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Kauai Overview/DansMeals:
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/39185

Trip Reports:
Dan 2014
Dan 2009, Auntiemus, Benarroc, Westman812, Hudi, Yellow, Lechaim2life, DanFan2010, Jmansour, Something Fishy, Rivky, chuchem, dealvr, Amusch,
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Dan's concierge packet.


Related DDF Threads:
-Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
-Kauai Master Thread
-Maui Master Thread
-Oahu Master Thread


Before you go:

How long should I go for?
You could spend 10 years on Kauai and not get your fill. That being said, the bare minimum to enjoy your stay is 4 days on the ground. A week is ideal.

It's possible to do a short trip by leaving early Sunday morning, getting there in the afternoon, and then leaving Thursday night and being back home for shabbos.

Do I need a guide book?
Very definitely. Sure you could find most info online, but nothing compares to a good, written-by-a-local, guide book. Kauai Revealed is by far the best option, and will possibly be the best $16 you spent on your trip.

What about Shabbos?
Some authorities hold that there's a dateline issue with Shabbos.
The local communities keep shabbos on Saturday.
Definitely ask your LOR before you go - some hold simply that Shabbos is on Saturday, some hold that you have to keep Shabbos on both Friday and Saturday, and some hold that you have to keep D'oreisas on Friday and full Shabbos on Saturday.

If you must keep 2 days, remember that there are many questions that could come up (such as when to light Shabbos candles, how to warm up food, etc.), so make sure to discuss it all with your LOR.

There have been books written about the Chabad opinion of keeping shabbos only on Saturday. Rabbi Aharon Dovid Gancz gives an absolutely fascinating pilpul on the topic, if you get a chance to attend one please record it (with permission) and upload the video online.


Getting there and getting around:

Air:
The main airport is in Lihue, and is designated LIH.
You could fly directly from the mainland to LIH from
DEN (UA)
LAX (AA, DL, HA, UA)
OAK (AS, HA)
SAN (AS)
SEA (AS)
SFO (UA)
SJC (AS)
PDX (AS)
PHX (US)
YVR (WestJet)

There are no direct flights from the East coast, so you will stop in one of these cities.
Alternately, you could fly directly to Honolulu (HNL) and continue to LIH from there.

Hawaiian, Go, and Island Air fly interisland to LIH from HNL and OGG. There are no direct flights between LIH and the Big Island (ITO/KOA).

You can also use 5K AA or, 6k UA, or 7.5k HA miles each way to fly interisland. United allows a free stopover on a round-trip, so for instance you can fly HNL-LIH-OGG-HNL for just 12K miles.

Car:
A car is necessary on Kauai. All major companies have branches, mostly at the airport. There are also some local companies.

National has Executive Aisle/Selection at the airport, but Hertz doesn't have Gold Choice. Avis also has a desk at the Grand Hyatt Kauai. Check out www.discounthawaiicarrental.com - they book from the major brands, and are worth a try.

There's nothing like a convertible on Kauai, but a 4WD is better (sometimes even necessary) for certain places such as Polihale Beach or Milolii Ridge Road. Taking a convertible for most of your stay and a 4WD for a day or two is a good idea.


Where to stay:

There are 3 major areas where to stay. The South side is drier so good weather is more or less guaranteed. The North side is far prettier, with sheer cliffs and a backdrop of lovely green mountains. However, the weather in winter could be rainy and it can be buggy as well.
The rain typically doesn't last long, and is usually accompanied by numerous rainbows, so it's usually not too bad. However, it's something you should take into account. The East side has the cities of Lihue and Kapa'a, alone with countless hotels and resorts. This area isn't as beautiful and the North or South side.

When choosing an area also consider how far it is to your chosen activities, not just the weather, For example, it takes about an hour from the Grand Hyatt to Waimea Canyon, but over two hours from the St. Regis.  On the other hand the St. Regis is much closer to north shore activities.

Here are some places that are discussed in this thread:

NameAreaMore InfoComments
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Grand Hyatt KauaiSouth sideWebsiteGenerally considered to be the top hotel on Kauai, and countless DDF'ers have stayed there. The weather is perfect year-round, it's right by Poipu beach, and you drive through an awesome tree tunnel to get there. There are countless pools and exotic birds all around.
St. Regis PrincevilleNorth sideWebsiteAnother beautiful hotel, this is an SPG category 7. The setting of the SRP is absolutely breathtaking, with the ocean crashing on the cliffs below and the waterfall-filled mountains in the background. The views from the rooms are unparalleled, but most rooms have no balconies.
Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas North sideWebsiteSPG category 6.
Sheraton Kauai Resort South sideWebsiteSPG category 5.
"Get your own place"AnywhereWebsiteThere are countless condos, timeshares, or villas available to rent on the island. The advantages are that you get more for your money - a couple of bedrooms, living/dining rooms, and a full kitchen. There will usually be a pool, sometimes even a private one. Additionally, they're often cheaper than a hotel. There are many places to find them -
 HomeAway Kauai
VRBO Kauai
Airbnb Kauai, etc.


What to do:

Beaches:
There are countless beaches on Kauai, and all are public. Most offer amazing snorkeling. The East and South side beaches are safe for swimming / snorkeling year round, while some North and West beaches could be deadly in winter. Here are some popular ones, in no particular order:

NameAreaComments
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PoipuSouth sideThis beach is right by the GHK. Full amenities (lifeguard, showers, etc.). Snorkeling is amazing here, especially in the morning. Sea turtles and the critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal are commonly seen here. Gorgeous sunsets.
Ke'eNorth sideThis beach is the gateway to the famous Kalalau Trail. The view from here is amazing, looking out over the majestic Na Pali cliffs. Great snorkeling, with a large fringing reef. This beach could be deadly winter, when 20-foot waves crash onto shore. However, at times it's perfectly calm. Use common sense. The beach is part of Hāʻena State Park
TunnelsNorth sideBeautiful crescent beach, with a lovely view of "Puff the Magic Dragon" mountain. Great snorkeling, and beautiful sunrises. May be dangerous in winter.
LumahaiNorth sideVery pretty beach, where they filmed South Pacific. Extremely dangerous winter.
PolihaleWest side17 solid miles of uninterrupted sand. Fairly remote, and accessible only via dirt and sand road, so 4WD is preferred. Unswimmable most of the year, but the area called Queens Pond is safe all year round. Since it's so huge, you could easily find a secluded spot. Great view of the south side of Na Pali, with amazing sunsets.
Queen's BathNorth sideThis is a rocky beach by the cliffs under Princeville. Very cool during the summer, when you could swim in a rock pool with the fish, but absolutely deadly during the winter (people die there all the time).
KalalauNorth sideOne of the most beautiful beaches in the entire world. Unfortunately, it's only accessible via one of the most difficult and most dangerous hikes in the world, the Kalalau Trail.
HonopūNorth sideAnother one of the top ten beaches in the world. The only way to get there is by swimming - from Kalalau beach :o!
Hanalei BayNorth sideA beautiful crescent beach with wonderful views. Mediocre snorkeling, but safe even in the winter. Very predictable waves, so this is the top spot for learning to surf or paddle. Breathtaking sunrises and sunsets.
SecretNorth sideRelatively secluded beach, and needs a bit of a hike to get there.
LydgateEast sideA fully protected beach, with pretty good snorkeling. Great for little kids, but is usually very busy.
NawiliwiliEast sideBoring beach, but the park of the the side is a nice place to stop for lunch and watch the kitesurfers.
Kapa'aEast sideAnother relatively boring beach, but a nice place to have lunch if you're in Kapa'a.


Hiking:
There are a tremendous amount of great hikes on Kauai. Check the Kauai Revealed book for detailed info on all of them, with maps, difficulty ratings, etc. These are just a few which are discussed in this thread:

NameAreaComments
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hike 1Area 1Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Hike 2Area 2Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.


Other activities:

ActivityComments
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Helicopter toursEasily the most expensive activity on Kauai, and easily the most amazing. You get to see otherwise inaccessible places - among others, you fly into Waimea Canyon, along the stunning Na Pali coast, and into the crater of the extinct Mount Waiʻaleʻale, now the wettest place on earth. It's an experience that could simply not be matched. Blue Hawaiian is the most popular and usually recommended. Jack Harter also flies amazing doors-off tours, which are wet, windy, and exhilirating :D.
Powered hang glidingThis is a unique flight lesson (counts a flying time for a pilot's license) in what's basically a motorized tricycle with wings. Supposed to be tremendous fun. Offered by Birds in Paradise.
Waimea CanyonLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Kalalau Valley overlookLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Hanalei Valley overlook
Kayaking
Biking
ATVing
Horseback riding
Ziplining
Cruises
4 Wheel Driving


Shopping:
  • Costco in Lihue has some kosher food, as well as the cheapest gas on the island
  • Wal-Mart, also in Lihue, also has some kosher food

« Last edited by cgr on February 24, 2022, 09:16:59 PM »

Author Topic: Kauai, HI Master Thread  (Read 824292 times)

Offline Buruch

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Re: Kauai, HI Master Thread
« Reply #1440 on: April 07, 2015, 05:51:47 PM »
+1, but I don't think taking an infant would be so detrimental. However, if you have a babysitter already, it's up to you.

Offline Moishebatchy

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Re: Kauai, HI Master Thread
« Reply #1441 on: April 09, 2015, 02:38:26 AM »
I'm trying to figure out why people don't just Priceline the Grand Hyatt Kauai. I imagine those with hopes of getting upgraded to a suite want to stay away from that... but let's say there's no suites available for your dates anyway, is there really any reason NOT to use Name Your Own Price? Even cash & points works out to an equivalent of well over $300; Name Your Own Price can get it for significantly less than that. The GHK appears to be the only 4.5 star property that Priceline has on the island; should be a slam-dunk. The only downsides I can think of are:

1) Priceline somehow digging another random "4.5 star property" out of who-knows-where; and
2) The GHK knowing that you're a Priceline cheapo, and treating you like crap.

Any thoughts? I've read through the thread and see it being discussed multiple times, but no real conclusion...

Offline Buruch

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Re: Kauai, HI Master Thread
« Reply #1442 on: April 09, 2015, 08:46:40 AM »
But can you really get it for that cheap? Especially for a longer stay of 4+ nights

Offline Moishebatchy

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Re: Kauai, HI Master Thread
« Reply #1443 on: April 09, 2015, 09:46:13 AM »
But can you really get it for that cheap? Especially for a longer stay of 4+ nights

Let's say you can... then what?

Offline D93

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Re: Kauai, HI Master Thread
« Reply #1444 on: April 09, 2015, 10:07:13 AM »
Let's say you can... then what?
The Ko'a Kea Hotel & Resort At Poipu Beach is also a 4.5 star

Offline Moishebatchy

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Re: Kauai, HI Master Thread
« Reply #1445 on: April 09, 2015, 10:18:34 AM »
The Ko'a Kea Hotel & Resort At Poipu Beach is also a 4.5 star

Ah, yes, I see it now, when searching for just one night. But when searching for six nights, it wasn't showing up, presumably because it was sold out for one or more of those nights. Does that mean that a Name Your Own Price bid for those six nights, for example, is guaranteed to get the GHK?

Offline mokellman

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Re: Kauai, HI Master Thread
« Reply #1446 on: April 12, 2015, 02:45:24 AM »
I'm trying to figure out why people don't just Priceline the Grand Hyatt Kauai. I imagine those with hopes of getting upgraded to a suite want to stay away from that... but let's say there's no suites available for your dates anyway, is there really any reason NOT to use Name Your Own Price? Even cash & points works out to an equivalent of well over $300; Name Your Own Price can get it for significantly less than that. The GHK appears to be the only 4.5 star property that Priceline has on the island; should be a slam-dunk. The

1) Priceline somehow digging another random "4.5 star property" out of who-knows-where; and
2) The GHK knowing that you're a Priceline cheapo, and treating you like crap.

Any thoughts? I've read through the thread and see it being discussed multiple times, but no real conclusion...
ive stayed in ghk via priceline. But remeber the hotek will also charge you resort fees so figure out how much you are really saving via priceline. No, this hotel will not treat you like garbage. One of the nicest hotels ive stayed at with excellent service.

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Re: Kauai, HI Master Thread
« Reply #1447 on: April 12, 2015, 11:56:56 AM »
Priceline frequently beats p+c points valuation or even straight points valuation. Im in maui right now where we stayed @ Hyatt Regency for $216/nt.  now if you have sooo many points you dont care or if you have other reasons (suites upgrades, getting "pricelined" for room selection, value pts less, id understand).

Moishebatchy, i think people stay away from talking about the "other" hotel deal options out there because either 1) they want to travel as cheap as possible even if that means using points inefficiently (or they have so many pts it doesn't matter) and 2) it makes their exploits look less impressive... Using the hotels off the rack cost makes your playing the points game look much more impressive than if you use the best available cost option or 3) using the blind hotel sites is another different skill that points players would prefer not to learn.

Fwiw, in maui we def got a terrible room, dont know if it was priceline or late check in, prob a little of both.

Mokellman, aren't resort fees charged the same regardless of booking method?

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Re: Kauai, HI Master Thread
« Reply #1448 on: April 19, 2015, 11:42:47 AM »
So I'm finally planning a trip here in the end of August! I'm planning on staying 4 nights in the GHK using the free nights from the Hyatt card. I'm waiting to see first if availability opens up on my flights, but what are peoples' experiences with availability using the free nights?

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Kauai, HI Master Thread
« Reply #1449 on: April 19, 2015, 11:48:32 AM »
So I'm finally planning a trip here in the end of August! I'm planning on staying 4 nights in the GHK using the free nights from the Hyatt card. I'm waiting to see first if availability opens up on my flights, but what are peoples' experiences with availability using the free nights?
If the site shows availability for using HGP points, then it can be booked with free nights.

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Re: Kauai, HI Master Thread
« Reply #1450 on: April 19, 2015, 11:54:48 AM »
If the site shows availability for using HGP points, then it can be booked with free nights.

Awesome Yehuda, thanks!

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Re: Kauai, HI Master Thread
« Reply #1451 on: April 19, 2015, 11:57:18 AM »
YW. Now I have a question: if there ISN'T availability for some nights of your stay at GHK (not even cash availability - hotel is seemingly fully booked), is there anything you can do? Stay at a different hotel? Is that even *allowed* in Kauai?

Offline Tzadik Nistar

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Re: Kauai, HI Master Thread
« Reply #1452 on: April 19, 2015, 12:51:53 PM »
YW. Now I have a question: if there ISN'T availability for some nights of your stay at GHK (not even cash availability - hotel is seemingly fully booked), is there anything you can do? Stay at a different hotel? Is that even *allowed* in Kauai?
I went while the ghk was sold out and stayed at the st regis and it was beautiful, the view from the st regis can't be beaten

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Kauai, HI Master Thread
« Reply #1453 on: April 19, 2015, 06:26:48 PM »
I went while the ghk was sold out and stayed at the st regis and it was beautiful, the view from the st regis can't be beaten
St. Regis isn't suggested during the winter, though, correct?

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Re: Kauai, HI Master Thread
« Reply #1454 on: April 19, 2015, 06:32:26 PM »
St. Regis isn't suggested during the winter, though, correct?
I went during the winter and only had rain one day for 20 min

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Re: Kauai, HI Master Thread
« Reply #1455 on: April 19, 2015, 06:34:36 PM »
St. Regis isn't suggested during the winter, though, correct?

Weather is generally better on the South Side of the Island in the winter. Waters are very rough in the winter by St. Regis.
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Re: Kauai, HI Master Thread
« Reply #1456 on: April 19, 2015, 07:29:29 PM »
I went during the winter and only had rain one day for 20 min
I was there in the winter and it rained every day in Princeville and was very buggy. And I've heard from others who didn't have any rain. YMMV.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Re: Kauai, HI Master Thread
« Reply #1457 on: April 19, 2015, 08:09:34 PM »
Thanks, that's what I understood from the thread and the book.

So, just wait and hope people cancel their reservations? Or does someone want to help me figure out how to make magical award space?

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Re: Kauai, HI Master Thread
« Reply #1458 on: April 19, 2015, 08:38:53 PM »
I didn't have an issue finding regular award availability. Then again, I went in winter.
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Re: Kauai, HI Master Thread
« Reply #1459 on: April 19, 2015, 08:41:59 PM »
Perhaps it makes a difference how close to the trip you try to book? I booked just a couple weeks out (for a summer trip) and had no problem as well.