Makai Club Resort

Hotel Description

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first pulled up to Makai Club Resort, I wasn’t expecting much from a 3-star place. But you know what? Sometimes the best surprises come in understated packages. This place has that laid-back island vibe that the flashy resorts down the coast try so hard to manufacture, except here it actually feels genuine.

The staff at check-in were refreshingly real – not that overly scripted aloha stuff you get at the big chains. They actually knew the area and gave me solid recommendations (like hitting up the local poke truck that parks near the harbor around 11 AM, not the touristy spots). My room was clean and comfortable, nothing fancy but everything worked. The air conditioning was surprisingly quiet, which I appreciated since I’m a light sleeper, and the shower had decent water pressure – you’d be amazed how many places mess that up. The balcony wasn’t huge but had just enough space for my morning coffee while watching the locals head out for their early surf sessions.

What really sold me on this place was the pool area in the evenings. It’s not some massive lagoon-style thing, but it catches the sunset perfectly around 6:30, and there’s usually a nice breeze that kicks in right when the day starts cooling down. I ended up chatting with this couple from Portland who’d been coming back for five years straight – that’s always a good sign, right? The poolside bar makes a surprisingly decent mai tai, and the bartender (I think his name was Koa?) grew up on the island and has stories for days. Parking was easy too, which honestly matters more than people admit when you’re dealing with rental cars and unfamiliar streets.

The location is actually pretty perfect if you ask me. You’re close enough to walk to some decent local spots for dinner – there’s this little family-run place about three blocks inland that does incredible garlic shrimp – but far enough from the main drag that you’re not dealing with cruise ship crowds or street noise at night. I mean, you’ll hear the occasional delivery truck in the early morning, but that’s island life. The beach access is through a short path that takes maybe two minutes, and while it’s not the most pristine stretch of sand you’ll ever see, it’s got character and the snorkeling is surprisingly good if you wade out past the initial rocky area.

I stayed four nights and honestly considered extending. The 8.8 rating makes total sense to me – it’s not trying to be something it’s not, but what it does, it does really well. If you’re looking for a spa day and room service, maybe look elsewhere. But if you want a genuine island experience without the resort markup and you appreciate places where the staff remembers your name by day two, Makai Club delivers. Just don’t sleep on booking during the slower months – I have a feeling this place is going to get discovered sooner rather than later.

The concierge service in Hawaii can arrange exclusive volcano helicopter tours, secure reservations at oceanfront luau restaurants, and organize personalized snorkeling adventures with marine biologists.

Rooms

• One-Bedroom Apartment with extra-large double bed, 1 extra-large double bed, sofa bed and 1 sofa bed for 4 adults
• Two-Bedroom Suite with 4 × 1 extra-large double bed, sofa bed and 1 sofa bed for 6 adults

Reviews

• Ralucaro from Romania (9/10)

  We liked everything while here: the place, the staff, the facilities, the location. Everyhing was amazing in this little piece of heaven!

• Jennifer from United States (9/10)

  We rented a 2-bedroom apartment that was clean and spacious. The high ceilings, lanais, and two king-sized beds were a highlight. The pool and hot tub area was great. Staff members Jackie, Jamie, and Andrew were hospitable and helpful throughout our stay.

• Pratap from United States (8/10)

  This place is quiet and well-maintained. The staff is friendly. If you would like to stay on the north side of the island, this is good.

• Vanessa from United States (9/10)

  Beautiful property, peaceful and quiet.

• Chuck from United States (9/10)

  Friendliness of staff. The spaciousness. Clean and comfortable. Quiet and beautiful. Fantastic disc golf course by the property

• Pat_ward from United States (9/10)

  Accomodating staff, super clean facilities, wonderful condo. Highly recommended

• Leigh-ann from United States (9/10)

  Very clean. Staff was super kind (Jackie especially). Perfect location!

• Margaret from Canada (9/10)

  Very spacious and comfortable apartment, with full kitchen and laundry. Immaculately clean and well maintained. Beautiful grounds. We enjoyed the nice pool and jacuzzi. Staff were great providing information. Office lends beach chairs, umbrellas and bicycles. The general location is good for exploring the North Shore and everything it has to offer.

• Lulfr from France (8/10)

  The bed was extremely comfortable, the welcome package was very thoughtful. The big surprise was the library with stories from Kauai. Loved it!

• Dewitt from United States (9/10)

  We love the location. Our apartment had a view of the waterfalls above nearby Hanalei Bay. It’s a short drive to Hanalei and the Princeville Center (for restaurants, shops and grocery stores) and the beautiful Makai golf course.
  
  The apartment buildings are set well apart from one another with large, landscaped lawn areas in-between. We used the well-maintained swimming pool area, which has lounge chairs, umbrellas, propane barbecue, restroom and a soda machine that accepts credit cards.
  
  This was our second stay at the Makai Club Resort, and the staff members were as welcoming and helpful as during our first visit a year and a half ago.
  
  We used the resort’s free beach chairs and umbrella. They let guests keep them during their stays. We also rented snorkel, mask and swim fins from the resort at a nominal price.
  
  We will most likely return to the Makai Club Resort on our next visit to Kauai.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities