Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

1882 reviews

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  Great Central Location & Beautiful Views, but Room for Improvement

  We were on the fence between giving this resort 4 or 5 stars, but ultimately settled on 4 stars due to a few missed opportunities in service and amenities. What We Loved (The Pros): Ideal Central Location: The resort's location is fantastic—it’s roughly halfway between the North Shore and the West Side, making island exploration super convenient. Plus, it’s only about 15 minutes from the airport. Walkability: You can easily walk into town to visit the local shopping center or head over to the Lava Beach Club. Great Snorkeling & Views: Right in front of the hotel, there’s a small tide pool area that’s great for a quick swim or snorkeling. If you’re an early riser, the oceanfront sunrise views are breathtaking! Delicious Food: Don't miss the Tiki Hut—their poke bowl was absolutely delicious! Where It Fell Short (The Cons): Disabled Jacuzzi: The hot tub/jacuzzi was out of service during our stay. Bar Quality: While the Tiki Bar is convenient, the cocktails were served in plastic cups and made with pre-mixed juices rather than fresh ingredients. Loud AC: The air conditioning unit in our room was quite old and ran super loud, making it a bit noisy at night. Lack of Extras/Guest Amenities: Unlike many island resorts, they don't offer basic loaner gear—there are no boogie boards, snorkel sets, or bike rentals available. They also lack a concierge to assist with tour bookings. Front Desk Service: Whenever we asked about services, amenities, or local recommendations, the front desk response was simply, "I'm sorry, but we don't have it," without offering alternative solutions or guidance. Overall: It’s a wonderful spot if you prioritize location, beautiful morning views, and walkability, but be prepared to bring or rent your own beach gear and manage your own activity bookings!

  Oct 15, 2026
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  Great location! While the hotel feels a bit dated, the excellent activities completely made up for it

  Great location! While the hotel feels a bit dated, the excellent activities completely made up for it and were the highlight of our stay. The staff was incredibly welcoming and friendly throughout. We didn't dine on-site, so we can't speak to the restaurant quality.

  Oct 10, 2026
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  Affordable Tropical happiness!

  This is a very good hotel at a reasonable price. It is absolutely worth the price. The view of the wailua river and bay is fantastic! We enjoyed the food at Mamahune’s grill and tiki bar. The waygu burgers are delicious. Breakfast on site was very good too. The staff went out of their way to help us with any questions or needs. We did have a frustrating wait to get back into our room when the battery died in our door lock. The Maint man was the only soul working the hotel, as staff was short from the recent hurricane. That Maint man was literally running to and from our room to get tools. You just cannot be upset when that amount of effort is being put forth. The rooms were cleaned and stocked every other day. Lydgate beach park is a short walk and is perfect for swimming and snorkeling. The hotel is a bit dated and some paint is peeling with some rust here and there. It’s the tropics, that’s normal. The bed was really my only complaint. It was like sleeping on the sidewalk it was so hard. Again…still well worth the price paid. I did not expect the Ritz Carlton here. Staff-Thank you all for a great trip!

  Oct 02, 2026
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  Disappointing

  We stayed five nights at the Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay. The location was excellent, but the hotel itself felt rundown. There was a smell of damp in parts of the building and peeling paint in the corridor. On arrival, we were given the room we had booked and paid for. It was small, had no balcony and fell below the standard we have come to expect from Hilton. My husband’s Lifetime Diamond status was not acknowledged, and no upgrade was offered. We asked whether a room with a balcony was available and pointed out the ground-floor rooms with outdoor space. The manager on duty kindly moved us to a ground-floor suite with a patio, which we appreciated. Even the suite had worn furniture, broken bedside-table runners and a dated bathroom that could have been cleaner. The outside seating area was tatty. Parking was another frustration. We struggled to find a space in the designated Diamond area. On our final day, cars were double-parked and we took the last available space in the car park. We counted ten vehicles in the Diamond area without parking vouchers displayed. Reception told us security checks the car park, but our experience left us questioning how effectively parking was managed. The facilities felt inadequate for a 216-room hotel. There is one small swimming pool and an even smaller dipping pool, with approximately 33 loungers across the two areas from what we could see. Seating was particularly hard to find in the afternoon when guests arrived back from their outings . Mamahune’s is described as a poolside tiki bar and restaurant offering contemporary Hawaiian cuisine and picturesque bay views. That description gave us a much grander impression than the limited evening dining setup we found: a small bar with little seating, which was also the hotel’s only place for an evening meal. During our visits, it appeared to have one bartender and one chef working from a small grill. Drinks at the bar were served in flimsy disposable plastic cups. Other places we visited used sturdy, reusable plastic glasses, which made the choice here particularly disappointing. In the room, hot drinks required paper cups individually wrapped in plastic, while thin disposable plastic cups were provided for cold drinks. There were no tea bags. This reliance on disposable cups and packaging seemed at odds with Hilton’s sustainability commitments. We visited neighbouring hotels during our stay, including Kauai Shores, where we ate several times. Compared with the facilities we saw nearby, those at the Hilton Garden Inn felt poor. The helpful manager and excellent location were highlights, but the property needs attention.

  Sep 24, 2026
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  Room issues, but great response to the hurricane

  Our room smelled of mold and mildew. We should have asked for another right away but we wanted the ground-floor room with the patio and feared that perhaps all of those were in the same condition. A/C helped a little. Until Hurricane Lowell wiped that out. Then we had to keep the patio door open at all times. Yet, I like the hotel's location, right by Lydgate Beach, and their response to the storm was OUTSTANDING. They were well prepared, they kept us fed, and they did it all with a smile.

  Sep 14, 2026