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Grand Hyatt Kauai Review

Today, we will do a full Grand Hyatt Kauai Review. Kauai is an incredible island for adventures, and the Grand Hyatt Kauai is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy yourself in between things like hiking, riding ATVs, kayaking, and more.

You’ll find almost everything you need at this resort – the third largest in all of Hawaii. There’s a luau, 5 restaurants, multiple pools with waterslides and more, and even a 1.5-acre saltwater lagoon. 

If you don’t have a rental car yet, I recommend Discount Hawaii Car Rental. This is my go-to for rental cars on all the Hawaii islands. You don’t need a rental car on Oahu, but I recommend having one if you want to explore the island. 

Check out our Grand Hyatt Kauai Review and Tour video on YouTube if you prefer video format. 

Overview of the Grand Hyatt Kauai Review

The Grand Hyatt Kauai is for almost anyone planning a trip to Kauai. The Grand Hyatt Kauai offers something for almost anyone, from families with young kids to honeymooners to business travelers and multi-generational trips. 

Location: Poipu, about 25 minutes from the Lihue Airport

Accolades: Conde Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice

Price: Upper-mid-range, around $725+ per night, depending on the time of year. 

Who it’s for: Families, multi-gen trips, business trips, honeymoons (just about anyone) 

Worth mentioning: The pools are some of the best in Hawaii. The spa is amazing, and there are so many activities every day!

Downsides: The large size can mean a lot of walking if you’re on either end of the resort. Self-laundry was a pain. This won’t be for you if you want more of a boutique-style resort!

When I first toured the Grand Hyatt Kauai in 2018, my biggest complaint was that it needed to be renovated, but now it has been fully renovated, and I absolutely love the results!

Location of Grand Hyatt Kauai Review

The Grand Hyatt Kauai is situated in front of Keoniloa Beach, which is better known as Shipwreck’s Beach.

The resort is on the sunny south side of the island. It’s located in Poipu, near many other resorts and plenty of shops and restaurants. The Kukui’ula Village Shopping Center is about a 5-minute drive.

On the way to the Grand Hyatt Kauai, you’ll drive through the famous Eucalyptus tree tunnel. Just don’t stop to take pictures! 

Check-in at Grand Hyatt Kauai Review

Check-in at the Grand Hyatt Kauai is fairly seamless. You’ll be welcomed with a lei greeting upon arrival. The reception staff were all very friendly, and it’s rare to see long lines. 

One (strange) thing that I enjoyed about the Grand Hyatt was the birds. The resort has four birds in the atrium: three macaws and one parrot.

Rooms at Grand Hyatt Kauai Review

There are 605 guest rooms at the Grand Hyatt in Kauai, including 42 suites, 308 kings, 161 king/queen, and 96 queen /queen, featuring 19 accessible rooms. We have videos of two different suites and rooms on our YouTube channel, so check it out! 

On our most recent stay, we stayed on the far side of the Poipu wing, and while it was close to the Grand Club Lounge, gym, and spa (more on all of those coming up!), it was quite far from the pools or anything else. If you don’t mind walking, and I don’t, this is okay. However, if you have limited mobility, you might want to request a room closer to the lobby.

As of 2024, the resort has gone through a major renovation. Almost all of the rooms are finished, although at the end of 2023, some we waiting for a few things. I saw the resort in 2018, and I have to say the upgrades are beautiful and were much needed! 

The regular rooms start at 500 square feet, which is a great size! The suites range from 800 to 2200 square feet, and let me tell you, the ones I saw were incredible! 

Resort Fees

Like most hotels in Hawaii, the Grand Hyatt Kauai has a resort fee. I see lots of Grand Hyatt Kauai Review posts complaining about fees, but again, as a Hawaii Travel Agent, I’m here to tell you the fees are standard in Hawaii. Do we like them? No, but almost all hotels have them. 

The $55 per night hotel fee at the Grand Hyatt Kauai does have some great inclusions, as this resort has so much to offer! Your fee covers the following:

• Welcome lei
• Self-parking
• Reusable logo tote bag located in closet
• Two reusable water bottles per stay
• Purified water stations
• Access to 24-hour Anara Spa fitness center
• Fitness & Yoga classes at Anara Spa (14 yrs & up) – see daily activities schedule
• Guided sunrise walk
• Hawaiian Cultural Center – cultural activities, lei making, ukulele and hula lessons
• One hour of tennis or pickleball court time daily – Reservations required. Equipment rental available.
• Recreational bicycle use see valet for availability
• Nespresso® coffee maker with coffee and tea in room
• Self-service laundry washer, dryer, and detergent
• Nightly entertainment at Seaview Terrace
• Koi fish feeding and parrot talk
• Sunscreen & after sun lotion at pool desk
• Arrival/Departure Lounge – offering lounge area, showers, computers
• Kids 5 & under eat free @ Ilima Terrace breakfast buffet
• $20 discount on green fees at Poipu Bay Golf Course
• Shuttle service to Poipu Bay Golf & clubhouse
• Nightly shuttle in local area
• Beach chairs and umbrellas for beach use
• Hydroponic garden tours 2x/week

Camp Hyatt

Another reason that the Grand Hyatt is an excellent place for families is their phenomenal kid’s club, Camp Hyatt, which is available year-round. 

I haven’t personally used this but it would be fantastic for having a date night or spa day. It looks like lots of fun for the kids too!

Getting married at the Grand Hyatt Kauai

Looking for a great place to get married in Kauai? The Grand Hyatt hosts over 300 weddings per year. This resort is large, so it offers many accommodation options for your guests.

The pools at Grand Hyatt Kauai Review

There are two large multi-level freshwater pools with connecting “river pools.” There are multiple waterslides, hot tubs, and even a saltwater lagoon. 

If you’re worried about there being a lot of kids at this resort, well, there are! However, there’s an adults-only pool, and it’s situated in a relatively quiet area. Honestly, this is a very family-friendly resort, but it’s so large it’s easy to get away from the noise!

The Gym 

In late 2023, the gym was being redone, but I have some new photos, and it looks incredible! 

The Spa 

The 45,000 Anara spa is a tranquil indoor and outdoor oasis. Both locker rooms have saunas, but two spas and a lap pool are also in a common area.

Treatment options range from massages to facials to body treatments. There’s also a full salon if you want to enjoy a hair refresh, manicure, or pedicure. 

The Anara Spa is completely equipped for weddings. 

The spa even offers an adorable “Keiki salon” for kids where little ones can get haircuts, manicures, and pedicures. 

Activities at Grand Hyatt Kauai

The resort has all types of activities, from fitness classes to cultural activities. Many are included in your resort fee. Check out the front desk for more information on what is available during your stay.

The Grand Hyatt Kauai also has bikes available, two tennis courts, and, of course, all the things we’ve already mentioned, such as the pools, spa, and fitness center.

The aerial photos give you an idea of just how massive the pool areas are! 

Restaurants at the Grand Hyatt Kauai

There are several great restaurants as well as a luau at the Grand Hyatt Kauai. Let’s take a closer look at the restaurants. I also want to mention there are lots of vegan and vegetarian options. As someone with Celiac disease (strictly gluten-free), I’ve also always been happy with the gluten-free options. 

If you have food allergies or a special diet, just let them know, and they’ll do their best to accommodate!

Tidepools

Tidepools offers Contemporary Hawaiian and is one of the best restaurants in Kauai. You’ll find plenty of options, from fresh fish and seafood to steak. There are also vegetarian and vegan options, such as pad Thai. 

Stevenson’s Sushi & Spirits

Stevenson’s Sushi & Spirits near the lobby has exactly what you’d expect: cocktails and sushi. 

‘Ilima Terrace

This breakfast and dinner buffet also offers lunch. They have lots of gluten-free options! I had a gluten-free chicken sandwich, and it was really good!

Seaview Terrace

Seaview Terrace offers coffee, pastries, appetizers, and cocktails. You’ll also find a small but very diverse dinner menu with sushi, sandwiches, steak, lobster mac and cheese, surf-n-turf ravioli, and more. 

Hale Nalu

Hale Nalu is the poolside stop for things like burgers and wraps. They have shave ice, but it’s not really like traditional Hawaii shave ice. It’s more like a snow cone. The kids probably own’t care, but if you want more “authentic” shave ice, I’d get it elsewhere. Still, it was pretty and tasty!

Captain’s Bar and Shipwreck Bar 

The bars offer alcoholic drinks, mocktails, and a few lunch options. 

Grand Hyatt Kaua’i Luau

The Auli’i Luau is offered on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 5:30 PM to 8 PM. You do not have to stay at the Grand Hyatt to come and enjoy the luau! Admission is around $200 for adults and $100-140 for children. There are also kama’aina discounts available.

It is a buffet-style luau with traditional Polynesian offerings such as Kalua Pig, Huli Huli chicken, and volcano-spiced local fish. 

In-room dining

You can always order room service. We did this once, and it was mediocre at best. My fish was pretty raw (and no, it wasn’t poke; it was supposed to be cooked), and the sauce was just weird. I ended up not eating it, but I didn’t want to return it because I felt bad. 

Grand Club at Grand Hyatt Kauai Review

I have stayed at all of the Hyatt Resorts in Hawaii with Grand Club or Regency Club access – Grand Hyatt Kauai, Hyatt Regency Maui, and Hyatt Regency Waikiki. Of the three, I have to say the food at the Grand Club here was the best!

The Club lounge is very large, with indoor and outdoor seating. Even though it’s a large resort, it never felt too crowded in here. At the time of this posting, Grand Club Hours are:

• Continental breakfast from 6:30 am to 10 am
• Afternoon snacks from 12 pm to 4 pm
• Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres from 5 pm to 7 pm
• Cordials and desserts from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Breakfast was good and included hot items such as eggs, smoked salmon, fresh fruit, bread/pastries, meats, and cheese. There were also hot items that changed daily, such as fried rice. You could also find plenty to drink, from teas to coffee, juice, and even a variety of milk, including dairy-free options.

Snacks typically consist of things like chips, cookies, fruit, and soda. My 15-year-old (who can’t ever get enough to eat) appreciated being able to go in and grab some fruit and chips on his way to the pool. 

We didn’t always stop in the lounge in the evening, but when we did, there were always a few hot items along with more snack items. I particularly enjoyed the miso soup, which was available every day.

If you have club access, you can certainly use it for a full breakfast. You could also probably make a full dinner here if you wanted to. 

The service at Grand Hyatt Kauai

The service at Grand Hyatt Kauai is warm and friendly! I ran into one tiny issue that I will mention, but it was very minor and nothing that would keep me from recommending the Grand Hyatt Kauai. However, since this is a Grand Hyatt Kauai review, I want to mention it.

The laundry situation was a bit weird. Finding the guest laundry rooms was hard, and there weren’t many for the massive resort. Once I did, they were out of laundry detergent, which is supposed to be included. I ended up running around the resort for about an hour but eventually figured it out. 

Hey, I got my steps in! Not a big deal, but there seemed to be a small lack of communication as to where to find the laundry supplies, and it was too early for me to buy my own.

Overall Review of Grand Hyatt Kauai 

Overall, I highly recommend the Grand Hyatt Kauai. If you’d like a larger resort with plenty of activities, this is the place for you! I love the location, the Anara Spa, and all the pools and activities.

Although this is a beautiful resort, it’s also very laid back. Feel free to come back from your adventure sweaty and dirty; no one here will judge you!

If you’ve ever planned or tried to plan a Hawaii vacation, you know about the overnight flights home. It’s primarily due to the time it takes to fly + the time difference. Late flights can be problematic if you have to check out of where you’re staying at 12 and not leave until 9. Fortunately, the Grand Hyatt has it figured out!

They have a lovely little area called Kuhio’s for you to stay, shower, and store your things in lockers. You can also enjoy the pool and grounds for the rest of the day. Amazing!

More things to do in Kauai

Here are even more things to do in Kauai.

• Hawaii helicopter tour, is it worth it?
• The best happy hours in Kauai
• The 8 best golf courses in Kauai
• 50 things to do on Kauai
• The Best Snorkeling in Kauai

Grand Hyatt Kauai Review

Did this Grand Hyatt Kauai review help you determine if this resort was right for you? I hope it did! If you’re planning an Oahu vacation or honeymoon, I’d love to help. 

I am a Hawaii Travel Agent, and that is what I do. While I specialize in honeymoons and romantic travel, I am available for any Hawaii trip. I often work with groups and families and destination weddings too! Reach out as soon as possible for the best availability, as I only take on a select number of monthly clients. You can contact me to learn more.

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Most of the images in this Grand Hyatt Kauai review were taken by me. However, we were also filming videos for YouTube, so I missed a few key things. There are a few images filling in for things I missed that are property of Grand Hyatt Kauai and used with permission!