We absolutely loved our stay at the Grand Hyatt Kauai. The hotel itself is lovely. Really gorgeous…read more It's large and expansive but it was easy for us to get to both the lobby and the pool area from where our room was located. The service was already really great overall. The staff went above and beyond and ensure we had an incredible stay. We used points which definitely made the cost a bit less painful, but I think even the cash price would be worth it to stay here. It was really sad for us to leave, but I hope to come back someday!

We were booked at this hotel for a birthday and our 39th Anniversary…read more We were told we had a great room, facing the ocean. Our room location was the last room at the far end of our building, overlooking a parking lot and in a terrible location. Room #6146 We didn't want to question this as we were tired from our plane trip and we didn't want this special occasion to be damped by any negativity. We were highly disappointed in the room and the location. Our room was a bit dated and we were surprized that the Hyatt didn't offer us an upgrade under our circumstances, as we were very specific. We would have paid more if they had explained the room properly, as we were very specific and we would have upgraded. We relied on the Hotel's reservation desk to direct us. They made a huge mistake which effected our trip. All in all, the grounds were beautiful and the service was excellent. We spent alot of money and we were determined to make this a memorable occasion. We were very disappointed.

Delightful boutique hotel that caters to adults. We loved the authentic Hawaiian experience vs…read morefeeling like we were in a standard commercial chain hotel plopped onto the island. The entire staff was exceptional especially the Front Desk Manager Lena. She was so nice all the way up to our arrival answering all my questions to make the trip special and she even offered us a special accommodation just to simply our stay. The hotel itself is very centrally located, about 20-25 minutes from the airport and other small towns to explore for sights and food. It was so nice to stay somewhere where it's so intimate, that the valets, front desk and restaurant personnel all knew us by name! We had an oceanfront suite and loved feeling like the ocean was part of our backyard. And my light sleeper husband was very grateful for the primarily adult guests because it was unusually quiet for a vacation hotel. :).

My husband and I enjoyed spending our Mini-moon at Ko'a Kea in early March. The location is great,…read morewalkable to Poipu Beach. The restaurant on-site, Red Salt, has delicious (but pricey) brunch and dinner. The pool bar is convenient (but also pricey). Our room was spacious and comfortable, with a very nice bathroom and a huge television. There was a free bottle of white wine in the fridge when we checked in. The room keys in the form of waterproof wristbands are a nice touch. It was mostly adults staying here and very few families with children, which is what we wanted for our mini-moon. Cons: The parking is Valet only. The pool is relatively small. The chairs around it fill up fast when it's busy. If a pool chair opens up, you can't get your own fresh towels/chair cover and have to wait for someone to come through with a cart to swap them out. You can't access the beach directly from the resort; on a map it looks like you can access Kiahuna beach, but you actually have to climb down from the boardwalk onto it (I did not want to do this and walked to Poipu Beach instead). The food is expensive and the "happy hour" drinks are $19. Overall, it was a relaxing stay in a beautiful location!

I've stayed here twice now, once in the penthouse villa and once in a 2 bedroom villa, both stays…read morethe rooms are great. Very comfortable, large rooms, large bathrooms, large living areas, full kitchens, great lanai and depending on which you're staying in a private grill. The penthouse is amazing for large groups, where every room has its own en suite, the two bedroom villas do as well, the kitchen is stocked with all the cooking ware you need for a good dinner set up if you don't want to go out to eat. For me this is the perfect type of hotel for staying in with your family and utilizing the pools and trips to poipu park or driving to Kōloa town. It's still close enough to the various activities you can book around the island, but if you want to relax, I think it's a great place to do so. Beautiful scenery to walk around and it's relatively quiet. The pools are fantastic, and the restaurant on site is pretty good (although have only been there once) the market on site is great too, they have a great assortment of everything you'd like to snack on. Staff in all my interactions have also been super hospitable. And thank you to them for putting up with all the patrons during hurricane Lowell. Honestly, I would not have come during this time period had I been aware of what was coming, I just was very unprepared and did not look at weather conditions before arriving. We did lose power during our stay which made things difficult. Thank you for still coming to work and providing such a pleasant service to us during this difficult time. Thank you for communicating what was going on and what we should be concerned about during our stay and providing advice on what the next steps were. It really did make the uncertainty of it all a lot more easier to take in. Really do hope everyone remained safe during this all and hoping for the best. Thank you again.

Excellent experience all around!…read more Bell help was kind and very efficient. Xeniah at front desk check in was absolutely delightful. She was full of Aloha and made us feel very welcomed. We ate and had beverages at Holoholo Grill which every thing was excellent! Would love to return sometime soon!

This was my first trip to Kaua'i (I'd only been to Oahu years ago), and flying in from Tennessee…read moremade for a long journey--especially compared to when I lived in California. My brother and his wife were celebrating their 20th anniversary. He surprised her by renewing their vows on Kekaha Beach and presented a beautiful diamond ring symbolizing their four kids and two decades together. She knew family and friends were joining for vacation, but had no idea the real reason we all made the trip was to be there for his surprise. While they stayed in an Airbnb, I wanted a more authentic island experience. My travel agent (who knows Kaua'i well from family trips) recommended Waimea Plantation Cottages, and we booked months ahead for what felt like a solid deal. I was pleasantly surprised by how roomy the cottage was. Like a well-equipped Airbnb, the kitchen had everything--dinnerware, serving bowls, knives, silverware, the works. The beds were extremely comfortable, and they provided plenty of pillows (I used at least four and was happy). We had three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and a beautiful covered deck with comfy chairs perfect for watching the ocean waves, plus a table for breakfast and a coffee table. Individual climate-controlled AC units in each room kept things as cool as we wanted--impressive and much appreciated. The plantation grounds were gorgeous, the weather was ideal during our early September stay (quiet with kids back in school), and we were close to the beach. I loved having the bar and restaurants right on the property. Front-desk customer service was excellent, and every staff member we encountered was friendly and professional. We arrived Thursday, September 3rd, and Thursday through Sunday were wonderful. My brother's surprise went perfectly. Then talk of a Category 5 hurricane approaching started. Many thought it would stay farther west, and Kaua'i hadn't seen a major one in 34 years. With my elderly mother with me and our cottage so close to the ocean, I was cautious. My brother's group (in a bigger second-story building even closer to the water in Kekaha) felt more confident, but by early afternoon Monday the 7th we all decided not to risk it. We booked rooms at the Sheraton at Coconut Beach on the east side--still near the ocean, but with the island between us and the storm. It proved to be a smart move; we fared much better than we would have on the west side. Thankfully, we brought all our belongings when we left (not planning to return ). The Waimea Plantation Cottages survived with quite a bit of damage but will recover. Without us even asking, they refunded a generous portion of our booking costs before we left the island--more than fair and greatly appreciated. This was just the start of some challenges, but I'll save those for another time. I plan to return and finish the vacation we started. If you have the chance to stay at Waimea Plantation Cottages, I highly recommend them. Beautiful grounds, comfortable cottages, great location, and thoughtful staff--even in the middle of an unexpected storm.

There aren't enough good words to say about this place. I'm almost afraid to rave about it too much…read morebecause I don't want it to be booked up when I come back! This place is beautiful, amazing, peaceful, and incredibly relaxing. In my opinion, it's even better than a "luxury" resort. It feels like you've stepped back in time to an era before technology took over, while still having all the comforts you could want. Each cottage has air conditioning, ceiling fans, and a TV, along with a full kitchen equipped with almost anything you could think of--a rice cooker, microwave, toaster, coffee maker (with coffee!), tea kettle, and even a blender. And if you choose, you can leave the screen door open and fall asleep to the sound of the waves crashing all night. It's truly a special place, and I can't wait to come back!

We decided to stay with friends at Dans & Lynettes famous Bed and Breakfast on Kauai…read more To make it short: it was awesome. The rooms are great with nice bathrooms. Outdoor showers included. The backyard and the pool: beautiful. Sometimes we decided to hang out at the pool the whole day. One day Dan came over and we picked fresh coconuts from the palm tree. For our stay at the beach, they handed out boogie boards and fins. Kila gave us the sports, playing in the garden. But beware, you will never catch her. ^^ Lynettes breakfast is amazing, with home roasted coffee, eggs, pancakes and her famous banana-syrup. She surprised us every morning inclusive a self made chocolate-espresso birthday cake. Wow. Poipu itself is the most beautiful spot on Kauai and Dan, Lynette & Kila gave us an unforgettable stay no hotel can do. Thanks so much guys!

Very nice place to relax. Waves are little bit tricky....do not go for swim if you are not good…read moreswimmer. My crazy kids were jumping from Shipwrecks .... great adrenaline rush for them and me as well. Do you like hiking with beautiful views....that try to go from Shipwreck Beach to Gillin's Beach. Enjoy and have fun!

I have been to this hotel 3 different times. I live the tiki bar it is literally one of my fa…read morefavorites places to be when visiting Kauai. The last time I was here was the weekend that Hurricane Lowell decided to pass by. The entire property was without power for a few days and the water the staff handled the situation made me a customer for life. I can't say enough about the employees that helped all the stranded people. From the pasta dinners to the scrambled eggs in the morning, we don't know how you did it but you guys were awesome. My daughter got married on the island and the place we rented for the week of the wedding was destroyed. This hotel and their staff really took care of us when we were basically homeless. Thank you to all the great employees!

stayed here for 1 night before our 4 day backpacking trip on the kalalau trail. super relaxing…read moreafter a 5 hour flight- it was nice to walk to the neighboring beach to stretch out before our trek. they were able to keep some of our bags safe as well- when we came back, they were still there! friendly front desk tons of sitting area as amenities- if you are rolling up with a big group, this is a great area to reconvene. love that a water dispenser is available here too

We made a mistake... We booked just one night to be close…read moreto our early am excursion for the last day of our visit, and as soon as we walked into our room we knew we had made a mistake by not staying here for our entire stay on the island. Don't make the same mistake...book it for multiple nights and enjoy your time!

We loved our stay at the West Inn. The room was squeaky clean, stocked with a variety of…read morecomplimentary snacks, quality coffee, friendly check in with local recommendations for food and shopping. Highly recommended.

Correction: 6 Stars! My wife and I just returned from Kaua'i, which means we stayed at the Resort…read moreduring Hurricane Lowell. There were a number of amenities that we did have a chance to enjoy. (Koloa was part of the 92% of the Island without power.) But why the extra star? The manager used a bullhorn to talk to guests standing on their verandas to update the resort's response to the debris and damage. General Manager Owen let us know that communal-use barbecues were being set up for our frozen and refrigerated food. Gas generators were set up for cell phone and digital equipment recharging. As guests left the resort, their extra food and water were placed on a table for anyone to take. The front-desk staff, operating on card tables outside the entrance, continued to answer our questions confidently and compassionately. I can only imagine how wonderful this resort is when not in emergency response mode. I'm sure - just incredible!

We had a great stay! This was actually our first time booking a Marriott home/villa instead of the…read moretypical Marriott resort we usually stay at, and I have to say, I really enjoyed the change. One of the biggest perks? No resort fees or expensive parking! And honestly, when you have the ocean right there, who cares about the pools? The resort is right next to Lawai Beach, which I personally think is one of the best snorkeling spots on the south shore. It's rocky, though, so definitely be careful getting in and out. The beach is also a great spot for surfing, and the famous Beach House Restaurant is right across the street. The resort itself is a little outdated, but it's clean, functional, and perfect for a family. Having a kitchen is essential for us when we travel with the kids, and this place gave us that home-away-from-home feeling. Another huge plus is that it's almost like an Airbnb. There were tons of beach chairs, umbrellas, boogie boards, and floaties for the kids, which made beach days so much easier. They even left welcome snacks and coffee packets in the room for us when we arrived. Those little personal touches were really nice and made the stay feel extra welcoming. And the best part? Being able to sit on the balcony and watch the sunrise and sunset over the ocean. I could definitely get used to this.

This was the second time my family and I stayed at this resort and we loved it again! It's such a…read morebeautiful resort and only a mile and a half from the airport. I booked a package through Costco which included the room, car rental and the daily mandatory resort fees. Plus, I received a Costco shop card when our stay was over. I did upgrade to a ground floor room, which was really convenient! We didn't have to deal with the elevators on this trip. We did pay the extra $10 for valet parking versus self parking. At times, the parking lots were full which meant guests had to park in the overflow lot which is not as convenient. The pools were never overly crowded and lounge chairs were available throughout the day. The resort sits on a beach which is great to walk along or spend some time there. All of the staff we encountered were really friendly and always showed us lots of aloha. We're definitely staying here again for our next trip to Kauai!

Stayed here back in June and absolutely loved it! A lot of…read morereviews talk about outdated decor but I didn't really think so. It's a beautiful hotel! Perfect because the beach is literally right outside the hotel. If you have kids they have a small kiddie pool with slide. To save money on food we asked the hotel for a microwave in our room and went to Walmart to get a few microwaveable foods.

Had a really good overall experience here…read more View/location is obviously spectacular. Room: Ocean view studio suite is nothing short of incredible. High floor with a perfect view of the bay. Open layout with a large bathroom and huge walk in closet area. Service: Was overall really impressed . Wife had an allergic reaction to something one evening. We called the front desk who unlocked the on site shop to get her allergy medication after the shop had closed for the night. All of our servers at the restaurants were very friendly, pleasant, and warm. Housekeeping was slow and did not make up our room during the few hours we were out from morning to early afternoon, but we called the service team and it was made by the time we got back from dinner. Fitness center was spacious and had plenty of equipment/machines - never felt crowded despite being busy. Restaurant food: The breakfast buffet and dinner meal we had were very good. The buffet in particular was great - so many dishes, omelet station, delicious Hawaiian coffee, etc. Main complaint is that the hotel felt quite packed (including the pool and beach area). We went during peak season so I guess this is to be expected. Tough to avoid though given this will always be a popular destination for non hotel guests as well. It's expensive for what it is, especially compared to international resort destinations at the same price level (a function of proximity to CA I guess) but overall was a worthwhile stay. 5 stars for the views and service t(hat went above and beyond).

Ever since I saw Jurassic Park and watched that little dinosaur with the popped collar spit in…read moreNewman's face, I knew I wanted to visit Kauai. Now, was that scene actually filmed there? Who knows. I was a child, and a guy who lived down the street that my mom made me call "Uncle" told me it was. I've trusted that man with absolutely zero credentials for over 30 years. Well, I finally made it to Kauai, and let me tell you... it is absolutely gorgeous. Lush. Green. Rainy. And now I also look like Newman from Seinfeld. The circle of life. I spent four nights at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, and it was... nice. Let me start with the good. My room was beautiful, the views were incredible, and the grounds are spectacular. Tropical plants everywhere, waterfalls pouring down the mountains, and postcard views in every direction. Now... the not-so-great. The food was aggressively mediocre. By day three I was fantasizing about a microwave burrito like it was a Michelin starred meal. I would've fought someone for a Cup-O-Noodles. I think it's called 1 Hotel because it's the one hotel around, and they know you've got nowhere else to eat. Unfortunately, all three restaurants seemed to have the exact same menu. Room service, The Sandbox, and the sushi restaurant all blurred together into one very expensive wagyu smashburger. The staff? Honestly, I can barely review them because I hardly interacted with anyone. Nobody bothered me, which some people probably love. The pool is beautiful... but there are nowhere near enough lounge chairs. Every morning it looked like the midwest trophy wives stormed the pool deck at 6:00 a.m. to reserve every chair with towels. If you want to sit within eyesight of the water, you're going to need an alarm clock and the competitive spirit of a suburban mother on vacation. Which brings me to... the kids. Look, if you have kids, that's wonderful. They're just not for me. Splashing. Screaming. Running. Falling. Crying. Parents yelling at their kids. Parents yelling at other people's kids. Kids somehow yelling at adults. It was like spending the afternoon inside a Dave & Buster's that happened to overlook the Pacific Ocean. If you're looking for a quiet couples getaway, I'd probably avoid summer break. There is an adults-only pool, but it's pretty small and mostly occupied by guys taking "business calls" while crushing Michelob Ultras. There's also a tiny beach area that's... ehhhhh. Now the spa? That's where this place shines. The second you walk in, it smells incredible. The kind of smell that immediately convinces your brain you've become a much healthier, more emotionally stable person. I got one of the best massages I've ever had from an amazing therapist who somehow found muscles I didn't even know existed and negotiated a peace treaty with all of them. I walked out feeling completely relaxed, refreshed, and significantly less judgmental about everything else. I'd absolutely go back for another massage, and next time I'd definitely book a facial too. My biggest surprise was the cleanliness... or lack of it. For a luxury resort, it never quite felt polished. Dead flies sat on windowsills around the property. The carpets always looked a little grimy. There was a half-finished iced coffee sitting outside my elevator that stayed there for a day and a half. None of it was a huge deal individually, but after a while you start noticing all the little things. Overall, I had an amazing trip because Kauai itself is one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited. Would I go back? Absolutely. Would I stay at 1 Hotel again? Probably not. For what they're charging, I expected luxury. Instead, it felt like I paid luxury prices for a really nice hotel that still needed someone to walk around with a rag and a trash bag. If I'm spending that kind of money again, I'd probably book the Four Seasons.