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Grand Hyatt Kauai REVIEW- MASTER THREAD - mid-2011 Forward

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Old Aug 20, 2018, 3:29 am
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Last edit by: FlyinHawaiian
SHOPPING
1. Safeway
a. Multiple locations (2)
b. Significantly more polynesian/asian offerings in regards to food, Made in Hawaii, Grown in Hawaii goods

2. Longs Drugs
a. CVS-owned; all CVS coupons and rewards are accepted.
b. Many locations, including Lihue and Poipu https://longs.staradvertiser.com/loc...p?island=kauai
c. Stores have a more significant focus on local items and goods than Mainland CVS stores.
d. Reliable source of distilled water for CPAP users.

2. ABC Stores
a. Significant number (3) of locations, accessible.
b. They carry almost nothing but local items, and also beer

3. Costco (2.6mi from LIH):
a. Gas up before dropping rental car off. It was at least $0.80/gal cheaper than anywhere else (8/20/18)
b. Kauai/Kona coffee, other gifts (e.g., macadamia nuts in multiple preparations)
c. Gift cards for local vendors are often available
d. Food court (many of the same items as continental US with same prices)
4. Walmart (1.3mi from LIH). Exceptionally busy. Busy store inside/outside/around it.
a. Beach/pool toys
b. Snacks (if you don’t have a huge family staying a long time to eat Costco bulk item)
c. Souvenirs (they have a section in the front for this)

KAUAI TOURS/SELF-GUIDED ADVENTURES
Swimming/Snorkeling
1. Poipu Beach - Massive reef offshore, with a reef onshore separating two beaches. With the closure of Tunnels/Ke'e/Lumahai beach due to landslides on Kuhio highway, Poipu beach has one of the top snorkeling spots on the island currently, and is just 5 minute drive from the hotel. Turtles and monk seal are spotted here regularly
2. Lydgate Beach - protected snorkeling spot perfect for beginners. Located on East side of the island. This looks close, but traffic in Kapaa can make this a 45 minute drive.
3. Anini Beach - Northeast on island, 1 hour to reach. Reef with significant amounts of sea life.
4. Tunnels Beach/Ke'e Beach - currently closed. 1 hour 30 minutes away. Snorkel right next to the beginning of the Na Pali coast, with significant amounts of turtles. Before Kauai restores access to the beach via Kuhio Highway, residents are strongly considering limiting access to the beach (no vehicles, only shuttles, or limited number of vehicle permits sold per day). Parking fills up fast here, and these beaches are the end of the road on island.


GUIDED TOURS
1. Wailua River + Secret Falls Hike. 30-45 minute drive from hotel. Cost $40/pp. 4 hour+ trip. 1 mile of kayaking followed by a short hike to a large waterfall. Some tours offer pineapple as a snack at the waterfall. Some offer just chips or granola bars like what you might buy from Costco.
2. Kauai Sugarloaf Pineapple. See the Huber families sugarloaf pineapple farm. Hole in the mountain farms is situated on 38 acres of land, where you will be given the rare opportunity to taste sugarloaf pineapple. An extremely low acidic pineapple that has a core that is edible, and not stringy. $65/pp w/ free pineapple and smoothie. The ARV of the pineapple you receive will be around $8-15. Sugarloaf pineapple sells for $3-4 a pound, with an average pineapple being 5-6 pounds in size. This is a once in a lifetime experience. 1 hour from GH Kauai http://kauaisugarloaf.com BOOK TOURS IN ADVANCE. We booked two weeks in advance, and at the farmers market on a Wednesday we overheard them say they were booked out for 2 weeks (so almost September). They only do tours on Thursdays.
3. Chocolate Tour. Lydgate Farms has a chocolate tour. $95/pp
4. Captain Andy's Tours. Captain Andy is currently leaving out of the south shore in Port Allen. He offers all 3 kinds of boat tours. 55ft catamaran w/ restroom, warm water rinse, cooked lunch, snorkeling, napali coast, alcoholic drinks included (up to $179 pp). They have smaller boats that do not have restrooms/rinse/cooked lunch, but will go in the sea caves. And then they have raft boats that require you to wear gloves, and are very much a thrill ride. They do beach landings in those, and basically anything. The choices are listed from most comfortable to least comfortable. 55ft catamaran is the preferred way for most

HIKING/SIGHTS
1. Kalepa Ridge Trail. 1 hour from GHK. Free. 2 hour round trip. 1.7 mile hike. Classified as hard by alltrails.com. For the time and distance you walk, this trail beats the Awaawapuhi Trail
2. Awaawapuhi Trail. 55 minute from GHK. Free. Half day. 6.7 mile hike. Classified as moderate by alltrails.com. It is a longer hike, but once you get to the end, the views are IMO better than the Kalepa Ridge Trail
3. Canyon Trail to Waipoo Falls. 50 minute from GHK. Free. 3 hours. Hike to a the top of a waterfall on the Waimae Canyon.
4. Heritage Trail. Literally on the beach at the GHK. Free. Not necessarily a crazy cool hike
5. Wailua Falls: do some research if you plan on doing a hike down to the waterfall
6. Spouting Horn. 7 minute drive from GHK. Underwhelming, but worth it to say you've seen it. 2-3 minute drive from Spouting Horn is the Kukui'ula Village Shopping Center, which has a Bubbas Burger/Tortilla Republic/The Lanai/Merriman Fish House/Eating House 1849, Dolphin, Ruth's Chris and other restaurants. To see the spouting horn, you will walk past a 150-200ft of street vendors selling crafts, everyday of the week.
7. Queen's Bath-dangerous, slippery and muddy on way day, rocky and if you are inside you may get washed out by the waves. But go at sunset and you'll see why.

FARMERS MARKETS
1. Kukui'ula Village Shopping Center - Wednesday Evening, 3:30PM - 6PM. Kauai Sugarloaf Farms attends this, and will let you try their pineapple and buy tours here. There is supposedly a beer garden, but I didn't find it. There is also food from restaurants there, as well as a booth by the "Pie Lady" (The Right Slice).

RESORT FEE INCLUDES
1. Free self-parking (for all, not just Globalist)

2. Free laundry in each guestroom with free laundry pods

3. Towel at Valet for excursions (and after 7pm for pool)

4. Free bike use

5. Sunscreen at pool

6. Hospitality lounge for early arrival & late departing flights

7. Refrigerator in all rooms
  1. Self-parking
  2. Two complimentary refillable water bottles
  3. Purified water stations
  4. Poipu Bay Golf Course and Clubhouse shuttle service
  5. Coffee maker in room with Hawaiian coffee and tea
  6. Complimentary self-service washer, dryer and detergent
  7. Reusable logo tote bag located in closet
  8. Access to 24 hour Anara Spa fitness center
  9. Fitness and yoga classes at Anara Spa
    1. See daily activities schedule, 14 years and older
  10. Hospitality lounge for early arrival & late departing flights
  11. Welcome lei greeting
  12. Guided sunrise walk Monday - Saturday
  13. Hawaiian crafters daily in lobby
  14. Wildlife Walk twice weekly
  15. Hydroponic Garden tours twice weekly
  16. Entertainment and hula at Seaview Terrace
  17. Torch lighting ceremony three times per week
  18. Ukulele, lei-making and hula lessons
  19. Koi fish feeding and parrot talk
  20. Sunscreen samples at pool recreation desk
  21. Mountain Bike use - based on availability
  22. One hour tennis court time daily
    1. Reservations required, equipment rental available
  23. Complimentary boarding pass and incoming fax printing
  24. Unlimited local and toll-free calls
  25. In-room safe
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Grand Hyatt Kauai REVIEW- MASTER THREAD - mid-2011 Forward

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Old Apr 1, 2017, 4:00 pm
  #1426  
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Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Sacramento
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, HH Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Amtrak Select
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Originally Posted by bsdstone
Call the hotel directly, and ask to speak with in house reservations. I've always done that in the past, and they've been helpful and knowledgeable.
+1 for calling hotel direct and asking for in-house reservations. I havent done a confirmed upgrade prior to arrival except with DSU, but I'd say it's a good bet that if you see availability for a suite on the days your friends are going, take that price and subtract garden room price and that is probably what you will pay per night to confirm an upgrade in advance. (Again, not sure they will do this, but I dont see why they wouldnt)
Theyre not going to be able to help you anymore than anyone else here can RE whether an upgrade will be available on arrival.
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Old May 4, 2017, 12:41 am
  #1427  
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
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Originally Posted by Mary2e
A heads up for this summer. I just spoke with the reservations manager at the hotel, and they told me they will not be offering cash & points during the summer.

All other options, such as points & points with a suite upgrade are available - of course, if the rooms are available.

Apparently, they are under siege with people trying to redeem their points and suite upgrades
I just did a search for C&P summer, winter, autumn and spring.

Absolutely nothing came up
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Old May 4, 2017, 4:54 am
  #1428  
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It's a rate that each property is free to offer or not offer..... so hardly a problem there.
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Old May 22, 2017, 3:14 pm
  #1429  
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,860
On award stay as Globalist (Diamond), I get...

- no resort fee
- no parking fee

Correct? Anything else I get for free, besides access to the club lounge as well? Other things I should know about this property? Sounds like diamonds/globalist get treated pretty good at this property? How is this place in July?


From what I gather, this is more of a simple breakfast from the club, vs. how some full service Hyatt hotels offer free breakfast at their restaurant (say Andaz Amsterdam), correct?
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Old May 23, 2017, 10:41 am
  #1430  
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: CMH
Programs: US. HH Diamond but chasing Hyatt
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Originally Posted by factory81
On award stay as Globalist (Diamond), I get...

- no parking fee
Parking is free for everyone. They do have a valet option but that's extra for everyone.
CastAStone is offline  
Old May 23, 2017, 11:38 am
  #1431  
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,860
No free cabanas? Free kayaks in the saltwater pool? Free beach chairs? Free beach umbrellas? Any expectations of welcome gift?
(fruit/wine/beer?)




Originally Posted by CastAStone
Parking is free for everyone. They do have a valet option but that's extra for everyone.
factory81 is offline  
Old May 23, 2017, 12:24 pm
  #1432  
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Originally Posted by factory81
No free cabanas? Free kayaks in the saltwater pool? Free beach chairs? Free beach umbrellas? Any expectations of welcome gift?
(fruit/wine/beer?)
We got a free saltwater pool cabana (or whatever they're called), but that was in Feb., when I was Diamond and not Globalist.
ILuvParis is online now  
Old May 23, 2017, 2:40 pm
  #1433  
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Join Date: Jul 2001
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Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, UA Silver, dirt elsewhere
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Originally Posted by factory81
No free cabanas? Free kayaks in the saltwater pool? Free beach chairs? Free beach umbrellas? Any expectations of welcome gift?
(fruit/wine/beer?)
Not any more. The cabanas were part of the welcome amenity which is no longer given.

I'm not sure about the chairs & umbrellas.
Mary2e is offline  
Old May 23, 2017, 3:30 pm
  #1434  
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,860
So as I set my expectations, about the only thing free at this hotel for a globalist/diamond is

- free valet (they told me on the phone yesterday, not just free parking)
- waived resort charge
- chairs at the beach or pool are first come first serve, and free
- club lounge (breakfast in the club lounge, 1 hot item a day, no free alcohol)

No kayaks, no cabanas, no free rental bikes, no umbrellas, no ultra discounted golf, etc.




Originally Posted by Mary2e
Not any more. The cabanas were part of the welcome amenity which is no longer given.

I'm not sure about the chairs & umbrellas.
factory81 is offline  
Old May 23, 2017, 3:54 pm
  #1435  
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Originally Posted by factory81
So as I set my expectations, about the only thing free at this hotel for a globalist/diamond is

- free valet (they told me on the phone yesterday, not just free parking)
- waived resort charge
- chairs at the beach or pool are first come first serve, and free
- club lounge (breakfast in the club lounge, 1 hot item a day, no free alcohol)

No kayaks, no cabanas, no free rental bikes, no umbrellas, no ultra discounted golf, etc.
Still, you're going to get through this difficult period somehow.
ILuvParis is online now  
Old May 23, 2017, 7:36 pm
  #1436  
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Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Sacramento
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, HH Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Amtrak Select
Posts: 1,339
Originally Posted by factory81
So as I set my expectations, about the only thing free at this hotel for a globalist/diamond is

- free valet (they told me on the phone yesterday, not just free parking)
- waived resort charge
- chairs at the beach or pool are first come first serve, and free
- club lounge (breakfast in the club lounge, 1 hot item a day, no free alcohol)

No kayaks, no cabanas, no free rental bikes, no umbrellas, no ultra discounted golf, etc.
if they're giving free valet, thats an awesome exchange for losing out welcome amenity. Always found valet invaluable. But that's news to me.
joecool1885 is offline  
Old May 23, 2017, 7:39 pm
  #1437  
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Programs: Hyatt Globalist, HH Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Amtrak Select
Posts: 1,339
Person I just spoke to at front desk (Eric) said that free valet is for full points redemption Hyatt globalist guests. So paid rates and P+C not eligible.
joecool1885 is offline  
Old May 23, 2017, 7:42 pm
  #1438  
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,860
I have no doubt I will piss and moan about something, no matter how matter how insignificant. The decor will be too baroque, or showing signs of too much wear. Something.....

If there isn't a bluetooth stereo in the room, I don't even know if I will be able to rest.



Originally Posted by ILuvParis
Still, you're going to get through this difficult period somehow.
factory81 is offline  
Old May 23, 2017, 7:43 pm
  #1439  
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,860
Confirmed. Spoke with them yesterday. FULL points stays as a globalist = free valet + waived resort fees.


Originally Posted by joecool1885
if they're giving free valet, thats an awesome exchange for losing out welcome amenity. Always found valet invaluable. But that's news to me.

Last edited by factory81; Mar 10, 2018 at 5:12 pm
factory81 is offline  
Old May 24, 2017, 9:04 pm
  #1440  
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Tucson, AZ USA
Programs: DL-Platinum / AS-PlatPro / Hyatt - Glob / Hilton-Diamond
Posts: 1,573
Originally Posted by joecool1885
if they're giving free valet, thats an awesome exchange for losing out welcome amenity. Always found valet invaluable. But that's news to me.
To each his own
To me, valet is an extreme inconvenience. I much prefer to walk to my car than have to call ahead and/or wait for someone to retrieve it. I have stayed away from hotels and restaurants where valet is the only parking option.
steve64 is offline  


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