If you come during the winter, Kauai's south shore is the best place to base yourself because it's often rainy on the North Shore with high surf.
You can swim all year long in the Popiu Beach area and some of the best Kauai lodging is found here.
Whether you're looking for a hotel or vacation rental, there are several wonderful properties to choose from.
As a rule, the resorts here are on huge, landscaped grounds which have a real Hawaii feel.
And of course, you'll find great restaurants and shopping in the area too.
Because density is low, you won't feel crowded or packed.
Kauai's South Shore is a great place to relax.
One of our favorite Kauai resorts is The Sheraton Kauai Resort which shares beautiful Kiahuna Beach with Kiahuna Plantation.
You can swim, snorkel or sunbathe right in front of the hotel, or rent a surfboard and take a lesson.
Overlooking the sea, The Point is one of the best places on the island for a sunset cocktail.
And if you want to attend a luau, the Sheraton has the only one on Kauai that's ocean front.
Sharing the same beach as the Sheraton, Kiahuna Plantation is one of the most appealing Kauai vacation rentals.
There are studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, and all have kitchens and balconies or lanais.
Because they're individually owned, the décor and amenities vary.
But this is a very nice complex with beautiful grounds, a wonderful restaurant called Plantations Gardens, and one of the best swimming beaches on Kauai.
Located next to Kiahuna Plantation on Poipu Beach, Koa Kea Hotel & Resort was recently opened on the grounds of the old Poipu Beach Hotel which was leveled by a hurricane in 1992.
A boutique-style hotel, Koa Kea has 121 nicely furnished rooms, a swimming pool, ocean-view restaurant, and spa.
The Marriott Waiohai Beach Club is another enjoyable Poipu vacation rental.
All the units here have two bedrooms, well-equipped kitchens, private lanais, and flat-screen TVs.
Each can sleep up to six, and many have ocean views.
There's a nice swimming pool and good beach access.
It's not inexpensive, but for a family of six, it offers solid value.
About five minutes away, the Grand Hyatt Kauai is the biggest resort on the south side.
Located on Shipwrecks Beach, it has the most facilities in the area with a full-service spa, an adjacent golf course, six restaurant, a huge, sandy-bottom swimming pool, and gorgeous tropical gardens.
During winter, you may see monk seals here, but the beach is too rocky for safe swimming.
There's an interesting ocean-front hike that leaves from the small park next to the Hyatt.