Kauai Country Inn

This was our first trip to Kauai to celebrate our 10th anniversary. Booking the stay was easy on the inn's website which was informative and accurate. The posted pictures only hinted at how good the place actually is. I chose this place as Frommers gave it a great rating for quality and value. The drive from Lihue airport takes 15 to 20 minutes and is a truly beautiful scenic route up a mountain and past a spectacular waterfall. Check in was simple (no waiting in line) and feels like entering your new domicile for the first time. Our first 5 nights were in the Plumeria suite and the final 2 were in the Green Rose. Both suites were spectacular! Decorations were reflective of Hawaii & the Beatles. Both bedrooms are large including the beds which were very comfortable. Apple computer are in the rooms with free internet service. Both kitchens are full service with gas range (awesome) and a great fridges. This really helps control your food budget by allowing you to cook or eat your leftovers (BBQ also available). In Plumeria bathroom is huge with a jetted tub and hilarious grass skirts on the double sink bases. Living area is very cozy with a large LCD TV that gives tons of channels. There is a massive and up to date DVD library in the hosts' house that you are welcome to explore. Jeff and Tricia are friendly, gracious hosts that were alot of fun to converse with. Mike gives an amazing tour of his Beatles museum which is a guests' only privilege. Everyone who listens to any Rock music should experience this tour. Location is very central for the island and close to shopping and restaurants. Contrary to the unhappy experience of a recent reviewer in the Plumeria suite, we loved the Plumeria Suite. We have experienced many B+B's or similar lodgings as well as many hotels ($100-$250/night range) and can sincerely say that KCI and its owners have reset the bar for us. We definitely want to return to this charming inn and hosts.

I made the reservation with Mike, one of the owners, and explained that I wanted the 2 bedroom Plumeria suite because I am a light sleeper and need my own room for sleeping. Mike told me that was no problem and went on to say that many couples request the same thing. You can imagine my surprise when we arrive at the inn after 18 hours of travel to find that our suite was one bedroom. I promptly called Mike, who after putting me on hold for several minutes, came back on the line and said "How many people do you have with you?." Two I told him, feeling frustrated because I had already told him on several occasions that it would be just me and my husband to be. I asked Mike why we were not in the suite that we reserved and he told me, "We don't have you down for the two bedroom. It is being painted right now. We normally put 2 people in the one bedroom but I can make up the day bed for you." He further added that the second bedroom would be available the following day for an additional 10 dollars a night. I realized then that the person we were dealing with was unprofessional with no real interest to remedy his mistake. Mike insinuated that there was no error on his part because the two bedroom suite normally gets rented by larger parties. The thing is, I had several conversations with Mike about needing the 2 bedroom suite. He obviously didn't document our request and review it before our arrival, because he knew absolutely nothing about us when we arrived. But, much more than my initial disappointment about the room not being right, was my frustration that Mike was unable to give a genuine apology. Instead of any sort of apology, we were brushed off with the words "I talk to so many brides every day - I can't remember every request". He basically told us that we never made the reservation that we were certain we did. This was just ONE occasion where we felt like Mike treated us with disregard and apathy.

[Resource Id: InnkeeperResponse, Set: reviews]
Wow! This was a difficult customer to interact with. As is our policy & routine, we confirm all lodging and wedding/lodging packages booked at the Kauai Country Inn in detail by email. This couple's wedding & lodging package was confirmed for the 1 bedroom Plumeria Suite, and their confirmation email listed this in great detail along with the other specifics of their planned wedding on Kauai. The groom called us 3 times prior to their arrival reminding us that his bride needed a loud fan in their bedroom because she was a very light sleeper, not once was the need for the 2 bedroom suite mentioned, and I guess it was unfortunate that this second bedroom was being painted at the time of their arrival, otherwise we would have gladly made this additional room available to them. Like the bride mentions in her review there were some additional issues, and we were left with the feeling that this couple didn’t read any of their email confirmations and correspondence, and the bride liked to claim that things were promised to her over the phone, which is convenient because there is no paper trail to be followed for accuracy. Her claim that our company does not document requests is outright false, as we have a paper trail of emails documenting exactly what was confirmed and promised and delivered to her and her husband, not that it made her any happier. In fact we have provided above and beyond what was promised to this couple supplying them at no additional cost with over 1,000 beautiful photographs of their wedding when we had only promised them 300. Our staff, at the Kauai Country Inn and at Kauai Island Weddings, went above & beyond to joyfully accommodate these guests, as we do with all of customers. You can see this from the many excellent reviews on TripAdvisor and hundreds of positive comments on our own website. However, we have learned over the years, that even though we try our hardest, we can not please everyone...

My wife and I stayed at Kauai Country Inn in our first visit to Kauai. We had come accross the inn through a recommendation in Frommer's. We were pleasantly surprised how nice our stay was. We rented the Plumeria Suite, which we and the staff consider it the best suite. It is spacious, beautifully decorated, has a jacuzzi and balcony and includes lot of "toys" for the guests including an Apple computer to use with free internet and a special digital photo device, multiple movies and books to watch and read, and games to play such as chess, checkers, monopoly and on and on it goes. The staff is so nice and efficient and helpful. The simple continental breakfast of pastries, oatmeal and coffee is just right for the perfect home setting of the Kauai Country Inn. And what a Beetles "museum" they have to to walk down memory lane as Mike gives you a tour of a lifetime and tells you facts of the Beetles many never knew. Best of all, the price of the stay is outstanding considering all you get and free parking and free fruit to pick from the grounds. The location is a quiet country setting perfect to hear the sounds of mutliple birds that is centrally located for easy access to each end of Kauai. As we moved to another island and are now staying in a high end resort, we miss our accommodations we had at Kauai Country Inn.

My fiance and I needed a place to stay for our wedding/honeymoon trip. We stayed in the Plumeria Suite and the Orchid Suite. Mike and Martina (Inn owners) were so helpful in our reservation process. They even made it possible to come a day early, which was a last minute add on to our reservation. We both liked the decor and it is clean. My parents stayed in Yellow Ginger room at the same time and loved it as well. The only room we did not see was the Green Rose room, but when 3 of the 4 are great, I have no doubt the 4th is the same. They were eco-friendly, but it didn't feel extreme. It was a fantastic balance. There is laundry, which was so nice to have in a crunch. We really liked having the computer (was new and in great working condition) and internet access. We used it extensively for our tourist outings. The big refrigerator was really nice to have as well. The also had several guide books located in the suites (yes, you get a bedroom, living room, private bath, and kitchen or kitchenette), which helped us out as well. It is centrally located on the island. The tropical rainforest was a nice escape from the traditional beach hotel- and so peaceful. It provided a much better experience of Kauai as a whole. The check in process was fantastic with the keys waiting for you in an envelope. You don't have to worry about paperwork or anything else when you arrive- just begin your vacation! We thought Mike and Martina were so friendly, helpful and genuinely cared about their business. It doesn't seem like they run the Inn for profits, but rather so visitors to the island have a great experience. They are so easy-going and good natured. It was great to just sit and talk with them. We hope to stay at Kauai Country Inn in the future.

We absolutely loved our stay at the Kauai Country Inn. It was a real "home away from home". We stayed in both the cottage and the Plumeria Suite and loved them both. Our ten year old son was really enjoying the cottage and didn't want to leave when it was time to move into the Plumeria suite. One look at the suite and he said "Whoa, I was so wrong!". The inn is comfortable, very clean, and has everything you need. It was great to just get take out after a day at the beach and come "home" and relax. We can't wait to go back. We also really enjoyed our private viewing of the Beatles museum. We highly recommend this place as a base to view the island of Kauai - which truly is a paradise.

We came here, August 10, 2008. Nothing is as we expected. First, the hosts NEVER came to greet us. A note was left on the front door for us with a key and instructions to let ourselves in. The foyer was UNBEARABLLY HOT!!! No fan or air moving. The suite was quite spacious BUT hot, hot, hot. The room had not been opened up for us in anticipation of our arrival, and I went around turning on all of the ceiling fans myself, and opening the louvered glass windows (which were small). The ceiling fans are small, and ineffective at moving the air; 2 portable floor fans helped. I went to take a shower after a day at the beach and found one small dim bathroom light and the tub/shower had mold and mildew around the tub. The soap was a bar of Lever Soap :-( Asif this wasn't enough, there were geckos crawling everywhere!! This is no vacation!! The decor is not as nice as portrayed on their website. The furniture is old and wornout; and there are beenie babies, pictures of the Beatles, and fake, dusty flowers everywhere! This is a nightmare!! D and G Cleveland, Ohio

[Resource Id: InnkeeperResponse, Set: reviews]
Our check in procedure at the Kauai Country Inn is simple: we always leave out instructions for guests to check themselves in any time after 3 PM. Most of our guests love this because they don’t have to rush to meet us at a specific check-in time, and in addition there are no long lines nor are there any papers to fill in – it’s quick and simple. Plus we have guests arrive any time between lunch time and midnight, and if you’re arriving late, chances are all you want to do is get some rest. We apologize about the windows not having been opened which is something we normally do, this must have been an oversight by the housekeeper. The Lever Soap :-) , hey what can we say other than that we don’t have any of the options available to mainland B&Bs in regards to pretty soaps and toiletries because shipping them 2,700 miles across the Pacific costs a small fortune. Most of the B&Bs on the islands make due with regular items readily available at our local supermarkets. The Kauai Country Inn has had several renovations and upgrades since 2008, and has just won 3 Awards this year alone (2013); the most distinguished being, having been voted the best Bed & Breakfast on Kauai, and the 4th best in the whole State of Hawaii. We realize everyone has different expectations and we’re sorry the reviewers didn’t appreciate our décor, but the photos on our website very accurately showcase the property.

Excellent inn to stay in - Hosts were wonderful and very knowledgable. Would recommend to family and friends.

Our stay at KCI grossly exceeded our expectations. Spacious suites w/ awesome views and all the amenities at a budget price. The property sits in a tropical rain forest w/ mountain and forest views that are breathtaking and totally relaxing.