Aston Islander on the Beach

This place should get 3.5 stars. Great beach location for the price point but the pool was small. We stayed in room 353 super close to the water. We actually had to shut the sliding door most of the way at night because the waves were so loud. A good problem to have. The grounds were clean but no restaurant.

The hospitality alone made this place worth 5 stars! We arrived to our room, and inside was a bottle of wine and a box of local chocolates saying «congrats on your engagement!» What an amazing gesture! The staff every day we saw them were so nice and always helping us in any way they could. We only spent one night at the pool and bar area but it had very reasonably priced drinks and the bartender was great. It was so nice sitting in the hot tub at night with some drinks and some great company of other couples who were staying at the hotel.
Our room was great. A little outdated but just perfect for our stay. We didn’t spend a lot of time in the room other than to sleep and shower, but it had a comfortable bed and a great Kitchenette. We bought some groceries about a mile down the road from us the first day we got there, and had breakfast on the lanai every morning. It was nice having all our dishes, a sink, and a fridge and microwave, so we didn’t spend so much time and money going out to eat every morning and lunch. We usually went out to eat at night but that was it.
The first day we were there we also walked along the beach and saw a seal! The water is a little rough there but there were people swimming when the waves weren’t as choppy. We also rented a car so we went to a bunch of other beaches to swim and snorkel.
I also liked the fact that you could rent free DVDs from the hotel. We had a really rainy night one night we were there so we called it a night a littler earlier than usual, and watched some movies in our room for free! Very nice feature.
I do wish the lava lava restaurant next door wouldn’t have been so expensive, because I would have liked to have gone here, and the coconut marketplace out front only had a few shops open because of renovation. I would have liked to have gone through more of them, but being right in Kapaa there were plenty of local shops to walk though, which we absolutely loved!
All in all, I will definitely go back to this hotel! They’ve left an everlasting impression on my fiancé and I!

So we were looking for a place to stay around New Years and the rentals in Poipu and Princeville were really expensive, so after reading some reviews we realized staying in Kapa’a would be a great fit for us.
The Aston IOB is located in the center or Kapa’a on the beach behind the coconut marketplace and just a minute drive of downtown historic Kapa’a where there are lots of restaurants and two supermarkets. Additionally, you can rent bikes right outside of the hotel for the famous Kapa’a bike path that goes along the ocean. The location is in between the South and North sides of the Island so what is an day excursion if you are staying in the resort towns can only be a half day.
The front desk staff were very friendly so were the activities coordinators. There are many activities you can book at the hotel, like helicopter tours, Na Pali coast tours, kayaking, snorkeling, luaus, etc. There is also a big parking lot outside but during the holidays it can fill up, but there is also overflow parking in the Coconut Marketplace, which is a mall, but at the time was going through a renovation so the only shops were a coffee place, ice cream shop, Crazy Shirt, and a gift shop.
There are also many ocean view and ocean front rooms. Request a first floor ocean front room so you can walk to the beach out of your room or to the pool or BBQ. It is awesome that they have BBQs so you can grill your own fresh local fish which is a real money saver! They have grill tools behind the front desk.
The rooms are pretty big with a little kitchen area with a sink, microwave, and utensils which comes in handy to make some brekkie in the morning so you can get out to do your sightseeing earlier than the other tourists. By the balcony there is a couch, coffee table and desk so you can relax after a day on the island to go over your pictures or plan the next day. There is also a café set on the balcony so you can sit out there and watch the sunrise (hotel faces east).
There is a nice pool area with a Jacuzzi they refill every morning, but the jacuzzi is a little small. There is also a bar in the pool area that has a happy hour with cheap island drinks! You get tickets for a free lemonade when you check in and for $ 1 you can add rum to it! Yay!
FYI there are not elevators so request a first floor room if you need special access.

I was a fan of this place because we were looking for a great, calm, low-​key place to wrap up our Hawaiian vacation. The women working at the front desk definitely took the Aston Islander from a 3 to a 4, they were so friendly and welcoming! We checked in and were given great information and informed of the amenities (free DVDs, a free drink at the tiki bar, and morning coffee /​paper). While I wouldn’t have expected to want the DVD rental option, it was a nice relaxing way to see a new movie after a long day in the sun!
The Islander is located between two other resorts and adjacent to the Coconut Shops (which were under renovation when we were there). This definitely adds to the appeal, as the Lava Lava Beach Club (2 min walk down the beach) is brand new and has performers and great beach furniture in their areas. We didn’t visit the other resort, but it looked like it had a good offering of food /​drinks.
The downfalls include a daily amenities fee (which I would have rather paid in my rental fee, other than feeling like I’m paying $ 18 a day for very little), the lack of parking in the lot caused us to park on the street two nights, and the final day the pool was closed.
A good option in Kapa’a, especially if you are planning to go off-​site to see more of the island!

Our experience at the Aston Islander on the Beach:
if I could give this placeZERO STARS I would. Our flight was delayed a half hour and we were almost unable to check into our room, since the front desk closes at 10. had we been two minutes later, we would have been sleeping in our rental car.
then, we were called at 7am on our wedding day by the front desk to be told we needed to bring out credit card there immediately because when we checked in the employee forgot to ask for a card for incidentals. 7am on our wedding day.
We were woken up every morning before 8 because these cheap ass walls are paper thin. However, WE NEVER ONCE CALLED TO COMPLAIN.
as previously stated, the front desk closes at 11 so if the resorts power goes out (which DID happen TWICE) or if you need a roll of toilet paper, you’re out of luck until they re-​open in the morning.
The pool bar doesn’t open until 2:00.
the WORST part of our whole trip was this… If you’re not in bed by 10pm (even on weekends) the residents of the place will call security on you for being on your porch or taking walks around the complex. There are several couples who live here on the premise who are of retirement age who have access to management phone numbers that vacationers don’t have. if a vacationer has a legitimate issue (something broken, a late check in, needing a roll of toilet paper) the place is a total dead zone from 11 – 7, however we were harassed several times and bullied into going to bed ON OUR HONEYMOON at 10:00 on a Saturday night.
This specific resident complained FOUR TIMES that we were doing yoga by the cabana and sitting on our back porch past dark. We are two adults. We were not drinking. We were not being inappropriate. The security guard came over and admitted that the resident is «just an asshole» and he agreed that we were not being «loud», explaining that this specific person complains about anything and everything, all the time.
The next morning when we went to the front desk to attempt to resolve the issue, the manager of the Aston told us that since the man who complained was an OWNER of a room at the Aston Islander (which was managed by a different company, apparently) the management of the Aston could not help us. They said, and I quote, «call the police and file a harassment charge.» So now here I am paying thousands of dollars to stay at the Aston and they can’t even assist with harassment of a paying customer on their property
It’s really difficult, I thought, to ruin a beach vacation as a hotel. I’ve stayed at a plethora of vacation resorts AND second-​rate motels, and unfortunately this was the WORST experience I’ve ever had, Super 8’s and Motel 6’s included. the only thing this beach motel has to offer, is the beach, which is probably the worst 25 foot stretch of beach on Kauai anyway.
Do yourself a favor and stay away from this place.

I’d give this place 2.5 stars if I could. It’s okay, nothing special. Rooms are standard –issue modern hotel rooms, with fridge and microwave. Vibe is nicer than a motel, but not a swanky resort.
There’s a small pool and a jacuzzi, and a bar by the pool. As others have noted, it’s at the beach, but the beach has lots of scary warning signs — rip currents, sharp coral, jellyfish — and when I asked about them, the staff strongly urged me to try other beaches with lifeguards. A few guests did swim in the ocean, but not many.
2 problems I experienced: The bathtub drain was broken, so baths weren’t an option, just showers. And the mattress was way too mushy for my taste and had a weird slant to it: a sort of peak in the center from which one tended to roll to one side or the other.
The location is in a rather dreary spot dominated by strip malls, but a manageable drive to places visitors tend to go. No restaurant, but Eggberts, at the über-​tacky shopping center across the street, is a decent breakfast spot.
It’s not terrible but certainly not memorable.

Aston islander was a great hotel to stay at in Kauai. You can walk to the beach in seconds. It’s was really wonderful to have easy access to the pool and beach at the same time. Also, what’s wonderful is that it’s right next to coconut marketplace so you can do some shopping and grab a bite to eat without driving. The room has everything you need a Mini fridge, coffee maker, and sink. What’s nice is that you can rent a DVD at the hotel. The only issue which wasn’t so bad was they have old showers but can’t complain because I was in paradise.

This place is unique in that its a hotel who’s rooms are individually owned. Aston manages most of the units. but not all. Because of Aston, there’s a great tiki bar (happy hour 6 – 9), tiki torches lit every night, coffee in the lobby, a concierge (get info from them but check prices before you book through them-​they have to get their cut remember), laundry service, and a helpful front desk. Here’s the tip though. stay in one of the units that isn’t managed by Aston and you get these ammenities (except laundry service and technically coffee) for free! We paid $ 99 a night for a beach front unit in August. #246 owned by a woman named Katalika Kaiser (found them on VRBO or Home Away, can’t remember). Really think it’s the best deal in Kauai so if you can find it, book it!
We are here during a storm so lots of driftwood and some brown water on our beach because the east side has a lot of rivers that flow into it. Beach here is small width wise. But I just attached a pic with a view from where I’m sitting right now. Not so shabby.
So, for things to do.
Helicopter ride. go through Island Helicopters bc it’s the cheapest at $ 175.
Back Country Adventures for tubing down sugar plantation irrigation tubes (book early). You can find coupons to bring price to $ 92.
Silver Falls Ranch for horseback riding (pick the $ 119 package-​the 2 hour one).
Hoopii falls-​short walk to waterfall where you can play in its pool.
Snorkel in Poipu
Art night Fridays in Hanapepe. The streets open up to food trucks, artists and lots of live music.
Culinary Market down by (but not in Poipu-it’s closer to the unit than Poipu) on Wednesday nights.
Opekaa (or something like that) falls are close with a nice drive. Keep following that road for lots of cool outdoorsy stuff.
Hike the Napali coast-​hikes from ½ mile to 12 miles.
Enjoy!

We stayed at the Aston Islander on the beach August 28-​September 1, 2015 and had an incredible time. We purchased a «garden view» room but had a lovely side view of the ocean. Our room was the perfect size for us and featured a nice lanai overlooking he grounds and ocean. We loved having a small kitchen and appreciated that they supplied a Keurig with fresh K-​cups every morning. The room also featured a flatscreen tv, tile floors and granite countertops throughout.
The hotel is centrally located about half way between Lihue and Hanalei. It sits directly on the waterfront and has a beautiful pool, bar and hot tub overlooking the ocean.
The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating. The grounds were very beautiful and well kept. We also really liked the free DVD rental system at the hotel (like redbox).
And as a bonus, we got engaged at nearby Kapaa park on our last night! :)

We spent five days at the Aston Islander on the Beach August 20 – 25, 2015. The people at the check-​in desk were very friendly, and we were able to check in a little early. We got a ground floor corner unit that also turned out to be the one closest to the ocean. Being a corner unit, it had a side window that gave us a view down the coast in addition to the great ocean view.
Our room was only about 30 yards from the water, and the sound of the waves was very relaxing. There is no lifeguard at this beach so swimming is not recommended, but there are plenty of beaches nearby with lifeguards. The sand is soft, but coarse, so you sink in more making it a little harder to walk in. The upside is that there are no crowds coming here for the beach, so it’s more tranquil. We came in part for the tranquility, so it was a perfect fit for us. There are more than enough adventures on Kauai, and the concierge helped set us up with a luau, and a catamaran cruise up the Na Pali coast.
The room itself was very clean, and the days we had the room serviced, they did an excellent job. I have a bad back, and often have trouble sleeping well on hotel beds. This one was comfortable, and I had no trouble sleeping, and no aches in the morning. Besides a microwave and refrigerator, the kitchenette has a Keurig coffeemaker which has excellent Kauai coffee k-​cups (including decaf). Basic utensils and plates, bowls, cups, etc. are supplied. The Wi-​Fi speed is ok, about 5Mbps down/​1Mbps up.
In the center of the property near the beach there is a small pool and a Jacuzzi, with a gazebo, chairs, bbq grills, and a bar. There is a well-​equipped, inexpensive coin-​operated laundry room on the premises, and detergent and dryer sheets are complimentary. The parking is all in front of the main building, but none of the buildings were very far away. Along one side of the parking lot there are a few small shops, gear rentals, and a pretty good restaurant.
This is a great choice if you’re looking for a place to relax, which is centrally located for all of the things Kauai has to offer, north or south. We will be back.

Last year we split our time at two resorts and this was absolutely way more value than a typical resort and our unit had a kitchenette, boogie boards, balcony with partial ocean view, wifi, close to shops and right on the beach, they have a pool and bar, DVD rentals, and super friendly staff.
Our unit was more like a studio apartment and could sleep 4 but that would have felt crowded I am sure. Great for a couple!
The parking fills up very fast in the evening so you might have to park at the coconut market place (5min walk). The unit was very clean and we had chocolates waiting for us… The floors get dirty fast when you are going to the beach so a broom would be nice… Will say here for sure from now on!

If I ranked this from our first night’s stay it would get zero stars, but Sue at the front desk was very helpful and she earned these 3 stars.
I have traveled many places (3^rd world countries) and stayed in many hotels. I really do not have high expectations of a place I am staying and the only thing I really value in a hotel is cleanliness! My boyfriend and I were visiting from Oahu just for a 3-​day getaway on Kauai.
We took the last flight out of Honolulu after work on a Thursday night and arrived in Lihue around 10:45PM. After picking up the rental car and driving to the hotel it was a little after 11:00PM. We walked up to a front desk that had shutters closed over it, but we could still hear 2 ladies talking behind the shutters. I said «excuse me» and a lady behind the shutters asked me what I needed (without opening the shutters or coming out to speak to me face-​to-​face). I said we needed to check in, and she instructed me to pick up a phone next to the front desk and call security, because the front desk is closed at 11:00 PM and then security takes over with the check-​ins. I follow her instructions and speak to security and the security guard tells me he’s on his way… We waited for about 10 – 15 mins in the lobby before he finally showed up. He really didn’t have a clue what he was supposed to have me sign or what he was doing for that matter. I got our room key, he didn’t even tell us which direction our room was (and it’s a property of 6 or 8 different buildings). I asked him where we could park our car because the parking lot was full. He said additional parking is at the Coconut Village Marketplace, which is a bit of a walk and kinda a sketchy parking lot, as I’m familiar with the frequency of car break-​ins in Hawaii, especially Jeep Wrangler’s like the one we had (they are the tourist car!). At this point one of the ladies behind the front desk walked out with her purse and car keys and told us to follow her and we could take her parking spot because she was headed home. We follow her out and she is parked FRONT ROW, in the closest stall to the hotel. REALLY ASTON??? Your paying guests cannot find parking spots and your employees are getting the prime parking. CLASSY.
So we headed to our room and it was GROSS when we got there. There was mold on the ceiling, I took my flip flops off and could feel the dirt on the tile floor and see several sticky spots where something had been spilled (my boyfriend later spilled some water on the floor and he wiped it up with a white towel, and the towel was black when he picked it up). We were both unhappy. We would’ve called the front desk but they close at 11:00PM, and the security guard was so clueless checking us in, he wouldn’t be able to remedy our problem. So we decided to tough it out and address it when the front desk was open in the next day. We had to leave for our Na Pali Coast tour at 6:00 AM the next morning, and the front desk doesn’t open until 7, so we would have to wait until later the next day, after our adventures. Now, it’s after midnight and we both want to take a shower after our long day of work in Honolulu and our travels. I turn on the faucet and there is NO WATER!!! WTF. Again, there is no front desk to call and I’m not gonna walk down there and pick up the stupid courtesy phone and wait 15 mins for the security guard to show up so we both just pass out… separately. on our uncomfortable full size beds. without comforters. just sheets. The next morning on our way out, I went to put ice in our cooler and saw a sign on the ice machine that the «water will be shut off at 12:00AM» the night before. That would definitely be something to tell guests as they’re checking in a little after 11:00 PM. «Oh by the way if you wanna shower and brush your teeth tonight, get it done in the next half hour cuz we’re shutting the water off at midnight». Come on!
So finally the next evening we get back to the hotel around 8PM after 15 hours of adventuring. We go to our room to use the toilet before heading to the front desk to complain AND our room hadn’t been serviced. Turns out, we were supposed to go re-​check in that day at the front desk and give them a CC for the «resort fee» but nobody told us that so our room didn’t get serviced. Even if we had been told, we left before the FD opened that morning and were gone all day.
Auntie Sue at the front desk was very apologetic and moved us to a new room that was much cleaner, she waived our resort fee AND sent up some chocolate and wine. We had no problems the remainder of our stay. BUT I think it’s pretty silly that we were put in that awful room in the first place, when this second room was available. We really appreciate Sue’s hospitality though and she really turned everything around.

The standout here is the staff. Went out of their way to make our stay outstanding. The pool and the pool bar are excellent and some of the prettiest beach on the island.
Upon arrival, I noticed a man whom seemed out of place, eyeing some guests. I asked security to investigate. They did so immediately and kept a patrol all night. Most would just blow it off but they didn’t bat an eye to step up to the plate.

Nice hotel! The location is great, close to the north shore and close to Poipu. The property grounds are beautiful and very well taken care of. The beach is pretty but not the kind of beach you would be swimming at. Head to Poipu or Hanalei for that. The staff was lovely and our room was very clean. The bed wasn’t the most comfortable so I removed a star. But man, I could look at the view from our patio forever.

BUYER BEWARE: Some of these units are privately owned and managed. We got a beachfront for our anniversary trip froma private owner.
The bad: our room was terribly maintained. Mold, old furniture, dirt, it was terribe and I could have cried.
The good: beach access, breath taking views. We watched whales breaching from the lanai.
The Ugly: forced to decide if we wanted to go elsewhere and spend the money to sleep without worrying about bugs or the dirt. We did decide to leave and salvage our anniversary trip. The owners were nice but didnt refund our money which we understood. However the pics online versus what was real were majorly different!!!
I gave 1 stars for the view. The pool was small and unheated. If the rooms that were not private were as well maintained and clean as the outside, this would be a good affordable place to stay.
–January 2015

I was here over Christmas and have stayed at Aston Islander on the Beach several times.
The staff is always friendly and welcoming.
Parking can get very difficult if you arrive at the hotel after 8pm.
The hotel is nicely located in Kapa’a behind the Coconut Marketplace. While the Coconut Marketplace is under construction, there are still a few businesses and restaurants open.
The beds in our room this year were extremely uncomfortable and the chairs were dirty and torn; the place needs to be updated or at least a little better maintained.
A couple of years ago, Aston introduced an amenity fee. I understand that many hotels have adopted this policy and I understand guests pay that fee for the amenities. Therefore, I was very surprised when I asked for an extra K-​cup for our rooms Keurig and was told I would have to pay $ 1 extra for each additional K-​cup. Isn’t that what the amenity fee is for?
All that said, the negatives we experienced this year would not keep us from returning from this hotel. The service and location is hard to beat.

The only thing working for the Aston Islander on the Beach is the proximity to the beach. You can hear the waves crash on to the shore and see the sunrise from the Lanai of your room. Other than that, the place is in need of serious repair. The Pool was closed while were there and some construction was going on too.
We decided to get a massage in our room, but the constant noise from the maintenance was a huge nuisance.
The bar is nice and it was our hangout place in the evening before dinner. You can just up and walk to the beach and hang out there.

Unilocal perfectly describes Aston Islander on the Beach… «A-​OK.»
First time in Kauai and we were blown away by the island! (Reminds me of my hometown in the Philippines!) The Islander was a decent place to stay for our week long trip. The staff was friendly and always greeted us as we went in and out of Kauai 328. Our room had all the necessities, but it did not blow me away.
The bathroom was pretty dark and the tub had some trouble draining, but we didn’t let that ruin the trip. We didn’t need housekeeping everyday, but when we requested our room to be cleaned, they were spot on. Some people complain about parking, but honestly, the overflow lot is 10 steps away!
Best thing about The Islander is the awesome beachfront view and vibe. It was laid back and easy going. If you needed anything from the store, the market is a short 5 – 10 minute walk.
The big downer was the pool. The renovations were scheduled to be done during the middle of our stay, but was still being worked out as of November 26^th. We booked way in advance and was never told anything about the pool not being accessible until we were checking in. Oh, and the resort fee… bleh! For 7 nights, it comes out to roughly $ 135– honestly, WiFi and DVD rentals are not worth the extra resort fees.
Again, the pool and the resort fees were not deal breakers, but it would have been nice to be able to soak our feet in the hot tub after doing the Hanakapi’ai Falls hike or use that extra cash for some spa time!
Unilocal should really allow half stars because The Islander really deserves a 3.5 stars in my book.

Pros:
— We were able to check into our room early (though it took them a long time to figure out its status while we just sat waiting)
— Great location right on the beach and near shops and restaurants (Coconut Marketplace)
— Maintenance showed up right away when we had trouble getting into our room
— Pool bar (though its hours were inconsistent)
— Playstations in room
— Unlimited DVD rental
— WiFi included in resort fee
— Less than $ 100/​night when we stayed
— Granite counter tops in the bathrooms and wet bar (though nothing else seemed updated)
Cons
— Half the front desk staff seemed a bit cranky, while the other half was nice
— In-​room safe didn’t work
— Curtains over sliding door pull the opposite way that the door opens
— No bathroom by the pool; closest one is outside lobby on the front of the building, meaning you have to trek pretty far and through the lobby in a wet bathing suit to use the bathroom
— Bag check consisted of putting our bags in the corner of the lobby and hoping no one touched them
— Outdated TVs
— No ramp into lobby from parking lot to roll luggage down
— Lobby needs some major touch ups: peeling paint, tacky signage, outdated
— Car rental from concierge requires taking a cab back to the airport to get it; $ 20 credit they give you toward the cab doesn’t even cover one way
— Jets in pool-​side hot tub only last 15 minutes

HOTEL: Had a very reasonable stay at the very reasonable Aston Islander. If you’re looking for full service, keep moving, this is not your scene. Lobby handles your check-​in, can book activities, and they are guardians of the pool towels, and that’s about it for services. The site has rustic tiki décor, grounds are clean and well kept, with the pool and bar being the center of activity (but not action).
OCEANFRONT ROOM (#325): I’ve never stayed anywhere this close to the ocean! Maybe thirty feet from the water? You can see up the beautiful coast toward Lihue, you catch every sunrise since you’re facing east (7am in February, very easy to wake up for), and at night the ocean rocks you to sleep. I’m not sure you’ll find this view and proximity anywhere at these prices, so I strongly urge you to go for it! Ocean view rooms look okay, they’re further back and angled, and the garden view I don’t recommend, they’re less gardens than sad sideyards.
The furnishings are fine, clean, dated but not depressingly so like much of Waikiki. We used our kitchenette daily — microwave, mini-​fridge, coffee maker, and sink. I’d go out to the lanai to zone out to the view or the waves whenever I could.
POOL BAR: You should make a stop at the pool bar on your day of arrival. There were several regulars and condo owners who were very friendly, gave us recommendations, and just made us feel warmly welcomed. Strong mai tai was one of the better ones we had on our stay. We also made it out to the hot tub once, which had a lively conversation going, though we did not participate.
RESORT FEE: $ 18 daily covers wi-​fi, DVDs, newspaper, local calls, I guess. We used the wi-​fi a bit but certainly not worth the $ 97 total. I can’t wait until hotels are forced to give up this sham, but no reason to blame Aston, they’re all doing it.
PARKING: Yes, the main lot is small and you’ll often have to park in the outer lot, which is, um, directly behind the main lot. We’re talking a long minute to get to the lobby. Anyone who complains about the walk is lazy.
LOCATION: Big draw for me to be on the Coconut Coast, equidistant to points north and south. Kapaa is a very good base with several eateries, supermarkets, the two closest places the island has to nightlife, and so on. I was worried that the area would be too utilitarian (i.e. ugly), but that wasn’t the case at all.
On-​site is the Kilauea Fish Market, a must-​try, and Trees Lounge, which we missed out on. Coconut Marketplace, maybe 40 yards behind the Aston, is a sad shell of an outdoor mall in need of a buyer and some real rehab.
Overall, the location and the oceanfront view made it more than worthwhile for us, and we would return. I can’t understand why anyone would not recommend this Aston unless you want a true resort experience — we blew our savings on food instead.