I was in desperate need of a vacation after the Christmas season, so we decided to head to Kauai in January 2009. This was my third trip to the Hawaiian Islands and my first time to Kauai, and I wish I had thought of going there sooner

United Airlines was offering ridiculously low airfare to Kauai from Phoenix, so for the first time ever, I flew United. We had a stop in LA, which wasn’t terrible, and the flight wasn’t bad, except for the row of young children who were sitting in front of me. It was a family of seven- two parents and five kids. For some reason, the parents both sat in the left row of three seats and left three of the kids to sit by themselves on the right. This proved to be quite a disaster, especially since one of them (or maybe more?) had a cold, and guess who acquired that cold halfway through their trip? So, sitting behind a few wild children not only ruined my flight, but it ended up almost ruining my trip. Thankfully, the flight home was uneventful. We had bumped up to Economy Plus, which was worth the extra $138, and I had taken lots of NyQuil for my terrible cold, so I was able to sleep for the entire trip home.

As I’m sure I have mentioned in previous reviews, I own a timeshare through Starwood. This year, I chose to exchange it for our stay at the Westin Princeville in Kauai. The resort is less than a year old and is quite magnificent. Starwood tried to create a more authentic Hawaiian experience, rather than the oppulent luxury that is offered two miles down the road at the St. Regis Princeville (side note- The Princeville was just recently renovated and upgraded to a St. Regis resort. It was still closed while we were there, but I can imagine the resort is spectacular and worth a visit.) My feeling is that the Westin did a great job combining the authentic Hawaiian experience with the luxury that Westin offers. We had a one bedroom studio, which was quite roomy, although we missed not having a kitchen table. The décor was beautiful and the room was very well maintained. Since we were on the 3rd floor, we also had a small view of the ocean (side note- the resort sits up on a cliff and does not have direct beach access. There is a shuttle that takes you to the Princeville to visit the beach.)

The resort grounds were very lush, which is especially nice since the resort is so new. There were four pools, two of which are smaller pools in between the condos. Since the resort only has timeshare units, there was one main restaurant for all three meals and a market to purchase food that can be cooked in the condos or on the many grills that were located throughout the property (side note- as with all resorts, the market was a little pricey, so we purchased all of our food at the Wal-Mart located in Lihue and the Safeway in Kapa’a. Due to my horrible cold that I caught on our third day, we only ate at a restaurant once and it was at Bubba Burger in Hanalei. Nothing fancy at all.) As with most Westin Resorts, they also offered many onsite activities, which ranged from a family movie night, to a wine tasting, to feeding fish at the Koi pond. They also offered a drink of the day for $5 and I have to admit, most of them were pretty tasty!

Due to my illness, we did not get to explore the island as much as I would have liked. The first two days we were there, before my cold took hold, we were able to get out and see some of the free sights that make Kauai so beautiful. On the first day, we drove from Princeville to the Waimea Canyon. It was an all-day activity and the canyon is gorgeous. We also stopped along the way to take pictures from some of the scenic points that are marked along side of the road. On the second day, we chose to hike the Kalalau Trail, which is just past Hanalei on the North Shore. The trail boasts stunning views of the Na Pali Coast and can be a 4 mile round trip hike to Hanakapiai Beach or 11 miles one way to Kalalau Beach. While I have to admit that the scenery was amazing, this hike is not for the faint of heart. Fodor’s Guide said it was moderate, but maybe the combination of rain over the few days prior with me starting to fall ill made it a death march. At any rate, be prepared for some steep climbs and narrow paths that lead to a rocky beach that isn’t anything what you picture to be a beach. I recommend this hike only if it’s dry and if you have hiked previously on moderate trails. On our third day, I was a little worse for wear, but we did manage to catch some views of the Kilauea Lighthouse and humpback whales swimming offshore. We did not enter the grounds of the Refuge/Lighthouse, but we did catch a glimpse of many species of birds, as well as the whales (side note- the entrance fee is $3 and any proceeds at the gift shop go to the refuge, so it would be worth going into the park, as long as you aren’t contagious!) One thing we wished we had been able to do is take a boat tour of the Na Pali Coast. It was stunning on the hike, so I’m sure it’s even more stunning looking up at it from the ocean.

We had an amazing time regardless of any mishaps that occurred along the way. After having been to a few different islands, this one is one of my favorites and it is my favorite island as far as natural beauty is concerned. I hope to return here in the future, armed with Vitamin C and hand sanitizer, of course!