Driving up to the Garden Island Inn, it’s not hard to feel the aloha spirit come alive. The colorful exterior -- with its purple and green railings, frescoed walls, sea shell mosaics, and trellised bougainvillea -- serves as guests’ initial welcome. The lobby, a tiny reception room, is equally charming. Walls are covered in everything Kauai, from maps, to pictures, to local artwork. A hodgepodge collection of beach gear sits opposite of the reception desk, which guests can borrow throughout their stay. Guests at Garden Island Inn are usually budget travelers looking for a centrally located home base on Kauai. However, many travelers also use Garden Island Inn as a pit stop before heading off to other parts of the island. Its convenient location less than 10 minutes from the airport means weary travelers can stop in for a good night’s sleep before heading to their final destination. Trust us -- when you fly 12 hours from New York and land on Kauai in the middle of the night, the last thing you want to do is drive an hour and a half to your hotel in Princeville.   

Located in Lihue, Kauai’s largest town and commercial center, Garden Island Inn is close to a lot of things. It’s about a seven-minute drive from the airport, a five-minute drive to both Kukui Grove Shopping Center (Kauai’s only mall) and Costco, and is across the street from lively Kalapaki Beach. It should be noted that Garden Island Inn sits on a busy street, which can be difficult to cross during the day.  

Garden Island Inn’s colorfully quirky decor continues inside the rooms. White tile floors and pale green wallpaper come alive with whimsical local paintings, rattan furniture, multi-colored bedspreads, and sky blue wood accents. Some may find the decor horribly dated, but others may find it authentic and more charming than the decor at larger chain resorts. Rooms are equipped with tiny kitchenettes, which have mini-fridges, microwaves, coffeemakers, mugs, and a few plastic plates and bowls. Many bathrooms have original 1950s tile work; but most are pretty tiny, with just enough room for a toilet, sink, and shower stall. 

Garden Island Inn’s 23 rooms are spread amongst three floors known as Palm, Tropical, and Orchid. Tropical and Orchid, the second and third floors, have nicer views, but there is no elevator; guests can expect to carry luggage up the stairs themselves. It should be noted that even if rooms are described as having ocean views, the ocean is still pretty far from guests’ balconies. You might be able to catch a glimpse of the water, but you’ll have to look past the hotel parking lot and a busy street first. 

Garden Island Inn offers tons of nice freebies. Along with the standard free parking and free Wi-Fi, the hotel serves free coffee each morning, and assorted snacks, such as cookies and granola bars, throughout the afternoon. Guests are also welcome to borrow from the lobby’s collection of beach gear. Free of charge, guests can take advantage of beach chairs, towels, coolers, shovels and pails, boogie boards, snorkel gear, straw hats, and foam noodles. There’s also tons of books, board games, and DVDs. There isn’t a pool, fitness center, or on-site restaurant, but there are tons of eateries within walking distance, including a few on Kalapaki Beach.