The Royal Sonesta Kauai Resort Lihue

Everything is totally wonderful! And I really want to thank you Blinda for helping me get helicopter tour booked !! I will come back some day !

I love the Sonesta Brand!

What an incredible stay! The complimentary shuttle came quickly, the drive to the resort was 5 min. (which is welcomed after getting of an airplane)! check in was a breeze. The room was clean and beautiful and I can't say enough about the staff. The pool and beach were amazing, and the Thursday Luau is a must do!

AVOID THIS PLACE. - This hotel is disgusting from the rooms to the service and should be avoided.. the second day of our honeymoon my wife and I left promptly after concerns for our health. We first arrived to an unwelcoming front desk attendant who didn’t even know our occasion even though it was noted on our booking. We were quickly told the room did not have a direct ocean view except for being on the balcony and looking sharply to the left; essentially a partial ocean view. This clearly nodded us off the instance of false advertising; the booking picture showed a full ocean view. We then called to ask from the room and were offered a complimentary upgrade to a “preferred ocean view” (for those reading, that’s what any other hotel would consider a true ocean view). Our new room was nice only initially, the view was incredible. Upon laying on the bed it was damp from the humidity in the room. We later noticed the AC was not working to cool the room to the desired temperature. We decided to give it some time (half a day and over night) only to notice the room was 2-3 degrees colder (when it should have been 8-10degrees) and no less humid. Upon further looking around the room we found the worst part, the mold and dust - EVERYWHERE (see pics). You can’t make this sh*t up, the trim of the glass doors, and hidden areas of the kick plates coated in black mold; It was disgusting and honestly disturbing for the price we paid. We asked to move rooms agin from the concern and were ignored by the front desk and management. In conclusion we ended up leaving the Royal Sonesta, in disgust and with a feeling to warn others of this dilapidated mess of a hotel - its lipstick on a pig. We ended up being saved by another popular hotel on the south shore willing to beat the rate of the Sonesta and our honeymoon moved on. Avoid this place and probably the Royal Sonesta brand at all cost.

We are here now, Resort overview is Beautiful and staff very friendly. Unfortunately that where the positive ends. Booked through Costco which may have had something to do with room given. DO NOT under any circumstances accept room 1501. We requested ground floor close to pool what we got was a whole in the corner. No Cell service in room and I would not even give it credit for a garden view. The wing must be save for travelers with pets as we heard barking. Very few choices for food and extremely expensive. Very disappointing and because of that we will not return

I had high hopes for this property, but unfortunately, the experience didn’t live up to expectations—especially given the price point. The room looked like it had been "updated," but in a very budget-conscious way. The floors and baseboards were uneven and not clean. After walking barefoot for a short time, my feet were black from the dirt. Towels in both the room and by the pool were worn out, with visible holes and fraying threads—definitely not what you’d expect at this price. Room service was also underwhelming. We ordered breakfast, only to be told the espresso machine was broken and that we’d need to go to the bar downstairs to buy coffee ourselves. The food arrived in plastic containers inside a brown paper bag, with a spilled drink soaking through the bottom—not a great start to the day. The concierge service left a lot to be desired. Belinda reached out before our arrival, but never responded when we replied with questions. When we followed up on the day we arrived, we were told she hadn’t been working. If that’s the case, there should really be a system in place to ensure someone else is monitoring communications. Joan, who answered our call, was not helpful either—she simply told us to make our own arrangements. At that point, Google felt more useful than the concierge. The grounds and lobby are nicely maintained, but things go downhill once you head to the guest areas. The overall atmosphere felt a bit tired, and most staff we encountered seemed disengaged and unapproachable. A little more hospitality—like a smile or a friendly greeting—would go a long way. All in all, this stay felt overpriced for the service and quality received. There’s definitely room for improvement.