Top Resorts on Kauai for Families

Our 3 Best Family-Friendly Resorts on Kauai

Three of the top family resorts on the beautiful island of Kauai include The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort VillasMarriott Kauai Resort, and The Sheraton Kauai Resort.  Located on the North Shore, Lihue, and Poipu Beach respectively, these resorts offer a unique and rejuvenating vacation experience with all the amenities, services, and activities to suit the needs of any age.  All three locations are close to many of the incredible Kauai Attractions and the magnificent sights of the Garden Island that people travel far and wide to visit.

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The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas

The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas, located in Princeville on Kauai’s pristine North Shore, offers a unique and beautiful Hawaiian accommodation experience.  The point of difference that sets the resort apart and makes it the ideal family getaway is the very spacious studios and one-bedroom villas that offer a unique ‘home away from home’ feeling.  The rooms are equipped with full-sized refrigerators, large kitchens, and kitchenettes, as well as pullout couches – catering ideally for families and couples.  Unlike a standard hotel room, the larger kitchen and spacious refrigerators give guests the option of shopping locally at farmers' markets and cooking and living as a local would.  All studios can be adjoined to neighboring villas for larger, perhaps multi-generational families to spread out.  The Westin Princeville offers the best of both worlds with all the traditional amenities that one would expect from an upscale hotel, like daily housekeeping and room service, with the option to do some or all things independently.   The Westin Princeville is set on spacious grounds, and even at full capacity, the resort is very quiet and peaceful.  Around the pools, there are six BBQ areas, with a total of 20 BBQs for outdoor family events and parties.  The Westin is known for its outdoor parties and hosts the Annual Westin Princeville Jazz & Wine Festival on the lawn every September.  The resort has two restaurants. Nanea which offers indoor and outdoor seating with beautiful distant ocean views, open for breakfast through dinner for delectable island-inspired dining, and the Wailele Bar, situated adjacent to the main swimming pool and featuring casual poolside dining including local favorites and invigorating fruit smoothies or specialty tropical drinks. 

The Westin Princeville features a steam room, dry sauna, and a full workout room.  Spa services are located in outdoor Papai (gazebo) by the pools or on the spacious lawn and are also available in the comfort of your villa.  Guests may take advantage of the Westin’s sister hotels St Regis Princeville and Sheraton Kauai Resort and charge services such as the full-service Halele'a Spa or any dining experience back to their Westin room as part of the “stay at one, dine at all” program.  Daily activities at The Westin include activities such as lei making, koi fish feeding, surfing lessons or nature walks.  Local activities include the 27 hole Makai Golf Course, Princeville tennis courts, horseback riding, zipline, and more.  Several intimate outdoor areas are available for small ocean view weddings, including ceremonies, receptions, and other special events for up to 100 guests with customized menus of island-inspired dishes.  Known for its lush mountain peaks and piercing blue ocean vistas, Kauai’s North Shore offers an ideal setting for rejuvenation, and the Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas are the ideal location for that perfect family vacation.

Marriott's Kaua'i Beach Club

Similarly, the idyllic location of Marriott's Kauai Beach Club, situated right on Kalapaki Bay in Lihue - central to so much of what the Garden Island has to offer - make this resort an attractive destination, especially for families, but also for honeymooners and convention or business groups.  What sets the Marriott's Kaua'i Beach Club apart from other luxury hotels in Hawaii is the warm island hospitality (often termed the ‘aloha spirit’), and the relaxing and spacious, comfortable environment that truly makes it a home away from home.  The spacious 5-star hotel rooms, most of which offer beautiful views and feature a balcony, are second to none in comfort and location, and offer that uniquely Hawaiian experience with beautiful tropical patterns and upholstery.  The Marriott's Kauai Beach Club won the Crystal Apple Award for ‘Best Staff and Service Worldwide’ in 2014.

The resort offers something for everyone in the family, with a wide variety of recreational activities, from Hawaiian cultural experiences to world-class art galleries as well as a broad selection of water sports - including surf, paddleboard, and kayak beach rentals.  For the golf enthusiast, there is the 18-hole Jack Nicklaus championship course at nearby Kauai Lagoons.  Marriott's Kaua'i Beach Club also boasts a 24-hour fitness center, as well as many fitness and beach yoga classes to choose from.  There are outdoor movies each Tuesday night, hula lessons, ukulele lessons, and live music most evenings. The beautifully landscaped gardens display a uniquely oriental theme – featuring a variety of gondolas, statues, and carved friezes, which remained from the original hotel. Alexander Spa offers a variety of massages and body treatments, as well as its full Salon, which specializes in bridal services.  To add to your experience, there are a variety of boutique shops dotted throughout the complex. 

Delightful island seafood and fresh produce abound in the relaxing and open-air restaurants and lounges The many restaurants in and around the resort include Kukui’s Poolside Restaurant and Bar (island-inspired cuisine), Kalapaki Grill (light fare, burgers by the pool), Toro Tei (Japanese sushi bar), Aupaka Terrace (breakfast and light dinner fare), Dukes (seafood restaurant with ocean views) and Café Portofino (al fresco Italian fine dining with views).  With the Marriott brand, you know what to expect when it comes to personalized service with their unique ‘Spirit to Serve’ philosophy.   Discover a leader in style and service among Kauai hotels and resorts and enjoy breathtaking beachfront views at the Marriott's Kaua'i Beach Club.

The Sheraton Kauai Resort

The Sheraton Kauai Resort offers casual elegance in an oceanfront playground, fronting the quarter-mile, crescent-shaped, white sand Poipu Beach on Kauai's South Shore.  The resort’s premier location is complemented by a $16 million revitalization of the property completed in April 2012, including social gathering areas, a swimming pool, RumFire Poipu Beach restaurant, and Lava’s at Poipu Beach.  The hotel was first built in 1968, and the buildings exude that ‘old-Hawaii’ atmosphere with a modern touch.  Sheraton Kauai is a wonderful family-friendly resort in an ideal location that offers everything that is needed for the perfect getaway.

Perfectly situated to greet the sunrise, every guest room in the Beach and Ocean Wings faces the sea.  It is truly something to walk onto your private lanai and take in the breathtaking ocean views, especially during the winter months when the whales are active.  For those who prefer quiet beauty, the Garden Wing accommodations overlook acres of vibrant tropical blooms and sparkling waterfalls.  Connecting rooms are available for families.  Each room features beautiful four-poster Sheraton Sweet Sleeper® Beds (either one king or two doubles), private lanai, LCD flat-screen TV, in-room movies, and Sheraton bath amenities.  As part of the $30 daily resort fee, additional services include Valet Parking, Oceanfront yoga, Wireless Internet access, Courtesy shuttle service to Poipu area attractions, and cultural activities, including arts/crafts and hula lessons.  Whatever your interests may be, the resort concierge is on-call to book activities and help plan your itinerary.  Given the oceanfront location, you will find unlimited beach activities right outside your door.  Scuba and snorkeling equipment, boogie boards, and beach cabanas are available at the Activity Center adjacent to the resort’s two swimming pools - the brand new oceanfront pool and the tranquil garden pool.  Even the fitness center, which has been refreshed with all new facilities, offers a workout with an ocean view. Excellent shopping and numerous local attractions are within walking distance.

One of the best additions made during the 2012 refurbishment was the complete renovation of the oceanfront restaurant that is now RumFire.  It is the perfect setting for a decadent dinner, artfully blending Hawaiian-rooted cuisine with global influences.  Private dinners with customized menus and secluded rooms are available for small or large functions.  RumFire is open Tues – Sat in the evening.  Lava’s, which is also an oceanfront restaurant, offers all-day dining and an open-air bar.  This casual, locally inspired bar and grill offers a great dining experience with service from sunrise to sunset.  Sheraton Kauai Resort’s ‘Auli’i Lu'au is held twice weekly on the Beach Lawn.  Link@Sheraton Café serves Starbucks coffee and fresh, casual fare and is open 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m daily.  The resort is also well equipped to partner on groups with a variety of oceanfront meetings and event space, with over 60,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor function areas.  Spa services are offered in the beautiful oceanside bungalows, and the expert practitioners specialize in Lomi Lomi techniques to relax the body and soothe the soul.  Sheraton Kauai Resort offers something for everyone – the whole family can relax and enjoy the ultimate vacation experience.

Whether you choose The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas, Marriott Kauai Resort, or The Sheraton Kauai Resort, you will be sure to enjoy a relaxing and unforgettable family vacation experience on the magical island of Kauai.

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