Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Starwood and Hilton Peasant (Fallen Away from Status)
Posts: 847
Just back a few hours ago from an FFN stay, and trying not to go to sleep after flying all night. Other than jetlag hits me hard I have no complaints at all.
Pre-assigned into full-width ocean view on top floor, club access, and spa access just like always. A few changes to club menu (like miso soup every time and two kinds of cheese a la still in big hunk form in lieu of the old many-variety cheese and cracker tray).
NW part of island still shut down from storm damage. Snorkeling at Kuhio was quite good, if tending to be farther out and more dispersed (across more of the bay) than I remember. The sand-spit isthmus is finally sort of back at Poipu, which cuts down the rip current. Most fish I've seen there in years, but again more dispersed that I remember.
If anybody has questions I'll try and answer tomorrow after I sleep, but as long as you don't have your heart set on a suite everything is still groovy.
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat, SPG Gold, Hilton Silver, Marriott Silver
Posts: 641
AMEX FHR Experiences?
A lot of the experiences in this master thread are from those who are Diamonds. Was wondering if anyone had any AMEX FHR upgrade experiences as a non-elite Hyatt Passport member.
My significant other and I are booked into a Mountain View room. Free breakfast, room upgrade based upon availability, and an $85 resort amenity are included as FHR benefits.
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Starwood and Hilton Peasant (Fallen Away from Status)
Posts: 847
Quote:
Originally Posted by courcoison
Good evening:
I have booked a suite on points (27.000 points per night) at the Kauai Hyatt for 6 nights in June.
I am a diamond member.
Should I expect Regency Club access ?
What else should I look forward to?
I used to stay at the Kauai Hyatt back in the nineties but it has been a while since I have been there.
Thanks for your comments.
Short of a sellout, you will get Regency Club access. If available you will get a view room near the club. In all probability, a really pleasant vacation experience.
Good evening:
I have booked a suite on points (27.000 points per night) at the Kauai Hyatt for 6 nights in June.
I am a diamond member.
Should I expect Regency Club access ?
What else should I look forward to?
I used to stay at the Kauai Hyatt back in the nineties but it has been a while since I have been there.
Thanks for your comments.
One thing you might want to consider is booking a paid stay and using one of your Confirmed Electronic Suite upgrades. Rates are quite cheap in Hawaii nowadays due to the economy, and the confirmed Suite upgrade will work great for a 6 night stay. That way you'll earn GP pts, stay credit, etc for your stay whereas if you burn pts at 27k per night for a Suite you're probably only getting a penny a point in value (or less) vs the alternative. Just something to consider...............
Programs: AA plat, SPG gold, HH GoldLite, Hyatt Diamond, Miracle Fruit-su club
Posts: 789
Quote:
Originally Posted by gibbersome
Great advice!
Confirmed with Diamond line supervisor, you'd get the same consideration for a 1br o/view suite (if available) with points for a suite (per night), or confirmed elect. suite upgrade.
Just checked in today for 4 nights on points. Not too busy here, in fact the pool and beach were nearly empty late afternoon. Offered room 2037 which was not on my list, but definitely more than happy with it. About as close to the beach as you can get, full ocean view and those palm trees that ruin the view on the 3rd and 4th floors provide a great canopy cover. Very secluded and no one is above you, as that is the lawn and gazebo near the Grand Club. A bit of a walk to the pool but I prefer that.
And the Grand Club Coconut shrimp with spicy sweet chili sauce is killer.
They still have the Coconut shrimp???I thought that all Hyatt's no longer have hot food..I was just in Maui and the RC club there had NO hot food at all. Not like the good ole days!
Moderator: United Mileage Plus, Women Travelers & Trip Reports
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Alamo, CA
Programs: UA1K; *wood plat; Hyatt diamond, Fairmont premier
Posts: 14,217
Quote:
Originally Posted by Maui4me1
They still have the Coconut shrimp???I thought that all Hyatt's no longer have hot food..I was just in Maui and the RC club there had NO hot food at all. Not like the good ole days!
There's one hot dish per night at Kauai and Oahu. I don't pay much attention to what it is because only one night of the week is it vegetarian - spring rolls or similar.
I used a suite cert at Kauai May 1-6. The hotel was dipping into the 30-percent occupancy rate range. It felt very empty (except in the club), and the nearby towns were even worse. As I was leaving, a couple of groups were coming in so occupancy was getting much higher for the weekend - more like into the 80s if I remember right. A lot of employees there are now on-call. It seems to me they're cutting in some of the wrong places though. I was at the pool for about four hours one day and there was not one cocktail server. I would have ordered a couple of drinks and lunch - at $15 a drink plus lunch, the bill would have easily covered the server's wage for the day (and she would have received tips) - but they lost out on my business and no doubt others' as well. (Meanwhile, total revenue per room is down. Maybe there's a connection there. )
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Starwood and Hilton Peasant (Fallen Away from Status)
Posts: 847
Just me, but I'm in agreement with jump. Its going to be hard to beat the place in Hawaii without paying much more for an ultra-lux chain, and I doubt the incremental increase in staff sucking up is worth the additional cost. Its just a consistent hotel, and that saltwater pool is way above the norm.
Just back from a 5 night stay here. We stayed 4 nights in a house on the North Shore before moving to the Hyatt. Mt. T. and I honeymooned here in 98 and have stayed 4 times since. This was out 6th stay, this time we brought our kids so we got 2 rooms. We requested connecting rooms and had them (we didn't pay the $35/ night fee for this). The front desk agent graciously offered to waive the $18 resort fee for one room so we paid $18 per night for 2 rooms.
We usually stay on certificates here (last year using elite as we had booked before they went up to inspire). This year we booked with the Three for Free Gold Passport as it was a better value then the certs. It included bfast for us and our two teenagers as well as $100 resort credit per room (which we used for dinner at Tidepools-which wasn't as good as in the past-just normal fish-no stacks).
We paid $412.50/ night with the 5th night free which works out to $330 night per room for POV (we were upgraded to OV). With the $330 per room per night including bfast ($112 for 4) and the $200 credit and a guaranteed view it was a good deal. We also had spa access as we're repeats-love the sauna, the Coco Mango and the outdoor lava showers.
The hotel wasn't crowded, but it wasn't a ghost town, either.
The kids loved the pool and the grounds. We'll be back!
Programs: UA1K, AA EXPLAT, Hyatt DIAM., HH DIAM., SPG PLT
Posts: 1,019
Quote:
Originally Posted by best
What are the best ways to get to and from Airport?
We rented a car as well and were glad we did. The hotel is beautiful and offers lots to do, but the freedom the car gave us was very welcome. Self parking is free (and ample) so that is just another reason to drive yourself.
Earlier in this thread I recall reading that a o/w cab fare from LIH to the hotel is ~$50 and that would seem about right given the distance. So, given the cost of a car on the island, a r/t cab + tip should equal out to around three days car rental.
As a side note, outside of the hotels and airport, I didn't see too many cabs on the island. In other words, leaving the hotel in a cab would be easy, but getting one back from your destination would require at least a phone call for pickup.
Programs: LH Senator, United 1K, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, Delta, Air France
Posts: 271
I just completed a stay and I can confirm
*taxi is indeed 40-45 dollars from airport to property. Next to the tourist information, there is a phone and you have to call. I only waited 2 minutes and arranged with the same taxi the return to the airport.
*Donderos has an outstanding chef - Chef Jimmy Stafford - really worth discovering as most people from the island do. He has a very personal touch and is very talented ! Stay inside as chairs in the garden are very uncomfortable.
*Service has tremendously improved at Tidepools with Eric
*Prices of wine are complete ridiculous. First time I go to a restaurant and see almost no one ordering full bottle of wine...no wonder the prices are completely off compared to West Coast.
*No more meat at the RC in the morning for Breakfast - this is a first for any Hyatt worldwide...and be sure to reserve your croissant ! This is utterly ridiculous and I suggest to promote the F&B manager to Water Slide Attendant...which I continue to enjoy tremendously with the garden, rivers, lagoons worth this trip ! This is the club which used to serve Chandon Champagne....now it is an obscure and cheap bubbling juice. The red and white wines served in the club are terrible and having the same menu for so many years made me really think this was a school cafeteria. If it is a question of profitability, then please don’t give access to all those Hyatt employees. Maybe a new F&B manager will bring some magic back in the club which is much needed to be in line with the Magic found in the gardens and at Chef Jimmy's table.
Last edited by Ducatibiker; Jun 17, 09 at 10:52 am.
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