Kauai Travel Tips

Kauai Travel Guidebook

These Kauai Travel Tips may be the difference between an incredible visit or an INCREDIBLE visit. Whether a seasoned Kauai visitor or a first timer, the guidebook can be invaluable. Enhance your enjoyment by reading the Lonely Planet: Discover Kauai guidebook. The book can be found at any major bookstore, as well as within our property’s bookshelf. The guidebook will make you aware of a multitude of fun options (beaches, dining, activities, etc.), along with contact information and directions.

Vacation Plan Travel Tips

Fun Kauai Travel Tips: You don’t have to plan your entire vacation, but you don’t want to miss something of importance. If your party has particular interests be sure to plan them. For example, if you want to hike a portion of the Kalalau Trail or visit Ke’e and Tunnels Beaches, a reservation is required. Luaus are fun, as well as a dining and entertainment bargain. Decide which one you want to attend and make the reservation in advance.

Rain or Shine

Rain or shine, Kauai offers mesmerizing beauty, as well as incredible activities. Kauai is known as the Garden Island and is the most beautiful of the Hawaiian Islands. The reason for the lushness is the rain. Without the rain, it would be just another volcanic desert island, which you would never visit. The rain is usually intermittent, warm and seldom interferes significantly with activities. Just know that it is likely to rain. Be prepared to enjoy the most incredible rainbows and waterfalls.

Care for Kauai

Help keep Kauai a national treasure. Be mindful of your impact, while you enjoy the Island. Use only reef safe sunscreen. Don’t inadvertently touch the ocean’s coral, because it’s a living organism. The reefs are dying due to climate change, pollutants and abuse. Stay your distance from the monk seal, albatross, nenes and other of the Islands animals. Monk seals are protected by law, as well as sharp teeth. Use reusable water containers, rather than plastic water bottles. Take your trash with you and dispose of it properly.

Tips for Northshore Beaches

Northshore beaches are gorgeous. You will likely want to visit as many as possible but pay attention to this Kauai Travel Tip: Not all beaches are safe to swim and those that are typically safe, are not always safe. Kauai is an island with potentially strong currents and under tows. So, be aware of the ocean and weather conditions. If in doubt, then don’t enter the water. Flash flooding can occur. Don’t cross streams during heavy rains. Be sure that you are on the “right side” of any stream or river, when heavy rain seems imminent. The one-lane Hanalei Bridge can be closed for hours, should the Hanalei River rise significantly.

Safest Beaches

Typically, the year-round safest beaches, are Hanalei Bay, Anini, Tunnels and Kee Beaches. These beaches are reef protected. Hanalei Bay offers a variety of opportunities for fun. Because virtually every type of water sport is available. Just sitting or lying on the beach, admiring the view is a joy. Anini is particularly good for keikis and cautious swimmers. The ocean is typically calm and shallow for quite some distance. Tunnels and Kee have fantastic snorkeling. All are drop dead gorgeous!

Least Safe Beaches

On the Northshore, the ocean is calmest in the summer months while it is the most turbulent and dangerous in the winter. Lumahai, while one of the most beautiful and well-known Kauai beaches, is one of the most dangerous Northshore beaches. Hanakapi’ai beach is, as well. Visit and enjoy the splendor, but don’t swim at these beaches. Hideaways and Secret Beach can also be dangerous. Critical Kauai Travel Tip: Be aware of the water conditions.

Don’t Forget the Kids

Parents and kids sometimes see “fun” differently. So, make it easy on yourself. If kids join you, let them help plan a few things that they may like. Choose a few activities that you and the keiki(s) will enjoy while making memories for life. There are a lot of options:

I guess we’re all kids at heart. Because there is nothing on this list that I wouldn’t want to do! How about you?

Travel Tips for Departing

HollysKauaiCondo’s check out time is 10 am. If you have a late flight home, you may want to take advantage of our personal strategy in order to enjoy your last hours in paradise.  Kauai Travel Tip: Our favorite breakfast spot is Kountry Kitchen in Kapaa (https://www.kountrystylekitchen.com/).  So, we leave before 10 am, in order to satisfy our breakfast favorites. Kountry Kitchen’s banana pancakes along with coconut syrup is special. The Island version of Eggs Benedict is fantastic, if not also fit for a Suma wrestler.  We then opt for a variety of activities like shopping for last minute gifts for family, friends and ourselves.  Also, one can visit Wailua Falls, Lydgate State Park, Spouting Horn, Waimea Canyon, etc.  Sometimes we enjoy the Koloa Rum tasting shop, or take the Kilohana Plantation train tour (https://www.kilohanakauai.com/plantation-train).

While there are a lot of choices, we always have our last meal at Cafe Portofino, Duke’s or JJ’s Broiler, near the airport.  All in all, it makes for an enjoyable and leisurely day.  It creates memories and takes our minds off the fact that we have to leave.

Best Kauai Travel Tip

Reserve HollysKauaiCondo for your visit to The Garden Island! Why? Because this two-bedrooms, two bath has no stairs and yet is located on the 2nd level. But the best part is the same oceanfront view from every room! Enjoy ground level convenience, as well as upper-level privacy and views. Oh, and the wrap-around lanai offers phenomenal views, while dining on pupus and your favorite beverage.