Backpackers Vacation Inn and Plantation Village

Being able to reach the beach in about 30 seconds on foot, with Foodland and food trucks nearby, made this a great base on the North Shore. We also appreciated free parking and having a laundry room. We stayed in remodeled private cabin 3 at the front of the lawn, looking straight out at the ocean. It had two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom, enough for up to four people. At $300 a night it wasn’t cheap, but we felt it was worth it. It’s still a hostel, so don’t expect anything fancy. We were surprised by the heat at first, but we were out during the day, and the fans cooled the cabin down at night. We even got chilly with them all running. We can’t wait to come back with friends.

The roosters starting up around 4 or 5 in the morning were the one real downside, though that’s something you expect in Hawaii. For a budget stay in an expensive area, this is about as good as it gets if all you need is a bed on the North Shore. It’s easy to walk to beaches, surf spots, food options, and a grocery store. The cabins have kitchens, which is handy for longer stays. They’re on a separate property from the check-in office, a little odd but not a long walk or drive. The place is all about location, and some great people stay here, so it’s a good chance to meet other travelers. The mostly young staff, who seemed like stoners, and the vibe gave me a bit of a “once upon a time in Hollywood” ranch feeling.

The balcony at our private studio in the beach house had a fantastic view, right over the beach. We’re an older couple, there for my partner’s 70th birthday, and we don’t usually choose backpacker places, but this one was awesome. We walked to Pipeline and Sunset in under an hour and caught some pretty decent waves. Waimea Bay and Waimea Valley are also a short walk away. Foodland nearby has good fresh food, and the bus stop is just a couple of minutes away, with one-way fares costing only a few dollars, even to Honolulu. There’s no air conditioning, but we were mostly out doing things and had a pedestal fan by the bed for sleeping. Free Wi-Fi, snorkelling gear at no charge with a $20 deposit, and great staff rounded things out. Wish we’d had more time here.

The location is great, and the people were lovely and kept to quiet hours. But you need to be okay with a rugged stay. The cabins badly need cleaning, maintenance, and updates, and we saw some big roaches inside.