Our favorite place on Kauai, great for cooks, very well maintained.
Review Submitted: December 5, 2010
Date of Stay: November 2010
I regret posting this because it will probably mean the schedule will fill up even more now :)
River Estate is our favorite place to stay on Kauai, and its owner, Mark, is one of the most helpful, nicest guys you could ever meet.
I will try to describe our style and that will indicate if it's right for you:
- We went to the Kapa'a and Hanalei Sunshine (Farmers) markets, Hoku foods, and bought all our groceries for the week. We did all our cooking ourselves, except for the last night. The appliances are modern, the kitchen is clean and well-maintained, and the utensils are diverse and well-organized.
- We spent most of our time vegging on the beaches, taking day-trips out around the island, and going for hikes.
- On the rainier days, we were happy to sit out on the porch or inside in the living room and just read for a while. River Estate is a great place for this. Very comfortable environment.
- The stereo has an iPod dock. NICE.
- The house has A/C, even though you probably won't want to use it
The master bedroom is all windows, but the location and privacy from trees mean you don't have to worry about neighbors looking in.
I think what makes River Estate different from a lot of places is the amount of detail and care put into its presentation. We've stayed other places where everything just felt cheap and temporary, the owners knowing that the customers were going to trash it. River Estate is not this way. You treat it like your own home because it's kept clean and maintained so well.
Just so I can provide some comments about who this isn't right for:
I would say this is not the right location for someone who can't buy their own groceries or cook. Not the river estate in particular, but Haena/Eastern Hanalei. You're 15 minutes from food at all times by car (there's a little shop nearby but it's a convenience store).
It's also not the right spot for someone who can't take a little rain here and there. The north shore is beautiful because of the rainfall. We didn't mind at all, and had no problem hanging out on the beach while rain clouds passed by, knowing they'd be followed with sunshine.
Overall, A++, our favorite place on the island so far, and Mark is super helpful.
Recommended for:
Adventure Seekers,
Sightseeing,
Families with Teenagers,
Families with Young Children,
Romantic Getaway
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Helpful votes: 1/1
