Kauai Exclusive Management Property Reviews

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This slightly quirky little house is beautifully positioned for a relaxing stay. It was particularly ideal for one member of our party who is required by medications to avoid over-exposure to the sun. Being able to sit in the shade on the sofa, with the screen doors covering half the front wall letting in the ocean breeze and the sound of the waves, was perfection!
No easy way to get to beach from front of house, but can walk back down road a little bit to access beach. Grill in garage was ready to use and worked great. Nice to be able to get quick and friendly help from management company when we had a problem with a smoke alarm's low battery alert.

Groceries in Kapa'a: very good natural foods store Hoku; plus mundane supplies from Big Save and Safeway.
Great coffee drinks in Kapa'a at Java Kai.
Fine dining in Kapa'a at Jo2 (better food than the St Regis!)
Also good in Kapa'a: Coconut's Fish Cafe; Nom Kauai.

Very pleased with helicopter tour from Blue Hawaiian.

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Highly recommend

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Alexandra (Sasha) C.

Superb location, amenities, cleanliness. House was gorgeous, spacious, we all LOVED it. AC in the bedrooms was great. Communication with company was very good, our front door keypad battery died and they sent a locksmith immediately, no issues.
Would definitely stay again, thank you !!!

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Armand H.

From the moment you open the door till you close the door for the last time you are staying in a truly magical place where time slips away at a pace ever so leisurely. Slightly off the beaten track the house provides all that is needed for your vacation. Should you need something at the house or have any questions you can reach the concierge desk via a phone app. It is provided after your booking is accepted. The folks at the concierge desk are quite knowledgeable and extraordinarily helpful.

The house provides stunning views of the ocean and surrounding beaches. Every morning offers a plethora of peace and tranquility accompanying the sunrise. The trade winds cool the house throughout the day.

The house located a mile off the road in a very quiet area. We found the location to be sufficiently close to everything we wanted to see or experience.

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Christy G.

Great location along east coast with easy access to north and south of island. Very nice layout to the house, very clean with all the necessary creature comforts.

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Sheri L.

Awesome views and very clean. The beds were comfortable. Only complaint which wasn’t a huge deal is there are no window treatments in the downstairs bedroom. Other than that our stay was one of the best we have had, and did not want to leave.

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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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chester a.

The Dolphin Cottages are perfect in every way...from sitting outside by the river and watching the kayakers paddle by to sleeping on the porch with the sea breeze wafting through, it is paradise here - private, quiet and very restorative.

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We had a great time at the Dolphin Cottage #2. The location cannot be beat and the cottage is fully stocked with towels and kitchen supplies.

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Jessica V.

We had a great stay. It was very accessible to the very sweet town of Hanalei.

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Victor A.

A nice and convenient place to stay. Close to Hanalei town. We were able to pretty much walk everywhere. Nice evenings by the river.

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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
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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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John A.

I have stayed there before and will probably stay there again. This time though I wish there wasn't all the construction noise from the cottages next door, especially the music from the workers.

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Jacqueline M.

We really enjoyed staying at Dolphin Cottage - it was great to be able to walk into town, and the setting is lovely and relaxing. Downsides were the noise from construction at Cottage #4 and the noise of restaurant staff leaving when they finished their shift but overall, I would thoroughly recommend it!

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Brendan H.

We stayed here for 8 days for our Honeymoon. I was very homey and had everything we needed during our week's excursions. The washer/dryer and the hose came in clutch after long hiking trips (very muddy trails). It has a grill which we took advantage of. The outdoor shower was perfect after a day at the beach. It had big windows, we looked out over the river and watched the kayakers go by. It was clean and had plenty of towels (bath and beach).

Mike G. was the attendant at the property. He was sweet, welcoming, and very knowledgeable about the island. He gave us great suggestions when it came to beach locations and dinner options.

Hanalei Bay is a great location to stay. We could walk to dinner from our cottage. Staying here at the cottage was by far a much better choice than any hotel/resort for a true Kauai experience.

We highly recommend Dolphin Cottages. We will be returning in the future!
--The Halligans

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Maxine D.

Had a great time on the river.

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Scott N.

The cottage was nice place for my wife and I to stay in Hanalei. Probably would be a little tight for 4 adults but 2 adults and children would be fine sharing the 2 bed 1 bath. Could hear plenty of traffic on the main road during the day but at night was fine. Biggest complaint was sound of renovations being done next door. The sound of power tools throughout the day was not at all pleasant. Easy walk to restaurants in Hanalei.

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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.