What: When The St. Regis Princeville Resort opened in 2009 as the legendary brand’s first resort in Hawaii, the bar was set for a new standard of luxury on the Garden Isle. Located in the resort community of Princeville at Hanalei, this 251-room hotel on Kauai’s lush North Shore is terraced over several levels and extends all the amenities expected from a luxury island resort with four restaurants, including Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Kauai Grill, the serene 11,000-square-foot Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Halele’a Spa, and the St. Regis butler service, a treasured hallmark of the company for more than 100 years. Ocean View rooms and suites sport private balconies and lanais with unparalleled views of Kauai’s signature peak, Bali Hai (also known as Makana Mountain), and the Pacific. All rooms are swathed in a soothing palette of cream and crimson hues, and complete with the famously comfortable St. Regis beds. At sunset, guests at The St. Regis Bar enjoy its classic tradition — the art of champagne sabering on the bar terrace.
Where: Situated on a bluff on Kauai’s tropical North Shore, the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star resort offers postcard-worthy panoramas of the towering peaks of Hihimanu, Namolokama and Mamalahoa mountains, and the scenic Bali Hai of South Pacific fame. The 23 lush acres are speckled with candy-colored hibiscus and wispy palms, and lapped by the turquoise waters of Hanalei Bay. Five miles away is the charming town of Hanalei, with its casual surf shops and restaurants. Farther down the road is Kauai’s most famous hike, the Kalalau Trail, which leads fit adventurers to the stunning Na’ Pali coastline. The Prince Golf Course, named one of Hawaii’s best courses by Golf Digest, is located just 15 minutes from the resort.
When: The St. Regis Princeville Resort touts itself as a year-round destination; however, April and May are particularly beautiful, warm and less crowded than summertime, when temperatures can climb to the mid-80s and 90s. Fall months (specifically September and October) are milder and also not as crowded. Come holiday season, when northerners are trying to escape the snow, the resort is a warm oasis.
Why: This Kauai hotel is a lesson in relaxed luxury. With sweeping views of Hanalei Bay and Bali Hai, the scented trade winds, and top-of-the-line service, The St. Regis Princeville Resort sets the stage for a tropical dream vacation — it’s no wonder nearly 300 brides a year choose it for their storybook day. Walk the crescent-shaped beach at sunset or swim, snorkel, sunbathe or surf in the crystalline waters. Or if you just want to relax, enjoy a massage in a beachside cabana. Be sure to savor the sophisticated island cuisine at Kauai Grill, where chef de cuisine Maxime Michaud creates Vongerichten-inspired menus with about 80 percent of the ingredients grown on Kauai and other Hawaiian islands. Halele’a Spa is food for your body and soul, with top-notch treatments and relaxation rooms stocked with coconut-infused tea in a setting accented with Hawaiian woods and palm wood floors. An infinity-edge pool is situated close to the beach, where water activities — from stand-up paddle boarding to surfing, kayaking and snorkeling — beckon.
Photos Courtesy of Starwood Hotels And Resorts Worldwide Inc
