Kauai Lagoons or Waiohai?

[disneymom1]

We are going to Kauai 6 days/nights before our week stay At Maui Ocean Club in August. Trying to decide which resort to stay at (cash reservation). Any advice greatly appreciated!

There are 6 of us - my parents who are in their 70's and our twins, who will be 13. We are undecided if we will rent 2 cars vs a minivan.

Kauai Lagoons has a 3 bedroom option, both ocean view and island view (ocean front not available). I am aware the amenities are limited and the beach access/restaurants are at the Marriott hotel next door (but not the pool). The airport is also close by, but most reviews say the airport is not a problem. How far is the walk vs the shuttle? Can we park at the Marriott hotel? Is the shuttle on demand or does it follow a schedule? My dad has some mobility issues and can't walk far. The extra space/extra bed/bath for the kids would be nice. The website mentions a $15/day parking fee at the Lagoons. Is it worth it to pay extra for the ocean view vs island view?

Other option is a 2 bedroom at Waiohai. Is ocean view worth paying extra? I have read many reviews of parking lot views, even paying extra for ocean view. This resort also mentions a $15/day parking fee. The resort seems to have more amenities, like bar, snack bar, beach etc. Is it fair to say this resort is similar to Grande Ocean or Surfwatch regarding amenities?

I am leaning towards Kauai Lagoons. My parents aren't really beach/pool people.
My kids would like having their own room. They would miss the activities/amenities, but we plan to do a lot of sightseeing. We will be spending the next week at Maui Ocean Club for a week, so they will have plenty of beach and activities there.

Thanks in advance!

 

[dioxide45]

Are you a DC member? Have you determined the amount of DC points needed for the reservation at Kalanipu'u and compared the cost to rent points to the cost of the cash reservation? Consider that a DC points reservation wouldn't have the additional $15 parking fee at either resort.

For us, it would be a difference between Ocean Front and Garden View. Many of the Garden View units have great views of the bay. Just take a look at post #12 of this thread. This was a 3BR Garden View unit on the second floor in building B. I think building C may have some lesser garden views at least on the first floor because they would be obstructed by the pool area.

Kalanipu'u is a great resort, but is a little more removed. I wouldn't suggest walking between Kalanipu'u and the Kauai Beach Club property. While it is possible, it isn't a short walk. Having someone with mobility issues would make it impossible. I don't think there are many if any sidewalks. Use the shuttle, though I don't know how its schedule works.

 

[disneymom1]

Are you a DC member? Have you determined the amount of DC points needed for the reservation at Kalanipu'u and compared the cost to rent points to the cost of the cash reservation? Consider that a DC points reservation wouldn't have the additional $15 parking fee at either resort.

For us, it would be a difference between Ocean Front and Garden View. Many of the Garden View units have great views of the bay. Just take a look at post #12 of this thread. This was a 3BR Garden View unit on the second floor in building B. I think building C may have some lesser garden views at least on the first floor because they would be obstructed by the pool area.

Kalanipu'u is a great resort, but is a little more removed. I wouldn't suggest walking between Kalanipu'u and the Kauai Beach Club property. While it is possible, it isn't a short walk. Having someone with mobility issues would make it impossible. I don't think there are many if any sidewalks. Use the shuttle, though I don't know how its schedule works.

Thank you for your reply. Great photos - awesome view! Do most island view units have a similar view or do you think that was a better than average island view? Are there any island views where the balcony overlooks a parking lot? Do all the buildings have 3 bedrooms?

We are not DC members (post 2010 resale). Points needed for either resort are 4200-5850. I placed a reservation with Marriott.com with 7VC discount for Kauai Lagoons 3 bedroom ocean view, hoping to cancel it if I can find getaway or rental cheaper. Since we don't have a DC account, I don't think we can rent points.

 

[dioxide45]

Thank you for your reply. Great photos - awesome view! Do most island view units have a similar view or do you think that was a better than average island view? Are there any island views where the balcony overlooks a parking lot? Do all the buildings have 3 bedrooms?

We are not DC members (post 2010 resale). Points needed for either resort are 4200-5850. I placed a reservation with Marriott.com with 7VC discount for Kauai Lagoons 3 bedroom ocean view, hoping to cancel it if I can find getaway or rental cheaper. Since we don't have a DC account, I don't think we can rent points.

There are no parking lot views. All of the units face the ocean/bay in one way or another. All of the buildings have 3BR units. Ground floor GV units will have lesser views than second floor. In buildings B and C, the first and second floor are GV while the third and fourth are ocean view. In building A, the same is true for the half of the building that doesn't face the ocean. For the other half that fronts the ocean, all of the units are ocean front. I believe that the 3BR units are the end units in each building. Here are some photos of the 3BR unit.

 

[vacationtime1]

Other option is a 2 bedroom at Waiohai. Is ocean view worth paying extra? I have read many reviews of parking lot views, even paying extra for ocean view. This resort also mentions a $15/day parking fee. The resort seems to have more amenities, like bar, snack bar, beach etc. Is it fair to say this resort is similar to Grande Ocean or Surfwatch regarding amenities?

I would definitely pay extra for ocean view at Waiohai. We own there and have stayed 6-8 times. Some of the IV rooms are awful (from a view perspective). OV doesn't guarantee a stellar view, but avoids the risk of a lanai overlooking the parking lot.

Waiohai's beach bar has great views (and expensive drinks). The marketplace is small but has the essentials. There are several restaurants that may or may not be walkable depending on the extent of the mobility issues.

All of the units are 2BR, however, so if you want a separate room for the kids, it will be Kalanipu'u.

 

[Bill4728]

I'd pick Waiohai ocean view room The resort is a resort with lots to do there and a short walk away from a lot more (where KL is more of a great condo complex and there is nothing else there).

 

[BocaBoy]

To me, this is a no-brainer. We used to own at Waiohai and it is a wonderful resort. However, I would choose Kauai Lagoons hands-down. Almost every island view villa at KL has a very nice ocean view, and the villas are probably the best quality in the whole MVCI system. Don't pay extra for ocean view. At Waiohai there are very few outstanding ocean views....most are quite a distance from the water. With island view at Waiohai you do risk a parking lot view but most island view units have a nice view of the grounds.

I rank Kauai Lagoons as my second favorite resort in the whole Marriott system, right behind Maui Ocean Club (new towers). Don't pass up the chance to stay there, especially with the group you describe.

 

[Chrispee]

I'm inclined to agree with BocaBoy on this one given the description of your party. The Kauai Lagoons has wonderful units and no particularly bad views. The downsides are no easily accessible swimming beach out front, and not many onsite amenities.

We have shuttled to Nawiliwili and it's fairly easy, but easier still to just drive your car there. The pool at the Kauai Lagoons is more quiet and understated, but the view is incredible and it's really a very enjoyable layout. I love the Waiohai too, but if I weren't wanting easy access to swim in the ocean every day the Lagoons wins out for me.

 

[jeepie]

I am leaning towards Kauai Lagoons. My parents aren't really beach/pool people.
My kids would like having their own room. They would miss the activities/amenities, but we plan to do a lot of sightseeing. We will be spending the next week at Maui Ocean Club for a week, so they will have plenty of beach and activities there.

These factors make it a clear decision. Take the 3BR at Kauai Lagoons for your group's needs. Cheers.

 

[michael49]

We are owners at Waiohai, but spent two weeks at Kauai Lagoons almost two years ago. I really loved the Lagoons because of the views, the high end appliances, and the central island location. My wife, on the other hand, still prefers Waiohai for the Poipu location as well as the beachfront and the nearby shopping. In any event, you really can't go wrong with either location, so long as you have a rental vehicle to get around the island. But given the size of your party, and the availability of 3 bedroom units at Kauai Lagoons, I think the Lagoons might be the better choice for you.

 

[taffy19]

We are going to Kauai 6 days/nights before our week stay At Maui Ocean Club in August. Trying to decide which resort to stay at (cash reservation). Any advice greatly appreciated!

There are 6 of us - my parents who are in their 70's and our twins, who will be 13. We are undecided if we will rent 2 cars vs a minivan.

Kauai Lagoons has a 3 bedroom option, both ocean view and island view (ocean front not available). I am aware the amenities are limited and the beach access/restaurants are at the Marriott hotel next door (but not the pool). The airport is also close by, but most reviews say the airport is not a problem. How far is the walk vs the shuttle? Can we park at the Marriott hotel? Is the shuttle on demand or does it follow a schedule? My dad has some mobility issues and can't walk far. The extra space/extra bed/bath for the kids would be nice. The website mentions a $15/day parking fee at the Lagoons. Is it worth it to pay extra for the ocean view vs island view?

Other option is a 2 bedroom at Waiohai. Is ocean view worth paying extra? I have read many reviews of parking lot views, even paying extra for ocean view. This resort also mentions a $15/day parking fee. The resort seems to have more amenities, like bar, snack bar, beach etc. Is it fair to say this resort is similar to Grande Ocean or Surfwatch regarding amenities?

I am leaning towards Kauai Lagoons. My parents aren't really beach/pool people.
My kids would like having their own room. They would miss the activities/amenities, but we plan to do a lot of sightseeing. We will be spending the next week at Maui Ocean Club for a week, so they will have plenty of beach and activities there.

Thanks in advance!

The Kauai Lagoons is an ideal and luxurious condo for a party of your size and certainly, if the beach and pool aren’t that important for you this time around. Also, the living room has enough seating for all of you and the dining room table is large enough.

I remember that the parking was right in front of our building so the walk wasn’t far. The walk between the two resorts is too long during the day in the hot sun and and it may be humid too if there is not enough island breeze. It is a very short drive by car and parking was available at the hotel when we were there in September.

You have to request a shuttle pick-up time from 6 AM to 10:00 AM in case your plane leaves early. After that, the shuttle was leaving every 15 minutes but the last pick-up was rather early at 4:45 PM.

If I were you, I would call the resort so you have the right schedule again. You certainly need a car at night if you want to have dinner at a few other places but you have one anyway since you are planning to do sight-seeing too.

We went to the presentation where they try to sell you the tours and booked a few of them with the Concierge afterwards and also dining reservations at Duke’s upstairs at the KBC and the Beach House that was highly recommended. We got very good seating during sunset and dinners were good too. Both restaurants are very popular so extremely busy.

Also, airport noise is a non-issue so you don’t need to worry about that.