Westin Princeville: parking/occupancy fees, beach acc

[heathpack]

Hello TUGgers,

Can anyone here advise as to what fees I can expect exchanging (via II) into a studio at Westin Princeville? Is there a daily parking fee? Daily occupancy tax? If yes, does anyone here know the $ amount?

Also- what is the status of beach access? I understand the St Regis is no longer a St Regis but guests at Westin Princeville can still use the beach at the resort which is the same luxury resort but with a new name. Is that correct?

Thank you.

 

[DeniseM]

Self-parking is free.
Taxes will be in the range of $10-$15 per night.
The beach at the hotel is nothing special, and is not within walking distance - I'd pass on it. When we stay in Princeville we like to drive to Hanalei Bay, Lumaha'i, Tunnels and Ke'e. You need a reservation for Tunnels and Ke'e. Ke'e is a my favorite place in Hawaii for snorkeling and swimming with a very easy beach entry for people of all ages and abilities, and lots of fish.

 

[heathpack]

Self-parking is free.
Taxes will be in the range of $10-$15 per night.
The beach at the hotel is nothing special, and is not within walking distance - I'd pass on it. When we stay in Princeville we like to drive to Hanalei Bay, Lumaha'i, Tunnels and Ke'e. You need a reservation for Tunnels and Ke'e. Ke'e is a my favorite place in Hawaii for snorkeling and swimming with a very easy beach entry for people of all ages and abilities, and lots of fish.

Thank you!

 

[sjlola]

I won't repeat Denise's correct assessment of the daily fees. And I agree that the beach at the new 1Hotel (not open yet, but if you can park legally somewhere along the main road, you can hike down to it) where the St Regis used to be is seriously meh. From WPORV, there's a beach path down to Wyllie's Beach which is prettier. Anini Beach is a short drive (good snorkeling!) as is Hanalei Pier. You didn't mention what season you'll be visiting, but the ocean on the north shore in the winter is extremely dangerous. If the conditions are good, you can swim/snorkel at Anini Beach (it's protected by a reef), but you really shouldn't swim or snorkel anywhere else on that side of the island between November and April. Conditions on the south side are much better. Lumahai and Tunnels are beautiful to look at, but parking is very limited any time of year; leave the resort early in the morning to get a spot.

 

[heathpack]

I won't repeat Denise's correct assessment of the daily fees. And I agree that the beach at the new 1Hotel (not open yet, but if you can park legally somewhere along the main road, you can hike down to it) where the St Regis used to be is seriously meh. From WPORV, there's a beach path down to Wyllie's Beach which is prettier. Anini Beach is a short drive (good snorkeling!) as is Hanalei Pier. You didn't mention what season you'll be visiting, but the ocean on the north shore in the winter is extremely dangerous. If the conditions are good, you can swim/snorkel at Anini Beach (it's protected by a reef), but you really shouldn't swim or snorkel anywhere else on that side of the island between November and April. Conditions on the south side are much better. Lumahai and Tunnels are beautiful to look at, but parking is very limited any time of year; leave the resort early in the morning to get a spot.

Mid April is the time of the visit.

thanks for the reply!

 

[DeniseM]

Since you are staying on the north shore, I would not automatically dismiss all north shore beaches in April, because it all depends on the current conditions. Also - the beaches I mentioned are much closer to Princeville. Ke'e, Hanalei Bay, and Tunnels have lifeguards, the conditions will be posted, and they won't let you swim if it's not safe. However, if it's very rainy on the north shore, you can often drive south and find sun at Poipu.

The path down from Princeville to Anini is very steep and slippery when wet - I've done it twice, but don't plan to in the future. I also don't find the beach area there to be very appealing.

 

[DuckinCA]

I own here and have never taken the “path” down the beach. We go annually since they opened. We drive to Anini or Hanalei.

 

[zentraveler]

I won't repeat Denise's correct assessment of the daily fees. And I agree that the beach at the new 1Hotel (not open yet, but if you can park legally somewhere along the main road, you can hike down to it) where the St Regis used to be is seriously meh. From WPORV, there's a beach path down to Wyllie's Beach which is prettier. Anini Beach is a short drive (good snorkeling!) as is Hanalei Pier. You didn't mention what season you'll be visiting, but the ocean on the north shore in the winter is extremely dangerous. If the conditions are good, you can swim/snorkel at Anini Beach (it's protected by a reef), but you really shouldn't swim or snorkel anywhere else on that side of the island between November and April. Conditions on the south side are much better. Lumahai and Tunnels are beautiful to look at, but parking is very limited any time of year; leave the resort early in the morning to get a spot.

Wow, 1Hotel still not open. Looked it up and besides a stupid name it is going to be unbelievably expensive. When it was the St. Regis we would go just to have a ride there and back, a decent beach, no parking for us, a nice hotel for food etc. But second the other suggestions for beaches.

 

[Kildahl]

Wow, 1Hotel still not open. Looked it up and besides a stupid name it is going to be unbelievably expensive. When it was the St. Regis we would go just to have a ride there and back, a decent beach, no parking for us, a nice hotel for food etc. But second the other suggestions for beaches.

I believe it opens February 15th.

 

[Kildahl]

I don’t think a permit is required at tunnels. Plan to visit the beach next week.

 

[vacationtime1]

I don’t think a permit is required at tunnels. Plan to visit the beach next week.

I believe one is required, and @DeniseM's post above suggests the same.

Please let us know your experience.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Hāʻena & Nāpali Coast Access Information

Visit Kauai's North Shore

dlnr.hawaii.gov

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[Kildahl]

We haven’t been there yet so the source of my belief is a country employee who has been involved in the island parking permit system. Will report back on our experience

 

[Kildahl]

I walked down the trail to Anini on Wednesday and it was as dry as I remember over the last 15 years. There is still a wet spot, however, about halfway down. I confirmed with the concierge that an elderly person slipped on the path Christmas day and injured her leg. The resort is discouraging guests from using the trail.
I was surprised at the number of people who apparently are using the trail to the beach after sunset.

 

[vacationtime1]

We haven’t been there yet so the source of my belief is a country employee who has been involved in the island parking permit system. Will report back on our experience

Thanks. It's a fantastic snorkeling beach; I've been there several times. But as others have said, the north shore beaches are dangerous during winter months.

 

[Kildahl]

Amen. We don’t turn our back on the ocean here in the winter. We still have vivid memories of the search along the ocean edge of the property most of the night for the journalist who has swept away by a rogue wave on Anini in January of 2021. We listened to authorities interview the man that attempted to save her the next morning.

 

[wilma]

I believe one is required, and @DeniseM's post above suggests the same.

Please let us know your experience.

You don’t need a permit to park at Tunnels. We were there in August-September 2022 and parked several times at the side streets next to tunnels (best around 8 am or after lunch) or park at the Haena county park (not the state park). Always got a parking spot.

 

[DavidnRobin]

The road check is right beyond Tunnels at Haena State Park entrance (iirc) on other side of main beach parking.
See link above for details.


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[Kildahl]

The road check is right beyond Tunnels at Haena State Park entrance (iirc) on other side of main beach parking.
See link above for details.


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The Road check is presently at the entrance to Ke’e. We had another awe inspiring morning at the beach this week.
There is limited free parking if you choose to use the beach at Haena State Park but use of Ke’e requires an entry pass even if you walk in. Admission is free to those holding a valid Hawaii ID and their family.

 

[rickandcindy23]

We walked from Shearwater over to Westin and walked down to the beach from Westin and the path smelled of over-ripe mangos and papayas laying on the ground. It was nauseating. The beach was as Denise said, not worthy of our time, but I just wanted to walk, so we did it, but with that odor, I don't see me doing it again.

 

[Kildahl]

Self-parking is free.
Taxes will be in the range of $10-$15 per night.
The beach at the hotel is nothing special, and is not within walking distance - I'd pass on it. When we stay in Princeville we like to drive to Hanalei Bay, Lumaha'i, Tunnels and Ke'e. You need a reservation for Tunnels and Ke'e. Ke'e is a my favorite place in Hawaii for snorkeling and swimming with a very easy beach entry for people of all ages and abilities, and lots of fish.

We were told that there is a parking fee of $20 a day for non owners. Taxes( state, and county) will amount to about $15 per night.

 

[Kildahl]

We walked from Shearwater over to Westin and walked down to the beach from Westin and the path smelled of over-ripe mangos and papayas laying on the ground. It was nauseating. The beach was as Denise said, not worthy of our time, but I just wanted to walk, so we did it, but with that odor, I don't see me doing it again.

We walked down the public path last week on a rainy day, and didn’t notice the smell and found the beach (Pu’u Poa ),in the same condition as many. keep in mind that the land between the west boundary of the hotel property and thePlantation Trail to the west (other than the paved path up to the Hanalei Resort) is essentially jungle.
We did observe that the hotel has a long way to go before opening on February 15 to get their pool scene along the beach ready for prime time. They will need help from the A-Team!
We find the view of Bali Hai from the beach stunning, rain or shine.

 

[DeniseM]

We were told that there is a parking fee of $20 a day for non owners.

Nope - If your reservation is a timeshare reservation there is no fee - if you rent from Vistana/Marriott, they can charge you.

 

[brentw52]

Just received our folio for our first week here and the taxes are about $15 as stated and as Denise said there is no parking fee on an exchange.

 

[Kildahl]

Amen. We don’t turn our back on the ocean here in the winter. We still have vivid memories of the search along the ocean edge of the property most of the night for the journalist who has swept away by a rogue wave on Anini in January of 2021. We listened to authorities interview the man that attempted to save her the next morning.

Correction: the tragedy occurred in January 2019, not 2021.