From the minute I walked into my condo at the Hanalei Colony Resort, I was in awe. The ocean waves crashed upon the shore just steps from my door. The tradewinds blew through my room reminding me that I was indeed in Hawaii. If you’re wondering where to stay in Kauai, and you are looking for a condo, you can’t do better than the Hanalei Colony Resort.

Where To Stay In Kauai: Hanalei Colony Resort

The tropical, Hawaiian-style furnishings are beautiful, the bed comfortable and inviting. There was also a second bedroom with a twin daybed and a second bathroom, so there is a lot of room in the 850-square foot condo. I loved the natural tropical wood furniture. The room smells like Pier One Imports, and salty ocean breezes. It’s doesn’t get better than that!

I had a full living room. I really liked the fact that Hanalei Colony Resort goes by the unplugged philosophy. There was no TV (I loved not hearing a blaring TV from any neighbors), stereos, or phones, and no air conditioning. You don’t need A/C on the beach in Hawaii, and if you don’t let yourself feel the refreshing tradewinds blowing through your condo, I think you do yourself a disservice and aren’t letting yourself experience one of the most beautiful things about Hawaii. There was WiFi, so you aren’t completely unplugged, so rest assured, you can still get those important emails. (Though I found  myself checking mine a whole lot less!)

I was incredibly touched by my welcome gift of all local products including banana bread, roasted nuts (the pineapple li hing almonds rocked!), coconut oil, lotion, and a candle.

My lanai had an uninterrupted view of the secluded beach, and made the Hanalei Colony Resort feel like a true haven. My felt myself relax more deeply than I had in days with the ocean waves directly in front of me, and the sound of ocean waves and palm tree branches swaying in the wind.

There is also a full-size kitchen that is fully equipped with everything you need, so you can easily cook your own meals. I recommend stopping at the Costco by the airport for supplies, as the grocery stores in Princeville and Hanalei are outrageously expensive. Restaurants in the area are also more expensive than elsewhere on Kauai, so I appreciated the fact that I could cook for myself.

If you’re wondering where to stay in Kauai that’s not touristy, the Hanalei Colony Resort is your place. It’s the last resort that you can stay in before the Na Pali Coast starts. I had never explored this area of Kauai before, and it turned out to be my favorite. Tunnels Beach is beautiful with views of the Na Pali cliffs and the best snorkeling on the island. The isolated coastline that I got to wake up to each day was spectacular. I loved being right on the beach for sun rise, and seeing the sun rise was one of the highlights of my time in Kauai.

The beach that the Hanalei Colony Resort is on isn’t great for swimming, but I still found the beach nothing short of incredible. The way the waves came in was nothing short of amazing to watch, and, it was a great beach for collecting shells. In fact, I even met a jewelry maker who was collecting them, so the quality of the shells on this beach is very good.

There is a saltwater pool and spa on site, along with grills for grilling some locally caught fish if you choose. There was also a restaurant that served lunch and dinner. I was most impressed that there was also a shuttle to take you to local beaches or anywhere you wanted to go within seven miles during the day or to the restaurants at night. The roads with all of the one-lane bridges can be a little scary at night, plus it gets VERY dark, so I’d definitely recommend taking one of the shuttles, since the closest restaurants are about fifteen minutes away. There is also free parking, so you don’t have to worry about additional parking costs during your stay.

To anyone who is wondering where to stay in Kauai, I would highly recommend a stay at the Hanalei Colony Resort. It’s a sanctuary that truly gives you the feeling of the islands, there is a welcoming staff that shows you the meaning of aloha, and the secluded location shows you a glimpse of Kauai that most people don’t get to see. You will leave feeling relaxed and like you’ve truly had a vacation in Hawaii.

I would like to thank Hanalei Colony Resort for hosting me. As always, all opinions are my own, and I have not been influenced in any way.

Headed to Hawaii? Wondering where to stay in Kauai? As a professional travel consultant I would love to assist in your upcoming travel plans. Please email me at [email protected].