Banyan Harbor

I would definately rate this resort a 5/5 considering it is not a Gold or Silver Crown with RCI. I really was not sure what to expect and Banyan Harbor was a wonderful surprise! Excellent location for seeing the Island of Kauai and customer service is second to none! We had an end location so we had a bonus deck - making 3 - the funiture was in like new condition and even a large flat screen TV in living room.The bedrooms (2) are on the upper level of a two level condo style timeshare and the full bathroom upstairs had double sinks and a washer and dryer - so convenient to the bedrooms. There was a 1/2 bath on the first floor just inside the door - very convenient too! This is a place that you could call home for long stays!! Although it is recommended to have a car on the island of Kauai - there are many conveniences within a very short walking distance. The ABC Store across the road has everything you need until you can get to a larger grocery outlet if you want. Although you are not on a beach, the pool area is wonderful and has a lightly salted heated pool. The beach is just across the street in front of the Merriet and has wonderful eating/drinking/shopping too!

After we got home from our wonderful 3 week holiday in Hawaii - we decided that Banyan Harbor was the place to stay if we plan on an extended holiday next time - and WE DO! It really was a home away from home! We enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere, internet services, and friendly staff and of course, the wonderful people staying there (all appeared to be enjoying Banyan Harbor).

Stayed in Sept '07 and found unit to be well maintained and complete with everything one could need. It is an older property (check the RCI number prefix). Pool had a beautiful view of beach/harbor; room had a view of the neighbor's tall trees, except looking to the extreme left where we could see a slice of the bay. We were in the building closest to the road. Don't think any of the units could ever be handicap accessible. Everybody has at least one set of stairs.

The key to this unit is location, location. It is a very convenient unit for island travel and shopping/restaurants (even Costco for gas); it is also very convenient to the only commercial dock in Kauai, and all that comes with it. It is noisy, so one has the choice of the AC or sleeping in the back half of the unit away from the street. Parking was occasionally a small issue (maneuvering out of dead ends when there was none), due to the large number of long term renters present with multiple cars/motorcycles.

The units felt like you were living in Hawaii, which we felt was a good thing. It was not as luxurious as the newer timeshares, but it would make a great second home anyway; at least certainly for a week. Unless you're not the average tourist on Kauai, you'll spend more time out of your room than in it.

This is not the fanciest resort in Hawaii, but it is relatively clean and maintained.

We were there in April 2005 and the pool was being worked on for the first half of the week, but a short walk takes you to the beach in front of the Marriott, which has one of the biggest pools in all of Hawaii.

Not all units have the same floor plan and since their are no elevators, it may require a bit of stair climbing.

Units are mixed between timeshare, owner occupied and owner rentals. Don't expect the most luxurious accomodations, but the nearness to shopping, the beach, and the airport is definitely something to consider when choosing this resort.

This is an older facility. It has rentals as well as time share occupancy. Is is just a short distance from the harbor and you can walk there in 5-10 minutes. Several restaurants and shops in the harbor area and recommend eating at the Marriott beach side cafe. There is a public beach here as well. The units are clean and have been renovated. Find we stayed here 20 years ago and it was satifactory at that time but they have not changed the living room furniture since. Two sofas and one chair in the living room were broken down and filthy and could well have been here when we were 20 years ago. Would have rated this higher except for the living room furniture.

1 to 10, 10 being the best

(and I don't give 10s)

8--Clean and and tidy.

3-- Size of bedrooms-- master was small, 2 cnd bedroom

was smaller to the point of being

claustophobic and no window. Our one

guest, chose to sleep on sofa because of

this. This would have been a bad scene if

all four of our guests had come on this

vacation. Three had to cancel at the last

minute, thank goodness!

3-- Bathrooms-- 1 full bath shared by 4 people

in both bedrooms on 3rd floor.

1/2 bath, for pull out sleeper on 1st. floor.

Layout not good!

3-- Two flights of not easy stairs from garage

to third floor. No elevator for us?

4-- View-- harbor loading dock.

5-- Grounds, and landscaping.

4-- Overall.

This was a one week time share trade for

us. We spent 3 days here, and moved to

the "Beach Boy", giving up our 4 remaing

days at Banyan Harbor.

Would not return there in the future.

Ps. Ended up purchasing a share at the

Beach Boy.

Would have given some extra points if a

beach were at the site.

This facility might work for some, but just

didn't click for us.

We own here and have stayed there. We enjoyed our stay very much. It is close to the beach and resturants. There is an open market near by for fruits and garden produce.

There is a good pool and lounging area for barbque activities. We will come back.

You can see the harbor and watch the cruise ships come in.

It is located just 2 miles from the airport and 2 miles the other way from a very large mall.