Wade was great to work with, responsive and very accommodating when our trip took an unexpected covid-related turn – before getting further sidelined by days of torrential rain and landslides! We'd certainly recommend this place if you're just looking for a landing spot between hiking, surfing and exploring the stunning north shore. The view truly is stunning – perched high above the ocean – and you'll have frequent visits from the neighbor nēnē geese. (They're funny and kind of annoying – watch out for their poop on the lawn!) We spent quite a bit of time on the lanai watching surfers brave crazy waves in torrential rain. I was jealous.
This was our first trip to Kauai so we've learned a lot about the vibes of the different areas. Call it a fact-finding mission! Princeville is conveniently close to a lot of fun stuff including the wicked-charming Hanalei Bay community. I'm personally not much for condo-vibes so if you're looking for a more unique stay and sense of privacy or authenticity, this place (and Princeville in general) might not be right for you. Since our stay was during covid (and torrential rains!), things were pretty quiet but Princeville is primarily a manicured condo-land and, if you're like me, you're always aware that you have neighbors on all sides and sharing walls. To each their own!
In terms of the room itself:
It's essentially a simple hotel room with a classy bedroom set (which my partner coveted), bathroom, kitchenette and small lanai (with a HUGE view). A fine size if you're mostly out adventuring. Hard if you're two cooped-up humans. There's a basic kitchenette at the entrance and it'll do the job if you're eating takeout and prepping simple meals. If you're someone who wants to cook, do dishes and have a home-away-from-home experience, this is probably not the best rental for you. The upkeep and cleanliness could be improved upon but it wasn't too bad.
We weren't able to access the pool and between the landslides and rain, we also couldn't make it down to the Hideaway Beach. But I trust both are lovely! Hideaway Pizza (in the same complex) had great and convenient to-go cocktails and salads but let us not speak of the pizza.
Overall, positive! Depending on what you need, Wade's could be a killer spot.
Good luck in the search.