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
#511
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: OGG
Programs: AA PLT, UA Silver, Hyatt PLT, Marriott PLT
Posts: 298
Just finished a wonderful 3-night stay and the Grand Club folks were great, weather was great, and enjoyed our anniversary there. Did not get a room upgrade but didn't need it since we were at the pool or club or dinner most of the time.
#512
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NY
Programs: AA EXP / 2MM, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 143
GHK GM is leaving
GHK has a Facebook post (fb.me/2p63PwMpg) that Doug Sears is leaving as GM (reportedly for Hyatt Indian Wells)...all wish him best of luck, aloha, mahalo.
Any word on who the new GM will be?
Any word on who the new GM will be?
#513
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: LAX
Programs: AA, TY, UR, UA, US, WN, MR, SPG
Posts: 1,453
I'm looking at staying at this property in late June 2014, probably 5 nights for the first 1/3 of my honeymoon. The rest will probably be at smaller, cozy places close to the hiking/snorkeling locations we're interested in. I have about 75K UR points (could send to Hyatt), and looking to get the Chase Hyatt card for the 2 free night certs. The dates we're looking at show the Grand Club room as 27K/night, with the standard Garden View King / Pool View King as 22K/night. Seems like a no-brainer to spend the extra 15K points for that upgrade. I have no status with Hyatt currently, but Gold with Hilton. I'm fairly new to the hotel loyalty program game. Any recommendations/tips on how to maximize value with 2 night certs and enough UR points to get 3 nights in a Grand Club room (81K)? Thanks!
#514
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
(Well, maybe the club menu could be upgraded back to what it was a few years ago).
#515
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: CHA/TYS
Programs: The Mac Daddy of Heimlich County (and low-ball status)
Posts: 2,868
I'm looking at staying at this property in late June 2014, probably 5 nights for the first 1/3 of my honeymoon. The rest will probably be at smaller, cozy places close to the hiking/snorkeling locations we're interested in. I have about 75K UR points (could send to Hyatt), and looking to get the Chase Hyatt card for the 2 free night certs. The dates we're looking at show the Grand Club room as 27K/night, with the standard Garden View King / Pool View King as 22K/night. Seems like a no-brainer to spend the extra 15K points for that upgrade. I have no status with Hyatt currently, but Gold with Hilton. I'm fairly new to the hotel loyalty program game. Any recommendations/tips on how to maximize value with 2 night certs and enough UR points to get 3 nights in a Grand Club room (81K)? Thanks!
#516
My stay was fantastic. I'll be writing a trip report in the next few days and will post a link to it in this thread once it's done.
-S
#517
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 174
We were also there right before July 4th and had a great stay! We booked POV but requested to be in the Poipu Wing near where we were at our last stay. I believe we ended up in a Deluxe OV on the 5th floor (5036 to be exact). It was the larger rooms with a King and Queen bed. The room actually felt bigger than the studio we later had at the Westin Princeville. We were also celebrating our wedding anniversary and found champagne (and 2 bottles of vanilla sodas for the kids) and sweets when we arrived at our room. At check-in I was offered an upgrade to Regency club access for $62 per night because I was a platinum. I said yes and thought it was a good deal for a family of four. It was the first time I used the spa facilities and while it was nice, I think I like the Huntington beach spa better. I do like the lap pool which the Hyatt HB does not have in its spa. But i don't know what the treatment rooms look like since I didn't have any.
I do remember the evening hot item for regency club better in 2010. But alcohol was also free then so maybe it just seemed better
Last edited by ck2003; Jul 9, 2013 at 4:54 pm
#518
#519
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP (OWE), VA PLAT, EY GLD, SPG PLAT, Hyatt DIA, Hilton DIA, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,527
Is worth paying an extra $34/night to book the AAA Breakfast rate here over the AAA rate with Club access for 2?
Is there a way to confirm a Deluxe Ocean View without using NOR1? Am I correct that NOR1 ensures you are charged for an upgrade you can expect as a Diamond? I notice there are charges for Club access etc. whereas other properties alter these to $0 for Diamonds.
Is there a way to confirm a Deluxe Ocean View without using NOR1? Am I correct that NOR1 ensures you are charged for an upgrade you can expect as a Diamond? I notice there are charges for Club access etc. whereas other properties alter these to $0 for Diamonds.
#520
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: CHA/TYS
Programs: The Mac Daddy of Heimlich County (and low-ball status)
Posts: 2,868
Is worth paying an extra $34/night to book the AAA Breakfast rate here over the AAA rate with Club access for 2?
Is there a way to confirm a Deluxe Ocean View without using NOR1? Am I correct that NOR1 ensures you are charged for an upgrade you can expect as a Diamond? I notice there are charges for Club access etc. whereas other properties alter these to $0 for Diamonds.
Is there a way to confirm a Deluxe Ocean View without using NOR1? Am I correct that NOR1 ensures you are charged for an upgrade you can expect as a Diamond? I notice there are charges for Club access etc. whereas other properties alter these to $0 for Diamonds.
#521
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: MCI
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Hilton, Marriott, Starwood, Intercontinental, Avis Chairman's Club
Posts: 157
My wife and I always pay the extra cost for the AAA breakfast rate. We like being able to have the full buffet breakfast including a number of hot dishes, omelets, etc and love the view from the Ilima Terrace. It also gives you the ability to have breakfast later in the morning if you sleep in since the Ilima Terrace breakfast is available until 11:00 or later vs 10:00 (I think) for the club. We typically have a late breakfast and an earlier dinner so we save money not eating lunch.
#522
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: AA Plat, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 507
Though I'm a big fan of the Club at GHK, I've also very much enjoyed the breakfast buffet, service and setting at Ilima Terrace.
If you're the type that enjoys a full breakfast with a wide assortment of heated items, baked goods and fruits, the AAA breakfast rate would be a terrific value.
If you're the type that just wants a nice, quick, peaceful breakfast in the morning (when there's not a lot of families around, like mine), then just having Club privileges would suffice.
#523
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 754
I can understand both sides here though. Ilima is really nice, and the club hot option was meh when I was there. Veggie Eggs Benedict two mornings and an inedible veggie stuffed crepe the other.
#524
I haven't been to the club, so I can't speak to that, but I found the breakfast buffet to be sub-par. It was the only aspect of my stay that didn't wow me -- everything else was fantastic.
-S