Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu, Autograph Collection

I love this place. Parking was easy, and being able to self-park was a real plus for me. There were plenty of tourists, but it didn’t have that all-out touristy feel, and it was nice to see locals staying for a staycation too. The location worked perfectly for us, with everything we needed close by. The fitness room had what I needed for a quick workout and was an easy walk from any building. The rooms, setup, amenities, service, and room service were all top tier. After this stay, any hotel that beats it would have to be 10 stars. Such an outstanding resort!

There’s no beach access here, just a road and rocks on the other side. We felt misled by the descriptions and wouldn’t recommend it. The only food on the property was a mediocre pool bar, with no room service or poolside service. It felt more like a public pool with rooms around it than a real resort. For a quiet Hawaiian couples getaway, I’d look elsewhere. Families with loud kids might be happier here. The service was awful, and we often felt as if staff were scolding us. After our promised upgrade didn’t happen, we got a room supposedly upgraded for its ocean view, overlooking a junkyard backyard, power lines, a fence falling apart, and only a slight view of the rocky coast. We asked to change rooms and were told we’d have to wait three days. Once it was clear the property didn’t match the pictures or descriptions, we asked to check out a few days early. With my Titanium elite status, I didn’t expect that to be an issue, but they made it one. They wouldn’t refund our money, only our points, even though the points already covered more than that part of the stay. Crooks. Shame on you, Marriott. Apparently loyalty to your brand means nothing in the end.

The location made getting around easy. We walked to The Shops at Kukui‘ula and usually picked up coffee at Lappert’s. Poipu Beach, where we saw unforgettable turtles, was about a 30-minute walk. The Spouting Horn and Kōloa were a short drive, and having a car made exploring Kauai convenient and fun. We stayed 11 nights over Thanksgiving. Since we didn’t have kids with us, most of our pool time was at the adults-only Tranquility Pool behind Building 7. It was quiet, with waterfalls, a heated jacuzzi, and BBQ grills. The enormous main pool area looked great for families, with waterslides, play areas, and waterfalls. Our apartment had everything we needed to cook for ourselves. Staff refreshed towels and took out trash daily, with a full cleaning every third day, which suited a long stay. We shopped at Safeway in Lihue and enjoyed several island food trucks. We tried lunch at the on-site restaurant once, but the burgers weren’t our favorite meal and the service seemed tired, so we didn’t go back. Kōloa Landing made a great base for exploring Kauai, especially with its spacious rooms, pools, and relaxed feel. We enjoyed our time there and would happily return.

The villa’s woodwork and quality doors and screens really stood out to me. They slid almost silently, and once closed, blocked outside noise completely. We couldn’t hear anyone else inside our unit. The washer-dryer combo and included detergent were much appreciated too. We’d visited the Big Island before arriving and packed light so we could do laundry, and it was nice not to have to leave the room for it. I’d heard even the regular rooms have washers and dryers. There was a full kitchen, a living room with a big-screen TV, and a separate bedroom with a king bed and its own TV. The bathroom setup let us both get ready at once, with one room holding a sink and tub and another with a sink, toilet, and shower. Every room had beautiful art and photos. We were impressed by the furnishings and amenities, and there were complimentary chocolate-covered macadamia nuts and a nice logo beach bag waiting for us. The pool was amazing, though the adult infinity pool needs more indoor-outdoor rugs. I fell after getting out by the steps on the way to my chaise lounge, but thankfully wasn’t badly hurt. We also had good food and drinks at HoloHolo Grill, with friendly, excellent service from Leilani, Carla, and Dustin. The menu wasn’t too gourmet, and prices seemed reasonable for where we were. There’s also a spa, a small store, and a workout room, though we didn’t use those. We first visited Kauai for our anniversary 11 years ago and meant to return after five, but then covid hit. This time we chose Koloa Landing instead of the Grand Hyatt, and we’re so glad we did. The entrance and lobby are beautiful and feel iconic Hawaii, and the service was top-notch. This has become our favorite hotel anywhere. We hope to be back much sooner than another 11 years!