gaobest

The Grotto bar is a bar within the swimming pool. I have swum around and in it. I never ordered anything. I cannot see how they could offer food. Just beverages. Cool fun concept. I just wasn’t interested - I tended to not consume while being in the pool.

kirkwoodj

They serve hot food, we've had lunch or snacks there many times. It is connected to land/kitchen/etc through a door behind the bar. The bartenders remain dry throughout their shift, they do not need to swim to/from work.

gaobest

oops I really missed that part! Thanks :-)
I tend to not eat when I’m in a swimming pool. Just curbside to a pool.

jazz12pg

Any Elite Members know the protocol for receiving the member discounts around the resort? Do you have to show your ID card before ordering at the sit-down restaurants, or can you wait until the check arrives? And can you use the discount when charging something to the room, or only when paying at the point of sale?

Eujeanie

Huh? Boy do I feel stupid now.

kirkwoodj

I just show it when paying for something, and they take care of the discount. Have done at shops, sit-down restaurants, and the Grotto bar.

Eujeanie

I don't recall ever being told this.

godawgs

We are taking a 10 day trip to Hawaii. Right now I have 4 nights booked at the Hyatt Regency Maui, and 5 nights at Hawaiian Hilton Village in oahu. Would you all recommending spending less time in oahu and do 3 nights at the Wailea instead, spending more time on Maui?

First time for my wife and I to Hawaii. I hear there is good hiking on every island, and we just want to go to Oahu for pearl harbor.

Eujeanie

A GREAT hike on Oahu is to hike Diamond Head - what a view from the top. Bring a flashlight because part of it is through tunnels.

godawgs

would three days be enough to experience that and Pearl Harbor? we can extend our stay on Maui and stay at the GW.

Eujeanie

Since this is the GW thread I'm sure you know all the pros and cons of the GW vs. the Hyatt...are you all adults, any kids, like pools, don't like pools...?

But to the Oahu question, if you were pressed for time you could hike Diamond Head at the crack of dawn (when it's cooler, then get an afternoon reservation at Pearl Harbor). Or do one thing a day. But in either case 3 days could be enough, but we also like Oahu and would spend the time half and half.

Are you interested in Military History? We liked the museum literally right next door to the HHV. We are not shoppers, but Oahu is the place to be for that. Are you interested in other Polynesian cultures? We also liked the PCC on the north shore. Are you snorkelers? Maui is great for that, but Hanauma Bay is also.

I've never stayed at the Hyatt but it looks lovely. Kaanapali and Wailea are very different. Splitting your time on Maui is something we have done many times in the past.

It's a tough question without knowing YOU, and what other times you have been to Hawaii and what islands.

godawgs

I was planning on splitting time at the Hyatt, and the GW. Instead of doing 5 nights at HHV, since we are not fans of the city feel. That way we could experience Kaanapali and Wailea each, and still see Pearl Harbor/Diamond head.

It's just my wife and I going - first time to Hawaii for either of us. Some GW availability opened up so I figured maybe we should do 3 nights there and experience more of Maui, rather than the more city-feel of Waikiki.

Eujeanie

That sounds like a good plan. For years we split our time between islands...it was very rushed. Then we started to split time between 2 hotels on each island.

Would you just zip over to Oahu for Pearl Harbor? That can work because it's so close to the airport. Then you can see if busy Waikiki is someplace you want to come back to later. Freeways, high rises....but we find the hotels to be oases.

GW availability (points I assume?) is hard to come by so why not grab it while you can.

godawgs

Thanks for confirming the plan for Hawaii rookies. Standard point availability is showing now for the time we are going to be there, so I can do 3 nights on points. 4 nights Hyatt Kaanapali, 3 at GW, then planning to hop to Oahu for last 2 nights.

we fly to OGG but booked award return from Oahu. So flexible to hop to Oahu later in our trip so we can experience more of Maui, and not feel rushed. We are in DFW and my wife is a small town Kentucky girl - she hates cities and the more I read about Waikiki the more I figured she’d much prefer Maui.

Eujeanie

Sounds like a great plan.