This post is long overdue, but in my defense, it was quite the time commitment to draft. I don’t blog full time or anything close to that, so when I am feeling in a blogging mood, I have to capitalize on it. I started working on this post as one fully encompassing travel review of our trip, but very soon after I started typing away, I realized it would be way too long for one post so I decided to break it up into a series. The first part of my Kauai Travel Series will cover our stay at Lawai Beach Resort in Poipu Bay.
If you missed my vlogs from the trip, be sure to check those out here, here, and here. I figured editing the limited amount of footage into vlogs was an easy win before sitting down and crafting up my Kauai travel series. My parents, sister (Allie), and husband (Paul), ventured off to Kauai in early August for a week of sun and relaxation. I am fortunate enough to have been to Hawaii quite a few times in my life, and three of which have been while I have been an adult. Kauai was the first Hawaiian island my family went to when I was in third grade way back in 2003. Since then I’ve been to Maui, Kona, Oahu, and back to Kauai this most recent time. Prior to this trip, Kauai was my favorite island even though it had been 19 years since I had been back. 19 years later, it did not disappoint and I can still say it is my favorite Hawaiian island. I love the beautiful lush landscape and serene beaches. While it has grown in popularity over the years, I still feel like it has a Hawaiian charm without the amount of tourism you’d find on Oahu or Maui.
Lawai Beach Resort
We stayed at Lawai Beach Resort through my parents timeshare. My mom had been keeping an eye out for open weeks in Kauai on her timeshare portal when a week at Lawai opened up. If you are looking for an actual resort with onsite restaurants, pool bars, evening activities, this place is not for you. It is very much so a timeshare property with condos, quiet pools, and a low key environment (except for our upstairs neighbors who loved to stay up talking until the wee hours of the morning on their Lanai). Overall, the units are nice but the furnishings are quite dated. I’ll chalk it up to a local Hawaii aesthetic with the florals and island feel in each room.
Our Unit
It is also very important to mention, Lawai Beach Resort does not have AC in the units. I found this out a few days before our trip and was having slight anxiety, but after the first night I got used to it. The units at Lawai have screens on all windows and doors so if you open everything up, you have a lovely cross breeze, which makes all the difference. We had a 2 bedroom and 2 bathroom unit, full kitchen, and living space, which met our needs. Allie took one for the team and slept on the pull out sofa in the living room and Paul and I took the spare bedroom with two twin beds. If you are staying at this resort through a timeshare trade, unit sizes are not guaranteed (also another source of my pre-trip anxiety). There were 5 adults going on this trip, so even though we were guaranteed two bedrooms and a pull out sofa, you aren’t guaranteed two bathrooms or a in unit washer and dryer. We could have made it work without a washer and dryer, but having two bathroom for 5 adults was very much preferred. Luckily, my mom worked her magic and we were all set. If you are interested about the layout of our unit, check out my first travel vlog of the trip where I do a quick tour of our place.
The Resort
I think my sister would also agree that one of the best features of Lawai Beach Resort was a shaved ice stand right in front of the property. We went every single day. And yes, I did continue to call shaved ice ‘sno cones’ even though I know that is incorrect. In addition to daily shaved ice, there were three pools on the property that were never too busy. We didn’t venture over to the biggest pool until the last day, and we wish we would have hung out there more often because of the size and scenery. Regardless, the smaller pool closer to our unit was relaxing and the most amount of people that were there at one time was probably 10. Quite the difference compared to our trip to Oahu last year when it was a war zone trying to find a chair at the hotel pool.
Within walking distance to the resort (literally right across the street) is Lawai Beach, which is known for some of the best snorkeling. Paul and I rented snorkel gear towards the end of the trip and it did not disappoint. Lawai Beach is also great for mini photoshoots. Shout out to Allie for taking sunset pictures of me and Paul next to the crashing waves.
A majority of flights back to the mainland are red eyes, so I’m sure other travelers who have been to Hawaii relate to the last day when you have to check out and then figure out something to do the rest of the day until your flight home. Although we couldn’t get a late check out, we were provided access to the pools and facilities for the day. At Lawai Beach Resort you can also rent the shower (for free) in the gym to freshen up before your flight home. We spent the day at the pool and ate the remainder of our groceries, before taking turns showering and heading to the airport. Overall, we had a great stay and although the rooms were dated, the resort itself is very nice and the staff was extremely accommodating.
And that’s a wrap on my Lawai Beach Resort review. Check back for additional posts in my Kauai Travel Series very soon!
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