Kauai is a little jewel of an island, boasting more miles of accessible coastline than any of its Hawaiian neighbors. Since it is 98 percent undeveloped, hotel planners have plenty of space to use, and most of them choose to occupy it with graceful, sprawling low-rise resorts (the opposite of the Honolulu hotel scheme). The resulting tropical paradise is modern yet still peaceful, with plenty of attractions for vacationers on the go and plenty of quiet spots for vacationers who just want to relax.

Three of the coasts have been developed to a degree, but the West Side, predominantly owned by the park service, remains untouched. There isn’t one particular spot in Kauai that has all of the best resorts, nor is there one spot that has a row of budget hotels. Rather, luxurious and beautiful hotels abound, and the budget accommodations are sprinkled in amongst them.

Lihue—Coconut Coast
Kauai’s airport town of Lihue is not the most beautiful of the island’s cities, but it is head and shoulders above most airport districts. The presence of a world-class golf course draws players from far and wide. Many of them stay at the Radisson Kauai Beach Resort, the Kauai Marriott Resort or the Aston Kauai Beach Villas. All three of these hotels are on the pricey side. Of the few other hotels in Lihue, the Garden Island Inn is a good choice for budget vacationers.

Up the coast from Lihue is the Coconut Coast with cities of Wailua, Kapaa and Kealia. Several hotels and condominium complexes are scattered along the coast; the highest concentration is around the mouth of the Wailua River. The Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort Kauai and the Best Western Plantation Hale both offer the same things: name recognition and island style. These hotels are nothing like their mainland neighbors in appearance, but offer the same amenities and business services. The Aston-owned Kauai Coast Resort is a recently renovated property owned by Hawaii’s own value hotel chain. Other condominium complexes include the Kapaa Sands and the Aston Islander on the Beach.

The standout Coconut Coast hotel is the Kauai Coconut Beach Resort. It earns kudos for authenticity, charm and value. The staff also provides a terrific luau for its guests.

Many of Kauai’s bed & breakfasts are tucked in various valleys and neighborhoods on the Coconut Coast. The Alohilani is one of the more upscale choices. Mohala Ke Ola rents four units, for prices ranging from low to mid-range. Hale Tutu, run by a mother-daughter team, is reasonably priced and charming.

North Shore
Humid, hot and verdant, the North Shore is the site of Princeville, one of Hawaii’s top luxury resorts. The big hotels here—Cliffs at Princeville and the Princeville Hotel—are expensive and exclusive. Further to the west are the towns of Hanalei and Haena. While the facilities are still lovely, the prices tend to get a little lower. The Hanalei Bay Resort & Suites and the Hanalei Colony Resort both offer a good value and an appealing location.

Interestingly, although there are relatively few value condominium complexes in Princeville or Hanalei, there are a number of private guesthouses, vacation rentals and bed & breakfasts scattered throughout the area. Prices range from reasonable too exorbitant.

Location often has a lot to do with pricing. Hale Mai Tai in Princeville rents for just under USD200 per night, while Hale Hoo Maha in the tiny town of Kiluaea goes for a mere USD65. South Shore Poipu, the famous resort district on Kauai’s South Shore, is proud of its history as a playground for royalty. It seems that the luxury hotel developers strive to keep it that way. However, the tenacity of condominium developers and value hotel chains enables thousands of lucky commoners to enjoy Poipu’s sundrenched shores each year.

Anyone who wants to see a Hawaiian “fantasy hotel” in all its glory should come to Poipu. Resorts such as the Hyatt Regency, the Embassy Vacation Resort Poipu Point and the Sheraton Kauai put a whole new spin on the idea of a beach vacation. These accommodations stretch across dozens of acres, offering every imaginable activity.

Luxury on a more modest scale can be enjoyed at the Kiahuna Plantation & the Beach Bungalows or the Nihi Kai Villas. These properties have great services and amenities, but don’t necessarily have five restaurants onsite or a man-made river flowing through the grounds. The next tier down the price rung is crowded with various properties. The Aston at Poipu Kai, Poipu Makai, Poipu Plantation Resort and Prince Kuhio are all within a few miles of each other and offer the same quality of lodgings for comparable prices.

A visitor who wants to stay on the South Shore but doesn’t enjoy the condominium scene would probably be happiest in one of the small towns just outside Poipu. Gloria’s Spouting Horn B&B, located near the Botanical Gardens, is the highest-rated bed & breakfast in the state. On the other end of the spectrum, the tiny Kalaheo Inn offers plain and simple rooms for less than USD55 per night.

It can be difficult to tell the names of the South Shore hotels apart, much less to figure out which one is the perfect vacation destination. The best way to see all the information at one time is to stop by the Web site of the Poipu Beach Resort Association. The address is:http://www.poipu-beach.org and the site lists all of its properties.

For such a small island, Kauai boasts a high number and a stunning variety of accommodation options. The options range from five-star hotels to shared-bath places in a mountain home. Decadence, relaxation, stimulation or meditation can be had in equal doses or not at all during a stay on the Garden Isle.

While one can’t assume that the quality of restaurants on Kauai will be uniformly high, there are some good bets to be found around the island. First time visitors are well advised to research restaurants in advance. The real jewels are sometimes hidden. Get friendly with a local and they just might share a few insider secrets.