Kauai Travel Guide
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The island of Kauai sits at the northwestern-most corner of Hawaii, and is the oldest of the major islands. Referred to as “The Garden Island,” it is covered with an abundance of lush greenery and tropical plants, all of which are watered frequently by large amounts of rainfall. Being the oldest means it has been changed the most by the forces of erosion, resulting in such natural wonders as Waimea Canyon and the Na Pali Coast. One of the biggest pulls for visitors is that Kauai is also home to more sandy beaches than any of the other major Hawaiian Islands.
As with the majority of Hawaii, weather isn’t much more than an afterthought on Kauai. Summer and winter boast an average temperature of a comfortably tropical 78°F. Even in the hottest and coldest months, you won’t see the mercury move more than 5° or 6° in either direction. The water temperatures are also extremely pleasurable, ranging between 74° and 80° at any given time. Yes, it does rain frequently and often in quantity, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Your only concern in planning a Kauai vacation need be timing around the peak tourist seasons, which go from June-early September, and again from December-April. Booking dates that fall outside of these times drastically increases your chances of getting a small chunk of the island to yourself for a week. The other benefit, which should be an obvious one, is that finding discount airfare to Kauai and reduced-rate accommodations are a much greater possibility during the off season.
Booking accommodations on Kauai is something best done with a metered amount of forethought. Making early reservations will garner you the best choices for unit type, location, and price. Many of the larger condo resorts often have multiple owners, so ensure you search by resort name and compare prices. Note that many of the “by owner” listings for condos will offer rates a little lower than what the big agencies charge for the same complex - although selection will be decidedly narrower (only one to four units). Then again, your idea of the perfect Kauai vacation may mean splurging, and where better to start than with your lodging? Kauai has the full berth of options to select from, be it luxury condominiums like Whaler’s Cove in sunny Poipu, or the immaculate Princeville Resort at Hanalei Bay.
If it’s one thing that brings visitors on a Kauai vacation, it’s the beaches with their great snorkeling, surfing, swimming, and cocktail-addled sunning. However, Kauai also touts more navigable rivers than the other Hawaiian Islands, making kayaking a very popular recreational activity as well. Kauai also features great hiking and mountain biking trails; you should have no problem securing one of the many commercial tour guides that offer various land and sea adventures, some of which include guided hikes, downhill bike tours, back-country ATV trips, and river tubing adventures.
Rental car is without a doubt the ideal way to really see the island, and in fact, is the only way to get to some of the more remote (read: scenic) locales. Car rentals are available in a large variety of makes and models that provide travelers flexibility and freedom to explore the island, though none as much as the classic Jeep. That being said, most rental companies have off limit service areas, so double-check before you go or take the risk of paying your way out of trouble should your rental car break down or get stuck in one of these areas. There is also the Kauai bus, which is possibly the only other way to get around. It doesn’t, however, go to some rural attractions, but if you’re on a budget this will get you in and around the major population centers and major resort/beach areas.