10 Beautiful hotels in Kauai, from condos to grand resorts

Planning to visit Kauai for your next sun-and-sand vacation?

As well as seductive beaches, Hawaii’s “garden island” is also known for its lush, tropical and mountainous scenery (which means great hiking and kayaking).

In fact, there are lots of great things to do in Kauai!

The island has some fabulous accommodations too.

But while Kauai has bloomed over the years, it has thankfully still managed to retain its old Hawaii feel.

Most of the best hotels in Kauai also, thankfully, have a distinctly Hawaiian feel about them.

The best hotels in Kauai

We’ve visited the island several times and stayed at most of the top Kauai hotels and resorts.

Here are our first-hand reviews to help you decide where to stay in Kauai…

1) Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa

Best for:

Everyone! The property attracts families, couples and multi-generational groups.

Simply put, the Grand Hyatt has a well-deserved reputation as one of the best Kauai hotels – with something for everyone.

What we love:

Treat yourself to a massage at the Anara Spa (the largest spa on the island), and you can lather up afterward underneath an outdoor lava rock shower.

Daily parrot talks are fun – a wildlife handler takes a macaw from the lobby atrium for a daily show-and-tell by the beach.

And hiking the historic Maha’Ulepu Trail along soaring red cliffs, starting just beyond the property’s edge, is a great way to start the day.

We also like that the Grand Hyatt Kauai has gone to great lengths to be green.

You’ll find complimentary water flasks in your room, which you can refill with chilled filtered water, found throughout the property.

Much of its power comes from solar panels.

And swimming pools are heated with recaptured heat from the air-conditioning system.

Cons:

The beach is too rough for swimming. (But there’s a huge saltwater lagoon with a man-made beach that’s especially popular with wee ones.)

2) Koa Kea Hotel & Resort

This is a delightful boutique-style property in Poipu on the sunny south side of the island.

(Poipu is a favored vacation spot in Kauai. Along with sunshine, you’ll find restaurants, shops selling lovely Hawaiian souvenirs and authentic Hawaiian gifts, and a farmer’s market all nearby.)

The hotel’s 121 rooms feature in-room Nespresso machines, marble showers with dual showerheads, deluxe bath amenities and free WiFi.

Each guestroom also sports a private lanai.

Koa Kea has won a slew of awards over the years.

Most recently, it was named the No. 2 “Best Kauai Hotel” by U.S. News & World Report (2022). It was also voted the No. 2 hotel on Kauai in the Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards (2021).

When it comes to luxury hotels in Kauai, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better small hotel than Koa Kea.

Best for:

Most guests are couples – kids are discouraged. This is the place to book for a casually luxe adult getaway.

Koa Kea is simply one of the best hotels in Kauai for couples, if not the best.

With few children, it’s also blissfully quiet. Honeymoon, anniversary or special occasion coming up? Think Koa Kea.

What we love:

The intimate feel is especially appealing – it’s mere steps from your room to the pool and sandy swimming beach.

And the hotel’s acclaimed Red Salt restaurant serves delicious, fresh and locally-sourced seafood in a casually elegant setting.

For breakfast, try the lobster Benedict.

We ordered it every morning of our stay at Koa Kea.

And have we mentioned the beach? Yes, we have, but it’s worth repeating.

Koa Kea is right on Kiahuna Beach, one of the best swimming beaches in Kauai.

Cons:

Garden-view rooms have a darker color scheme and aren’t as light-filled as deluxe oceanfront rooms.

3) Hanalei Colony Resort

We’re so happy this beloved old-timer of a resort is back in business!

Damaged by floods then a fire in 2018, it reopened its doors again in April of 2019.

Set on secluded groomed grounds on the north shore of the island, Hanalei Colony Resort is a condo-style property.

It has 48 units – all with two bedrooms and 850 square feet of space – scattered among several low-rise buildings.

Don’t expect glitz and glamor in the décor and furnishings here; think more understated Hawaiian style.

Guests come for the laid-back Kauai vibe of old – to destress, enjoy the peace and quiet, connect with nature and their loved ones, and unplug.

(This is probably a good time to mention there are no TVs or phones. But you do get free WiFi!)

Oh, and we should add: Don’t expect turn-down service – units are cleaned every three days.

Best for:

The resort suits easy-going, self-sufficient families perfectly.

What we love:

The bright full kitchens with lanais make it easy to vacation as a family. (Be sure to stock up on lots of Hawaiian fruit! The mangos, pineapples and lychees are so fresh, sweet and delicious.)

All units have huge picture windows with great ocean views.

But if you manage to snag a Premium Oceanfront suite, you’ll have sweeping views of the beautiful blue Pacific rolling up on a golden sand beach, just a few feet away from your lanai. Priceless.

A complimentary guest shuttle can take you to Hanalei, Princeville and area beaches.

Cons:

The bathrooms are a tad outdated and could be modernized.

4) Royal Sonesta Kauai Resort Lihue

This big, beautifully landscaped, 356-room resort is found on the east coast of the island. It’s very close to the airport (but don’t worry, you never hear planes take off or land).

Formerly the Kauai Marriott Resort, the hotel section is now managed by Sonesta, which is currently updating their rooms.

Sonesta shares the property with the Marriot Vacation Club, which has time-share units in the resort under the name of Marriott’s Kauai Beach Club.

The Marriott accommodations range from rooms to one- and two-bedroom units with kitchenettes. They’re available to book too.

Back to the Sonesta. Their rooms are large, and all have balconies. (Ask for an ocean view, as not all rooms have them.)

The renovated rooms are beautiful and feature custom hardwood finishes, Keurig coffee makers and pops of bright orange and burgundy colors in the fabrics.

Golfers love teeing off on the two adjacent courses designed by Jack Nicklaus.

Best for:

Couples and families wanting five-star resort features for less find this and more at the Royal Sonesta.

The complimentary airport shuttle is also a plus (the airport is just a five-minute drive away).

And let’s not forget that the Royal Sonesta fronts Kalapaki Beach, one of Kauai’s best swimming beaches!

5) Koloa Landing

After many years of construction, Koloa Landing is finally finished!

It’s a luxury condo-style resort development in Poipu boasting deluxe studios (500 sq. ft.) right up to huge four-bedroom villas.

One-bedroom units are 800 sq. ft., while the largest villas are 3,600 sq. ft. in size.

Well-equipped kitchens with cupboards galore will appeal to your inner chef.

The grounds are lovely. And the resort has three pools, including a quiet adults-only pool.

Best for:

Families who enjoy eating in and travelers who want all the comforts of home will feel, well, right at home at Koloa Landing.

What we love:

Sometimes, you just want to kick back after a day on the beach. You don’t want to dress up and go out for dinner.

At Koloa Landing, kitchenettes (in the studios) and full kitchens (in one-bedroom and bigger units) give you that option.

The resort also offers a free shuttle to nearby shops and restaurants in Poipu.

6) Sheraton Kauai Resort

An oldie but goodie, with a distinct Hawaii (though slightly dated) feel, the 4-star Sheraton underwent a “soft” revamp in 2017 and early 2018.

Almost all 394 rooms were renovated with new low-noise air-conditioners, soft blue-and-gray hues for furnishings and in-room refrigerators and coffee makers.

A more major renovation was subsequently completed in 2019. The lobby was revamped, along with the resort’s Garden Wing.

Rates are more affordable here than at the more upscale Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa (see #1).

Best for:

The Sheraton Kauai is best-suited for families and couples who like a fun active vibe – and who want to stay right on a great beach.

What we love:

Cons:

Guests have to pay a daily resort fee of $31.25 plus tax. (Extra charges are annoying!)

The fee covers self-parking, standard WiFi (which should be free, right?), local telephone calls, use of the gym and access to activities like yoga and hula classes.

The beachside pool can also get crowded in high season

7) Waimea Plantation Cottages

Want to stay in an authentic plantation cottage?

Then Waimea Plantation Cottages is for you.

Located on the west coast of the island near the town of Waimea, this Kauai resort has 61 cottages, ranging in size from one-bedroom to three-bedroom cottages.

Built originally in the late 1800s to 1930s, the cottages have been updated and restored. They’re not fancy though. Decorated in floral patterns, they’re more homey in feel.

We haven’t yet stayed at this Waimea resort. (One day!)

But we know sunsets on the west coast are incredible. And you’ll fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves here.

Best for:

Families and couples looking for the slower side of Kauai will be happiest here.

And because it’s quite close to Waimea Canyon, the resort also suits guests who love hiking.

Pssst! Here’s a cool Hawaii fact for your collection: Waimea Canyon is known as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.”

What we love:

The place has an authentic retro charm.

It’s peaceful and quiet (except for the roosters – but the silly birds squawk all over Kauai).

The onsite restaurant – Chicken in a Barrell BBQ & Bar (quirky name!) – hands over all its profit to a free camp for Hawaii’s disadvantaged youth. Nice!

Cons:

These Kauai cottages are not located on a swimming beach.

And the sand is black. (But the two-mile beach is beautiful for walking on.)

8) Kiahuna Plantation Resort Kauai

Once upon a time there was just one Kiahuna Plantation.

Now there are two resorts – Castle Kiahuna Plantation & Beach Bungalows and Kiahuna Plantation Resort by Outrigger.

But both share the same sprawling manicured grounds, which slope down to a dazzling stretch of Poipu Beach on the southern coast of Kauai.

Accommodations are privately owned condos, with full kitchens and large lanais.

Because they’re privately owned, each is differently furnished and decorated.

So you could end up in a lovely renovated condo with hardwood floors and granite counters in the kitchen. Or… You could be dismayed to find you’re staying in quite outdated accommodation in Kauai.

For layout and size, it doesn’t matter whether the accommodations are managed by Castle or Outrigger.

The same configurations are offered by both management companies – so one-bedroom units are 880 square feet in size and two-bedroom units (which are split-level) are almost 1,600 square feet.

Views range from garden to partial ocean to full-on ocean views.

The Plantation Gardens restaurant occupies a restored plantation manor on the resort’s gardens (lit by tiki torches). It’s very romantic, especially if you sit on the porch.

The food gets mixed reviews though, from “superb” to “sub-par.” See TripAdvisor and Yelp. (We liked our meal.)

Note: Some units don’t have air conditioning. Ceiling fans and lots of windows keep them breezy and cool though. (The lack of air conditioning has never been a problem for us.)

Best for:

Poipu Beach (also called Kiahuna Beach) and the lawns here are very family-friendly, making Kiahuna Plantation perfect for all families – families with babies right up to teenagers.

Couples who want a laidback vacay (and the convenience of a kitchen) should also enjoy Kiahuna Plantation.

(For guaranteed luxury, however, the Grand Hyatt Kauai covered in #1 above is a much better choice.)

What we love:

Kiahuna Plantation Resort is our favorite condo-style Poipu resort.

We’ve stayed here many times (once on a babymoon) and we just love the “cottage” feeling, the old Hawaiian vibe, the lush lawns and, of course, the perfect location on Poipu Beach.

The last time we stayed, we accepted that the condo we were placed in was tired-looking. For us, the location trumped the actual unit.

9) Whalers Cove

Tucked away on the south shore, Whalers Cove is one of the best places to stay in Kauai if you’re looking for a small, upscale low-rise development of super spacious, oceanfront condos.

The one-, two- and three-bedroom Poipu accommodations are privately owned. They start at a whopping 1,400 sq. ft in size.

Bigger two-bedroom units are a very spacious 2,000 sq. ft. in size.

The condos come with full kitchens, and you get daily housekeeping.

All bedrooms and living rooms have ocean views – keep an eye out for pods of dolphins!

While there’s no restaurant onsite, you’re walking distance to the Kukui’ula Village with its shops and restaurants.

Best for:

Families (with well-behaved children) and couples who want a quiet place to stay as a base for exploring Kauai will be the happiest here.

What we love:

While we haven’t stayed at Whalers Cove yet, we’ve seen it (and done a lot of research on it).

The manicured gardens are lovely. And the pool overlooks the ocean. (You can hear the waves crashing against the rocks while soaking up some Vitamin D by the pool.)

Best of all, we understand the property is well-managed.

Cons:

The main downside to staying at Whalers Cove is that you don’t have a beach at your fingertips. You must drive a few minutes to the closest beach area, Poipu Beach Park.

10) Lodge at Kukui’ula

Ready to be blown away?

This exclusive luxury resort in Kauai has some 40 vacation villas, plantation-style cottages and bungalows on 1,010 acres of private land near the town of Koloa on the south coast.

The villas are four-bedroom homes with private ocean-view pools and outdoor kitchens. The two- and three-bedroom cottages offer 2,600 sq. ft. of living space, including covered lanais, gourmet kitchens and outdoor fire pits.

For couples, the spacious one-bedroom bungalows have vaulted ceilings, wood floors and teak cabinets (along with state-of-the-art kitchens).

As for activities, you can book everything from stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking and outrigger canoeing to crossbow hunting.

Best for:

Couples, families and groups of friends looking for serenity and a private oasis will find it here. Since opening, the Lodge at Kukui’ula has gained a well-deserved reputation for being one of the finest luxury resorts in Kauai.

Needless to say, the property is not inexpensive.

What we love:

The Lodge at Kukui’ula is part of a premier residential club.

So you get access to a host of fabulous amenities at the Plantation House, the community’s clubhouse.

Indulge in a massage at the 18,000 sq. ft. spa, dine at two superb restaurants, soak up the sun by the beautiful pool complex (complete with cascading waterfalls) and play a round of golf on the private 18-hole Tom Weiskopf golf course (one of the top golf courses in Hawaii).

You can also walk, hike or bicycle to The Farm and pick your own fresh fruits, veggies and herbs for your kitchen.

The staff are gracious too, and the vibe is understated and relaxed.

Now you know the best Kauai resorts!

One of these is sure to be right for your holiday – they’re the best places to stay on Kauai!

And if you can’t decide, you can’t go wrong mixing it up. For example, you could stay half the time near Hanalei in the north part of the island and half the time in Poipu in the south.

BTW, if you’ve visited the island, which resort do you think is the best hotel on Kauai? If you have any views on any of these resorts and hotels in Kauai, let us know.

You can share your thoughts in the Comments section below.

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We stayed at these luxury Kauai hotels and resorts as media guests for review purposes, except for three properties, which we paid for. (And we haven’t yet stayed at the Waimea Plantation Cottages or Whalers Cove.) The opinions here are our own; as professional travel writers, we always write what we want, as we see it.

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Photo credits: 7, 12, 26, 40 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase

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