Koloa Landing Resort: Kauai’s Breathtaking Gem!

Last updated on February 10th, 2025 at 01:31 am

Disclosure: We were hosted by Koloa Landing Resort; however, all opinions shared herein are genuine, our own, and are not influenced by any being or brand. 

Have you ever had one of those travel experiences that completely knocks your socks off? We have! Thanks to the luxurious Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu Beach, our recent Kauai vacation experience will be an indelible memory in our travel history. Every single moment is deeply embedded in our minds as one of our most exhilarating wanderlust journeys to date. We will relive it and relay it to all and sundry, for generations to come. Our stay on the island and specifically at the resort was phenomenal from onset to the finale. It far exceeded any expectations we could have conjured up.

A little background information: Kauai, the oldest and fourth largest Hawaiian island is  also known as  ‘The Garden Island.” Rightfully so, as lush landscapes and tropical rainforests, cascading waterfalls and clear turquoise water contribute to the island’s overall dramatic beauty.

Now back to the narrative at hand…

We started on our journey to Hawaii at the crack of dawn, with a 6 am flight from Dallas, TX to San Francisco, CA. Four hours later, after nodding and napping the flight away, we were in San Francisco. We had a one-hour layover, following which our journey to what we had dubbed ‘The Garden of Eden’ continued.  After a five hour flight that felt like eternity, given our high levels of excitement and anticipation, we finally arrived on the beautiful island of Kauai. The atmosphere at the airport was laid back, giving us a preview of what we would later learn was the overall vibe on the island.  Rental car in place, we embarked on the scenic drive through the breathtakingly gorgeous island. It was a surprisingly short drive to what would be our home for the next seven days. We pulled in to the tree-lined Koloa Landing Resort driveway and sprung out of the car, ready to begin what we knew without a doubt would be an unforgettable week in paradise. We scurried into the resort’s lobby to a warm welcome by the front desk staff. As per tradition, women are welcomed with an orchid lei and men with a kukui nut lei. Needless to say, we were awed by the red carpet treatment.

Fun fact: Kukui, also known as the Candlenut tree is the state tree of Hawaii. The Kukui nut has a cultural legacy, several uses and it represents protection, peace, enlightenment, and light.

Check-in

Having arrived at the hotel at approximately 1 pm, we were a tad too early to check in; however, the front desk staff ensured that they got the check-in process rolling so that when our villa was ready, we could access it promptly. They were also nice enough to store our luggage for us, freeing us to briefly explore the property unhindered.  A little while into our tour of the resort, we were alerted via a text message when our villa was ready for occupancy. Matt, one of the resort employees graciously offered to transport our luggage to our new home. Once in the villa, we were immediately taken aback by its sheer grandness, but in the same breath the welcoming aura of the space. The first thing we noticed upon quickly glancing at the rooms, was a complimentary beach bag, a box of Hawaiian chocolate, and a fruit and cheese platter. It was such a thoughtful gift that we greatly appreciated. True to form, the warm welcoming culture of Koloa Landing Resort had made itself known again! Our epic Koloa Landing Resort experience had begun.

Our Villa

Fun fact: Koloa Landing Resort Villas are the largest of any hotel or resort on Kauai and boast magnificent views of the island. 

We stayed in a luxurious one-bedroom villa, complete with all the amenities one would need for a comfortable stay away from home. It comprised of an expansive living room and dining area, a large kitchen, a spacious bedroom, a main shower and toilet, and a second bath area with a tub. The living room and the bedroom both had flat screen televisions. The kitchen was spacious and had a full-service dishwasher, electric stove, refrigerator, microwave, cutlery and crockery, pots and pans, coffee maker, toaster, complimentary tea, coffee, and condiments. When we were not out and about, we cooked some of our meals in-house. The villa also came equipped with a stacked washer and dryer and complimentary detergent. This definitely came in handy ensuring that we didn’t have to travel back home with clothes that needed to be laundered.

Our villa was strategically positioned on the property, allowing for unobstructed views of the lush landscape and spectacular seascape beyond. It was the perfect setup for a comfortable stay and the home-away-from-home aura that we seek when we travel.

Other Resort Accommodation Options

Besides the luxurious villas, you can opt to stay in the following additional accommodation types:
Deluxe Studios: These are spacious and are about twice the size of standard hotel rooms.
Penthouse Suite: This is a 4 bedroom, luxurious and spacious, private space.

Amenities at Koloa Landing Resort 

From the get-go, we knew we would be spoiled for choice when it came to deciding what types of activities to indulge in while at the resort. The resort boasts three grand pools: a family lagoon pool, an adults-only tranquility pool, and the main pool, complete with an infinity edge, swim through grotto and waterfalls. We patronized the main pool the most, given its close proximity to the renowned Holoholo Grill, allowing for pool service of food and drinks.  We later found out that the main pool is widely recognized as one of the best pools on Kauai. We can totally see why; it is spectacular! Besides its standalone grandiosity,  it is surrounded by several hot tubs, plus, the water slides into the pool give off a fun waterpark vibe. Good times guaranteed!

Tip: Poolside cabanas, equipped with flat-screen televisions, overhead fans, and comfortable beach chairs, are available for rent, allowing for an even more relaxing lounge time by the pool. 

Holoholo Grill was by far one of our favorite spots to eat while on the island. The Holoholo burger took first place on our ‘Best Burger Ever’ list which subsequently led to us eat more burgers than we probably have had all year. True story! The delectable burger consists of grass-fed Wagyu beef, tomato jam, crispy onion, baby romaine and house sauce on a soft brioche bun. It was finger licking good! Holoholo Grill is also known for its assorted selection of beverages. We made full use of the complimentary Mai Tai or POG (passion, orange, and guava) voucher that was issued to us at check-in. We opted for the latter and it quickly turned out to be our beverage of choice during our stay at the resort. We chose to dine mostly at Holoholo Grill; however, if you opt to explore other eateries the island has to offer, you will be pleased to learn that Koloa Landing Resort is near a wide array of restaurants, with diverse menu options that can cater to pretty much any palate.

The resort is in close proximity to the renowned Poipu Beach, which has been voted one of the best beaches in the world. Close access to the beach was definitely an additional perk of our stay at Koloa Landing Resort. We discovered the perfect nook,  right across from the resort,  that was a vantage point to watch the sunset. Seeing the sun walk on water (so to speak) was a beautiful experience.

Additional Amenities

There is a Marketplace on site where you can shop for items you may need for your stay, including food and other necessities. Of note, the resort is pretty close to shopping areas around Poipu, so you can patronize the grocery stores and markets around if you so please.

Also on site is a 24-hour fitness center that is fully loaded with a variety of equipment for your fitness needs. To be honest,  our regular workout routine was placed on the back burner during the duration of our stay; we were too busy exploring the island. However, we made up for it by spending hours at the pool and walking around the property. For the physical activity enthusiasts, you will be pleased to learn that there is a putting green, a soccer pitch and volleyball area on site.  If you plan to do any work while on vacation, or maybe simply print out your travel itinerary, there is a business center available on the property.

Given the fact that the guests’ maximum rest and relaxation are high on the resort’s priority list, there is a spa on site. It features Kauai’s only all-copper Ofuro Japanese soaking tub. It is definitely a great way to unwind and transition to a stress-free state.

Staff

All the staff we interacted with at the resort were uber friendly. William and Matt, the staff members we interacted with the most, went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that we enjoyed every aspect of our stay at the resort specifically, and on the island as a whole. They definitely played a role in our overall epic experience at Koloa Landing Resort.

Miscellaneous

If you are planning a destination wedding or other event, you will be pleased to learn that the resort has a ballroom on site. Can you imagine hosting a grand event on the resort’s breathtakingly beautiful grounds, with the lush greenery and turquoise water as a backdrop? Ah! Perfection!

The concierge service, conveniently located in the lobby, is a great way to identify activities to participate in while on Kauai island. They have an on-site Enterprise Rental Car on site; however, we had already made prior arrangements for a rental car; therefore, we did not need to utilize their service.

Additional Tips

• The resort pools are open daily from 7:30 am- 10:30 pm
• Check in is at 4 pm; check out is at 11 am
• Cabanas by the pool are available for rental.
• Pool towels are available for use by hotel guests. Be sure to check them back in once you’re done.
• You can charge your meals at Holoholo Grill to your villa, or just pay as you go. We chose the latter.
• Housekeeping cleans the villas/rooms daily.
• Wi-Fi is free for all resort residents.

One thing that struck us the most about Kauai as a whole, and Koloa Landing Resort specifically, was how green everything is. Nature takes precedence over all else. Even with man-made architecture, you can tell that care has been taken to peacefully coexist with nature. It was a great sight to see! Thank you Koloa Landing Resort for hosting us and for ensuring that our visit to Hawaii was enjoyable. We will definitely be back!

Friends, we hope we have inspired you to consider Koloa Landing Resort for your accommodation needs when you visit Kauai, HI. It will be well worth the experience!. Meanwhile, if you join their mailing list here, you could win a 5-day stay. That’s all folks! Now go forth and explore the world!