Programs: NW Plat, DL 2 MM Flying Colonel, AA EXP MM, CO,NW,UA, MM, Hilton, Hyatt Diamond, QF Club Lifetime
Posts: 225
We visited this great property December 11-15 on a FFN. We were assigned to an ocean front suite, and RC club access.
This has to be one of the nicest Hyatts around. The RC concierge's were all great.
The front desk people are the friendliest,
specially Shane and Fran. Everything about this stay was enjoyable, except that the Spa was being expanded with a new pool and hot tub.
We took the Blue Dolphin sunset cruise. We saw the first two whales of the season. a mother and her calf. There was a pod of dolphins around our catamaran that the Captain estimated to be at least 800. The Mai Tais were stout, and the two Hawaiian
guitar players were fun. This was a not to miss adventure.
The Hyatt luau was outstanding, with many,
many colorful dancers and great food.
My wife Barbara keep the windows open all night since we were right on the beach, and she loved the sound of the ocean. We would highly recommend this resort, and if you like it peaceful. all the Keikis were in school.
OK, I just booked 7 FFN at the Hyatt Kauai for late feb-march...YIPPEE!
It seems from reading recent posts that GP Diamond are now receiving complimentary RC access at Kauai. Has anyone (Diamond) who has stayed recently not received complimentary RC access at Kauai? I don't have to actually have a room on the RC floor, just having access if ok by me.
I have requested a suite upgrade but I'll take any FFN room since it is FREE!!! . I have asked this question previously in another thread as just a general question, but has anyone been able to upgrade to a suite using GP points at this hotel? I would gladly burn points for a suite upgrade.
Any specific rooms/floors/tower/portion of resort to request at check-in for the best views and/or to just avoid?
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by onedog: Any specific rooms/floors/tower/portion of resort to request at check-in for the best views and/or to just avoid?</font>
onedog, my wife and I probably had the worst room: a garden view room, with lots of lush flora outside our balcony and not convenient to many other areas of the hotel.
It was nice and private. We loved it and would stay there again!
The hotel has 2 wings, Poipu and Shipwreck. As a Diamond you will in all likelihood be put into the Poipu wing since this is where the RC is. All the rooms in that wing are Oceanview of Partial Oceanview rooms. I think the first floor is a smoking floor, so I guess if you are a smoker that is were you will end up. There is not a RC floor. I once had a room 2 doors down from the RC which was convenient, but no big deal.
As far as upgrading to a suite from a FFN award, technically you are suppose to be paying an Oceanview rack rate to upgrade with points, but if they are slow who knows. If they let you upgrade to a suite you will have to report back since that would be a great deal. I must admit I was given a complimentary upgraded to a suite on an award stay there about 6 years ago. Having Diamond status was bit more unique then than it is today.
My last minute advice is to buy the book called Kauai Revealed, the Ultimate Guidebook and do exactly what they say. It is the best book period. They have one for Maui and the Big Island as well...don't neglect purchasing the book.
Does anyone know if any of the rooms have been renovated yet per the announcement in late fall that they would begin doing that? We are going this Saturday and my wife is not too keen on shabby hotel rooms and from some of the most recent reviews, it appears that there are many of them. I am Diamond so any suggestions to avoid a lousy room are appreciated.
Location: PHL, but moving back to SIN this summer!
Programs: UA1K, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold (along with the rest of the world...)
Posts: 3,059
There was nothing shabby about the Ocean Suite I had there last year.
Have you tried to get a suite upgrade? I think as a Diamond it's unlikely you'll get a shabby room. Yes, the rooms haven't been renovated yet but the hotel is still one of the best, if not the best, in the chain.
The wife and I were at the Kauai Hyatt last summer, and our room was less than perfect. It needed new paint, and the bathroom was less than perfect. The bathtub had rust stains, the doors were scratched and needed paint.
There were other "minor" type problems, but definately not the high quality product I would expect for the price. Made me wish I would have tried the Princeville.
By no means was this enough to ruin the experience as the best part of Kauai is outside of the room.
We're in Kauai right now. As a Diamond we got a great room in the same wing of the hotel as the RC and spa. Views out over the lagoons and ocean.
The room itself is fine - not renovated but it doesn't look as if it needs it. WE tried for a suite upgrade using points, but we booked the room using Elite coupons and they can't be combined with auite upgrades.
Overall, this is one of the best hotels we've stayed at, and that includes the Four Seasons properties in Hawaii.
I am currently staying at the Kauai Hyatt this week, but do not notice any difference in the rooms since the last time my wife and I stayed in late 2001. That being said, the room we have this time is in a better state than the one we had in 2001. I guess that at the moment, it is somewhat of a crap shoot.
The last time we stayed, we received a room on the first floor located somewhere in the Poipu wing underneath the RC (also had to spend 3,000 points for RC access - as a Diamond). This time, we were given a room on the 5th floor in the Poipu wing (probably a partial ocean view) that is in much better shape. Love the new policy - Regency club was automatically given this time (again as a Diamond)
No matter your room, the grounds at this hotel are outstanding, and it is just a fun place to be. It truly is one of the best hotels on the Islands. Don't hesitate to visit it.
We just got back from a FFN week at Hyatt Kauai. One word...WOW! Hyatt has made a Hawaii believer out of me.
We were upgraded to a deluxe oceanview room (I think deluxe just means higher floor as the room was same size as all the others, just that we were on the top floor with a great ocean view) and were upgraded to RC access. There is not an RC floor. The RC is a separate lounge of about 1,000-1,500 sq. ft. on the 3rd floor which also has a patio area which has outdoor tables and is a great place to sit out and relax. The RC in Kauaii is fantastic. Great continental breakfast (fresh fruits such as melon, pineapple, papaya, cereal, pastries, orange and guava juice, different types of breads for toast, sliced meats and cheese) and the evening appetizers are very good (cheese, breads, celery/cucumber/carrot sticks, olives & antipasto, two different types of salads, and two hot appetizers, beer, whine, sparkling wine). They do a rotating evening menu from all the hotel's restaurants. In theory, you can eat a bigger/later lunch and then just eat a lighter dinner via the RC. On many occasions after having eaten a heavier or late lunch (hard to leave the pool areas) we skipped dinner and just ate at the RC. After evening appetizers, they have truffles and cordials. Perfect excuse to sit around relaxing and trying all the cordials. During the day the RC has beverages and snacks (chips & cookies) available so if you are on your way to/from your room, you can stop in for a bottle of water, a soda and some cookies. You can just hang out a bit and read the newspapers they have (WSJ, NY/LA Times, SFO Chronical etc.). Sure beats paying the $3.00 for a bottle of water at the pool. The RC alone makes some of the pain and suffering of making Diamond a bit more worthwhile.
As a Diamond, we also were provided full access to the Spa. As a regular Passport member, you have access to the spa classes (yoga, pilates, aerobics etc), but as a Diamond, you have full access to the shower and spa facilities. The outdoor showers were just fantastic. Our room was close enough to the Spa that I didn't take a shower in our room once during our stay. I would just walk the couple of minutes and shower at the Spa. The CocoMango shampoo, conditioner and body wash they have at the Spa is just fantastic and beats the same old Hyatt shampoos they have in the room.
Location: London, UK. AA EXP 4MM; Hyatt Diamond, SPG Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 169
Sorry Onedog, I completely forgot to do the trip report.
So, several months late, here it is.
Your description of the Regency club needs no addition, so I will ignore it & refer people to your post.
We got a corner ocean front suite which was decorated in a style which was rather too 80s for my wife, but the size was almost obscene. The bathroom was about the size of my first apartment and well equipped with a Jacuzzi, twin sinks in a large vanity unit and a seperate walk in shower. The staff floated fresh orchids in the toilet bowls each day they cleaned the room.
The only downside to the hotel is that it is the size of the Empire State building laid on its side (well it felt like it). In order so that the corridors would not look like something from the movie "Brazil" there are 90 degree bends every hundred yards or so. Which has the unfortunate side effect of feeling you are in a maze. The site is over 50 acres and one day I went from the pool area back to my room, picked up our camera and returned. It took 25 minutes; the hotel is that large.
We had a very good meal in the Tidepools restaurant, situated in a man made lagoon stocked with several hundred Koi carp. The restaurant even supplies fish food so that you can cause fish chaos & watch the water errupt with carp.
There were no problems at all and many tiny little touches that made you realise you were dealing with true professionals. For example when we checked out, they had retracted the top on our convertible, although I had parked it with the top up.
I expect to be back in 9 months from now.
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Keep the faith.............keep flying
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Noctilux:
[b]...We got a corner ocean front suite which was decorated in a style which was rather too 80s for my wife, but the size was almost obscene. The bathroom was about the size of my first apartment and well equipped with a Jacuzzi, twin sinks in a large vanity unit and a seperate walk in shower. The staff floated fresh orchids in the toilet bowls each day they cleaned the room...</font>
Our room was on the 6th floor next to the Royal Super Duper Suite which is probably what you were given. One day the cleaning crew was in there dusting and I asked to look around. Yup, the suite is WAY bigger than my house. I asked and the suite goes for about $4k a night, and very often big wigs/celebs/folks with lots of dough to burn will book the suite for weeks at a time. The outer door to the corner rooms can be programed so that the suite and the room next door share the entranceway as one super-suite. I was told that folks will often book the suite and then the room next door for the kids to sleep in. Must be nice.
Quote:
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">...The only downside to the hotel is that it is the size of the Empire State building laid on its side (well it felt like it). In order so that the corridors would not look like something from the movie "Brazil" there are 90 degree bends every hundred yards or so. Which has the unfortunate side effect of feeling you are in a maze. The site is over 50 acres and one day I went from the pool area back to my room, picked up our camera and returned. It took 25 minutes; the hotel is that large...</font>
I agree with you that the hotel is really large. But we sort of figured out some short cuts to get to/from our room to the pools area. Assuming that you are in Poipu wing of the hotel, if you take the elevator nearest the spa and RC (I think near rooms X025) to the 1st floor, you can access the hotel grounds and walk to the pools without having to go all the way by the front lobby and along the path near the lazy river. This cuts about 10 minutes from your journey.
Quote:
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">...We had a very good meal in the Tidepools restaurant, situated in a man made lagoon stocked with several hundred Koi carp. The restaurant even supplies fish food so that you can cause fish chaos & watch the water errupt with carp...</font>
We never ate at Tidepools, but at 9 a.m. every morning, the carp are fed breakfast. Hundreds of carp, creating a wild swimming rainbow of colors all coming towards you looking for food. About a gallon of food (trout chow) is tossed out at one time and the ensuing melee of fish scrambling for food is just wild. This is a great event for the kids and is actually quite a site to behold. We watched every morning right after breakfast at the RC.
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Starwood and Hilton Peasant (Fallen Away from Status)
Posts: 844
Go for it. That is a beautiful hotel with a not to be believed salt water pool. Stayed there for 5 nights on the last FFN promo. Hyatt FFN is a generous program that certainly builds my loyalty. When its on I always consider a Hyatt first.
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Starwood and Hilton Peasant (Fallen Away from Status)
Posts: 844
Was there last spring, not quite to Diamond but with a bunch of 2003 stays, on FFN nights. Was told I had been given an upgrade, but not RC. Perhaps just a touch of wear, but a very nice room. Not at all disappointed. More like in awe. Very nice place. That being said, there were a few parts of the hotel with no view I might not prefer. Best advice is get there early enough in the day to ask to move if necessary.
