How to plan a DIY trip to Kauai

Here you'll find answers to all your questions on how to organize and customize your trip to Kauai, Hawaii's most historic 'garden island'.

The table is set.

On Kauai you'll find:

• The best snorkeling beaches in the entire Hawaiian archipelago.
• A grand canyon rising in the middle of the Pacific.
• Hiking that is equal parts exhausting and unforgettable.
• The greenest and wettest mountains in the United States from a bird's-eye view.
• Endless and inaccessible cliffs, or nearly so.

If it were up to me, I would have stayed on Kauai for months.

Exploring every trail, taking in every sunset, checking out every reef, and hiking up every mountain, until I had to retire my beloved hiking boots.

However, it wasn't up to me.

I only had 9 days, though I made the absolute most of my stay on the island.

Here I'll tell you everything you need to know to organize your own custom adventure on Kauai.

When to go

When to go to Kauai?

Always. Or in other words, whenever you can.

Weather-wise, temperatures stay pleasant all year round, slightly warmer from May to October, and a bit cooler from November to April.

You have to keep the microclimates in mind. It won't be the same temperature on the beaches as at the top of Waimea Canyon, for example. And it won't rain the same amount either…

Rainfall, for instance, is hard to avoid. The good thing is that they are usually quick, passing showers.

Budget-wise, the high season spans July, August, and the Christmas holidays. If you try to avoid these months, you might manage to lower your budget.

But remember, this is an eminently North American vacation destination. Prices, therefore, are set for that type of tourist.

Our experience

We visited Kauai for 9 days in the second half of November 2016.

Bad weather and sea conditions changed our initial plans on more than one occasion.

However, thanks to having put together a very flexible itinerary on our own, and booking the organized tours for the first few days of the trip—the Napali coast by boat and the helicopter flight over Kauai—we managed to see and do everything we set out to do.

In both cases, our scheduled activities were cancelled and delayed due to heavy rain or rough seas.

But we had the flexibility to make the most of the day by switching plans, like heading up to Waimea Canyon and doing some trekking, for example (we love an adventure!), while pushing the tour back two or three days.

That's how we made the most of every moment, even if it rained.

And boy did it rain… Almost every day, even though they were always quick downpours that let the sun break through right away.

And do you know what happens when it rains and the sun comes out?

Rainbows.

Of all sizes. Double. Triple. Everywhere.

Mmmm…

Getting around

Public transportation on Kauai is very limited, so to get around the island freely, you'll need to rent a vehicle.

After a lot of surfing the web, I found the best prices on AlohaRent. Apparently, it looks like AlohaRent and DiscountHawaiiCarRental belong to the same company, since I got confirmation emails from both.

Once you receive your booking code, you can enter it directly on the Dollar website (or whichever rental company your car is with) and verify right there that all your details are correct.

What car to rent

Well, the first point to consider is your budget:

The smaller and simpler the car, the lower the rental cost.

But if you don't have budget constraints, or they offer you an 'upgrade' at the counter for the same price, ask yourself:

What are you going to do with the car?

If, like us, you are going to leave it parked in unattended areas for hours while you hike…

Are you going to choose a convertible? Seriously?

In any case, there are two things to keep in mind:

• Driving rental cars on unpaved roads is not permitted, even if you rent a 4×4.
• All vehicles in Hawaii are automatic. If you're not used to it… you'll have to learn on the spot, just like we did…

Speaking from experience:

Watch out for the brakes! They're super sensitive!

Our rental car

Specifically, we booked a Chevy Spark (the most basic model) from Dollar for 9 days for $298 (291.5€; 32.4€ per day). For this price we got:

• Unlimited mileage.
• Taxes included.
• Full coverage for collisions, theft, or accidents (LDW, Loss Damage Waiver).
• Additional $1 million liability insurance.
• Protection against uninsured motorists (which is apparently very common).

By Hawaii standards, this budget is really great, trust me.

And do you know the best part about this rental site?

They don't ask for your credit card number upfront, and you can cancel your reservation at any time free of charge.

In other words, you don't pay until you pick up the car.

So, if you find a better deal, you can take advantage of it without losing any money.

What you need

• A valid driver's license and being over 21 years old for almost all vehicles.
• A credit card to pay; debit cards are not accepted.
• To arrive at the rental desk no more than 6 hours later than the time indicated in your booking confirmation. After that, the online agreement is canceled.

Where to sleep

This is the crux of the matter!

If you look at Google Maps, you'll see that there is only one main road running along the east coast of Kauai.

In other words:

There are no roads crossing through the middle of the island.

To go from north to south, you have no choice but to drive around it.

It starts—or ends, however you want to look at it—at Ke'e Beach, right by the trailhead of the famous Kalalau Trail.

From there, it traces an inverted 'C' shape along the north, east, and south coasts, ending between the entrance to Waimea Canyon and Polihale Beach.

A 2-hour drive separates both ends of the route.

• If you stay in the south: Whenever you want to see Kauai's gorgeous northern beaches, hike part of the Kalalau Trail, or simply marvel at the stunning mountains in this part of the island, you'll have to drive around 4 hours in
• If you stay in the north: But you want to visit Waimea Canyon or soak up the sun on the south coast… that's another 4 to 5 hours of driving.

So… which one will you choose?

My recommendation:

Only staying a few days?

Think about what calls to you, what you really want to see and do in Kauai:

The north coast, with its lush green mountains full of waterfalls, its beaches, and the famous Kalalau Trail?

Or the south coast, with slightly drier weather, access to Waimea Canyon, and all its hiking trails?

Pick your accommodation close to your favorite spots.

That way, you'll make the most of your stay most of the time, without spending endless hours behind the wheel.

And as an exception, you can take a day or two to drive all the way to the other side of the island to explore it. It'll be a long day, but totally worth it.

Some people decide to stay on the east coast, midway between the north and south.

Unless that area is your favorite, I think this is a mistake, as it forces you to drive at least 2 hours every day during your stay on Kauai.

Got a week or more?

Divide and conquer:

Book part of your nights in the south and the rest in the north.

How much time you spend in each will depend, once again, on what you want to prioritize on the island.

In my view, this is the best option, and so it's the one we chose.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves. I'll share the details with you in a moment.

Types of accommodation

• Budget-friendly: If you want to save a good chunk of cash, you can camp in designated areas (after applying for the required permit) or settle into a shared room in a hostel in Kapaa, on the east coast ($30-$40 per person).
• Hotels: Prices are pretty steep, starting at around 100€ per night for a couple . And from there… to infinity and beyond!
• Condos: In other words, apartments. The price range is similar to that of hotels. In fact, many of these studios are part of large aparthotels or private residences. The perk compared to hotels is that staying in an apartment allows you to cook and cut down on your food budget during your trip. I found a great selection of places on VRBO, which is very popular and widely used in the United States.
• Airbnb: Here you'll find a huge variety of options, from tents in private gardens, homestays, and studios with kitchens for two, to multi-bedroom apartments for large groups. It's definitely worth checking out and comparing prices.

Our experience

We chose to sleep 5 nights in the south and 4 nights in the north of the island.

After a lot of researching online (you can't imagine how many hours I spent making this decision...), these were the lucky ones:

• Poipu Suite Paradise:

A spacious one-bedroom apartment in a residential complex in Poipu (to the south) with a terrace or garden-level 'lanai'. It was a huge and beautiful home, with everything you need: kitchen, washing machine, dryer, private parking, a super comfy bed, and even a walk-in closet!

A quiet place, a 5-minute walk from Poipu Beach and 10-15 minutes to Shipwrecks Beach.

The most delightful part:

Having breakfast every morning on the lanai, enjoying the little birds that came over to snoop around.

Out of our entire stay in Hawaii (Maui included), this was our favorite accommodation, even though the competition was fierce...

However, if I were to go again, I might try to look for something even closer to Waimea Canyon, for instance, in Waimea or Kekaha. On the other hand, I wouldn't be as close to Poipu Beach and its snorkeling...

Mmmm... So hard to decide...

It cost us $616.64 (570.7€), taxes included. Therefore, we paid 57.1€ per person per day.

• Studio in Princeville, through VRBO:

This accommodation was smaller, with no washer or dryer and a small minimalist kitchen located on the private lanai. This significantly limited the cooking options, although we managed as best we could.

That said, the apartment was very pretty and cozy; and the bed was super comfy.

It had very thrilling private parking, since there weren't enough spots for all the neighbors. However, luck was on our side every night. Yay!

It cost us $459.06 (433.5€), taxes included. Therefore, we paid 54.2€ per person per day.

What to pack for Kauai

Documents

Remember that you are going to the United States, so you'll need:

• A valid passport with more than 6 months of validity.
• A driver's license and credit card (not debit) to rent a car.
• Apply for and print the ESTA confirmation (Electronic System for Travel Authorization), without which you cannot travel to the USA.

Luggage

Heads up:

When you arrive at your first layover at a US airport, you'll have to collect your luggage, even if it's not your final destination, and drop it off again at the airline counter. You'll see the appropriate signs along your way.

Additionally, you'll have to go through passport control, where they'll check that you have a valid ESTA and everything is in order. They will take your fingerprints and a photo.

And now, what are the must-haves in your luggage?

• A good pair of hiking boots to enjoy trekking without slipping (or slipping as little as possible).
• A rain jacket, which also doubles as a windbreaker, or a rain poncho, for Kauai's rainstorms.
• Pack comfortable and lightweight clothes that dry quickly, along with a hoodie or sweater to keep you warm during the cooler nights.
• Swimwear and other beach accessories. Unless you plan on buying a swimsuit as a souvenir of your trip to Hawaii. In that case, you can pretend you forgot to pack it. It works for some people… 😉

Travel insurance

Have you ever heard about what medical care costs in the United States?:

It's insane.

Just imagine how expensive it must be that whether or not private health insurance is included is one of the most important factors when accepting a job offer in the USA.

The bill can easily reach four digits for any minor thing.

For example, how much do you think it would cost if you slipped while hiking and needed a sprain bandaged? Or simply getting urgent treatment for a high fever?

And let's not even talk about needing someone to come rescue you from a mountain trail or save you if a current drags you out to sea. You don't want to know...

Prevent an unexpected mishap like this from ruining your wonderful trip to Hawaii; the one you've been so excited about and planning for so long.

Get your travel insurance with IATI

I always travel with them.

And now your question is, why IATI and not another company? Simple:

• They offer several insurance options with rates tailored to your needs: Basic, Standard, Star, Backpacker, and Family. Their comparison tables will help you review all the options and decide which one best fits your trip (activities you'll do, coverage you value, etc).
• IATI directly covers medical or rescue expenses if you call them first when you're in trouble. That way, you won't have to pay anything upfront on the spot; plus, they'll guide you to the quickest and safest option for your situation. But don't worry, if you're in an emergency and can't contact them beforehand, you'll only need to submit the receipt for what you paid upfront, and they'll reimburse you in no time.
• They have very competitive prices. Specifically, my 21-day itinerary through Hawaii and San Diego cost less than 60€ per person. In my opinion, traveling fully insured and worry-free across the United States at that price is a total steal! What do you think?
• Need another reason? Well, here you go: a 5% discount on any policy you purchase through these links.

Can I give you a piece of advice?

Don't risk it, travel insured, enjoy your adventure and…

Come back home wanting more!

Conclusion

Now that you've got the info, this is your moment.

Plan your own custom trip to Kauai.

Follow your taste, listen to your desires… and get your adventure ready to make them come true.

If you're looking for more info, here are all the articles I've written about my trip to Kauai:

• Waimea Canyon, the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.
• Kalalau Trail, Kauai's most demanding trek.
• Kauai's most beautiful beaches: what are you in the mood for today?
• Awaawapuhi Trail, the Napali Coast at your feet.
• Fly over Kauai in a helicopter… with no doors!
• Discover the Napali Coast on a luxury boat.
• Queen’s Bath, forbidden beauty in the Garden of Eden.
• Mahaulepu Trail, hiking, temples, and pristine beaches in Kauai.

And finally:

• A detailed roadmap of our 9-day adventure in Kauai.

Everything we did, why we did it, and how we pulled it off. Are you going to miss it?

Want to explore another Hawaiian island? Check out our experience in Maui:

• Guide to planning a DIY trip to Maui.
• 7-day Maui road trip.
• The best snorkeling beaches in South Maui.
• Humpback whale watching off the coast of Maui.
• A nightmare before dawn at Haleakala.
• The full description of our experience at O’hoe Gulch and Pipiway Trail.
• 3 days and 2 nights exploring the Road to Hana.

Useful links

• International flight deals to Hawaii: Trabber, eDreams and Momondo.
• Camping on Kauai's accessible coast or in the Kokee Nature Reserve.
• Car rental AlohaRent and DiscountHawaiiCarRental.
• Booking deals in Kauai.
• Apartment rental website VRBO.
• Our studio in Princeville.
• Poipu Suite Paradise.
• ESTA application.
• 5% discount on your IATI travel insurance.

And if you have any questions or need more details on how to plan your trip around Kauai, drop me a comment down below. I'd love to help you out and even expand on the info in this article.