The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas

Princeville at Hanalei is one of my favorite ocean view resort communities in Hawaii. Its premier resort is the Starwood Property which will reopen this fall as the St. Regis Princeville Resort. So much is written about that property that the other Princeville properties often get the short end of the stick.

One of the newest properties at Princeville is Starwood Vacation Ownership's first Kauai property, The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas. The property opened in April 2008 and has been receiving very positive reviews. The resort is nestled 200 feet above Anini Beach on Kauai's North Shore. It sits between the Princeville Makai Golf Lakes Course and the sixth hole of the world famous Prince Golf Course on Wyllie Road. The resort does not have a direct ocean view but when the weather has been dry you can walk down to Anini Beach.

While technically a Starwood Vacation Ownership property, there will always be villas available in the hotel pool. The term "villa" may be confusing to some. These are not stand alone villas. They are condo-like units located within seven two-and-three-story buildings spread across 18.5 oceanfront acres. The resort features 173 two-bedroom and 173 studio villas, four pools, three whirlpools, a two-story clubhouse, a restaurant, and general store.

Unfortunately for my wife and I the weather was terrible for the few days we spent at the resort. It rained almost steadily across the entire island of Kauai. In addition, the entire Princeville Resort was suffering from the downturn in tourism as a result of the poor economy and compounded by the closure of its major property and one golf course for renovation.

It's extremely hard to write a review of the resort since the weather was pretty bad most of each day and I had little opportunity to explore the grounds, walk down to the beach or take advantage of the outdoor spaces. There were a few breaks in the weather, however, and I was able to appreciate how much potential the resort has.

Let's look at the clear positives. The grounds are lovely and spacious. The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas has space to wander and explore. I can see how much fun it would be to hike down to the beach in good weather. The "villas" are beautiful, modern and spacious with private lanai. Each one has a fully-furnished kitchen, washer and dryer, the signature Westin Heavenly Bed®, a sofa bed, and a Heavenly Bath® with a separate shower and whirlpool tub.

A world-class Westin Workout® fitness center, steam room and sauna are also available to guests seeking to maintain their health and exercise routines while on the road.

The staff is friendly and efficient - just as I have found at all of Starwood's Hawaii properties. The resort's main restaurant, the Nanea Restaurant and Bar is fantastic. It rivals any of the best restaurants in Hawaii. It features intimate indoor seating or open outdoor seating areas with an ocean view. The restaurant offers an extensive breakfast buffet, continental breakfast and a la carte options from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., a lunch menu from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a full dinner menu featuring savory steak and seafood cuisine from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Now let's look at the drawbacks. The weather is often going to be an issue. The Princeville area gets about twice the annual rainfall as the resorts near Poipu on Kauai's southern shore. For visitors whose main interest is the sun and surf, this resort may not be the best. There is no beach or ocean view to speak of. Beach access is available when the path to Anini Beach is dry. Otherwise you'll need to make use of the resort's beach shuttle. Location will also be a concern for some.

Princeville is a very slow paced resort somewhat distant from the more popular activities and attractions on Kauai. It's more of a place to rest and relax. It's perfect for honeymooners and great for golfers. Nearby Hanalei is one of my favorite small towns in Hawaii, but it's not for everyone.

Don't despair, however. There are fun activities available on Kauai's North Shore. They're just not as "in your face" as those elsewhere. My favorites include horseback riding at Princeville Ranch, visiting the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge and Kilauea Lighthouse, and hiking through Limahuli Garden and Preserve.

Address:
3939 Wyllie Road
Princeville, HI 96722

Tel: (808) 826-2404
Fax: (808) 826-4793

Website: www.westinprinceville.com

Check in time: 4:00 p.m.
Check out time: 10:00 a.m.

Guestrooms:
173 Island View Studio units
173 Island View One Bedroom units
* Two bedroom units available on a request basis

Guestroom features:
Heavenly Bed®
Queen sofa bed
Heavenly Bath®
Whirlpool tub
32” LCD Flat screen TV
DVD player
Stereo
High speed Internet access

Kitchen:
Refrigerator with icemaker
Dishwasher
Microwave/convection Oven
Coffee Maker
Toaster
Blender
Dinnerware
Washer/Dryer
2 line telephone with voice mail and data port

Services & Amenities:
Nanea Restaurant (Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Princeville Market General Store with Delicatessen
(2) Pool Bars
Poolside BBQ Grills
(1) Main Swimming Pool with Whirlpool
(2) Plunge Pools
Kiddie Pool
Westin Workout®
Steam Room & Sauna
Westin Kid’s Club®
Concierge Service
Activity Desk
Business Center
Pool Service Center
Distance from the Lihue Airport: 29 miles

Rack rates for an Island View Studio will start at $600 per night, with rates at $800 per night for a one-bedroom and $1,400 per night for a two-bedroom villa. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com/hawaii or call toll-free (866) 716-8112.

You can view a gallery of 22 photos of the Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas.