Royal Sonesta Kauai

The day before I arrived, I received a text asking what time I expected to check in. I said 2:00, and the response was that they couldn't guarantee a room until 4:00. Fine, I understand. But when you know to expect a guest at 2:00 you might at least try to have the room ready shortly thereafter? Instead, I was told at check-in that, if I paid an additional $400, they could "upgrade" me and give me a room sooner. This felt like an upsell. Instead, I waited in the lobby for 90 minutes until a room was ready for me--and then it was the wrong type of room. I had requested a standard king and was given two queen beds. So I called downstairs and was told the queen beds were an upgrade? (Not even a view, which was fine, since I hadn't booked a view, but definitely NOT an upgrade!) They did give me a new room right away, and it was very nice, but all the hoops I jumped through after 13 hours of travel were not welcome. Even though they gave me two huge bottles of water at check-in as well. The room itself--once I got the correct one--was fine. Floor a little warped (it was a ground-floor room), water pressure and heat in the shower not great. Also a little sad I didn't have an upscale Japanese toilet (as I've had those before in Hawaii). But the room was spacious and I had a cute little lanai where the chickens visited me each morning. I actually liked being tucked in a corner because it felt private. I did pull down an extra blanket from the closet and it had holes in it. Not exactly top tier luxury. I was also disappointed that the sundries shop was closed, so I wasn't able to get a couple things that would have been nice to have. No real ability to buy snacks, say, or sunscreen, or things like that. (I was told it would be reopening at some point, but that didn't do me much good in the moment.) Restaurants were generally very good, Duke's being a favorite. Service everywhere was, shall we say, "leisurely," but I understand that's just Hawaiian relaxation. The pool was especially lovely, and I enjoyed my time there and on the beach. Alas, I was there for a conference so didn't get to enjoy them as much as I might've. Overall, not sure the cost was worth some of the hassle I went through.

We loved our time at the Royal Sonesta. We went for our honeymoon and I was worried at first that it wouldn’t be nice enough. I will say the property itself is immaculate and makes up for the rooms being a little more basic (but perfectly acceptable). We actually checked out of the Sonesta to go to the North shore, and then ended up coming back because we missed the pool, hot tubs, beach access, bar/restaurant, and other amenities. We even went to other hotels we considered in preparation for a trip back to Kauai, and safe to say, we made the right booking decision! We will definitely be back!

"Her name was Lola, she was a show girl, but that was 30 years ago, when they used to have a show" 30 years ago this place may have been decent, it ain't no more. Dust everywhere, filthy patio doors, musty smelling hallways and rooms, vacant shops. RIdiculous prices for an aging dump. Cocktails seemingly void of alcohol. No water bottle filling stations, even though their documents say they do. We cannot recommend this place. Awful.

We stayed in a room that had a pool and ocean view on the upper floor. It was beautiful. Rooms were great and the staff was kind. I loved the key bracelets, the water bottles and the proximity to the beach. They even have a guest laundry, which we needed. Thank you!

Beautiful resort…big rooms, beautiful pool and nice restaurants. Only complaint is when you pay $400 plus a night I should get my room made up every day…not every other day.