Kauai Beach Resort Rating: 3.5 Pearls

Kauai, Hawaii, United States

Book now by phone with Hotels.com – Call 1-800-246-8357

The lagoon is home to all types of waterfowl.

Lacking the knockout amenities of its Kauai neighbors, the 350-room Kauai Beach Resort nonetheless provides a quiet, romantic resort experience that's just 10 minutes from the airport in Kauai's eastern-shore town of Lihue. The chickens, ducks, and swans that flock to the sprawling man-made lagoon on this 25-acre property may be the busiest creatures here. The guests -- low-key anniversary celebrators and families -- seem to show more interest in relaxation than resort activities. Nearly all the rooms at this horseshoe-shaped resort look out at the coast, and most face motivational-poster-style sunrises over craggy Nukolii Beach. The two-and-a-half-mile stretch of rocky, steep-sloped sand provides a romantic vista. Guests staying in the large, comfortable rooms keep noise to a minimum, and there’s hardly anyone else within about a quarter mile in any direction. It is a resort of quiet joy.

It'll be too quiet for some. Not everyone travels to Kauai just to photograph sunrises, sip mai tais, and listen to traditional island tunes at the bar in the evening. More active or social vacationers would do better elsewhere, especially because the rocky, rough beach at the hotel isn't well suited for swimming, snorkeling, or surfing. The hotel’s fitness center and tennis courts are no better than average for the island, and jogging trails are scarce. The sand-bottom pool and 90-foot-long waterslide will appeal to youngsters, but other resorts have more spectacular water parks. Plus, the three restaurants -- Naupaka Terrace, Shutter's and Driftwood Bar & Grille -- share a kitchen that also handles room service, so although the menus are different, the food tends to taste the same no matter where one dines. I spotted many guests toting plastic bags filled with meals from McDonald’s and Subway back to their rooms.

The nearby Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club has one of Kauai's best beginner's surfing beaches, and better tennis, golf, and cuisine. But it also has lots of crowds, and the rooms need renovations. If rooms and beautiful, peaceful grounds are more important, the Kauai Beach Resort is a great choice. If activities trump the rooms and overall atmosphere, the Kauai Marriott makes a better fit.

The bellmen are quick to help with luggage.

Overall, guests can expect the standard services of a midtier resort: bell service, valet parking, airport shuttle, same-day dry cleaning, and in-room or beachside massages. Check-in and other front-desk services are usually fast. The porters and valets waiting at the entrance to help with bags and park cars are quick to help. Self-parking is also available for guests at a lesser fee. Room service arrived within 25 minutes -- totally normal.

The activities desk, however, was surprisingly unhelpful. Although it's common on island resorts for a "Concierge & Guest Services Desk" to focus on selling premium activities like helicopter or boat, the concierge I spoke with had frustratingly little information about Kauai. When asked what sites en route to Waimea are a must, she couldn't provide specifics. "You'll get inspired," she said.

• A towel checkout system, common at Kauai resorts, is nonetheless inconvenient. Guests get a card good for borrowing a towel at the pool concession stand; can swap wet towels at any time; $15 penalty fee if not returned at checkout
• Free airport shuttle 24 hours a day
• Room service from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Concierge, available 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but mainly pushes premium activities like helicopter rides
• No poolside drink service; guests walk up to the bar to order.

View on a Larger Map

Lihue, Kauai's capital and the island's second largest city, offers the greatest number of urban conveniences on the island. The main airport is there, as is Kauai's only Wal-Mart. Lihue and its environs don't boast much in the way of breathtaking beauty aside from two waterfalls -- Wailua and Opaekaa, both about a 15-minute drive away. Still, with a car (and one ought to have a car in Kauai), many top Kauai attractions are within easy reach via Kuhio Highway.

The resort is five miles north of the city proper, separated from the area's hotels and restaurants by Hanamaulu Bay. The quiet hotel isn't within easy walking distance of anything, but local restaurants, grocery stores, and other vacation necessities are about 10-minutes away by car.

• Fronts two-and-a-half-mile-long Nukolii Beach; few crowds, but not good for swimming
• Five-minute drive from Wailua Municipal Golf Course, a public 18-hole course
• Five-minute drive from Wal-Mart; 10-minute drive from Kukui Grove Shopping Center, with K-Mart, Macy's, and Sears
• 20 minutes from fine restaurants like Duke's and Cafe Portofino at Kauai Marriott
• 15-minute drive from two popular waterfalls, Wailua and Opaekaa
• Lihue Airport is 10-minutes away.

The standard room

The spacious 400-square-foot standard room (not including the 200-square-foot balcony) provides enough space for sleeping, lounging, and working at the desk. With an island-themed decor, wicker chairs, and modern but not luxurious amenities, the rooms are better than those at the Kauai Marriott, and above average for Kauai.

• Comfortable beds have Serta mattresses and 250-thread-count sheets.
• Electronic devices fall short: The tube TVs, 27-inch Zeniths, get 41 channels, 13 in high definition; in-room movies.
• Wired Internet is $12.95 a day (and slow).
• The standard-size bathrooms have granite countertops and marble tiling; no separate tub.
• Tolietries are now by the Aqua Brand. When I stayed, toiletries were from La Source by Crabtree & Evelyn.
• Although the hotel website claims the rooms come with bathrobes, I found none in mine.
• Suites have separate living areas and sofa beds; executive rooms include access to executive floor lounge.

Like all extras here, tennis courts are just average.

The hotel has the standard features travelers can find at just about any Kauai resort, but no standout extras. Seemingly geared toward delivering a peaceful environment rather than an activity-filled stay, the property doesn't overwhelm guests with a wide variety of stuff to do.

• Rainforest Spa has a sauna, and two locker rooms and offers the standard array of treatments. A 50-minute Swedish massage costs $110. In-room treatments are also available.
• 24-hour fitness center has five cardio machines with personal TV monitors, two weight machines, and dumbbells.
• Two hard-surface tennis courts, pretty average for the island
• Business center has two computers that cost 49 cents a minute; station that connects to the Internet and printer is 99 cents a minute. Printing is 99 cents a page for black and white, $1.29 for color.
• Notary public and secretarial services available
• Island Marketplace and Gifts, an on-site convenience store, sells snacks, sunscreen, and souvenirs.

• In-room wired Internet is slow, but the free Wi-Fi in the public spaces has a strong signal.
• "South Pacific" show includes an all-you-can-eat buffet; $89 for general admission, $109 for reserved front-row seat; discounts available
• At Shutter's Lounge, singers perform traditional Hawaiian songs and other tunes on Friday and Saturday nights.

One pool has a volleyball net.

The property's five pools attract frolicking families and flirting couples, but they can't match the massive, high-design facility with fountains and terraces at the nearby (and similarly priced) Kauai Marriott.

• Three smaller-than-average main pools encircle an island with rocks and tropical plants.
• One pool has a volleyball net.
• Two hot tubs
• Sand-bottom shallow pool (two feet max) near the beach; youngsters can splash in ankle-deep water at the edges
• Kids' pool with a 90-foot-long waterslide.
• No poolside drink service; guests have to belly up to the Driftwood Bar & Grille next to the kiddie pool for burgers, snacks, and mai tais.

Stunning views, but off-putting surf

The property sits on Nukolii, one of the island's longest beaches. The wide and uncrowded shore offers picturesque sunrises and plenty of space to explore and fly kites, but few dare to wade into the rough, rocky waters.

• Rough water and uneven depths rule out swimming, snorkeling and surfing; skimboarding is only water sport.
• Rocky bottom
• At low tide, you can spot fish and other sea life in tidal pools.
• Activity hut rents boogie boards, snorkels, pool floats, beach chairs, volleyballs, and umbrellas.
• 15-minute drive to Kalapaki Beach at Kauai Marriott for excellent beginner's surfing

The 90-foot waterslide should keep kids busy.

The pools offer plenty to distract kids, but otherwise the resort isn't an ideal choice for an active family vacation. There's no kids' club, and the water is rough for swimming. The similarly priced Kauai Marriott has a better pool and gentler beach.

• Pool complex has 90-foot waterslide, sand-bottom pool, and volleyball net.
• Rocky, rough beach with no lifeguard unsuitable for swimmers of any age
• Kids' choices (chicken fingers, hot dogs, grilled cheese, and the like) on room service menu and at Driftwood Bar & Grille and Naupaka Terrace
• Hotel provides cribs (free), rollaways (for a fee).
• No kids' club, unlike at many other Kauai resorts

Although the resort has no glaring or overwhelming hygienic problems, a dark stain (ink, perhaps?) on the carpet in my room kept it from attaining an "immaculate" or "very clean" label.

Naupaka Terrace has indoor and outdoor dining.

With options ranging from the typical resort breakfast buffet to surf and turf and poolside snacks, the restaurants offer standard hotel fare, but no fine dining. Many guests head to Lihue, the nearby town with several restaurants, or try one of the five eateries at the Kauai Marriott.

• Naupaka Terrace serves breakfast and dinner on ocean-view patios and inside. The breakfast buffet is $21 for adults, $12 for kids; dinner entrees range from $21 for caprese pasta to $36 for filet mignon.
• Mainly serving drinks, pub appetizers, and pizza, Shutter's Lounge features local musicians on Fridays and Saturdays.
• By the pool, Driftwood Bar & Grille has sandwiches and cocktails.

• Island Marketplace and Gifts, the on-site convenience store, sells snacks, ice cream.
• Local Lihue favorites include the ramen noodles for lunch at Hamura Saimin, and dinner at Lihue Barbecue Inn.