Waipouli Beach Resorts & Spa Kauai by OUTRIGGER

The beachside restaurant Oasis was excellent, though its hours were oddly limited and it was closed on Sundays. The pool was always clean and very kid-friendly, and the security guards were friendly. Still, I don’t think this resort offers anything close to four-star quality. After 7 p.m., no host or resort employee seemed to know the premises, and reaching someone on the number they provided was difficult.

The two-bedroom unit was pristine, with excellent decor, a high-quality bed, and clean bathrooms stocked with everything we needed. The pool was great fun for the kids, parking was easy, and a shopping complex sits right across from the resort. The location is pretty central. I paid $3,000 for three nights, Dec 26-29. It was pricey for a last-minute booking, but I didn’t feel it was money wasted. At roughly $1,000 a night, though, I’d probably expect more elsewhere. Kauai is different because supply is limited and decent places are expensive. I just wish we’d had an ocean view instead of a Safeway view for that price. A five-star rating at this rate would have needed either an ocean view or a location in Princeville with a gold course.

The beach was nice for relaxing, and the sunrise was lovely. The kids weren’t as keen on playing in the water there as they were at other beaches. The pool was nice, too. There was a lot of trash piled up in the parking lot, and it seemed to be a recurring problem.

This is basically a dressed-up Airbnb, so don’t arrive expecting the service of a traditional motel. We had no problems during our stay. The place was clean and felt secure, and the pool was warm and clean. They let us use pool noodles, so we could float and relax. It’s right on the beach, but the shoreline is rocky, which limits how much you can actually play in the water. We had a great experience overall.