We really enjoyed our stay at this lovely Condo. Bruce is a great host! Read below about:
A) The Check In
B) The View from Condo
C) Proximity to the Beach
D) Condo Location
E) Condo Facility
F) Host Communication
G) Tips on Kauai Beaches
A) The Check In: We arrived in the night. The front office was closed, but called the 'Security' number and someone came within minutes and helped us get all checked in. I did visit the front office later during our stay and they were always really helpful. (Side note: The front office (when open) is usually able to hold your luggage if you get there before the official check in time or leave after the check out time. But check with them first).
B) The View: When we woke up in the morning, I was so happy to see the view outside. From the photos, I wasn't clear if the view was a peek-a-boo view (like you hop on one leg and see a little bit of sea). It was much better than I expected. I really loved the view. Each morning, we would draw the curtains aside, open the sliding door and step onto the Lanai. To soak in the view and breathe in the fresh sea air. Now the property is not right on the beach, but there is a field of sea grass separating it from the beach. But you can see the beach and the sea in the distance. And it's a beautiful view. We loved waking up to it. There is the partition wall, but since the unit is on the 2nd floor, the wall does not obscure the view at all.
C) Close to Beach: First of all, really short and pleasant walk to the beach (just a few minutes). The beach itself is really nice. Very scenic, we took a ton of photos. As a bonus, one one morning we spotted some manta rays in the water, and a Hawaiian Monk Seal also came ashore (that was quite a treat!).
D) Location: I am one of those people who researches extensively when planning my trips. Now you have to find out what works for you, but for us this Condo provided the *perfect* central location to explore the whole island. We could get to both North Shore and South Shore destinations. (Otherwise if you stay for example on the North Shore, it's a LONG drive to South shore destinations). So we could easily get to all the exciting places we wanted to see. And at the same time, the Condo is close to airport, lots of restaurants, local markets. Shopping at Costco is a great way to get supplies at the start of your trip. And then we went to the local Safeway multiple times. We also loved the local "Pono Market" (great for local authentic food - Poke, Pies, Poi and more). There also farmer markets you can visit (just check their schedule). We also frequented the nearby “Coconut Marketplace” - just a short walk away - has lots of shops, Shaved Ice, Thai food, Island Country Market (for general supplies) etc.
E) The Condo: First of all the place was very clean when we checked in. And felt very welcoming. The Air Conditioner is a blessing! Hawaii does not get that hot, but after running around in the warm sun (and the humidity), we *loved* coming back to our place and turning the A/C on.
We loved having the full kitchen. That always makes things so easy when travelling with family. So much better than a hotel room (*shiver*). Kitchen had fridge, microwave, all the cups and plates you would need, and some basic cooking supplies.
The bedroom was really nice with comfortable beds and bedding. We also used the sleeper sofa and while not as comfortable as the beds, it was comfortable enough for me to get a restful night of sleep. Loved having the large screen TV with cable.
Bathroom is really nice. I like that the Shower and Toilet are separate and the sink and mirror are separate. So if someone was using the shower, others could still use the sink etc. With a family of four, it made things a bit easier in the morning, when we were all getting ready to head out.
As a bonus, there were some beach supplies in the Condo, which came in real handy (beach mat, beach umbrella etc.).
F) Bruce, Our Host: Bruce was very prompt with all communication. And really quick to address any questions or concerns. In fact he went above and beyond in making sure we had a great stay!
G) Tips on Kauai Beaches: We visited in July. And in summer, we found the North Shore beaches to be fantastic! The south shore, the sea conditions seemed to be much rougher so we didn’t enjoy them as much. (I hear it flips in winter months, when south shore beaches have the better conditions and north shore beaches the sea+wind can be a bit rough). Our favorite was “Anini Beach”. Lots of turtles, kid friendly snorkeling, good amount of fishes and coral too. Hanalei Bay is a terrific world class beach (but no snorkeling opportunity there). Haena Beach and Tunnels are also good (good snorkeling at Tunnels, but Anini beach was better I think).