I can’t say enough wonderful things about this property in addition to the management company. My husband and I have been coming to Kauai for years, have traveled all over the world and have certainly stayed in numerous vacation rentals, but this was one of the most comfortable, well-stocked homes we have ever stayed and the management company was very easy to work with.
KITCHEN: Electric kettle, keurig coffee maker, any cooking gadget you can think of, fabulous high end skillets and pots/pans, really nice knives, enough utensils for a party of 50, basic staple condiments (salt, pepper, variety of spices/seasonings, stevia packets, cooking oils, etc.), even aluminum foil, Saran Wrap, ziploc bags…you name it! The cooktop was efficient and easy to use, as were the rest of the appliances. I also appreciated the various cleaners, dishwasher packets, etc. under the sink The cleansers were nice to keep the countertops free of any spills—this is a tropical area, after all—and there are always tiny little insects that will emerge if you leave food out. But having the cleaners and paper towels available to keep the counters clean as well as always putting our dirty dishes away after every meal pretty much made that a non-issue for us. Absolutely anything you might need!
BEDROOMS/BATHROOMS: We originally were supposed to be a party of 4 staying here, but the other 2 in our party had a change of plans. So it ended up just being my husband and me. So we started out in the master bedroom upstairs but ended up moving to the downstairs bedroom. 1) Because it seemed unnecessary to have our room all the way upstairs when it was just the 2 of us and 2) it seemed like the WiFi signal was a bit weaker in the master? While the room, bed, AC, bathroom were wonderful—because the WiFi signal was a bit challenging in that corner of the house, we decided to move downstairs. We ended up still using the shower upstairs in the master however—which was lovely and perfect with the dual shower heads, really nice jacuzzi tub (big enough for my 6’1” husband), plenty of room and great ventilation with all of the windows and the upstairs balcony. The downstairs bedroom was perfect for the 2 of us! The bed was comfortable, the sheets were crisp and the comforter was a perfect weight. It was super chilly with the individual split AC unit which was delightful for sleeping. Plus, the WiFi signal seemed better in that room. All of the bedrooms had flat screen SMART TVs with all the standards (Netflix, etc) that were relatively easy to navigate (although I could see those without any familiarity with these types of TVs might find it challenging). I will advise anyone staying in the downstairs bedroom to make sure to have the shades down before bed. This room is right next to the walking path which is frequented by numerous runners, walkers, etc in the early mornings—and they are right next to these windows.
LIVING AREAS: Although the living room and main areas were not air conditioned, we never noticed an issue. There are plenty of upper windows in the living room with screens and ceiling fans to circulate, so we never noticed an issue, even on the hot days.
BACK PATIO/POOL: The back patio was covered, with comfortable seating and tables, and also has a ceiling fan. It was delightful to sit out there during the random rain showers that are common on the north side of Kauai. While we didn’t use the pool that much, the temperature was fine and it was actually quite a bit deeper than we originally thought! And despite the house/backyard being next to the walking path, the patio/pool area was still very private. There are also lime and avocado trees out there, so you bet we grabbed those for some homemade guacamole!
LAUNDRY: Fabulous and much appreciated to have 2 washers and dryers. With just the 2 of us, we never needed them both at the same time, but I can imagine if you have a full house, this would be quite a perk. There were plenty of beach towels ready to use on the counter in there. There was also laundry soap and softener provided, and in the laundry room cabinets were extra lotions, sunblock, bug spray, etc.
ACCESSORIES: There is a multitude of beach equipment (Tommy Bahama chairs, snorkels, goggles, coolers, umbrellas, etc). There’s also a rack of weights in the garage!
LOCATION: This is a great, central location. Yes, you are near one of the main roads, but we only occasionally noticed it. Like I already mentioned, the main thing is that it’s next to a major walking/running path, so you may also occasionally notice rather muscular, fit individuals working out as you look down from the 2nd story master window. What’s so wrong with that? ;) We walked to the Foodland grocery store a couple times during our stay and hiked down to Wyllie’s beach early one morning. Anything up on the north end is easily within driving distance (Anini’s, Happy Talk, Hideaway’s, etc.). We even got up early and scored a parking spot to snorkel at Tunnels early one morning. You just have to be prepared for the construction delays in/out of Hanalei. They opened it up more while we were there, so hopefully that isn’t an issue for too much longer.
MANAGEMENT COMPANY: Very responsive. We were texting back and forth while on our flight over (for the safe travels program verification), and it was really nice to have that immediate contact just in case we needed something. The house was perfectly set up and ready for our arrival, complete with some complimentary granola, Koloa mai Thai mix and chocolate covered macadamia nuts. Plus, there was already coffee in the cabinet too!
I apologize for the novel, but I always appreciate detailed reviews so that I know what to expect. I hope you also appreciate