36 Best Hotels in Kauai, Hawaii

White-frame exteriors and double-pitched roofs complement the tropical landscaping at this resort, which offers spacious one- and two-bedroom condo units—with full kitchens, bedroom air-conditioning, entertainment centers, and garden or ocean views—that are minutes from Poipu's restaurants and across the street from a nice beach. Four deluxe 2,600-square-foot penthouse suites have enormous lanai, private elevators, and cathedral ceilings. You can mingle at the Friday coffee hour held beside the ocean-view gated pool, or play tennis or pickleball. Fresh seasonings are ready to be picked from the herb garden to go with your poolside or courtside barbecue. In winter you can whale-watch as you cook.

Plumeria, ti, and other tropical foliage create a lush landscape for this small resort, which rents a four-bedroom/four-bath house and nine one- and two-bedroom cottage apartments. All cottage units have wood floors, full kitchens, laundry access, and are decorated in tropical shades. The cheerful 1930s plantation home set in a century-old plumeria grove has four bedrooms with private baths and can be operated as four bed-and-breakfast suites.

A $50 million refurbishment of guest rooms and common areas has refreshed this resort, whose sprawling property fronts the sandy shore of Kalapaki Bay and offers a lovely view of dramatic Haupu Ridge. The grounds are lush and lavish, with tropical gardens, waterfalls, Greek statues and columns, and an enormous 26,000-square-foot swimming pool. This resort is a one-stop destination, with dining, shopping, a spa, golf, tennis, fitness center, and water activities of all kinds on-site; other restaurants, resort amenities, and shops are nearby. Most rooms have expansive ocean views and some have separate sitting areas. Five-night stays are required in peak season, and housekeeping is weekly. A $30 parking fee has been imposed, but there is a convenient free shuttle to the airport for those who want to avoid renting a car. The resort is a comfortable and convenient for families and people seeking a lively resort experience.

One of the few true oceanfront properties on Kauai, this popular hotel sits on a ribbon of sand in Kapaa and has bright spacious rooms that face the ocean, garden, coconut grove, or pool. Rooms include a coffeemaker, free Wi-Fi, and HDTV, and there's a gift shop, fitness center, coffee shop, juice bar, and three restaurants on-site. Each oceanfront room has a large lanai. The 11-acre site has always been desirable, nestled as it is among ancient coconut groves and close to a coastal bike and walking path, shops, restaurants, and the ocean. Cultural activities include hula, lei-making, and a luau.

With an enviable spot along the Lihue coastline, 450 acres of landscaped grounds, and a choice of elegant homes and townhomes, Timbers Kauai caters to those who are seeking a self-contained resort experience with an air of exclusivity. Accommodations are available with two, three, or four bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, private lanai, and lovely views of the mountains, pool, or ocean. Full kitchens, washer-dryers, soaking tubs, walk-in showers, and sophisticated decor that hints at the tropics offer comfort and convenience. The resort features walking and biking paths, beach access, lagoons, a Jack Nicklaus–designed oceanfront golf course, two pools, four outdoor tennis courts, a spa, fitness center, and fruit orchards and vegetable gardens. Hualani's Restaurant is on-site, or have a chef whip up a custom meal in your kitchen. Parking and Wi-Fi are free.

Spread out over 18½ acres on a bluff above Anini Beach, this Westin property marries the comforts of spacious condominium living with the top-notch service and amenities of a luxurious hotel resort. Studios and one- and two-bedroom units are offered—many of which have ocean views and lawn-facing lanai where nene, Hawaii's threatened state goose, amble by with their young—and there's a nice pool for children. From the tapa-inspired art in each villa's living room to the wood cutouts of Hawaii's state plant, taro, the place has a relaxing ambience with Hawaiian elements.