A splashy, upscale resort with one of the best swimming pools on the planet. And a relaxing retreat that’s the epitome of old-time, Hawaiian charm.
I loved my recent stay at both Koloa Landing in Poipu/Koloa and the Waimea Plantation Cottages on the lush, tropical island of Kauai. But for very different reasons.
Here’s a look at two wonderful family properties with very different styles on what might be Hawaii’s most beautiful island.
KOLOA LANDING RESORT AT POIPU, MARRIOTT AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION
Koloa Landing at Poipu, a Marriott Autograph Collection resort in Kauai, Hawaii. Jim Byers Photo
This is an upscale yet super family-friendly spot on the edge of the popular Poipu/Koloa region of south Kauai.
There are several low-rise buildings slung around a magnificent swimming pool complex with three lagoon pools and lush, tropical gardens. The waterslide is tons of fun for all ages (trust me), and there also are bridges over the pool that kids will love. The waterfalls on the lower pool provide a free neck and head massage if you don’t have time for the spa. The pool has been voted best in the States for several years in a row by readers of USA Today. There’s also a large, quiet “tranquility pool” on the north side of the resort that’s ideal for adults without kids, and a small, pretty lagoon pool. Oh, and several whirlpools/hot tubs, as well.
Our one-bedroom unit (8-414) was close to the ocean and offered a fine view of the swimming pool and grounds, with a beautiful sunrise. We had a full kitchen, a huge, flat-screen TV, two bathrooms, a large dining room and more. There was a very large terrace or lanai overlooking the pool with comfy chairs.
A spokeswoman told me Koloa Landing is one of the top-performing Marriott Autograph hotels in the U.S. She said Canadian business has been down since COVID-19 but is slowly coming back.
Some folks get scared off from Kauai due to fears of rain. The town of Hanalei, which is on the lush, north shore of the island, gets around 60 inches of rain a year; much of it in the winter. Koloa/Poipu averages around 35 inches a year; a great deal less than the north shore.
ROOMS
There are 300 rooms now, with another 124 possibly on the way. Roughly one-third of the rooms are studio units, one-third have one bedroom, and the other third are split between two and three bedrooms. All have kitchenettes or full kitchens, so be sure to check on your unit. Some have washers and dryers. I was given a tour of a couple of the three-bedroom units and found them stunning. Some have quiet, massive lanais and Sub Zero refrigerators, and massive, walk-in closets.
AMENITIES
Koloa Landing at Poipu, a Marriott Autograph Collection resort in Kauai, Hawaii. Jim Byers Photo
There’s a 4,000 square foot spa on site, as well as a 24-hour fitness center and a marketplace to buy snacks and groceries. The resort offers an open-air restaurant called Holoholo that’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We enjoyed the avocado toast and oatmeal at breakfast. Chef Sam Choy is a Hawaiian legend who makes a famous Poke Bowl with fresh island tuna. There are tons of restaurants within a short drive. The resort also offers free shuttle rides to nearby attractions or restaurants. There’s no beach, but they have a free shuttle to Poipu Beach. You also can cross a narrow road on the west side of the resort and rest on a rock wall to watch the sun go down over the Pacific Ocean.
There’s also a volleyball court, putting green and a deep green soccer field that’s great for letting the kids burn off some energy.
The resort offers kids a small backpack with binoculars, crayons and other goodies. Children can do a scavenger hunt and get rewarded with a free shave ice (a Hawaiian snow cone). They also have a ballroom that can fit 550 people and a large lawn near the water that’s great for weddings.
Poipu averages about 35 inches of rain a year.
LOCATION
The Koloa/Poipu area is on the south coast of Kauai, roughly 25 minutes from the Lihue airport. It’s only about five minutes to the fine beaches of Poipu and about 45 minutes from the entrance to Waimea State Park.
PERFECT FOR: Family getaways, Romantic holidays
WEBSITE: https://koloalandingresort.com/our-resort
WAIMEA PLANTATION COTTAGES
A cottage at Waimea Plantation Cottages in Kauai, Hawaii.
As Monty Python liked to say, “And now for something completely different.”
I’m not saying Waimea Plantation Cottages is the antithesis of Koloa Landing, but it definitely sits in a different part of the accommodation spectrum.
Located on the ultra-chill west side of Kauai, an island that doesn’t have nearly the crowds of Maui or Oahu, this is a place where Kauai residents go for a quiet, no-fuss holiday. But it’s also great for anyone who wants to be close to some of Kauai’s most spectacular scenery and to have a quiet, throwback holiday with no high rises or traffic jams in sight.
Waimea’s rainfall amounts are quite similar to Koloa/Poipu.
ROOMS
Waimea Plantation Cottages has 59 one-to-five bedroom charming, vintage cottages on 43 acres of oceanfront land. The cottages, some of which date to the 1880s, are spread out on spacious lawns dotted with tropical plants and massive, gnarly Banyan trees.
Each cottage is unique in design and layout, and all of them contain fully equipped kitchens, living areas, and private lanais or patios. Some offer full or partial ocean views; others look out onto the resort’s lush gardens. In the morning, take your breakfast on the lanai or front porch and listen to the birds chirp as the sun comes up. At night, grab a lawn chair and walk a few feet to the long, black sand beach and admire the pink and orange sunsets.
The property was once a dairy farm and then a working sugar cane plantation, and all the cottages are named after former workers. We had the Bev Johnston Hale (home) on the far west side, close to a working farm and maybe 20 meters from the beach. There were three bedrooms, a full kitchen, a living room, TV room and a dining room, as well as a massive, covered lanai with loungers, a table and chairs, and a barbeque. It wasn’t fancy, but it had all we needed and there was hardly a sound day or night. My relax-o-meter was off the charts.
All cottages have Wi-Fi and air conditioning in every room. There’s also a DVD player, and free movies in the lobby.
AMENITIES
Waimea Plantation Cottages on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.
The cottage grounds feature shuffleboard and a bocce ball court, as well as comfy hammocks strung between towering palm trees with ocean views. There’s a nice, good-size pool that I found a bit chilly when we visited. The on-site Chicken in a Barrel restaurant makes fabulous bbq’d chicken, and you can also order local, craft beer. The gift shop offers souvenirs, casual clothes and activity planning. The black-sand beach goes on for about two miles, but currents make it unsafe for swimming.
LOCATION
There is a grocery store, some shopping and a few restaurants in the town of Waimea. Even better, the funky, artsy town of Hanapepe is just 10 minutes away You’re also only a 10-minute drive from Salt Pond Beach Park, which has a lovely beach, picnic facilities, change rooms and a protected swimming area. It’s only 15 minutes to the entrance to stunning Waimea Canyon State Park, and 45-minutes to the breathtaking Kalalau Valley lookout point. The cottages are roughly 40 minutes from Kauai’s airport in Lihue.
PERFECT FOR: Family trips, couple getaways, and anyone who prefers small town life to the big city.
WEBSITE: https://www.coasthotels.com/waimea-plantation-cottages
LIMITED TIME DEAL: Reserve a minimum of five nights at one of their four Premier Cottage Collection homes and enjoy every 5th night free! Bookings must be made by calling 808-338-1625.
