Programs: AA EXP, HH Gold, Hyatt Gold, MR Plat, SPG Plat, PC Plat
Posts: 394
We just got back yesterday from a trip to the GH Kauai... it was fabulous, as always. Don't worry about the dress factor. We don't dress as casually, and do like to dress a bit (no jacket in HI - slacks, nice shoes, dressy shirt) for dinner, but there were many in casual pants/shirts about. Not to worry.
For a great plate lunch, try Koloa Fish Market, directly across the street from the post office in Koloa town. VERY authentic, very local place. Great casual lunch. NOTE: you can't eat there, it's take out only.
Alright, I'll try very hard to stay on topic of Hyatt, as this is the Hyatt forum. Let me preface this by stating "feel free to IM/EM me if you want suggestions for non-Hyatt or more details.
Some good advice would be to check with the Hawaii airlines forum here on Flyertalk. There's a sticky there posted by Slippahs that gives lots of in-depth info for the airport parts of your trip. (even if you're not going on Hawaiian or Aloha)
Another great source would be tripadvisor.com. Type in Kauai or Hyatt Kauai, look into all the different links and forums there. I would take the reviews given there with a grain of salt. Folks like to gripe about things more than they praise....go with some insight, but if you have few expectations other than relaxing, you're set!!
As far as the Hyatt goes, it's really nice. Ask the concierge <sp> for the daily activities and for when the property tours take place. There is something that is done nearly every morning in the lobby/open. There is a lady that does nothing but take care of the birds on the property, she gives a little show and interacts with the birds...fun, but maybe lame for some folks. Not sure what GP lever you're at, but I was Plat and they bumped me up to Ocean View Deluxe. It was on the South End of the property and convenient to swimming in the lagoon. My favorite part of staying here was sleeping with the balcony door open so you can hear the ocean, rainfall, and get some fresh air.
The restaurants are quite decent on the property, but be prepared for sticker shock. Most dinner ala care main course items are at least $20. Tidepools is nice, especially at night. There are swans that float around in the lagoon...makes for a nice atmosphere. I can't give much advice on the other restaurants besides pool side for sandwiches. I have a few recs for places on the Island for burgers and such, but too lengthy to post here.
You will most def need a car or other vehicle. This is not only so you can get to the hotel, but you really need to drive around the whole island and especially up to Kilauea not only for the drive, but to see the lighthouse, and the small village there is nice. Can't leave a posting about Kauai and not mention two great places to eat on the Island: Kilauea Bakery & Pau Hana Pizza (North Shore) and Duane's Ono Char Burger (North Shore).
Definately get the Ultimate Kauai Guide as mentioned in the prior post!!!
Whatever you do, don't go deep sea fishing if you get motion sick. I have never been sea-sick before and spend the whole 4 hours hanging over the back of the boat. The seas in Hawaii are just plain awful. That's why it is taking so long for interisland ferries.
I do recommend that you take the trails just to the east of the Hyatt. There are several secluded beaches that way that are just gorgeous. Ask the concierge how to get there. The view along the last few holes of the golf course are just breathtaking.
Programs: AA Gold, Husband AA EXP (yeah!!) Hya Dia, Marriott
Posts: 1,877
I'm sorry & I'm going to get jumped on for this, but I would NEVER take a helicopter sightseeing tour in Hawaii - esp. Kauai & the Big Island, where most of the crashes are. There was just one in Kauai this month, I believe, where people died. My husband goes to Hawaii every month - there was a spell where there were 3 crashes in a row every time he was there. I would love to see the volcano or Waimea Canyon from the air, but it's just not worth it.
Take a day's drive up to Princeville and stop at all the gorgeous and romantic beaches along the way. Have lunch at the Princeville hotel(Luxury Collection, Starwood) on their outdoor terrace with an incredible "Bali Hai" view-we did a quick freshening up using their facilities before lunch since we stopped at every beach for a swim on the way there. There is one beach that you have to take a short hike down to and it was one of the most beautiful ones I've ever seen. You can also drive out towards Barking Sands and hit some wonderful spots and make sure you have breakfast at the Green Garden if it's still open! Tidepools at the Hyatt is great and their Italian restaurant is also quite romantic, especially an outdoor table. I had the best Hot Stone massage ever at their spa. Enjoy yourselves!
Location: New York / Hawaii / Nevada; CO Platinum Star, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,013
Fern Grotto & Other Kauai Hyatt Tips
Quote:
Originally Posted by IK in Seattle
EDIT: Has anyone done the [URL=http://www.kauaidiscovery.com/virtual_kauai_tour/kapaa+kealia+anahola/page4/
Fern Grotto[/url] deal? It is about the only tourist thing in Kauai I have not tried yet, and was wondering how it was?
I took a kayak trip up to see the fern grotto and kayaked back. The grotto itself is just a large cave entrance covered in ferns. But the kayak ride was good/fun ...and the current up-stream to the grotto provided for a good workout. (On the kayak trip, we also paddled up to a swim area where there was a rope swing people could use to jump in.) There's another tour provider that provides boat service up the the grotto but I'd consider that a waste of money.
As far as the Hyatt, I recommend Tidepools over the Italian eatery on-site. There's also a Roy's in town near the Hyatt, so I'd also recommend eating there too.
The weather can be extremely different from place to place on the island --so if it's cloudy or raining at the Hyatt, don't assume the same is true elsewhere on the island. Likewise, if it's sunny and beautiful at the resort, don't assume it's the same elsewhere too ...especially around Barking Sands Beach or Waimea Canyon.
(And Barking Sands Beach is my favorite beach to hang out at --the sand dunes are amazing and the waves are huge, although its just too rough to play in the water.)
I'm sorry & I'm going to get jumped on for this, but I would NEVER take a helicopter sightseeing tour in Hawaii - esp. Kauai & the Big Island, where most of the crashes are. There was just one in Kauai this month, I believe, where people died. My husband goes to Hawaii every month - there was a spell where there were 3 crashes in a row every time he was there. I would love to see the volcano or Waimea Canyon from the air, but it's just not worth it.
I know there have been a few recent crashes, but at any given time there are probably a dozen tour helicopters flying around Kauai. So my question is, what are the chances of being in a tour helicopter crash in Kauai? 100,000 to 1?
I’ve done it three times and would not have a problem going on another one. It is a great experience, and there are many more dangerous activies. If you are going to take a helicopter tour, Kauai is the place to do it. IMHO
We really enjoyed the helicopter tour. It was expensive, but the scenery is amazing and not accessible otherwise.
I don't think the "offroad" trails north of the Hyatt really need a Jeep since we did it in our convertible mustang rental. You just have to go slow.
As far as the helicopter tour is concerned, you will hear many arguments both ways. The trade winds were howling when we were there, and as a result my GF did not enjoy the bumpy trip in the helicopter. I have been to Hawaii three times, and right before or during each trip there were reports of crashes with multiple deaths. I am sure people drowned each of these weeks as well, but for some it is just too bumpy and risky. I personally enjoyed the helicopter, but honestly we saw scenery that was just as god by driving into the canyon and hiking to some of the vistas. For the $$ we spent, I was not happy to have a petrified GF next to me the whole time. If the weather is clear, go for it. Otherwise, save your $$.
For some of the beaches we hit from locals direction, there is no way we would have made it in anything other than 4wd. Down steep rocky trails etc. You will be much better suited in a jeep if you are truly going to explore Kauai offroad.
OMG - I think we got one heck of an upgrade. We're in a real live one bedroom suite - it's about 1200 sq ft with a living/dining room combo with wet bar and a seperate bedroom with a fairly large bath. It looks to me like it's 2 regular rooms.
There's a flat panel wide screen TV in the LR, a regular TV in the bedroom and a small wall mounted flat panel TV in the bathroom, which is complete with a Jacuzzi.
All this on 6 FFNs!
We're on the 4th floor in the Poipu Wing with a decent view of the ocean. I'm sure there are better located rooms, but I am not complaining one bit about this one. Whoever said this hotels treats their diamonds well wasn't kidding.
We arriving late yesterday and haven't made it much past our room and the regency club. The sun is rising and the sky is a gorgeous pink.
Today we're going to explore the hotel grounds and just generally recover from the long trip.
More to follow.
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Mary Life is too short to spend it being angry
We don't have one of the corners. We're in the middle near the Regency Club and a little too close to the spa. .
The hotel grounds are magnificent. We walked the property today and have a feeling we will be back here again. It was windy and overcast today so we spent the afternoon in the spa & napping on the lanai. Tidepools for dinner. Tomorrow we may just consider leaving the hotel, though I can see how people wouldn't want to.
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Mary Life is too short to spend it being angry
We just got back today after a week in Kauai and although we didn't get a suite, we did get a nice oceanview room near the RC. Just one note Mary- make sure you go down to the Anara Spa and take a shower down there in the outdoor lava showers. We never use the regular shower in our room, we just go to the spa and use their facilities, free of charge to diamonds
We were upgraded to one of the corner suites on the first floor on a points stay in 2003. Hubby was a gold at the time and we checked in at about 9pm. We had used points to reserve a regency club room for 5 nights. The suite was fantastic and was the start of a wonderful trip!!
Life is too short to spend it being angry 
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