Hotel and area suggestions

Question

We (DH and our four kids 3,5,8,10) will be first staying on Oahu at the Marriott KoOlina. Thinking of adding 5-7 days on another island, probably Kauai. When I looked at the Marriotts available it looked like they wouldn’t work as well for our family (no kitchen, smaller units), but we can’t spend more than about $4k for the week. What hotels and areas might you suggest? We are an active family, but the two youngest kids need a midday break.

Answer

Great question — Kauai is a wonderful choice for a 5–7 day stay with kids, and with a ~$4,000 budget for the week, you’ll want to balance cost, location, and convenience (especially since the little ones need downtime). Below are some hotel and area suggestions, along with pros and trade-offs, plus tips for how to stretch your budget.

Considerations for choosing where to stay:

With four kids (ages 3, 5, 8, 10), having a place with more space or a kitchenette / kitchen can be a huge help for midday breaks, snacks, and flexible meals.
Some areas of Kauai are more expensive than others; where you stay can strongly affect lodging cost.
You’ll likely want a rental car (or more) anyway to explore, so staying in a central-ish or well-located area helps.
Booking vacation rentals (condos, cottages) may offer better value than traditional hotels, especially for families.

Here are several area + lodging options that could work well for your family and approximate budget:

Kapaʻa (East / “Coconut Coast”):
- This area tends to have more affordable condos and vacation-rental options. According to KAYAK, there are vacation rentals in Kauai (including Kapaʻa) with weekly rates that could land in your target budget.
- A benefit is relatively easy access to both north and south shores, and good local amenities (grocery, restaurants).
- You could look for 3– or 4-bedroom condos so the kids have their own space or you can split up for rest times.
Līhuʻe / Hanamaʻulu:
- The Kauai Beach Resort & Spa is a more traditional hotel in this area. According to *Budget Your Trip*, rooms there start around $255/night (before taxes).
- A stay here gives you a more resort-style feel (pool, services) while potentially staying within a tighter budget if you find a deal.
- Since you have young kids, being based here makes it easier to drive to different parts of the island for day trips without staying in the pricier resort zones all week.
Waimea / West Side:
- Waimea Plantation Cottages are charming, historic-style cottages with a lot of character. NextStopHawaii lists them as one of the more affordable “resort-style cottage” options.
- Each cottage has its own personality, and some have kitchenettes — very helpful for family stays and midday breaks.
- The west side is less tourist-crowded in some ways, but a little more remote — good for peacefulness, but factor in driving time.

In addition to hotels, vacation rentals (condos, cottages) are probably your best bet to maximize space + value for a family of six. According to KAYAK, many rentals have kitchens and multiple bedrooms, and weekly rates can average in a range that might work for your $4k budget, depending on timing.

Budget-stretching tips:

Try to book well in advance — Kauai tends to fill up, especially family-friendly condos.
Consider traveling in a shoulder season (if your dates are flexible) — lodging tends to be more affordable then. (Reddit travelers suggest April–June or September–November as good times.)
Shop for groceries and do some self-catered meals (breakfast / lunch) in your rental — helps especially with kids.
Limit time in premium resort-only areas and mix in more “local” beach days + exploring to reduce cost of activities.
Use local rental car deals wisely (and check parking costs at whatever lodging you choose) so your daily transportation stays manageable.

Trade-offs to think about:

If you go for a full resort (with no kitchen), you may spend more on food — but you’ll likely enjoy more on-site amenities and convenience.
If you stay in a vacation rental, you’ll have more flexibility and space, but you may give up some resort perks (daily housekeeping, concierge, pool access) depending on the property.
Remoteness: some of the more affordable or cottage-style places may be farther from the main attractions / major beaches, meaning more driving with kids.

My recommendation: Prioritize a condo or cottage in Kapaʻa or Waimea for a week — this likely gives you enough space for the six of you, kitchen / kitchenette for mid-day breaks, and staying within (or close to) your ~$4,000 lodging budget. Use the extra funds for a rental car, beach gear, and some fun activities with the kids without overspending on a high-end resort.