Eva

I have been reading and rereading billions of threads on Hawaii. So far we got decent airfare ($500) from the east coast and are booked for the first 5 nights at the Outrigger Waikiki and then 2 nights at Kilauea Lodge. From there we are going to Kauai for the last 7 nights of the trip.

We are two couples with 3 teenagers in tow. Although we would love to stay at the Kauai Hyatt, that is way beyond our budget. We are looking at the Sheraton on Poipu which includes a car or the Outrigger Kiahuna.

We want to be on the beach and have decided the Poipu is the region we like. Can anyone who has stayed at both of these places or one give me any input. The Garden Rooms at the Sheraton take a beating on some websites but if we want to have funds to do everything we want to do, that is the category we get. Any comments from people in the know. I guess being on the beach is our biggest priority are any of the smaller properties or condos right on the beach?

iceeu2

Eva, just yesterday I was playing around and found some great rates at Poipu Kai thru Suite-Paradise.

I have no idea about beachfront, but the prices were great and they were 1 or 2 br condos.

I didn't get but a couple of responses from my inquiry, but I will top it for you to see.

Samsaf

Hi, Eva. We're going to Kauai with our 3 teenagers (well, one is 21), and I really wanted to stay on the Hyatt Kauai (my husband and I have stayed there, and it's wonderful) but it's really too expensive for the 5 of us. We finally decided on the Marriott Kauai Beach Club in Lihue. Have you looked into that?

I had originally not wanted to stay anywhere else but Poipu, but when I started researching, we'll really be closer to the north shore in Lihue, and we plan to spend part of our time exploring the north shore area, so this might work out better for us.

If you or your husband are a member of the Marriott guest program, you can negotiate a lower rate. I finally got our rate down to $239 per night (we got two rooms -- one paid for with Marriott points).

We also thought we had a deal on the Marriott timeshare property in the Poipu area, but they lost our reservation and then wouldn't honor the deal; that's when we decided on the Marriott Kauai Beach Club. It's beachfront with a great pool.

When will you be in Kauai? We'll be there June 4-11.
Sherry

Eva

Iceeu2-- thanks for the reply. I have been reading alot of your posts and responses and checked out that property but didn't think it was on the beach. Because 2 of the teens are just 13 and huge beach fans. Being right on the beach will allow a bit more flexibilty for the rest of us.

Sherry--I looked into that Marriott on Poipu and there was no availability for our time frame--July 12-19. I think we are pretty firm on Poipu but also plan on exploring the North Shore as well. Thanks for the info though.

Anyone have any comments on Sheraton Poipu vs. Kiahuna?

letscruise

Haven't stayed at the Kiahuna but have stayed at the Sheraton. Like you've probably alread read the garden rooms are in buildings across the street from the main buildings and the beach. It's like staying in a completely different hotel. The rooms are nice and it does have a pool (very small and very plain---never used it---went across the stree to the nice one).

I don't believe the cost would have been as much had it not had the Sheraton name.

I wouldn't stay there again, could most likely find equal quality at a lower cost.

You might want to consider the north shore. It is much more beautiful and Kee Beach and Tunnels Beach are great.

Have a great time.

pdxgirl

I've stayed at the Kiahuna and I think it would be much better for you than the Sheraton. The Kiahuna is condos, so you have a kitchen and much more room than a hotel. As you know, both the Sheraton and the Kiahuna are on the same beach, right next door. Kiahuna condos are owned by different people and managed by different companies, so the interiors can vary, but the complex is lovely and I think all the units are spacious.

MerryTravel

One of those nasty reviews of the Sheraton Poipu was probably written by my husband after we stayed there. As letscruise said, it wasn't so much that room was terrible, it's that we were still paying so much money for it. I know there aren't a heck of a lot of affordable options on Kauai, but the Sheraton is just a ripoff.

MBnancy

Eva,
You can stay at the Hyatt Resort for $249 a night (anytime) which is a good deal for such a luxurious hotel on the beach. Just go to the Hyatt web site and order the certificates. It states they are for a 3 night stay, but others have asked for longer (week) and Hyatt sends out the certificates in two days.


https://www.certificates.hyatt.com/C...rts.asp?navH=1

Eva

MBnancy--what's the catch here? Have you done this before? It seems like there must be more to it. Let me know. Anyone else out there with any insider experience on this?

iamq

Kiahuna condos are nice and I think the location is great. If you decide to stay there, look into renting directly through the owner to save some money. vrbo.com has many Kiahuna listings.
-Bill

iceeu2

What's the deal with the Hyatt that you are speaking of MBnancy?

iceeu2

Never mind...I found them..and the Kauai Hyatt does the stay certificates.
Yes, a very good deal.

kalunchi

Eva,
I just checked your availability on the Hyatt using the stay certificates. You really have to plan ahead, as the only consecutive nights available during ur stay is for 2 nights on 7/17-7/19. and maximum occupancy is 4 ppl. You can play around with it or call them up. I just booked 2 nights there for august stay, paying $249/night, it really is great. There are no other taxes, except for an $18/day resort fee that they charge you when you check out.

yomikek

Eva: I'm also going to Kauai from the east coast (NY area) in August. How did you find the $500 flights? The ones I'm looking at are $850 pp.

Eva

kalunchi--Thanks for the info. Did you purchase the certificates first or did you wait until you verified that you would get rooms. I am so excited but skeptical as usual as the rooms are going for 455--why would they let me buy a certifiacate and save 200? Let me know how you went about this.

yomikek-- We are flying from Manchester NH to Honolulu on United. I had been trolling all of the travel sites and grabbed them about a month ago through Expedia. I would have rathered to have gone through the airline but in this instance Expedia was the cheapest. We fly to Chicago and then to HNL. Good schedule too! Keep looking, something will come up.

kalunchi

Eva,
I kinda did them at the same time. I made sure there were available rooms for the elite certificates, then i was holding the page while i opened another browser and purchased the certificates. There is a part where when you book the rooms, they ask for your certificate confirmation number, which you wont have until you received the certificates in the mail, I just commented that I bought the certificates just now, and they are en route. It shouldn't be a problem.
So are you going to stay at the hyatt for the last two nights? That's what i'm doing, staying there on my last two nights, i have an evening flight at 8pm, and i confirmed that I can check out in the afternoon, but still use their amenities, and when i need to leave, they'll give me a hospitality room to shower, and so i can feel clean on the plane home.

Eva

Kalunchi-- thanks for the info. I think we will book it for the last 2 nights. We are contempating a third night which is $364 and then offsetting the extra spending by choosing the Kiahuna which is cheaper than the Sheraton, I had to explain the whole thing to my husband and the other couple that we are travelling with. They were impressed with just exactly how slick we who use Fodors can be at finding deals.

kalunchi

Yes, I know~ I'm finding these great deals from ppl on fodors, it's really great~ I'm spending $1500 on air+hotel for 10 nights, staying at the Hyatt in Kauai, Westin in Maui and still looking at a condo in Princeville, possibly Pali Ke Kua or Pu'u Poa. Believe me, that is an awesome package to Hawaii. I know friends that are spending $700 for air+hotel just going to cancun for 4 nights. they could pay another $800 and go to hawaii for 10 nights.
The only thing is since we're paying so little for these 4* hotels, dont expect alot from the views. i was just told that the Westin Maui Resort that I'm staying at has no view b/c i'm paying so little for it. oh well~

Sarah

Hi Kalunchi,

Where are you booking your packages through? I have never found a package that was cheaper than putting it together myself. Hear about them but never find them.

What do people think of Kuhio Shores vs. Kiahuna Plantation.

kalunchi

Sarah,
you're right, I never book a package from an agency or from expedia. My friends that booked the cancun trip booked a whole package off of expedia, paying $700 pp for 4 nights. that's just crazy. i always tend to book air and hotels separate and have always found better deals and flexibility. usually when it's a packaged deal from a travel agency, if it's too cheap, it's b/c u're staying at a crappy hotel, if it's too expensive, then why book their package?