I couldn't help but notice the recent raters for this hotel have been giving it a 1.0 especially noting poor rooms and service. Can it really be that bad? Anyone been recently?

Anybody been there when the hotel is operating at full occupancy?

I am going in 9 days. This is my first visit so I am hoping that these reviews are not accurate. I will give a report when I get back!

Having styaed there about 3 yrs ago, I can't imagine it can be that bad now. It was THE BEST Resort that I have stayed at, and it continues to win top awards. I don't think you have anything to worry about.

I stayed there 2 years ago in August. I was very happy with everthing about the hotel. I stayed in a room with 2 queen beds with my husband and 2 kids. The pool/lagoon area is amazing with waterslides, kayaks and lazy river. My kids were totally spoiled.

Unfortunately now they hope every hotel will be like the Kauai Hyatt! The only negative thing would be the beach area. The water was always too rough to swim in it. Enjoy.

I'm at the hyatt kauai right now. Everything has been perfect since I arrived. The hotel appears to be 70-80% occupied.

Thanks for commenting on occupancy during high season. This is helpful

Always remember: personal ratings don't give you any insight into people's personal rating scales.

Lots of people bash Bellagio because the service isn't like a Four Seasons. Well it never will be. And you'll never find a Four Seasons with 5000 guests a night to take care of either. You can't have it both ways.

Many people say places like the Sahara or Stratosphere are fine. Well, if you go in knowing it's not the Ritz and your rate is $29, it's hard to be disappointed.

When people stay at the Hyatt Kauai, many times it's the biggest splurge they've ever undertaken. With sky high expectations, the rooms don't measure up to the Four Seasons, and the place isn't cheap either.
Some people go there having stayed at better places in the past and hear that the Hyatt is the best on the island. Well it is. But the hotel is not as nice as some others in the US. If you're expecting a top 10 in the world type place (room wise) you'll not find what you're looking for.

That's why you occasionally see poor ratings IMO.
Take it all with a grain of salt. Try to look at the averages. Go in with proper perspective and you'll enjoy it very much.

Amen Jack. That was so well said. What you just wrote ought to be a disclaimer on Fodor's home page.

I was thinking about this post last night and how unfortunate it is that individual reactions are swallowed hook, line and sinker. First off, I haven't seen anyone rating Hyatt Kauai a 1.0 with poor rooms and service--not that I read all the posts, but certainly a fair number of them. I often see ratings or comments on various hotels, restaurants, or cities and wonder where in the world the rater is coming from! Hyatt Key West for instance, yes, lovely hotel and a great location, but reading some of these posts, you might expect to be going to a truly phenomenal resort property. It's nice...that's it! You go in with the unrealistic expectations and you can not come back and write of anything but disappointment at what you found--not that the hotel has gone downhill, but because your expectations for it were off to begin with.

Jack said it better than I could so I'll just reiterate...look at all the posts; you'll find the truth somewhere in the middle, and remember your paradise might just be someone else's punishment--and vice versa.

Olive Oyl:
The last few posts on the hyatt have given all 1's. You will see this if you search under rants for hotels. i think it is just somebody who is upset with the Hyatt. I can't imagine 1's across the board after I have heard so many great things about this place. I am going in a week and can't wait!

There's something fishy about this thread - can't quite put my finger on it, but fishy none the less. (Maybe seems a little staged with some less than objective answers? I'm not sure.)

I started this thread and I assure you that I didn't plan to "stage" anything. I am planning my honeymoon and just want it to be as perfect as I can make it. So, I really appreciate everyone's response as it is reassuring to know the resort is doing just fine. I understand exactly what Jack is saying and agree this is probably what happened. However, like those individuals, I don't want to pay a fortune and totally regret it.

If you are not sure why the hell don't you keep quiet. We don't need the suspicions of amateur Forum police cluttering things up !! What is the point of this post ??

Arnie, Arnie, is that you????
Quick! Come back to the Haunted House post!

I stayed at the Hyatt Kauai about 1 1/2 yrs ago. I thought the hotel was very beautiful, amazing lagoon pool and deccent food. The rooms were okay.

The service was disappointing. After staying at many Hyatt hotels (including the ones in Maui and Oahu)we were not impressed. So many people hyped it up for us that it didn't measure up but it also was that we didn't appreciate the fact that no one seemed the least bit concerned about all the critters in our room. I know they are "native" and supposedly good luck, but geckos crawling about my bedroom doesn't make for a restful sleep!

I have not stayed but have visited the grounds a number of times. I also think it is certainly a nice hotel but I thought the Hilton Waikolao on the big Island was much more beautiful. I also visited when HW was not well known so I never ever saw crowds.

topping

Arnie...we are dying to heat the rest of the story on Haunted Hotels....your story is excellent...please son't kep us waiting. Thank you.

We stayed at the Hyatt in Kauai in 2000. The grounds were magnificent. We has a wonderful time each night listening to jazz at Stephensons Library (Lounge). The restaurant Dondero's has the best chicken marsala I have ever had, however, the rooms were very bland and the COCKROACHES were huge. If you wake up at 2:00 AM with a huge COCKROACH crawling up your neck you might think twice before going back. We were even on a higher floor! We were told that the poor people in the garden view rooms have all kinds of live critters in their rooms. It is vry common place. While we were there for the first five days of our three week vacation, it rained, rained and rained some more. They say Poipu is the sunny side? If you don't mind bugs, BIG, BIG bugs then you will realyy enjoy the Hyatt.

I admit it; I mind big bugs. Is it a problem all year round?