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
Oct 3, 2021, 4:40 pm
#2206
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,454
Oct 3, 2021, 8:42 pm
#2207
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 135
Try [email protected]. Someone recommended that to me upthread and it worked for me.
Oct 4, 2021, 7:46 am
#2208
Join Date: May 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: AS MVPG100, Hyatt Globalist, MGM Gold, Caesars Diamond
Posts: 636
Try [email protected]. Someone recommended that to me upthread and it worked for me.
Oct 11, 2021, 12:09 pm
#2210
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 135
No, you will have no problem going north. I just got back and spent two days in Princeville and hiking the Kalalu trail. The road with the mudslide is completely open on the weekends. That is, IF you can get a rental car.
Oct 12, 2021, 8:28 am
#2211
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 47
Booked a standard-room one-week stay in a couple of weeks and have Globalist status. When do you guys think would be a good time to email them and see if they can get us a room with a view? I heard some people say they'd reach out to the guests a week prior to the stay and I can do it then. Is it worth emailing them a few weeks in advance tho?
Oct 12, 2021, 11:19 am
#2212
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 61
It's the rainy season, so you'd normally wait for a sunny day on the north side to go, but you have to schedule Ke'e beach reservations a month ahead of time. Worth the try.
Oct 18, 2021, 4:13 pm
#2213
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 5
Getting some conflicting research on this that likely can be easily answered by someone here. Do standard rooms have a tub and shower combination or just a shower? We booked an award stay in a few months but have small children that will do best with a tub. Thanks for any info.
Oct 18, 2021, 4:42 pm
#2214
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 600
Getting some conflicting research on this that likely can be easily answered by someone here. Do standard rooms have a tub and shower combination or just a shower? We booked an award stay in a few months but have small children that will do best with a tub. Thanks for any info.
Oct 19, 2021, 2:27 pm
#2215
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,787
Just got back from a points stay. Happy to answer any questions. It was a really great stay and the Globalist recognition is very good. We were upgraded to a partial ocean view in the Poipu wing. We ended up adding two nights while we were there and they couldn't keep us in the same room but they moved us to a room very close by and made the move pretty easy. The laundry benefit for Globalists is really nice.
Over the course of our stay there were a couple of large groups that took over significant parts of the hotel and often moved in groups and had the same schedule, which put some pressure on certain aspects of the resort. And I think many of them all took annoying pills because they were a lot to contend with at times, but the good news is that the resort is so large that it's easily avoided.
The club was weird. Sometimes we'd have it all to ourselves and sometimes it was a line almost to the door. Still, it was really nice to have. The staff there was great. Everyone was great, actually.
I'm sure there is a discussion of this somewhere in the thread, but my points for incidentals on the stay just posted and I was surprised that a large number of things charged to the room did not earn points. I cannot figure out the math to understand what received points and what didn't, but don't go dropping massive amounts assuming it will qualify until you learn what is points-eligible and what isn't.
The saving of pool chairs is just a scourge. No resort has figured out a good way to deal with it, but with a fair amount of real estate taken up by the cabanas that you have to rent, some days it was just so annoying to see five people and 100 towels on chairs. It was usually pretty easy to get a chair near the salt-water lagoon though.
Bottom line is that this a great resort and well worth trying to achieve Globalist if you have a stay planned and Globalist is in reach.
Just to follow up, we ended up in the Poipu wing and it was great. Easy access to the club, and also very easy elevator ride down to 1 to go to the pools and ocean. Resort is big but manageable for wheelchairs.
Over the course of our stay there were a couple of large groups that took over significant parts of the hotel and often moved in groups and had the same schedule, which put some pressure on certain aspects of the resort. And I think many of them all took annoying pills because they were a lot to contend with at times, but the good news is that the resort is so large that it's easily avoided.
The club was weird. Sometimes we'd have it all to ourselves and sometimes it was a line almost to the door. Still, it was really nice to have. The staff there was great. Everyone was great, actually.
I'm sure there is a discussion of this somewhere in the thread, but my points for incidentals on the stay just posted and I was surprised that a large number of things charged to the room did not earn points. I cannot figure out the math to understand what received points and what didn't, but don't go dropping massive amounts assuming it will qualify until you learn what is points-eligible and what isn't.
The saving of pool chairs is just a scourge. No resort has figured out a good way to deal with it, but with a fair amount of real estate taken up by the cabanas that you have to rent, some days it was just so annoying to see five people and 100 towels on chairs. It was usually pretty easy to get a chair near the salt-water lagoon though.
Bottom line is that this a great resort and well worth trying to achieve Globalist if you have a stay planned and Globalist is in reach.
Globalist booked with points. Standard room. We have a mobility impaired person in our party. Do not need an ADA room but would prefer not to have extreme walking. Can anyone give me guidance what to request if we want to be relatively near the club and pool? Any hope of being well located and having a decent view? I understand we may end up wherever they put us but in terms of what to ask for any help would be appreciated.
Oct 19, 2021, 2:49 pm
#2216
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: PHX and LIH
Programs: AA: 2 MM
Posts: 85,561
My 9 day rental car in November went from $896 (compact) to $572 (intermediate) over the past week. A month or so ago, only Budget and Avis were available through Costco. Now Alamo and Enterprise show availability. So, it seems things are getting better.
Oct 19, 2021, 3:45 pm
#2217
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NW Iowa
Programs: Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold Elite, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum Elite, Delta Silver Medallion
Posts: 378
Just got back from a points stay. Happy to answer any questions. It was a really great stay and the Globalist recognition is very good. We were upgraded to a partial ocean view in the Poipu wing. We ended up adding two nights while we were there and they couldn't keep us in the same room but they moved us to a room very close by and made the move pretty easy. The laundry benefit for Globalists is really nice.
Over the course of our stay there were a couple of large groups that took over significant parts of the hotel and often moved in groups and had the same schedule, which put some pressure on certain aspects of the resort. And I think many of them all took annoying pills because they were a lot to contend with at times, but the good news is that the resort is so large that it's easily avoided.
The club was weird. Sometimes we'd have it all to ourselves and sometimes it was a line almost to the door. Still, it was really nice to have. The staff there was great. Everyone was great, actually.
I'm sure there is a discussion of this somewhere in the thread, but my points for incidentals on the stay just posted and I was surprised that a large number of things charged to the room did not earn points. I cannot figure out the math to understand what received points and what didn't, but don't go dropping massive amounts assuming it will qualify until you learn what is points-eligible and what isn't.
The saving of pool chairs is just a scourge. No resort has figured out a good way to deal with it, but with a fair amount of real estate taken up by the cabanas that you have to rent, some days it was just so annoying to see five people and 100 towels on chairs. It was usually pretty easy to get a chair near the salt-water lagoon though.
Bottom line is that this a great resort and well worth trying to achieve Globalist if you have a stay planned and Globalist is in reach.
Just to follow up, we ended up in the Poipu wing and it was great. Easy access to the club, and also very easy elevator ride down to 1 to go to the pools and ocean. Resort is big but manageable for wheelchairs.
Over the course of our stay there were a couple of large groups that took over significant parts of the hotel and often moved in groups and had the same schedule, which put some pressure on certain aspects of the resort. And I think many of them all took annoying pills because they were a lot to contend with at times, but the good news is that the resort is so large that it's easily avoided.
The club was weird. Sometimes we'd have it all to ourselves and sometimes it was a line almost to the door. Still, it was really nice to have. The staff there was great. Everyone was great, actually.
I'm sure there is a discussion of this somewhere in the thread, but my points for incidentals on the stay just posted and I was surprised that a large number of things charged to the room did not earn points. I cannot figure out the math to understand what received points and what didn't, but don't go dropping massive amounts assuming it will qualify until you learn what is points-eligible and what isn't.
The saving of pool chairs is just a scourge. No resort has figured out a good way to deal with it, but with a fair amount of real estate taken up by the cabanas that you have to rent, some days it was just so annoying to see five people and 100 towels on chairs. It was usually pretty easy to get a chair near the salt-water lagoon though.
Bottom line is that this a great resort and well worth trying to achieve Globalist if you have a stay planned and Globalist is in reach.
Just to follow up, we ended up in the Poipu wing and it was great. Easy access to the club, and also very easy elevator ride down to 1 to go to the pools and ocean. Resort is big but manageable for wheelchairs.
Oct 19, 2021, 4:01 pm
#2218
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 135
What floor were you on in the Poipu wing? I am debating about requesting either the top floor (6th?) or the floor that has a walkout lawn. What would you recommend? We will be there for 5 days on points in December with my wife, daughter, and in-laws. I did book club access which is why I'd like to be in the Popui wing.
If we could do it again we’d skip on the suite and choose a great ocean-view room instead. But we’re just a couple so if we had kids, I’d probably choose the suite/standard room on walkout lawn.
Oct 19, 2021, 4:08 pm
#2219
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,787
What floor were you on in the Poipu wing? I am debating about requesting either the top floor (6th?) or the floor that has a walkout lawn. What would you recommend? We will be there for 5 days on points in December with my wife, daughter, and in-laws. I did book club access which is why I'd like to be in the Popui wing.
4 was actually a nice balance. There is a little courtyard area behind the Poipu wing between the rooms and the spa and it is on a hill so it goes from 3 to 4 and so you can walk outside along a nice path from the club up to level 4, which is the lobby floor as well. I kind of thought 4 was perfect for us, despite the slightly better view on 6.
Oct 19, 2021, 4:45 pm
#2220
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: 2,669
Getting some conflicting research on this that likely can be easily answered by someone here. Do standard rooms have a tub and shower combination or just a shower? We booked an award stay in a few months but have small children that will do best with a tub. Thanks for any info.
Last edited by jayer; Oct 19, 2021 at 8:17 pm