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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 Nov 1, 2020, 9:43 am
  #1876  
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Originally Posted by Chris2013
That does help a bit! If I book a suite do I get club access or do I only get club access when booking a club room? I'd really like an ocean view and it sounds as if all the club rooms offer ocean views? It also sounds like standard suites don't guarantee an ocean view do they?
Do you have any Hyatt elite status?

David
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Old Nov 1, 2020, 9:56 am
  #1877  
 
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The standard suite faces the ocean, but because it sits at ground level and has a large lawn in front, there technically isn’t a “view” of the water. I feel the standard suite would be well worth the extra 15k points if the family trip will result in more than two people in the room. The larger common area and a door separating the bedroom will be appreciated.


Originally Posted by Chris2013
Definitely not interested in a parking lot view. I thought standard suites had a garden view?
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Old Nov 1, 2020, 10:22 am
  #1878  
 
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Originally Posted by DELee
Do you have any Hyatt elite status?

David
I’m a lowly discoverist .
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Old Nov 1, 2020, 1:57 pm
  #1879  
 
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Originally Posted by Chris2013
Definitely not interested in a parking lot view. I thought standard suites had a garden view?
yes there is about 50 feet of garden and turf then the parking and greenhouse. That’s where I was put
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Old Nov 1, 2020, 6:12 pm
  #1880  
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Originally Posted by Chris2013
Definitely not interested in a parking lot view. I thought standard suites had a garden view?
IME after 6 stays and around 10 different rooms, a parking lot view suite would be very atypical.
I've stayed in every category suite aside from the newer Pool Suite and Newest Alii Suite. This is a room guide I created, with videos. The Grand Hyatt Kauai: A Room Guide

A little dated, but a lot of it should still hold true today (it looks like the presidential suite has been remodeled since)
I wrote it in 2015, and stayed three more times after: 2016, 2017 (our wedding) and 2019.
Next one will be October next year.
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Old Nov 2, 2020, 7:49 am
  #1881  
 
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Originally Posted by joecool1885
IME after 6 stays and around 10 different rooms, a parking lot view suite would be very atypical.
I've stayed in every category suite aside from the newer Pool Suite and Newest Alii Suite. This is a room guide I created, with videos. The Grand Hyatt Kauai: A Room Guide

A little dated, but a lot of it should still hold true today (it looks like the presidential suite has been remodeled since)
I wrote it in 2015, and stayed three more times after: 2016, 2017 (our wedding) and 2019.
Next one will be October next year.
Appreciate this greatly! Couple questions...between a "standard/garden" suite and a regular ocean-view room, which one do you think offers the best value? I'm sort of debating between using 33,000 points for one of the club-level rooms with an ocean view or 40,000 for a standard suite but I'm pretty torn between the two.

I've also thought about skipping the points route all together and booking through AmEx FHR and hoping for a decent upgrade if I book a regular ocean-view room? So many choices it's hard to decide what is optimal. The benefit of FHR would be the complimentary breakfast for two plus the $100 property credit and hopefully a nice upgrade...
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Old Nov 2, 2020, 10:47 am
  #1882  
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Originally Posted by Chris2013
Appreciate this greatly! Couple questions...between a "standard/garden" suite and a regular ocean-view room, which one do you think offers the best value? I'm sort of debating between using 33,000 points for one of the club-level rooms with an ocean view or 40,000 for a standard suite but I'm pretty torn between the two.

I've also thought about skipping the points route all together and booking through AmEx FHR and hoping for a decent upgrade if I book a regular ocean-view room? So many choices it's hard to decide what is optimal. The benefit of FHR would be the complimentary breakfast for two plus the $100 property credit and hopefully a nice upgrade...
I think the "value" really depends on if you plan on eating at the club most nights, and how important extra space is to you.

I'm not one for compromise though. If it were me I'd be getting a standard suite and paying ~120/nt for club access, and I'd be offering cash on arrival to upgrade to an ocean or deluxe suite. In the past we've even split our club nights so we could eat out a couple days and have club breakfast/dinner on others.
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Old Nov 2, 2020, 11:42 am
  #1883  
 
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Originally Posted by joecool1885
I think the "value" really depends on if you plan on eating at the club most nights, and how important extra space is to you.

I'm not one for compromise though. If it were me I'd be getting a standard suite and paying ~120/nt for club access, and I'd be offering cash on arrival to upgrade to an ocean or deluxe suite. In the past we've even split our club nights so we could eat out a couple days and have club breakfast/dinner on others.
The only use for the club for me would be breakfast but if I book FHR that's already included. I would like some extra space though but don't feel it's worth an extra $500/ night over a standard room unless I decide to use points.
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Old Nov 2, 2020, 3:11 pm
  #1884  
 
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I would not assume the club is or will be open, Even if it is I assume a pre-packaged item shell of itself. But my guess is hot food will not be offered in the club. Call if that is important to you.

Before the shutdown the staff was dishing up takeaway cartons. But then at some point, I think but do not absolutely know, the club closed prior to the complete hotel shutting down.
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Old Nov 2, 2020, 8:16 pm
  #1885  
 
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Originally Posted by jayer
I would not assume the club is or will be open, Even if it is I assume a pre-packaged item shell of itself. But my guess is hot food will not be offered in the club. Call if that is important to you.

Before the shutdown the staff was dishing up takeaway cartons. But then at some point, I think but do not absolutely know, the club closed prior to the complete hotel shutting down.
I guess I figured that the club would be back to normal by December of 2021 and they’d be serving hot food.
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Old Nov 5, 2020, 8:58 am
  #1886  
 
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Any recent report since the re-opening? Have two week booked later this month.
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Old Nov 11, 2020, 4:22 pm
  #1887  
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Originally Posted by Mad4Miles
Any recent report since the re-opening? Have two week booked later this month.
I recently checked in.

The property is almost completely empty and it's ... amazing. Like you have a private resort to yourself. I booked with Amex FHR (which had excellent rates and a 3rd night free promo) and was upgraded to a top-floor oceanfront room with beautiful views.

I've never stayed at this property before so I can't compare before/after. However, in my opinion, staff are extremely friendly and service seems excellent. Covid is taken seriously; however, they *are* offering many services other hotels have discontinued, such as valet parking, bellhop, room service, etc. Some of the restaurants and shopping options are closed. Beach, pool, golf, etc are open.

Highly recommended.
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Old Nov 12, 2020, 3:59 pm
  #1888  
 
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Originally Posted by _fx
I recently checked in.

The property is almost completely empty and it's ... amazing. Like you have a private resort to yourself. I booked with Amex FHR (which had excellent rates and a 3rd night free promo) and was upgraded to a top-floor oceanfront room with beautiful views.

I've never stayed at this property before so I can't compare before/after. However, in my opinion, staff are extremely friendly and service seems excellent. Covid is taken seriously; however, they *are* offering many services other hotels have discontinued, such as valet parking, bellhop, room service, etc. Some of the restaurants and shopping options are closed. Beach, pool, golf, etc are open.

Highly recommended.
Any info on if the club is open and what type of food they're serving?
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Old Nov 12, 2020, 5:38 pm
  #1889  
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Originally Posted by Chris2013
Any info on if the club is open and what type of food they're serving?
Not sure, as I don’t have status. But I’d suspect it’s closed. First, I didn’t see any club level rooms available when I booked. Second, they seem to only have 1 option for each meal (buffet and/or room service for breakfast, pool bar for lunch, Tidepools for dinner).

The lack of dinner options is a tad annoying. Our stay is pretty short, but I could see getting tired of the menu after a week or so.
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Old Nov 13, 2020, 8:59 am
  #1890  
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Is anything open in Poipu food wise?
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