Kauai is one of the most expensive Hawaiian islands and, generally speaking, one of the most expensive places in the world.

Airbnb used to offer the best value for money; it is generally very popular in the US and there are a great many listings, but in recent years its listings have become comparable to those on the most popular site, Booking.com.

Compare hotel prices on Kauai

Where to stay on Kauai

Kauai is a relatively small island where you’ll need to hire a car, which makes choosing where to stay much easier if your main priority is the lowest price.

The problem with Kauai is the relatively small number of hotels and, in particular, budget guesthouses or hostels. Kauai is dominated by more expensive seaside resorts and very expensive holiday villas, which can, however, be worth it if you’re travelling in a group of at least 4–6 people.

Look for the cheapest accommodation in the town of Waimea on the south-west coast, or in Lihue, the island’s main town.

Lihue

South Coast

The island’s second-largest town and main economic centre is also home to the only airport, making it a very convenient location for accommodation. You can benefit from a full range of amenities (hypermarkets, shopping centres, banks, post office, government offices), excellent transport links and a relatively wide choice of hotels.

From Lihue, even the most remote parts of Kauai can be reached by car within an hour and a half / 70 km.

• Cheapest accommodation (up to 164 eur per night for two people) –Kauai Palms Hotel,Tip Top Motel
• Best hotels (up to 411 eur per night for two people) –The Kauai Inn,Kauai Beach Resort & Spa

Kapa’a and Wailua

East Coast

This twin town, now merged into one larger town, lies on the east coast of Kauai and offers the largest number of hotels and holiday homes on the whole island. Here, too, you’ll find a full range of tourist facilities, including supermarkets, shops selling beach and tourist equipment, and restaurants.

Kapa’a and Wailua are perfect starting points for exploring eastern, northern and central Kauai; destinations in the west are a little further away (approx. 85 km).

• Cheapest hostel (from 1 21 eur per night for one person) –Kauai Beach House Hostel
• Holiday homes (around 616 eur per night for 4–6 people) –Plantation Hale G14,Waipouli Beach Resort,Village Manor A21
• Best hotels in Kapaa (up to 287 eur per night for 2) –Kauai Shores Hotel,Aston Islander On The Beach

Princeville and Hanalei

North Coast

In the north of Kauai, known for its iconic Na Pali Coast, the two largest centres with the most accommodation options are the small resorts of Princeville and Hanalei.

Princeville, in particular, consists solely of residential villas and luxury holiday homes, whilst in Hanalei you’ll find a full range of amenities – shops, affordable restaurants, cash machines and beach equipment hire.

In terms of price, however, hotels and accommodation on the north coast are the most expensive on the whole island. To give an idea of the price level here, the cheapest accommodation, costing around 328 eur per night for two people, can be foundat theClub Wyndham Bali Hai Villas.

In Princeville and Hanalei, once again, if you’re travelling in a larger group, it’s worth renting one of the many holiday homes, which can cost as little as 123 eur per night per person. The downside, however, is that these villas are usually only available to rent for a few days to a few weeks a year, and finding a free slot can be a bit of a challenge.

• Hotels and accommodation in Princeville
• Hotels and accommodation in Hanalei

Poipu

South Coast

The largest classic beach resort on Kauai is the town of Poipu, situated at the very southern tip of the coast. Accommodation here is mainly in beachfront hotel resorts, with prices starting from around 369 eur per night for two people.

• Hotels and accommodation in Poipu

Poipu is also home to one of Kauai’s best-rated hotels,the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa. And what price should you expect? Be prepared to pay at least 1232 eur per night for two.

Waimea

South-west coast

The small town of Waimea is an ideal base for exploring Kokee State Park, Waimea Canyon and the entire sparsely populated west coast.

There are only two hotels in Waimea, but they are amongthe cheapeston the whole of Kauai, so feel free to stay here for your entire holiday. Whilst you’ll spend money on petrol travelling to the remote east coast, you’ll save significantly on accommodation.

• Inn Waimea Kauai– cottages and apartments with all the necessary facilities, priced from 144 eur per night for two
• The West Inn Kauai – a classic American-style 3* hotel with prices from 246 eur per night for two

Accommodation prices on Kauai and why is it so expensive?

Kauai ranks among the most expensive islands in Hawaii. The average price for one night in a double room at a classic 3* hotel ranges from 246 eur to 328 eur. 

You can count the cheaper hotels on the fingers of one hand, and they’re almost exclusively in the town of Lihue, with a few in Waimea in the west of Kauai. Even so, you’ll practically never find a price below 144 eur per night.

Unlike the other islands, there aren’t even any cheap hostels on a large scale on Kauai. 

You can get a lower price if travelling in a larger group (at least 4, ideally 6 to 8). On Kauai, there are many holiday homes available, with typical prices around 616 eur per night, but that’s for the whole house.

The downside of these holiday homes is that the owners usually only rent them out for a few weeks or even days a year, so finding a specific date when a particular house is available can be a bit of a challenge.

You’re bound to wonderwhy accommodation on Kauai is so expensive.It’s down to a combination of several factors.

One of them is the very high cost of land and building permits on the island, where most of the land is strictly protected. Furthermore, hotel complexes are not allowed to exceed four storeys in height, which further drives up prices.

The second factor is simply the island’s popularity and beauty. Kauai has a reputation as a ‘paradise on Earth’, particularly amongst American and Asian tourists; consequently, hotel operators have absolutely no reason to keep prices low – they’ll be fully booked anyway.

When to book accommodation on Kauai

Whilst larger 3* and 4* hotels and luxury resorts tend to be available throughout the year, holiday villas and houses – which can work out cheaper if travelling in a group – are often booked up months in advance.

When travelling to Kauai, there’s a simple rule to follow. Book as early as possible, ideally with free cancellation (which most hotels offer), and check websites such as booking.comor agoda.com regularly over time to see if any cheaper accommodation happens to become available.

Book your hotel on Kauai in advance