SCREAMED at for being there and looking at the ocean by them. It made being neighbors awkward! It was the low-point of our vacation. So try to book this when the mean #1 owners are not there.

Hale O Ani provided the backdrop for our honeymoon in Kaua'i. It is a private residence that…read moredefies simple description and the term "vacation rental" does not begin to do it justice. Hale O Ani was designed and built by its owners and neighbors, Faye and Bob, who also operate the business. Their hospitality is unmatched and Hale O Ani is a pure gem. We wanted something different than anonymous 5-start resorts or generic vacation condos, either of which you can find in abundance all across the Hawaiian Islands. We lucked out when we found Hale O Ani. Hale O Ani is a beautiful home with tasteful Asia Pacific design, evoking the sense of a Japanese temple. It's a place of spaciousness, spirit and peace. It is situated in a residential neighborhood of Kalaheo, on a lush hillside surrounded by fruit trees and friendly neighbors who "share the bounty" of their gardens by placing extra fruit into a communal crate to share. Away from the traffic and strip malls, and yet close enough to get anywhere in minutes. For us, visiting Hawaii, and specifically Kauai, has also been about experiencing the lush tropical flavors of this place, and Hale O Ani became an integral element of that. The guavas from the tree right outside the house, the juicy oranges from the neighbors, the richly flavorful papayas from the Farmer's market don't taste the same anywhere else. Our experience of Kaua'i would have been incomplete without the fruit for breakfast every morning. Faye and Bob put so much heart into Hale O Ani, be it her quest to find the perfect Chinese screens as airflow vents above the doors, her attention to sustainably farmed hardwood for the floors, the poster beds, the buddha statue in the yard, the subtle and tasteful lighting, the idea of turning antique Chinese furniture into vanity cabinets for the bathroom sinks, the list goes on and on. Faye has also collected a folder full of resources and tips for visitors to the Islands, and her orientation of things to do and see was first rate. We look forward to our next visit already.

Architectural Digest living... with comforting hosts... in a tropical paradise!…read more Sophisticated tropical ambience in a secluded setting set the tone for a unique vacation get away. The name Hale O Ani should be amended to "Serene House of Gentle Breezes". Tastefully decorated and comfortably relaxing with all the amenities of a private home. The arrangement of freshly cut orchids revived our spirits after a long day of travel. The hot tub/spa soothed our weary bodies. Our hosts brought us freshly picked avocados, peppers and limes from their garden making us feel more like neighbors than paying guests. In a Kukui nut shell... Hale O Ani is the perfect location from which to explore exotic Kauai. Thanks so much, Faye & Bob! Richelle and I value your acquaintance, personal attention, and warmth. Mahalo, friends. We hope our paths again cross...

Delightful boutique hotel that caters to adults. We loved the authentic Hawaiian experience vs…read morefeeling like we were in a standard commercial chain hotel plopped onto the island. The entire staff was exceptional especially the Front Desk Manager Lena. She was so nice all the way up to our arrival answering all my questions to make the trip special and she even offered us a special accommodation just to simply our stay. The hotel itself is very centrally located, about 20-25 minutes from the airport and other small towns to explore for sights and food. It was so nice to stay somewhere where it's so intimate, that the valets, front desk and restaurant personnel all knew us by name! We had an oceanfront suite and loved feeling like the ocean was part of our backyard. And my light sleeper husband was very grateful for the primarily adult guests because it was unusually quiet for a vacation hotel. :).

My husband and I enjoyed spending our Mini-moon at Ko'a Kea in early March. The location is great,…read morewalkable to Poipu Beach. The restaurant on-site, Red Salt, has delicious (but pricey) brunch and dinner. The pool bar is convenient (but also pricey). Our room was spacious and comfortable, with a very nice bathroom and a huge television. There was a free bottle of white wine in the fridge when we checked in. The room keys in the form of waterproof wristbands are a nice touch. It was mostly adults staying here and very few families with children, which is what we wanted for our mini-moon. Cons: The parking is Valet only. The pool is relatively small. The chairs around it fill up fast when it's busy. If a pool chair opens up, you can't get your own fresh towels/chair cover and have to wait for someone to come through with a cart to swap them out. You can't access the beach directly from the resort; on a map it looks like you can access Kiahuna beach, but you actually have to climb down from the boardwalk onto it (I did not want to do this and walked to Poipu Beach instead). The food is expensive and the "happy hour" drinks are $19. Overall, it was a relaxing stay in a beautiful location!