Kauai Exclusive Management Property Reviews

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Gary s G.

The house was as expected: right on the waterfront, clean, well furnished and maintained. The management company also earned kudos for handling two glitches quickly and satisfactorily: an error in the access code and misinformation about Wifi access code.

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absolutely loved this place for my family! we spent a week here and can't wait to come back. We were debating between a resort and this house and couldn't have been happier.

pros.
1) great house. great amenities
2) large size for lots of people
3) ocean front and u can hear the crashing waves
4) full kitchen so you can't eat make your own breakfast in the morning
5) came with a BBQ gas and we thru some steaks on the grill!

cons
1) it may be a bit away from everything, but i think thats' why you went to hawaii right? not to be 10 feet away from the next person
2) the beach in the backyard is definitely fun during low tide. During high tide the beach disappears , which is fine with us because the crashing waves and view was awesome

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Right on the water, with easy access to beach. Plenty of space with full kitchen.

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Karl T.

We had a great stay at the Dolphin Cottage. Easy check-in, and found the house clean and a great location for our family. Centrally located to all the shops, food, and Hanalei bay. We were able to put our paddle boards in the river and go into the bay almost everyday. We had a great time and have already told family about the place. Thanks, Karl

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Corey P.

My wife and I returned to Kauai for our 3rd trip in January 2018 and we stayed at the Dolphin Cottage #2 for a week. I cannot say enough positive things about this cottage. Good space, airy, sort of rustic with the wooden window slats but to me that adds to the charm of the cottage. It is so peaceful having coffee out front in the morning and looking at the mountains or sitting by the river in the afternoon and watching the paddlers go by. We loved every moment here and I know we will be back in the future.

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Meagan W.

My mother and I came to Kauai for some relaxing quality time and that is exactly what we got at the Dolphin Cottage. It was perfect. Beautiful location centrally located within walking distance to all Hanalei has to offer. The beach was a super short drive but definitely within walking distance as well, as long as you didn't have too much loot or heavy ice chests. The cottage had everything we needed at our disposal. It was clean and I must say had the most comfortable sheets I've ever slept in. The bed overlooking the river was spectacular, rain or moon shine. The only very small detail that was just shy of a 10 rating was the lack of water pressure in the shower and the noise from the restaurant in the somewhat early morning (which can't be helped and we weren't looking to sleep the day away anyway). We are definitely planning on bringing the whole family back as soon as we can!! Super great place to stay!!!

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Jennifer P.

Such a relaxed holiday in Hanalei. The location is excellent for paddlers. I was able to safely leave my paddleboard on the grassy area near the river for the week. The only suggestion I would make is that proper sun blocking blinds or curtains would make the bedrooms cooler.

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Great location- so nice to be able to walk to the beach and restaurants. Great to be able to cook, bbq, shower outside, do laundry etc. Being on the river is very peaceful. Not all the houses have boggie boards... would be nice to have lounge chairs besides the dining table and chairs outside. Otherwise very pleasant clean place to stay- I highly recommend it!

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Monique D.

We had a wonderful vacation joining family from around the globe and renting a couple cottages. Loved how close it is to the village and it is fun to people watch as they float by on kayak and SUP. Place was very functional and convenient in every way. We will be back again for sure.

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The dolphin was a great place to stay. Walking distance to town. Plenty of space and amenities

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Jennifer T.

My husband and I enjoyed our stay at the Dolphin Cottage. The accommodations were perfectly located with a fun view of the Hanalei River. We loved watching the kayakers and the paddleboarders going
going down the river. We enjoyed walking into Hanalei to enjoy the shops and restaurants. The gorgeous Hanalei Bay was a 10 minute walk . Our stay was in July and temps were hot, so without central airconditionimg the cottage did get very hot and stuffy. We would stay again but probably in cooler
months.

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We all enjoyed our stay at the Dolphin Cottage # 2 over the July 4th holiday. Michael was very helpful, he was able to place our groceries in the refrigerator prior to the check in time as we were coming from an earlier stay in Lihue.

I noticed the fan that was in the porch/dining area was no longer there and asked about it. Michael said that he had to move it to another unit whose fan had failed prior to our arrival and that he would give us one to use until the new ones on order arrived. It did arrive the next day and was much appreciated. It's too muggy otherwise to sit out there at the dining table.

A couple of things that would improve the stay: we only had one dishtowel and it would be helpful to have at least 2 or maybe even three. While it says that we can have 4 guests there, there are only 3 knifes in the silverware drawer. It needs to have more silverware. Some type of plastic bowl for the ice cubes would be helpful for the freezer and some small storage bowls would be good, too. The kitchen really is under supplied and could use more general use items, but the toaster and blender and cutting board are helpful.

Finally, the fabric on the couch and chairs is faded and tired and one chair is also stained. Maybe it's time for a revamp.

Overall, the location and beauty of this place is fantastic and we very much enjoyed our stay. Thank YOU for asking and I do look forward to another stay in the future.

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Susannah P.

We loved, loved, loved this cottage. Truly a dream come true to stay right in the lovely town of Hanalei in this cottage, with a river right outside the house. So peaceful and beautiful! The cottage was perfect. Plenty of room for our family of three with everything we needed, comfortably furnished and adorable. The property manager, Michael, was super helpful as well. We hope to come back to this wonderful place and had the most wonderful time there.

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Our stay at the Dolphin Cottages was magical. Everything we needed, very comfortable, and lots of aloha spirit. We couldn't have asked for more except maybe another week! Mahalo Hanalei!

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Peter B.

Our first week on the Island of Kauai was spectacular and our accommodations were the perfect fit!

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Kevin G.

We enjoyed staying here. The place is charming with a great view of the river. All the basic necessities are here. The only drawbacks: one of the bed mattresses is too worn out and squishy, you can hear your neighboring cottage really well so better hope they are not loud and insensitive like ours were. The property manager is super nice and responsive!

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Paul E.

Great location in the small town of Hanalei, 10 minutes walk from the beach, accommodations were comfortable and clean. Full size kitchen and dining. Well equipped for a great vacation.

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Great location to walk to town, launch your kayak and/or paddleboards in the Hanalei River.

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john k.

Met our expectations

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Richard M.

Cottage is very nice and on the very beautiful Hanalei River. All was great for us except rug was dirty and pillows eeded washing. On the good side, everything else was clean and nice.

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Michelle B.

Fantastic location and a well equipped cottage with all beach and kitchen amenities made our stay great and we look forward to coming back.

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Katrina K.

We had a fabulous time staying at the Dolphin Cottages ion the Hanalei River. They are charming and well located.

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Very nice and convenient access to the area.

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Paymon P.

The house was clean, comfortable beds and perfectly located. I would come back to the Dolphin Cottages again and again.

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We love these cottages. We have stayed a number of times over the past 10 years. It is our go-to place. We love the outdoor showers - ahhhh just thinking about them. Washer/dryer access is key. We also love the access to the river and the ability to store the paddle boards or kayaks on site. No car carrying!

The cottage provides everything you need. I forgot there was no coffee grinder but the property manager lent us his and said they were going to furnish all the cottages based on our request. How great is that!? Speaking of the property manager, he was awesome and responsive.

I would absolutely recommend these cottages. We will be back!

Two minor comments:
1. The beds are fine but the couches and chairs are uncomfortable.
2. We stayed for 2 weeks. We would request a cleaning after 1 week.

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Mike S.

Amazing experience all around - location, comfort, cleanliness, outdoor shower, service, etc.

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Jason H.

We all thought it was a great stay. We loved everything about it. Location is perfect too. I have no complaints and plan on definitely staying again in the future.

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Doug J.

Everything was as smooth as could be. Excellent location, property and great service from the agent

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Wendy F.

Super place in Hanalei - walk every where

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We loved staying at the Dolphin Cottages! The location was so convenient for hanging out in Hanalei, going to the beach, and kayaking on the river.

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Brian M.

The place was great. It had soap & shampoo for both showers as well as insect repellent & sun screen. Would definitely stay there again & highly recommend.

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Susan F.

We had an interesting experience while in Kauai. It rained buckets for two days straight and the bridge in and out of town was closed for a day, and Hanalei lost power. But I was really happy that the management company called me to check in when this happened and let me know they were there in case we needed anything. We were able to talk with them about the bridge (we got stuck on the wrong side of it) and they were helpful. So that is huge in my mind. You want it to be nice whenever things go well, which it was, but also when things don't go as planned. I would definitely stay there again. I loved the new outdoor shower and inside by the river was a good place to watch it rain. :)

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The location for this cottage was perfect. We didn't have a car and walked everywhere. The cottage was clean, organized, and had a sweet, comfortable atmosphere for relaxing. We were able to walk to beach, run, SUP, and enjoy the quiet and relaxed town of Hanalei.

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Hayden C.

I can't even begin to describe what a blessed Dolphin Cottage # 4 was to our trip to Kauai. I have never felt so cozy and so at home on a vacation. My boyfriend who had never been to Hawaii, felt like he truly got the "local" experience staying in the cottage being walking distance to so many spots. It was clean and could not have been decorated more perfect. I miss our home away from home and am already planning my next visit!

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The best aspect of this rental cottage is the location: you can't beat walking to restaurants, cafes, shopping, Hanalei Bay, etc. from the house. And the proximity to kayak rentals was also great. It was great to be in the more laid-back Hanalei.

Our primary issue with the property was the relative comfort for our family of four. There was no main table of any kind and we had been expecting a table at which we could enjoy meals as a family, play games, talk. There is seating along the window, but it is side-by-side. Also, we didn't find the living room a very comfortable place in which to relax. The number and types of furniture items didn't really accommodate our family of two parents and two older teens.

This cottage would be a great rental for a couple.

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Dan V.

Our stay at the Dolphin Cottage was exceptional to say the least. We couldn't have asked for a better place to stay in Kauai and the management staff was very service oriented. The cottage sat right on the river which gave relaxing and enjoyable sites to our days. We would HIGHLY recommend staying here if ever in Kauai.

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Matthew O.

My wife and I stayed here for our 15 year anniversary. It was perfect. We will definetly book again, next time with the kids. The property is awesome, with plenty of room for a family or another couple. Hanalei is amazing and Kauai is the best! The most stunning views, laid back atmosphere, and the cheapest rental cars on the island chain. Don't worry about the rain on this side of the island. Learn to love and appreciate the beauty it creates. For a little more sunshine, just drive a few min south to any one of the awesome beaches in the area. But without question, stay in Hanalei!

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Katherine E.

We couldn't have been happier with our rental experience in Cottage IV. It was everything we had hoped for and more!

If you are an experienced traveler and are looking for something outside of the normal hotel or condo... This is your place. The atmosphere and the surroundings were just amazing!

We will DEFINITELY be returning and recommending to anyone who asks! Hopefully a group trip, renting multiple cottages, is in our future!

Mahalo!

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Laura B.

8 of us traveled together and stayed in cabins 4 &5. We had an amazing time, cooking, laughing, enjoying the river and the ocean!! We rented a Kayak and SUP's, and paddled up river or out to the ocean everyday. Our next trip is already in the works!!!

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Pat d.

My husband and I stay every year at this wonderful cottage on the Hanalei River. We look forward to returning to this spotlessly clean and well kept up cottage in the interesting village of Hanalei. There are so many beautiful beaches for walking and a safe and lovely Anini Beach for swimming. You can rent kayaks at the business next door and paddle down to the mouth of the river and Hanalei beach. The setting is perfect--the stunning mountains on one side and the river on the other.

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Linda & Jack N.

We loved our stay in cottages 2, 3 and 5. We were married on the lawn next to #5 and our family joined us to celebrate our big event. A few days later we were evacuated for several hours due to a flash flood! Two magical weeks with much excitement!
Michael was amazing during the flood, helping us get our car to a safe place and helping get us moved to another cottage until it was safe to return to #5.

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We caught the random week of high temperatures and no trades so it was not the Kauai climate that is usual. As a consequence the place was brutally hot even with available fans trying their best. The only other thing was the regular traffic across the lawn as we were taking outdoor showers, I guess other cabin guests taking their water boards to a put in. Kinda dents the privacy factor. I'd say wind turbine vents in roof should be installed. All other aspects were just fine and we jumped on Kauai bus to cool down in afternoons.

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Karin R.

We had the most amazing honeymoon in Dolphin Cottage #5. The location was perfect - a beautiful setting right on the river, an easy walk to Hanalei town and gorgeous Hanalei Bay, and it somehow still felt completely private. The house was spotless, the kitchen was well stocked, and the management was friendly and helpful. We enjoyed stargazing each night on lawn chairs out back. We can't imagine coming back and staying anywhere else.

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Vince I.

Wonderful!!! Perfect place to enjoy being together yet each family had their own accommodations. The location is truly remarkable...private yet located walking distance to the town of Hanalei on the Hanalei river. A special place❤️To stay in Hawaii.....

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Sue B.

We look back very fondly of our days at the cabin and wished we had booked longer. Maybe next time... We loved having breakfast on the lanai and watched the paddle boarders, kayakers and canoes go up and down the river. We found it so easy to rent a kayak practically next door and paddle our way to the bay. We are senior citizens but it was not difficult at all especially since the rental place had slides that slipped you directly into the river. No tippy boats! Dinner at the Dolphin restaurant was also delightful and easy walking distance. So all in all, it was a very restful and serene spot. Bed was comfy, kitchen clean and extra outdoor shower provided a bit of novelty! Washer and dryer also came in handy.

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Absolutely a great little house, quiet, peaceful, short walk to town, right on the river.

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Joan C.

This wonderful cottage is a great base for a perfect vacation! It is very roomy, has all the modern conveniences with a relaxed, Hawaiian flare. One of the best features is the private outdoor shower. I never use the indoor shower. It is so magical to shower with a view of the mountains and waterfalls! A short walk away is the best fish restaurant and market on the island. Stroll a little farther for shopping in Hanalei! The farmers market on Saturday mornings provides access to the island bounty!

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Erin W.

We had such a great time staying at the cottage. The property is immaculate and adorable!Cottage number 5 is in a fantastic location. We rented a Kayak for the week and were able to keep it at the cottage and launch from the yard! The cottage has a great little sleeping porch and we slept there and did some star gazing. From our vantage point we could watch early morning kayakers and enjoy the birds. The management company was so responsive and helpful and the caretaker checked in on us following some extremely heavy rains. When the road closed due to flooding on the day we were scheduled to depart, we for a call to let us know that we were welcome to stay until the road cleared

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Rob W.

We had a great stay at the Dolphin cottages. The on-site staff were welcoming and friendly, couldn't ask for a better location, well-equipped kitchen, and just a stunning location. We hope to come back and share with family and friends!

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Wayne S.

It was one of the best places we have ever rented.The place was clean quiet beautiful location.Micheal was very friendly.Hanalei was a great little town.We had no problems and would rent again.Unit 5 was awesome??????