A good place to stay in Kauai

The Best Western Plantation Hale, as viewed from the entrance to the property off the Kuhio highway

During our recent escape from the cold weather in Tokyo, we found a good place to stay on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Last year, while on Kauai, we stayed at a condo in the Poipu area, but this time we wanted to stay more towards the other side of the island, so it would be easier for us to golf in Princeville.

We decided on the Best Western Plantation Hale in Kapaa. It was very reasonably priced, we got a car for a reduced rate with them too. Our room was actually a large one bedroom apartment with full kitchen. We enjoyed the jacuzzi everyday (there are 2 jacuzzis and 3 swimming pools) and a short and pleasant walk thru a field with wildflowers and birds to a beautiful long sandy beach. The ocean can be very rough here (on this day anyway, it was down right scary) and I imagine it's dangerous for swimming but the beach had a protected natural 'pool' area (an underwater reef formed a natural pool near the shore). It was great for taking a little dip.

There are also areas located near each of the pools for BBQ and picnic tables for the guests to enjoy. They have free internet connection in the rooms, though it's not wireless and you will need your own LAN cable.

From the Plantation Hale , it's a short walk to shops and a couple of restaurants at the Coconut Marketplace (literally across the driveway from the office of the property). We enjoyed a good breakfast at Eggbert's. Click here to view the shopping center's website.

For those of you who don't care for big expensive hotels, this is a great place to stay. We felt at home.

If you ever decide to try the Plantation Hale, ask for a room in a building with a balcony/terrace (called a 'lanai' in Hawaiian) that is not facing the highway. Although there is alot of foliage between the property and the highway, the units facing the highway do not have views of the pretty and well manicured grounds and you will get some highway noise that could be annoying to some (however we are talking about a highway on Kauai...not some big city). Also, there are lots of chickens roaming around (as there are everywhere on Kauai) so if you don't like the sounds they make, you'd be better off at a large hotel resort. My husband and I personally enjoyed the chickens and other many birds we saw (and heard) at this property.

Here are some pictures I took.

View of the entrance to the office

View of the road where the property sits

View from the property of the field and pathway leading to the beach

View of the property while standing the beach, looking back across the field

The beach accessed through the field

My husband is taking a dip (sitting) in the natural pool formed by a small reef

An underwater picture of a live sea snail I found near the shore in the protected 'pool' area of the beach

Some chickens and other birds enjoying the garden in the afternoon

One of the jacuzzi hot tubs we enjoyed, looks inviting doesn't it?

View of one of the BBQ areas on the property