FAQs, What to Pack, and Helpful Information for Your Vacation

We understand that traveling to Kauai involves long flights, advance planning, and limited suitcase space. To make your vacation experience smoother, we’ve compiled a list of common questions we get asked, as well as recommended items to include in your luggage! Did we miss something? Let us know and we’ll update our list.

 

Common Questions

• What are your hours of operation?
  • • We are open from 8am – 5pm HST Monday thru Friday, and from 10am – 2pm HST Saturdays and Sundays. 

• What do I do if I have an after hours emergency?
  • • We provide our 24 hour emergency phone number to all of our guests in their check-in instructions. Please locate this number and save it in your phone in case of an emergency. What constitutes an emergency? After hours lockouts, water leaks, fire at the property are all examples of when to contact our emergency line. A broken window screen, WiFi/TV not working, seeing bugs in the condo are NOT emergencies. If your safety is in jeopardy, your personal property has been stolen, or there has been a break-in, please contact 911 immediately before notifying us. 

• Can I have a late checkout/early check-in?
  • • Typically, no. We cannot guarantee that an early check-in will be available. Please check with us on the day of your arrival, and we will notify you if your condo is available earlier than our standard check-in time of 3pm. We can accommodate a late checkout of 5pm for the cost of half a night’s rent (plus tax), only if there is not another party checking into the property on the same day of your departure. 

• Will my condo have WiFi?
  • • Yes! All of our properties are prepared for the 21st century, and have high speed WiFi. Most of the time you’ll be able to work, take video meetings, text and call, and stream movies and TV shows with no problem. HOWEVER, it’s important that you keep in mind Kauai’s remote location, and frequent rain showers. Both will impact the speed and reliability of your WiFi connection, and you may encounter service outages during your stay. 

• Will my condo have a TV?
  • • Yes! Unless you are staying at Hanalei Colony Resort, your condo will have a TV. Almost all are modern smartTVs equipped with standard streaming services, and those that aren’t smartTVs will include access to cable TV. If you are staying at Hanalei Colony Resort, your condo will NOT have a TV in order to comply with the resort’s strict noise ordinances, and “Old Hawai’i” feel, with the exception of HCRI2. 

• What toiletries and household products will you provide for my stay?
  • • We will provide a starter kit for your stay that includes: 3 packets of powdered laundry detergent (1 packet can be used for 1 load), 2 packets of preground Lion coffee, 2 granola bars, a fresh dish sponge, dish soap, dishwasher pods, a roll of paper towels, kitchen trash bags, shampoo, conditioner, and bodywash*, and toilet paper for the bathrooms. Once the supplies in the starter kit run out, you are responsible for stocking the rest of your stay with laundry detergent, coffee, and personal toiletries. 

*Please note that we are in the process of upgrading all of our units to full size shampoo, conditioner, and body wash dispensers. Certain units may only offer hotel sample size bottles of these products. 

• If we run out of toilet paper or trash bags will you provide more?
  • • Generally, yes we will! If a member of our staff is unavailable to drop more off, we may ask you to purchase these items on your own and reimburse you instead. 

• What kind of coffee maker is in the unit?
  • • Every unit will have a drip coffee maker available for your use! There may also be a Keurig K-cup style machine available in some units, though it’s not common.

• Are there spices/cooking oil/foil/etc.?
  • • It’s fairly common for our units to have basic spices, cooking oil, and aluminum foil available for your use, though it is NOT a guarantee. You’ll also find basic cooking utensils, pots, pans, knives, and storage containers in each kitchen. Spices and oil go rancid much quicker in the wet tropical environment, so items available for your use may have expired. We recommend checking in and looking through the kitchen cabinets to see what is available, and then purchasing any necessary items for your stay. You can also bring any items you know you won’t be able to live without to avoid having to purchase them on island. 

• Do you provide beach gear?
  • • Beach gear availability varies widely by unit. Beach towels are always provided, and beach chairs, coolers, and sand umbrellas are common, but not guaranteed. We recommend checking with us directly after booking to verify what beach gear is stocked in your rental. For anything not provided, beach and snorkel gear is available for rental across the island, and is usually very affordable. 

• What do we do with our trash/recycling?
  • • Trash and recycling should be thrown out regularly during your stay, to prevent attracting unwanted pests. Each condo will have access to either shared complex dumpsters, or numbered trash cans. Recycling availability differs from complex to complex. If your condo does not have access to a recycling bin, you may choose to throw it in the garbage, or take it to one of the Kauai County Recycling Centers, listed here. 

• Is there a pool or hot tub at my condo? 
  • • With the exception of Hanalei Bay Villa 26, all of our properties have access to a communal pool. How to access your complex’s pool, as well as a map with its location, will be provided in your check-in instructions. Some complexes have a hot tub as well, though it’s not the standard. Complex pool hours will be prominently posted around the entrance to each pool area. 
• Is there a grill at my condo?
  • • Most condos will have access to either a community grill, or private grill on the lanai. The only condos that do not have guaranteed access to a grill are condos in the Kamahana and Puamana complexes. It’s also important to note that the communal grills at the Sealodge condos are charcoal grills, and you will need to bring your own charcoal briquettes. Many parks around the island have charcoal grills available for you to use as well, if you prefer a barbecue by the beach! 

• Can I smoke on the lanai at the condo?
  • • No. We do NOT allow smoking inside or on the lanai of any of our condos. If you would like to smoke, you will have to go to the designated smoking areas in your complex, or out to the parking lot as long as you are at least 50 feet away from any building. 

• Will there be a mid-stay cleaning service?
  • • If you have a stay that is 15 days or longer, we provide a mid-stay cleaning service. We will reach out to you after your arrival to schedule your mid-stay cleaning at a time that is convenient for you. Our mid-stay service includes fresh linens and towels. 

• There are bugs in the condo, is this normal? What should we do?
  • • First, rest assured that we conduct regular pest control on all of our properties, and schedule spot treatments as necessary. Unfortunately, pests remain a part of island life. Common insects you may see are ants, small black gnats/flies, and cockroaches. You may also encounter bright green geckos, but we like those! They help control the bug presence, and will almost certainly leave you alone. If you see dead insects, this means the pest control is working! If you see live insects in your condo, however, please notify us immediately so we can remedy the situation as fast as possible. We also ask that you take your trash out regularly, and do not leave any food exposed on the counter for long stretches, as this will encourage the pest presence. 

• Do I need a rental car?
  • • We strongly recommend one, yes! While it is possible to get around the island without access to a personal vehicle, it will certainly make your travel times longer if relying on public transportation, and more expensive if relying on rideshare and taxi services. Additionally, driving time around the island can be much longer than you may expect. Travelling from North Shore to South Shore or vice versa for your planned activities can take up to 90 minutes. If you plan to stay without a rental car, we recommend staying in Lihue, Kapa’a, or Poipu, as these are more walkable parts of the island. 

• Where should we get our groceries on the island?
  • • If you’re looking to do a big grocery run at the beginning of your trip, we recommend going to one of the big box stores in Lihue after you land. This is where you’ll find the Walmart, Target, and Costco. If you’re staying on the North Shore, you’ll find at least one grocery store in every town from Kapa’a to Hanalei, including Safeway, Big Save Market, and Foodland. Expect grocery prices to be higher than you’re used to seeing off-island, and product availability to differ. 

• Where should we stay and what should we do when we’re on the island?
  • • That’s entirely up to you! We have several blog posts* that can help you determine what part of the island is best for your vacation, and some must-do activities we like to recommend! For booking activities and renting beach or baby equipment, we recommend reaching out to our concierge partners at Kauai Vacation Activities! 

*Helpful Blog Posts:

A Guide to Shelling & Beachcombing on Kauai

A Guide to Kauai’s State Parks

Common Pests of Kauai & How to Enjoy a Bug-Free Vacation

Kauai’s Best Coffee Shops & Cafes

Popular Summertime Activities on Kauai

Island Hopping: Worth It or Waste of Time?

 

Recommended Packing List

• A lightweight rain jacket or windbreaker. It rains often on the North Shore, and it’s useful to have something small and lightweight you can throw in your bag for the day. 
• A lightweight cardigan or sweater. It can get chilly at night, and while a heavy jacket isn’t necessary, a lighter sweater is nice to have. 
• Water shoes. Some of the beaches, especially on the South Shore, can be quite rocky and hard on your feet. Reef shoes are great for protecting your feet, and are especially recommended for kids. 
• Comfortable sandals AND close-toed shoes with good tread. Sandals are great for beach days and general walking around, but if you plan on hiking at all you will definitely want a treaded sneaker or hiking boot. Paths can get very muddy and slippery, especially after rainfall.  We don’t recommend wearing anything you care about while hiking, Kauai’s red dirt will stain everything.
• A baseball cap or sun hat. The UV index is much higher on Kauai than the mainland United States, and you will sunburn quite quickly. To avoid having to worry about sunscreen all day, sun hats are practical UV protection. 
• Reef safe sunscreen, and anti-nausea meds for any boat excursions. You can also easily purchase these items on-island if you’d rather save packing space for souvenirs!
• Hiking/Trekking poles. If you plan on making hiking a main feature of your vacation, or if you’re planning on hiking the Kalalau Trail, hiking poles will be greatly appreciated on the muddy terrain. 
• A reusable water bottle. Although you can purchase water bottles easily across the island, there are also plenty of locations to refill your own water bottle, and it cuts down on plastic waste. 

 

If you forget any of these items, don’t stress! Although Kauai is a remote island and life moves at a different pace, you’ll still find all the comforts of modern life, including access to grocery stores and other shopping. If you would prefer to purchase something online and have it delivered to your condo, be sure to read over our guide on how to ship things to Kauai!