Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa Review by UntoldMiles (In Depth)
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Disclaimer: This trip and review was not paid for, endorsed, or reviewed by the Grand Hyatt Kauai or World of Hyatt. Everything below is my opinion and my opinion only. Media below contain photos or images taken from the Grand Hyatt Kauai Website in addition to photos taken by UntoldMiles purely to showcase the property. No copyright infringement intended. Enjoy.
This review of the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa comes from my most recent stay in May 2022. For perspective, my group consisted of two adults and three kids ages 1, 2, and 11. This 52 acre beach front property really has everything one would need to have a relaxing stay, a fun filled family trip, a romantic get away, or even the perfect wedding and honeymoon. The hotel has an incredible inventory of over 600 rooms, on-site spa, and restaurants that fit everyone’s needs. The grounds boast very lush, spacious, and manicured lawns for group events, weddings, or even just for you and the kids to run around and enjoy. The endless pools, 1.5 acre salt water lagoon, on-site spa and services, neighboring golf course, top notch customer service, and the endless possibilities here make it the most amazing Hyatt property I’ve stayed at thus far. Both the kids and adults can’t wait to come back to this dream of a property in Kauai.
Upon touching down at Lihue airport in Kauai, you’re immediately met with a sense of relaxation and know that you’re now on island time. If you sat on the left side of the plane (on arrival and departure), you’ll have a grand view of the island. Once on the ground, you’ll catch a small view of the ocean as you get off the plane and make your way through the airport. The walk from your plane to the baggage claim area is very short and almost impossible to miss. There are bathrooms in the baggage claim area incase any others along the way are busy.
If you’re renting a car with the typical car rental companies, you’re going to have to leave baggage claim, walk across the street to the building with the green roof to the left. There, you’ll catch a short shuttle ride (3-4 min) that takes you to the various car rentals nearby. If you have a large party or many bags, I recommend having the party wait outside of baggage claim as you pick up the rental car and swing back to get them since it’s very close by.
I rented with National but they’re currently under construction so my rental car contract is being serviced by Alamo. There was only one other person in front of me when I got to the rental counter and was able to get out to the lot and choose my car rather quickly.
The customer service rep outside will direct you to the cars that you’re eligible for. Ensure that you take note of any damages to the car and take photos/video of the car before you leave for any future issues. For those that are wondering, I was able to grab a Ford Flex with three rows of seats for this trip. Having 3 kids, 2 car seats, 2 adults, a wagon, a stroller, 4 checked bags, and our personal carry ons, a three row car was an absolute must.
I quickly checked out the car for damage, went to the exit gate, and took a left to get back to the baggage claim area of the airport where my family was waiting. Now, only 20-25 minutes to the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa!
As you drive down the small road towards the Grand Hyatt Kauai, you’ll be first greeted with the Grand Hyatt Kauai signage. Turning into the property, you’ll quickly see the entrance as you approach the grand entryway. Here you’ll be met with the valet drivers as they greet you with beautiful purple flower leis and help you unload your bags onto bell carts. They will then direct you to self-parking or will take your keys and name for valet parking.
As you make your way through the entrance of the resort, your eyes will be fixed on the perfectly framed view of the ocean in front of you. This resort truly takes the phrase, “first impressions are everything” to heart as you will see throughout this property.
If you’re checking-in during the morning or walking around the property early, you’ll find some beautiful parrots right in the lobby. There are also times during the mornings that you can feed these parrots as well. They’re here everyday so check them out!
Turning right as you enter the lobby, you’ll begin your check in process at the counter. There is a separate World of Hyatt line for those that hold status (Discoverist or higher). At check in, you’ll be given a map of the property and key cards to your room. The person helping us at the front desk was nice enough to give us some stuffed turtles for the kids as well! Opposite of the check in desk, there are photography and media services you can pay for if you’d like professional photos taken of you and your family on your trip.
After check in, the valet/bell will help you with your bags to your room. Take note of the property and begin making a mental map as you’ll need all the practice you can get in order to get around this property without getting lost.
So far, this property really made a great impression on us due to the classic Hawaiian vibe/decor as well as the impeccable Hyatt customer service we have come to know and love.
Self-parking on this property is free so there is no additional fee to worry about here. The self-parking lot is very close to the entrance of the resort and is only a few minutes walk to and from.
Valet parking is $30/day, which is on the cheaper side in my experience, and is available 24 hours a day. If you’re a Globalist with the World of Hyatt and are redeeming World of Hyatt points for your stay, valet parking is included. This came in handy for us many times since we were traveling with 3 kids and took a wagon or stroller with us on every excursion off the property. Having the car waiting for us before we came down was a very nice perk.
At the valet, you can also find various equipment and things to borrow while on the resort. Some things include beach towels, bikes, tennis rackets, and more.
The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa boasts an impressive 52 acres of manicured lawns, botanicals, pools, lagoon, hydroponic gardens, tennis courts, and more. There is so much to see and do on this property that you can really spend your entire trip on-site and never get bored.
It took me about two whole days to get a good grasp on the property and confidently get around without getting lost. There are multiple pathways that wind to and from throughout the property for you to explore. I’d recommend dedicating some time walking the grounds to get a feel for everything and enjoy everything this gorgeous property has to offer.
During your stay here, you may run into a few events around the grounds at the Grand Hyatt Kauai. During our stay there were a few wedding receptions and corporate or private events in addition to the onsite luaus. However, these did not interrupt or take away from our experience or stay at all since the property is so large.
Central to the Grand Hyatt Kauai, you’ll find a water lover’s playground. There are multi-level pools with many different water features for everyone to enjoy. One of the biggest and most popular features here is the 1.5 acre saltwater lagoon (bottom of the photo above). The lagoon mimics a sandy beach with many shaded lounge chairs and umbrellas lining the edges for you sit back and enjoy the sun and cool breeze. You can hear the rhythmic sounds from the waves of Shipwreck Beach from here. Caution on the “sand” as it will give your feet a pretty good exfoliation for the first few days until you get used to it. It’s not your typical fine sand you find at the beach.
For adults, there's an adult only (14 and up) pool area which is pretty calm and quiet throughout the day. It’s located away from the main water areas so there is a nice secluded feel for anyone looking for a more quiet poolside experience.
For those that want something different, there’s a nice and windy lazy river, with a waterfall cave, that ends in a 150ft. waterside. At the end of the water slide, you’ll exit into a 4ft. pool. If you choose not to take the slide down, you can take the stairs back to other areas of the pool and property. That waterslide is fun for both kids and adults. It starts off slow but the last two turns really speed you up! Just a heads up, you can not take any tubes down the slide, there is a height requirement, and it isn’t open at all times.
Seating and Shade
Throughout the pool area there are many umbrella covered loungers that you can use to tan or relax on. There are also shaded cabanas for rent as well for a little more privacy.
Best time for the Pool
We found that the least busy times are mornings and late afternoons as people were usually at breakfast or dinner. But to be fair, the middle of the day wasn’t too bad during our entire stay since the pool area was pretty big so people spread out pretty well.
It was sunny during our entire stay except for one day so the pool was where we spent most of our time here on the property. Even while it was raining, the lagoon was nice and warm so we didn’t feel bothered by that at all.
Poolside Eats and Drinks
Find yourself thirsty or hungry while at the pool? No worries, there are many waiters/waitresses that come around taking orders for both food and drinks all day. You can also bill anything you order to your room (good way to rack up hotel points). If you’re looking for adult beverages, there are also two bars you can walk up to in the pool area if you feel like going for a walk.
Near the pool area there’s a place to walk up and order food, shave ice, and a recreation desk where you can purchase pool toys, beach chairs, umbrellas, floaties, and more. Included with your stay are unlimited beach towels and two sunblock samples that you can pick up and use throughout the day. The bathrooms are located on the side closest to the end of the waterslide.
Pool Necessities and Toys
Some recommended poolside items include footwear, a reusable water bottle (fill stations next to bar), sunblock, sunglasses, bag for your stuff, and towels. For kids, there are tubes for purchase at the recreation center. However during our stay, we found so many leftover tubes from other guests that leave them at the pool when their stay is over.
Tired of the pool?
A few steps from the pool is Shipwreck Beach. This beautiful beach has amazing swells that you can sit and watch for hours. Be careful as this beach is not safe for kids or really meant for swimming in. There are many large rocks and the water can be pretty rough. You can find many locals and other tourists here as there is public beach parking right next to the resort.
Along the resort, by the beach, there is a pathway dotted with a few wooden benches for you to sit at and enjoy the view and breeze throughout the day. These aren’t in high demand so no need to rush out and get one right away.
I was fortunate enough to secure a standard suite at this property through the use of a suite upgrade certificate that I got while earning my way to World of Hyatt’s highest status, Globalist. Usually, I don’t use a suite upgrade certificate unless I can get a full use of 5-7 days out of it. However, one of my certificates was about to expire and I wanted to see what this property has to offer. Note that a standard suite at this property can cost anywhere from $1,800 to $2,600 or more per night (price varies based on capacity). There are even suites like the Presidential Suite with a price tag that is over $5,700 per night.
The standard suite I was in was room 1010. These suites boast a lot of space that ranges from 866 to 1,084sqft. and include a separate bedroom with a king Grand Bed, seating area, desk, and private lanai that gives you access to the patio. Upon walking into our suite we were greeted with a wonderful welcome gift from the Grand Hyatt. It included some wine, chips, cookies, popcorn, and other snacks.
Some amenities included in the standard suite include your typical soaps, shampoos/conditioners, lotions, minifridge, safe, bidet, robes/slippers, hair dryer, close up face mirror, iron/board, Nespresso (with pods), cups, teas, Grand Hyatt Kauai branded reusable water bottles, and bath towels.
Some unique amenities that came with the standard suite that was not available in my next room include, a dental kit with two sets of toothbrushes and toothpaste, a microwave, paper towel roll, dish soap, tv in the bedroom, and the Nespresso in this room comes with the larger pods.
This room was great since we had the ability to close off the bedroom and allow the toddlers to sleep while we were up or packing/unpacking without disturbing them too much. The bedroom connects to the bathroom as well as the living area. It had two spacious closets, a dresser, and nightstands. You also have another TV inside the bedroom as well. The king size mattress was very comfortable and falling asleep after a long flight was easy.
The living area here included a couch which can double for sleeping on but it does not pull out into a bed. You’ll find a table with chairs next to the drink/microwave area for your morning coffee. The living area includes a nice big TV which you can use Chromecast to stream shows/movies onto as well by using your mobile device. There are two thermostats in this suite so you can control the bedroom temperature as well as the living area temperature separately.
The nicest feature of this standard suite (in my opinion) is the bathroom. It seems like it’s the newest and most modern feature of this suite. Included in the bathroom area is a separate room with the toilet and a bidet, a large tub, a separate shower, and a double sink vanity. The bathroom can be accessed from both the living room and the bedroom with doors on each end for privacy. The toilet and bidet can be found within another room inside the bathroom area.
Walking outside via the patio doors, you’re met with a lush and green view of one of the many grassy areas on this property. This area gives you a nice place to watch the sunrise or sunset and enjoy the ocean breeze.
What’s nice about this room in particular is that it is very close to what I call the “Services Room”. This room includes an ice machine, water dispenser, and 3 washers and 3 dryers. The washer and dryers are for guests to use with detergent, softener, and dryer sheets all included in the $40/day resort fee.
Another feature about this wing of the hotel is that it’s close to the Grand Club, the Anara Spa, and the fitness center. From our room it only took about 5 minutes to get to any of the three mentioned above.
Side note: I was lucky to run into a mother and daughter design team who mentioned they were on the property redesigning quite a few of the suites. I was able to see some of their amazing work as they were elevating the décor, space, and designs. Hopefully, if you are lucky enough to get a suite here, you’ll get one of the newly elevated rooms!
Unfortunately our stay in the standard suite had to come to an end due to how booked up the property was. But I was delighted with our new room as it was on a high floor which gave us access to the most incredible views of the ocean.
Moving to a Deluxe Ocean View on the 5th floor, actually moved closer to the Grand Club via stair access. However, access to an elevator was a bit further and we had to double back to get to the Grand Club since we used a wagon or stroller most of the time. Access to the washing machine and dryer were also much further from this room but I can’t complain when the views of the property never get old.
As you walk into this room you’ll find a large closet and dresser to your right which housed the iron, ironing board, robes, hangers, laundry bags, and extra bedding.
To your left there is a spacious bathroom with a double sink vanity, a toilet plus bidet with a private door, a tub and shower combo, and hidden sliding doors to close off the bathroom for privacy or noise reduction.
As you continue further into the room, you have two queen beds, a central night stand, a corner table with chairs, and a large dresser and TV in the center of the room.
Within this living area is also a cabinet which houses the mini fridge, safe, and a standard Nespresso machine and all the usual coffee and tea accessories.
At the end of the room you’ll find a sliding glass door that leads onto the balcony with two chairs and a table. Here, we had access to a gorgeous view day and night. Being so close to the ocean, you’ll be met with both incredible views and soothing sounds of the beach every night.
I enjoyed the more modern look of this room but I did miss all the space we had in the standard suite, especially with kids. But since the property was so big and the kids loved it outside, we spent barely any time inside the room. Overall, I’m very happy with this room’s location, views, amenities, cleanliness, and set up. I would be happy to get this room or a room on this side of the hotel again.
Where do I even start with amenities! At this resort, you’ll be charged a $40/day resort fee if you’re not using points. Included within this fee are a wide variety of amenities. You’ll find the standard amenities here such as resort wide Wifi, Nespresso coffee maker and pods, mini-fridge, room safe, room service, digital check-in, digital amenities requests, business services center, Poipu Bay golf shuttle, lei greeting, a reusable tote bag, reusable water bottles, and intro SCUBA lessons, to name a few. View the full list of amenities included with your resort fee here.
Gym and Fitness Center
The fitness center is open 24 hours a day and can be accessed with your keycard. Within the fitness center there are two sections. The first section contains weight training equipment such as dumbbells, a smith machine for benching or squats, cable station, various seated machines, and more.
On the other side of the fitness center, you’ll find the cardio area. Here there are four Peloton bikes, two stair masters, quite a few treadmills, and a water-fill station. Towels can be found through this area and there are sanitation stations for you to wipe off your machines as well. You can access the Anara Spa through the fitness center or vice versa during the spa’s normal operating hours.
Anara Spa
The Anara Spa is a 45,000 square foot luxury spa. This is where you’ll want to go for various activities that you can sign up for as well as a wide selection of spa services. The services offered here include massages, facials, body treatments, salon services (nails and hair), wedding services, and couples massages. As a guest at the Grand Hyatt Kauai, you have access to complimentary classes at the Anara Spa as well. These include yoga, dance, fitness, and wellness classes. Full list of services, pricing, and booking can be found here. There are also a few goods for purchase here as well.
Laundry
Included in the $40/day resort fee is laundry, including detergent, softener, and dryer sheets. Each wing of the resort offers a room with washers and dryers that you can access with your keycard. For us the laundry room was located near room 1017 and the room included three washers, three dryers, an ice machine, and water fill station. The machines are used pretty often throughout the day so I’d plan to do your laundry later in the night or early morning if possible. If I knew this was available, I would have packed half as many clothes as I did, but maybe you can take advantage of that knowledge from me.
Two things to note about the laundry area is that people do take the liberty to move your clothes from the washer to the dryer if there are no other machines available and your load is completed. I have no issues with that, since it happens often in college, but if you are someone who doesn’t like your stuff touched, I’d keep my eyes on the timer to get there and move your stuff on time. The other thing is that this space only accommodates one to two people comfortably as it’s pretty narrow.
Tennis Courts
Want to get some tennis time in? There are two full sized tennis courts on property with equipment you can check out at the valet. Bathrooms are nearby as well.
Grand Hyatt Kauai Garden
The Grand Hyatt Kauai Garden can be toured at 9:30am on Tuesdays and Thursdays if you’re looking for things to do. It’s located next to the tennis courts.
Courtesy Shuttle Service
The Courtesy Shuttle Service is offered from the Grand Hyatt Kauai to Poipu and Koloa areas only from 4:30pm to 10pm. There is no reservation needed and it is a first come first served basis. You can find more information at the valet. Tips are appreciated as always.
Boarding Pass Printing and ATM
Computers for boarding pass printing and an ATM machine can be found near the lobby by the men’s restroom. It’s next to a water fill station, kind of tucked away. If you forgot to bring cash, this ATM is the most convenient way to withdraw cash on site.
Daily Activities
Throughout the week, there are many activities and events you or your kids can participate in. During our stay, the Summer 2022 events calendar had four sessions of activities throughout the property. You can find a selection of lawn games, waterslide races, popsicle handouts, limbo, hula, water gun fights, water balloon toss, and more. No reservations required, just show up!
We opted to engage in some water blaster fights on one of the gorgeous lawns where the staff engaged with the guests as well. Note: Please do keep water away from the speakers that are playing music. The staff were too nice to say anything about it.
This is one of my favorite and most worthwhile of the amenities at the Grand Hyatt Kauai. As a World of Hyatt Globalist, this is included in my stay. Otherwise, access to the Grand Club is $150/day. You may be able to use World of Hyatt points in lieu of cash to pay for access. Either way, access to the Grand Club saved us a ton of money on both food and drinks. Usually, my first stop in Hawaii is Costco for various foods and drinks to supplement the meals during our trip since we don’t feel like spending $15-$20 per person per meal. This can really add up. We decided to check out the Grand Club to see what it offers and see if we can do a whole day here for all our meals before going to Costco. I was pretty impressed that one could definitely use the Grand Club for all their meals or at least to supplement one or two meals a day. You may even run into some credit card points pros here as well.
Hours
At the Grand Club, you’ll have breakfast here from 6:30am to 10am, snacks from 12pm to 4pm, hor d'oeuvres from 5pm to 7pm, and dessert and cocktails from 7:30pm to 8:30pm. You have access to a variety of soft drinks, coffee, tea, juices, water, yogurt, and fruit all day during Club hours (closes at 9pm). Alcohol is only served during various hours and is on an honor system. All alcoholic drinks are $5 and will be charged to your room by filling out a piece of paper. It’s much cheaper than drinks at the bars by the pool by far.
Breakfast
For breakfast, we found a wide variety of foods. Throughout the stay there were many staples that can be found at every meal. Some of those staples include salad, salad toppings like cucumbers, cranberries, bean sprouts, tomatoes, dressings, bread/rolls, miso soup with tofu and green onions, salmon, a variety of pastries, bagels, breads, vegetables, hummus, pesto, mushrooms, peppers, cereal, and fruit.
For those that need protein, boiled eggs, prosciutto, salami, and turkey slices are offered daily for breakfast as well. Usually there are two hot breakfast foods that rotate on a daily basis. Within the rotation includes scrambled eggs, bacon, potatoes, waffles, egg white frittata, and Kalua pork hash to name a few.
Drinks wise, there is a machine with a variety of lattes and espresso, a Keurig with K-cups, juices, a variety of milks including oat and almond, soft drinks, water, and tea.
Snack
Afternoon snack from 12pm to 4pm was the lightest of the offerings. This is the only time of day where you may need to supplement additional food for lunch on-site or off-site as you’re going about your day. During this time, the Grand Club offers a variety of fruit, cookies, brownies, granola bars, and nuts. Again, you have access to the non-alcoholic drinks at this time as well.
Hor d’oeuvres
From 5pm to 7pm, the hor d’oeuvres offerings are pretty substantial just like breakfast. You have the same staples from breakfast such as salad, salad toppings, bread, pasta, miso soup, and fruit. You’ll also have one rotating hot food item which include pot stickers, Korean style fried chicken wings, pork and vegetable lumpia, spanakopita, and baked spinach artichoke dip and chips. We utilized this for dinner daily and went to bed very full. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks were fully available at this time.
If you’re someone that needs more variety, there are many other dining options of property as well as room service. I highly recommend making reservations at any sit down dining on property months in advance as they do get booked up fast.
Cocktails and Dessert
The last offering for the day in the Grand Club is the cocktails and dessert hour from 7:30pm to 8:30pm. Here you’ll find a wide variety of desserts. Some you’ll find more often than others but there are times where they put out some pretty unique and delicious desserts. Some desserts you’ll find here include brownies, cookies, tarts, fruit, banana cream pie, haupia jello (coconut), fudge, matcha green tea mousse, among others. Make sure you come early and stay for a while as you don’t know what they may put out next. Of course you’ll also have access to the honor bar, drinks, coffee, teas, and juices during this time as well.
My favorites are the purple ube cheesecake, the mini fruit tarts, and the pineapple upside down cake. But you can’t go wrong with trying one of everything. Calories definitely do not count on vacation anyways.
If you are paying cash for the Grand Club, it could definitely be worth it for a party of two. But if you’re a party of more than two, I would highly recommend the Grand Club as you can easily save a lot of money from eating here throughout the day instead of anywhere else on-site or around the island.
I’d like to give a special thank you to some Grand Club employees that really made the experience here both memorable and really special. If you ever run into Brianna, Justin, Kieren, or Sam, know that you’re going to be taken care of very well here. They really went out of their way to accommodate us and ensure our stay, especially with small kids, went well.
A perk of having such a large property is that you can house a few restaurants and shops throughout the grounds. Below are some sit down options.
Tidepools
Tidepools is THE romantic spot at the Grand Hyatt Kauai. You’ll be eating in thatched roofed bungalows over a koi filled lagoon. The food there is considered modern Hawaiian with locally sourced ingredients. They’re open from 5pm to 9pm with advanced reservations highly recommended. Dress code is resort casual. They have a variety of menus that can be found here. Take a virtual tour here.
Stevenson’s Library
Ilima Terrace
For those that don’t have access to the Grand Club, you can find a breakfast buffet from 6am to 11am at the Ilima Terrace. This restaurant also has lunch from 11am to 2pm for your sit down dining needs. Breakfast menu, lunch menu, and virtual tour.
Seaview Terrace
Outside of the Ilima Terrace is the Seaview Terrace. This spot is central to the hotel and where you’ll find a huge open space with an amazing view of the bay with a nice ocean breeze. Enjoy your morning coffee and pastries here from 6am to 11am, dinner from 4:30pm to 9:30pm, and cocktails from 4:30pm to 10pm. There is also entertainment daily from 5pm to 9:30pm. Breakfast menu, dinner menu, drinks menu.
Hale Nalu
Hale Nalu can be found poolside for your daily lunch and dinner needs. From 11am to 5pm, lunch, drinks, and snacks can be ordered from the waiters/waitresses as they walk around the pool area, next to the bar, or you can walk up by yourself and order. Dinner needs can be ordered from 5pm to 8pm. However, during our stay dinner was not available for order here. Our go to poolside snack were the Basket of Parmesan Garlic Fries ($9), kid’s menu quesadilla ($12), and kid’s menu cheeseburger ($12). All kids menu options come with your choice of milk or juice, carrots and celery, chips, sliced fruit, or fries.
Capitan’s Bar
The Captain’s Bar is located central to the pool area. Here you can sit and enjoy some cocktails and order lunch while you enjoy the breeze or the game. Drinks and lunch can be ordered from 11am to sunset.
The Grand Hyatt Luau
The Grand Hyatt Luau is something that you absolutely need to attend if it’s your first time in Hawaii or even on this island. A luau is a celebration of culture, peoples, and amazing food. I highly recommend making reservations in advance as this gets booked up very quickly. The luau is offered on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 5:30pm to 8pm. Included with the luau is a buffet dinner, open bar, and live entertainment. As of the writing of this review, the cost for adults is $175, $117 for Juniors, and $80 for kids. Children 5 and under are free. Seating is on a first come-first serve basis.
Private Dinner
Looking for a romantic and private dinner under the stars? The Grand Hyatt Kauai offers an exclusive beachside dining experience as you sit beachside while a private butler serves you a four-course meal by candlelight. This is offered by reservations only by calling 808 742 1234 ext 54. View the menu here.
Room service will be serviced through Island Tastes To Go. Breakfast can be ordered from 6am to 11am and dinner from 5pm to 11pm.
Shops
There are various shops on property that offer a wide selection of goods including souvenirs, luxury sunglasses, bathing suits, bags, and more. During the day you can find local vendors by the lobby (and macaws) selling their local and handcrafted goods.
If you find yourself bored of the gorgeous 52 acres of the Grand Hyatt Kauai property, there are many things nearby for you to see or do.
Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail
The Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail takes you up and around a ridge with a trail that overlooks the ocean. This gorgeous hike that starts 4 minutes from the property. The trail takes you through a nice overgrown area, through some shady trees with a nice secluded part of Shipwreck beach, and up towards the ridge. The views are very surreal and one of my favorite locations to walk around near the property. I would NOT recommend this trail with kids; they can fall off the cliffs into the ocean if not careful.
Shipwreck Beach
Shipwreck Beach can be seen and easily accessible from the resort and is only a few steps away from the property. You can find many locals and other tourists on the beach enjoying the sun, sand, and swells. I recommend not swimming here as the beach can be very rough and the tides and swells very strong. You may find some monk seals resting here. Please keep your distance.
Poipu Beach and Brennecke's Beach
Poipu Beach is a world class beach that is a short 15-20 minute walk from the Grand Hyatt Kauai. You’ll find yourself walking a path through some beautiful multi million dollar beach houses on your way to the beach. During the evenings, you can find many people watching the sea turtles at Brennecke's Beach. During the early mornings, you can find some sea turtles resting here before they go back to the ocean for the day. Keep your distance here as well. There is a lifeguard stand here but do not turn your back on the ocean.
Poipu beach playground is a nice playground right next to the protected cove at Poipu beach. It gets busy but it’s a nice place to let the kids run around while you enjoy the sun and sand.
Puka Dogs
Puka Dogs is located right across the street from Poipu Beach. Their hours are from 10am to 7:30PM with a vegetarian dog option. They offer a Polish sausage stuffed in a sweet Hawaiian bun with a variety of toppings and unique relishes. Try their fresh squeezed lemonade as it’s quite popular here. If you buy/bring one of their shirts, you get a free lemonade per visit. As of the writing of this article, a Puka dog starts at $9 and $9.50 for the vegetarian option pre tax. View the menu here.
Poipu Bay Golf Course
The Poipu Bay Golf Course can be found with a short walk or shuttle ride from the Grand Hyatt Kauai. It sits next to the resort and is known to offer some specials. They have equipment for rent as they’re a full service course.
Costco, Target, and Walmart
If you’re looking for some souvenirs, groceries, or need to pick up something that you forgot to pack, Costco, Walmart, and Target are all about a 20-25 minute drive from the Grand Hyatt Kauai. You can also find cheaper gas at Costco. During my visit gas at Costco was 30-40 cents cheaper per gallon.
Hospitals
Since Kauai is a smaller island, there are only three hospitals on the island.
If you find yourself needing any medical attention, you’ll most likely will need to go to Wilcox Memorial Hospital in Lihue. This hospital is what we used during our trip since they are the only one on the island with a CT machine.
If you’ve made it this far, enjoy this drone footage overlooking the Grand Hyatt Kauai and Shipwreck Beach. This place is a dream.
The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa is an incredible property on a gorgeous island. I have nothing but good things to say about the property, staff, amenities, and island itself. Enjoy all that the resort has to offer as there are a ton of things to see and do. Don’t forget to make advanced reservations for both the Grand Hyatt Luau and the various restaurants mentioned above. I would highly recommend this property to anyone looking for a relaxing stay, a place for their kids to enjoy, honeymooners, romantic dates, and even weddings as the grounds are perfectly manicured.
This island has a much slower vibe than that of Oahu. You can see and do a lot of things on this island in a few short days. Island wise, there is only really one road that goes around the island so be aware that your travel time can vary on a daily basis. One of our excursions was pushed back as a 21 minute drive took us over 2 hours due to tree cutting on the island.
A final thank you to the managers that helped make this trip possible and the employees that made our stay special and memorable. I hope to be back soon.
Book your next stay at the Grand Hyatt Kauai directly here.
Must Read: A $20,000 Kauai trip for only $500 thanks to credit card rewards
This article shows how I used credit card points and miles to book our 9 nights at the Grand Hyatt Kauai, round trip tickets for 5 people, and a rental car for the entire stay for about $500.
If you have any questions about Kauai, this property, or credit card points and miles, feel free to ask on our free Facebook page or email me here.
Want to earn World of Hyatt points to stay here or at any other Hyatt in the world for free? Check out the cards below!
The World of Hyatt Credit Card
World of Hyatt Business Credit Card