Grand Hyatt Kauai [A Luxury Resort in Hawaii]

You are currently viewing Grand Hyatt Kauai [A Luxury Resort in Hawaii]
The grand entrance at Grand Hyatt Kauai.

Guys, I’m a sucker for a nice hotel. And I am a real sucker for a nice hotel that costs me zero dollars. My recent stay at the Grand Hyatt Kauai fit the bill perfectly!

Yes, in case you are wondering, I spent $0 to stay at the Grand Hyatt Kauai for 5 nights (keep reading…I’ll show you how) and it was super fancy and tropical. Win-Win.

In this Grand Hyatt Kauai review I’ll show you everything you need to know about this resort:

  • Location and contact information
  • Amenities
  • Dining
  • Rooms
  • Beach and Pool
  • Grand Hyatt Kauai Luau
  • How to use points to stay at the Grand Hyatt Kauai
  • Activities near the resort

Grand Hyatt Kauai resort


Legal Stuff: This post may contain affiliate links and/or credit card referral links.  Also, we are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.


Grand Hyatt Kauai: At A Glance

Location: 1571 Poipu Road, Koloa, Hawaii 96756

Type of Resort: Luxury, family-friendly

Price Range: $450+ per night

Hyatt Rewards: Category 6

Hyatt Points Per Night: 21,000 off-peak, 25,000 standard, 29,000 peak

Resort Fee: $40 plus tax per night (waived on award stays)

Parking Fee: Self-parking is free; $30 per day for valet parking

Amenities: Multi-level pools, saltwater lagoon, 150-foot waterslide, luau, spa, fitness and yoga classes, golf, tennis, bicycles, daily Hawaiin crafts, games, Kid’s club, purified water stations, and more

Dining: 11 dining and bar options

Distance from Lihue (LIH) airport: 25-30 minutes (Click here for a shared airport transfer)

Contact: 808-742-1234

Grand Hyatt Kauai location Hawaii
The Grand Hyatt Kauai is located on the island’s southern coast.

Grand Hyatt Kauai Amenities

The Grand Hyatt Kauai has a lot going for it. The amenities are plentiful and the grounds of the hotel are simply beautiful.

The lobby at the Grand Hyatt Kauai screams tropical luxury. It has a dramatic view of the ocean and a great little lounge area with nightly music and dancers. You can order food and drinks here as well, but get there early to get a seat because it can get crowded in the evenings when there’s live entertainment.

Grand Hyatt Kauai entrance
The grand entrance at Grand Hyatt Kauai.

Grand Hyatt Kauai Club Lounge

Access to the Grand Hyatt Kauai Club Lounge is available with some room packages (including rooms with points) or with Hyatt status. The Club Lounge offers breakfast, snacks, and a light dinner.

The breakfast was great and there were plenty of healthy options. The snacks throughout the day were minimal, but there was always a selection of beverages. Dinner was more along the lines of light appetizers, but if you liked what they were serving you could make a full dinner out of it. There was usually one “main entree” plus salad, veggies and dip, a cheese plate, and another appetizer plus dessert. There was a cash bar available during dinner with very reasonable drink prices.

Grand Hyatt Kauai Pool and Waterslide

The main Grand Hyatt Kauai pool is large and winding. They advertise a “lazy river” but it didn’t have much movement to it, so don’t get too excited. However, it’s a cool pool to walk around in and explore. The temperature was ok…a little cold for my liking but not unbearable (and I have a very low tolerance for cold water).

There’s a waterslide in the main pool that’s great for the kids. It entertained my daughter for quite a while, and for that, I am grateful!

Grand Hyatt Kauai Pool
The Grand Hyatt Kauai pool is large and includes a water slide, a mini lazy river, and an adults-only section. Image Credit: Grand Hyatt Kauai

Beach

The Grand Hyatt Kauai is right on the beach, but like much of Hawaii, the water is pretty rough. You can go in, but it’s tough to swim and it’s not great for kids. It can also be quite rocky. There is a small stretch of beach that you can walk on, but it’s not miles and miles of beaches like you might find in the Caribbean.


Things to do on Kauai: While you’re staying at the Grand Hyatt Kauai, take a short drive to visit a Kauai Chocolate Farm. Tours (including tastings) are offered daily.


 

Grand Hyatt Kauai Beach
The beach at the Grand Hyatt Kauai.

Pro Tip: Hawaii has voted to ban certain harmful sunscreens. So, if you plan to go in the water, be sure to use reef-safe sunscreen. To learn more and get a list of 20 sunscreens that won’t harm the reefs check out my post about the sunscreen bans.


Saltwater Lagoon

Since the water is pretty rough in front of the hotel (which is fairly common in Hawaii), the Grand Hyatt Kauai has a man-made lagoon with a sandy bottom to give you a bit of an ocean vibe. It’s great for little kids because they can play in shallow water with no waves to battle. And it’s not a bad place to camp out with a drink either.

Saltwater lagoon at Grand Hyatt Kauai

Turtle Cove Kauai

Ok, ok, so Turtle Cove Kauai isn’t actually part of the resort, but it was such a cool little spot that I had to mention it. Just to the right of the hotel (if you are looking at the ocean…so west??) there are some rock formations where turtles are known to frolic.

Keep your eyes peeled — they are a little hard to spot at first, but once you do, you can see a bunch of turtles playing in the waves. It’s a cool spot to relax for a while.

Turtle Cove Kauai
We loved watching turtles at Turtle Cove Kauai right next to the Grand Hyatt Kauai.

Reusable Water Bottles

The Grand Hyatt Kauai provides each guest with a reusable water bottle, and there are filling stations throughout the hotel. I loved that they did this in lieu of providing one-time-use water bottles. It’s a great step to a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.

Pro tip: when you bring your water bottles home, don’t put them in a dishwasher…they melt (heard it from a friend).


Read More: Check out these great Kauai activities including sunset sails and snorkeling tours.


Dining

Overall, the food at the Grand Hyatt Kauai was pretty good. It wasn’t cheap, but it was in line with what you would expect to pay at a luxury hotel in Hawaii.

Restaurants and Bars at Grand Hyatt Kauai

  • Captain’s Bar: Poolside bar serving cocktails and small plates
  • Dondero’s: – Old world favorites with an Italian inspiration; open for dinner
  • Hale Nalu: Poolside restaurant serving lunch and drinks
  • Ilima Terrace: Casual open-air restaurant serving breakfast and lunch
  • Poipu Bay Clubhouse:  Grab and go breakfast and lunch
  • Tidepools: Hawaiian cuisine restaurant serving dinner and drinks
  • Seaview Terrace:  American cuisine with a Hawaiin twist; open for breakfast and dinner with nightly entertainment
  • Shipwreck Bar: Poolside bar serving tropical cocktails (try the Lilikoi Margarita!)
  • Stevenson’s Sushi & Spirits: Sushi bar and lounge

    Tidepools restaurant at Grand Hyatt Kauai
    Tidepools Restaurant 

>>Need some help packing? Use this family beach vacation packing list printable for some guidance.


Grand Hyatt Kauai Luau

The Grand Hyatt Kauai Luau was the second one I have been to, and it was by far the better of the two. The setting is magnificent, the food is good, and the entertainment is great. One bummer is that our luau got rained out halfway through the show. However, even though we got through dinner and part of the show, the hotel refunded half of our money.

The Grand Hyatt Kauai Luau is offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays and includes:

  • Traditional lei greeting
  • Open bar
  • All you can eat buffet dinner
  • Hawaiian crafts and demonstrations
  • Hula lessons
Grand Hyatt Kauai Luau
Grand Hyatt Kauai Luau

Grand Hyatt Kauai Rooms

There are lots of room choices at the Grand Hyatt Kauai. All rooms and suites have a private balcony or lanai with views of either the mountains, gardens, or ocean.

You’ll also enjoy these basic amenities in every room:

  • Robes
  • Ironing board
  • Nespresso machine
  • Coco Mango toiletries
  • In-room safe
  • hairdryer
  • 65″ TV
  • 24-hour room service
King bed ocean view room at Grand Hyatt Kauai
The rooms at the Grand Hyatt are spacious and comfortable, with lovely views and private outdoor space. Image Credit: Hyatt

How To Stay At The Grand Hyatt Kauai Using Points

Ok, let’s get to the important part — how to stay at the Grand Hyatt Kauai for free!

Guys, it’s all about the points. World of Hyatt points, that is! If you are thinking that it must be impossible to earn enough points for a hotel like this you would be wrong! And, it won’t take you 12 years either. You just need to know a few tricks and you will be on your way to a free Hawaii vacation.


Pro Tip: For all of the most up-to-date information, check out my best credit card offers page.


Use World of Hyatt Points

Rooms at the Grand Hyatt Kauai can go for $500 or more per night, so it’s a great one to splurge on with points. You can get a basic room for 25,000 points per night (standard), or you can get an ocean view room plus Grand Club access for 33,000 points per night. A Points and Cash rate is also available for this property, and these tend to be pretty good deals!

When searching for a hotel on the Hyatt website, you can toggle back and forth between prices in USD and points.

How to book the Grand Hyatt Kauai with Hyatt points
Image Credit: Hyatt

 

I chose the 33K per night option because I wanted a guaranteed ocean view and Grand Club access. The Grand Hyatt Kauai Club Lounge offers free breakfast and snacks, plus a light dinner in the evenings. I absolutely thought it was worth the extra points.


Pro Tip: One of the reasons I love Hyatt hotels is that if you are staying on points, your resort fee will be waived! The Grand Hyatt Kauai charges a $40 daily resort fee, but since I paid for my room with points, this fee was completely waived! #hyattrocks


How To Earn Enough Points to Stay at the Grand Hyatt Kauai for Free

The key to quickly earning Hyatt points is getting a good credit card sign-up bonus or 2 then using your credit card for every single purchase you have.

In addition to Hyatt points, you can also use Chase Ultimate Rewards points because these transfer to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio!

Here are the top 3 cards I would recommend getting to earn enough points to stay at the Grand Hyatt Kauai for free!

Pro Tip: You need to pay off your bill in full on time every month! If you are carrying a balance, any benefits you receive from your card will be wiped out by interest charges and you could damage your credit.


1. The World of Hyatt Credit Card

World of Hyatt Credit Card

The World of Hyatt card is currently offering a sign-up bonus of up to 60,000 World of Hyatt points after tiered spending requirements.

If you like staying at Hyatt hotels, this card should be in your wallet.

  • 30,000 point bonus after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months after account opening
  • Earn 2x points for the first 6 months up to $15,000 in purchases for up to 30,000 bonus points
  • 4x points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels worldwide
  • 2x points per dollar spent on local transit including taxis, mass transit, tolls, and rideshares
  • 2x points per dollar spent on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline
  • 2x points per dollar spent at restaurants
  • 2x points per dollar spent on fitness club and gym memberships
  • 1 free night each year in a category 1-4 hotel after your cardmember anniversary
  • 1 additional free night in a category 1-4 hotel if you spend $15,000 or more during your cardmember year
  • World of Hyatt Discoverist Status
  • $95 annual fee

Get Started Earning Hyatt Points: World of Hyatt card with up to 60,000 Point Bonus! This sign up bonus alone is enough for 2 nights at the Grand Hyatt Kauai resort.


2. Chase Sapphire Reserve®

This is my favorite overall travel credit card because it offers so many ongoing benefits and earns valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points! This one comes with a hefty annual fee of $550, but if you love traveling, it’s worth every penny! (If you are totally offended by the idea of a $550 credit card, skip ahead to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card).

The points earned on this card can be instantly transferred into your Hyatt account at a 1:1 ratio.

  • 50,000 points bonus after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening
  • $300 annual travel credit
  • 3x bonus points on all travel and dining purchases
  • TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
  • Priority Pass membership to gain access to airport lounges
  • Lots of other benefits like travel insurance and rental car insurance

3. Chase Sapphire Preferred card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is the Sapphire Reserve’s little brother and is a great card to have in your wallet if the $550 annual fee doesn’t sit well with you. This card’s annual fee is only $95. This card is a favorite among most points and miles enthusiasts

The points earned on this card also can be instantly transferred into your Hyatt account at a 1:1 ratio.

  • 60,000 points bonus after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening
  • $50 annual Ultimate Rewards hotel credit
  • 3x points on dining, streaming services, and online grocery purchases
  • 2x bonus points on all travel purchases
  • 10% anniversary points boost
  • Travel insurance/purchase protection

You will have almost enough points for 5 nights at the Grand Hyatt Kauai after just earning sign-up bonuses from 2 of these cards!!


 

Nearby Attractions and Activities

While you’re staying at the beautiful Grand Hyatt, check out these fun things to do in the area:

 

Final Thoughts 

The Grand Hyatt Kauai is a luxury hotel that offers lots of amenities for your next family vacation. If you don’t want to spend the $500+ per night then do what I did and stay for free using Hyatt points (it IS possible to visit Hawaii while on a budget!).

Kauai is a beautiful island that isn’t quite as developed as other islands like Maui or Oahu. One of my best travel tips for Kauai is to just relax, get out in nature, and take in the beautiful scenery. It’s a place unlike any other.

Aloha and Happy Travels!

Subscribe Now:
(Occasional updates, miles/points tips, and travel inspo)


Save This On Pinterest!

The Grand Hyatt Kauai is a luxury resort on the island of Kauai in Hawaii (USA) that's perfect for families. I'll show you everything you need to know before booking plus I'll share how you can stay here for free using Hyatt points.

Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa in Hawaii | This luxury resort in Hawaii is perfect for a relaxing vacation for the whole family | Grand Hyatt Kauai Review

 

This Post Has 3 Comments

  1. Cristi

    We’re considering a babymoon to Kauai so glad to get your take on this resort!

  2. Leah Deppert

    Way to travel hack and save some of your hard-earned moola!

    1. Katie @ ZenLifeandTravel

      Thanks, Leah! I was pretty happy with the points value I got on this trip!

Comments are closed.