The Royal Sonesta Kaua'i Resort Lihue

I was debating whether to give it a 4 or 5. The room wasn't where I thought it would be, and probably had the worst spot. So, I tried to be fair and didn't let that affect my review. The whole place was super clean. But the best things were the awesome pool, which was warm since it wasn't too deep, but still huge and kept a good temp. And the other great thing was the soft, sandy beach right there. That was a big win for us. The food was a bit of a problem, though. The hotel restaurants and the ones nearby weren't great (mostly) and were pricey for what you got. Parking wasn't really managed, and lots of cars from outside the resort parked in the best spots near the rooms. That was annoying and made me wonder if the $30 parking fee was worth it. But the location is perfect. It's in a nice area near a beautiful golf course, and you can easily get to both the north and south parts of the island.

Extremely Disappointing Stay - Definitely Not Worth the Price or the "Four Star " Rating We stayed here for 10 nights, and aside from two positives -- the stunning tropical gardens and a beautiful pool -- the rest of our stay was a major disappointment. ROOM QUALITY & CLEANLINESS We had to change rooms three times, and every single room had issues. One room had no ventilation in the bathroom -- after a shower, it was unbearably stuffy and hot. I honestly don't know how a room like that could pass inspection at any reputable hotel. Another room smelled strongly of mold, especially when the AC was running. The odor was so intense we could barely tolerate being in the room, and we had terrible nights because of it. On top of that, the AC units were extremely loud, and the sofa bed was old, lumpy, and impossible to sleep on. For a hotel that claims to be four-star quality, these conditions are unacceptable. The interiors were outdated, poorly maintained, and badly in need of renovation. COMMON AREAS Cleanliness was equally lacking in the shared spaces. The elevator buttons and glass doors were visibly dirty for our entire 10-day stay. Same smudges, same grime -- no one seemed to clean them. For a high-end resort, the lack of basic sanitation in high-touch areas is extremely concerning. BREAKFAST The breakfast situation was a complete joke. I expected a resort of this level to offer freshly squeezed juices, smoothies made with local fruit, and freshly, in house baked goods -- something fresh and nourishing to start the day. Instead, they had a so-called "grab-and-go breakfast" at the front desk, which consisted of soda, bottled orange juice, packaged muffins, and what looked like leftover fried rice with a few overcooked sausage pieces. FOOD The food at the resort was some of the worst we've had. From the mashed potatoes and undercooked eggs to the steak and fried rice, everything was bland or just downright bad. They need a new chef. The prices, however, were sky-high. We paid a premium for food that tasted like it came from a school cafeteria. CUSTOMER SERVICE Customer service was not very helpful. When we called for help setting up the sofa bed, we were told to "do it ourselves." After we checked out, we explained our concerns to a manager, who offered a small partial refund -- but not for the full duration of our stay. When I followed up by phone, she assured me we would receive additional reimbursement and gave me a new total. But the amount that was actually charged to my credit card did not match what she promised. I called back multiple times, left messages, and was told she would return my call -- but I never heard from her again. That lack of accountability and follow-through was incredibly frustrating and unprofessional.

NICE, BUT NOT LUXURY. My wife and I stayed here for a week in June 2025. We got a deal from Costco Travel that included self-parking, resort fees, and $150 food credit. We stayed in a deluxe (ground floor) lanai room behind the kids pool. In general we found the resort to be nice. Rooms and facilities were clean and the staff quite friendly. It's the pool and beach that are the highlight for this place - we really enjoyed both. But the rooms are showing some age and the resort restaurants are overpriced for what they serve. Self parking on the east side (where our room was located) is hit or miss as that lot fills up quickly. Resort hosted luau is not that good. PROS: - Awesome pool and nice beach - Dukes restaurant adjacent to property - Some local shops, coffee, ABC Store in walking distance - location has easy access to south and north shores - easy to get to from airport - Lihue has good local food for breakfast or lunch - Target and Costco nearby if you want to pick up supplies CONS: - Rooms are just OK and could use some maintenance - On premise restaurants over priced and food quality is just ok - Lihue does not have great dinner restaurants - you have to drive 20+ minutes at a minimum to get a really nice dinner - Luau is not worth it (much better options are available) Would we stay here again? Maybe if there is an exceptional deal. Unfortunately we found ourselves leaving the resort and Lihue mostly for the south shore area where they have better beaches and much better restaurants and bars. Next time we'll likely first consider a resort on the south shore instead of the Royal Sonesta.

We had a wonderful stay here with the family. Very kid friendly. Excellent location, right on the beach. Newly renovated too. The rooms were very clean. The pool area is huge and good for kiddos. There is a nice koi pond and garden to walk through. Great service from staff. Parking can be a longer walk to the hotel, but it's not too bad. It's close to a small shopping strip. Can take a nice walk along the beach to get to the shops.

What an incredible stay! The complimentary shuttle came quickly, the drive to the resort was 5 min. (which is welcomed after getting of an airplane)! check in was a breeze. The room was clean and beautiful and I can't say enough about the staff. The pool and beach were amazing, and the Thursday Luau is a must do!

Came here for a few days on our honeymoon and it didn’t meet our expectations. This is more of a family friendly stay than a couples retreat. Considering the price, not much was included. This is an ok resort to stay at if you’re coming for a casual stay.

AVOID THIS PLACE. - This hotel is disgusting from the rooms to the service and should be avoided.. the second day of our honeymoon my wife and I left promptly after concerns for our health. ||||We first arrived to an unwelcoming front desk attendant who didn’t even know our occasion even though it was noted on our booking. We were quickly told the room did not have a direct ocean view except for being on the balcony and looking sharply to the left; essentially a partial ocean view. This clearly nodded us off the instance of false advertising; the booking picture showed a full ocean view. We then called to ask from the room and were offered a complimentary upgrade to a “preferred ocean view” (for those reading, that’s what any other hotel would consider a true ocean view). ||||Our new room was nice only initially, the view was incredible. Upon laying on the bed it was damp from the humidity in the room.||We later noticed the AC was not working to cool the room to the desired temperature. We decided to give it some time (half a day and over night) only to notice the room was 2-3 degrees colder (when it should have been 8-10degrees) and no less humid. Upon further looking around the room we found the worst part, the mold and dust - EVERYWHERE (see pics). You can’t make this sh*t up, the trim of the glass doors, and hidden areas of the kick plates coated in black mold; It was disgusting and honestly disturbing for the price we paid. We asked to move rooms agin from the concern and were ignored by the front desk and management.||||In conclusion we ended up leaving the Royal Sonesta, in disgust and with a feeling to warn others of this dilapidated mess of a hotel - its lipstick on a pig. We ended up being saved by another popular hotel on the south shore willing to beat the rate of the Sonesta and our honeymoon moved on. ||||Avoid this place and probably the Royal Sonesta brand at all cost.

This resort is so beautiful. We went to the restaurants and spa within the resort which was so amazing not to have to leave. The pool and hot tubs were so fun to be in. Highly recommend! Came here for our wedding anniversary for the weekend, we live 25 minutes north, so it was fun to be close to home but still feel far away. Kama’aina discount was incredible

GET THE ROOM WITH BREAKFAST PACKAGE. So worth it. It's buffet style and everything tastes ono. Perfect way to start the day. The staff of ladies there are so friendly. The hotel is HUGE. I appreciate all the kind staff, so much Aloha at this hotel. Coming from O'ahu, I highly recommend, my hubby and I loved our stay here.

Buyer beware...day room reservation was CANCELED 10 days before arrival, said they were over booked. Reservation was booked and paid for 9 months in advance. Tasha the front of house manager was very nice but she was not able to do anything.

The Worst Hotel Experience of My Life - Avoid at All Costs! If I could give this hotel zero stars, I absolutely would. This was by far the worst hotel I have ever stayed at. The front desk manager and hotel manager are incredibly rude, unprofessional, and dishonest. They lie straight to your face and even have the audacity to laugh at guests dealing with serious issues. The hotel does not follow basic safety protocols. Seven members of my family, including three children (two of whom were barely a year old), were trapped in a broken elevator for nearly an hour. The kids were crying, and the temperature inside was unbearable. The most horrifying part? If I had been in there with them, no one would have heard us or come to help. They rang the emergency bell multiple times, but no one responded. This is beyond unacceptable. As compensation, the security guard initially offered a mere $50 voucher--an insult considering the traumatic experience. After discussing the issue with the front desk, I was promised $200 per room to be used in the hotel. I then suggested $250 per room as a fair resolution, and the front desk manager agreed. I made sure to confirm that this applied to all three rooms, meaning a total of $750. However, once the hotel manager got involved, everything changed. Suddenly, they claimed they thought we only had two rooms and refused to honor the original agreement. Instead, the hotel manager decided to offer just $300 total, which was $200 less than what had already been confirmed. Even worse, when questioned, the staff who had agreed to the higher amount blatantly lied and pretended they never said it. They laughed at the situation and treated us with complete disrespect. In the end, we left with nothing but frustration and disappointment. This hotel does not care about its guests' well-being, safety, or satisfaction. I strongly advise everyone to stay far away from this place. There are plenty of other hotels where you will be treated with basic human decency--this is not one of them.

I love this resort! They give you this wristband instead of the key card so that you won't lose it while you're going out for a swim. They have the best restaurants in the resort like "Duke's." I love staying here and will be returning. I loved the gigantic pool, the koi fish pond, flower garden, art museum, restaurants, bell hop, hiking trail to the lighthouse, quietness in the rooms, and clean rooms. The staff here are all very nice as well!

This is a really nice place. There is a lot of construction ongoing as of mid July 2024. They do have some service work around a with food service. This is a very big property and they do have a shuttle directly from the airport. We checked in and our room was ready. We were offered an upgrade for an ocean view and we took it. Your room key is a wristband. Our room and bath was very spacious. The room was clean and we had a nice balcony overlooking the resort pool and bay. With the resort fee, there are some coupons for Mai tais or dessert/ appetizer. It's per stay per room - not per person per day. The pool is amazingly large and there were 3 hot tubs open. Pool opens at 7 am, and there are quite a few umbrellas for shade. 1100 is when there is poolside service. This place needs a swim up bar starting at 8am. Overall good visit and recommend when staying in Kauai.

What's up Yelpies!!! If you're looking for a place to relax on the beach and eat great food then this is the spot if you want to lounge poolside and enjoy great food then this is the spot.... Oh and if you like the occasional drink to relax then this is the spot.... If you haven't caught on yet this is the spot.....

This is a spectacular resort not far from the airport. Their breakfast is to die for and it's only a short walk to Duke's. If you're a surfer, there is a solid and consistent break in the bay with rentals nearby. The view, the food, the quiet, and the giant pool. Yes!

The Royal Sonesta Kaua'i is a beautiful and relaxing hotel with stunning ocean views and lovely rooms. While the ongoing construction and partial pool closure were a bit of a drawback, the friendly staff and excellent amenities still made our visit enjoyable. The happy hour restaurant by the pool is nice. However, I would not recommend the wings (you only get 3) but I loved the gyozas! Overall, it's a great choice for a Kaua'i getaway!

We checked in for 5 nights at the Royal Sonesta Kauai on Friday the 28th. We had a 2 queen bed with ocean view, the view of the room was The grounds here are kept nice, it makes you feel like life is easy going when the roosters are just walking around all the people without a worry in the world. It's just a few steps away from the beach, which is really convenient when you want to have beach or pool days, with this place you can do either, and not have to worry about driving or parking. The beach is unreal to be honest, no rocks in the water basically, just soft sand, and the water is extremely calm too. This resort is connected to the Marriot Beach Club, their building actually sits right on top of the ocean from what it feels like. There's also Duke's & Portfino's to eat nearby, walking distance from the hotel. Also other places across the street to eat, food trucks, an ABC store, coffee place, & more, all walking distance. We would stay here again 100%.

We only stayed one night, in a $500 Ocean view room, special for our anniversary, I would highly recommend this as a treat to you and your loved ones! The rooms are modern and new and gorgeous. The view at sunrise AND ESPECIALLY sunset are breathtaking, to say the least. Kalapaki beach has a rich local culture, and even though this major resort is directly behind it, it is rarely "crowded, and the beach is a very local & chill beach (vs. super touristy). You can walk down to the insanely huge iconic pool + like 5 separate jacuzzis, and also walk down to Kalapaki beach, plus to the restaurants down the path. The path is great for joggers. Sitting at our lanai drinking coffee and watching the world below and staring at the powerful mountains and ocean was one of the highlights of our trip.

Definitely I have to come back to Kauai it was my first time and I really enjoy it. It has 4 Jacuzzis Circle pool 4ft all around . Nearby beach. Little kids area with a water slide. Pretty fun vibes. I like it has restaurants and also nearby if you walk five minutes you can also find another stores and everything walking distance plus other food and shopping stores. Staff was really friendly. Parking situation gets a busy but no impossible . Definitely I have to come back with a family trip. Without counting every morning waking up with a blessing day looking up at the sky and it was a rainbow. Pure magic.

We had the most luxurious stay. Our room 1089 was immaculate The views - breathtaking Service - impeccable The pool cabana -- relaxing The food - satisfying Yoga activities - replenishing Concierge-- personable and experienced Definitely will stay here again

Foods from @royalsonestakauai Excellent breakfast and pool service! Our favs- the isle style omelette (made with egg whites) stuffed with feta, kaulua pork, mushrooms, spinach. And sever with fried rice. The island wrap with eggs, Portuguese sausage, spinach, mushrooms, cheese and salsa. For lunch- we enjoyed the fish tacos so much we had them twice! Huge prices of fresh grilled fish atop a meaty chees tortilla with fresh slaw and salsa and a siracha aoli. Yum! The pork potstickers also tasty. No pictures but the açaí bowl was refreshing with fresh fruit. The pork quesadilla full of kaulua pork. The crispy chili chicken could have been a little crisper but very flavorful. Love the mai tais and lilikoi margarita

Andrea & Benji! Best service ever! We had a private party at the banquets. Best party ever. Best service ever. Anytime I have a party I will compare the service to this! Tyrus, best party planner / group rate person of all time. We have never been treated with so much hospitality at any resort. Royal Sonesta, you are truly a gem of a hotel!

Conveniently located in Lihue among tropical plants and in a calm bay, good for beach swimming. It is hard to find a sandy beach without large waves in Hawaii, but this bay is protected by a breaker wall which makes it good for family with young kids. The pools are also very large with plenty of chairs and umbrellas. People do tend to claim them early in the morning but you may still be able to find shaded areas in late afternoon. The hotel feels a bit old even though it has been renovated. There is still construction going on in the open areas but they didn't affect us much while we were there. We stayed in room 1182 (preferred ocean view) on the top floor and it really has an amazing view. My two complains about the room: one sink and there is no balcony (the slider doors do open and you get to see your below neighbors in their balcony below). A room to the right or left of ours would get you a full balcony (see close up pictures). Food is expensive in Hawaii and it is no different here, expect to pay between $21-$25 for pancakes or scramble eggs plate. On the plus side, room service doesn't jack up the prices and only charge $6 for delivery. Belinda in the concierge desk needs to be called out for her excellent service. She offered to do all of our activity bookings and provided local tips (like tree trimming can add 1.5hrs to a typical 30 min ride to Port Allen).

Stayed there for 2 nights for the last end of our honeymoon. It's a beautiful resort! Right on the beach with an Amazing pool and walking distance to a bunch of restaurants, and ABC store and food trucks. They were able to upgrade us to a king room as when we booked the only option was two queens. With our resort fee we also got tickets for 2 complimentary Mai tais at the restaurant KuKui's and a free appetizer. Unfortunately we didn't get to use the pool or the appetizer but we did get to get the Mai tai's they were pretty yummy! The staff was also friendly and helpful. The koi pond in the lobby had some Toads that made a crazy mating call and the attendant at the front desk Was Able To Help us figure out what it was and we had a nice chat. Overall I would give this place a 4.5 Only because we were told the hotel shuttle to the airport was on demand and we didn't need to ask to schedule for it before hand. We got our bags and the gentleman at the bell desk said the driver would be back in a few minutes. It was 30 minutes later that they arrived and by the time we got to the airport, they wouldn't let us get our bag tag and we ended up having to find another hotel for the night and waitlist for a flight the next day.

Nice hotel, loved the pool. The food they served was nothing good, was charged an additional $1500 for "resort fees." Not sure where the near $3000 we initially paid went towards. Stayed a week and our sheets were NOT changed once. They had 8am volleyball event and announcers going off, with no initial disclosure of this event taking place during our stay. This blocked the beach access off which sucked. Save your money and airbnb instead, was disappointed after spending all this money.

I will highlight the good and the bad. Starting with the good. The good: 1. Nice beach 2. Good sunsets 3. Rooms spacious (we had the villa) The bad: 1. Pool waitress forgot to give our credit card back then blamed us we lost it, we reported this to security lost and found and had to escalate it to management. No more than 25 min after escalating it, we got a call saying they found our card in a bush nowhere where we were sitting the day prior. This has been ongoing for 24 hours. The pool waitress said we lost it but confronted them and they finally admitted to a server losing it in a bush but didn't take responsibility at all. 2. Management - condescending to us and not helpful. They continued to blame us for losing the card even though we never signed for it and never got it back. The waitress was too busy helping her friend who she gave vouchers for free drinks in front of us. 3. Security - proceeded on our last night to say our kids couldn't laugh loud even though they were having fun. 4. Overall, management was the absolute worse and blaming us that we made their staff look for our card despite them having it. Oh by the way, I had a fraud alert on that card trying to be used at a store near the hotel. Had to cancel because I knew what was happening

This hotel used to be a great resort place to stay when it was operated by Marriott. Now it is nothing more than a glorified motel 6. The management team is young and inexperienced. For example in an attempt to renovate the only restaurant on the property they closed the entire restaurant instead of closing half and keeping part of it open. They then put up a tent that only had a dozen tables to replace the full restaurant. Then to make matters worse when I went there for dinner I was told they had sold out the tent restaurant for a group, basically leaving the entire hotel without a restaurant to eat at. There is construction everywhere and multiple areas are closed. All the spaces where there used to be stores to shop at are closed with signs on the windows that say "Royal Sonesta Kauai Resort". Nothing could be further from the truth. This place is NOT A RESORT, it's just an expensive motel.

I stayed here three years ago when it was a Marriott and since then the rooms were given a total makeover, which I really liked. Modern grey flooring replaced carpet and plumeria murals on the wall. Lots of outlets and a long counter and bench. There is a small refrigerator as well as a safe, coffee maker, iron and even a clothes steamer (which is a little strange in Hawaii.). The ac worked well and was quiet enough I could hear the waves rolling in outside. Luckily, I got an ocean view room that actually was high enough I could see the ocean! Staff on check in were pleasant. Housekeeping when I requested them, did a good job. One of the most convenient features was the room key which was a bracelet. So easy to slip on and then just hold against the lock to open the door- no more rummaging around for a key! The reason for four and not five stars was that the hallways, although newly painted, still showed their age. And the floor in my room was not level. But overall, a very nice stay.

Summary: No family/nursing rooms, under staffed, under major renovations, still beautiful with much potential. I will give them another try, but with lower expectations. You have to get a massage from Alexander Day Spa, Devon is great! Details: The expectation of going to a resort is to be able to lay by the pool and be attended to by an establishment that is more than happy to take my money. I'm paying to be at a luxury destination to spend even more money so that I don't have to think about finding a server. Upon arriving at the pool, it took 75 minutes before a server passed by. We flagged her down only to hear, "this is not my zone, I'll send your server your way." This took an additional 10 minutes before receiving service by our zone server Monica. She was pleasant, but not attentive. I personally think this was due to the pool service team being understaffed. The burgers and teriyaki chicken sandwiches were extremely over cooked by the team manning a backyard BBQ grill as a temporary Kukui Restaurant while under renovation, but we had waited for an hour and a half to get food and drinks, and our server did not come by to check on us and the food for another 30 minutes. Our room was enjoyable in style and comfortable with soft fabrics, and we were surprised by an upgrade to over look the pool and a peekaboo view of the ocean. Unfortunately, the HVAC was noisy, the mini fridge compressor was exceptionally loud, and the walls were thin with us able to hear the water drain through the pipes from the upper rooms as they flush, shower, and use their sinks. Within the bathroom, the fixtures and finishes were much like a middle tier condo rental that was put together in a rush with many spots missing caulking and waterproofing. The fire sprinkler heads in various locations were buried in dust, and I noticed some had paint on them, which should not have passed inspection and been replaced before the building went into use. We enjoyed the beautiful garden and the lovely breakfast buffet, even though it was in the temporary location while much of the hotel was under renovation. More clear signage would have been helpful getting to breakfast. We checked out for the day from our room, but remained on sight to enjoy the pool for a little longer. Due to my wife still pumping for our first child, we searched for a family bathroom, health room, or a private office that she could plug her pumps into, sit, and take care of herself in private. There was no such thing around the pool, and we had already checked out so going back to the room wasn't an option, so we asked the front desk to point us in the right direction. The desk attendant informed us, that no such space is provided at the Royal Sonesta, and directed us to a women's public bathroom with a plug on the wall in the middle of the hallway where my wife would have to stand and pump as other women walked by. This was unacceptable, so I took her to the private bathroom in the fitness center where she still had to stand and pump, but at least with privacy. All in all, the hotel is still beautiful, the Royal lanai is breathtaking, and the gardens are impeccable, but as all things on the ocean, the facilities are in need of better care. The few people who were attending to the guest were kind, but again, very understaffed. It is hard to buy food and drinks if no one is there to take my orders.

The parking here is 1/2 a mile away from your room in a parking lot far away from the resort, and this place has the audacity to charge a $30 per day undisclosed parking fee that they tack onto the bill as you're leaving! SCAM!!!! I will not only be disputing this on my credit card, but I will also not be staying here again because of this! I hope it was worth losing our business permanently just to squeeze an extra $150 out of us for absolutely nothing. I was going to give this place a good review until I saw this on my bill when I got home. Never again!

Alright yelpers this is what you're here for. This hotel tries to sell you an upgrade at check in. They allow you to walk up to it and then you get hit with major increases (room + fee + tax). I booked a ocean view, partly ocean and partly pool facing. For us they let us view a suite which they said cost $1900 a night... so we felt $1000 per night was worth it. The suite was absolutely beautiful but the cost was much more than we thought. After getting off a plane and waiting an hour at the car rental we were so exhausted and wanted to relax in a nice room. It wasn't all bad thought they did comp us 2 free appetizers and 4 Mai Tais. Hotel pool is very nice reminds me of Caesar's palace. Just be warned about the possibility of busting your vacation budget. But YOLO I GUESS?

The Royal Sonesta kauai was formerly the Kauai Marriott but was purchased by Royal Sonesta. There is still a Marriott Vacation club on one side of the property. The hotel is run just fine like any nice hotel resort. The pool is magnificent with large fountains and hot tubs. The island in the middle is a nice touch. Kukui's is open during breakfast and sometimes for dinner. It's hit and miss and unreliable. The terrace coffee bar has limited breakfast options like Marriott did but they took away spam mashubis. Beware that closes at 9 am. The hotel is ideally located to Kalapaki Bay and Lihue. Safeway, Costco and many great eats are only 5-10 minutes away. You can walk to Dukes, Food Trucks, shave ice, ABC store and Harbor Mall. The staff was very nice. Cheryl in the pool service staff was amazing, friendly and attentive. We loved her! Location and staff are a 5 star rating. Rooms were clean and bright.

I decided to book a last minute getaway with my mom as a Mother's Day gift. I booked our trip through Costco. Here is some of the things I loved about staying here: *The hotel staff were so very kind and accommodating. We asked for ground floor so my mom could get around easily with her walker. *The hotel was absolutely gorgeous with luscious gardens all around. *Huge pool and lots of jacuzzis to relax in! *Close to the airport, local restaurants, and shopping. *Valet was only $25/day and they were amazingly kind and helpful with my mom! If you are looking for a place to stay in Lihue, this is it! We would definitely come back

To celebrate our 30th anniversary my wife and I planned a trip to visit Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island during September 2024. After spending a week at the Royal Hawaiian and then Disney's Aulani resorts we traveled to Kauai and stayed several nights at the Royal Sonesta. Since this was a special occasion I didn't mind spending a lot to experience the best of what Hawaii has to offer. Unfortunately, I did not find that experience at the Royal Sonesta. The first sign that our time at the Royal Sonesta was going to be far different than the other deluxe resorts was when we arrived at the main entrance. When we arrived another guest was being assisted with their luggage and partially blocked the driveway so we waited behind them. About 4-5 minutes passed and none of the bellmen acknowledged us or attempted to direct us to where we could be assisted with our luggage and valet of the vehicle. When another vehicle arrived behind us one of the bellmen ignored me but waved for the other driver to pull up. After the other vehicle had passed us the bellmen assisted them but neither he nor the other bellmen acknowledged us so I drove up and stopped near the bell service desk. Even though I was right in front of several bellmen who were not assisting other guests none of them welcomed us or offered to assist us with our luggage or valet our vehicle. Unfortunately this left my wife, daughter and I to carry our luggage through a service corridor and down an elevator since luggage is not allowed on the escalator which takes you to the check in desk. The appearance of the resort overall was nice but the design was a bit dated and the common areas were not well cared for. The resort staff were helpful, but not exceptionally friendly or welcoming when not involved in providing a service. If you're planning a special trip and looking for a special experience and superior service I'd suggest looking to another resort.

Beautiful grounds but was going through some construction which wasn't disclosed when booking. Koi are beautiful and serene to watch. This used to be a Marriott so I expected the beds to be comfortable. They were not. The barn door to the bathroom was heavy and hard to open/close. Lounge chairs on the balcony but also lack comfort. One of the plastic straps was broken. Pool is amazing! The resort charges for some of the seating but it was worth it. Pool drinks were amazing. Try the Tai Chi. Room service was fast but the food quality throughout the resort is substandard. Parking is scarce and the resort does not ticket or tow those that aren't staying at the resort. Second trip here but will book elsewhere next time.

Beautiful resort! Rooms have wood floors, really comfortable beds and pillows, hot hot showers, and balcony's with great views. The resort has barbecues and laundry service, in addition to a wonderful restaurant and bar with fire pits, cabanas, and the largest pool on the island! It's a comfortable temperature with about 4 jacuzzis and a kid pool/water slide. I could go in and on! If you happen to make your way to Kauai I recommend staying here! We booked with Costco and we were very happy!

Spacious and clean grounds. Pretty quiet. Everyone was very friendly. Pool was clean and refreshing. Beach access was easy and beautiful. No complaints.

My husband and I spent a week in July 2024 at Royal Sonesta in Kauai. It is a beautiful resort with a huge swimming pool. The rooms were very comfortable and clean and it's located right on the beach. My pnly complaint is regarding the dining options there. One restaurant was being remodeled,so they had a temporary place setup near the pool. It was closed a couple nights while we were there. The only other option was a Buffet Breakfast that charged $32 for not very much variety of food choices. To top it off, they automatically charged you a 20% gratuity. 2 Breakfast buffets were $80. It was definitely not worth it.

I didn't stay here. This is a review of their pool area. They work with a group called ResortPass. ResortPass will let you book a cabana or other poolside chairs, etc. for a fee. I discovered this on Facebook, I know, never believe what you read. But this actually turned out ok after a few hoops. We had been in Lihue for ten days and all during this time we had never had an issue with anyone wanting to see our vaccination cards, etc. This gal at the front desk made it her personal mission to make this check-in process as hard as she could. Resulting in multiple trips back and forth to my car, etc. Once we got past the front desk personnel the rest of the staff were only too happy to help us and very kind. In the past, when I had to check out at 10 am and the flight didn't leave until 5 pm I would just cool my heels at the airport. But I didn't want to wear a mask (I'm a believer in them but 10 hours or more is a lot) for about ten hours in the airport and then on the plane. I found this ResortPass where you could rent a round-shaped shaded chair by the pool for two for about $160 and then they will come by and take drink and food orders if you want some refreshments. This was well worth the money paid and we were able to swim and relax prior to getting on the plane. I noticed that on the app it said no outside food or drinks and no ice chests meanwhile we have a family next to us with all of the above. Maybe they are just trying to discourage the people using the ResortPass app. The pool is about four feet all the way around but it's a nice way to hang out and be a bit shaded (easy to burn) but enjoy the water and beverages. I would do this again. Just get another front desk clerk.

Great location and great food! I actually prefer the Big Island over Kauai. I'm not knocking Kauai nor The Royal Sonesta. They're great in their own way. I just prefer the energy and the character of the Big Island. The Royal Sonesta is extremely well-placed in a cove with its own white-sand beach right there. The pool is massive with some really neat water-flowing statues and a couple of hot tubs. They have good drinks and big fluffy towels right there. The breakfast was very good. We drank delicious Kauai coffee and ate breakfast sandwiches every morning before we roared off to our adventures around the island. Duke's is right next door and we had dinner there for one night, which was amazing! The room was clean and comfortable. We had a nice view of the pool and ocean from our balcony. Parking was plentiful and well-spread out. Room was clean and service was impeccable. They even have a laundry room available. This really came in handy as we had already stayed 8 nights on the Big Island before flying to Kauai so we had clothes that needed cleaning. Wash was $2 and ran about a half-hour. Drying was $1 and ran about 45 minutes. Laundry detergent was available for sale but we had already bought some for our trip. I don't know if I'd go back, because like I said I prefer the Big Island. But it is a very nice hotel and Kauai is beautiful so I would still recommend it.

Thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Royal Sonesta. The place is just gorgeous centrally located in the island of Kauai and less than a 5 minute drive from the airport. In fact, we went everywhere and found it so convenient to go up north, east and west to all of the desired places such as Waimea Canyon, Hanalei Bay and Princeville, Kokee Park, etc. The Royal Sonesta is also well placed in that it had a cute little beach and a walkway to go to all the touristy restaurants like Dukes should you desire to just veg and do nothing strenuous at all on your vacay. Everything that you need is right there

We booked this hotel through Costco travel and according to our package (and their website) the resort fee was paid for and there were no additional charges. When we got to the hotel we found that we would have to pay $30/day for parking! Our room was over a quarter mile from the main parking lot. There is a lot near our room but it only had about 50 spots so if you got back after 7pm you had no chance of getting a spot. That's fine in good weather, but when it's POURING rain I didn't want to park that far. Also, the pool heater is broken. So be prepared for a very cold pool. The hotel grounds are beautiful but the parking charge and cold pool ruined it for me. I would not come back. Also the Hotel restaurant, Kuiki's does not have good food.

Stayed at the Marriott Beach Club/Royal Sonesta, which is basically the same resort. We had a ground floor room and there was active construction being done right in front of our room. Tarps over mud with tractors going back and forth. We tried complaining but the hotel people couldn't care less. They pointed to this notice on the website "Throughout 2024, the hotel co-located with Marriott's Kauai Beach Club will be renovating common areas. Some amenities may be impacted, including the fitness center and whirlpools." This disclaimer absolutely did not cover what we dealt with. I've never been to a hotel that steamrolled is like this. $3,000 and the best they did was put us on a waiting list for another room which never came through. WTF.

We really liked it here. Pool is huge and easy to find chairs. Beach towel service is easy. Staff is friendly. They will offer you a room upgrade for $100 more/night for "ocean view" we declined and glad we did since all rooms are pretty much the same if you're facing the pool - you can see the ocean without the extra $$. They clean rooms every other day but if you want it cleaned more you can request it. The coffee is very good. It is on a golf course with walking paths for nightly walks. It is under construction and it didn't bother us where our room was located, but it closes off some of the pool :( If this place was not under construction and had a bidet it would be 10/10!

We booked for two nights but didn't get to stay here, so this is based on the hotel treatment. We had to race home to our beloved dog, a member of our family of who we had to say goodbye to. I rang and alerted the hotel, and Qantas, who we booked the hotel through, also said they reached out to the hotel. I was not in any way asking for a refund, I was asking if there is a credit or some type of option - anything - we could have access to for a future visit. Our answer was no based on policy. There was so much room for compassion, yet we received none. Your "warmness" is a joke.

A beautiful resort with amazing staff. The concierge went above and beyond for us when we visited and truly cared about our experience. The resort itself is really nice, but the staff made the difference for us!

Best resort ever! I'm already planning my 2024 trip back to Kauai and will stay here 100%. The pool, beach, room, staff and food were absolute perfection. The pool is huge and there was never an issue getting a towel or lounger. You didn't have to get up early to secure a chair. Poolside food and drink delivery. A+++ all around.

This resort is nice, the sushi dinner during remodel is great! But ... w/the weather here & their updating w/construction everywhere, they need to update their cable! It definitely a "man's TV" selection w/over 20 ESPN stations & all sports, so while it's raining, there is nothing to watch! They need to bring in BRAVO & E... something besides Lifetime & HGTV, otherwise it's definitely a man's world in this hotel. Didn't come to Hawaii to watch TV, but besides being in a bar (& their make shift one on the beach during remodel is lame & closes to early) stuck in room w/crappy all sports stations! Pay a little more & get a room w/lanai as otherwise worse rooms facing over rooftops & air conditioning.. no view' do pay more IF you want a view on Vaca... otherwise looks like in the Middle East w/palm trees & a parking lot. Staff is nice but you get what you pay for

Great poolside day on Resort Pass. Younger family members had a safe and enjoyable time. We had a Day Room and Cabana, so us adults could take a break and chill in the well appointed hotel room. Poolside food service is expensive but excellent. I can see where this Day Room package would be ideal for anyone checking out the same day from this or any other hotel. Great way to spend your last day in Hawaii, being pampered and then whisked off for the evening flight back to the Mainland. We'll be back.

Great time! Well kept grounds and centrally located! Will come back! Great pool and beach.

Location location location is great. 5-10 minutes away from the airport. Rooms are updated and clean. Super comfortable beds. Plenty of usb port ever where in the room. Lacks a couple drawers to put away clothes. However large closet with 12 hangers. Blow dryer and ironing board in closet. VERY LITTLE bottles of shampoo and conditioner. At this time, they clean room every other day. No toothpaste, would need to buy. What I didn't like, restaurant on the grounds. Terrible food, and not worth paying for. In most bookings, they offer you $150 of food credit. That's the only recto eat there. I would recommend DUKES and a couple other restaurants around the are. STAY AWAY FROM the i Italian restaurant next door. Worst service and food ever. Pool is huge and plenty of room to lay out. Beach also has lounge chairs.

Disappointing hotel experience at The Royal sonesta Kaua'i. First experience with a Sonesta hotel and probably my last. Beautiful grounds but staff just seem disinterested. We pulled up to the front to drop our bags off and the bell staff didn't even look up from their conversations to help us. We got our bags and then someone mentioned to go down an odd hallway to get to the elevators. Looked like a well worn service hallway. Definitely not good for first looks of the hotel. Front desk staff were the only friendly staff. Hotel rooms are nice and decor seems newer. Common area definitely needs some TLC. Signage around the property is awful! It will have you walking in circles trying to find locations. Upon check out we had the same experience with bell staff. No interest in helping. This is by no means the most expensive property on the island but also isn't cheap and the staff just not up to par in my opinion. Can't seem family and I staying here again or recommending it to anyone.

I booked this place as a package on the Costco Travel website. I was a little apprehensive because we were staying so close to the Lihue Airport, but this felt like we were at a nice resort on the other side of the island. We loved this property and will not hesitate staying here again. The grounds were beautifully kept and it was so close to all the excursions we booked on this trip. This hotel property was also right on the beach. The pool area was huge and inviting. My kids also really loved visiting the koi pond every day. The koi actually swam up to them. Service was also excellent throughout our stay.

We had a great experience at Royal Sonesta over the holidays. The location was great, close to the airport but without being in flight paths. The pool area is one of their best Parking wasn't too bad, our room was closer to a smaller lot which during the day is accessible to the public using the public beach but overnight was just for hotel guests, we were able to park there all but one night. The room was good sized for the two of us with a hair dryer, closet with hangers and a few draws for clothes. My only complaint is that the shampoo and conditioner bottles were so small and hard to get the conditioner out of. That said, we walked to the super close ABC store and picked up some full size toiletries on day 2 which we used the full run of the trip. We rented beach day beds one day and they were a perfect way to relax and enjoy the beach in comfort. The staff was super nice and helpful, the only struggle was getting drinks around the pool, as they seemed to be understaffed in that area but the staff working was very pleasant and were working hard to try and cover everyone. They had a luau there but due to the holidays we didn't attend. We did have a breakfast, lunch and dinner at Kukui (the hotel restaurant) the breakfast was great and the lunch was fine but both were overpriced. The holiday dinner was underwhelming. There are so many good restaurants on the island, i would skip Kukui for dinner. (For restaurant recommendations check out my other yelp reviews)

They don't clean your rooms daily and the Shower was clogged and the room next to use was clogged and dirty will flow back upwards into your feet . NASTY! My family booked a 3 day vacation March 15,16 and 17. Sunday my family spent most of the day looking at the water fall that I would not recommend! Can't really see them and you got Scamming people using the site to make money selling stuff. Back to this Hotel. Sunday my family been harnessed by poor Security staff and this is supposed to be a 4 Star Hotel. I tell you this much it's crappy and ran down and the Service is poor. This place is failing in so many ways and my family will not stay at this place again.

This hotel was OK, but I probably wouldn't stay there again. The Good: -The location is very close to the airport, and it is a short drive to Costco and Target. -It is within walking distance to Duke's restaurant and the Kalapaki Bay. -The bed was very comfortable. -My friends received champagne drink coupons for their anniversary. -The pool is large, and there are 4 separate hot tubs. -We could see the bbq grills being cleaned everyday. The Bad: -I paid for a room with an ocean view, but my view was partially obstructed by the hotel. -My wristband key stopped working part way during my stay, and I had to have security fix my door. -Paper thin walls. I could here word for word the news on my neighbor's television and could hear their alarm going off in the morning. -My friend called down for something from the front desk, but it was never brought to the room. -Dingy exterior in need of a makeover. -My room was only cleaned twice during my week long stay. -If there were any activities at the hotel, we were not informed of them. -Toilet paper that was rough and disintegrated in the toilet. For the amount we paid for our stay, we expected a lot more amenities and better service. An overpriced and just OK hotel.

Excellent property, extremely friendly staff, close to everything but yet far enough to feel secluded (in a good way). Breathtaking views. Grounds and pool area meticulously kept. Beach on site clean. Rooms large (we had king ocean view room) and bathrooms spacious. Housekeeping every other day. Only one restaurant with a bar on site serving breakfast, lunch & dinner. There is a to-go breakfast place too! Duke's is a short walk along the beach walkway. Only caveat is that are no activities pool or beachside. There are some activities but no daily notices. I did read bad reviews which I found useless.