More about ResortQuest Islander on the Beach
Fantastic value on Kaua'i
by GlobalMatt about ResortQuest Islander on the Beach
This property is a fantastic value for what you get. It is also in a perfect location to make your base while exploring Kaua'i. The rooms are decent-sized, clean, & efficient. I highly recommend spending the small difference for an oceanfront room. The views are spectacular, especially in the morning during sunrise. The rooms feature 2 double beds or one queen. You get a small sink, coffee maker, small fridge, microwave, & 27'' TV w/satellite. The oceanfront rooms all have a nice sized lanai with a table and two chairs. The staff here is very nice. The grounds are basic and the pool is very small. But, think about it...you're in Hawaii!! Go in the ocean and enjoy the BIG pool!! Also, the hotel is located right next to the Coconut Marketplace. Here, you'll find many shops & restaurants at your disposal. The beach is very pretty here...but not swimmable.
Plantation Resort
by Phalaenopsis03 about Aston Islander on the Beach
UNDER CONSTRUCTION ~ Oceanfront
~ FREE Parking
~ In-room high speed internet access available (fees apply)
~ Across from Coconut Marketplace (offering shopping and dining opps)
centrally located and peaceful
by mindcrime about ASTON ISLANDER ON THE BEACH
I usually don’t give much attention to the hotels, I just want a good location and usually on budget side. This time we wanted to be near the sea for sure and kind away from towns with busy streets etc. Aston Islander (formerly Resort Quest) was ideal for us because we payed $100 per night and worth every dollar we gave.
It is a 3 star resort which is set parallel to the ocean (pic 1) near the airport (10’ by car) with huge quite rooms, most of them looking at the ocean or at the beautiful garden or pool. The whole are is very nice with many pineapples here and there, a lot of green spaces between the buildings of the hotel etc All the building have names of Hawaiian islands (we stayed at Moloka’i!) and none of them is higher than two stories (forget the ugly huge hotels in Waikiki). There are about 200 rooms.
The room was very big with 2(!) twin beds (pic 2), fridge, microwave, safe, TV and coffee maker (one free coffee per day). We also had a nice balcony where you could stay at the evening and listen only to the waves from the ocean. No luxury really but the bathroom was very big too with many towels (they change them every day), huge mirror and free small nice soaps and shampoo.
There was an internet cable in the room (with charge) but also free wifi at the lobby (where there is a big area to choose or stay out at the veranda that looks toward the pool in the garden) (pic 3). The parking was for free too although we didn’t like the idea of signing a paper that says we are responsible for it! That wasn’t the only paper we singed though, the weirdest one was the one that was about the swimming at the sea that we are responsible for any accident because of the big waves, the sharks and other things like that! :) The beach isn’t the best in the island for swimming because of the rocks in some parts (pic 4) although there is sand in most of it (pic 5) where you can relax and sunbath…
The check in time is at 15.00 but we didn’t have any problem to get in at 11.00. The stuff at the reception are friendly and helpful. There is a small tour office at the lobby where you can book tours (we booked are helicopter tour there). The hotel is an peaceful area but there is the Coconut Marketplace across the street so there you can find many shopping stores and some dining options.
Mildew problem in our room, also roaches
by A TripAdvisor Member
The intense mildew smell, (and also, the giant cockroaches,) made the Aston Islander on the Beach a truly unforgettable experience for us. We arrived on or about June 6, 2003. We were assigned to room 104, I believe. Near front desk, on the ground floor, the other rooms in that wing all being used as offices. Upon opening the door to our room, we were just appalled by the mildew smell. Just really intense, an overwhelming mildew odor. There is no way the hotel would not know about this; any one entering, staff, visitor, outside repair person, whatever, could not help but notice this persistent and intense odor.
Having read other reviews of this hotel, which mentioned mildew problems, and resultant room changes and room upgrades, we decided to just stick it out; we are cheap, and not rich, and we did not want to pay for a "better" room. In other words, we felt this mildew problem was allowed to fester, unchecked, in this room, on purpose. Because any one checking in to this room would go running to the desk saying "There is a bad mildew problem in 104!!" And then they would no doubt be offered a different room, if the guest was willing to pay the upgrade.
At least, that was what we were afraid of; we felt like we were being ripped off, and we did not want to "give in" to what we perceived as a rip-off.
What else was wrong with our room at the Aston Islander on the Beach?
Well, the king-size bed was as hard as a rock. True, the horrific mildew odor got a little better as the week wore on, gradually, but only because we turned off the air conditioner at night and left the sliding glass door open while we slept! The light fixture on the ceiling above the bed was an industrial-type fluorescent installation with exposed piping and junction box. And best of all, there were giant cockroaches that ran and hid under the bed!
I am not making any of this up. But hey, the maid service was fine, hotel in general seemed normal, looked clean, well-staffed, and we loved the little tiny patio and the birds and lizards who visited us while we ate breakfast. Room had a little fridge, that was nice, and the air conditioner worked well; so it could have been worse.
This was our first ever trip to Hawai'i, and wow, we just loved Kaua'i, just loved it, can't wait to go back. But we won't stay at the Aston Islander on the Beach again!
Excellent for the price
by A TripAdvisor Member
We booked the Islander on the Beach because of the price (you can't beat it - especially for the cost of 10 nights!), and the fact that it's right on a lovely beach, in addition to having a refrigerator for that great price under $100/night. We were not dissapointed. I thought it was very quaint and a fun place to stay. It's located in Kapa'a where all the "action" is on Kaua'i, and where we got to everything so quickly.
The room smelled a little mildewey when we first opened it, but after running the excellent (new and great quality) air conditioner for a half hour or so, it was fantastic. No humid feel or smell. We stayed in room 134, where the fixtures were fine and the bed was on the firm side, but not too bad. I've slept on harder beds in other hotels. The refrigerator really came in handy for cokes, freezing our water bottles, and other snacks.
I previously lived on Oahu for 12 years. Bugs are prevalent on the islands, so we knew not to leave food out. When we lived in Hawaii, we even put our flour and pancake mix in the refrigerator. Come to think of it, in our hotel room we did have potato chips in opened bags, but no ants or other live bugs (we saw a large dead cockaroach in our room one a.m. Not sure how it died - maybe they sprayed for bugs earlier and it finally kicked the bucket). We had a cute tiny gecko in our room that we saw every day. Geckos eat bugs, and they're good luck.
All in all, it was a great time at the Aston Islander. We spent so much time out and about at so many fantastic sights and restaurants, that we weren't at the hotel too much anyway. We never had time to go in the pool, but it looked like fun. (Who wants to go in the pool when you've got the ocean?). The beach there is deserted, and it's a nice walk up and down the path behind all the hotels.
My husband doesn't really want to stay at the Aston again only because it's not "fancy," but our checkbook will determine where we book a hotel the next time we vacation in romantic and fabulous Kaua'i. It could be at the Aston Islander on the Beach.
Loved it!!!!!
by TripAdvisor Member traveljunkieHI
I've stayed at the Islander on the Beach twice in the past two years. I highly recommend it. Comfortable, affordable and a great view. If you're looking for somewhere clean, comfortable and relaxing, this is the place for you.
Long in the tooth, but a great location.
by TripAdvisor Member travellin_lady
This is an older property and it's showing its age. This place could really use a facelift; new paint, new carpets and fixtures, etc. We had a horde of small ants in the room which made fixing snacks a real challenge. When you have a fridge and microwave in the room, presumably it's there to be used, right ? Well, the ants would completely swarm any food left out, even for a few seconds. We had the oceanfront room on the top floor. The view was magnificent, but I would have thought that the oceanfront rooms would be larger....not so.The bathroom was very tiny.On the plus side, this hotel probably has the best location of all the surrounding hotels...right on the beach. The ocean and beach are hard to beat. The snorkelling right in front was better than expected..we saw tons of fish and a sea turtle.Parking is free and the Coconut Marketplace is right in front, so finding restaurants and shops is not a problem.All in all, decent value, but I would not return.
Wonderful and private!
by A TripAdvisor Member
We were very pleased with the accomadations. Before leaving in July/03 we had read the negative comments about this hotel and I was pleasantly suprised with our room. There was no mildew nor ants everything was very clean. I do not know of anywhere that you can get an oceanview hotel room for $100.00 US per night with full breakfast, microwave, fridge, coffee maker, pool, private beach! The shower in the bathroom is small, however that is a small price to pay for the views and privacy. What more can one want? We will definately stay there again.
Photos
Aston Islander's beach
Aston Islander's beach
Aston Islander on The Beach hotel
the room of Aston Islander
Forum Posts
Resort Quest Islander on the Beach (formerly Aston)
by delnero80
Is anyone familiar with this hotel ResortQuest Islander on the Beach (formerly Aston)? Is it far from everything? Do you know what is close to it as far as restaurants go or things to do? Is there a better side of the island to be on?
Thanks!
RE: Resort Quest Islander on the Beach (formerly Aston)
by travelgourmet
Aloha. The resort is located in Kapaa which is between Hanalei (wet side) and Poipu (dry side) in the Coconut Plantation area. Close to the shopping and dining area of this region with Caffe Coco in Wailua, next door to Kapaa, a warm and charming restaurant, gourmet style with resonable prices. The top rated A Pacific Cafe Kauai in Kapaa,has pacific rim dishes. In Hanalei, the Hanalei Mixed Plate has lunch foods and Hawaiian style mixed plate dishes. Poipo has the best beaches for warmth and sand, in my opinion, with Brennecke's Restaurant having great seafood. The Waimea Canyon is a must see on this side of the Island. There are no better sides of the Island, only weather changes. Hanalei bay is a must see, as is the Wailua river and the Fern Grotto, although very touristy, it is a beautiful area. Many things to see and do, depending on your likes. Poipu side for the Spouting Horn, in Kukuiula Bay, is one of my favorites as to the Hawaiian lore and the beauty of the geyser. Aloha oe
RE: RE: Resort Quest Islander on the Beach (formerly Aston)
by delnero80
Thanks for the info! Do you know if poke is served at any of those restaurants?
Thanks again!
RE: RE: Resort Quest Islander on the Beach (formerly Aston)
by travelgourmet
Most Hawaiian style restaurants have poke on the menu, but in Kapaa there is Pono Market that makes fresh poke and has mixed plate dishes. Aloha
RE: RE: Resort Quest Islander on the Beach (formerly Aston)
by YVRDave
I'm not sure if it is still there but, The Ono Family restaurany is very close as well as Perry's Smorgasbord next door
RE: RE: Resort Quest Islander on the Beach (formerly Aston)
by delnero80
So what is the best area of the island to stay? We are looking to relax on the beach, and see the beautiful surroundings, but I think we would like to be closer to a good beach. Thanks for the advice on the poke!
RE: RE: Resort Quest Islander on the Beach (formerly Aston)
by travelgourmet
Poipu Beach has been rated #1.
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