How to Stay at the Grand Hyatt Kauai with Points
If you’re looking for a family-friendly resort in Hawaii, the Grand Hyatt Kauai is the perfect choice! My family of five recently stayed at the Grand Hyatt Kauai and I can honestly say that we all loved it from beginnign to end. From the breathtaking views to the spacious rooms, this resort has everything a family could want for a relaxing and fun-filled vacation. And what made our stay even better is that our entire 4 night stay cost us nothing! Keep reading to see how we stayed at the Grand Hyatt Kauai with points.
General Information about the Grand Hyatt Kauai
The resort is situated on a beautiful stretch of Poipu beach on Kauai’s south shore and is nestled in the beautiful Poipu area, on the southern coast of the Hawaiian island of Kauai, the Grand Hyatt Kauai is a lavish resort spanning over 50 acres of lush tropical gardens, waterfalls, lagoons, and pristine beaches. The resort is a category 7 hotel in the World of Hyatt program and is located about 25 minutes from Lihue Airport. Boasting a variety of accommodations, from spacious rooms to villas, each with private lanais and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean or the resort’s beautiful gardens, the Grand Hyatt Kauai offers over 600 guest rooms. The resort also features a range of amenities, including several on-site dining options, a full-service spa, fitness center, and a variety of activities for guests to enjoy, such as golfing, tennis, water sports, and cultural experiences.
My overall Grand Hyatt Kauai review
Let me just say that I still dream about our stay at the Grand Hyatt Kauai. It was really all you could ask for in a luxurious Hawaiian vacation. During our visit to Kauai we stayed at 2 resorts and 1 vacation rental and the 4 nights we spent at this resort was the highlight of our vacation.
The staff is friendly and always willing to help with anything you need. The pool area is breathtaking and perfect for lounging, and the beach is just steps away. The dining options on site are excellent, with a variety of delicious cuisine options. Overall, our stay at the Grand Hyatt Kauai was a fantastic experience and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a luxurious getaway in Hawaii.
The Rooms at the Grand Hyatt Kauai
Since we are a family of 5, we decided to reserve 2 rooms at the Grand Hyatt. For one of the rooms we used a suite upgrade award that we earned after staying 50 nights in Hyatt hotels in a calendar year. So our set up consisted of a Garden View Standard Suite with an attached double Queen room.
We had so much space we didn’t know what to do with ourselves! My two older boys each had their own bed in the Queen room and our 8 year old slept on a rollaway bed in the living room of the suite while my husband and I had a King bed all to ourselves (that’s not always the case when we travel!). To say that we were all a bit spoiled on this trip would be an understatement!
Rollaway beds are provided free of charge and there was plenty of room for it in the suite. Could we all have fit in the suite without the additional guest room? Possibly. I had read in travel forums that some families of 5 were able to get by with a young child sleeping in the king bed with them and having 2 rollaway beds in the living room.
But I’ve also read that occupancy codes can be pretty strict in Hawaii so the last thing I wanted to do was show up and be challenged on how many people we had in our room. We can afford the rooms here with points, but we cannot afford to add an additional unexpected room for $1000 per night! So for peace of mind we decided to use our points to book the second room.
2 Queen Bed Room
As I mentioned earlier, our two older boys (12 and 10) shared the double queen room. The room had a dresser with one nightstand, a small table and two chairs, a mini fridge, and a large bathroom with tub/shower combo. Each room had 2 complimentary reusable water plastic bottles to use during our stay.
Standard Suite/Garden View Standard Suite
The standard suites at the Grand Hyatt Kauai are fairly large and range from 866-1084 square feet. They feature a separate bedroom, king Grand Hyatt Bed, 75 inch TV, sitting area, desk and private lanai. Our room also had a microwave, sink and Nespresso machine with pods that were refilled daily.
I think my very favorite feature of the suite was the view from our lanai. I loved that I could lay in bed, hit a button on a remote control, and raise the curtains to see a view out the patio doors that was so idyllic it could be an image on a green screen. Every morning I made a point to make myself a cup of coffee and sit out on the patio to enjoy the sunrise.
The bathroom in the standard suite was extremely spacious with a soaking tub, walk-in shower, double vanity, and water closet with the fanciest toilet I’ve ever seen. After our stay here my husband and kids can’t stop talking about getting a bidet for our bathroom at home.
Amenities in Rooms at Grand Hyatt Kauai
Shortly after arriving in our room, there was a knock on our door from a resort staff member who was dropping off a welcome gift for us. It included a welcome letter, a bottle of wine, a container of Macadamia Popcorn Crunch (this stuff is amazing and you can buy it in bulk at the Costco nearby!), and a few other snacks. I don’t know for sure, but I think this was dropped off because my husband is a Hyatt Globalist.
However, you can always send an email to a hotel ahead of time to let them know if you are celebrating any kind of special occasion and they will often leave small gifts like these regardless of status!
As I mentioned, each room came with 2 reusable water bottles that we were able to fill at stations located all over the property. As someone who always has a cup of water in my hand, I loved this amenity.
Guest rooms also have reusable shopping bags with an image of the resort on them which was really helpful for carrying stuff to and from the pool. But for me it doubled as a really practical souvenir!
Globalist Benefits
My husband has had Hyatt Globalist status for the last 2 years and it has really spoiled us! At the Grand Hyatt Kauai, Globalist status will give you access to the Grand Club Lounge where they serve breakfast, afternoon snacks, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, and dessert daily.
This status also gives you the following list of benefits:
- 15% off Anara Spa Boutique
- 20% off Lunch at Ilima Terrace
- $25 off a minimum two-day consecutive car rental from Avis
- Complimentary access to Anara Spa
- Complimentary access to Grand Club Lounge
- Complimentary Valet parking on free night awards
- Waived Resort Fee on free night awards and eligible rates
- Upgrade to best room available, up to Standard Suite
- 4pm late checkout based on availability
Room Cost at Grand Hyatt Kauai
Standard room rates at the Grand Hyatt Kauai can range anywhere from $800-$1200 a night. The standard suite can cost over $2000 a night when paying cash. Like many resorts in Hawaii, it seems that hotel prices have gone up significantly in the last few years. Thankfully, if you have credit card points, you can stay at a luxurious resort like this for $0!
How to Book the Grand Hyatt Kauai with Points
Because this is a Hyatt property, you can transfer points from Chase to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio. This is a Category 7 resort which means you can book rooms with Hyatt points starting at 25,000 points per night on off-peak nights, 30,000 on standard nights, and 35,000 on peak nights (rates as of March 28, 2023). If you want to get a crash course on how we use credit card points to travel for nearly free you’ll want to check out my Beginners Guide to Points and Miles.
A card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a standard welcome bonus that would be enough for 2 nights at the Grand Hyatt Kauai.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Since offers change so frequently, visit my Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card link for the current welcome offer!
- $50 hotel credit
- 5X on Chase Travel℠, 3X on select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs) and 3X points on dining
- $95 annual fee
World of Hyatt Credit Card
- Visit my Best Offers page for the current welcome offer
- 1 free night each year at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort
- 9 points total for Hyatt stays – 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent at Hyatt hotels & 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member
- $95 annual fee
Parking
Self parking at the Grand Hyatt is free for all guests and there is also valet available for $35 a day. Hyatt Globalists using points to pay for their stay, will receive free valet parking for their entire stay.
Grand Club Lounge
Having access to the Grand Club Lounge was a huge money saver for our family. We spent a very minimal amount on food during those four days thanks to the free breakfast and cocktail hour. We found that we were completely satisfied if we ate a substantial amount at breakfast, shared a few appetizers for lunch around the pool, and then made dinner out of the cocktail hour back in the lounge.
If you do not have Globalist status you can also book club access rooms for an additional charge.
Grand Hyatt Kauai Restaurants
- Tidepools
- Seaview Terrace
- Hale Nalu
- Stevenson’s Library
- Ilima Terrace
- Captain’s Bar
The Beach at the Grand Hyatt Kauai
Shipwreck Beach, located adjacent to the Grand Hyatt Kauai, is the only beach access available at this property. Its Hawaiian name, Keoneloa, means “long sand,” and it lives up to its name with nearly two miles of pristine coastline. This beach is known for its dramatic cliffside views and the famous Makawehi Point, a unique limestone formation with ancient lava tubes.
The beach’s nickname, Shipwreck Beach, stems from the remains of a wooden shipwreck that once rested on the shore, which has long since disappeared. The waters here can be rough, making it best for experienced boogie boarders and body surfers. However, it’s not the best for swimming due to strong currents. My kids did swim here one day with my husband but they definitely got tossed around and I made sure to keep an eye on them at all times. If you have small children I would stick to the pools.
It’s also a popular spot for hikers, with access to the Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail, offering stunning coastal vistas and the chance to explore Kauai’s natural beauty.
Grand Hyatt Kauai Pools
One of the highlights of our stay was the pool area. The Grand Hyatt Kauai has several pools, including a family-friendly pool with a slide, a lazy river, and a sand bottom lagoon style pool with breathtaking ocean views. Our kids loved the pool and spent hours splashing around and having fun.
The main pool is a lagoon style sand bottom pool with a gradual entry that’s perfect for little ones or for sitting and lounging in shallow water.
Things to do at Grand Hyatt Kauai
Daily Activities
At checkin we were given a list of the daily activities for that week. I couldn’t believe how many different fun options there were! We saw things like jewelry making, lei making, hula lessons, and guided walks and tours. The only problem we found was that if you want to do one of the more popular activities and don’t sign up a couple of days in advance you will likely find that they are already full. So if you see something you’d like to participate in I would check early in the week and get your name on a list ASAP.
Things to do nearby Grand Hyatt Kauai
From the resort, you have access to so much! You can hike the rugged trails of Waimea Canyon, often referred to as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” or explore the lush landscapes of the Na Pali Coast via boat tours or helicopter rides.
For a more relaxed day, visit the nearby Poipu Beach Park, known for its pristine sands and excellent snorkeling spots, or indulge in a round of golf at the renowned Poipu Bay Golf Course.
You can also immerse yourself in Hawaiian culture with traditional luaus and explore local shops and dining options in the charming town of Koloa. The Grand Hyatt Kauai provides an ideal base to experience the beauty and culture of Kauai.
Why I think the Grand Hyatt Kauai is one of the best hotels in Kauai
Honestly, I still daydream about our 4 nights at this dreamy property. I know we probably won’t get back there anytime soon (the flights from the east coast are killer!) but I am so glad we were able to experience the Grand Hyatt Kauai and I hope to again some day.
I woke up each day so grateful to even be there! Thanks to points and miles our family is able to experience luxury properties like this one for zero dollars out of pocket.
Want to know how our family takes 3-4 vacations a year for nearly free?
If you’re someone who pays off your credit cards in full each month and you have no credit card debt, this might be the hobby for you! It has certainly changed our lives and it brings me so much joy to show other families how to do the same.
Come follow along on Instagram where I share daily tips on how to use credit card points and miles to take nearly free vacations for our family of 5!
More on our families free travels!
- Hyatt Andaz Costa Rica Review
- How to Earn the Southwest Companion Pass
- Costa Rica with Kids: A 10 Day Itinerary
- Points and Miles for Beginners: How to Take Your Family on Vacation for Free
- 5 Reasons Travel with Young Kids is Worth the Headache
- How to Survive Airport Security With Kids
- Dreams Macao Beach Punta Cana Review
- How to Stay at the Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve in Puerto Rico for free!
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