Kauai on a Budget. Is this Possible?

Can you see Kauai on a budget?
Well. . . yes and no. There are definitely ways to take advantage of the priceline, hotwire, timeshare gifts in order to save money so that you can make your money go farther and still enjoy the amazing sites of Kauai. My philosophy is that if you’ve come all this way to this beautiful quiet island, then make the most of it and see what the island has to offer. But I’ve done my best to balance quality with value. We had an amazing week in Kauai and was able to enjoy some of the best that Kauai had to offer without breaking the bank. Here’s some things that helped me save some money:

Quick Tips:

1) Gifts for friends like the chocolate covered macadamia nuts, Kona coffee, Pancake mixes etc, are cheaper at the grocery stores, Kmart, and Walmart then at the tourist stores. You can get boxes of chocolate covered macadamia nuts for as low as .99/box.
2) Local prepared food at the deli counter of a local grocery store like Ishihara in Waimea is really cheap, yummy, and gives you a taste of the island.
3) Timeshare gifts can save you -. We went to two presentations and saved .

What to wear
Leave your nice stuff at home. This isn't Maui. There are no coach stores adorning the ocean front. The very red dirt will stain your clothes and will not come out. Be careful when you sit on the ground and on rocks. They even make red dirt t-shirts as souvenirs where they use the local dirt and stain cotton shirts and sell them. We say the machines where they were mixed. Unless you have a really special event to go to, the best advice that my friend gave me was to pack like your camping, but don’t forget your bathing suit and sun screen and bug spray. Next time I would leave my make up at home. Light clothing, both long sleeve and pants are a must because it can get pretty windy by the water.

Best Way To Get Around:

Renting a car is a must.

Baracuda's
This place was such a great find by accident. This place has really good food for not crazy Hawaiian prices. This is a tapa’s seafood place. It looks like a little beach house. The 5-6 person booths were a u-shaped suede blue coach encompassing a round table. I think this is a perfect place for parties of 5-6. The porch also provided seating for parties of 2-4. The bathroom was surprisingly well decorated. Two recessed lights lit the orchard and the sink along opposite walls and was really spa like. We ordered 4 small plates which was plenty for the two of us for dinner and it was about $55. The baked cod with baguette was my favorite. The risotto fritters were tasty. The scallops over mashed potatoes and pesto oil was my husbands favorite. The tuna carpaccio was pretty good but something has to be ranked fourth. The slices are a little thicker than I’m used to. If you are up on the north side of the island, stop by this place.

Tidepools
Located at the Hyatt, this restaurant sits over a very large Koi pond. Most tables are along the water so you can watch the Koi fish swim around when you eat. The food was. . . . good. . . . It wasn’t bad. Was it worth the hype of going to THE restaurant to go to at the Hyatt. I think I could have done without going. I don’t’ regret going. I don’t’ think I’ll go back. Something we did once and it was a romantic dinner with my husband. Please understand that its not that it wasn’t a good meal. The customer service was very good. What I think you are paying for is the experience. Make sure you get a table by the water because I think that’s really the most unique part of the experience. I would put it down lower on my priority list. To place it in the right context, we went to Michael Mina’s the weekend before in San Francisco and had one of the most amazing food/restaurant experiences in my life. So its just not fair to compare. The prices are very high as to be expected and of course their specialty is their seafood.

Docks at the Grand Hyatt
Great for lunch when its hang around the Hyatt pool and veg day. They have a self service counter where they sell awesome hamburgers 11.99 + 1.00 for each topping. If your not in a meat kinda mood, they also have prosciutto, grapes, and brie with warm ciabatta bread for 14.99 very yummy. They also have a variety of hot and cold items like cottage cheese, salads, garlic parmesan waffle fries. The same menu is also served at the pool as well, but then you have to tip.

Na Pali Coast
A must see on your trip to Kauai. You can only see this larger than life cliffs by sea or by helicopter or by an 11-mile hike for the not faint of heart experienced hikers (you also need a permit to hike this trail). I highly recommend seeing the Na Pali Coast BOTH by boat and by helicopter in that order. We did it the other way around, and when you see the coast by air first, it doesn’t look as spectacular by boat. You definitely see different things from the air and the boat. So try boat first then helicopter. We asked about the hike, and we were told every year someone goes missing. The first two miles are very well kept, but after that its not as clear cut. You can’t hike it during the winter because of the rainy season making the trail into mud and clay. Parts of the trail are only a foot or a foot and a half wide and follows the coast where the edge is a 200 foot drop. One misstep and your gone. I think I’ll stick to the boat and the helicopter.

Please see my other reviews on Holo Holo 3.5 hour Sunset Cruise to the Na Pali Coast and Air Kauai seeing the Na Pali Coast by Helicopter

Holo Holo 3.5 hour Sunset Cruise to the Na Pali Coast
For those that don’t want the snorkel part of the boat tour and would rather just enjoy the scenery with a sunset, then I highly recommend this particular tour. We saw the beautiful coast, dolphins, whales, and places that you just wouldn’t be able to get to. Let me forewarn you what this is not. This is not a dress up, swanky, quiet romantic, gourmet cruise. The first thing is that you have to take off your shoes and you get them back at the end of the cruise. It’s as if you are walking around in a big bathtub so you don’t slip I advise if you are wearing long pants, make sure you can roll them up. This means you also go to the bathroom, barefoot. There is an open bar with unlimited Mai tais, bear, soda, and wine. I chose to not drink anything because I really didn’t want to go to the bathroom barefoot, but everyone else in my party had no problem using the facilities. Then again, I’m squeamish about walking around barefoot.
You will get mildly wet from the spray of the ocean. Bring a towel. It gets pretty choppy and windy, so an anorak or a light jacket is a must. The crew was awesome, very knowledgeable locals, and made the trip a lot of fun. We saw spinner dolphins, and being whale season, we saw humpback whales too. It takes about an hour or so to get out to the Na Pali Coast and we got a pretty good narrated tour down the coast. On the cruise, they serve heavy appetizers and Champaign toast at sunset. The food was served in plastic containers lined with banana leaves. It consisted of Caesar salad with or without chicken, spinach quiche, baquette with spinach dip and hummus, fruit, and veggie wraps. Nothing really fancy but definitely satisfied the appetite while we were out there. The sunset was beautiful and well worth it.
Things to bring: Sunglasses, a towel even if this is not a snorkel cruise you will get wet from the spray of the water and the seats get wet, a camera, jacket.

Cost: $100.86 / person
We went to the Point at Poipu Timeshare presentation and got $100 towards any activity. Note: you can choose $100 towards any activity or 2 for 1 Helicopter ride with Will Squires ($200 value) However, Air Kauai was recommended superior over Will Squires which I agree with. Go to Brennecke’s activity center at Poipu Beach to sign up for the Marriot Vacation Club Timeshare presentation to receive 2 for 1 with Air Kauai.

Helicopter Tour Air Kauai 50-60min.
If you only do one thing on the island, this is it. It is a great way to see all the spectacular sites of the island including Waimae? Canyon, the Na Pali coast, and the many beaches and water falls that cannot be reached by land. As I mentioned in my other reviews, see the sights by land and sea first and save the helicopter for last. Otherwise, its just so beautiful in the air that when you see it by boat or land its not the same. The very knowledgeable local concierge (Amanda Vegas) here at Embassy Vacations the Point at Poipu said her personal favorite was Air Kauai because the windows are bigger. Most of the helicopter companies are pretty similar. All use Bose noise cancellation headphones, pleasant music to calm nerves while flying, and a narration. Air Kauai also has the two way intercom system so you can talk to your pilot and ask questions but, that wasn’t used so I don’t think this is a big perk. The selling point for me was the big windows which is pretty important. I thought they did a really great job. Cost will vary depending on which time share presentation you attend because each helicopter company is partnered with different timeshare companies.

Cost:
Retail price is $269/person
If you call them direct or book online 25% off $219/person
If they are trying to fill the flight same day or next day its $199/person
Book through Brenneke’s Activity Center in Poipu Beach with a Marriot Timeshare presentation, its 2 for 1. Total cost for 2 people = $200 + $38 in airport taxes = $238.

Stevensen's Library at the Grand Hyatt
If you need a minor dose of mainland nightlife, then this is a perfect place for you. We came here after the first night because we needed something to do after 9pm. Note: you get over this after you’ve been on the island a few days. Named after Robert Louis Stevenson, this jazz lounge is open in the evening and features live music on most nights. Proper dress is required so this give guests at the Hyatt a nice place to hang out when the sun goes down to relax. The décor is darkwood with bult in bookcases into the walls. They have a sushi bar on Friday to Tuesday night. This is a great place to unwind, play some pool and enjoy from their wide selection of scotch. You can sit at the bar, at the tables, or in the cozy couches that line the outskirts of the lounge. Window shutters open up to the cool night breeze so you can enjoy the fresh air. They serve light appetizers and desserts along with a selection of coffees with a variety of liquers. The beef ceviche was pretty good but the the antipasta Italian meats was just mediocre. It was pretty empty, quiet low key. It good start to learning how to relax on the island.

Poipu beach
If your staying in sunny Poipu, where it doesn’t rain as much as other parts of the island, Poipu beach is easily accessible by walking from the Grand Hyatt or the Embassy Vacations Point at Poipu. Just follow Pe’e road along the water and it will take youright to the beach. Poipu beach is a nice park with picnic tables, places to grill, and lots of wild chickens running around. It’s a nice beach to just play in the water, lie on the beach. Brenneke’s deli is right there too if you want to get something to eat but the food is mediocre. Brenneke’s activity center is located here as well where you can book your activities and get discounts for going to the Marriot Timeshare presentation. The Marriot is located right next to the beach. If you continue walking west, the Sheraton is right next door.

Pool at the Hyatt
My favorite part of every tropical vacation is the pool and the Hyatt does not disappoint at all. I always reserve at least a day or two just to sit by the pool and do nothing. They have two very expansive pools that stretch lengthwise along the property. They have a sand bottomed salt water pool where kids and kids at heart can rent a kayak and paddle around this pool or more like a lagoon. You can swim in it too and it is more like a man made beach where the depth ranges from a few inches to 6 feet or more. The other normal pool is great for swimming and doesn’t have chlorine which is a nice bonus. They have basketballs and volleyballs to check out for use with the pool. Two great things about this pool is there is a two story water slide which is really fun and a Jacuzzi in the middle of the pool. Yeah. . . there is a little island in the middle of the pool where you get out of the room temperature water and jump into the hot tub. And when you get out, you have to jump back into the now very cold water to get back to your shoes. Definitely a first for me. There are a fair number of families that come to the Hyatt so there are bountiful kids. What I noticed was that the kids were for the most part very well behaved. That’s merely reflective of the clientele that the Grand Hyatt attracts. So the kids playing weren’t too rambunctious or out of control.

Hyatt Luau
I’ve never been to a Luau before and there are several to choose from on the island. Since we were staying at the Hyatt, we picked this one out of convenience. There are many to choose from and vary in price. The Luau at the Hyatt wasn't the most expensive one like the the Luau in Princeville, nor was it the cheapest. If food is important to you, then this place will bring smiles. The stage and show was smaller than what I had imagined and seen on TV. I guess I expected a big Volcano in the background with a big Kahuna and lots of tiki torches with drums and chanting with 30 people dancing all around. But what do I know. I’m from California. Most important thing is the food was good and I had fun. It was set out in the grassy area in front of the grand ballroom. We were greeted with a mai tais and fruit punch. The Luau is open bar, buffet dinner, and show. There was plenty of food for seconds thirds etc. Check in was at 5pm but nothing really happened until about 6pm. The earlier you get their the closer the seating but we were towards the back and the view was fine. Before the show began, they had live music and a local vendor selling jewelry. It was a little bit more expensive then the cheap vendors found at the Spouting Horn, but the quality was better and the thing that I liked about it was that the bracelets had magnetic clasps for easy use. I didn’t see that anywhere else on the island. The MC was really energetic. They had about 4-5 female dancers and 4 male dancers. They did several numbers demonstrating the traditions of many cultures in the south pacific including Tahiti. It was culturally very informative.

Cost: $160 for two people including tax

Go to the Seaview Terrace at the Grand Hyatt in Poipu. The center piece of the Hyatt is the Seaview Terrace that looks out to the ocean. This is a perfect place for sunrise and sunset. The sunrises diagonally to the left when you are looking out at the ocean and the sunsets diagonally to the right. You don’t get a front row seat for either but that makes it a perfect place to enjoy both. It’s a great place to take in the ocean air and unwind. In the morning they serve coffee, fruit, and pastries. In the evening, they serve mixed tropical drinks like your usual Pina Colada, Mai Tai’s and some very good appetizers. I highly recommend the Tempura Ahi Poke. You only get 4 pieces but definitely worth trying once. Several nights a week they have a torch lighting ceremony at sunset, followed by instrumental live music. Twice a week, they have a hula show that lasts about an hour with Hawaiian music and girls from the local hula school perform. This was one of the highlights or our trip and the best part of it was that it was free. So I camped out for a seat around 5:30pm. We watched the torch ceremony which was only 10min. or so and then waited until 7pm for the Hula show which lasted about an hour.

Massage and Spa
The Anara spa at the Grand Hyatt, which is a full service salan, spa, and has its own lap pool., is amazing and very expensive. A 50min. massage will run you $165. If you don’t want to shell out that kind of money, try a 15min. walk down to the Marriot Waihoa where they offer massages on the beach front tables to both Marriot and non Marriot guests. They don’t actually have a spa facility but you can book massages and treatments through the concierge located in their marketplace area. Their prices are a little bit more reasonable at $115 for 50min. The Marriot contracts out through Alexander Spa. It was really easy to get an appointment for an hour or two later. My friend enjoyed it very much.