Could be amazing with a few updates!
We mostly enjoyed our stay at K-Sands unit 19. Loved being able to see and hear the ocean, and the complex is friendly and quiet. Nice to have a full kitchen to be able to cook (if you want) and store leftovers, make coffee,
etc. Loved sitting on the Lanai and watching the ocean, the birds, the trees and flowers. It was also great being in walking distance to so many wonderful shops and restaurants like Lava Lava Beach Club, Coconut Marketplace, Russell’s Eat Healthy (the BEST food and staff), and Passion Bakery. And then just a short drive to the cute small-town shopping area in Kapaa. Highly recommend Fish Bar Deli and Mermaids Cafe for food, and Aloha from Kauai store for local artisan handmade gifts!
That’s said, there are a few things to note…
1. The bathroom is very small, galley-like. Yes, this is a studio unit, but there’s barely enough room in the bathroom for one person. Looking in from the sliding barn door entry, there’s the sink. To the right is the shower and to the left is the toilet. Very skinny passage to get to the toilet. Also, the unit didn’t have a plunger when we were there. (Not that we needed one, but you don’t want to be without it if you do). We asked the maintenance person and they said they’d get one for us, but it was never provided. Hopefully they’ve addressed this.
2. As the listing states, there is no AC. And while you’re on the ocean, the winds don’t always come into the unit and provide enough cool airflow. It is hot and humid in Hawaii (even in October) so you will sweat if that’s your nature. Fans would help with this, but the ceiling fan that was there during our stay didn’t really provide any airflow. The highest setting felt lower than the lowest setting of almost any ceiling fan we’ve ever used. They did bring us a standing fan which definitely helped, but we needed one for the bathroom as well, because there’s no air vent in there. We asked the maintenance person for another fan and they said they’d look into getting us one, but we never got it.
3. During our stay, the only window coverings were see-through shears. They are beautiful and peaceful blowing in the breeze (when it comes in) :). But they do not provide any privacy, especially at night. And the units directly across the courtyard would have a clear view into the main room of this one (where the bed is). There’s also a security camera on the building across the courtyard. Doubt it’s pointing into the unit, but we can’t be sure of it’s scope of vision. Hopefully they add another layer of curtains at some point, but it’s important to be aware of this. Especially with getting dressed, because you kind of have to do that in the main area. (Reference the bathroom size note above).
4. WiFi can be spotty. We lost WiFi completely and had to reset the router multiple times during our stay. Not sure if this is a provider issue or a router issue.
5. TV would randomly lose sound. And then sometimes picture. But sound was most often the issue. Not sure if that was the TV, or somehow related to the internet issue.
We also experienced the water being shut off a good part of one of our days there. Not the host’s fault since this was the condo complex doing maintenance. But we weren’t notified of this to be prepared and plan around it. This is likely an anomaly, but if the complex is doing maintenance and there’s no way to know about it, it’s going to be a complete (and perhaps unpleasant) surprise.
This lovely little condo has the potential of being a great place to stay, with a few adjustments that could be made by the hosts.
Would still recommend, but with awareness going in of some of the flaws we experienced (that hopefully future guests won’t).