My grandfather lived by the motto “Invest your money in memories and not mansions.” He was famous for his last-minute road trips to surprise our family, who lived out of state. “I just happened to be in the neighborhood,” he’d say.
My husband and I have eagerly adopted this same life motto. Whenever the question of a material purchase is presented, it always comes back to—will this object or experience create lasting memories for our family? If you’re like me, some of your most vivid memories are of family vacations.
This summer we took a vacation that created memories we will cherish forever, literally. I want to share with you where we stayed, why it is the best family-friendly resort we have ever stayed at, and how you can take your family to see this gem—especially if you want to stretch your dollar.
The Koloa Landing Resort in Kauai, Hawaii is the perfect paradise to call home as you explore this little piece of heaven on earth.
Here is what my family loved about the villa we stayed in:
The villa is a huge suite of rooms (we were in a two-bedroom) with floor to ceiling glass doors in the living room that leads out to a spacious patio. While my 1-year-old took naps, I stretched out on the lounge chairs on our balcony reading and napping—not missing a minute of sunshine and those warm trade winds. Each villa has a view of the meticulously manicured resort, the ocean, or both.
One way to save money on vacation is to prepare your own meals. If you’re like our family, we get tired of eating out for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for seven days. The kitchen is fully stocked. I used their online concierge to purchase local groceries that were organized in our kitchen before we arrived. Those banana/macadamia nut pancakes with coconut syrup and fresh mango for breakfast was the perfect way to start the day. There is a market right at the resort and we found their prices to be in line with other grocery stores on the island.
The bedrooms have blackout curtains, which are very helpful if you are adjusting to Hawaii time zone. The beds are incredibly comfortable and possibly magic! Magic, because my husband didn’t snore one night of our entire trip. I really miss that mattress.
The villas seem to be soundproof. I couldn’t hear my neighbors . . . ever. I was never prematurely awakened by housekeeping or garden maintenance going on outside.
I loved having a washer/dryer unit to wash our sandy clothes and wet swimsuits. There is also a huge storage closet where we kept the stroller, snorkel gear, and beach toys.
Here are some of our favorite family memories that can be your family’s memories as well!
Ordering shaved ice, tropical fruit, and french fries while laying out listening to Hawaiian music at the biggest and most beautiful pool I have ever seen. (It runs the length of the resort!)
Taking turns on the twisting waterslides.
Watching my 1-year-old squeal as he splashed in the baby lagoon and explored a splash pad for the first time.
Entering the main pool’s waterfall grotto and catching the sunbeams and rainbows that stream in.
Making s’mores and visiting with families from all over the world at the resort bonfire.
Snuggling on a couch together under the stars watching a movie hosted by the resort.
Using their helpful concierge to book a helicopter tour of the island that literally brought me to tears. I have never seen nature so majestic and beautiful in my life!
Dining at the Holoholo Grill (on site) several times. It is run by celebrity chef Sam Choy. My boys highly recommend the chicken bites. We also loved their assortment of burgers and salads. Personally, I loved their fresh fish tacos.
We were so grateful for the activity hut where we could rent beach umbrellas and chairs, boogie boards and snorkel gear for the week at a reasonable rate. You do not want to go to the beach without all of the gear listed. There are either waves to catch or fish to see in every bay on the island.
The ocean is just steps from the resort. We walked down to the ocean several times to visit the big family of huge sea turtles. So unforgettable!
A darling shopping village is just a short walk from the property. Beautiful roosters serenaded us all the way to Uncle’s Shaved Ice, Lappert’s Icecream, and delicious fish houses.
BBQ grills by the pool inspired me to send my boys on a deep-sea fishing adventure hoping to grill some Mahi Mahi, but the fish weren’t biting. Next time.
My only other regret is not being able to visit their spa that I’d heard so much about. Redhead+sunburn on the back of legs = hands off. Next time.
The closest beach to Koloa Landing is Poipu. It boasts some of the best surf, boogie boarding and snorkeling the island has to offer. We could see schools of brightly colored fish swimming around us and we were just a little over knee deep. Such a highlight for us!
Did you know that Hawaii’s slow season is between September 15th and December 15th? If you book during this time, you get a better rate with both airfare and lodging. Koloa Landing is also partial to Utah residents because it is owned by Utah residents! For the Utah resident special, visit alohautah.com
If your family is celebrating a milestone anniversary or needs a great venue for a reunion, call Koloa Landing and ask for Todd Hadley, the president of the resort.
Tell him the number in your party and your budget and see what he is able to make happen! Todd will go above and beyond to make your stay unforgettable.
And if you really fall in love with Koloa Landing, you can actually own a piece of this paradise to call home, or as an investment property. They offer two-bedroom to four-bedroom villas where your family can make memories year after year.
A huge mahalo to Koloa Landing for creating moments for my family to reconnect, relax and recharge. After all, the best thing about memories . . . is making them!
