A Review of The Grand Hyatt Kauai

When visiting Kauai, there are endless options of places to stay. Planning to splurge for vacation? You will be hard-pressed to find a better resort than the Grand Hyatt Kauai. Immediately upon arrival, we were met with warm, genuine customer service and stellar views of both the resort and the coastline. Throughout our stay here, we savored everything they had to offer: from delicious food to poolside relaxation to refreshing spa treatments. The Grand Hyatt is a luxurious reflection of Kauai’s essence. Our detailed review will help you decide if this is the resort experience you’re looking for.

For some, planning a trip can be a headache, while for others it’s a delight to pour over all the options and craft the perfect itinerary. If you’re considering staying at the Grand Hyatt Kauai, we’ve comprehensively outlined all the amenities, facilities, and dining options, as well as things to consider before booking.

A Warm Welcome

The immediate bellhop service, a beautiful orchid lei, and outstanding customer service at check-in are all awaiting you upon arrival at the Grand Hyatt Kauai. Due to a change in flight, we ended up arriving a couple hours earlier than anticipated, so our room wasn’t quite ready yet. The front desk staff stored our bags, comped us each an appetizer and drink, and invited us to explore the property while we waited for our room. Once it was ready, a bottle of champagne and chilled glasses inside were a sweet surprise. All in all, a 10/10 first impression.

Complementary Resort Activities

The resort offers a handful of complementary activities. If you have even been intrigued by lei making, learning to play the ukulele, or secretly wanting to learn hula, all you have to do is reserve a spot through the concierge desk. If you’re more in the mood to experience rather than learn a new skill, you can participate in Koi fish feeding, a parrot talk, or wander with the hydroponic garden tour. Check out the schedule to see which activities are offered which days! 

Concierge 

Some people thrive on the excitement of planning their vacation and others just want someone else to handle the details. If you fall in the latter category, the concierge knows how to take care of you. Blue Hawaiian Activities can organize air tours, snorkeling, sunset cruises, surfing, fishing, and so more. The amenities of the resort can make it feel difficult to leave, but endless adventure beckon on Kauai. You are certain to miss out if you don’t go exploring. 

Anara Spa 

Looking to treat yourself at the Anara Spa? Your options are endless! They offer massages, facials, body polishes, and float therapy. There’s also a full service salon, offering manicures, pedicures, hair and makeup styling. Not only does your treatment include services rendered, but any 50 minute treatment also grants the recipient use of the Anara Spa facilities. This includes a lap pool, locker areas, showers, a sauna, and a steam room. They are the largest spa on the island, so you won’t find a better set-up anywhere else!

Fitness

The gym is located in the Anara Spa, and it’s open to guests 24/7. The two-room open set up features a room of cardio equipment (including two Peloton bikes) and a room of free weights, machines, and a squat rack. Additionally, daily fitness classes are offered, from Zumba to Pilates Yoga Fusion to Cardio Burn and so many more. 

If you’re more interested in lifestyle fitness, from 6am to 7pm, bikes are available for guests to use for local exploration. For up to three hours, you can adventure around with the wind in your hair on one of their cool blue bikes. 

If hiking is more your speed, the Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail starts right by the Grand Hyatt and is a relatively flat, easy 4-mile hike. Check it out for beautiful views of the coastline. Looking to stay on the paved, beaten path? Stop by the front desk at the Anara Spa, where they have maps of local running and walking paths. 

Poipu Bay Golf 

A complimentary shuttle will bring you to the prestigious Poipu Bay Golf Course. This 210 acre property stretches along a rugged coastline featuring 85 bunkers and five water hazards. Distractions abound with humpback whales breaching in the distance and countless tropical plants acting as an inspired backdrop. Due to its oceanfront location trade winds can vary suddenly, making this a most intriguing golfing experience. 

Dining 

The food you eat can make or break your vacation adventure as food is a unique way to appreciate a new culture. The dining options available are perfectly curated to maximize the guest’s experience. From casual poolside dining to a romantic, upscale dinner, the Grand Hyatt delivers. 

Tidepools

The romantic thatched-roof bungalows stand above the lagoon, teeming with colorful koi fish. This dreamy date-night spot features a locally sourced menu, heavily influenced by modern Hawaiian cuisine. A local tour guide mentioned it was known for being an awesome dinner spot, even outside of resort guest clientele. Reservations are recommended to ensure you can snag a table here. 

Stevenson’s Library 

Whether you’re seated at the gorgeous koa wood bar or outside in the open-air lanai, the ambiance exudes an air of cultivated relaxation, with sweeping ocean views. The fresh sushi alone is worth going stopping by for. If you’re in the mood for a drink, dive into their chapter book of inventive martinis, tropical cocktails, and both classic and creative whiskey drinks. They also have sake, beer, and wine… something for everyone! 

Just a heads up, if you know you want to check this spot out, make a reservation. If you make a last minute decision to head there for dinner, make sure you arrive early as it’s not uncommon for there to be a line 5-10 parties deep waiting for the doors to open. 

Hale Nalu

Conveniently located poolside, this vintage surf shack has quite the selection: burgers, poke bowls, salads, and more. Anything you might want after frolicking around in the ocean or pool for hours! We were big fans of both the food and drink menu. Kalua Pork Nachos makes the perfect afternoon snack, and the Mango Green Dream cocktail will have you swearing there’s no way your health smoothie could possibly have rum in it! 

Captain’s Bar

An outdoor, open air bar area, right next to the adult pool is the ideal spot to catch the football game, with a cold cocktail (or beer) in hand. From its perch on the upper deck, you have a prime view to take in all the pools and lagoons below as well as the sparkling ocean. Besides the beers on tap, the menu offered here is the same as that at Hale Nalu. 

Ilima Terrace

We actually snagged breakfast at the Grand Club every morning, but we heard awesome things about the amazing, fresh breakfast options at Ilima Terrace. It also never hurts to start the day with spectacular views. 

Seaview Terrace

The Seaview Terrace is open for breakfast as well as dinner, making it an easy spot to swing by at almost any point in the day. While the food is certainly tasty (the skewers were surprisingly small but quite delicious), the nightly live music is what sets this spot apart. They have a different group there every night, keeping it interesting for guests with a keen ear for groovy tunes. 

Share the Stars 

Celebrating something special? You can indulge in an exclusive five-course beachside dining experience under the starry Hawaiian sky. The waves will be your only company as the moon rises over the cliffs. This romantic candlelight dinner is guaranteed to be an unforgettable date.

Luau 

The Grand Hyatt Kauai hosts luaus on Wednesday and Saturday from 5:30-8pm. The price of admission includes an all you can eat buffet, an open bar, and cultural entertainment. You can check out the full menu here (oh yeah, there’s Ahi poke Imu, Style Kalua Pig, and so much more). The show they put on tells the story of a fantastic journey through the rich cultural history of the Hawaiian people. What better way to discover the stories of Hawaii and its people than through ancestral music and dance. Are you sold yet? You can check it out more here.

Pool 

From fun to relaxation, the pool deck shows out. A saltwater lagoon with its own sandy shoreline? It’s like relaxing in the ocean, without worrying about being swept away. Need a moment away from the kids? The adult pool on the upper deck is free of splashing cannon balls. Or perhaps you’re in the mood to float down the lazy river. The slide is fun for children and adults alike, winding an exciting 150 feet before shooting you into the lower deck pool. Taking an evening dip? There’s not one but two jacuzzis to relax in while you look up at the stars. 

The ambiance is perfect for couples as well as families. Adults and kids alike had a blast on the slide, but anyone looking for a child-free zone could relax by the adults only pool. So much fun for families, but also quite enjoyable for a honeymooning couple.

Cabanas 

A cozy slice of privacy along the pool or beach, there are six different cabana styles to choose from. Ranging from $150 to $1,000, these cabanas are perfect for anyone looking for a shaded home base for the day. If you’re interested in snagging one of these luxe cabanas, be sure to do so in advance to ensure availability. You can explore all six options here. 

It’s worth noting while the cabanas are beyond lovely to have, there are loads of shaded lounge chairs, hammocks, and swings throughout the property, so a cabana is not your only option if you’re hoping to escape the sun a bit. 

Departure Lounge 

Included in the resort fee is use of the departure lounge. If you have a late morning or early afternoon check-out time, but an evening flight out, the departure lounge is a wonderful amenity to help make the most of your last day. Hoping to fit in one last hike? There are showers available to ensure everyone is nice and clean for take off. 

Room With a View

Salvador’s had his Hyatt card for years and was rather pleased when he made it to the Explorist tier of membership last year. Explorists receive an upgrade to the best room available (excluding suites), which is how we found ourselves on the six floor, with a fantastic view of both the resort and the ocean.

In summary, the room was a nice size for us to spread out in during our time there. The bed was fantastically comfy, the bathroom was more than spacious, and the toilet was equipped with a bidets. Between the resort and the adventures that await outside the property, we did not spend much time in our room, but the time we were there, it was lovely and fit our needs perfectly.

As would be expected the resort offers daily housekeeping services; however, in the spirit of conservation, guests that elect to omit their housekeeping for the day may receive either a $10 dining credit or 500 points credited to their World of Hyatt account.

Any Cons?

We truly had a lovely time, and I have recommended this resort to friends and family, that too, have only had lovely things to say. Any negatives are pretty mild in nature. The resort is pretty spread out, so if you struggle with mobility impairments this could be a potential frustration; however, as fit, active young adults, we didn’t feel the walking required was excessive.

If you are looking for children-free resort, this is not it. One of the pools has signs up stating it’s adult only, and this was largely respected, but there were kids that would unknowingly come play in there before eventually moving on. Couples and honeymooners, don’t take this to mean it’s an environment catered to entertaining children. We enjoyed the Grand Hyatt Kauai as a couple and found it to be perfectly relaxing; however, if you’re looking for an environment completely devoid of children, it will not be here. Inversely, for families, this would certainly be a resort the whole crew would enjoy. We saw ‘kids’ of all ages going down the slide and floating along the lazy river.

The Best For Last

The best part about our stay here? It was completely free. We booked our room with points through Salvador’s World of Hyatt account, for a very reasonable 25k points per night. The Chase points we transferred are usually valued around 1.8 cents/point. At this conversion, the 25k point room cost us about $450 in “points”. That may seem like a hefty nightly cost, but a night at this resort usually goes for $600-$1000 per night. If you have Hyatt points to spend, this an excellent category 6 hotel to cash your points in on. New to the points game and curious how to score this room ASAP? Check out our blog post on making the most of your Hyatt points.

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The 30-Second Skinny

Overall, we felt the Grand Hyatt Kauai was a lovely place to stay. The very nature of Kauai resort accommodations can be spendy, but the resort maintains beautiful facilities, excellent customer service, and endless opportunities for relaxation— providing a good value for money (or points) spent. Outside of the larger amenities detailed above, the resort also offered complimentary use of washers and dryers, samples of sunscreen, and a bottle of champagne upon arrival as a nod to our celebration. The small, thoughtful amenities go a long way to make a place stand out. There were no drawbacks to our time here, and we confidently recommend staying here throughout your Kauai vacation adventure.

While the Grand Hyatt is hard to leave, Kauai has too many gorgeous views and enticing adventures to spend your whole trip pool-side. While it’s not a large island, nature shows off in a big way here. If you’re looking to make the most of your time on Kauai, check out our action packed four-day itinerary.

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