Updated September 2026: We first visited the Royal Sonesta Kauai using ResortPass in 2023 and liked the experience enough that we returned for another day visit in 2025. I’ve updated this review with what changed, what we spent on our second visit, how the experience held up the second time around, and what families should know before booking today.
We’ve been traveling to Kauai every other year for the last several years, and one tradition we’ve developed is spending a day at a local resort—even when we aren’t actually staying there.
Our interest in resort day passes started on an earlier Kauai trip, when we discovered that the former St. Regis Princeville offered access to non-hotel guests ($25/person). When that option disappeared, we started looking elsewhere and found a perfect alternative.
We stay at Bali Hai Princeville, which gives us spacious condos and pools but doesn’t have the poolside service and immediate beach access of a full Hawaiian resort. So on our 2023 trip, we decided to try something different: a day room at the Royal Sonesta Kauai through ResortPass.
Funny enough, this was the same hotel (albeit much different now) that my parents honeymooned more than 55 years ago!
What Royal Sonesta Kauai Day Pass Options Are Available?
As of September 2026, ResortPass currently lists:
- Pool Pass from about $75
- Family Pass for up to six from about $175
- Daybed options
- Day Room from about $299 for four guests
Pricing and availability do vary by date. We booked a day room on both of our visits, so that’s the experience this review is primarily based on.
What was our Royal Sonesta Kauai Day Room Like?
On the other side of the island in Lihue, near the airport, this resort was exactly what we were looking for.
Check in was at 10 a.m. but because of a major accident that temporarily closed the main road from one side of the island to the other, we didn’t arrive until a bit after 11am. Check out was 8 p.m., more than plenty of time to have fun.
While we only intended on using the pool and beach, we ended up booking a day room to give us a bit more flexibility.
The room was very clean and had two queen beds, a TV, refrigerator, spacious bathroom and balcony with an amazing view over the pool and into the bay. For a day-use room, it exceeded what we expected.
We brought our own lunch and a few snacks (and drinks) which we stored in the in-room fridge and had a safe place to store all our clothes and belongings.
The exceptional service started from the moment we pulled up to the hotel. Valet parking was included with our 2023 booking, and the great service continued at the front desk during check-in.
We Went Back in 2025—And Loved It Again
Our first visit in 2023 was good enough that we decided to book another day at the Royal Sonesta when we returned to Kauai in 2025.
That second visit was just as enjoyable.
The pool, beach and overall experience were every bit as enjoyable as we remembered, and having a day room once again gave us an easy home base for the day. This time we even did some paddleboarding, which we hadn’t done during our first visit. Rentals were easy to find just a short walk down the beach and gave us another great memory from the day. More importantly, the second visit confirmed that our first experience wasn’t just a particularly good day.
We spent the day moving between the pool and beach and treated it as a full resort day rather than a quick stop. For seven people, we spent $558 total for the room, food and beverages.
What stood out most was that the experience didn’t feel like a one-time novelty. It worked just as well the second time.
What Did We Spend?
On our first visit in 2023, we paid $450 for the day-room experience for six people. Food and drinks were extra.
When we returned in 2025, we spent $558 total for seven people, including the room, food and beverages.
Our 2025 visit worked out to just under $80 per person for the room, food, drinks and a full resort day.
That’s not cheap, but for us it replaced what could easily have been a more expensive resort stay while still giving us the pool, beach, food and full resort-day experience we wanted.
Why We Chose a Day Room Instead of Just a Pool Pass
We could have spent less by booking simple pool access, but the room was part of what made both visits work so well for us.
It gave us somewhere to change, cool off, store our belongings and take a break from the sun. With kids—and especially when we planned to spend most of the day at the resort—that convenience mattered.
After using a day room twice, I wouldn’t automatically say every family needs one. But for an all-day visit, I’d strongly consider it again.
The Pool and Beach Experience
The Royal Sonesta Kauai has an amazing pool, lounge and beach area. The massive circular pool features multiple hot tubs, fountains and a bridge to swim under. It truly is gigantic.
Nearby, there is a smaller kids pool that features a short waterslide, which our boys found fun but a bit underwhelming for more than a few slides at a time.
And then there is the beach.
Just steps from the pool is Kalapaki Beach which we found to be a great place to go swimming, relax in the ocean or do some snorkeling. Gentle waves lap ashore with plenty of sand to play in for fun for everyone in the family. There were even several beach volleyball courts set up with players serve and volleying nearly the whole time we were there.
There was also a nice grassy area that had lounge chairs and cabanas (for rent) set up if you preferred to have a beach view instead of a pool view.
You won’t find much surfing happening here due to the lapping waves but the chance to leisurely float in the Pacific Ocean is a pretty nice trade off.
Food, Drinks and Poolside Service
Once we arrived at the pool, we easily found enough lounge chairs for our family and established our basecamp for the day.
My dad, not one to spend too much time in the sun, promptly had his feet up and a beer in his hand, ready to settle in for a day at the pool.
Our boys (7 & 9) were ready to do everything all at once so we hit the small waterslide, jumped in the pool, walked the beach and enjoyed an entire day of fun.
Our server was rather busy, and at times was a bit difficult to locate, but she was eager to replenish our mai tais as quickly as she could. Even bringing virgin ones for our boys.
The pool area had a hut dedicated to towels, quick purchase items like sunscreen, goggles, fins, floaties and other pool items, plus had ample shave ice ready to go.
Across the pool, there was Kukui’s on Kalapaki Beach, an open-air restaurant that served all the things you’d expect at a beachside hang out.
One Mistake We Made the First Time
We chose not to eat dinner at the resort, instead opting to head home.
That was a mistake.
The drive to Princeville is longer than you think after a long day and our boys went from happy to hangry in no time. On our return visit in 2025 we learned from our previous mistake and ate dinner at the hotel before packing up for the drive home.
Which Royal Sonesta ResortPass Option Would We Choose Today?
Because we’ve now used the day-room setup twice, that would still be my first choice for a full-day family visit if the price made sense.
But I’d also compare it with the Family Pass. ResortPass currently lists a Family Pass for up to six starting around $175, while day rooms start around $299 for four guests. Pricing varies by date.
If we only wanted a few hours of pool time, I’d save the money and seriously consider the Family Pass. For a full day, I’d still value having the room.
Who Is This Best For?
- Families staying in a condo or rental without full resort amenities
- Families who want one dedicated pool-and-beach day
- Parents with kids who can happily spend hours in the water
- Travelers who want resort amenities without paying for an overnight stay
- Families who value having a room available during a long resort day
Who Should Skip It?
I’d skip it if your hotel already has a great pool, you only want an hour or two of swimming, or your family would rather spend the day exploring Kauai.
There are too many incredible free beaches and outdoor experiences on the island to pay for a resort day unless your family genuinely wants a resort day.
Final Verdict After Two Visits
We liked our first Royal Sonesta day enough to pay for it again two years later. That probably says more than anything else in this review.
Both visits gave us exactly what we wanted: an easy day centered around the pool, beach, food and time together without paying for an overnight resort stay.
On our 2025 visit, we spent $558 for seven people including the room, food and drinks. That isn’t an insignificant vacation expense, but we walked away feeling like we got good value from the day.
Would we book it again? Yes.
Would we always book the day room? Not necessarily. I’d compare the current room price with the Family Pass and decide based on how long we planned to stay.
Best for: Families who want a full resort day without moving into a resort for the week.
Skip it if: Your lodging already gives you the same amenities or you’d rather spend the day exploring the island.
What surprised me most: That we enjoyed it just as much the second time.
Bottom line: The Royal Sonesta day pass has become one of those Kauai experiences we know works for our family—and one we’d happily consider booking again.
This post is not sponsored. We paid for both of our Royal Sonesta Kauai ResortPass visits ourselves, and all opinions are based on our own experiences.
