Quote Originally Posted by slinkedog View Post

We would love to hear from all of you who have been to Kaua'i and would like to share your loves/hates regarding the island. We want to do some snorkeling and kayaking, but we've also heard that the helicopter tour is amazing. However, because of limited $$$ we need to choose... kayaking and snorkeling tours or helicopter trip and do the kayaking/snorkeling on our own. We have kayaked before but have never snorkeled. Recommendations?
Hello - Yeah for you!! We did not go to Kaua'i, but Maui, and I therefore feel qualified to give you my whole $0.02 worth of advice!!

As far as the snorkeling goes, it is AMAZING- I would recommend getting your own snorkels and get Dry Snorkels - these kind of snorkels have a flap that covers the top of the snorkel so when a wave goes over the top of your head, no water gets in the snorkel tube. These differ from dry top snorkels because the dry top snorkels have a baffell system in the tube that is supposed to keep the water out of the tube. It really doesn't. If you rent from a snorkel shop on the island, they generally carry the second kind. I was amazed at the difference in the snorkels - I could stay out much longer than others. With the Dry Snorkel, you can also dive for shells without getting water in your tube. We purchased our snorkels at a dive shop before we left. I think they were $60 each but rentals are about $15 - 18 a day, so that's four days snorkeling and you get to keep the snorkel. You'll need fins and a mask, too.

You don't need a guide to snorkel. Any shop can tell you what beaches have the best snorkeling. You can also google top or best beaches on the island that you are going to. We went (paid) to Molikini, which is a crater in the middle of the ocean and snorkeled, but honestly, it really wasn't that much better than the beach.

Our condo had kayaks available for free. Might check with your hotel/condo.
My parents went on a helicopter ride and would only advise it again if the day is crystal clear. It was so cloudy that they really didn't get to see too much of the island and were therefore disappointed.

I was disappointed with the luau that we went to b/c it was very commercial - done at a Hilton. It wasn't a bad experience or anything, I just expected something more traditional or small scale.

Also, and I know this might sound ridiculous, I purchase souveniers (can't spell that one) before I go and then pick up a T-Shirt on the Island for the kids. For example, the dollar stores here sell shells that are the same ones you would get in Hawaiian stores. So, that's where the shells come from. All were happy and no one knew any differently. They have ABC stores on Maui and perhaps on your island as well that are very inexpensive for shirts.

We bid for a car on Priceline.com's name your own price and were able to get a minivan for 2 weeks for $18 a day. Best deal we ever got Whoever registers for the car is the driver for the whole trip. I didn't realize that and got stuck driving everywhere. It costs more to add a second driver.

Also, to save $$ we had a kitchenette and bought food at the supermarket.

Prolly more that you want to know, but I hope this helps. Have fun. What an amazing experience.

PS - take dramamine if you do go out on a kayak or boat because sea sickness happens, trust me