Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay, HI

The lobby smelled amazing, and the koi pond was a delight. We were impressed by how lovely and convenient this hotel was for our trip. Compared with other Hilton Garden Inn locations, I’d call it a Hilton Garden Inn Plus. It isn’t a typical resort, but it has more than the usual HGI amenities, including hula lessons, lei-making classes, and ukulele lessons. The two small pools were clean and never very busy. Being connected to Lydgate Beach State Park was convenient. Our room faced the park, and we barely heard any noise, even with several large Christmas celebrations happening while we were there. The room was clean and the staff were friendly. This suited us well, and I’d highly recommend it for families who want a handy base for getting out and exploring Kauai.

We spent five nights here in mid-May and left deeply disappointed. The hotel looks charming from outside, but the rooms don’t justify the price. We found cockroaches, the carpet was so damp my socks got soaked just walking around, and there was a persistent unpleasant smell from the humidity. The AC worked but didn’t remove the odor, and it was almost impossible to ventilate the room. The only free items were low-quality coffee and water. Housekeeping also didn’t clean the rooms daily. We were woken by a false fire alarm on two nights in a row. When we asked the front desk what happened, nobody explained, apologized in writing, or left a note in the room. The last part of our trip was at another Kauai hotel, where there were no cockroaches, damp carpets, or bad smells, so the local climate doesn’t excuse these conditions. The location is very exposed to wind, which was consistently strong throughout our stay. Swimming wasn’t possible, and the outdoor bar was unusable in the evenings because it was cold. The hotel seems to be in a particularly unfavorable spot. There are also hidden costs: parking is $25 per night, with taxes on top that weren’t disclosed. We found free parking at a nearby beach lot, but the lot directly behind the hotel has to be cleared at night, so you may have to park farther away. I rarely leave negative reviews, but I feel compelled to this time. I wouldn’t recommend this hotel to anyone and strongly suggest looking elsewhere.

The location works if you just need somewhere to stay, roughly halfway between the north and south, with lots of dining options in Lihue. Rooms were okay and acceptably clean, but there’s no balcony and the humidity made it hard to dry things. Diamond members get a $20 daily credit for the store. At checkout, the staff member pointed out that I hadn’t used it every day and hadn’t spent the full $20 on some days, both true, and said she couldn’t give me the full credit. Then she handed me a bill with no credit at all, saying it was just for an “explanation.” None of it made sense to me, and I think she was saying random things to gaslight me. She then said she’d charge my card without showing an itemized bill. The $25 parking fee also has taxes added, which wasn’t disclosed. It’s not much, but why not just charge $25 and cover the taxes? They don’t offer security or any added value for parking. The Diamond parking area was often full, and the voucher doesn’t distinguish Diamond members, so I’m sure random people used those spots because they’re closer.

We were pleasantly surprised by how comfortable and convenient this hotel was for the price. It’s a solid 3-star stay at a very fair rate, especially given the location. The property shows its age in places and isn’t trying to be a luxury resort, so realistic expectations help. We stayed in November 2024 and have already booked another visit for the middle of this December. I’ll update this after that stay. The location makes getting to either side of the island straightforward. A public beach with easy lagoon access is only a short walk away, good for swimming, a stroll, or relaxing. Coconut Market Plaza, with shops, restaurants, and evening activities, is about 12 minutes on foot or a quick 3-minute drive. The lobby is welcoming and well maintained. Rooms can be hit or miss. Ours had a noisy air-conditioner and a couple of small maintenance issues, but staff were friendly and fixed everything quickly once we mentioned it. We especially appreciated the easy early check-in after a long travel day. The 24/7 snack bar came in handy more than once. For us, it was a clean, comfortable base in a good spot without breaking the bank.