Kapaa IMO is a great place to stay on the island. One it is equidistant to the south and north shores, many many restaurants to choose from, a few grocery stores for cheap supplies, and nice beaches. not as laid back as the north or sw part of island, if you really want that much laid back head to Lanai or Molokai.
We stayed at the Aston Islander on the Beach for an Expedia special rate of $72 per night for four nights. Quite the bargain. Best buildings to stay in are the Kauai and Ni’ihau as those balconies/patios directly face the ocean which at that point is only 50 yards away. Next best bets are the Lanai, Oahu, and Molokai buildings (preference for Molokai) and I would recommend getting a first floor in these as you can simply move your chairs out just slightly onto the lawn to get an ocean view. I would not recommend the Hawaii, Maui or Lobby buildings as they are next to the parking lot and don’t have any view to really speak of.
There is a guest laundry which is very nice as you don’t have to bring endless changes of clothes.
Breakfast vouchers to the nearby (1/2 mile away) family restaurant were thrown in with the rate we got. The voucher is good for eggs, bacon and coffee. We went for breakfast three days, two times it seems we got more $ applied to our bill as we used the vouchers to upgrade to a different breakfast, paying the difference. Decent food.
Rooms were big, clean. Shower was a fiberglass standup enclosure if that matters to you.
Nice comfortable beds. There is a small fridge in the room.
Pool area was ok sized with a non-heated pool which is the only kind to have in HI IMO. There was a hot tub area as well as a bar area off to the side with 8 stools.
Plenty of lounge chairs on the beach and by the pool. Towels provided by resort.
Safes in room for a $2 per day charge if you use them.
Aston Islander on the Beach
Toll free/interisland: 800.847.7417
Fax: 808.822.1947
There were some other resorts that looked nice and were right on the beach as well in Kapaa. I took their names down as we walked by them in the AM along the ocean each morning.
Kauai Coast Resort (very nice pool area)
Kauai Coconut Beach Resort & Hotel
I can not recommend the Best Western Plantation Hale Resort as it is far far far from the beach and is right along the highway.
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