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The Beach Club was gorgeous! Everyone was very friendly and helpful. The staff was so helpful! The food was great! The view of the ocean was breathtaking, even the kids were quiet for a minute (and that NEVER happens :). The beach was accessible and we were able to rent snorkel and boogie boarding gear from the Beach Club!
This was a great no-fuss trip. United direct SFO to Lihue was smooth; Lihue Airport Car Rental a snap, then 20 minute drive to Poipu on the South coast. Waiohai has great two bedroom condos with huge bathrooms (xl tub) and full kitchens. Beautiful pools with a view of the beach that is steps away. This stretch of beach is just "around the corner" from the super crowed Poipu Beach lagoon with all of the toddlers.....and fairly private. A nice little sand bar/island you can wade out to also. So the beach was pristine, clean and rock/coral free for the kids. The first day we went to Wal-Mart close by and bought boogie boards and fins and the kids both became pretty expert very fast. We three went pretty far out everyday and caught tons of fun waves. There is a grill at the pool but no full restaurant but Roy's and Puka Dog is just across the street. Poipu Bay Golf also across the street and Kiahuna Muni very close too, beautiful. We explored the entire south, east and north of the island, biking, hiking and boggieing for a solid week. Easy peezy United flight back. Highly recommend.
We stayed here for 5 days in Nov 08 with our 9 month old. We were in Oahu for 5 days previously. This place is gorgeous and roomy. They have 5 pools, a couple of spas, a play structure, right on the beach (which is not rough), have lots of chickens, swans, birds, etc. Loved it! The rooms are all 2 bedrooms (master) and 2 baths, with a full size kitchen and livingroom.
It is a wonderful place to stay and I hope to take my son back when he is older to enjoy it.
This part of my trip report for Kauai, as well:
After 5 days, we were off to Kauai. Flew Hawaiian Air. I got a timeshare promotion for 6 days/5 nights and car rental, plus $50 at the Marriott in Poipu for $730. My parents met us there for a little R&R. The Marriott reserved a small Ford focus, so I upgraded us to an H3 Hummer (husband wanted to give it a whirl). We stopped and got groceries (wow-prices), since we had a 2 bedroom, with full kitchen at the Marriott. It is an amazing place, gorgeous grounds, BBQs, deli, etc! I would highly rec this place, especially if you have little ones.
I did have a hard time finding my sons formula (Good Start Natural Cultures) on Kauai, but finally found in Walmart and Safeway. Kmart and Big Save did not carry it, nor did the small Barking Sands Bx. Kmart was a great, cheap place to get souvenirs too. I SO suggest getting groceries at the Safeway near the airport before heading to the south shote. More selection and better prices.
We spent our days in Kauai driving to the North shore, checking out Barking Sands PMRF lodging (have pictures), swimming in the pools, Blow Hole, going to the beach to see the monk seals and turtles, and feeding the chickens. My son LOVED the chickens.
Barking Sands was a tricky base to get on. My DH is active and had his ID and I had mine. Both our names were on the rental car contract (which you MUST have), but his does not show up because it is just added through Hertz. My name was listed on the contract, so the guard made his switch and have me drive on base. The amenities on this base were little to none. Small Px, a subway, a gas station. The lodging looked nice, right on the beach. However, I have read this beach is not swimmable. I agree by the waves. It is also located at the end of a runway. As we were standing on the beach, I heard it coming and I thought it was just gonna plow us over. Ha ha Then it took off and and it was just overhead. It was a massive plane. Amazing. The beach is large and deserted.
In one of the few times we did eat out, I highly recommend the Puka Dog in Poipu. I thought a $6 hotdog was crazy, but it was great with the mango relish. Also the shaved ice (Wishing Well) was great on the North Shore.
All in all, we had a wonderful 10 days in Hawaii and of course will be back. Probably when our son is a little older to really enjoy the beach. My husband and I had a favorite island before our son and now have a different favorite with our son.
We have some great pictures, wonderful memories, and a little more travel experience with a little one under our belt. For anyone that discourages travel with a little one, do not listen. Just have realistic expectations that travel is different with them (not better, not worse- just different). If traveling is important to you before your child was born, then just carry on and adjust. :)
We came here through a subsidized offer to check out the timeshare program here. Although the timeshare presentation was a bit tedious, it was worth the stay here. For a moment, I was almost going to buy a timeshare, but my husband held strong.
We came here for 5 days with my parents and stayed in one of their 2 bedroom suites. It worked out perfectly and there was plenty of room for everyone.
The condo is clean and well serviced. The kitchen is fairly well stocked and Costco is not too far away (close to the airport) and the local Hawaiian supermarkets are great if you want to cook a meal in and pick up baby products so that you don't have to bring them all in the suitcase.
The kitchen is also key for feeding baby who's just exploring solids. We were able to store various jars of uneaten baby food for subsequent meals. Each unit also has a washer/dryer unit which is perfect when traveling with a little one who's learning how to eat.
Definitely a nice place for kids.
The Marriott really has made this vacation stay kid friendly with kid activities every day, fun pool (even a kiddie/baby pool). The only downside is the oceanfront has gotten less calm in front and near Brenecke's beach... Ours are not old enough but I saw many older kids with their boogie boards and you can see surfers farther out. The restaurant and bar at the hotel are great but there are many around that are walking or a car drive away. We had two cribs brought to the room and got highchairs and rented a stroller. The two rooms have a bathroom and the living room/kitchen area is in the middle...important to note that the rooms are practically SOUND PROOF, which is very important when you are trying to split a kid up from a screaming baby. We loved our stays here.
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