We recently spent 3 days of pure bliss at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort. The open-air lobby perfectly frames the ocean and swaying palm trees. Upon entering you are immediately transported to a tropical destination unlike any other. The check-in staff is incredibly polite and helpful — which sets the tone for the level of service you’ll receive throughout your stay.
I loved this place so much! Just writing this article is making me happy. Our stay here was at the end of a 10-day Kauai vacation, and we can’t wait to return. For more details on the whole trip and the other Kauai vacation resorts we visited, you can read this article.
*A little thing that made a big impact: upon arrival, they give you reusable water bottles, and there are refill stations throughout the resort and pool area. Super convenient and environmentally conscious!
The Pool Area
The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort’s pool complex includes a waterslide, lazy river, main pool, saltwater lagoon, and an adults-only pool. There are loungers, daybeds, and cabanas located throughout the pool complex which made it easy to find a spot for my family to chill for the day. Each day we were able to take our time getting ready, and never had to worry about getting to the pool early to claim a spot… which is a travel pet peeve of mine! I’m usually a proponent of renting a cabana; however, unless you have a big group, I don’t think it’s necessary here.
The resort is luxury at its finest. The lounge chairs have thick cushions, there are plenty of side tables and umbrellas, and it was impeccably clean. Plus, the pool food and drink service were top notch! We enjoyed drinks, lunch, and snacks daily poolside — and don’t miss the gigantic shave ice for a cool afternoon treat.
The tradeoff for the amazing location is the beach isn’t ideal for swimming. Although there were local surfers in the water, when we visited swimming wasn’t advised. But when you have a large sandy beach, and saltwater lagoon that blends seamlessly into the ocean you don’t mind this one little detail. Most of our pool time was spent at the lagoon. It was perfect because it was zero entry for our son, and we had the most breathtaking view all day.
Set above the main pool and waterslide is the lazy river which connects to the adults-only pool. Grab a floatie or just let the current move you along through the lush grounds. There are waterfalls, grottos, and plenty of outlets along the way to enjoy the cool water.
Onsite Dining
The restaurants here are upscale, with comprehensive menus, and enough variety for everyone in your family. The vibe is classy, but not stuffy. And the restaurants we visited all had kid’s menus and were very accommodating to little ones.
We spent both our dinners at Tidepools — and if we stayed another night, we would probably have eaten there again. Like all the restaurants here, they have unique and delicious food and drink options complimented with fantastic service.
Rooms & Suites
There are a variety of different guestrooms and suites available at the Grand Hyatt Kauai. For our trip, we decided to go with a standard room which was priced around $700/night. We had stayed at a condo earlier on this trip and wanted to take full advantage of the onsite restaurants and room service. Additionally, we didn’t feel that we needed the extra space that a suite would offer.
We opted for a ground-level room which doesn’t give you the best ocean view but did allow us to step onto the patio and directly into the pool area. This was very convenient as the pool is where we spent most of our time, and we could easily get back into our room if needed.
Other Activities
The only “offsite” activity we did was hiking the trail next to the resort. It was the perfect way to burn some energy and see the resort from a different vantage point. The trail is accessible from the beach and doable for all ages. There is a gradual climb to cliffs that give you a breathtaking view of the ocean. *Tip: the trail is wide but do keep your little ones close when you get to the top.
If you don’t want to lay by the pool all day, as we did, there are other activities available. For golfers, there is a championship course, and a world-class spa to get in some extra relaxation. There are also nice boutiques next to the lobby which sell vacation essentials, clothing, shoes, and souvenirs. I found plenty of things I didn’t even know I needed.
Want more information on my family’s experience at this luxury destination? Send me a message — I’m happy to help!
