The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Kauai

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to Kauai

Kauai Coastline, Hawaii Kauai Coastline, Hawaii

If it's your first trip to Kauai, Hawaii for the activities and sightseeing, then you're in for a treat. But the biggest question is often where to stay for a first time visitor to Kauai. With so many amazing hotels to choose from, it can be tough to make a decision to make the most of your first trip here. That's where we come in! In this comprehensive guide, we'll help you find the best hotels for first-timers in Kauai. After analyzing all of the hotels based on price, location, amenities, ratings, and more, we have come up with our list of the best hotels in Kauai for first time visitors. We'll cover everything you need to know about these hotels, including the amenities, location, prices and ratings. So, whether you're traveling solo, with family, or as a couple on a romantic getaway, you'll find the perfect hotel if you've never visited Kauai beofre. So check out these terrific hotels, many of which have sparkling swimming pools, delicious restaurants, and top-notch amenities, along with the perfect balance of comfort, location, and affordability. So, let's get to it and discover the best hotels in Kauai for your first trip!

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa

Poipu, Hawaii
4-star Resort with prices starting at $677 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

Located at 1571 Poipu Road, Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa has great rooms from $677 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 9.00 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 13.4 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love scuba diving, snorkeling, a bar, parking, and a kid-friendly buffet at this relaxing hotel. We always love having a pool, and the one here is really nice.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Table tennis
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Saltwater pool
  • Kids' club


The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas

Princeville, Hawaii
4-star Resort with prices starting at $442 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Kauai
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • Beach

A great place to stay is The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas which has nice rooms starting at $442. Offering an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking, it also has a great guest rating of 8.40 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 3838 Wyllie Road. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a kid-friendly buffet, hiking, rooms with kitchens, child care, and laundry services which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 12.6 miles from the city center. Having a kitchen in the room is a great way to make meals and save money, too. It's also less than the average price for first time trip hotels, so it's a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Kid-friendly
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Table tennis
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fitness room
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Kids' club


Marriott's Waiohai Beach Club

Poipu, Hawaii
3-star Resort with prices starting at $477 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

We found Marriott's Waiohai Beach Club to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $477. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 9.30 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 2249 Poipu Road. You'll also find parking, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, child care, and laundry services which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 12.7 miles from the center of town. We always love being able to prepare simple meals in a hotel room, and the kitchenette here was teriffic.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Kid-friendly
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fitness room
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Princeville Resort

Princeville, Hawaii
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $1350 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Heated pool

With terrific rooms from $1350, Princeville Resort, at 5520 Kahaku Road provides an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. Its terrific guest rating is 8.96 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers scuba diving, snorkeling, a bar, parking, and hiking. It's located just 12 miles from the city center, too. Unwinding at the restaurant after sightseeing is a nice way to end the day.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Fishing
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Kids' club


Koa Kea Hotel & Resort

Poipu, Hawaii
5-star Resort with prices starting at $524 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Kauai
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

Koa Kea Hotel & Resort has a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. The great rooms here start at $524 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 2251 Poipu Road. Furthermore, it also offers snorkeling, a bar, parking, hiking, and laundry services, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 12.9 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. You'll love relaxing in the hot tub at the end of the day, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Saltwater pool


Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu Autograph Collection

Poipu, Hawaii
4-star Resort with prices starting at $534 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

The great guest rating of Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu Autograph Collection is 9.10 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, room service, a water park, a restaurant, and a fitness center. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $534, and it's located at 2641 Poipu Road. We also love the scuba diving, snorkeling, a bar, hiking, and rooms with kitchens which are great for visitors. And since it's just 12.6 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too. The swimming pool is fantastic and lots of fun, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Water park
  • Snorkeling
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool
  • Saltwater pool


2417 @ Lihue Oceanfront Resort Kauai Beach Drive Kauai Hawaii

Hanamaulu, Hawaii
3-star Resort with prices starting at $451 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Kauai
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • Beach

A cool place is 2417 @ Lihue Oceanfront Resort Kauai Beach Drive Kauai Hawaii because it has great rooms that start at $451. It has an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, scuba diving, and snorkeling, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.00 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at Kauai Beach Resort 4331 Kauai Beach Dr. Only 12.6 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love a bar, parking, hiking, mountain views, and laundry services at this convenient hotel. It's also less than the average price for first time trip hotels, so it's a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Fishing
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground


Kauai Beach Resort & Spa

Hanamaulu, Hawaii
4-star Resort with prices starting at $255 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Beach

Kauai Beach Resort & Spa offers a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and snorkeling which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $255 (before taxes). It's located at 4331 Kauai Beach Drive and has earned a guest rating of 8.10/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers a bar, a kid-friendly buffet, mountain views, a spa and wellness center, and a spa which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 12.6 miles from the city center. Nothing says relaxation like having room service delivered. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
  • Kid-friendly
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop


Kiahuna Plantation Resort Kauai by Outrigger

Poipu, Hawaii
3-star Resort with prices starting at $349 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Kauai
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Beach
  • Pool

Located at 2253 Poipu Road, Kiahuna Plantation Resort Kauai by Outrigger has great rooms from $349 (before taxes). It offers a pool, an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, and a bar. It has a terrific 8.00 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find rooms with kitchens, laundry services, a hot tub, free parking, and laundry facilities which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 12.8 miles from the center of town. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Pool
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Kitchen
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Private pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Waimea Plantation Cottages a Coast Resort

Waimea, Hawaii
3-star Resort with prices starting at $364 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

A great place to stay is Waimea Plantation Cottages a Coast Resort which has nice rooms starting at $364. Offering an outdoor pool, a restaurant, snorkeling, a bar, and a kitchen, it also has a great guest rating of 8.90 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 9400 Kaumualii Highway. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers hiking, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, a spa, and a child pool. It's located just 11.2 miles from the city center, too. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Snorkeling
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Kid-friendly
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchen/Kitchenette
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Free parking
  • Fishing
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: Poipu, Princeville, Lihue, and Kapaa.

For more terrific hotel ideas in Kauai, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Kauai, Best Beach Hotels in Kauai, Best Luxury Hotels in Kauai, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Kauai, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Kauai, Best Hotels for One Week in Kauai, Best Hotels for One Night in Kauai, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Kauai, or Best Hotels for Scuba Diving in Kauai.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Kauai?

Kauai Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$458

After analyzing 32 first time trip hotels in Kauai, Hawaii, we found the average first time trip hotel price to be a remarkably economical $458. Naturally, this destination has many fantastic first time trip accommodation options with a variety of prices. The price will vary by the hotel's amenities, available dates, and the general location. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Kauai.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $1276
  • 4-star hotels: $432
  • 3-star hotels: $360
  • 2-star hotels: $294


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