traveler123

Which hotel has a better location on the beach (calmer waters), and which has nicer rooms? If we go with a non-ocean view, are the rooms nice with a garden or mountain view?

islandmom

Hyatt is 100 times nicer on view and grounds. Sheraton may have the better beach as far as the sand goes... I can't picture it right now. The waves would be similar as they are so close. The mountain is more like a small dry hill. The Hyatt is much more of a luxury hotel.

bogart

from what I've gathered...if you are staying at the Sheraton you MUST get an ocean-front deluxe room...otherwise you may be off in the building on the other side of the road. We stayed at the Princeville on the n. shore but checked out the sheraton one day when we were sightseeing on the s. shore. We really only saw the pool area, kind of small and crowded (lots of kids) The beach was nice though, but not any nicer than the Hyatt's, IMO. I would stay at the Hyatt.

traveler123

I thought there's one part of the crescent beach where the water is more shallow and calmer -- better for swimming and snorkeling?

curmudgeon

I think the beach by Sheraton is much better for swimming/snorkeling, while the grounds/pools at Hyatt are much nicer. I haven't stayed at either; we rented a condo on the point between the two.

lindafromNJ

I just spoke to someone I work with that stayed at the Sheraton. She said that the rooms were not that nice very standard. The Hyatt is very nice and it is a 4 min. drive to Poipu beach. The beach at the Hyatt is not for swimming it is too rough. I had diner at the Tidepools a restaurant at the Hyatt which was wonderful

kmg

you will be so disappointed if you stay at the Sheraton and then visit the Hyatt. The Hyatt is way nicer. Part of the fun of Kauai was visting all the different beaches. Your hotel does not necessarily have to front one. Although, we thought the Hyatt's beach was fine for sunbathing/sitting.

We stayed at the Sheraton in a garden view room. The room itself was fine, big bathroom area, double sink, separate from the tub/shower area. The breakfast buffet at the Sheraton was average, same food every day. One day all of the food was cold, like they made it the day before and forgot to heat it.

traveler123

It sounds similar to people's comparisons of the Hyatt vs. Sheraton on Maui -- the beach is more swimmable near the Sheraton, but the hotel itself is nicer for the Hyatt.

lindafromNJ said the Hyatt was a 4 minute drive to Poipu beach -- is it easily walkable? In comparison to Maui, the walk from the Hyatt to Sheraton is long.

lindafromNJ

I think it would be too long of a walk too the beach. Will you be renting a car. You want to drive to the North shore as the beaches there are beautiful. When I was in Kauai I stayed at Glorias Bed and Breakfast. It was in Poipu. It was very nice with a nice breakfast included. Like I said we drove to the beach, different beaches. Also we stayed at the Hanalei Beach Resort in Princeville also so we could get a better flavor of the North Shore. I think you will be happier at the Hyatt. Also they have a very nice spa there.

Patty

The Hyatt's beach is good for boogie boarding but a little rough for swimming especially if you have younger kids. They try to compensate with their elaborate pool/artificial lagoon system. For a calm swimming beach, you'll have to drive to Poipu. I don't remember the exact distance but it seems like it would be longer than the distance between the Hyatt and Sheraton on Maui. The Hyatt grounds are beautiful but some have been dispappointed by the 'simplicity' of the rooms. I happen to like them, they aren't meant to be 'four seasons' or 'ritz' type rooms but rather reflect the tropical/Hawaiian style of the destination. I hear rooms at Princeville are much more 'glamorous'.

islandmom

My favorite is Mahaulepu just past the Hyatt. I don't care much for Poipu beach.


"Kauai's southern coastline is dominated by a perfect string of crescent shaped beaches, each having its own particular shoreline environment.
The most popular beach, Poipu Beach, is fronted by Poipu Beach Park, and a few of the resorts. Poipu Beach was recently named America's #1 Beach by Dr. Steve Leatherman of Florida International University, ranking top among fifty beaches located in the U.S. This beach is a series of golden sand crescents, strung together where beach-goers will find snorkeling, swimming, wading boogie-boarding and surfing.

Another lovely beach is Shipwreck's Beach, a long stretch of golden sand on the eastern end of Poipu. Shipwreck's Beach is fronted by some resorts and a county park facility. During most of the year, the waters here are best for advanced surfers due to a short shore-break. This is a great beach however, to walk along, wade a little, sunbathe or hook up with a spectacular shoreline trail that goes east for a couple miles.

Further to the east is Mahaulepu Beach, a gorgeous and idyllic stretch of golden sand that feels truly remote. Mahaulepu is a two mile car trip from the end of Poipu Road. Travel east on the dirt cane field road to the main cane haul road intersection and turn right. There will be a security shack posting beach opening and closing hours. The beach usually closes by 6 p.m. in the winter and 7 p.m. in the summer. These are strictly enforced by the landowner that allows public access at their own risk. Mahaulepu is popular with locals and visitors, including wind surfers, swimmers, snorkelers, fishermen (or women) and sunbathers.

To the west of Poipu Beach is Baby Beach, a sweet little protected cove perfect for very young children. This is accessed from Spouting Horn Road to Hoone Road.

Further to the west on Spouting Horn Road is Lawai Beach, a delightful snorkeling spot fronted by a resort of the same name. Although the strip of sand is narrow, the snorkeling is good and in calm waters."

missrocco

I echo what everyone else said--the Hyatt is AWESOME, but the water there was super rough when we were there--like out of a surfing movie! Not safe for kids (if you have any). (We didn't stay at the Hyatt, but loved it so much there that we visited often for dinner and drinks and also spent some time at the beach in front.)

RachelG

The Hyatt is wonderful--one of my favorite hotels anywhere--but the beach is not really swimmable. The pool area is very nice however. Also the spa is wonderful. Food is quite expensive--we ate elsewhere most of the time, even though I was on expense account. There are lots of restaurant options closeby.

gilber20

My wife and I stayed at the Hyatt for our honeymoon and really enjoyed it. We had a mountain view - but orignally paid for a garden view room (they upgraded us with a Gold Passport frequent guest number). Also, the card will get you a free daily paper and access to the fitness center. The ocean-view room is not worth the extra cost as you'll be too far away from the ocean.

It's probably the best resort on the south shore (the Princeville takes the prize for the north shore), with its verdant gardens, restaurants, and down-to-earth luxuriousness.

You will love the lagoon area, which is a calm oasis away from the beach which has a rough surf. But you only need drive 5 minutes away to a secluded beach to the east, or any beach on the island. If you like trekking, the day hike along the NaPali Coast to the Hanakapiai Falls was an amazing experience!

vivi

The Hyatt Kauai always has a red flag posted for swimmers but you will see people swimming and boogie boarding there anyway. The waves crash onto the shore in a rough manner, does not look safe or relaxing for swimming.
However, the manmade laggon at the Hyatt is safe and I love it!

It would not be an easy walk from the Hyatt to Poipu Beach Park ... too hot, too hilly, too far.

The Sheraton/Kiahuna beach is much calmer and safer for swimming

mscarls

We stayed in an ocean view room at the Sheraton last May and enjoyed it. The room was large and well-maintained, and we were close to the beach.
We thought the breakfast buffet was fine, but it was better, but more expensive, at the Hyatt.
We never ate dinner at the Sheraton because I hadn't heard anything special about its restaurant, and we looked at the menu at the Hyatt and decided we could do better for less money elsewhere.
We visited the Hyatt and felt, as an earlier person stated, that the ocean view rooms would be almost a rip-off there because they would be too far from the ocean and the view would be blocked by trees.
The beach at the Sheraton is very nice and you can walk around a point to the public beach, which has pretty good snorkeling.
One annoyance at the Sheraton is the daily activity fee. It's somewhat of a rip-off unless you play tennis. Then it's a deal.
The other annoyance is its beach chair policy. The only chairs allowed on the beach must be rented for an additional fee. The free lounge chairs by the pool can't be taken on the sand, so everyone lines up along the edge of the grass closest to the beach. The hotel's justification, which I question, is that the hotel can't let the beach get too crowded because it is visited by a rare seal (I did see the seal). The beach chair policy is rather bizarre, but I noticed that the same thing happened at the Marriott. Maybe another respondent knows how the Hyatt handles it.
Going back to the Sheraton's garden and mountain view rooms, they are across a small street from the main building, which wouldn't thrill me.

vivi

None of the hotels allow their beach chairs onto the sand. At the Marriott there are signs and the security guards will actually ask you to move if you pull the chair onto the beach. It is probably because the beach is public property and they only want to be legally responsible for their guests while they are technically on the grounds of the resort.