There’s something about Hawai’i that instantly slows your heart rate and invites you to breathe a little deeper. I find this to be especially true on the island of Kauai. It’s lush, quiet, and everywhere you look is beautiful and lush. The last time we visited was about 9 years ago during our Honeymoon, so it holds a special place in my heart. I fell in love with this place back then and have been dying to come back ever since. I’ve only visited Oahu, Maui, and Kauai, but Kauai is my favorite. For this last trip, we stayed at Koloa Landing Resort, right in the heart of Poipu — and it ended up being the perfect mix of tropical luxury and relaxed island vibes. 

First Impressions

As soon as we pulled up, I noticed how beautiful the entire property was. More than anything, it just felt so relaxing to finally be back on this island in such a cool place. There were towering palm trees, vibrant tropical flowers, and koi ponds weaving through the walkways. The lobby is open-air (which I always love), and the staff was super friendly. After a long day of travel from San Diego, I immediately fell into that ‘Aloha state of mind’ as soon as we arrived. 

The Room

We stayed in a one-bedroom villa that honestly felt more like a full-on apartment. The villa was super spacious with it’s own bedroom/bathroom separated from the kitchen and living room. The kitchen had everything you would need (fridge, stove, sink, plates, silverware, etc), a living room, and a washer/dryer (immediately threw my airport clothes in there so they would be fresh for the return flight). I always love having extra space so I can have room to set aside outfits and spread out all my photography/content creating gear. I was pleasantly surprised by the extra space.

The Pools 

The pool is truly the main star here, and the whole reason we wanted to stay here. Afterall, it did win “best pool in America”  5 times in a row by USA Today. Of course, I was dying to see what the hype was about.  There are multi-levels, waterfalls, swim-through grottos, and a waterslide. Total oasis vibes. We spent a good amount of time lounging poolside and enjoying the relaxing oasis. There were a lot of kids playing around, which is great for families, but if that’s not your vibe, there are also plenty of other pool areas to choose from. I prefer a quieter pool, and I never had a problem finding a calmer spot when needed.

Location + Vibes

The hotel itself is situated in a pretty good location. It was near some yummy restaurants and right next to a shopping village that you can walk to. It’s super convenient. I also loved that it’s near some of the best beaches on the island (we loved Poipu Beach for spotting sea turtles).  If you drive a little further, you can also find a few fun places in town. More boutiques, markets, restaurants, and coffee spots. One of my biggest tips on any island in Hawaii is to go explore and get out of the immediate touristy areas, there’s so much to see and experience (respectfully, of course). Luckily, Kauai is very chill and doesn’t feel too congested or touristy. 

Dining

While the resort has an on-site restaurant, we mainly explored local spots nearby (you know I love trying all the local spots). There are plenty of places for Poke, Acai bowls, burgers, and even local markets if you want to pick up something and make it in the room. We found this little fruit stand in Kapa’a ( a short drive away) that had fruits we’d never tried! Shout out Egg Fruit and Soursop. That said, we did try lunch at the resort, and it was delicious — I had their poke wrap and poke bowl, which were both super fresh.

Final Thoughts

If you’re heading to Kauai and looking for a place that feels luxurious yet laid-back, Koloa Landing is such a great pick. It has that resort feel without being stuffy and the location makes it easy to explore all the magic the island has to offer. My favorite things about it were the spacious rooms and the fun pool. While we had an amazing time just the two of us, I do think this hotel shines best for families or larger groups (especially since the rooms are so spacious). So if you do have a family in tow, then definitely check this spot out. 

Already dreaming about going back…

***This post is in collaboration with Koloa Landing Resort  ***