Hyatt Koloa

We were nervous to stay at a large resort that was family friendly for our honeymoon, but it is so large that we hardly saw any other guests! The hallways were always empty and the landscaping around the pool provides great privacy. The room was a good size and the balcony was one of our favorite parts! The bathroom was like an extra room. The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. The only downside other than the price is that its on the south side of the island. We are very active, adventurous people so we spent a lot of our time on the north side of the island where the mountains and hiking are better. But that just gave us more time to drive around the island and see the views, so it was a fine tradeoff. The weather was perfect even though it was "rain" season, we took a risk and it paid off! The restaurants at the resort were great as well and the Spa was perfect. We highly recommend a stay here.

My husband and I were recently married at the Grand Hyatt Kauai with all (6), yes six of our children present. We reserved 3 rooms and had the time of our life. Not only did our Wedding Planner take care of everything, our rooms were beautiful and immaculate. I would not choose to stay anywhere else when on the island of Kauai. The lagoon and its view made for the most perfect days, and Stevenson's Library was very enjoyable at night! The kids loved it and can't wait to go back! If you have the opportunity to stay here you should do it!!!!

We stayed five nights here and enjoyed our stay very much. We had booked through hyatt.com and our package included the breakfast buffet each morning. While we booked a standard king, we were hoping for an upgrade to an oceanview but the best they could do was give us poolside, no ocean view. This property is absolutely gorgeous--from the outstanding view in the expansive lobby area to the incredible pool/beach area that is so well designed. We were fortunate to see the Hawaian monk seals resting on the beach--the hotel is very careful to protect these creatures from being distrubed. The fitness center has top notch equipment and we used it daily. The breakfast buffet was awesome and in a very comfortable setting. We did think for the price the hotel should include free internet access. Liked best: the pool/beach area. Liked least: unfriendly reception upon arrival because we didn't want valet parking.

We just spent 8 nights at the Hyatt and had a wonderful time.

The grounds are gorgeous and the service we received was first rate. The grounds are large, but we easily found our way around. We stayed close to the tennis courts with a view of some of the pool area. The food was very expensive, but also incredible. Our favorite, hands-down, was Dondero's. The meal was fantastic from appetizer to dessert. Tidepools is nice as well, but the food was not as good as Donderos, especially the dessert - the chocolate bomb - good, but not great. My main complaint is that Tidepools was just too warm to really enjoy. We were out on the water, but there was little ventilation or fans and I was very uncomfortable. Final tip: eat at the Golf course; it was less expensive than the hotel restaurant for breakfast and lunch and the food was just as good if not better. Also, the service people at the golf resort restaurant are even nicer than the hotel staff.

We arrived at the Grand Hyatt on Friday May 15, 2009 around 8:00 at night and we spoke to the most wonderful clerk at the desk who informed us at check-in that our terrace view room had been upgraded to a mountain view room. When we mentioned that it was our anniversay we were complimentary upgraded to a beautiful ocean view room that also looked out at the pool and was very close to the elevator and the lobby. We had read on other reviews that the hotel was too spread out but we didn't have that feeling since we were so close to the lobby. Every staff member that we talked to couldn't have been nicer and they were very helpful and nice. The pool was amazing, there was a huge waterslide that could have been at any water park and lots of winding turns and a wonderful lazy river type section. There was also an adult pool, although we had more fun at the large pool than the adult pool. There was also a salt water lagoon that was very nice although we preferred the pool. The breakfast buffet was included in our package and it was very good and we found that we didn't have to eat lunch since we were still full from breakfast. We had excellent dinners at both Tidepools and Donderos, although we preferred Donderos. The Stevenson's Library also had excellent cocktails and appetizers, but be prepared since 4 drinks and 2 appetizers was over $100. The grounds of the hotel are beautiful and immaculate, we walked around the paths every night after dinner and it was very romantic to have the beautiful hotel and hear the waves crashing on the sand. We had a couples massage at the spa and felt completely pampered during our time at the spa and I loved the outdoor shower. Overall, we truly felt like we were in paradise and we have no complaints about this beautiful hotel. Also, for people that don't want a lot of noisy kids around, mid May is a great time to come since they are all still in school. We are already planning our next trip to this amazing hotel!!

This resort is the most beautiful we have visited. The grounds are so beautiful! Everywhere you look there is a beautiful vista. The pools are gorgeous, the lagoon is relaxing the adult pools are peaceful and the (what we called the grotto) is so fun to navigate. There were only a couple of things that we could think of that might be a minus and one of them was the length of the walking to get anywhere, but it really is good excersize but if you have difficulty walking then it will be a problem. The other is the sand at the lagoon pool gets very hot and walking on it is like walking on hot glass you really need to wear your sandals when walking on the sand.

We upgraded to the grand club and that was a smart thing to do, we were there every morning for our light breakfast and coming back to the room after a day at the pool we would stop for an afternoon snack and then at 5 pm it was back down for drinks and all sorts of goodies, a sample of the hot items they served during the week were ribs, lamb chops, spring rolls and my favorite coconut shrimp. They have a you pour bar with every kind of alcohol you could ever ask for and they will teach you how to make speciality drinks, the staff there are great people, very friendly. We didn't partake of the spa but we did tour it and it is very calming and beautiful.

We loved our vacation at the Grand Hyatt and we will certainly be back for more in the future

My husband and I chose to stay here (May 14-20) based on these reviews making the resort the #1 choice. We were not let down. We arrived late on our first day and we were given a room on the fifth floor of the Shipwreck wing overlooking the adult pool and out into the ocean. We paid for a Deluxe Ocean View and I highly, highly recommend it…totally worth the money. This vacation was about relaxation for us, and I loved being able to sit on my balcony while reading a book and looking out into the ocean. Worth every penny to both of us. (FYI – the other wing is called the Poipu wing…and directly overlooks the ocean but is a LONG walk from nearly everything).

The room was very spacious and clean. We actually were given a room with a king bed and a queen bed, which was fine by us. The resort gives you two complimentary (full-size) bottles of water every day in your room which was great for use while you go outside the resort. Housekeeping was done with our room each day by the time we came back.

As far as staffing, everyone we ran into was extremely friendly and nice. Everyone says aloha from the bar tenders to the groundskeepers. We were also told on several occasions that the resort was extremely quiet while we were there. I think we were between two really big conferences going on at the resort. On our last day, we saw 3 or 4 people at the adult pool…very quiet!

The resort itself if absolutely beautiful! Everything is very well maintained. The pools are lovely. We swam in the adult pool and the other pools, all very nice. We did not try the salt water lagoon, although it too looked very nice. The gardens are fabulous and very colorful. The beach was very clean and well maintained. The ocean tide is very strong at the resort, at least while we were there, (actually throughout most of the island) and that made snorkeling difficult (we did not try it).

On our first day, we set out to park ourselves at the pool for a day of relaxation. There were some loud tourists at the pool (not complaining…just makes it hard for me to relax with loud talking), so we decided to rent a beachfront cabana for the day. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! For $50/day, you get a 2 person cabana on the beach with a cover and bar service. It is peaceful, relaxing and has the BEST view – straight out into the ocean! We did this our first two days at the resort and we wouldn’t have done it any other way. On our second day in the cabana, we saw a whale out in the ocean jumping out of the water!!!! Amazing sight for two people from the Midwest!!! The cabanas are on the beach, away from the pools, but unfortunately close enough to the saltwater lagoon that you can hear some screaming children. However, the sound of the crashing waves was enough to keep you relaxed. The resort also gives you all the beach towels you can use, no need to bring your own!

After two days in the cabana’s (FYI – get one reserved by 9 or 10 AM at the latest, they go fast!), we decided to head out and explore the island. The island is not hard to get around, but with two roads (and most of it just two lanes), traffic can be annoying, but it usually only slows you down about 10 minutes or so. We tried ziplining with Kauai Backcountry Adventures – highly recommended! We did a sunset boat cruise with Blue Dolphin Charters around the Na Pali coast…very fun, but if you don’t like 20 foot ocean swells – it may not be for you. I ended up being one of a few people getting sick off the back of the boat. However, the staff on board was extremely accommodating and I would do it again (with more Dramamine!). We did get to see a big group of dolphins, a flying fish, and a sea turtle! The dolphins were quite entertaining, as they were jumping and doing backflips and twists, definitely showing off! It was quite a sight!

The Waimea Canyon is a great sight, as are most of the landmarks you will hear about. The beaches on the north shore are not well marked and, as a result, we couldn’t find many of them (including Bali Hai – not marked!!). We got to see a very rare sight, the full top of Mount Wai’ale’ale. We were told it only shows itself about 10 days a year…we caught it at just the right time, very beautiful!

The Beach House restaurant (about 3 or 4 miles west of the resort) was amazing! It is a little pricey, but definitely cheaper than the resort prices and delicious food! And the desserts…definitely save room!!! Don’t miss the Beach House and be sure to have reservations!

I was worried that bugs would be an issue. If there is a mosquito on the island, it will find me. We did not see a single bug until our very last day. Frankly, I didn’t see any bugs, but when we were on our flight home, I found two mosquito bites. Even when we were out in the jungle for ziplining – not a single bug! We did see many geckos though….and chickens…wild chickens are everywhere!

As for cons of our trip…

The food at the resort was pricey, as others have indicated, but I totally expected it going in. However, that said, Donderos is NOT worth the money unless you really want a gourmet 4 or 5 course meal that takes 2 hours. Don’t get me wrong, the food was very good; we just didn’t think it was worth the money (we are not gourmet food people). Also, the drinks we ordered at the resort had very little alcohol and were very expensive ($13 for a daiquiri) – just a caution. Since the island is less commercial than some of the other islands, it is a bit more difficult to find places to eat off the resort. There are a ton of local places, they just aren’t well marked.

Shipwrech Beach is next door to the resort (part of Six Days Seven Nights was filmed there) and it is a public beach. Near the end of our first day in a cabana rental, we could hear loud music with thumping bass being played from cars in the parking lot. After about 30 minutes of this, we decided to head back to our room (it was near the end of the day anyway)…and of course, right afterward, the music stopped.

As with any family resort, there will be screaming children and loud tourists. Our goal of traveling in mid-May was to hopefully enjoy our trip while most kids were still in school (and therefore not at the resort). I think we succeeded for the most part.

Overall, we totally enjoyed every minute of our trip, even better than our honeymoon in Maui. We would definitely stay at the Hyatt again versus any resort on the north shore (the north shore gets all of the rain and is usually cloudy from what we were told). This resort is worth every penny, as long as you are prepared to spend money. If you are planning on a cheap vacation, the Hyatt is probably not for you.

My husband and I planned a trip to renew our vows for our tenth wedding anniversary. My aunt had been to all the islands and told me Kauai was her favorite. After much research we decided on the Grand Hyatt for the beginning of our stay and I wish I had never left. From the moment i stepped out of the car I was swept away. The grounds were incredible, beautiful and peaceful. The staff was wonderful and the room was exquisite. We did have a deluxe ocean view room so i am sure that is part of it but sleeping each night with the the sliding glass door open and the ocean right in front of me was like a dream. The pool area was incredible and the food at all of the restaurants, while pricey, was some of the best i have ever had. We were only there for 4 days and then left to go to the Marriott resort and did NOT like it at all. After staying at the Grand Hyatt the Marriott was sorely disappointing. I highly recommend this hotel and cannot WAIT to get back there someday!

We visited with another family for 6 days. We had a wonderful time. The resort is beautiful, the grounds are amazing. We traveled with 4 kids total; ages 2 to 16, they LOVED the resort. The lagoon pool was perfect to for the smaller kids, with walk-in beach. We stayed on the Club floor which was superb. Both families ate breakfast every morning at the Club room, as well as afternoon snacks and pre-dinner treats. (with drinks for Mom and Dad). If you are traveling with a family this is the PERFECT resort for you.

We stayed here for the fourth time in 15 years last summer, second time with kids. We have never been disappointed. The rooms, the lobby areas and the grounds are always beautiful.

This time, between our travel agent and the package agent there was a mix-up on the room type and our request for a specific room did not get communicated. We found this out upon arrival. We were booked as a honeymoon couple, not a family of four/anniversary trip. They asked where it was that we wanted to stay. Using their map, I showed them exactly where we wanted to be. They didn't have a room in that area that night so they changed our room for that night to a two-bedded room in another section of the hotel. The floor/hall we wanted to be on had an opening the next day. We left our bags packed in the first room the next morning and in the afternoon we picked up our new keys and went to our new room and all our things were there. The desk clerk checked in with us a couple times that first and second day to let us know what was going on and to make sure all was ok. They couldn't have been more accomodating.

As always everything was impeccably maintained throughout the property. I was impressed with the work they were doing to make the hotel more 'green.' Solar energy panels being installed over the staff parking lot (made the parking a little inconvenient but worth it in the long run) and other energy-saving measures that I forget at this point. The salon staff were very friendly - interesting to talk to about what life is like on the island.

We rented bikes and took advantage of the daily tennis court time. Lots of time in the pools and lagoon and on the slide. We fed the koi and held the parrots in the lobby. This was our longest stay at seven nights and I still wasn't ready to leave at the end.

Some room advice - don't bother with upgrading to an 'oceanfront' because an 'ocean view' affords pretty much the same view but without turning your head slightly and for less $$$. Also, the oceanfront rooms can be a LONG walk and going with ocean view can save a lot of time. If available, a sixth floor room has higher ceilings and makes the room feel bigger. Also some of the rooms are oversized - these are great for families. We had a king bed, a queen bed and a rollaway (which they do not charge for - huge bonus points in my book) in our room and were not the slightest bit crowded. Also the lanais on the oversized rooms are out further so you have more privacy.

The Shipwreck wing is closer to the pool but noisier. I prefer the Poipu wing. There is a longer walk to the pool and lobby, but I think it's worth it. A mountain view means the room is on the side away from the ocean/pool. Perfectly nice view if you want to stay here but are on a budget. Spend time at the pool and get all the ocean view you need there. Lagoon view is the ocean side but on the lower floors.

My wife and I spent a week of our Honeymoon here and the entire week was fantastic. Friendly helpful staff in all areas of the hotel from check in, to pool barman... Swimming pools are superbly landscaped and it was nice to have the adult only pool separate from the main family area at the bottom level. In the evening, great choice of restaurants and Bars, we liked Stevensons Library the best for a few drinks before/after dinner! The golf course on site that hosted Tiger Woods and co numerous times is great and extremely picturesque along the closing holes that run along the cliffs. Only slight downer was that without a car it is quite a walk or taxi ride to get to shops/restaurants outside the resort itself. We would love to go back one day.

Just got back from our second stay at this hotel. Beautiful grounds and grand feeling. Staff is super friendly and accommodating. They know you by name after just a couple of days. They must show them flash cards or something! It is true what other reviews point out, the beach at this hotel is not really swimmable unless you like bodysurfing, but it is as beautiful a beach to look at and sit on as any in Kauai, nice and clean too with no chickens! (if you've been to Kauai you know that there are chickens EVERYWHERE since the hurricane of 1993). The pools here are amazing. We rented a cabana that faced the ocean one day for the views and then went to swim in the lagoon pool. Awesome! I love the meandering salt water lagoon pool. Another day we just sat at the pool. Also used the spa one day for a massage. Amazing spa. Black rock outdoor showers, everything you need in terms of bath and lotion products, just luscious!

The rooms are large and clean, beds very comfy. The decor is not brand new anymore. I recently stayed at a brand newly renovated Hyatt in Aruba so I got a little spoiled. But, the beds and pillows feel new, clean and are comfy. The lanais are roomy and clean. We had an awesome ocean view room as well. Yummy view! Room service left us extra towels every morning and they come in at night and replaced whatever towels we used, which was great. They left chocolate every night too with a little postcard on hawaii. Nice touch!

The concierge and valet workers and were great. We didn't even usually use the valet (the walk to the self park is actualy quite pretty), but my husband would sometimes get the car and they'd run to just to open the door for me. They were also great about giving you as many beach towels as you wanted to use if you're going off ground for a boat trip or whatever. We did a Captain Andy's sailing tour. It is longer and has more "down time" waiting to get to the coast than the north shore boat company launch that we used last year, but it is a really nice boat, they served a nice quality lunch and was truly a very nice excursion. We saw tons of dolphins who seemed to be racing the catamaran and sea turtles. The snorkel spot that the north shore company we used last time was much better. I didn't even snorkel with this one. It just didn't look that inviting. I highly recommend seeing the Napali Coastline by sea though no matter what company you use! The Napali coastline is a must see.

The lobby at this hotel is phenomenal. It's open air with tropical birds. They had great stores too and kiosks with local sellers. Nightly entertainment in the lobby and at the bar was nice because it's a quiet island. They have a nice sandal shop to get reefs, sandals or whatever you forgot or wished you had! They have a store that sells Tommy Bahama if your luggage got lost and a nice jewlery shop as well as a few other stores. The quilt store sells hawaiian themed quilts but they're not made in Hawaii! Don't forget to pack an extra bathing suit! I wanted to pick up an extra one and they had very limited sizes! I would have been in trouble if my bag got lost!

We ate at Tidepools and Dondero's. Tidepools was fabulous. Great food and great ambiance. Dondero's has a beeatiful spot, but the food is very pricey (even by Kauai standards) and the menu is very limited. First off, they say that they're regional italian. I'm a New Yorker so to me italian mozzerella and tomatoe, minnestrone soup, veal/chicken marsala, maybe even some chicken parm (ok, the parm might be too ordinary for a fancy restaurant). There was none of that to be had and the portions were very expensive and super tiny. I weight 105 lbs and am a small eater; it was even small for me! The chocolate souffle, I must admit, was awesome, but is that italian? No cannoli on the menu! They did make a nice tiramasu, but it was with Kalua! That's not italian! Where's the Amaretto? I actually didn't hate it, my hubsband did. Read the menu first and decide before you go, that's all I'm saying!

The breakfast buffet at Ilima terrace was very good and a pretty restaurant. The birds, however, are quite aggressive and actually took a piece of an egg off my hubby's plate! it was quite funny actually, but it did get annoying. They're also missing a waffle station. Generally they have them at Hyatts so I was suprised. Had to order waffle or pancakes off the menu. When I ordered off the menu for breakfast note that they charge $5.00 for a tea bag for each cup! I had two cups of tea for $10.00! I know it's picky when you're spending $500+ a night, but it did seem a little nickel and dimey to me.

All in all though, I love Kauai and this hotel. Went back to it twice now. I've sent three couples that I know there as well and all have loved it. You can't go wrong here. If a swimmable beach is very important to you, you might want to consider the Sheraton at Poipu beach. Just note that with the Sheraton, their Garden View rooms are actually ACROSS THE STREET from the beach! So you have to trepse all your stuff across the street. It's also not as luxurious a feel as this hotel either, not by a longshot. The Grand Hyatt earned its title. It truly is grand and they really did treat us like royalty.

I hope this was helpful to whoever reads it! I rely on this site a lot when making plans so I wanted to be detailed to pay it forward! Aloha!

Awesome hotel.....great service,great views, exotic grounds. When you check in you are recieved with lei greeting (nice touch!!) The pools are incredible!! Never ending twisting turning pools and walkways. There is an adult only pool. A saltwater lagoon and lets not forget the long fast waterslide. Hammocks scattered about are a must try (something about laying in a hammock on a beach that brings a smile to your face). The resort is set on shipwreck beach which is a great beach to see the sunrise or to walk along to get your feet wet but rugged to swim in. The rooms are adequately sized and comfortable. They include coffee, refridgerators, and free laundry facilities. We had a great room location where we could walk right out into the pool area. The restaurants are nice but pricey. $28 for the breakfast buffet or $17 for 2 eggs and toast?? You be the judge. Try Keoki's Paradise Grill in the Poipu Shopping Village for lunch or dinner.

I am scratching my head to actually find something to reproach to this place and honestly it's difficult.

The most difficult thing is probably to take the decision to pay the premium to stay there but once that's done, you won't regret it.

We had an ocean view room and indeed it had a beautiful ocean view with just a few coconut trees in between. Room was very clean, big, well equipped. Service is as you can expect in a grand Hyatt. Staff is super friendly. Location is great because you have a nice and not too crowded beach if you're a beach fan. Parking is free if you have a car and decide not to go for the valet service (valet is 10$ a night). The ocean view rooms can be a bit of a hike to reach (5 minutes from the lobby) but there are really quiet.

And, I keep the best for the end: the pools. Yes with an "S" because there are several, including a huge salted water one with artificial beach. The others are huge too with slider, waterfalls, bridges, river style area, basket and volley ball area, 3 jacuzzis and you name it. I mean it's just fabulous (I am personnaly a huge fan of pools and these ones are just great). All those in the middle of an amazingly well maintained garden.

We also attended the Hyatt Luau and we liked it a lot. Food is good and all you can eat, drinks are all you can drink (including alcohol) and the show was good. It was the only one I saw so I can't compare with the others but we had some people at our table that come every year to Hawaii and they said it's one of the best they saw (for what it's worth...). My tip would be to arrive early so you can have good seats.

The concierge will give you some tips about what to do during your trip but I would advice not to book through them as you can get much better deals if you book by yourself.

Alright, so a great great place to stay, probably the best on the island and if you are a golfer you have the PGA Poipu Bay course right next door and you can check Tiger Woods' lockers and score cards.

My husband and I (along with another couple) were extremely pleased with the Grand Hyatt. When we arrived from Oahu, we had tee times at Poipu's golf course and our rooms were not available. We were told we were given a complimentary upgrade... we said, sure. The lobby was extremely impressive... open from the front to the ocean. But, first, the golf course and the staff are first rate. Extremely helpful and polite... considering the prices (and wind!) in Hawaii, this made the price for golf much more enjoyable. Of the four courses we played in Hawaii, this was by far my favorite! Second, when we finished and got back to the hotel, we discovered that we had been upgraded to the most fabulous suites. Seriously, my friend informed us that she might never leave hers for the rest of the trip it was so nice. And, ours was better! Mind you, we'd paid a considerable sum for ocean view rooms, but really? I'm pretty sure we got much more than we paid for... a living room, dining room, master suite/bath with 3 flat screen TVs. Plus! they have a wonderful pool set up with fresh water and sea water pools. Third, we ate at a wonderful restaurant called Tidepools (though I think I enjoyed it more than my husband). And fourth -- the concierge staff was great as well. Told them what we were interested in and they found us what we wanted (Captain Andy's dinner sail along the Napali coast). All in all, my favorite island in Hawaii AND my favorite resort!

The hotel in itself will provide you with an experience you will never forget. Absolutely gorgeous grounds, friendliest employees we've ever encountered, exceptional service, great amenities, right off the beach, incredible meandering pools, gym, parking, child care, classes, restaurants/bar, etc, etc. Great both for families and couples. The only downside we can think of is that it is very large and sprawling, so those who have problems walking too far should take this into consideration. Oh, and maybe it's not a good thing that it will raise your expectations of all other hotels. One of the nicest 4.5-5 star hotels in the universe! For those of you on the fence about spending this kind of money, do yourself a favor and stay at least a couple of days there. You won't regret it. Thank you, Hyatt, for your generosity. We will be back!

My husband and I stayed for 5 nights in Nov 2009 at the Hyatt and I have to say, is one of the best hotels I have ever stayed at! The rooms were very nice and clean, the grounds were large with many shops and restaurants to choose from but the best part about this hotel was the scenary and outdoor environment!! The pool area is the most amazing thing I have ever seen with different ones to choose from and a water slide! The lagoon was where we spent most of our time but also enjoyed the beach area as well! We had amazing dinners at all of the restaurants and they treated you like royalty throughout the hotel! Make sure to make reservations at the dinner places though, as it helps to get a good table. We also used the spa and had a couples massage outdoors and it was wonderful! The entertainment was great as well at the hotel, but were not able to see the outdoor Luau as it rained that night (rainy season) so we went down the street to a Sunset Restaurant a few miles down the road and it was amazing! I can not wait to come back to the Hyatt for an anniversary trip!!

We (me, wife and kids -- ages 12 and 10) just returned from a week at the Grand Hyatt. We absolutely loved it. As almost all reviewers accurately report, the pool area and lagoon area are truly spectacular. The pools are huge and clean and full of "extras" like islands, waterfalls, basketball hoops, and a volleyball net. The hot tubs are actually hot. The water slide is fun. The salt water lagoon provides another wonderful spot to swim. The staff could not be more attentive or friendlier. The grounds are gorgeous. The rooms are big and comfortable. The remarkable thing about this hotel is that it is perfect for both families and couples. It has many family spots and many romantic spots. Yes, things are expensive here -- but the money is well spent. Even though we had a week of crummy weather, we spent a ton of time enjoying ourselves all around the hotel grounds. Do not miss this place!

Our first impression: WOW! The entrance is pretty amazing with an open air view to the ocean. It was like a scaled-down version of the Grand Wailea in Maui. We got a nice upgrade to deluxe ocean view room. It really is a sprawling resort as evidenced by the half mile walk from self parking to our room. The room itself was pretty standard but the view was spectacular. Looking out onto the gardens and the pool area and shipwreck beach and Makawehi point made just hanging out in the room a memorable event. We walked all around the resort and along the beach. Spent sometime watching people jump from the cliff. The hyatt’s property is lush and attention to detail is apparent everywhere you look. Our afternoon plans which included lazing around by the pool/beach, were briefly delayed by another bout of rain that was much more enjoyable from the comfort of our covered lanai. We had a great time enjoying the pool there, which like the rest of the hyatt, is very well done. The landscaping and tropical plants were nice and the entire pool and lagoon area was very clean.

Stunningly beautiful, the Hyatt is elegant but comfortable. The staff, from the front desk to housekeeping, is friendly and welcoming. The rivers, pools, spas and lagoons are sparkling clean and fun for both kids and adults. This hotel is top of the line; the perfect place for a memorable vacation. We booked through Costco and were pleased with the value for a mountain view room, but when we arrived, we were offered an upgrade to a one-bedroom ocean view suite for an additional $200 per night (this brought the room rate to around $600/nite). It seemed expensive, but the rack rate on the suite was $1630 per night and it was beautiful...it afforded us privacy, which was nice because we were traveling with our 18-year-old daughter, and it was sooooo nice, with its three flat screens, living room, dining room, double lanai...we loved it and felt it was worth the additional expense. The only complaint we had was that we were a long ways from the main part of the hotel; this property is huge and the rooms ramble all over the place. However, being so far from everything was probably good for us because we needed to walk off the calories from all the wonderful food! Our package included breakfast every morning at the buffet (delicious!), and we had elegant dinners at both Tidepools (fresh fish was great) and the Italian restaurant (small portions but delicious). The Dock (poolside) was also very good. Shipwreck beach was red-flagged...not a swimming beach, but picturesque, and it was enjoyable to watch the surfers and the daredevils diving off the huge rock at the north end. Too windy for golf, but who needs golf when you can float on the lazy river and zip down the water slide again and again! The Luau was inside because it rained, making it kind of mundane, but overall this hotel offers a wonderful experience and we will definitely return...love Kauai and the Grand Hyatt!

My wife and I just returned from our 5 night stay at the Hyatt for our honeymoon. This hotel is truly beautiful and we found every little thing at the hotel meticulously maintained. The landscaping is remarkable - you will find multitudes of flowers, plants and trees all around the grounds and all perfectly placed. The rooms are nice - definitely comparable to the Ritz. We ate at Tidepools and really enjoyed it - the restaurant had a nice ambience and we thought the food was very good - My wife had a fish dish and I had the prime rib. The ocean at the hotel (shipwreck beach) is very rough, but entertaining to watch the surfers. The pools at the grounds are beautiful and my wife and I enjoyed the waterslide and waterfalls. We found a lot to do in Kauai - we went to the Canyon, the northshore, helicopter ride, cruise etc. There are also many restaurants (more reasonable priced than the Hyatt) nearby so don't feel pressured to eat at the hotel restaurants. While the hotel is clearly pricey, this is a hotel where you get what you pay for. The pictures on the hotel website do not show just how beautiful the hotel is.

We stayed at the Hyatt March 15-20th for our wedding/honeymoon/family vacation. We had our 2 boys with us 9 & 14 plus my younger brother who is 13. The boys would have stayed in that pool every day if we let them. I give the pool ******.The grounds are beautiful, great place for pictures. I couldn't have chose a better place to get married. The people are so kind, never heard a negative comment. Very attentive.

For breakfast we went to the club house, services was outstanding and the pancakes are to die for(chocolate chip). Prices were a little high but you are in the most beautiful place on earth enjoy it while you can. Next time I will stay longer and I will definately chose the Hyatt again.

The grounds are amazing - simply beautiful and very well maintained. The service is top notch! We had a red-eye flight home and they provided us with a hotel room for showers before our flight (we checked out at 12). The food at Dondoros is amazing and expensive. Well, the entire place is expensive. But, I must say, for a honeymoon, it was delightful. The place is very family friendly, but we found that we could still escape the kids and find a place of our own (having an adult pool area was a real plus!) And the spa is outstanding! I had a facial and was able to enjoy the entire spa facility - steam, sauna, etc.!

Overall the property was great - we booked an ocean view suite, which was quite a walk from the parking (completely on the other side of the property) but the view along the hallway helped ease our tired adventurous bodies. The gardens were awesome, serene and just beautiful. The pools, the lagoon and the beach are enough to keep you busy for a couple of days. We tried each restaurant for our every meal and they were just great (but of course expensive). The hotel staff were all friendly and accomodating. We requested for a late checkout and they allowed us to stay in our room until 9pm for a minimal fee. We also booked for luau dinner buffet and while it was held inside the ballroom (because the weather will not provide a good outdoor experience), it was a great party. They also have a nightly entertainment at the garden terrace and we watched the complimentary Hula dance. There is just so much to do in this hotel that you could stay here for at least 2 days and be both occupied and relaxed!

We just returned from a four night stay at the Grand Hyatt Kauai. Since the prices were lower this year we' decided to give it a try and I was very pleased. Our two children , four and six, loved the pool, the lagoon adn especially the slide. We loved the lush landscaping, the nightly Hawaiian music and the relaxed vibe. This hotel manages to strike a perfect balance between being a great place to bring your kids while maintaining an upscale, peaceful atmosphere. Unlike the Hilton Waikoloa Village, you don't feel like you are at Disneyland. The pool is set up in way that it meanders through shady landscaped areas with lots of privacy and quiet. Perfect for fairskinned kids, its possible to swim in the shade all day if you want to. The staff was very nice and accommodating but not breathing down your neck every minute. We stayed in the shipwreck wing, groundfloor, pool access was very easy.

The downside is the food, very expensive, despite a decent kids menu. Take advantage of the happy hour appetizer menu and Brennecke's Deli on Poipu Beach to save a little. Also, older kids might get bored here, very slow.

Expect an $18 a day resort fee, this covers parking, the fitness center, the tennis courts and free use of laundry. I didnt mind b/c we got the room for $329 a night. I would have been less impressed by his hotel had we paid the usual $500-$700 a night. It lacks the super luxury feeling of a Ritz or Four Seasons. More like a top notch 4 star.

We loved the Grand Hyatt experience. Glad we did it once but probably will do something different next time. As has been reported in numerous reviews, the grounds and public areas of the hotel are magnificent. We enjoyed just walking around and admiring the landscaping. We found the pool complex to be great fun (big compliment from my husband who can’t sit still very long let alone by a pool). Yes, there are some of those pesky kids who get into the adult pool every now and then but we had some pretty loud adults creating more noise than the kids. The pool bar service was not very good though. My husband had to walk up to the pool bar a couple of times and was made to feel like he was disturbing the bartender. Odd.

Our room was a Deluxe Ocean Front with a lanai looking over the adult pool. For the price we paid for the room, I honestly would have expected more. The room is laid out like any other hotel room from a large hotel you have stayed in. Nothing unique or special. For the price, I would have expected a much larger room and/or lanai. (Quite an adjustment from our previous Hawaii stays at the Fairmont Kea Lani in Maui and the Hotel Hana Maui where both the rooms and the lanais are spacious). Nicely decorated but again, nothing too unique.

We enjoyed a couples massage in a semi-outdoor setting – very nice. I also had a great manicure (they fit me in between bridal parties!). The spa is quite special here with spa food choices, quiet lap pool, outside rock showers and fully equipped changing rooms. Their signature spa scent is a Coco-Mango that just smells like Kauai to me. I purchased a large jar to bring home to remind me of this little bit of paradise.

Now dining…the breakfast buffet was great. Service was efficient and very pleasant no matter how early we showed up. Plenty to choose from and we could decide from a wide range of healthy and not so healthy choices! We ate at Tidepools…nice location, good food but very expensive. If we are not really starving at dinner time, we often just order a salad and appetizer and share them. We tried this strategy at Donderos; not such a good idea – the portions are really, really small. OK, just saved room for a fresh baked pastry in the morning!

One of our favorite Kauai memories was the keiki hula show held in the Seaview Terrace. What a lovely setting to sit back, enjoy a beverage and watch these talented little kids!

In summary, very nice people working at a lovely hotel blessed with an amazing location.

We stayed here for part of our honeymoon for just 4 nights. We found the hotel to be a great place to stay. The grounds are really fantastic and the way the pool twists around the whole drop down to the sea is great - probably one of the nicest pools to sit around! The top part of the pool is adults only, so we managed to get some peace and quiet. Children occasionally drifted into the top pool but it never caused a real problem. I recommend the evening event they put on, it was something very different and worth the money. Even though we went there about 18mths ago, I still remember the Italian restaurant that we ate in as being one of the nicest meals I've ever eaten - enhanced by sitting outside watching the sun set.

The rooms were just avergage, they weren't dirty or anything, but could do with a bit of a facelift - and I agree with other reviews that the corridors didn't do the hotel any favours either, this didn't really affect our stay but I didn't really think they were 5*. Finally, there are people who visit this hotel who have serious money - and very occasionally it felt slightly 'snobby' - only slightly.

Overall, great hotel, amazing grounds, we would return.

It has been almost three years since I visited the Grand Hyatt in Kauai, but I still remember the view from the lobby clear as day. It was absolutely picturesque. After many hotels I've been to, I still think about the Grand Hyatt's property as one of the most lush and tropical hotels I've ever stayed at.

My boyfriend at the time was there for a conference, so I had time to myself to discover the hotel by myself. The grounds were so beautiful, it made me want to have a destination wedding there.

The rooms themselves were slightly on the smaller side, with nothing memorable to speak of- but at least it was clean and did not smell. The service was great.

We had dinner at Dondero's, which was okay. They did have pretty interesting preparations-- I still remember my squid-inked pasta, even though the flavors were a little plain.

The spa was wonderful as well. When we were there three years ago, they were undergoing renovations in the spa-- so I can't quite comment on their facilities. Their therapists were wonderful though- very experienced and skilled and knew exactly what they're doing.

Overall, I enjoyed my stay at the Grand Hyatt, and would definitely go back again.

We stayed at the Hyatt for 5 nights. My family travels extensively and we usually stay in the top hotels in the area. The property is huge. Here are my pro's and con's.

Con's...The hallways to the rooms are very dark and it's real confusing to find your room. THe elevator signs are not marked well and you feel like you are in a Maze to find your way back to your room! The "directionals" are not marked well and you really need to pay attention or you will get lost! To get to the pools, you really have to walk a ton (great if you are in shape and young, but if you travel with older family/friends, it's very hard to get around!!!!) This was our biggest complaint. The rooms were so far from the restaurants and far from the pools. Advice if traveling with seniors....ask for a room near the "center" of the property.

Pro's....Very lush and tropical grounds! Pools were nice. Beach beautiful! You need to pay $50 for a beach cabana if you want "beachside" view, or free lounge chairs away from the beach by the pool. The gym was one of the best I ever experienced in a hotel! It was awesome! Breakfast buffet really nice. Changed daily and excellent service. Everyone working there was extraordinarily nice! Restaurants were pricey...expected for Hawaii. We went on a fishing expedition one day and caught our own fish. The chef at Tidepools cooked it up for us and made 2 types of sushi for us and 2 different preparations of cooked tuna, Hawaiian style. It was really special, but still very expensive. The luau was exceptional! Food delicious and plenty of veggies and choices of meats. Excellent banana cream pie! 2 people got engaged that night in front of all of us!

This type of hotel is not my thing, but the grounds were absolutely spectacular!!! The rooms were nice, as you would expect from an upscale hotel chain. They do go overboard with nickel and dime charges for everything... the hotel restaurants were nice but overpriced, as you would expect. Kauai is a beautiful place and this is a nice hotel. For the price, however, I would have rather got an oceanfront condo or a boutique hotel.

My husband and I traveled to Kauai from May 12-19 and stayed at the Grand Hyatt Kauai for the entire trip. One of my first thoughts upon arrival was how beautiful the grounds were and how in the world I would figure out where to start taking photographs--just gorgeous anywhere you looked. Words just cannot describe the grounds of this resort. Lush green plants, palm trees, flowers, pools everywhere, hammocks, etc.!

We did run into a snafu upon arrival, though. The first room we were given had a moldy smell to it, and we promptly called and asked for another room due to my sinus issues. It wasn't a problem, and they took care of it right away. The room was spacious and overall a very nice room, but by far not the nicest room we have ever stayed in. The one thing I didn't like about the room was the fact that there was no soaking tub, and the shower was in the same area as the sinks. Oh, and the fact this is such an enormous resort, and it took quite a while to walk to the lobby or pool area from our room. Otherwise, it was fine. Room service was always very prompt. There are no microwaves in the room, and since I have sinus issues and need to use a sinus irrigation unit every night, they were very prompt about coming to my room and heating water up for me. We also ordered room service one night, and it was very prompt as well.

We dined at Tidepools and Donderos for dinner two of the nights we were there, and ate at The Dock restaurant most days for lunch. Food at Tidepools was outstanding. I would highly recommend it. Our dinner at Donderos was pretty good. Nothing to write home about. We experienced great service at both restaurants We are not big wine connoisseurs, so I apologize that I can't help out in that department.

We had planned on making spa appointments, but the spa at this resort is just way overpriced. However, for a fee of $30 you could use the spa facilities for a day. The facilities seemed nice, as we did take a tour, but we decided not to use them. The gym was very nice as well, and we used it on two of the days that we were there. We also played tennis one evening. They have three courts.

One of the big downsides to this resort, and the reason I am not giving it five stars (would give 4.5) is the fact that the pool service or lack thereof is horrible. Now I did see girls walking around, and every now and then you could get a drink, but on several occasions I ordered drinks, and our server just never came back. This is just not acceptable at a resort of this level. Also, drinks are really expensive. We did purchase soda at a grocery store and some snacks and used our in-room fridge to cut back on at least the soda charges. However, something should be done about the pool drink service. I can honestly say that's really the only complaint that I have.

We did attend a luau. Due to the threat of rain, it was held indoors. This was a disappointment, but nevertheless it was still wonderful. I really enjoyed it, and I would highly recommend this to anyone who has never been to one. The food was average to good.

This resort was always very clean, and we were always greeted with Aloha any time we ran into someone working at the resort. I miss my Aloha greeting!!

My husband and I also had a photograph taken while staying at the Grand Hyatt. If anyone wants info about this, please contact me, and I will give you the photographer's name. She was at the resort with a kiosk in the lobby area several days we were there. I thought her pictures were very reasonably priced, and she did a nice job!

The beach area is very nice, but not swimmable. There's a walking path right off of the beach where my husband and I took some great pictures off of the beautiful cliffs and Shipwreck Beach. I highly recommend packing a tripod and heading up there to get some incredible pictures!!

I also highly recommend a helicopter tour. Thanks to all of the TA members who gave me advice on doing this. We took a Safari Helicopter tour and had an incredible pilot!! Highly recommend them.

We also went on a zipline tour at Back Country. This was one of the highlights of our trip!! Thanks to Jamie, Timmy and Chris there. They are beyond awesome!!! This was a total blast!! They were so much fun to be around and made everyone feel at ease. Very professional!

Overall, I have to say my first trip to Hawaii was heavenly and won't be our last. The Grand Hyatt was one of the most beautiful resorts I have ever stayed in. Thanks again to all of the excellent advice from fellow TA members about recommendations on restaurants, things to do while in Kauai, etc. Mahalo!!

We stayed at the Grand Hyatt from May 9th - May 15th. We checked in around 4:30 and were told we were upgraded to an oceanview room from a garden room. We weree pleased. They took our luggage and told us how to cross the courtyard and get to our room. Our room was nice with a very nice view of the ocean and part of the pool. The room was big and so was the bathroom. The tables were a bit scuffed and although the room was nice I think it could have been furnished better. Pads on the chairs outside looked old but were comfortable. The bed was very comfortable.

Our first night we went to the tidepools for dinner. It took us time to find the restaurant. The hotel is spread out and you need to find your way around. They should give you a tour of the grounds when you get there as it is needed. The tidepools atmosphere is very nice and romantic but the food is only fair. Too much waiter chatter when you want to talk to your spouse and just relax. We also ate and Dondero's one night. Beautiful atmosphere - terribly sweet martinis and fair food.

We liked the pools. The meandering pool with the current is the best. Children go into the adult pool and no one monitors it. The lagoon is nice but the sand around and in the lagoon is very coarse and hurts your feet. At the adult pool there are not enough towell bins to leave your towels so people leave towels on the chairs and you think the chair is occupied when it is not.

The breakfast buffet which was included in our package was good. The service very good and the view of the fishpond is better yet as there is a nice white swan.

The beach is beautiful although you can't swim in it. To the right side there are tidepools which are nice to wade in.

The grounds of the hotel are gorgeous. The flowers, birds, parrots are beautiful. The lobby is very nice and so are the many little stores in the hotel. Of course they are expensive.

The elevator in our building broke and then we could not figure out how to get back to our room as we now had to go a different route. It was like going thru a frustrating twisting maze and there is no one to help tell where to go. It takes a couple days to learn your way around.

Very good massages at the spa. They do a good job. Loved the lava rock showers where you can look to the sky.

The service was good and they went all out for our anniversary and my husband's birthday. They gave us champagne, wine and cheese plates,etc. We also had turn down service but you need to ask for it.

All and all the Grand Hyatt was nice and we would stay again but they nickel and dime you with the resort fee where you don't get all that you are suppoed to get, i.e.newspapers were nowhere to be found for days. The restuarants are overpriced for what you get.

PS. We liked Lillykoi the white cockatoo.

The Grand Hyatt was amazing. The people there were so friendly and helpful (they even took the time to help us get our marriage license at the last minute!) Everyone seemed to know us by our names! The views were amazing and there was so much to do just on the grounds of the resort! I loved the complimentary waters everyday and the yummy champage that was left in our little fridge for us to celebrate our wedding day. The spa did my hair and makeup for my special day and they did a wonderful job but once again, they were very pricey for their services. The breakfast buffet was out of this world and so was the Tidepools restaraunt that we enjoyed immediately after our wedding. This place was spectacular but I only wish it was a bit more affordable. I am happy to have stayed there for my wedding/honeymoon.

The pool and grounds are AMAZING!!!

Pros:

1- Pool and grounds are just unbelievable!!!

2- you FEEL like you're in a very plush resort

3- many restuant options at resort

Cons:

1-Beach is okay not nearly as good as the Sheraton,

2- Breakfast buffet is also not as good as the Sheraton,

3- you have to pay to use the internet in the business center,

4- it's huge so depending on where you room is you may have to walk a lot to get around

Overall this place is amazing - it is pricey but you feel like you get a lot for your money.

The grounds and room are very nice. The hotel staff were all friendly and helpful. The drinks, food and activities were very overpriced. There were no hotel supervison of the children who seemed to think they belonged in the adult pool.

Agree with other reviewers. At full price, not worth it. They nickle and dime you. Rooms were nice but not over the top ($500 min) nice as one would expect. Comfy beds and sheets. 4 people in our room, never given more than 4 avg. size towels-come on, be a little anticipatory (is that a word?) and give us 6 towels. Ants found on crumbs AFTER the room was "cleaned" No turn down service. The grounds are really nice with great pool area. Towels left on chairs were not picked up so many chairs stayed "occupied". Nothing less than 3 1/2 feet except the salt water lagoon. Annoying. Poolside mai tai- 13$ in crappy plastic cup. Lagoon nice, ocean NON swimmable. annoying. Nice evening entertainment. Poi pu golf club nice place for breakfast with half order/half price for kids. Very happy there-great pancakes and eggs. Nice to be greeted by name and good food. They served asian food for dinner-Yum Chai or something which was great. The sashimi was like butter, my 8 yr old daughter even ate it. Free leis everyday at the valet-don't be shy to take.

Kauai ATV was a great adventure trip with our 2 kids.

Brenneckes was lame. Keokis was good, nice fast bar area. Poipu Burger Grill in same center also good for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Waipouli Rest north of Lydgate park was great. Not fancey but good food. Roys was Roys.

The Grand Hyatt Kauai is a wonderful 4+ star FAMILY resort on Kauai. It is located on the sunny side of Kauai and its biggest asset in its pool and grounds. We have stayed here 4 times over the years in ocean front rooms and suites. While the grounds are as lovely as ever, service has definitely slipped. It was a 5 star many years ago, the facilities are still 5 star but unfortunately they have cut the number of staff and services available. When I am on vacation, I like to be waited on and I will gladly pay top dollar and tip well for it.. Cocktail and food service poolside was severely lacking this trip. It was ok at the adult pool, but the days we chose lounges by the river pool or lagoon we usually had to go to the bar or the Dock restaurant to order our own food/drinks. The dock "restaurant " poolside is a serve yourself take out kind of place. Once you order, they do bring it out to you if you sit at one of their tables. The food is served in plastic containers with plastic utensils. Their ahi sashimi is wonderful, but it would taste so much better served on a real plate. This is your only lunch option unless you want to get dressed and go up to the Ilima Terrace restaurant off the lobby. Service in Stevenson's Library at night was very good and they have a sushi chef cutting fresh fish a few nights a week. They had excellent musicians entertaining at night. Dondero's, the hotels 5* restaurant opened after a redo midway through our trip. The new menu has very small portions (tapas sized) but they kept the high prices. My caesar salad had 4 lettuce leaves, thats it! Unfortunately the prices printed on the new menu's were not always the same as the price in the hotels computer system. We were significantly overcharged on 3 items which we brought to our waiters attention. Our waiter apologized and was very professional in correcting the mistakes but the manager refused to come out from behind the kitchen door and speak to us. We could see him peeking around watching for us to leave. We spend over $400 that night for 2 adults and 1 child for dinner and we all left hungry. The manager should have come out and possibly comped 1 dessert or better yet the items that were incorrectly priced. Service at sunset on the seaview terrace was deplorable. 20 minutes before a waitress approached and then 30 more minutes before drinks were served. They need to hire double the help .Maid service was good but also not up to past visits. I understand that many families love the empty refrigerator in the room, but what happened to the mini bar? The hotel is so large that I do not want to walk half a mile to the bar or call room service and wait 30+ minutes every time I want a beer or a soda. Internet prices in the business center were crazy. The kids racked up a few hundred dollars before we knew it. Overall, our kids loved the Hyatt. I would return as a family but never as a couple. There were honeymooners in their early 20's but this really is a FAMILY resort. If you want 5* luxury and an adult vacation, stay on the other side of the island at The St Regis, formerly The Princeville hotel which is currently closed for renovationsuntil summer. We have stayed there 15 times without the kids and will return many more.

Booked a room here for a 5 night vacation with wife.

The hotel is gorgeous - the pools/landscaping are immaculate; the staff from the maids to the waiters to the front desk were all super professional. I also liked the fact that it was easy to park so getting outside the hotel was super easy.

We booked the stay 3 get 1 free deal with includes free breakfast. We were upgraded to a mountain view room. They offered a pool view room for another $40/night, but we didn't think it was worth it, and we were happy with the mountain view. The free breakfast is a really nice bonus - they are giving out a lot of free breakfasts though, so be warned that the buffet does get a bit crowded (and tip is not included, so planning on spending some money there).

For restaurants, we ate at tidepools, lunch at the golf clubhouse, and sushi one night in stevenson's library. Tidepools is one of the coolest nighttime settings i've ever seen. Pretty good food also (though not cheap). The sushi in the lounge was good, but not worth $20/roll. Lunch at the golf clubhouse was good and reasonable.

Also, for golf - the course is gorgeous and lessons are actually affordable - would highly recommend this.

A couple of minor issues (though none really gave me a bad impression of the hotel)

- Drink service - I expected the high prices based off the reviews - my only issue was the selection. It was nice having 2 local beers, but other than that, it was $8 for a can of bud light, cornona, or heineken - it would've been nice to throw in something a bit higher end - maybe hoegarden or hefeweizen. For wine service in restaurants, it's expensive and mostly mass produced crap - they could pay more attention to the selection. For example, it would've been great to serve an interesting rose rather than beringer white zinfandel. For mixed drinks, they couldn't make a mojito by the pool - would've been nice.

- Luau - they decided that they thought there was a threat of rain so held it in the hotel ballroom. While the show was kinda cool, the overall environment made it feel like a bad wedding vs. having it on their beautiful outdoor areas. For $90/person, i would've liked the option to cancel it when they decided not to hold it outdoors. My only regret on ther trip was spending money on this vs. something like a snorkleing tour.

Loved the lagoons and the private spa huts, but otherwise hotel is in need of a makeover and improved management. The entrance is grand yet the rooms are a real disappointment and are in need of a makeover. Everything seems dated. Really no frills and hardly feels like the 5 star hotel you would expect and definitely not comparable to a Ritz Carlton or Four Seasons 5 star standard which we have come to love. We enjoyed our mornings at the spa, but the spa cafe was poorly staffed during peak breakfast hours (1 person serving all and preparing all food!)

although the 1 server/chef was just lovely and doing her best. The yoga class in the afternoon we scheduled our day around to attend was canceled which we found out when we arrived a few mins before. The tandem bikes they had available for guests were in terrible shape. The only one we could take out had no front brake and my husband had to put back on the chain at the hotel shop before we could even go out. The hotel was so crowded - some people who did not even seem like hotel guests - that we had to go swimming in the pools at 7 a.m. to avoid the rush. We would not return or recommend this property for travelers looking for real 5 star quality service, rooms and amenities.

The hotel itself is very nice. The lobby is huge and open air and looks out on the ocean which gives a great first impression. Stevenson's library is one of the nicest parts of the hotel. It has a nice bar, live music and night and pool tables as well as a sushi bar. The pools are big and have a slide so its good for kids. Otherwise, the rooms themselves are pretty old and definitely in need of some updates. Service was pretty bad in essentially every possible way. Staff is just plain not well trained, if at all. Food was mediocre in all of the restaurants. Spa and gym are pretty good as far as resorts go, but not exceptional. If you're looking for a nice resort to stay at in Kauai, perhaps the Princeville St. Regis is a better choice. If you're just looking for a big resort somewhere in Hawaii with lots of activities, especially for kids, I would recommend the Grand Wailea on Maui instead.

Went to Kaui with husband for 5 night..We stay in hyatts..This use to be a Hyatt not a Grand HYatt and it shows.The rooms are really not so great, more like a Days INN..The only thing going for this hotel is the location, the location is great and has a great breakfast. Kaui is amazing and beautiful, but I swear we could not find a great meal there you would think it would have amazing fresh foods..We would so go back to Kaui but would look for a better deal.They were only at 65 percent occupancy when we were there and the front desk clerk was kinda rude when we asked for upgrade and the room we had was not nice..The pool is excellendt and the grounds are excellent thta is what your paying for..

We stayed at the Hyatt for 4 nights in july '08 for part of our honeymoon. We arrived at the hotel and checked in, and then were sent off with a map to find our room. The hotel is spread out, so we got lost many times searching for our room! Not a great start...the hotel should send you with a bellman or someone to guide you...not send the bellman ahead w/ our luggge. In the room we were greeted w/ a bottle of champagne which was nice. However, the room itself was disappointing. The furniture was worn, the bathroom fairly small and also worn. It had a dirty looking shower curtain which skeeved us out a bit. There was a musty smell through out the room and hallways. For $500+ a night, I would expect much better! The ground, however, were beautiful. The pools and beach were lovely. The water was too rough for swimming, but that's not the hotel's fault! The service at the pool was lacking, and the overall hotel service was not at the 5 star level. We did love the island of Kauai and plan to stay at the Princeville St. Regis when we return. For comparison, we stayed at the Four Seasons Maui after the Hyatt and that was unbelievably nicer all around -- accommodations, service, atmosphere.

Okay, I'm 6 months late in writing this, but after staying at the Kauai Hilton for only $99/nt a few weekends ago, and having had a $439/nt. room at the Hyatt, I had to voice my comparison and disappointment. I may add the pictures later, or not. I live here on the island and I don't want to embarass my friends and some relatives that work there.

We had a ground floor garden/ocean view. Their tropical plants and landscaping is impeccable, excellent, and definitely 5 star. But, we came in at night and didn't see any of that until the next morning. What we did see when checking in at 11:30 at night was tired, cordial but not overly friendly valets, receptionists, and cleaning people. You would expect 5 star personalities for the price you pay for these rooms, no matter what time of the day or night it is.

The walk to our room took almost 15 minutes and we got lost several times trying to find it. It is a large hotel, but carrying our bags, and being so tired at that time, it seemed like an endless walk! Every hallway looked the same and sometimes we ended up at dead ends. We even got lost when checking out and the only way we could tell where we were was by looking out a window and seeing where the ocean was and walk away from that direction.

Okay, now for our room. SMALL!! There were no frills or fancy that you would have expected from a hotel like this. You're pretty much paying for the name and the views. Upon closer inspection, we found mildew growing on the underside of the faucet in the bathroom and the shower, and mold on the curtains. You could also hear everyone passing in the hallways.

We only stayed one night and we did have the Hyatt Sunday brunch which cost $65/person without the champagne or tax/tip. It was a really good brunch with a sushi bar, seafood bar, omelette station, carving station, etc.

The pool is excellent and beautiful, water slides, salt water ponds, pool bars, tropical plants, etc.

Location is great, the beaches are right off the hotel where you can watch body boarders and surfing. Poipu Beach is 5 minutes away, as well as Kiahuna Shopping Village. Old Koloa Town is just 10 minutes away with stores, shops, and restaurants. But, there are cheaper hotels and condos that are in the same area as the Hyatt.

All in all, I would not stay there again for that price. I've stayed at the former Grand Hyatt Waialea, which was far better in comparison to this one. This is just an OK hotel, or for the price a not OK hotel.

I wanted to love the Grand Hyatt, truly, I did. And to be honest, I did end up enjoying myself in Kauai once I'd swallowed my initial disappointment over the resort and adjusted my expectations (we'd just come from The Kahala in Oahu, where we'd had a perfect stay). I didn't want to be a poor sport, and I really feel that visiting Hawaii is a priviledge unto itself. But based on T&L and Conde Nast ratings, I had hoped for a different experience.

Yet in this instance, and from reading between the lines in the generally positive reviews on this site, I had a nagging feeling that I already knew what the Grand Hyatt would be like. However, the Princeville, our first choice, was under reconstruction, and the Grand Hyatt was only other top ranked hotel on Kauai.

To be fair, I'll catalogue the positive and negative points of the hotel, then readers can assess whether this is the right place for them.

The positives, in my opinion:

Gorgeous, lush tropical landscaping and flora throughout the property. A sweeping view of the ocean from the well designed, open air lobby.

Birds everywhere, and an abundance of space in the interior common areas and throughout the property, so that the hotel never felt crowded, even though it was operating close to full capacity.

Wonderful breakfast buffet: prompt service, endless fresh fruit and the requisite omelet chef; varied, delicious choices; overlooking a koi pond and the ocean in the distance.

Great complimentary fitness classes--particularly the sunrise walk led by Ani; she is a dynamo! And an excellent, spacious state of the art gym.

An excellent luau. We didn't attend, because we've both had our fair share of luaus food, but as we browsed the artisan tables on site, we marveled at the spectacular entertainment.

A wonderful band who played in Stevenson's library on Wednesday and Sunday nights--I think its name had 'Garage' in it. These guys were fantastic, the lead singer's voice was dynamite--it reminded us of Aaron Neville's--and the group had a great, professional sound.

Donderos'--a lovely alfresco dining experience. The Italian cuisine was sophisticated and very good.

Now the negatives, from my perspective:

A poor check-in experience, which always sets the tone for the resort. It included a little pass to show for breakfast--just plain tacky. Our loud reception clerk hurried us through the process, then waved us with vague directions toward our room, and we were on our own. But you need GPS to navigate this huge resort when you first arrive, so we wandered around the hotel in what we thought was the general vicinity of our room until a different, helpful staff member gave us proper directions.

Room: our 'partial ocean view' room actually looked out onto other rooms and their lanais and the meandering, amusement park-like pool below. I had to crane my neck around the edge of the lanai to spy a tiny piece of ocean. The room itself was nice sized, and the tropical decor and furnishings, if somewhat uninspired, seemed new and clean. No cd player, which is standard in luxury resorts.

The much ballyhooed pool and slide: it felt artificial, like a Las Vegas rendering of a Hawaiian resort, and just didn't lend itself to serenity (to be fair, I don't think that was its intention). Adults and children alike were fairly loud and boisterous, and the sunbed areas weren't regularly maintained. Empty plastic cups littlered the little tables, and heaps of wet towels lay abandoned on loungers until they were (sporadically) picked up by the staff. Stray, dead palm fronds drifted onto winding pool paths and weren't immediately picked up, and triangular cleaning signs warning "Wet Area' were placed on the same walkways like little roadblocks. The lack of maintenance/scarcity of pool staff was a real bummer, because although the effect of the pool's design was sort of plastic, at least it could have been more inviting and well kept.

The salt water lagoon: a mixed bag. Although a well intended (and necessary) alternative to the rocky beach in front of the resort, the imported sand granules were hard on the feet, and the sand in the lagoon ended a few yards in--where the lagoon floor turned into concrete...

No turndown service unless you asked. We did ask, and the nights that housekeeping remembered, it was very nice--and included a pretty little illustrated card describing various tropical flora and fauna, and a chocolate. Unfortunately, it was erratic, and we were forgotten a few times.

Resort fee, self parking fee, extra fees ad nauseum, as others have mentioned in their reviews...i.e. you can't use the lap pool at the spa/fitness center unless you book a treatment, use of beach cabanas is at a surcharge, etc. By the way, we did have spa treatments, and they were good--not great, but good. My alloted time at the airy, tranquil lap pool pavillion before and after my massage was a much needed antidote to the pandemonium of the main resort pool.

Restaurant and drink prices (other than Dondero's), again, as others have mentioned, were astronomical.

Upon checkout, I was stunned to learn that nightly rate for the Grand Hyatt was commensurate with that of our nightly rate at the Kahala in Oahu, a luxury resort in every sense of the word(s).

Our time off from our careers is precious and we want to spend it, and our money, well. For me, that means a true luxury resort with a unique sense of place and individuality, not a mid-level chain hotel trussed up like one.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this review, I did end up enjoying our stay, but I think my enjoyment was ultimately more about the beauty of Kauai than the Grand Hyatt.

I agree with other reviewers who have said that the Grand Hyatt is in for a rude awakening when the Princeville reopens as a St. Regis in the fall. They'll have to seriously upgrade their service levels and pool grounds maintenance and abandon their tacked-on extra fees if they want to compete with a resort of St. Regis' caliber.

After staying there, I would categorize the Grand Hyatt as good midmarket family resort with luxury resort prices. I honestly don't think a stay at the Grand Hyatt is worth its cost, nor do I necessarily think that it is a place for a romantic getaway for two. However, if it makes the changes I mentioned above, it could be an excellent, albeit expensive, family resort.

It's clearly is the right place for a lot of people; most guests seemed to be having a blast (although no one likes feeling taken by all of the nickel and diming) and the things that bothered me were clearly non-issues for others.

It's just not the place for me, and I can't emphasize enough that I think that the Grand Hyatt is grossly overpriced.

Finally, a couple of tips for your Kauai visit:

Be sure to rent a car to explore the island. In addition to the obvious, Waimea Canyon, which is a truly breathtaking sight, take a drive to Hanelei on the North Shore and visit the Queens' bath, a lovely hidden jewel of nature--the kind of idyllic spot you envision when you picture Kauai.

In Hanelei there are some great art galleries and boutiques, and a terrific open air restaurant called the Hanelei Dolphin, which serves super fresh, delicious seafood and fresh organic salad with yummy homemade croutons and dressings. We loved the Dolphin so much, we ate there twice!

Make reservations early for a romantic, seaside dinner at the Beachhouse in Kohola. The cuisine is adequate; the views make it special, and we learned that it books up in advance.

Don't miss sunset cocktails at the Poipu Sheraton's Point. It is right on the beach and you are surrounded by twilight ocean views. Heaven! The blended drinks and pupus at the Point were very tasty.

Finally, take a trip along the Napali coast, either by kayak or catamaran. The sight of the majestic cliffs rising over the sea was positively spiritual, and one we won't soon forget.

My wife and I stayed at this hotel for a week in May after cancelling a trip to Mexico. We had stayed at this hotel before about 15 years ago. This hotel's good qualities include beautiful and well maintained grounds, a Disneyesque pool network, and some good rooms with good bedding. Now the bad news about this resort. The restaurant prices are astronomical. They actually exceed those in better Hawaii resorts such as the Four Seasons on Maui. You are much better off eating every dinner at Roy's Restaurant in Poipu Village. It is not even worthwhile to spend any time in the evening in the lounges such as the Stevenson Library as a drink and appetizer will run you $50.

Service is mixed at this resort. When you check in, there is no one to take you to your room and you need GPS to find it. No one polices the adult pool to ensure that children do not swim there. On a number of occasions parents brought their children to the adult pool so that they could slide down into the next pool. On the other hand, the breakfast service at the Golf Club was exemplary.

We would also recommend to anyone considering staying here to be very careful in their room selection. We stayed in a nice room a short walk from the adult pool. Since we requested a late checkout because of an evening flight home the hotel moved us the last day to another room between 10:30AM and 6:00PM - we had to pay an additional $150 for this privilege. The second room in the Poipu Wing was clearly the lowest graded room the Hyatt had and was overlooking a lawn area where the hotel held banquets and other parties. Good luck to anyone trying to sleep there. Actually our last day was the worst day there. The hotel refused to make the arrangements for a late checkout until the day of departure. This prevented us from arranging anything to do on the Island this last day. We had checked with the staff at the front desk two days beforehand and they would not accommodate us. The excuse was that the hotel was 80% full. However, it was clear that this percentage was quite a bit less.

Our last gripe was that this resort tries to nickel and dime you for everything. They tack on an $18 resort fee for example per day that provides two free Aquafinas for your room and free use of the fitness facility. I love Hyatt hotels, but I am not sure that we will return to this one. We think the main problem is that the hotel currently does not have any competition in its category. But our friends at the Hyatt have a rude awakening when the St. Regis opens in Princeville. St. Regis knows service like no other chain.

We stayed at the Grand Hyatt for our honeymoon and were rather disappointed. There is nothing wrong with the hotel but it was too expensive for what it had to offer. Before coming to Kauai, we stayed at the Ritz Carlton on Maui and had a great time there (see also the accompanying review of that hotel)! Unfortunately, the Grand Hyatt could not match the Ritz despite being more expensive than the Ritz. The Grand Hyatt had a very beautiful lobby and garden/pool area. However, the rooms were not adequate for a hotel of this class and the service was not that great either. We had read a lot of great reviews about this hotel and were somewhat disappointed because the atmosphere was not so luxurious.

Pros:

-- good location

-- live music in bar on the weekends

-- fantastic (but expensive) spa

-- beautiful lobby

Cons:

-- our room was not inspiring, the room was rather small, and both the furniture and the design was outdated--it felt like an average hotel room, certainly not worth $350 a night

-- room was not cleaned well

-- the staff/front desk had a very business-like atmosphere, lacked warmth (which is very atypical in Hawaii!), as well as personal attention. The staff was also not very accommodating.

-- the pool area was nice, but had an almost too fake, amusement park-like quality

-- little things like beach towels, no special chair covers, sunscreen lotion, etc. were either missing or of low quality

-- every area of the hotel felt crowded, and you often felt to be one of many, and were treated as such

-- restaurant/bar prices were rather pricey, even when compared to other hotel/resort chains of similar class in Hawaii

Let me preface this by saying we went from the Four Seasons Wauilea to the Grand Hyatt Kaui. For a Grand Hyatt, it was underwhelming. The rooms and decor were very outdated. The pool is nothing you haven't seen in Florida or any other beach resort. The spa was incredible; I got a great massage. If we hadn't come from the Four Seasons, the review might have been better, but I doubt it. Kaui in general has much less activities to do than Maui, and unless you're a nature lover, I'd skip it.

My wife and I leave Kauai with fond memories; however, we cannot say the same for the Grand Hyatt. We have stayed in luxury resorts all over the world, and on the Islands, we have stayed with the Westin Kaanapali, Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, Marriott Wailea, and Four Seasons Wailea. Of these resorts, we expected the Grand Hyatt to be on par with both the Ritz and the Four Seasons; however, unfortunately, we would rank the Grand Hyatt at the bottom of the entire list of 5.

On the plus side, two of the gentlemen at the concierge desk were excellent and very knowledgeable. They listened well and seemed to make a real effort to welcome us and do whatever they could to make our visit to Kauai more enjoyable. Unfortunately, our stay quickly deteriorated from there.

Upon entering our room, we immediately noticed that the room was not what we had requested. We requested a single King; however, we received a room with a Queen and a Full. Having booked the highest-class standard room, we expected to receive the room type we booked. We informed the front desk; however, they informed us that there were no other rooms available. They also asked us what was wrong with the room and assured us that the room we had was one of the nicest on the resort. We kept the room, although we were sorely disappointed in the resolution and response. We would have liked to see the front desk representative take more of a two-way approach, rather than deliver a one-way message. She should have asked us what she could do to satisfy our needs, but instead, she just said, "you've got the best room; sorry." That was not the level of service we would expect from a Grand Hyatt.

In another instance, we called guest services and requested slippers for our room. The representative told us that they were in the closet, so we checked, and they were not there. We called back and they said they would replace them. After some time, we called again to ask why they had not arrived. They then informed us that the hotel was out of slippers and that they would get a pair from the Anara Spa the next day and deliver them. The following day, they did not deliver them. We called them again late in the day, and told the representative that a previous representative had informed us that slippers from the Anara Spa would be delivered to us. The slippers were eventually delivered to us on day 3 of our stay.

There was one instance where we called the valet to have our car brought around. When we arrived downstairs, they had "forgotten" to get the car. Outside of this one instance, the valet service was excellent. For the most part, they were helpful and knowledgeable.

The service at the bell desk was inconsistent. Most staff were knowledgeable and eager to help, but more than a few just seemed to talk at us and give us short answers - doing just the minimum to get by.

We managed to dine at Tidepools. The food was average, but the service was excellent.

We also ordered room service during our stay. Our food took 1 hour and 20 minutes to arrive; we placed our order late in the evening at nearly 9pm. We ordered a plate of nachos and a mahi sandwich; both of which arrived soggy.

In our opinion, the biggest challenge that the Grand Hyatt is facing is inconsistency of service. It is clear that some staff have more of a dedication to customer service than others. Also, the guest rooms are in dire need of renovation. My wife and I travel all over the world, and we certainly have expectations for service and accommodation for nightly rates in excess of $500. In our experience, our stay at the Grand Hyatt was a very poor value - primarily from sub-par service.

My husband and I stayed here for the second leg of our honeymoon last September and we were very unhappy with this hotel (so much so that we left after 24 hrs and went back to Maui and got a great room at the Ritz for the same price). We do understand we were spoiled at the Four Seasons Maui but these rooms were old and outdated i.e. clothes line in the shower, old tub that looked dirty, old t.v, musty room smell...at $600 a night this was not acceptable! We felt that the room was up to par with a Holiday Inn but on much nicer grounds! The manager apologized and explained that all the rooms are outfitted the same so moving to another one was pointless. We will not be going back to the island until there is a true 5 star resort.

For a frame of reference, we compared this Grand Hyatt to its other 5 star competitiors. Having experienced the Ritz Carlton Kapalua, Four Seasons Wailea, and the Fairmont Maui, the Grand Hyatt Facility is 4 stars at best (and I'm being polite)

The Good:

- Excellent for kids. Multiple pool environments. Lots to do for families with kids on the property

- Fun salt water lagoon

- Beautiful outdoor landscaping

The Bad (and perhaps Ugly):

- We paid a premium for a grand club deluxe ocean view room and with the AmEx fine hotels program were upgraded to an ocean view suite. The furniture was old and had an old dusty smell. The suite was frankly dirty. How anyone can claim this property to be a 5 star facility baffles us. To exacerbate matters, the bed was uncomfortable.

- Service was below average at best. For the price tag - Grand Hyatt Kauai falls well below any 5 star hotel we've experienced in Hawaii. This place did not have that warm "Hawaiian hospitality" feel as the other places. In fact, it was almost a rarity that any of the employees even said Aloha or Mahalo. In other words, our experience made this place rather generic. Immediately upon arrival, service was choppy. If you are looking to be pampered by service - do not stay here. For example, at the Ritz Carlton Kapalua (where we paid half the price as at the Grand Hyatt), the staff to guest ratio must have been 8:1.. At the Grand Hyatt, at meals, at the pool, and throughout the property, we noted a paucity of staff - 0.5:1 or worse...

- Food - expensive as expected - but very poor quality. Quality of dining at other 5 star properties was outstanding (i.e Ritz Carlton and Halekulani)

- Service at poolside was non existant - folks, its self-service out here. And "adult" pools have a plethora of loud kids.

- Hotel Spa - advertised as Hawaii's "best spa" This is an overstatement. Above average

- Overpriced for what you get as compared to other 5 star resorts.

- The resort is too large and lacks intimacy.

Overall, if you are looking for a large resort that is kid-friendly with elements of Atlantis or Disney-like pools, this could be an overpriced option. However, if you are a honeymooner or looking for a luxurious retreat for adults or wish to be pampered - stay away. Save money and go elsewhere. This is a poor value. Once the St. Regis opens this July, I have no doubt the prices will free fall at this place. A deep disappointment.