Kauai Travel Tips, 2021 Edition

Normally, I prefer to blog chronologically and save these types of “travel tips” posts for the end of a series. But we all know I’m waaaay behind in that aspect and there is certain time sensitive information I wanted to share if you’re thinking about planning your own tropical getaway to this particularly lovely Hawaiian island anytime soon. So we will return to romantic Oregon getaways and last minute trips home to Arkansas, but for now let’s jump ahead to Kauai and some need to know information.

If you’re thinking about going, just know that EVERYONE is thinking about going. Or has already booked their tickets. Or is already there. Like at this very moment. This makes sense - not only is Hawaii paradise, for US based travelers it is a domestic paradise in a summer when many folks are still hesitant about international destinations, even as they are opening up. When we went in early May, places were already getting crowded and I’ve read that many resorts are fully booked later in the summer. If we hadn’t gone when we did and if I had the flexibility to do so, I would probably wait until September or October at this point.

Book early. If you’re even thinking about going this summer, don’t wait to book your accommodations and especially your rental car. I lucked into a great deal for our rental car - $595 for the week. This may sound like an exaggeration, but they are in such short supply that on some islands during some weeks this summer, a rental car could cost that much for a single day. Yikes! Many rental car agencies sold off their inventory last year and are now facing a shortage. This was also an especially good time to make sure I was signed up for the rental car company loyalty program (in this case, Hertz) so that we didn’t have to wait in a long, long (looooong) line to pick up our car - someone just quickly checked our ID and QR code (more on that in a minute) and we were on our way. Well, on our way after loading copious amounts of luggage and installing Harrison’s car seat. Even if you rarely rent a car, this perk alone was worth it. It’s important to note that programs like Hertz’s Gold Canopy service are not usually available to first time renters with the company. Honestly, the lines were bad enough that it would be worth it to do a one day local rental in advance of your trip to be able to access this perk. And maybe have a Plan B. I’ve heard of travelers renting two cars and then canceling the back up reservation after receiving their car or even renting U-Haul trucks or moving vans, which typically have set prices. I know I’ve said a lot of words about rental cars, but wherever you may be going this summer, don’t put off making these reservations and definitely don’t expect to show up at the airport and be able to rent a car last minute.

Also in the “book early” category is restaurant reservations. In all but the western part of the island, being able to eat dinner in a restaurant was all but impossible without a reservation. Honestly, this was one of the most disappointing parts of the trip for me. I don’t mind making a reservation for a special occasion or an especially memorable meal, but we literally could not even get into a single restaurant some evenings and on more than one occasion paid far too much money for a mediocre meal. I do not enjoy traveling this way - I am all about planning, but I don’t want to be locked into dinner reservations on a daily. Unfortunately, if you’re planning a tropical escape to Kauai this summer, that is probably what you will have to do.

And this is where I share my greatest travel fail of the trip. We narrowly averted disaster. The primacy and recency effects exert a powerful influence on how a trip is remembered, so I always try to plan something special for near the beginning and near the end of the trip. This time, I planned a luau for our final evening in Kauai. Initially, we expected to fly home late that evening, but ended up with flights the following morning, which worked much better for our kiddo. When I went to add approximately 10 hours to our car rental, it was going to cost an additional $150. I had some Lyft credits and we were staying closer to the airport for our final night, so it seemed like it would save us both money and time before our morning flight to return the rental car pre-luau and use a ride-hailing service or taxi to get where we needed to go for the remainder of the trip. Turns out that taxis and rideshares were in even shorter supply than rental cars. Picture me standing outside the airport terminal fighting back tears as my repeated attempts to get a Lyft or an Uber were met with failure, as taxi company after taxi company said it would be “a while” before anyone would be available, as I even tried to figure out how we could possibly use the local bus system to sadly return to our hotel and eat pathetic room service while I continued to cry about missing the luau and ruining the entire vacation. I might have gotten a teensy bit dramatic. Brandon entertained our toddler for over an hour of this as we got closer and closer to the very latest we could get to the luau. By some travel miracle, Brandon randomly walked up to a tour driver who was waiting to pick up some folks. When they didn’t show, he agreed to take us to the luau (we arrived at 6:14 for the 6:15 deadline - the folks on the phone were very patient about repeated panicked phone calls, a cancellation and then an uncancellation, and a late arrival) and to pick us up afterward. Jon from Kauai Island Shuttle literally saved the day. Although they typically do more tours than one off transportation, I was so grateful that he came to our rescue. Anyway, the point of the story, other than to get it off my chest, is that you currently cannot depend on transportation options to be available. Plan accordingly.

One more complicating transportation factor on Kauai at the moment is that the road (literally, there is one road that goes almost all the way around the island) before Hanalei on the north side of the island was completely blocked by a mudslide in March of this year. As crews continue to work to clear the slide and reinforce the hillside, the road is closed for most of the day. The road is briefly open to one way traffic once in the morning and afternoon, then again in the evenings after the work crews are finished for the day. This is certainly something to be aware of and plan for. Also, bring your patience. As much of an inconvenience as this was as a tourist, this has made life really difficult for locals. For instance, our waiter one evening said he had to wait in line for an hour each day in order to get to work. For the latest information on the Hanalei mudslide and road closures, go here. Regardless of the extra effort it required to get there, Hanalei was worth it.

Last, but not least, here’s almost everything you need to know about traveling to Kauai during covid times, at least as of today. After a year of requiring quarantine and temporarily having a resort bubble program, Kauai rejoined Hawaii’s Safe Travels Program, allowing visitors who received negative test results no more than 72 hours prior to their final flight to the islands to avoid a 10 day quarantine. Information can, and does, change suddenly, so make sure to access up to date information, but maybe our experience will be helpful and reassure you that the minimal extra effort required was so worth the trip. Hawaii has a list of trusted travel partners we could choose for testing, although local options were quite limited. Ultimately, making an online appointment at Walgreens for the required NAAT test, branded as ID NOW, was the best option for us. The self administered test was covered by insurance and was quickly completed at the drive through window. We both had results back in under an hour. Harrison did not need a test due to his age, but he did have to be added to one of our Safe Travels accounts. Based on our experience, I can recommend Walgreens for pre-travel testing. We had to create an online Safe Travels account, upload the testing information (I also brought hard copies, just in case), and complete a health questionnaire the day prior to our flight. All of this information is used to screen you upon arrival, generating a QR code that you will need throughout your stay. This is also the same app that is used to track visitors or returning locals who have to quarantine. We flew Alaska Airlines, who completed the final screening prior to boarding our flight in Seattle. They provided a wristband that allowed us to bypass the screening upon arrival, making our first moments on the island that much easier. Once in Kauai, we had to regularly show our QR code - to pick up the rental car or to check into any hotel, both Brandon and I had to show our ID and codes. I took a screenshot of mine as a backup, but when it was checked, it was always required to show it directly from my account. There will likely be a vaccine passport available for visitors from the mainland by later in the summer, although the details are still being determined.

Other ways our trip was impacted - masks were obviously required throughout the airport and during our flights (that first moment in the rental car when we both ripped the masks off our faces felt sooooo good after a long day of travel) and anytime we were indoors - nothing we aren’t already doing. At the time, masks were required in outdoor public spaces, as well, although the only place we saw that enforced was while waiting outside the airport. There were frequently capacity limits in shops and restaurants, which probably contributed to the restaurant fiasco. We spent most of our time outdoors, including for meals, and it was easy to socially distance in paradise. We did attend a luau - the first one on Kauai to open back up - and felt good about the safety steps they had taken. The entire event was already open air, although covered, but capacity was reduced and groups were seated separately from others with extra space between tables. Some foods were brought to the table and the buffet dishes were served by staff located behind a clear barrier. Masks were required throughout the subsequent show and distance was required between groups. Yes, there were extra steps and precautions we had to take, but it was unquestionably worth it to spend a week in paradise with my family. It felt good to travel again. If you’re ready to do the same and thinking about doing it in Kauai soon, hopefully this information will help your trip go more smoothly.

Oh, and one more thing. If you’re wondering what reef safe sunscreen to buy, the Bare Republic Coco Mango Mineral Sunscreen Spray was the clear winner (and we tried many different kinds). It isn’t greasy, rubs in nicely (i.e., I didn’t look like a ghost, well at least not because of my sunscreen), and the smell was incredible.

Okay, now back to the regularly scheduled programming. Don’t worry, we will return to Kauai soon and I’ll share more about where we stayed, what we did, and, of course, what we spent during this amazing week. In the meantime, I’d love to hear what your summer travel plans are.