The Royal Sonesta Kauai Resort

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

3477 reviews

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  The Place to Stay in Kauai

  There is no better hotel on Kauai than the Royal Sonesta. It is so conveniently located that you can travel all over the island and then return to its perfectness. It feels like a brand new property because everything is so clean and well cared for. The staff is attentive and caring. The rooms are spacious and comfortable. And the pool-wow so gorgeous. We loved our patio where we could watch storms turn into rainbows into sunny skies. The beach was great and there were lots of activities available. I can't wait to return!

  Jan 31, 2025
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  The Worst Hotel Experience of My Life – Avoid at All Costs!

  If I could give this hotel zero stars, I absolutely would. This was by far the worst hotel I have ever stayed at. The front desk manager and hotel manager are incredibly rude, unprofessional, and dishonest. They lie straight to your face and even have the audacity to laugh at guests dealing with serious issues. The hotel does not follow basic safety protocols. Seven members of my family, including three children (two of whom were barely a year old), were trapped in a broken elevator for nearly an hour. The kids were crying, and the temperature inside was unbearable. The most horrifying part? If I had been in there with them, no one would have heard us or come to help. They rang the emergency bell multiple times, but no one responded. This is beyond unacceptable. As compensation, the security guard initially offered a mere $50 voucher—an insult considering the traumatic experience. After discussing the issue with the front desk, I was promised $200 per room to be used in the hotel. I then suggested $250 per room as a fair resolution, and the front desk manager agreed. I made sure to confirm that this applied to all three rooms, meaning a total of $750. However, once the hotel manager got involved, everything changed. Suddenly, they claimed they thought we only had two rooms and refused to honor the original agreement. Instead, the hotel manager decided to offer just $300 total, which was $200 less than what had already been confirmed. Even worse, when questioned, the staff who had agreed to the higher amount blatantly lied and pretended they never said it. They laughed at the situation and treated us with complete disrespect. In the end, we left with nothing but frustration and disappointment. This hotel does not care about its guests’ well-being, safety, or satisfaction. I strongly advise everyone to stay far away from this place. There are plenty of other hotels where you will be treated with basic human decency—this is not one of them.

  Jan 30, 2025
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  What a great surprise - fabulous hotel for price.

  Got Covidi and had to extend our stay in Kauai after 10 nights at Grand Hyatt. Only rooms available for an extra 3 days were $1300/night. YIKES. Our first 10 nights were a little over $500. Someone recommended Sonesta and I was expecting a moderate motel like from the 1980's and wow was i surprised. It was as nice as the Hyatt, 1/3 the price, beautiful, clean, top tier - very pleased and would make it my first choice on Kauai after 5 stays at the Hyatt. Great value for a hotel that far exceeded my expectations. Liked mid-island location too.

  Jan 21, 2025
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  Pros and Cons

  Pros: Beautiful property, with lots of walking trails and restaurants on grounds and nearby. Huge Koi pond with lots of beautiful fish. Friendly staff. Nice, clean beach, as well as clean grounds and hotel rooms. Large pool, with a separate kiddie pool and slide. Ice water provided at the pool. You can pay for a late checkout if you have a late flight. Cons: Food is very expensive on-site and there aren't any microwaves in the room to heat food purchased elsewhere. Alcoholic beverages are crazy expensive. The beds are horribly uncomfortable. My husband and I were in pain the whole time we were there. The beach is small and public. Anyone can use the beach and park at the hotel, which made it very difficult for hotel guests to find close parking. The gym is very small, with no windows and poorly ventilated. Equipment and weights are outdated and dirty. I left a pair of sunglasses in the gym and they were never turned in. We had to strip the bed completely if we wanted fresh sheets, otherwise, the bed was made with dirty sheets. Housekeeping is every other day. The power went out twice while we were there, with the second time lasting about two hours. We paid for a late checkout, (7 p.m.) and at 6 p.m., the air conditioning was turned off to our room, making it hot and stuffy. The cons definitely outweighed the pros and we will most likely not stay at this property again.

  Jan 17, 2025
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  Outstanding Resort in Paradise

  Awesome vacation in paradise at a beautiful resort! All staff were nice especially the valet attendants and the Kukui’s restaurant staff. We stayed in the Ha’upu Tower on the 19th floor and had a beautiful view of the ocean. The room was modern with a large walk in shower. The bed was so comfortable and the air conditioning worked well. Loved having three restaurants on site (and sushi bar) as well as a grab and go breakfast bar. Sure the restaurant prices at the resort are high, but you’re at a resort on a tropical island, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. My husband and I frequently split meals as the portions were generous especially at Kukui’s for breakfast. Loved the BLTA sandwich with fries or side salad from the pool area. The pool was huge with plenty of room for everyone, including lounge chairs. Very nice restrooms available on both sides of the pool. On the cooler side, yet I’ve never found a heated pool on Hawaii. Loved renting a cabana, although a little pricey, it was so comfortable and added to the vacation vibe. Loved the gift shop. Beautiful items to buy as useful souvenirs and plenty of food options from chips, bread, sweets, nuts, lotions, candles, clothing, etc. For a week we were surrounded by beauty and are very grateful for the experience. Hopefully we can come back one day. Mahalo Nui Loa!

  Jan 17, 2025