Best Family Hotels in Kauai

Walking into the lobby of the Princeville Resort, you know immediately that you are at the top – the top of the hotel that is. That's where you'll find the lobby, affording jaw-dropping views of the ocean and Kauai's lush coast. Between Hanalei Bay and Kauai's rugged mountains, the resort's stunning location sets this property apart from the competition. According to previous visitors, the guest rooms are just as impressive: Princeville Resort forgoes the kitschy tropical decor in favor of decorative accents that touch upon the resort's natural surroundings with rich, earth tone color palettes. Rooms also come with home theater systems, 300-thread-count linens and, in some cases, balconies. The Princeville Resort also houses multiple distinct restaurants, all of which use ingredients that have been grown or produced on the island. And it's home to an incredible infinity pool – dubbed one of the world's most beautiful. Despite the properties world-class amenities, some past guests feel the Princeville Resort is in need of a refresh.

Removed from the more crowded resort areas, the Waimea Plantation Cottages are located on the southwestern side of Kauai. Modeled after the original sugar plantations that covered the island in the 1800s and early 1900s, Waimea offers 61 authentic plantation-style cottages that range from studio garden view duplexes to four- and five-bedroom oceanfront cottages. Each spacious accommodation is outfitted with Internet access, a flat-screen TV and a full kitchen with a host of appliances. Recent guests do warn that most cottages don't come equipped with central air conditioning, but said that the fans and window units worked well to keep the accommodations cool. While the plantation does not have a restaurant, the cottages do have full kitchens. Waimea offers a pool but not much else, which is why past visitors said it's the perfect place for those seeking little action and lots of R&R. Recent guests said they found the accommodations to be charming and clean, and the simple surroundings allowed them to take in the natural beauty of the area.