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
Apr 7, 2021, 7:39 am
#1936
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: IAD/DCA, USA (MD Suburbs)
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, HH Diamond, Fairmont RIP, Hertz Plat, BA Gold
Posts: 1,624
We are heading here next month for our anniversary (fully vaccinated and ready to get back out there!). I went on OpenTable yesterday to secure some reservations around the island ahead of time (don't want to get shut out due to capacity limits combined with a rush of visitors). Anyway, I noticed that Donderos is closed, but their more popular dishes are available at Tidepools. I'm assuming this is just temporary while the Island slowly starts to get back to normal.
Apr 7, 2021, 5:58 pm
#1937
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 54
I will be staying here in the middle of June and have a room booked on points that I applied a club certificate to when originally booked a while ago. I emailed the hotel a couple days ago asking about the Club status and they responded quickly saying "At this time we do not have a re- opening date for the Grand Club. We are hoping to find out more information in the next 2 months."
Anyone have thoughts on if they would offer us the buffet at llima Terrace instead of the Club if it is still closed or will just tell us to take back our Club upgrade certificate, I am Explorist now but the nights from this stay will make me hit Globalist exactly
Anyone have thoughts on if they would offer us the buffet at llima Terrace instead of the Club if it is still closed or will just tell us to take back our Club upgrade certificate, I am Explorist now but the nights from this stay will make me hit Globalist exactly
Apr 7, 2021, 6:14 pm
#1938
Moderator, Delta Skymiles and Mileage Run
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Seat 2A
Programs: DL Diamond/MM, Hyatt Diamond, former AS MVPG 75K, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,940
I will be staying here in the middle of June and have a room booked on points that I applied a club certificate to when originally booked a while ago. I emailed the hotel a couple days ago asking about the Club status and they responded quickly saying "At this time we do not have a re- opening date for the Grand Club. We are hoping to find out more information in the next 2 months."
Anyone have thoughts on if they would offer us the buffet at llima Terrace instead of the Club if it is still closed or will just tell us to take back our Club upgrade certificate, I am Explorist now but the nights from this stay will make me hit Globalist exactly
Anyone have thoughts on if they would offer us the buffet at llima Terrace instead of the Club if it is still closed or will just tell us to take back our Club upgrade certificate, I am Explorist now but the nights from this stay will make me hit Globalist exactly
Apr 8, 2021, 1:58 pm
#1939
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: SEATAC
Programs: AS MVP Gold
Posts: 187
I will be staying here in the middle of June and have a room booked on points that I applied a club certificate to when originally booked a while ago. I emailed the hotel a couple days ago asking about the Club status and they responded quickly saying "At this time we do not have a re- opening date for the Grand Club. We are hoping to find out more information in the next 2 months."
Anyone have thoughts on if they would offer us the buffet at llima Terrace instead of the Club if it is still closed or will just tell us to take back our Club upgrade certificate, I am Explorist now but the nights from this stay will make me hit Globalist exactly
Anyone have thoughts on if they would offer us the buffet at llima Terrace instead of the Club if it is still closed or will just tell us to take back our Club upgrade certificate, I am Explorist now but the nights from this stay will make me hit Globalist exactly
Apr 9, 2021, 7:42 am
#1940
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 61
At other Hyatt properties with closed Clubs, the globalists get the upgraded breakfast and the club certificates get nothing. (I am in the same situation, hoping for Club to open since Hawaii travel is booming, but increasing our food budget if it doesn't.)
Apr 9, 2021, 12:01 pm
#1941
Moderator, Delta Skymiles and Mileage Run
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Seat 2A
Programs: DL Diamond/MM, Hyatt Diamond, former AS MVPG 75K, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,940
I would argue the breakfast they are offering at the terrace at GH is much better than the mediocre club food. The dinner food has went down hill
Apr 10, 2021, 1:37 pm
#1942
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: 2,670
I would argue the breakfast they are offering at the terrace at GH is much better than the mediocre club food. The dinner food has went down hill
Like virtually every other US club, evenings have become a salad and appetizer prequel before they hope you hit a hotel restaurant--but no fast-casual venue offered on property. I really don't want Tidepools every evening, either in terms of calories or formality. Part of the appeal as a repeat visitor, especially on Kauai, is interaction with the host staff, the afternoon refreshments, and dessert--and dessert might have slipped from what it once was. For those of us who once had to live in hotels to feed our families, well-functioning clubs were a lifeline (even if I'm glad those days are in the past for me) that still have a bit of pleasant nostalgia to them.
From what I hear about Hawaii bookings, it would seem the clubs will be back by early summer. I hear Kauai is OK with that, but some other islands are all but digging up the runways.
Apr 10, 2021, 3:33 pm
#1943
Moderator, Delta Skymiles and Mileage Run
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Seat 2A
Programs: DL Diamond/MM, Hyatt Diamond, former AS MVPG 75K, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,940
I get your point and do not disagree, but still want the club(s) back.
Like virtually every other US club, evenings have become a salad and appetizer prequel before they hope you hit a hotel restaurant--but no fast-casual venue offered on property. I really don't want Tidepools every evening, either in terms of calories or formality. Part of the appeal as a repeat visitor, especially on Kauai, is interaction with the host staff, the afternoon refreshments, and dessert--and dessert might have slipped from what it once was. For those of us who once had to live in hotels to feed our families, well-functioning clubs were a lifeline (even if I'm glad those days are in the past for me) that still have a bit of pleasant nostalgia to them.
From what I hear about Hawaii bookings, it would seem the clubs will be back by early summer. I hear Kauai is OK with that, but some other islands are all but digging up the runways.
Like virtually every other US club, evenings have become a salad and appetizer prequel before they hope you hit a hotel restaurant--but no fast-casual venue offered on property. I really don't want Tidepools every evening, either in terms of calories or formality. Part of the appeal as a repeat visitor, especially on Kauai, is interaction with the host staff, the afternoon refreshments, and dessert--and dessert might have slipped from what it once was. For those of us who once had to live in hotels to feed our families, well-functioning clubs were a lifeline (even if I'm glad those days are in the past for me) that still have a bit of pleasant nostalgia to them.
From what I hear about Hawaii bookings, it would seem the clubs will be back by early summer. I hear Kauai is OK with that, but some other islands are all but digging up the runways.
I would really hope the clubs come back! That would be wonderful.
Apr 13, 2021, 11:10 am
#1944
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 63
In January, I booked a standard 2 queen room for a week at the end of July. I wanted to use a TSU, but had to wait until last week for the GHK to actually open. Sent a DM via twitter, and they were able to apply the TSU to my reservation.
I originally made the reservation for 2 adults and 1 child, so I'll need to add our other child to the reservation now that we have a suite. I suppose a DM to hyatt concierge on twitter is the best way to do that?
I originally made the reservation for 2 adults and 1 child, so I'll need to add our other child to the reservation now that we have a suite. I suppose a DM to hyatt concierge on twitter is the best way to do that?
Last edited by DubSlick; Apr 13, 2021 at 12:31 pm
Apr 13, 2021, 11:44 am
#1945
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: SPG Gold, Hyatt Plat, Fairmont Premier
Posts: 173
In January, I booked a standard 2 queen room for a week at the end of July. I wanted to use a TSU, but had to wait until last week for the GHK to actually open. Sent a DM via twitter, and they were able to apply the TSU to my reservation.
I originally made a the reservation, for 2 adults and 1 child, so I'll need to add our other child to the reservation now that we have a suite. I suppose a DM to hyatt concierge on twitter is the best way to do that?
I originally made a the reservation, for 2 adults and 1 child, so I'll need to add our other child to the reservation now that we have a suite. I suppose a DM to hyatt concierge on twitter is the best way to do that?
Apr 14, 2021, 8:30 pm
#1947
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 54
Apr 22, 2021, 10:50 am
#1949
Original Member and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Programs: DL PM/MM, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia, National ECE, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,579
Nice to see a report of a club reopening! We are staying here for Thanksgiving, so this is a sign that hopefully things will be more normal by then. I haven't booked a hotel for Oahu yet, but hopefully the HR Waikiki will be back to normal by then, I do love its location.
Apr 22, 2021, 11:36 am
#1950
Moderator, Delta Skymiles and Mileage Run
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Seat 2A
Programs: DL Diamond/MM, Hyatt Diamond, former AS MVPG 75K, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,940
I will be honest I am not happy to hear the club is reopening, I was really looking forward to the terrace breakfast. I hate to be cynical, but I can't imagine that a COVID Club Offering (Which is likely downgraded) vs what is a paid buffet will be.