This 121-room Poipu boutique hotel offers five-star features -- rooms with fine Egyptian linens, Italian marble bathrooms, and personal espresso machines, and a free fitness center with individual cable-TV monitors. With just one pool and restaurant, it lacks the extras of the mega-resorts -- but the service is more attentive and pampering.

One of the best luxury resorts in Kauai, this 602-room behemoth (renovated in 2011) rewards guests with large, tasteful rooms, award-winning golf, immaculate grounds, and a host of high-end restaurants. Honeymooners will appreciate the spa, secluded gardens, and pools that stay open all night. Families will love the five acres of aquatic fun and Kauai's best kids' club.

Renovated in 2009, this 356-room, family-oriented resort on Kalapaki Beach boasts big flat-screens in every room, a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, and the biggest single-level pool in Hawaii. It might not have the fancy frills of the pricier Grand Hyatt, but it's still the best resort for the buck in Kauai.

At this condo resort, you get a huge one- and two-bedroom suite that's among the best on the island. A family-friendly pool is just one of the hotel's family friendly bonuses. On-site dining is slim, and the beach is unremarkable, but full kitchens, a grocery store across the street, and a convenient location can make up for those shortcomings.

This private, quiet property has large rooms, gorgeous sunrises over a rugged beach, a waterslide and sand-bottom pool, and a romantic bar with live music. It's a good choice for a quiet, relaxed stay. Just know that for similar rates, the Kauai Marriott has better service, better food, high-design pools, a more usable beach, and more stuff to do.

This 108-unit time-share resort in Kapaa offers full kitchens (in most condos), free Wi-Fi, a popular seafood restaurant, proximity to good beaches and dining, and one of the cheapest resort pool bars around. You can't swim off its shore, but all told, it's one of the best deals in Kauai.

No TVs or phones; instead, you get rare oceanfront views and hiking in the breathtaking Na Pali Coast. The pool's small, housekeeping only comes every third day, and there's little for breakfast other than bagels. But the 48 two-bedroom condos with full kitchens are worth the downsized features.