Sheraton Kauai Resort

Stretching its 20 acres over both sides of Hoonani Road, the 394-room, family-friendly Sheraton Kauai Resort boasts a long, sandy stretch of beach that's big enough for aggressive surfers and little kids, a weekly sunset luau, and functional rooms with private balconies. Think of this as the cheaper Grand Hyatt: fewer restaurants, pools, and amenities -- but with a better beach -- at much more affordable rates.

The Sheraton offers all the extra services one expects from a mega-resort: porters, poolside drink service, and separate concierge and activities desks -- but room-service hours are limited. Like most Hawaii resorts there's a daily resort fee, but you get a lot for it: use of the tennis courts with free equipment rental, in-room Wi-Fi, activities like daily morning yoga by the ocean and tide-pool exploration, and arts and crafts. (By contrast, some resorts charge a resort fee plus an extra daily fee for internet.) For the Sheraton's low price, you'd be hard-pressed to find this many features elsewhere in Poipu.

The Sheraton Kauai is in Poipu, the south shore development that's one of Kauai's biggest resort areas. The town is known for its consistently sunny weather (versus the rainy north shore), picturesque, treelined streets -- and constant construction as developers add more condominiums and hotels to these former sugarcane fields. Located on Poipu Road, the town's main strip flanked by resorts on one side and the Poipu shopping mall on the other, the Sheraton is sandwiched roughly in between Kiahuna Plantation and Whalers Cove.

• On family-friendly Kiahuna beach, which has clear water perfect for snorkeling and gentle waves for surfing lessons
• Minutes away from Waiohai Beach, where more experienced surfers can find larger waves
• Near Poipu Shopping Village, with both affordable restaurants and fine dining
• Five-minute drive from Spouting Horn, a lava rock formation that shoots water 50 feet into the air
• Five-minute drive from highly regarded Kiahuna Golf Club and Poipu Bay Golf Course
• 30-minute drive from Lihue Airport, Kauai's main airport
• Two hours from the scenic, undeveloped Na Pali Coast on the north shore, popular for hiking and kayaking

The 394 rooms stop short of what you'd find at the more luxurious Grand Hyatt or Koa Kea. And, unlike those competitors, the Sheraton's layout is fairly awkward: Its 20 acres are split up into three different wings (Garden, Ocean, and Beach) with a road separating the Garden Wing from the rest of the property. Garden-view rooms are 410 square feet; oceanfront rooms are 510 square feet (smaller than the Grand Hyatt, but about on par with the standard rooms at Kauai Marriott and Hilton Kauai). Rooms in the Beach Wing look onto the main pool and the beach; those in the Ocean Wing look onto the Pacific only. Deluxe oceanfront rooms in the Beach and Ocean wings offer the best views. Partial ocean-view rooms are not always worth it -- you might get a view of mostly parking lot.

Aside from a few slatted doors and pieces of wicker furniture, the rooms feel curiously unbeachy: butter-colored walls, tan square-patterned carpetings, staid and mismatched furniture. All rooms come with private lanais (balconies) with patio chairs and table, mini-fridges, flat-screen TVs, ironing equipment, safes, coffeemakers, and half-canopy or four-poster beds. As is standard, cribs are free, and rollaways cost extra. Families could consider booking side-by-side Ocean Wing rooms, which have a shared entryway.

The main pool (with two shallow sections and an adjacent whirlpool separated by fake rocks) is smaller than the ones found at competing nearby resorts, and is often swarming with children, but it is about 150 feet from the ocean. The surrounding stone patio offers plenty of chairs, hula umbrellas, and bungalows with couches. Hotel staff often wanders around, offering free water and ice pops. Guests don't even have to get up to request Bloody Mary's and coconut shrimp from Lava's, the poolside bar and grill -- they can place orders from their phone (but have to pay in person). The hotel’s other restaurant, RumFire, also overlooks the water, but is more upscale, offering a seafood-focused menu that includes Hawaiian paella and seared ahi tuna. A weekly sunset luau is alongside the beach -- not directly on it. The resort also offers a daily mai tai happy hour with live entertainment and Hawaii-themed activities (hula dance, intro to surfing, ukelele and lei-making lessons).

Sheraton Kauai shares the family-friendly, very swimmable Kiahuna Beach with two other vacation properties: Koa Kea and Kiahuna Plantation (run by Outrigger and Castle). Beachgoers (predominately resort guests) take surf lessons in the gentle waves, play in the sand, and snorkel in the clear water. Sheraton Kauai's water-sports desk has basic snorkeling gear, boogie boards, and beach chair rentals. Note that there are no umbrella rentals (but beach cabanas are available for a fee), and the beach is slightly rocky, so beach shoes might be advisable.

The fitness center has nearly 20 cardio machines (bikes, treadmills, and ellipticals), most with individual TVs. Other gym perks: iFit equipment, ocean views, and round-the-clock hours of operation. There are also tennis courts with free equipment rental and a ballroom for wedding receptions. A free 24-hour business center has five computers, two printers, and a sitting area with a huge flat-screen TV. Guest laundry facilities require a small fee for each wash or dry cycle. Two 18-hole golf courses (both designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr.) are within a five-minute drive. The Sheraton offers ready access to the two well-regarded courses.