I am not sure who wrote the rulebook on vacation rental / B&B decor in Hawaii but they clearly had no taste. The vast majority of rentals and B&Bs are loaded with frilly junk, forlorn furniture, really lame artwork -- basically, as if they went to the swap meet circa 1970 and loaded up. Uggh. Which is part of the reason why I''ve always loved the Coastline Cottages Spouting Horn studios on Kauai. Poipu is lovely but tragically over-built with nasty condos. They Hyatt is a stellar hotel but far too big for peeps who prefer a smallish, cozy feel. Coastline Cottages is the antidote, with nifty, retro-classic decor and a killer location right on the bluffs overlooking Spouting Horn on the far western end of Poipu. You can't swim right off the rear lanais but excellent beaches are within walking / biking distance or are a really quick drive away. Now, the TripAdvisor hordes haven't managed to write more than one review of this place so its still relatively undiscovered. The weather in the Poipu region is sunny and not too hot all year round, unlike the lovely but often rainy North Shore of Kauai. For a quiet getaway or honeymooners seeking a little crash pad on Kauai, it's hard to beat this spot.

Coastline Cottages Spouting Horn Studios

Related Links: Walking Beaches on Kauai

—, 01/15/07