Vacation in Kauai for a Week

Kaua'i, the Garden Island, is a great vacation destination. Away from all the hustle and bustle of the big city of Honolulu, Kaua'i is a perfect destination for those seeking serenity and nature. A great vacation in Kauai takes a little planning to get the most out of your visit and not the most out of your pocket. To experience the best of the Garden Island, follow these simple steps and you'll have an awesome Kauai vacation.

Steps

  1. Pick the best time to go. The busiest tourist season is December to February when mainlanders want to escape the winter weather. Some of the best weather is found in April, May, September, and October. These are also the months when you can find some good travel bargains since lodging prices are lowest between April and mid-December.
  2. Decide which area to stay in. From your 'home base' you can easily drive to any part of the island within an hour or two but you'll spend most of your time nearby. So select your home base carefully.
    • The south shore has the most sunshine and dry days with Poipu offering many types of lodging and great beaches.
    • The east shore has several large resorts, great beaches, the most shopping, and is closest to the airport.
    • North shore is more quiet and peaceful but tends to get more rain.
  3. Shop for the right accommodations.
    • Hotel resorts are usually right on the beach. Their prices vary but without a kitchen, you'll pay to eat out every meal.
    • Condo rentals come in a great variety of prices, styles, and locations. More spacious than a hotel room, they offer kitchens for inexpensive meals and often have a small, private patio or deck.
    • For families or larger groups consider either a rental home or a collection of condos close by one another or opt for a house rental. VBRO.com is a great place to find properties for rent by island owners. If you are traveling alone or on a very tight budget, consider staying at one of the island's backpacker's hostels. This is also a good way to meet other travelers.
  4. Shop for deals. There are all sorts of alerts set up by the online travel vendors that could get you to Kaua'i, plus hotel and car for less than you would pay to book these separately. If your vacation time frame is flexible, you'll have even more choices.
  5. Balance your week between lazy days at the beach or around the pool with sightseeing excursion. Some popular attractions are snorkeling, drive to Waimea Canyon, a boat tour of Na Pali coast, a helicopter tour of the whole island, kayaking one of the many rivers, and attending a traditional luau.
  6. Check online guides and your local bookstore for a good all-round island guide. Pack light-weight, casual clothes with several shorts and swimsuits. Once you arrive, rent snorkel gear for the week for everyone. The cost is low and there are lots of places to enjoy it.

Tips

  • Buy and test your sunscreen in advance to make sure you're not allergic to it. Remember to apply several times a day, as saltwater washes sunscreen away faster than other water.
  • Respect the locals. To them, Kaua'i is not just another vacation spot to catch some sun, it is their cherished home.
  • Buy local products, but leave fruits and vegetables on Kaua'i. The US agriculture department does not allow local producers to leave the island. You may purchase pre-packaged pineapples in the airport to hand carry on the plane.
  • Experience the culture. If a big Luau is not in the game plan, try to catch one of the many hulas or Tahitian shows at one of the shopping plazas. They are free and are a great way to experience island dance on the cheap.
  • Respect the environment. Pick up your trash when you leave a beach. No one wants to step over your trash on the beach.
  • Try new foods. Kaua'i has many fine dining options, but some of the local dives are the best for truly appreciating the culture of the islands. From fish tacos at Anini beach to an island favorite, Poke, there are many different foods to try.
  • Try not to just hang out at the hotel. They don't call it the "Garden Island" for nothing! Take a trip or two outdoors, away from the hotel, and experience the flora and fauna of Kaua'i.

Warnings

  • Check weather reports before you book your boat or helicopter rides.
  • Abide by all normal driving rules. Just because you are on vacation doesn't mean you can make illegal U-turns where ever you please. Many people have perished because they have made such turns on Kaua'i roads.
  • If you pick local fruit from the side of the road, check for holes or pockmarks in the fruit's skin. Fruit flies are common on Kaua'i, pockmarks mean larve.
  • Surf conditions change with the seasons, with winter swells arriving on the north/east shores of Kaua'i around October. Abide by all posted signs on the beach – the lifeguards know the ocean better than you.

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