How to Plan an Awesome Kauai Vacation

Taking a vacation on the island of Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands can be disastrous if you don't make the proper plans. Having been raised in Hawaii, I can tell you the best ways to make your Hawaiian vacation a true trip to paradise by avoiding too much rain or the overwhelming number of tourists. Follow these simple steps, and have an amazing vacation.

Step 1

Planning is the key to your optimum experience. Decide if what you are looking for is simply an escape from the cold weather of the mainland or do you want something more specific like a spa getaway or an outdoor adventure vacation. The busiest tourist season for the islands is between December and February when many people are trying to escape the cold whether found in North America. This is certainly a good thing to escape, but if you want better rates, more privacy, and shorter lines to wait in, then plan your trip for the months between April and mid-December. This is for several reasons: the rates are lower during the slower seasons and the best weather in Hawaii is in April, May, September, and October.

Step 2

The second step for planning your vacation to Kauai involves selecting the location of your lodging. This is something to consider not just because of the comforts you may find in one hotel over another, but also because depending on what your planned activities are going to be you may want to stay in one area over another to cut down driving time. If you want to spend more time shopping than anything else, you should stay in one of the resorts on the east shore. If you would prefer to sunbathe through the whole vacation, then consider that the south shore has the most sun and the least rain. If you are more interested in privacy and quiet, the north shore is the most secluded area but there is more rain there as well.

Step 3

There are several types of accommodations that you could choose: a hotel resort on the beach, a condo, or a vacation home. If you would like to eat out through your entire stay, a hotel resort will often be right on the beach and since you do not plan to prepare any of your own meals, it will not matter that you do not have a kitchen. However, if you would like to save money or not be dependant on the locals to fix your food, then you should consider a condo instead. You can find condos on the beach with relative ease. If your party is going to be more than two or three people, then you should rent a vacation home for more space. Condos and vacation homes provide more privacy than hotels. The prices of condos vary so that you should be able to find something that does not cost more than the hotels.

Step 4

Planning activities is another important step in the vacation process. You could split your time between lying on the beach and activities such as sightseeing, snorkeling, hiking to water falls, or checking out museums. You could go kayaking in the rivers on Kauai or take a helicopter ride. 90% of Kauai is inaccessible by roads, so hiking is almost something that you must do to see some of the most beautiful landscaping in the world. The trails range from easy to difficult and there are many natural wonders to take in while you hike. Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Parks offers coastal, canyon, and forest trails.

The only small plane tour is available from Air Ventures Hawaii that is private and only costs $59 per person. There are a number of helicopter services available as well from other companies. Make it a spa vacation with spa services including massage or reiki. There are many European spa services also available. The Hawaiian traditional healing method of massage, Lomi Lomi, and other healing spa services can be used to create a spa vacation. If you would like, there are many extras including personal chef services for healthy eating or yoga classes can be included in your vacation. There are so many different kinds of activities for your vacation on Kauai that you shouldn't have any trouble finding what you would like to do. The only problem should be deciding what you would like to do the most.

Step 4

Clothing that you pack should be lightweight and include several swimsuits and beach towels. You should also include a sunscreen that you know you are not allergic to.

Step 5

Use a discount airfare website to book your flight. Orbitz, Travelocity, and Hotwire are some great sites for doing this.

Step 6

Have a great time!