The location is key. Right across the street is an awesome beach and restaurant. The pools were crowded and small, so we didn't hang out there much. We did, however, use barbeques on-site for steaks one night. Other than that, we didn't do much at the action resort. We were also able to get a babysitter. One of the local travel agents told us that her daughter babysat at the resort. It made for a nice night out and was very secure.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Poor
• Amenities: Fair
• Unit Satisfaction: Good
• Family Friendliness: Fair
• Service: Fair

The views from this resort are spectacular. Out the front door, you had a view of the mountains and the breathtaking rainbow caused by the daily rains (just in the mountains). Out the balcony you get a view of the ocean. We had a very spacious/clean two-bedroom unit. There was a king-size bed in master bedroom, along with a Jacuzzi bathroom, and the second room had two twin beds.

There were plenty of close restaurants. The grounds were very well kept and beautiful. The Poipu area gets very little rain, and the one day it did rain, it was very light off and on for 15 minutes at a time. Everyone at the resort was very helpful, and the area residences were very wonderful also. The resort is located just down the road from Spouting Horn and the PGA tour location. I recommend getting a vehicle with 4WD to go off the beaten bath and see some very beautiful, secluded beaches on the west side of Kauai.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Very Good
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

The unit was comfortably appointed in pleasing colors. The kitchen was nicely equipped. We ate every meal on the lanai. The unit was very nice--not as upscale as Pahio Shearwater, but the views were better, and we had no ants. There is a TV and DVD player in the living room and web TV, which you can rent for $10 a week. The master bedroom has a king-size bed and sliding doors to the lanai, and you can see the ocean and listen to the surf from the bed. It also had a walk-in closet, which was a pleasant surprise. The second bedroom had two twin beds. There are two bathrooms, neither of which has a Jacuzzi.

There are several pools, and the Banyon pool has a nice rock hot tub with a waterfall but beware: the surfaces are very rough, and my daughter skinned her hand getting in. The Alli hot tub is a standard, round, smooth one. There are gas grills in the pool area. We hope to return to LBR and lush, beautiful Kauai again.

The south side has a lot of activities. We tried scuba and snorkeled at various locations. There was a monk seal on Lawaii beach one day too. It's also convenient to go to Waiema Canyon from there. The Beach House restaurant was very good for adults, but expensive--the children's menu left a lot to be desired for picky kids, because they put sauce on the grilled fish and onions in the rice. Brick-oven pizza was good.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Good
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Very Good

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Good
• Amenities: Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
• Family Friendliness: Very Good
• Service: Not Available

Lawai Beach Resort is located on the quieter, drier south side of Kauai. It’s about a twenty-five minute scenic drive from the airport. It is across the road from Lawai Beach and the Beach House Restaurant. The two-bedroom, two-bathrooms are located on the end of the building and are a long, thin configuration. The kid’s bedroom (two full beds) is first on the right, with a bathroom (shower and toilet) adjacent. There is a long hall to the master bedroom, with a queen bed and an ensuite bathroom (shower in a tub and toilet). Both bedrooms have a lanai (balcony) with a sliding door and slat-type jalousy windows. The kid’s bedroom had windows on the opposing wall, as well. Both rooms had a TV and ceiling fans.

The kitchen was quite complete. The appliances were almost new.

The living room has a TV, VCR, DVD player, and webTV, as well as a sound system with a five-CD disc changer. There were windows on three sides and a sliding door that lead out to a giant, 180-square-foot lanai. On the lanai was a table with four chairs and two pool recliners. We were on the third floor and faced the Beach House Restaurant. To the slight right of center was an unobstructed view of the beach. The Pacific Ocean was no more than 100 feet from our lanai.

There was no air-conditioning, but after the first few hours, we really did not miss it. We asked for a floor fan to boost the cross ventilation on day one but did not need it after that. We never had trouble sleeping due to heat or humidity.

The condo was very clean on arrival. The mid-week clean was satisfactory, with a full linen change, bathroom clean, and vacuum of the non-tiled areas. The gardens were beautiful and well-groomed. The three pools were tested for water quality every morning and then vacuumed. My wife attended the hula lesson and the lei-making class. I went to a Hawaiian fishing demonstration. There were tennis courts and mini golf. The beach across the street was all that kids really needed.

My only criticism - albeit trivial - is that they use artificial plants when there is such a abundance of good, tropical live plants available.

We rate the resort at 7/10 and would happily return.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Fair
• Amenities: Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
• Family Friendliness: Very Good
• Service: Good