Recommend April 2013 - (Page 77)

Opposite page: Accommodations at The Club Cottages at Kukuiula. Below: The boutique retreat, Koa Kea Hotel & Resort. in their hearts. I’ve seen positive changes and growth to Poipu mainly with the restaurant selections, which is ever so important to vacationers.” new & improved accommodations As Poipu’s ﬁnal property to reopen after Hurricane Iniki hit Hawaii in 1992, the 121-room Koa Kea Hotel & Resort stands in the original footprint of the former Poipu Beach Hotel. What we found so pleasant about the 3-story, u-shaped boutique retreat is that it’s so unintimidating despite its chic vibe and voguish design. “Koa Kea seems to cater more to an adult clientele, as it doesn’t have many activities geared toward families with children,” says Judy Oshansky with Travel Collaborative in Cambridge, MA. “It’s ideal for someone looking for a quieter, yet high-end and elegant getaway.” With tropically inspired accents and patterns, guestrooms and suites are decked out with ﬂat-screen HDTVs, high-speed Internet, mini-refrigerators, Nespresso Espresso coffee makers, L’Occitane bath amenities, safes, iPod docking stations and DVD/CD players. Our private lanais proved prime perches for catching rays and people watching on the grounds below where a large lawn ﬂows out to the ocean. Guests are also privy to an intimate spa, ﬁtness center, pool, whirlpool and one of Poipu’s newest buzz-generating restaurants. At Red Salt, executive chef Adam Watten dazzles diners with island prawns, spiced seared ahi and lilikoi ginger cream brulee. It serves breakfast and dinner, while the poolside bar handles lunch. Through Dec. 19, nightly rates range from $369 for garden view to $669 for oceanfront deluxe. For your clients seeking the luxe life in a privileged setting, The Club Cottages at Kukuiula are on target with ﬁve plantation-style vacation cottages and another 10 set to roll out over the year. While living big within the private club community that’s set amid 1,010 acres of former sugar cane land, guests have exclusive access to Kukuiula’s Plantation House with its farm-to-table restaurant, swimming pools, ﬁtness facility, nature-infused spa and Tom Weiskopf-designed 18-holer named “Best New Private Course” in 2012 by Golf Magazine. Senior marketing manager Veronica Lovesy notes, “Because Kukuiula is a private club, Club Cottage guests enjoy a much higher level of custom services. They’re treated like club members. They can play on an uncrowded golf course with virtually no tee times required.” With contemporary island-style furnishings and original artwork, each spacious 2,200-sq.-ft. main cottage indulges four with central air conditioning, screened-in living lanai, two master suites with private baths and outdoor lava rock showers, gourmet kitchen, outdoor BBQ and backyard lava rock ﬁre pit. A separate 496-sq.ft. cottage sleeps two. Available through The Parrish Collection, rates range from $1,000 to $1,500 nightly through 2013. On the revitalization front, the 50-acre Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa has spruced up its entire 602-room inventory. The non-smoking hotel has also introduced 20 new hypo-allergenic “Respire” rooms as healthy options for guests with respiratory sensitivities. Through Dec. 31, nightly rates are from $680 for garden view to $910 for deluxe ocean suites. And the 20-acre Sheraton Kauai Resort has completed a $16 million revitalization that welcomes guests with an airier lobby, open-air ocean courtyard, multi-level pool with private cabanas and RumFire restaurant. Through Dec. 25, nightly rates range from $429 for garden view to $1,649 for deluxe oceanfront suites. pumped-up shopping & dining Opening in conjunction with Kukuiula, The Shops at Kukuiula has livened up Kauai’s south shore scene with more than 35 art galleries, boutiques and eateries. As we stroll through the village-style ambiance, we’re impressed that the offerings are far from cookiecutter. Among its culinary newbies, Tortilla Republic Grill & Margarita Bar adds a fresh island twist to updated Mexican classics. With breezy patios and dual-level design, the stylish restaurant presents farm-fresh fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Patrons sip on signature “Hydration” margaritas well into the evening to live music on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and a club night on Saturdays. Paciﬁc Rim cuisine continues to shine in Poipu with its founders showcasing their distinctive culinary talents at Merriman’s Fish House and Josselin’s Tapas Bar & Grill at The Shops, and Roy’s april 2013 77 76-79 NA Hawaii.indd 77 3/21/13 9:02 AM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend April 2013

Editor's Notes
The Islands of Tahiti
Hotel Desk: Song Saa Private Island, Cambodia
Tour Talk: Islands in the Sun
A Med Escape: Greek Isles & Cyprus
Set Sail
The Seychelles' Private Island Resorts
Portrait of Israel
Booking 2 on the Isles: Easter Island & Galapagos
Island-Hopping in Mexico: Cozumel, Isla Holbox & Isla Mujeres
The Pulse of Poipu, Hawaii
Florida's Islands: Amelia, Captiva & Sanibel
The Real Caribbean: Grenada & Martinique

Recommend April 2013