Waimea Plantation Cottages

Wife and I booked a last minute vacation and found the plantation cottages to have one of the best prices on the island. We booked a one bedroom cottage and was impressed how big it was - especially the kitchen. We took advantage of the kitchen with the local grocery store just being down the road less than a mile awhile. I was nice to make fresh coffee and breakfast everymorning. Wish living room had a couch vs two chairs. Bed was fine not the most comfortable but I slept just fine. The property itself is crazy gorgerous and feels authentic. Wide range of tropical trees and plant life. Grass to walk on. The BBQ restraurent was very good. Being from Kansas City I thought the meat was great. Juicy and tender. Would stay here again

This is a special place. The location and grounds are beautiful, huge shade trees, a very large shaded lawn between cottages and beach, lots of birds and a long stretch of nearly deserted beachfront. The cottages are a little rustic -- they are the real thing from a century ago -- but very comfortable, relaxing and quiet. There's a good restaurant/bar right on the grounds. From the cottages it's an easy walk into town (sidewalks) with some restaurants, food trucks and shops. The town is not touristy, but safe and comfortable, friendly folks in the businesses. And you are the closet possible to drive into Waimea Canyon for awesome views and hiking.

This place is absolutely fantastic. Off the beaten path, kind of rustic. Very clean. The bed and pillows were very comfortable. Is you want peace and quiet, with everything you need, then this is your place. Watching the waves roll in with morning coffee or enjoying the beautiful sunset, you can’t do any better than this. The property was very well manicured, with daily attention by groundskeepers. Use one of the grills, if you like. They were spotless clean.

Off the beaten path and a taste of old Hawaii. This place is rustic with modern amenities. It's the perfect place to decompress and unwind. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful, and the cabins are well maintained. Don't expect the polish of a resort accommodation, but think old world sugar plantation homes. We love it here.

This is our second time staying at Waimea Plantation Cottages. We love the grounds, the cottages (which are "old-school" - functional not fancy), the beach walks. I think the pool was enlarged since we were there over 25 years ago, which is great. I wish there was swimming off the beach (you can swim, but the water is murky), but the sunset walks are fantastic. Would heartily recommend staying here!

This property is heavenly. Stay here if you want peace and quiet. It’s more of a cabin than a hotel room. The floors and kitchen shelves weren’t clean, though the linens and towels were. But I didn’t care because I had an ocean-view back porch to sit on while the sun came up and the wind rustled the palm trees. The beach isn’t swimmable but you can drive to Salt Pond Beach in 10 minutes for pleasant swimming, then get JoJo’s shave ice on the way back. I much prefer a resort on a non-swimmable beach because that means it’s quiet and my favorite hammock was always free. There are big grassy areas where your kids can run and kick a soccer ball (they have them at the front desk.) There’s a massive banyan tree, which was cool, and several cats wandering around. I was charmed.

We stayed at a beautiful ocean view one bedroom cottage at Waimea Plantation Cottages. The cottage is vintage and not perfect but we still loved it. The bed was very comfortable and hearing the ocean beyond was so relaxing. The front desk was extremely accommodating and friendly. Housekeeping service is once every 4 days, I believe, but if we needed anything then we just asked at the front desk. We would stay again.

The cottages are each unique and beautiful. This was our third stay with ocean front cottages. All have been amazing. If you want a quiet and beautiful Hawaiian vacation away from the crowds, this is your place. We spotted schools of dolphins on the horizon most mornings. Good restaurants within walking distance, too.

I came here with family for 8 days. What a beautiful property and view of the ocean. The grounds are kept up so nicely. It was my first trip to Hawaii and will be one of many. I would stay here again. Staff were very nice! Everyone was friendly and always had a smile on their face. Great service and hospitality. There's a pool and volleyball court, a lot of areas to walk and quick access to the beach. There's laundry on site as well if you need to do your laundry. AC in each room. The sunsets were beautiful. Best part is there were no mosquitos that bit us at night!! The cottages were lovely. The bed was not very comfy but all in all, these cottage was a great place to stay! It is very quiet and the only sounds you hear is the ocean and birds chirping! Tons of frogs and small geckos!

If you are looking for a 4-5 star resort do not book here. If you're still interested keep reading. If you are a neat freak and do not like bugs of any sort or antiquated locations (hotels/resorts) do not come here. Also be aware you're in an area that is humid and bugs are expected- I guess we didn't think it would be that much . Upon arrival the front desk agent Harley was so helpful and welcoming. She answered all of our questions and made us feel welcomed. Check in time is at 3pm and our room was not ready until close to 4pm. Luckily there is a restaurant on site where we had a quick bite as we were super hungry. We eventually made it to our room (Directors Cottage). I have to be honest I was a bit disappointed- the cottage did not smell clean and the layout is a bit awkward. The master bedroom is accessible through an outside door . You have to exit the main house to access the master. If you have kids this may not be recommended if they want to access the parents. Parking for this cottage is right in front of your door so we lived just pulling up and walking to our front door. This was a plus! Cottage -Directors Cottage Master bedroom- has sliding doors that if you open them - I was warned by the front desk you may get mosquitoes and more gnats (gnats already come into the master- and it's lots of them). I constantly cleaned them and just gave up eventually. The room is stuffy and did not feel super clean. This room had lots of gnats. I felt the constant need to air it out. There was no extra waste basket trash bags. You wake up to gnats in your sink & toilet everyday. Room can get stuffy at night even with ac and full blast fan. I tried to run the ac unit but it would not run at night when I needed it. Main house This part of the house had less gnats but is definitely rustic. The rooms are ok. The kitchen was ok but could use equipment upgrades - updated pans, flooring would be great. I think you're better off getting plastic utensils and paper plates but up to you. The floors in this part of the house also didn't look like they had been mopped. I again felt the need to clean everyday but also gave up. The smell in this cottage is also not great. The living room furniture is not comfortable and also can only 5 people snuggly (we often would sit at the kitchen table to spend time together in that space). Furniture is dusty and doesn't seemed like it's cleaned. Bathtub floor felt slimy on our 5th day here so we showered with our flip flops. Outside patio and lanai Beautiful view from this cottage. The outdoor eating table fits 4 people (even though there were 6 of us). The grill outside our cottage was super clean with a full tank of gas. We enjoyed a nice steak and shrimp homemade meal one of the nights. Pool Probably one of the best parts of the place was the pool. It was never full and it was super clean and plenty of space for all of us to lounge and relax. You also get some beautiful views and sunsets from this location (The volleyball courts were nearby). I loved not having to fight for a beach chair/lounger Beach Very private beach area but you cannot swim in it. So you really get to enjoy just watching the waves and listening to them. I was cool with that bc I'm not much of a beach person but more of a chill and watch beach girl. So this was just fine for me. Best Sunset views and chairs you can sit on and enjoy. Laundry You have onsite free laundry and detergent. I bought a bottle of detergent at Walmart bc I wanted to use my own. Facility for laundry was just perfect. Resort grounds This resort or location grounds are kept up well. You can tell they take pride in how the landscaping looks- if you wake up early take a walk around the grounds and enjoy the pretty trees and lush greenery. All grounds maintenance staff very friendly! Staff The staff here is r nice and will go out of their way to help you. Everyone from the front office staff to the facilities staff were very attentive and helpful when we asked questions. Room service The resort fee is low for this location- that's a plus but that means you don't get room service everyday day (we knew that). We were here for seven days and you can only get room service after your 5th night. I would recommend bringing Clorox wipes and also cleaning in between. You can also bring gnat sticky traps if you want- it may help. The cleaning could be better- Overall conclusion You might be asking - would you come back to Waimea plantation cottages - probably not. Being inside the cottage was not great. It's a bit of a musty damp smell of old and wet clothes. The cleanliness and amenities inside the cottage left me with more to be desired. I think the cottages can still keep the quaint history and atmosphere even if they remodel the basics. I think this location makes enough from tourists to slowly upgrade the cottage.

The location is quiet and gorgeous, with black sand open beach front and big grassy areas with seating & bbq's. I loved the setting- exactly the historic relaxed feel I wanted. It is away from shopping & high end dining experiences so the rental car was a must. Our cottage was rustic but nice, but lacking some basic amenities (such as blackout curtains in the bedroom) & they don't clean the rooms at all, not even after more than a week. They were rude when we requested additional room supplies (coffee, shampoo, etc) after several days. We didn't need a lot of service, which is good because this isn't a service resort attitude. The vibe from the day stuff is leave us alone & don't ask for anything. (Night staff was friendlier). The pool is basic, I went one morning but it wasn't very clean & it's pretty old.

These are the BEST cottages (single family free standing homes) to stay in all of Kauai. We booked the Director's Cottage (3 bedroom, 2 bath) and it was EPIC. 100 feet to the beach. Beach front. Lots of private parking. Each room had its own AC. I will stay here every time going forward.

Loved this hotel, very welcoming, quiet, peaceful away from traffic, noise and crowds. Old Time and homey. Beautiful ocean view, loved coffee cart , Brew Bruddahs every morning, the three cats on property, wonderful staff and just everything made our second honeymoon, once in lifetime trip. Dont want to leave to return home , but will be back again any chance we get.

We spent more than $500/night to stay here this weekend only to have our stay interrupted by a very loud wedding reception on the plantation. The DJ has the base turned up, pounding and we weren't told this would take place during our stay. The receptionist tells me it'll go on 2 1/2 hours more...would have appreciated advance warning so we could have stayed somewhere else.

we had a very nice, peaceful, and relaxing stay at Waimea Plantation Cottages, when staying on the south shore of Kauai on our trip to Hawaii this summer. The place is a converted sugar plantation and the cottages are the former cottages of the plantation employees. Built in the early 20th century, they retain a lot of old charm. The grounds are lovely, with many trees, lawn, etc., plus a nice swimming pool and a long stretch of beach. The beach here is itself not particularly beautiful or good for swimming, but it is nice for atmosphere and breezes. We stayed in one of the larger cottages, set away from most, and facing the beach. It is beautiful. The bathrooms were updated but otherwise it retained most of its old character and it was clean and in nice shape, very well maintained. It was very peaceful and relaxing. The cottages also have bbqs and there are laundry facilities on the grounds. The place has a lot of history as well. It is also a short walk from central Waimea, and near the road up to Waimea Canyon, so is convenient. The price was very good for what we got.

Had a wonderful stay. The plantation cottages are super cozy and a historic place! It had a great vibe, not fancy so don't expect ultimate luxury, but the location is perfect to relax away from the busy touristy spots of Kauai. Go to Waimea canyons, and Polihale state park (but for the park, 4 wheel drive recommended as it's a dirt road..) borrowed beach chairs from the lobby which was a nice thing. Loved the free earplugs in the lobby for the infamous Kauai roosters, but didn't hear any early morning cockadoodledoo's. The cottage was clean and cute, loved the little private back patio. There's a definite community vibe here like "glamping" the trivia on Friday nights is fun and lots of locals attend. Two hotel cats Boots and Poke guard the grounds, very cute. The girl at the front desk (didn't catch her name) but she said she was "born on Kauai, raised on Oahu and now back on Kauai" was soo sweet and wonderful.Would definitely be back.

Such a beautiful, peaceful place to stay. We will be back. All the details that are included are wonderful. Two movie dvd's per day, plush bath and beach towels, swimming pool, and a lovely black sand beach. The location is near wonderful snorkeling and swimming spots. Great eats within a half hour.

Loved the privacy of these cottages. We were in a 3 BR cottage which had a nice sized outdoor patio, A/C window units in the bedrooms. Really liked the full kitchen with stove/oven, fridge/freezer, sink, plates, cups, silverware, etc and even a rice cooker. Comfortable places. Bedrooms were small but livable. Common areas were pretty warm during the day due to no A/C in those windows. I didn't look at the main bathroom but was told the grout was a bit icky. Mosquitos definitely were out and active at night. Have a few souvenir bites from them. I almost checked out the pool (and now wish I did). I would imagine each cottage is different. Overall had a nice stay here.

Peaceful, beautiful grounds, lovely charming cottages that are well maintained. Feels like home.

If you're looking for something peaceful and quiet, out of the noise of tourism in Kaua'i, this is it. Hubby and I walked in the main cottage to check in and immediately fell in love. You could see all the way through the cottage to the ocean. We had Cottage B oceanfront. A beautiful view to watch the ocean and with the open air of the cottages we could listen to the waves all the time. The bedrooms had air conditioning (thank goodness) because even with a breeze the afternoons could get really hot. The cottages are old, which I think gives them a quaint style, but if you're looking for everything modern this will not be your place. Also, if you want to swim in the ocean this is probably not your place either, as the Waimea River pours into the ocean along here and can give a brown tint to the ocean. It really depends on what you're looking for in your Kaua'i stay. Quiet, old, quaint and off the beaten path, with price points that don't break the bank, this is great. If you want all the modern amenities, fancy drinks & pools, pick a big chain hotel. There is also currently a restaurant on property, Chicken in a Barrel, which has great barbecue and beer, plus you can play cornhole on their deck, big screen TV's, etc. We loved staying here!

Horrible place to stay. Dirty. Go find another place. Find a better Airbnb perhaps. Haunted vibes.

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Reading reviews made me cross my fingers upon arrival. We checked in and I was blown away. This place is AWESOME!!! I don't know what people are having such issues with. Staff was nice, the grounds were stunning, the ocean was even beautiful though not advised to swim in. The canyon is close, the little town of Waimea is literally walking distance... The cottages are just awesome. The history and everything behind the property is really something to appreciate. We are so thankful and grateful we spent our week here! There is definitely mosquitos but nothing bug spray won't fix and that's not even the managements issue... you're in Kauai The restaurant on the property was great, the grounds are beautiful to walk! There are some very old trees and they are just stunning. The hammocks were so relaxing to lay in during the mornings and evenings, the flowers falling from the trees were so pretty to find while we walked. Everything about staying here really made our visit awesome. Thank you for all that you do! There is much to appreciate on this property. I definitely recommend to anyone staying on this side of the island! We even made friends with a duck we named Paul and a little orange cat we named Tommy. They definitely don't bug you or anything like that if you don't pay attention to them, so don't think that would even be a bother lol Thank you so much for having us! I wouldn't have stayed anywhere else! Mahalo nui loa

The grounds are lovely and the cottages provide enough room for a family to travel comfortably with everyone getting the space they need. The porches on each unit are great for hanging out after a long day of adventuring. PROs lovely, authentic feeling Hawaiian environment Awesome porches Nice outdoor facilities including Hammocks, lounge chairs, grills for cooking (it's expensive to go to restaurants with a hungry family in Hawaii!), and a well maintained pool. Full kitchens They'll loan beach chairs and umbrella for your stay Individual parking in front of each unit. On site restaurant CONS: Location far from many of the main sites which results in longer car rides that can be tough with kids Uneven amenity. Many cottage have 2 AC units but we only had one. Only some cottages include lounge chairs Beach not really swimmable. If this place was on a really nice beach it be would be PERFECT

Freaking love this spot! Everyone is so nice and friendly here! Jasmine the manager was extremely helpful when we realized we wanted to stay another night as 5 nights was still not enough! She went above and beyond to ensure that we had a good experience and moved us to a better location for our last day on the resort! Excellent customer service. 10 stars. I read the many reviews of this place. It is an AUTHENTIC HAWAII resort. That being said, if you don't quite understand what that means and your expectation is to stay at something like the Hyatt, Sheraton or any LUXURY MODERN look/feel, then by all means, go stay at the commercialized franchises. This spot is a hidden gem, a location to be loved and appreciated for the charm that the resort offers. The cottages are from the 1800s and have a rustic feel to it, so please stop complaining on Yelp about this resort. Lol. It's really indeed a special place. Some of us would like to find places that represent the culture and look/feel of the state we are staying at. Last but not least, you get a bottle of Prosecco, couple packages of Kauai cookies, shell leis, a bag to carry the goodies around and PEACE AND QUIET everywhere you go. The beauty of this place is that it doesn't look/feel touristy. We will definitely be back!

My family and I were really hoping to book the Waimea Plantation Cottages for my brothers birthday weekend but it seems like they don't want business or $$$$. We called to see if they had any availability, to which the girl who answered the phone asked for a name, phone number and a million other questions just so the manager could give us a call back on availability. First of all, why is the manager the only person allowed to tell people what availability is like? And second, why is the girl answering the phone sound like she has no clue what's going on? So finally we left our name and number so that the manager could call back. The manager finally called two hours later, but did not leave a message or anything for that matter and we missed the call. So we called back again for a 3rd time, the same girl answered and said the manager "left for work for the day"...... did she leave for work or left work for the day? Then told us there is no availability, when she clearly could have just told us that in the beginning when we called the first time instead of waisting our time. It clearly sounds like there is a ton of miscommunication going on. Just be aware of what you're getting yourself into if you're booking at the Waimea Plantation Cottages!

Stayed a weekend here and loved it!It was Quiet clean spacious and very comfortable . I recommend everyone to come here and stay.Thank you and MAHALO!!!

The pizza is light and delicious! It's a whole vibe sitting on the porch eating pizza as the sun sets on the ocean !

If I could rate this place zero or negative stars, I would. We were very much looking forward to a quiet retreat in Kauai. This place came close to ruining it. Upon arrival, we were given the wrong key for our cabin and the on-duty night staff seemed inconvenienced and complained about the ineptitude of the previous staff. We apologized (for their mistake) and began our stay. Initially, we were charmed by the rustic atmosphere and didn't mind the run-down furniture, old AC, or other conditions. We didn't even mind the cockroaches in the bathroom, just killed them and chalked it up to country life. The second night we went on a run on the beach and found several homeless embankments directly to the left of the plantation (facing the ocean). On the third day my friend was eating breakfast when she saw mice in the kitchen. We informed the staff and they offered to move us to a different cabin. We agreed and packed our things before leaving for a hike. When we returned, we checked into our new cabin. We immediately noticed it was much smaller and dingier than the first. We unpacked our things again and began to get settled in for the night. Wary from our first experience, we inspected the bed where we found ants on the pillows and cockroaches inside the bedsheets. It was late and we were exhausted so we did our best to kill every bug. We got little to no sleep, worried there were additional roaches inside the bedsheets. The following morning, we went to speak with management. After explaining the issues in both cabins, Jasmine apologized and stated that a refund would be posted. We immediately found other accommodations for the rest of our stay and Jasmine stated she wanted us out of the room within an hour. We rushed to pack all of our things (again), in the process forgetting a few items that still haven't been found. The next day we found another payment of $1500 was charged on the card. At booking, we were immediately charged $1500, which was pending a refund as promised. Confused about the new charge, we emailed Jasmine and did not receive a response. We had already moved to another condo but decided to return to speak with Jasmine in person to clarify the charges. We drove an hour, and at arrival to the plantation, were told that Jasmine wasn't in that day. After explaining the charges, staff announced that they needed to go to the back and miraculously found Jasmine. My friend spoke with Jasmine, who stated that she never intended to give a refund and that we would be charged the full amount for our stay. After printing the invoice, we discovered she charged us a late check-out fee of $380. We explained that we were out within the hour she had specified. After two hours of back and forth, she took off the charge but refused to do anything else. The stay here was honestly an ordeal. Dealing with cockroaches, ant infestations, mice, rude staff, dishonest management came with a $1500 price tag. We lost a full 1.5 days of our week stay to packing and re-packing, booking additional stays, emailing and speaking with management. Roach infestations in two cabins speaks to larger issues. In the end, we were able to book two additional stays on the east & northern shores which were absolutely beautiful and made our Kauai visit very enjoyable. Not only were they less expensive, but they were also beachside on swimmable, beautiful water. I would absolutely NOT recommend this place to anyone. I could've dealt with everything else but the lack of integrity and underhanded tactics of management were the final clinchers. Save your money for the other beautiful places on Kauai, which also offer secluded stays and peaceful respites. If you decide to book, check your sheets for roaches and invoice for hidden fees.

Waimea Plantation Cottages is very nice. It's a full cottage with everything you'll ever need for a comfortable stay. It has a full kitchen. If you have to do laundry, our cottage (#52) was right across the small laundromat. there's a pool with a kiddie pool at the end. There's a full beach access to the shoreline. It's very nice. There was three bedrooms which made it very comfortable for all of us. There was 4 adults. There's a tv with cable, and a dvd card to rent at the main lobby. There's complimentary drinks (juices) at the main lobby. And, there's two full size bathrooms; one on the main room, and there's a Jack & Jill with the other rooms. There's only A/C in the kitchen and master bedroom. But it gets pretty cool at night for the comfortable sleeping. There's more than enough room. If you're visiting on the premise, please drive slow. There were kids running around and people zipped through. Thank you Waimea Plantation Cottages. I'm a local living here on Kauai and always wanted to stay at your cottages and soooo thankful I did. Mahalo nui.

COCKROACHES AND A DIRTY COTTAGE. Don't be fooled by the online photos or the pristine lobby. There are a few cottages that are kept up really well and apparently those are used in the photos. We came back this year even though our cottage last visit was not well maintained and had an old bathroom. Last year was tolerable, this year was terrible! Look at the pictures... Disgusting grout in the shower and hopefully that isn't black mold. Both showers had really bad disgusting grout like that and did not seem to have been cleaned. The bathtub is chipped, rusted and yellow. Who would want to take a bath in that!When we entered our cottage it was full of flies. It looked like it hadn't been cleaned at all. We had to go out and buy cleaner and re-clean it. The windows were so filthy we could not even see out of them. My husband called and asked for window cleaner and cloths and had to clean them. No one offered to come do it. Everything was sticky and grungy, doorhandles light switches, there was spit on the bathroom mirror and a big black hand print on the door.Look at the photo of the screen door... I cleaned the middle part of it so you could see how clean it could actually be if someone bothered to clean it. It's absolutely filthy! I get that there's lots of dust and dirt in Kauai blowing around every day, but surely these things should be cleaned after the guests leave? Every corner of the room was dark, dust and whatever else was lurking in there, it was a little bit scary especially considering that we had a few cockroaches get caught up when we swept the floor.We just went around cleaning everything the entire time and killing bugs. There are a few expensive cottages that are kept up for wedding parties and photos.. Despite asking to stay in a well-maintained cottage, we have always been booked into a dump. Nothing works and everything is dirty. What a disappointment. This is a lovely property and it would be wonderful if the cottages were kept clean and well-maintained but they're not. We checked out early because we got sick of all the bugs and dirt. It was so nice to go to a clean hotel room after being in such a filthy place. The only thing that's clean about this property is the towels and sheets. If they can keep the lobby up, freshly painted and cleaned, surely they could keep the cottages up instead of making paying guests live in filth and pay for it. We will never come back to this property again.

I would not stay here again for the price. We paid $2100 for 4 nights. I don't mind doing that now and then for something spectacular but this was not that by any means. From the outside it is cute but the inside could use some love/upkeep. For the most part it was extremely quiet. That's the kind of place it is. Great. It started off as a good kick start to our vacation. The 2nd night we were there, I had flowers delivered to our cottage and the person that brought them to us (hotel staff) was not friendly on any level and seemed very bothered that he had to bring them out to us. Their pool/hot tub closes at 7pm. You know....when most people are just finishing (or starting) dinner. That really bothered me. A hot tub is a nice way to end the day but apparently you better end your day before 7pm. What a joke. Also, there was a wedding that took place while we were there. Our cottage was right by the event cottage. We had not notice or note or anything on our door or otherwise letting us know about this reception. The music was very loud and all of the guests were singing along to every song and it went on until 10:00. I can't hot tub past 7 but they can be loud and sing until 10? Got it! I am not saying 10 is late. I am simply saying be consistent. Let guests know there is something going on when it's right next door. I emailed the cottages directly and 7 days later, I still have not received an email back. Horrid customer service in my opinion. A simple "sorry" would be nice but that's apparently too much to ask. Not impressed with them. Also, not much in the way of food in the area. There is a delicious steak house near by which we went to twice due to lack of other options. On the property itself is a chicken in a barrel / pizza/ taphouse. The servers were all "decent enough" but all seemed brand new and not much for being friendly. All in all, it was a tolerable stay but for the money we spent I expected so much more. Will NOT go back. Do not recommend.

Absolutely amazing! The spectacular views from the oceanfront lanai's are breathtaking! Rustic but clean and very well taken care of!

We've been visiting the Poipu Beach area of Kauai for more than two and a half decades. More than once, we've eyed the quaint accommodations at Waimea Plantation Cottages on our way to see Waimea Canyon. Finally, we tried them out when we needed one night's accommodations and found it to be a great experience. The cottages are historic and we had a great time. Don't come here if you're expecting a five star hotel, but do come if you want to feel like you're staying in a 19th century plantation cottage. While rustic, our cottage was clean and well cared for. Combined with the tropical garden environment and beautiful ocean view, this is a place worth visiting. Why four, and not five stars? Well, the chickens (left over from being released during Hurricane Ineke) don't seem to care what time of night it is when they cluck and crow, and there are a lot of them. While the front desk has a supply of ear plugs, you're probably not going to get a good night's sleep unless you're a HEAVY sleeper. Also, if you're a beach goer, this is not the place to be. While a great view, the nearby Wailua River muddies the water and deposits copious amounts of driftwood on the beach, making it an undesirable location for sunbathing. Chicken noise and less-than-desirable beach aside, Waimea Plantation Cottages was a memorable and fun experience!

Wondering if you should spend more on accommodations for (perceivably) less? Here's a query you should ponder: how do you prefer to get away from it all? My family chose these cottages because we truly wanted to get away from the tourist-y schlock otherwise found at a manicured resort. We didn't want the noise and bustle of a poolside cantina, room service, swarming masses of foreigners, the usual. We wanted a peaceful plot to unwind, connect, and relax. That's just how we do. And we're willing to spend a little more for the experience. If that's you, consider the cottages. During a four day stay, we gathered nightly on an open porch for home cooked meals, games, conversation. The skies of Kauai are dank, and constellations are especially bright here -- without light pollution. On New Year's Eve, the wife and I sat on the green grass and witnessed seven shooting stars. What a ball drop. You won't get a beach, the black sand shores aren't swimmer-friendly, but there's a nice outdoor pool. Dirt paths connect you to the small town, and hey, if you want to swim, consider Poipu, just 20 minutes east, great snorkeling. Desk service was friendly and responsive, the bar/eatery next door is perfect for a nightcap (good breakfast options, to boot), but if you're of our tribe, you'll buy rations at Costco or whatever, make sandwiches for your hikes in the nearby canyon, and spend mornings lapping up the waves on the beachside chairs or hammocks. Great for a honeymoon, and perfect for a family reunion, this property is well-maintained rustic. Free DVDs and laundry, including detergent. Enjoy the stargazing.

We have stayed here for 4 nights and I really don't want to leave. We have had such a relaxing time. The beach is not for swimming but leisure walks are great The cottage is wonderful. Would say it is in our top 10 places to stay.

I thought the cottages looked great and Waimea Cottages started out with 5 stars. The cottage could be dated but the cottages are fine with me. The beach is a muddy beach so you cannot swim,but there is a beach near the cottages. There is tons of grass space and a volleyball net along with a pool and hammock. The beds were very clean and nice so that's important. The reason I toke 1 star of is because of the bathroom. There were TONS of moths on the room and ants,moths and roaches in there. Otherwise, the place is a good place to stay

This place is wonderful! The only thing was it was actually kind of pricey. You'll need to bring in your own condiments and ask for the inflatable mattress early on or you might not get one. If you're looking for a peaceful and relaxing, laid back, environment, this place is perfect. Very old school plantation housing, I loved it. If your looking for a pristine modern house, you'll be disappointed, this is not for you. We stayed in the Managers House and it was cool, open floor plan. 2 bedrooms with a bathroom upstairs and 3 bedrooms with 2.5 baths. This was just our experience, the staff was WONDERFUL, good people around here very patient, kind, and helpful. Great place! Glad we got to experience staying here!!

Beautiful resort, but BEWARE of management practices! When I made the reservation the website clearly said I could get a refund if cancelled within 72 hours. Only after they charged my credit card, did the resort inform me their REAL policy is no refunds within 60 DAYS! Management won't honor the stated terms when I made the reservation. This has happened to other people at the same resort. Do not stay here until they clean up their act.

Probably the best place I've stayed in my life..... If you want peace and tranquility... and the ability to have space to stretch out amongst large amounts of tropical foliage.... STAY HERE If you want to stay in a small quiet quaint village like setting.... STAY HERE Do cough up the extra cash for an oceanfront cottage, not much more and totally worth it! If you want to listen to ocean waves crashing all night... crickets singing at night.... cool ocean breezes blowing through the vast amounts of screened windows and doors throughout these cottages... STAY HERE If you want your own fully furnished house in Kauai... with a full kitchen, fully equipped with all and I mean ALL cooking essentials... STAY HERE If you want to wake up, watch the sunrise over the ocean and sit on one of three patio porches of your cottage overlooking the ocean and drink your coffee and watch roosters and chickens walking around....STAY HERE If you want to lounge on a hammock tied between palm trees, overlooking the ocean- STAY HERE If you want to be cramped in a small hotel room, stacked with the masses- DON'T STAY HERE If you want a bumpin nightlife-DON'T STAY HERE If you want brand new, newly remodeled 20th century type accommodations- DON'T STAY HERE These are 1800-1900 era renovated plantation homes... claw foot tubs, old french windows, historic style accomadations If you want a crystal clear, white sand beach, right out front of the resort- DON'T STAY HERE Crystal Clear waters for snorkeling are a short drive away, at Poipu Beach, Lawai and Kekaha are about 10-15 min away.... and Tunnels Beach, on the northern shore of Kauai in about an hour.... The village/town these Plantation Cottages are located in, rolls up the streets around 5 to 6 pm, so... plan on that....grocery store nearby called Big Save The staff was wonderful and you truly have privacy in this quiet, village like resort.

We loved our honeymoon at Waimea Plantation Cottages! The place is a little run down compared to other resorts on the island but we found it charming and unique. We loved having a beachfront cottage (#38). We had coffee and breakfast on the porch every morning. There was also a darling breakfast nook. The cottage was comfy and simple. We appreciated having AC and fans as it did get stuffy! We really enjoyed having a BBQ right in front of our cottage. We walked into town to the Ishihara Market for poke, Kauai shrimp and other items to BBQ. There was a lime tree right behind our cottage that we used to make marinades and flavor our drinks! We checked out the bocce ball set from the front desk and enjoyed playing on the large lawns. We walked down to the boat launch and talked with local fishermen. We also enjoyed getting to know the plantation cats. About three would come out each evening to visit the guests. One day we will return again!

If you're looking to decompress, this is the place! My husband and I have driven past these quaint cottages each time we visit Waimea Canyon for years and not really paid attention. We had our usual timeshares nearly all of which were within a mile from Kapaa town. This time, we are hosting international clients and wanted to offer a local delight that is charming and not so touristy. We decided to give Waimea Plantation Cottages a try. My decision was, in part, influenced by Hawaiian Airlines' online booking engine including reviews that were mostly positive. We must agree that it suited us well and were beyond our expectations. At check-in Gilanne Apo welcomed us in the pleasant Hawaiian style and made us feel like we belonged there. The rooms are reasonably priced for Kamaaina. The interior, along with its unique and authentic Hawaiiana and hardwood floors gives the home a very cozy appeal. We bought a lot of organic veggies from Hanalei Open Market and opted for the BBQ grill. The kitchen is very well equipped and there are so many choices to gather for your family meal. The rooms are comfortable size and with old Hawaiian decor. The closets are full sized. The bathrooms are generously sized as the bedroom with an antique tub and a large standing shower with all the amenities you will need; it's just the way they made bathrooms 80 years ago. The toilet appears to be modern though. You can pull right up and park in front of your cottage and the roosters will greet you. Leinaala Ayau was the sweetest ever and thanked us for choosing to stay with them. As we drove away the housekeepers stopped their carts to bid us farewell. Bottom line: An absolute must if you can incorporate a night on Kauai. If you're the type who will gripe about the type of soap supplied in the bathroom or need constant pampering, forget it. You might as well rent a hotel in your Home state. If you're a realist and want the charm of old Hawaii then I can assure that you'll be perfectly happy here for a day or two. We will definitely visit again. Aloha, Lisa Ann Kahalewai ITravel with Lisa Honolulu Hawaii

I wish I could give this property a five-star rating, since there are a few things I really liked; however, there were a few red flags that impacted my overall experience and because of those red flags, I will probably not come back to this resort when I'm in Kauai next time. Pros: - Location: if you want to be near the canyon and away from the more touristy areas such as Poipu and Princeville, this is the place to be. I found the town of Waimea rugged but quiet and charming. - Property aesthetics: being on the former sugar plantation grounds, the property was beautiful. We were not staying at an ocean view cottage, but we really felt we were surrounded by a well maintained tropical garden. - Kitchen: if you don't want to go out for every meal (after all, Kauai is not a cheap place), you have the option to prepare simple meals by taking advantage of the cottage kitchen. As I mentioned, this resort didn't deliver in some key areas, and here are the cons: - Misleading and inconsistent information on website: according to their website, the front desk is open for check-in until 9pm. When we arrived at 8pm, however, we only found the closed lobby area. Fortunately, the night manager came shortly and helped us check in. Strangely enough, in the paperwork we received from the check in, on two different sheets, one says check in is available until 8pm, and the other one says 9pm. It came as a shock to me that the crucial information was so poorly communicated. - Staff: although we found the staff to be friendly, they seem to be in a hurry and don't care about the guests having a good experience, from check-in to check-out. Our cottage was at the end of the road, quite far from the lobby. It was not easy to find, especially being so poorly lit. The night manager simply showed us the map, pointed the cottage's location and let us figure out the rest. When we checked out, the front desk person didn't ask about whether we had a good stay, but simply did the bare minimum of taking our key and handing over the bill. Advice for management - adding some personal touch might seem minor, but does go a long way. - Cottage issues: the cottages lacked protection for privacy - the curtains don't fully close and the cottages are far from being soundproof, with your neighboring cottage being literally several feet away. I understand the cottages are dated, but there are still measures that could have been taken to enhance the experience for guests, such as blackout curtains.

My husband and I got married here over five years ago. This place is such an amazing place. The atmosphere is calm and relaxing. You feel like you have the whole beach to yourself. The cottages have everything you need. The staff is friendly and accommodating. Our wedding was planned perfectly with their event planner. We are very lucky to have found this wonderful oasis.

This is go to spot for our Kauai vacations twice a year. Just a lovely step back in time, to relax and enjoy the grounds. Wonderful sunrise and sunsets. Can't wait to return when the islands open up.

A delightful place to stay on Kauai. If you don't mind being far from the crowded side of the island, I highly recommend staying here. Far from the cruise ship patrons and upscale hotels you can get sense of the laid back attitude of Kauai. A cluster of around 40 plantation cottages laid out in a sprawling pattern below the main lobby down to the ocean. The beach here is not much to speak of, nor is it good for swimming, but the ample pool area right by the ocean with shade cabanas makes up for the lack of a nice beach. Only a few miles down the road is Salt Pond State Beach which offers protected swimming and a life guard. Dining in Waimea is limited, but Ishihara's market and numerous food truck style operations along the highway in town offer plenty if you don't need or want fine dining. The $25 daily fee is clearly mentioned when you book online, as is the local tax...so be prepared. The Kauai chickens are everywhere, but for the most part limit the crowing to daylight hours. You may get paid a visit by one of five property cats. The seem to roam from cottage to cottage to beg for food and attention. The beach is great to walk on, and sunsets are average as the sun typically sets more toward Na Pali and the Northern side of resort. There are hammocks, shuffleboard, and a volleyball net on site. Would I come here again? You bet!!! In fact I wouldn't consider staying anyplace else.

Dowdy cottages, a muddy beach and mosquitoes galore. This place needs an investment in central air, upgraded bathrooms and bedrooms, reasonable maid service, ceiling fans on the verandas, washers and dryers in the cottages (the laundry room is two small washers), and a good restaurant. Worst of all were the bugs.

I only toured the grounds but would likely stay the next time I visit the island. The cottages are rustic so don't expect anything fancy. I understand they have full kitchens. Plus, each comes with its own barbecue grill. You can drive right up to your place. All the cottages are laid out on a green field. Note that the ocean water here is not swimmable. It's reddish brown from the erosion. There was, however, a nice pool, and a volleyball net. The setting seem perfect for writers who need peace and quiet for concentration, or for vacationers who need to get away from tourist crowds. I don't think there are too many tourist attractions around other than Waimea Canyon.

Stayed 3 nights it was wonderful! The cottages are as beautiful as the pictures online. The staff was very attentive when we had questions about our cottage. The rates are very reasonable. There is a pool at the resort. Do you do you need to drive about 10 minutes to get to a beach that you can Swim in. We would definitely stay there again.

Senior Citizen RIP OFF. Cottage is code for run down trailer. "Private beach" refers to beach access SHARED with over 100 different trailers. NO A/C, NO GARAGE, NO PRIVATE LAUNDRY. Entire community SHARES a total of TWO washers and dryers, one dryer was BROKEN the entire time during our stay, and the washer broke during the first cycle. General cleanliness was questionable, screens had tears in them and there were live bugs in all the beds, mostly flying ants but other unidentified varieties were present as well. If there is actually a spa here, we could NOT find it. NO REC TOYS were offered (we left you some boogie boards though if you are unfortunate enough to reserve this rental). DO NOT RENT THIS HOUSE. There are plenty of luxury rentals on Kauai that offer all the amenities this house does not.

FYI: No restaurant currently on site. Really miss having a restaurant, even tho the last one was not very good. It did add a little "life" to the resort. I haven't seen the cats nor have the roosters bothered me at all. I liked the pool area much better before they added the fence. The fence definitely takes away from the beauty that the pool once had. Our cottage was beautiful, & super clean! Bed is really comfortable, living area furniture is very uncomfortable. I still love staying here and will be back.

Stayed the the Kruze House. Very relaxing. Clean, well maintained cottages. The view to the ocean is amazing. Car parked in front for easy in out access. Highly recommended as it is close to everything. Walk to the park, beach, shops and restaurants.

Husband and I stayed at the WPC 6 nights for our first year wedding anniversary. We wanted a place that 1) was clean and comfortable and 2) was private and romantic. WPC fit the bill only on #2. The grounds of the cottages are close to where the Waimea River meets the ocean, so the beach behind the WPC is not a swimming beach. It does have a decent pool, however, which very few used while we were there. The really gorgeous thing about the WPC is the views. Twice we watched the sunset from the beach on chaises from the pool area. Lovely. The grounds are quite private. Although the cottages are laid out in a semi-circle, we heard no one the entire week. Comfort and cleanliness was a different issue and almost made us leave. We checked in on a Sunday afternoon and after seeing the dilapidated state of our cottage's shower, we asked for a transfer. Lorna at the desk was more than happy to oblige but the new cottage had no AC unit and was much too hot. We opted to stay in our cottage and not use the shower whiich was yellow, had mineral deposits encrusting the the fixtures, and was missing 4 tiles from the floor. Totally unacceptable for an Aston property. The tub had been nicely redone, however, so we used it all week. It made for some inconvenient baths, though. The bed was lumpy but we made do after buying another pillow my husband could use without a neck ache. Towels are plentiful and clean. Housekeeping cleans every three days. Ours changed the sheets and towels. Very sweet ladies. The kitchen was clean and up to date except for the coffee maker which leaked and the stove which had two burners out. The fridge and microwave were very clean and there were ample cooking utensils, tableware, etc. to use. We like to cook meals in our rooms as food is pricey and can be inconsistent in the island. The staff really made the stay for us. The front desk staff, housekeeping, and the manager, whom we all talked with, showed the Aloha attitude all week. If you stay, be sure to use the beautiful breezeway to have your morning coffee and read. It is so lovely. Bring bug repellant for the evenings if you plan to be out; we were attacked two nights by some HUGE critters. Be aware that cockerels run wild on Kauai and the roosters at WPC will begin crowing at 3:30 AM. Not sure why as the sun is nowhere near rising then. Bring earplugs is my best advice.

This is such a beautiful venue, especially for a wedding. My friends got hitched here and it was such a picturesque setting for such an occasion! The only issue I had was booking a room/cottage here, even after my friends blocked off rooms for their wedding, as there was a group reservation designated. I was given a form by the bride for the contact at the place who is working with the wedding guests for booking. If we book through her, she would waive the cleaning fee. Because of the time difference and scheduling conflicts it was difficult to call over there. When I initially called when it was morning there I was told that the contact would call me back because she wasn't available. To ensure that I could book the cheapest room/cottage (since it was just my friend and I sharing) I followed up by e-mail, but hadn't heard back. I followed up a week and half later and still no luck. My friend, the groom would check up on me, to make sure we booked a room. I told him about the difficulty of contacting the coordinator, which he then said he would look into. Only after he contacts the coordinator, she finally e-mails me back a few days later and says that a three-bedroom cabin is the only cottage available, which was obviously more than what my friend and I wanted to spend. It was pretty inconvenient and annoying since I had contacted them multiple times weeks ahead, so that this wouldn't happen. The communication with the staff here is difficult, but must say that was the only issue I had with this place. For the venue my friends were able to set up outdoor seating right by the beach for their ceremony, and they took their vows by this gigantic, beautiful tree that is in the center of the grounds, making the ceremony all the more beautiful. They also had their reception under a big tent that they were able to set-up, along with a dance floor and dining tables. It was a great spot for them, especially since many of the guests could just walk back to their rooms/cottages. My friend and I were able to share a three-bedroom cabin with another friend and her husband the wedding day/night. The cabin is huge and very spacious, and more friends ended up crashing over the night of. Because it's set up like your own cabin you have a living room, kitchen, dining room, patio, and the master bedroom has an en suite bath and there was another full bathroom for the other two bedrooms. It's a freaking nice place to stay in! You can also drive your car right in front of your cabin, too, so parking isn't an issue. And there was a fan in every room, making the Hawaiian heat more tolerable. It also made for a fun time after the wedding, as a bunch of friends came over, for an impromptu slumber party! I would definitely recommend staying here and as a venue option, despite the communication hurdle (minus one star). Once you're there it's alllll good.

Great place to stay if you want a quiet peaceful vacation. We rented the three bedroom superior cabin and it was spacious, stayed with two other couples and did not feel crowded. The cabins are kept nice with coffee and amenities, cleaning is every third day which was great! The pool was not huge but peaceful except on the weekends were the kids over ran it with balls, jumping and running around (parents should learn to watch their kids and respect others space- not sure if it was just this group or a regular occurrence). The beach is a great walk, the town is close. We drove to other towns for supper and beaches to swim at, a restaurant would be great at the cottages, hopefully someday it will reopen!

I love this beautiful place on the Island. My husband and I live in Kapaa. We come here to decompress. The cottages are quaint and the feel is like stepping back in time. However everything is super clean, lovely and up to date. The kitchen is a full kitchen. The beds are really comfortable. The people are welcoming and friendly. Its quiet and peaceful. The view of the ocean is beautiful but not good for swimming. There are roosters but we are not bothered by them. There is a great barbeque place - Chicken in a Barrel. Also it is close to town of Waimea; however once here we do not want to leave.

We just spent the last 9 days at this resort. The Customer service is World Class ! The accommodations were phenomenal and I can honestly say We will never stay anywhere else. Having our own 3 bedroom Cottage with the Lanai facing the Ocean was absolutely beautiful. Our 5 year old absolutely loved being able to run around the grounds like a giant back yard. The staff at this resort has made a Customer for life and we are already booking next summers trip. Thank you for a Job Well Done. We will see you Soon.

Stayed in March 2016 I loved the cottage! We stayed in the studio cottage which came with a fully stocked kitchen (stove, microwave, toaster, pots, pans, etc.) It was a nice change from staying in resorts and standard hotels. It was also great that we could cook our dinners and breakfasts, especially since we were on the road for 10 days already and started getting sick of eating out for every meal. There are free DVD rentals for the night in the lobby, boardgames to check-out, and free Guava juice in the lobby! The only draw back was that the on-site restaurant and is currently closed. :( So you have to drive into town if you want a quick bite or drink. Overall, peaceful and relaxing!