Aug 20, 2018, 3:29 am
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):
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
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.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)
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)
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
- Self-parking
- Two complimentary refillable water bottles
- Purified water stations
- Poipu Bay Golf Course and Clubhouse shuttle service
- Coffee maker in room with Hawaiian coffee and tea
- Complimentary self-service washer, dryer and detergent
- Reusable logo tote bag located in closet
- Access to 24 hour Anara Spa fitness center
- Fitness and yoga classes at Anara Spa
- See daily activities schedule, 14 years and older
- Hospitality lounge for early arrival & late departing flights
- Welcome lei greeting
- Guided sunrise walk Monday - Saturday
- Hawaiian crafters daily in lobby
- Wildlife Walk twice weekly
- Hydroponic Garden tours twice weekly
- Entertainment and hula at Seaview Terrace
- Torch lighting ceremony three times per week
- Ukulele, lei-making and hula lessons
- Koi fish feeding and parrot talk
- Sunscreen samples at pool recreation desk
- Mountain Bike use - based on availability
- One hour tennis court time daily
- Reservations required, equipment rental available
- Complimentary boarding pass and incoming fax printing
- Unlimited local and toll-free calls
- In-room safe
Grand Hyatt Kauai REVIEW- MASTER THREAD - mid-2011 Forward
Aug 21, 2018, 11:36 pm
#1726
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,789
Just checked into GH Kauai today. Beautiful resort. Got upgraded to a larger room with ocean view and used club access award. The Grand Club is small, but decent selection in the evening, enough to make a meal out of it.
Sep 25, 2018, 4:29 pm
#1728
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Silver SPG Lifetime Gold
Posts: 530
For the people who have stayed at this resort - would you rather have lounge access or daily breakfast buffet (assuming the cost is the same)? I'm deciding between two packages, and this is the last deciding point. Thanks!
Sep 25, 2018, 5:49 pm
#1729
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 1,394
I've not been since the renovation of the lounge, but it comes down to whether you'd make a point to get water and a snack in the afternoon. The breakfast buffet is undoubtedly better than the lounge. The snacks were not great IMHO and we wouldn't have missed them. But we probably ended up going 3 days out of 5 just because they were there. All things equal, i'd take the better breakfast and get snackage off the property.
Sep 25, 2018, 7:20 pm
#1730
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Midwest
Programs: Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 757
To indirectly answer your question, most Globalist like having the lounge closed so that they can have breakfast in the restaurant.
Sep 25, 2018, 8:15 pm
#1731
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Accor Plat, Htz PC, Natl ExEm, other random status
Posts: 2,876
This is not one one of those inverse snobby “stay local” things - we genuinely believe that the food from outside is much better, unless you’re looking for an all you can eat thing to carry you through lunch.
As a result, we don’t get the package and wind up saving $ on food.
This is consistent with our view that by far the weakest part of the hotel is its food service (and we like the hotel a lot, so we eat at the hotel very rarely. Mostly the kids at the pool at lunch - I pick up the rest or we go out.
Have a a great trip!
Sep 26, 2018, 12:48 pm
#1732
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Depends on the day!
Programs: Marriott/Lifetime Titanium Hyatt/Explorist, Hilton/Silver, IHG Spire,UA Gold
Posts: 17,832
Maybe I'm in the minority, but for me, it's hands down the lounge. I'm not a huge breakfast eater, and with the espresso machine and some solid choices for breakfast, it's more than enough. I've often gone up for a glass of wine or two and a few appetizers for dinner and called it a night...especially early when the time difference is getting to me (I'm in CST). Also nice to be able to get sodas and water for the kids anytime of day.
Sep 26, 2018, 12:56 pm
#1733
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: SPG Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Loews Platinum
Posts: 629
Lounge
My experience is from 3 years ago. Lounge. Is the restaurant breakfast better? Yes. But lounge is a bit more flexible. You can go anytime. You could have two or 3 breakfasts throughout the morning. We turned the evening food into dinner most nights. I think it depends on your style and budget. Lounge allows you to stay on the resort and you dont have to eat outside of the lounge much if you don't want to.
Sep 26, 2018, 3:28 pm
#1734
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,308
Was just there. Lounge food is still mediocre. Decent coffee machine as usual for a hyatt and you can get bottled water here (they put refillable water bottles in the room with filling stations around the property.) Given an otherwise equal choice, I'd take the breakfast buffet.
-David
-David
Sep 26, 2018, 9:51 pm
#1735
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Silver SPG Lifetime Gold
Posts: 530
Thanks for the replies. Seems that it comes down to personal preference. I'm leaning towards going with the option that includes the breakfast package, since I also get daily access to the spa (although not a big value for me).
Sep 27, 2018, 7:57 am
#1736
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Canada
Programs: Virtuoso TA, Four Seasons Pref Partner, Rosewood Elite TA, Ritz Carlton STARS TA
Posts: 4,737
Did you look into if FHR/Hyatt Prive can bump you into a club access room as the upgrade and then you still get the buffet breakfast plus 100USD credit?
Sep 28, 2018, 7:19 pm
#1738
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Texas
Programs: Hyatt Glob (Barely); Marriott Plat Life; AA Up and Down Now Plat; Hilton, UA, BA, HA Peasant
Posts: 2,668
In house mid-month. Club breakfast menu has been reset, again, although believed to be close to finalized. Salad, scrambled eggs, miso soup. pastry, and a warm starch every day. Some were quite good. Some were . . . .not.
Evening still in progress. Hope is to expand on the current salad and one hot item and have some sort of third choice also. Like breakfast some hot offerings were really good, Some weren't.
Won't throw out our daily menu since still in flux but if you want to know the hot-item menus for the days we were there please ask.
Evening still in progress. Hope is to expand on the current salad and one hot item and have some sort of third choice also. Like breakfast some hot offerings were really good, Some weren't.
Won't throw out our daily menu since still in flux but if you want to know the hot-item menus for the days we were there please ask.
Last edited by jayer; Sep 29, 2018 at 7:55 pm
Oct 11, 2018, 10:34 am
#1739
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: IHG Diamond Ambassador, AAdvantage Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 263
I am on the fence between spending 25k points per night for a base room or 33k points per night on a club room. I understand that the club itself isn't very impressive, but it looks like a club room has a guaranteed ocean view. This may sound like a dumb question but is it a "good" ocean view, or just a nominal view that happens to include the ocean?
Also, are the club rooms themselves any better than base rooms? The hotel website has sparse information about them.
I have zero status with Hyatt, so I imagine that booking a base room using points would result in one of the worst rooms/views that the resort has to offer.
Also, are the club rooms themselves any better than base rooms? The hotel website has sparse information about them.
I have zero status with Hyatt, so I imagine that booking a base room using points would result in one of the worst rooms/views that the resort has to offer.
Oct 11, 2018, 12:01 pm
#1740
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Texas
Programs: Hyatt Glob (Barely); Marriott Plat Life; AA Up and Down Now Plat; Hilton, UA, BA, HA Peasant
Posts: 2,668
I am on the fence between spending 25k points per night for a base room or 33k points per night on a club room. I understand that the club itself isn't very impressive, but it looks like a club room has a guaranteed ocean view. This may sound like a dumb question but is it a "good" ocean view, or just a nominal view that happens to include the ocean?
Also, are the club rooms themselves any better than base rooms? The hotel website has sparse information about them.
I have zero status with Hyatt, so I imagine that booking a base room using points would result in one of the worst rooms/views that the resort has to offer.
Also, are the club rooms themselves any better than base rooms? The hotel website has sparse information about them.
I have zero status with Hyatt, so I imagine that booking a base room using points would result in one of the worst rooms/views that the resort has to offer.
I presume but do not know that "club" gets you in the Poipu Wing and a high floor near the club, and not just club access and a random room. You might call them and ask.
There is no difference in room quality other than view and location in the hotel.
The club is better than you are presuming and is one of the better clubs in the US with a quality staff. Having said that, like all Hyatt Clubs in the US, the food isn't what it used to be. That is not to say it is bad. Just not a block long breakfast buffet with 30 choices, or fine dining at night. (You are really getting into subjective here. I like the club and go off property only for lunch, but I'm there to enjoy Hawaii like a local. We save the high-end dining for home. But your preferences may vary).
Last edited by jayer; Oct 11, 2018 at 12:07 pm