Everything Under the Sun 5-11-2007

After a five-hour flight from Los Angeles, the first thing I wanted to do when I arrived on Kauai was get to my hotel, kick off my shoes, put my feet in the sand and relax. And I was in luck.

Even though I’d visited the Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club while at Kalapaki Beach during a cruise, I didn’t realize how close the resort was to the airport. Moments after my husband and I got our baggage, the resort van picked us up, and not five minutes later, we were at the reservations desk. In no more than 15 minutes, we were in our room, barefoot and heading to the beach. We made it to the shore in time for sunset.

One of the best features of the property, nestled within the 800-acre Kauai Lagoons Resort, is its quiet, sandy beach. Tucked away in a corner of Nawiliwili Bay, a popular cruise ship port, Kalapaki Beach is a peaceful haven with calm waters and a secluded atmosphere.

The idyllic spot is perfect for both couples and families. Kalapaki Beach is one of the gentlest beaches on Kauai and kids can play in the sand and shallow water without parents having to worry about crashing waves. A small break next to a jetty, about 100 yards out, is a surfer’s paradise. Couples can lounge together on beach chairs provided by the resort or enjoy a seaside couple’s massage from the onsite Alexander Day Spa and Salon. Snorkeling, boogie boarding and volleyball equipment can be rented from a cabana just off the beach.

With one of the largest pools on the island, some guests may never make it to the beach. The pool’s 1.8 million black and light-blue mosaic tiles surround an island of palms and resemble a similar complex at Hearst Castle in California. Five whirlpools, a series of waterfalls and a reflecting pool add to the grandeur of the 26,000 square feet of water. Clients can also take advantage of two Jack Nicklaus-designed courses. The Kiele and Mokihana courses offer 36 holes on an oceanfront setting. In addition, the Kauai Lagoons Golf and Racquet Club houses two plexi-pave tennis courts with stadium seating and lighting for night play. There is also a 2,500-square-foot fitness and aerobics center with Pilates and other classes offered throughout the week.

Most of the resort’s 356 guestrooms and 11 suites have a view of the ocean or the pool. Rooms feature Marriott’s new Revive bedding and linen collection, a lanai and air conditioning with in-room controls. There are also 190 one-bedroom Beach Club Suites and 42 two-bedroom Beach Club Suites.

Guests can opt to dine at any of the resort’s five restaurants, including Duke’s Canoe Club, Cafe Portofino Italian Restaurant and Kukui’s Poolside Restaurant & Bar, which all offer live entertainment in the evenings.

Although the property provides everything guests need, the small town of Nawiliwili offers casual dining, a sports bar, an ABC Store and several souvenir shops. If guests want to venture further, like a trip to Poipu beach as my husband and I did, a Hertz car rental service is on site.

Although the resort’s proximity to the airport one mile by private road is a perk upon arrival, it is even more advantageous when clients are departing. Guests flying from Lihue need only arrive a half-hour before their flight, if they are checked in online, to get through security. This extra benefit could add some much-needed relaxation time to a quick vacation.

Through June 30, clients can choose the Hawaiian Sand Dollars Plus package, which offers garden-view accommodations from $349 per night, including the fifth night free for a five-night stay, free upgrade to a pool-view room, daily breakfast for two and 1,000 Marriott Rewards points, per night when booked on www.MarriottHawaii.com