Plan "B" trip to Kauai

[Ann-Marie Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ann-Marie]

Since my TS unit only gets an 18 rating, I would have to use almost 2 weeks per week to stay on Kauai. So I am thinking I would book one week and stay in a B&B or motel for a few extra days. So if I stay on Kauai for only one week of timesharing, which area should I trade into? Then I would get a few extra nights on the other side of the island. Thanks so much.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

I'm not a huge Kauai fan, but if I were going to rent, I'd rent in the town of Hanalei. There are no timeshare properties there, and I thought it was just charming.
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Hanalei, meaning "crescent bay" in the Hawaiian language, is located about 32 miles (52km) from Lihue. This small north shore town is home to one of the finest and most scenic Kauai beaches – Hanalei Bay – popular for swimming, relaxation and other ocean activities.

Hanalei has two main shopping centers located in the middle of town – Hanalei Center and Ching Young Village – where you can find several shopping, dining and entertainment venues.

Right before Hanalei (coming from Princeville), there is a one-lane bridge. From here to the end of the highway at Ke'e Beach it is an approximately 7-mile (11 km) scenic drive on a narrow and winding road. During heavy rains the road is closed and you can't go beyond this first one-lane bridge.

There are two scenic lookout points on the road from Princeville to Hanalei (before reaching the bridge). One is located on the left side of the road and overlooks Hanalei Valley. The other one is on the right side and overlooks Hanalei Valley and Hanalei Bay.

There are no hotels in Hanalei (except one inn and some vacation rental homes). The majority of accommodation options near Hanalei is in the resort town of Princeville.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

You could use Trading Places. They have a few properties on Kauai mostly in the northern part of the island.

It's a very long trip from here for less than 2 weeks.

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

Have you thought about using Hawaii Timeshare Exchange instead of RCI? They usually have lots of Lawai Beach Resort and it would only cost you one week to get there as long as your deposit is red time. They also sometimes have reasonable rentals there for Kauai resorts at the last minute, like these:

The Cliffs Club Kauai 5/08/2011 5/15/2011 1B/4 $300.00
The Cliffs Club Kauai 5/08/2011 5/15/2011 2B/6 $425.00
The Cliffs Club Kauai 5/15/2011 5/22/2011 4B/8 $425.00

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Problem solved!

A week in the south a week in the north. On to the next case...

Seriously Ann-Marie think about the alternate exchange companies for this one.

[barndweller Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close barndweller]

I sure agree. Kauai is my favorite island. I never use RCI or II for exchanges to Kauai. Trading Places and Hawaiian Timeshare Exchange are great for Kauai exchanges. You need at least 2 weeks to really settle in and enjoy the quiet laid back vibe there. One week in the north and one week in the sunny south. Lots of great beaches some with no one else in sight. Lush tropical forests, hiking and walking trails, small towns with local eateries and shops. The best farmer's markets in all of Hawaii. Hawaii much as it was 30 or 40 years ago before the big high rise tourist industry invaded.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

In the old days, we went to Kauai for 2 weeks through RCI. Originally to the Makai Club, we switched the week before leaving to one week at LBR and one week at Poipu Point. 2-bedroom units at both. Beachfront. One deposit per week. That was before we had good traders.

Yeah, it worked pretty good last century.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

We found paradise in Kauai near the Princeville area. If you can get into the Weston for a night or two do it.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Concur with all of the above - Trading Places and HTSE is the way to go.

We also often end up needing a couple of nights lodging somewhere on Kauai when our ts reservations don't match up or when we fly mid-week to take advantage of lower fares or ff ticket availability. We are also cheap, so I look for inexpensive places. Below are some of our options:

Plantation house bed and no breakfast in Kilauea. Near the Lighthouse. Comfortable, clean and plain. No food but they have facilities for you to do your own cooking.

Islander on the Beach in Kapa'a. Behind Coconut Marketplace. This place is almost always available on Hotwire, and if you crossreference the info on facility amenities and location with the information at betterbidding.com you can tell which Hotwire offer is this hotel. This has typically cost us about $90 to $100/night during summer (peak season) on Hotwire.

Best Western in Kapa'a. Also behind Coconut Marketplace and available via Hotwire and Priceline. Not all elegant, but reasonably clean and does have cooking facilities and outdoor grilles. If you're on a tight budget this is a good alternative.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Oh yeah, when they say rainy season, they mean rainy season.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

FWIW, our deposits are like yours, and they expire in July, 2012, but for Kauai right now I still see:

Kauai [297]

Lawai Beach Resort (#5080) 92 available units
05-Aug-2011 - 31-May-2012
Exchange Trading Power Range
16 - 21

The Point at Poipu (#3682) 13 available units
Check-In Date Range
02-Jun-2011 - 11-Dec-2011
Exchange Trading Power Range
13 - 20

The Cliffs Resort (#3656) 8 available units
Princeville
Check-In Date Range
28-May-2011 - 04-Dec-2011
Exchange Trading Power Range
5 - 21

Wyndham Bali Hai Villas (#3031) 49 available units
Princeville
Check-In Date Range
19-Aug-2011 - 15-Apr-2012
Exchange Trading Power Range
18 - 20


So, it is still doable on single deposits. We could still duplicate our previous excellent adventure, a week at LBR and a week at PP, with one deposit each. Actually, we had to do it in the 14 Day Window before, so it is a slight improvement, except that you can forget about Jan-March, except for March at LBR.

If you want whale season, you can do mid-December. I saw the first whale of the season breach in Poipu Bay at 6:00 AM on our second Tuesday morning, as I was sitting on our lanai, sipping Kona coffee, watching the sunrise. I probably should not have awoken the rest of the resort with my announcment of the whales' arrival.

That was a memorable trip for me in many ways. My BIL and I played Poipu Point soon after the Grand Slam, the one Payne Stewart woulda played at, and when we walked down to the clubhouse from PP, the banners were still up, and they left Payne on them. I bought a shirt to commemorate it and still have it folded in my dresser. We walked in the footsteps that he woulda walked. Payne has a special meaning to me, and has become a major part of my life. I shoulda asked for the banner.

Different things have different meanings for different folks and that is what makes us different.

[Ann-Marie Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ann-Marie]

Thanks everyone. We are planning this trip for August or September 2012.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

You could use Trading Places. They have a few properties on Kauai mostly in the northern part of the island.

It's a very long trip from here for less than 2 weeks.

We stayed at a Trading Places exchange condo twice. It is very long ago but we enjoyed it and would go back there again. It was the Alii Kai in Princeville. We were sight-seeing all day so it didn't need to be a Westin for us.

I agree with everyone else to make it two weeks and stay at both ends. It will save you driving back and forwards so much. The road is long and slow from one end to the other.

We have no favorite island because we like them all. The Big Island is the most unusual island with an active volcano and acres of what looks like a barren moonscape but lush rain forests too and then the area that looks like pasture land in England even with cattle.

Once you go to Hawaii, you will be back and may visit all islands.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Thanks everyone. We are planning this trip for August or September 2012.

September is easier to do than August. August is still peak travel season, because school is not in session. In September there is better availability, and rates for other services (such as car rental or, if necessary, a room for a couple of days) will be less. Not to mention that it will be a bit less crowded.

[chellej Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chellej]

Trading Places and Interval both have had quite a few Hanalei Bay weeks for summer/fall 2012 recently.

I haven't checked in thelast few days but there still may be some out there.

Trading Places is managing Hanalei Bay until sept of 2012 so they may get more weeks later as well.