Looking to save money on Kauai? Find out about the best cheap places to stay in Kauai and how to book them. Keep scrolling down for all the info on my favorite cheap hotels in Kauai!
This list of cheap places to stay on Kauai was written by Marcie Cheung (a Hawaii travel expert) and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
If you’re looking for cheap hotels in Kauai, you can read about my top picks below.
Over the years I’ve spent much of my time on this beautiful island. When I was little, my grandmother lived in Kauai and I loved coming to visit her. In fact, it’s where I first fell in love with Hawaii!
Today, my mother now calls Kauai home. So, my family and I take every opportunity to visit her! We’re grateful to stay with relatives when we come to Hawaii because costs can add up fast.
But you don’t break the bank with an expensive resort just to visit the Hawaiian Islands! If you look around, you can find wonderful cheap places to stay in Kauai.
Below I’ve put together a list of my top picks for the best cheap hotels in Kauai, just for you!
What to Look for in Cheap Hotels in Kauai Hawaii
Kauai is small enough that you can stay on the East Side and venture out to other parts of the island for the day. And you should plan on looking here when planning for a budget vacation.
You’ll find cheap Kauai hotels and resorts all along the East Side, ranging between $150 and $250 during the shoulder seasons.
And when you’re looking for cheap hotels in Kauai, don’t look over discount sites and individual room listings! Often hotels will offer these listings at a lower rate to fill a remaining booking for a specific date.
For the types of places, you’ll find mostly classic hotel rooms and suites. Sometimes you’ll score a cheap rate at a great resort or villa community.
And Kauai hostels are a great low-cost option, though Kauai hostels are super popular and book months in advance!
Best Places to Stay in Kauai On a Budget
Aston Islander on the Beach
One of the best cheap hotels in Kauai is Aston Islander on the Beach. Even if you’re on a budget, you still want the full star treatment, and that’s what you get here. Aston Islander boasts a prime location close to Kuhio Highway in Wailua with restaurants and a mall nearby.
Enjoy access to tropical gardens, an outdoor pool and hot tub, and public grills. You’re steps away from golden-sand beaches at this plantation-style hotel. Choose from sun-filled rooms with air conditioning and either full- or Queen-sized beds. Check the latest rates and availability.
Guests will feel nothing but welcome with a warm greeting and complimentary drinks. And the love continues each night with live music and a cocktail hour by the pool! Check resort rates.
Plantation Hale Suites
If you need a little more room, another quality place to stay in Wailua is Plantation Hale Suites. Set back from the beach, you can retreat into the quiet of your suite at the end of the day. At the same time, you’re close to the beach paths, swim beaches, and the Coconut Market Place shopping village nearby.
Vacation in Kauai on a budget in a beautiful suite with a view of the mountain or oceans. And each room features a fully stocked kitchen and a lanai with outdoor seating. Guests can relax in 3 different pools and hot tubs or BBQ nearby. Check the latest rates and availability.
There’s also a sun deck with a library for your reading pleasure and lawn games on the patio. Plus, the front desk will happily work with you to schedule tours, book water gear for the beach, or reserve a shuttle to the airport. Check resort rates.
Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay, HI
A great way to find cheap hotels in Kauai is to go with a tried-and-true name like Hilton. Stay at Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay on the East Side and you may never want to leave the resort!
Everything starts off with a lei greeting as you arrive. The entire place is bright and elegant with natural elements and contemporary pops of color.
At Hilton Garden Inn you can choose from affordable King or Queen rooms, and even entire bungalows with private entrances. Check the latest rates and availability.
On the grounds, there are gardens, a masseuse, 2 pools, hot tubs, and outdoor lounges. Nearby you have access to historic sites, hiking trails, parks, and sandy beaches.
The Hilton Garden inn also has 2 full-service restaurants ready to serve and the activities desk can help you plan outings in Kauai. Check resort rates.
Kauai Beach House Hostel
If you’re planning a solo vacation in Kauai on a budget, a Kauai beach hostel might be for you. A stay at Kauai Beach House Hostel in the heart of Kapaa lets you keep costs super low while you enjoy island living!
The hostel offers both dormitory-style beds and private rooms inside the beautiful, beachy building. Everything is painted in cheery shades of blue, both inside and out. Enjoy cozy common areas, 2 massive outdoor decks with ocean views, and outdoor space with picnic tables.
Hostels are a wonderful way to meet new people. Often, the hostel will orchestrate group activities like hikes and beach days. You have washers and dryers, lockers for your belongings, and tons of restaurants and shops a stroll away.
Hotel Coral Reef
Hotel Coral Reef is one of the best cheap hotels in Kauai. You’ll feel like you’re stepping back into old-school Hawaii at this unassuming but top-notch hotel near historic Old Town Kapaa.
You’ll love the cozy King-sized rooms and suites with ocean views, slat windows (no AC), ceiling fans, and ornate wooden furniture. Swim in the cool, lagoon-style pool or enjoy the daily continental breakfast. Check the latest rates and availability.
In the lobby, there are bicycle rentals that you can take to the multi-use path along the water. And you can book salon services at the spa inside the hotel! Nearby along Kuhio Highway, you can enjoy a variety of restaurants, cafes, surf shops, gift shops, and more. Check hotel rates.
Kauai Shores Hotel
If you’re a person of particular taste looking for Kauai budget accommodations, consider Kauai Shores Hotel in Wailua. The modest, affordable hotel pulls out all the stops with impeccably designed interiors and exteriors in a bright, retro style!
Even on a modest budget, you can book a beautiful standard or deluxe room with views. Check out the latest rates and availability.
Lounge by 2 different turquoise pools in egg chairs or play lawn games and volleyball. There’s a beachside restaurant and bar, and you can enjoy the exclusive private beach at Kauai Shores Hotel.
Plus, you can enjoy a variety of services, like massages at an onsite spa, yoga classes on the lawn, or live music at the bar after dark. Check hotel rates.
Kauai Beach Resort
If you’re looking for the cheapest place to stay in Poipu, Hawaii, you’re not going to find it. Instead, I recommend a top-notch place like this one in Lihue! You might be surprised to learn how affordable Kauai Beach Resort is, and only a 30-minute drive from the beaches in Poipu.
Soften the blow to your wallet and enjoy a luxurious stay at a resort with contemporary standard and deluxe bedrooms. The entire place is stunning with ocean views, 4 different pools with waterfalls, a waterslide, and views of Kauai Beach. Check the latest rates and availability.
You can enjoy a full-service spa, 3 different restaurants, and a fitness center that offers yoga classes. Kauai Beach Resort is one of the best cheap places to stay in Kauai with all the trimmings you’d expect with a more expensive resort! Check resort rates.
The Kauai Inn
A stay at The Kauai Inn is all about location! It’s one of the best cheap hotels in Kauai for launching on nearby adventures. You’ll find movie film site tours close by, as well as nature preserves for hiking, and even a top-notch golf course.
Take a short walk to the Nawiliwili Harbor to book fishing and boat tour charters. Or drive the short 20 minutes to the white-sand beaches at Poipu! Check the latest rates and availability.
The Kauai Inn shines with plantation-style interiors, vast lawns, and towering palms, all backed by the beautiful Kauai mountains.
Enjoy rooms and suites, some of which have patios onto the garden. Every morning there’s a delicious complimentary breakfast, and then you can relax by the pool. Check hotel rates.
Banyan Harbor Resort
One of the top Kauai cheap hotels is Banyan Harbor Resorts. This is a favorite condo resort boasting 1- and 2-bedroom apartments, plus some connected family rooms. But anyone will feel right at home at
Banyan Harbor Resorts with private entrances, air conditioning, and even complimentary board games and puzzles upon request. Check the latest rates and availability.
Grill at the BBQ facilities, swim in the pool, or play on the ball courts at the resort. Nearby you can shop for food at Harbor Mall or enjoy one of the many quality restaurants and cafes. Or get dinner reservations for the Hawaii Live Luau Show!
You’re also across the street from Nawiliwili Park, which has a sandy beach. Or a little further down is a wonderful cove beach at Kalapaki Beach. Check resort rates.
Club Wyndham Ka Eo Kai
If you have your heart set on booking a cheap hotel in Kauai along the North Shore, I have one option for you! Keep an eye out for discounted rates at the stunning Club Wyndham Ka Eo Kai in Princeville, especially midweek during the shoulder seasons.
At the resort, soak up the sun by waterfall pools or book a massage with the onsite masseuse. Save a little money with a beautiful studio or spend a little more on a spacious suite. Check the latest rates and availability.
Set back from the ocean on a hill, you can enjoy beautiful ocean views across the golf courses of the resort communities that cover Princeville.
This location also means you’re just a few minutes away from grocery stores, historic landmarks, Hanalei Beach Park, and tons of things to do in Kauai! Check resort rates.
FAQ about Kauai on the Cheap
The best side of Kauai to stay on if you’re looking for cheap hotels on the East Shore. Think about Kapaa, Wailua, and Lihue. You won’t find any budget places in popular Poipu or Princeville, but some of the cheapest places to stay in Kauai are a short drive away! Plus, on the East Shore, you’re near the airport, grocery stores, and great tourist attractions.
If you’re planning on spending your entire vacation on Kauai, aim for a week. That way you can enjoy a beach day, plan a day hike, or book a tour, but you’ll also have to for things like relaxing and shopping! If you’re island hopping, I suggest spending 3 or 4 days on Kauai. Also, keep in mind that many of the hotels on my list offer discounts if you book at least 4 nights.
A great time to visit Kauai is during one of the shoulder seasons in Hawaii, which fall either between February and May or September through mid-November. During these times, kids are in school and fewer people are on holiday. Keep an eye out, because some of the most affordable places to stay in Kauai during the shoulder season are bigger hotels and resorts looking to fill rooms!
Go with the Best Cheap Hotels in Kauai
A trip to the Hawaiian Islands can be rewarding, and Kauai offers some of the most unique landscapes of all the islands. You can see the natural verdant mountains and expansive beaches of North Shore.
There are the rainbow canyons and rainforest waterfalls in central Kauai. And you’ll find fun adventures all around Poipu and Lihue, like river tubing, zip lines, and luaus!
You’ll find most of the cheap places to stay on Kauai on the island’s East Side. While it’s not in Poipu or Hanalei, it’s just a short drive away! Cheap hotels in Kauai are competitive, which means you benefit from a wide range of high-quality amenities and services.
For the best prices, you just have to make a few adjustments. Plan on coming during the shoulder seasons when the crowds are thinner between (which doesn’t sound too bad to me!). And you might have to rent a car or stay at a central hotel in town.
