Kauai Honeymoon - Hyatt vs. St Regis? (or North vs. South)
 

I will be starting my honeymoon in Kauai for 4 nights this September. My fiance and I have been debating over these two hotels for months now and getting nowhere. Both look incredible. The pools and grounds at the Hyatt seem to surpass those at the St Regis, but the views at the St Regis look amazing. Some of my other concerns are weather (Hyatt seems better), the amount of children at the resorts (St Regis seems better), quality of restaurants, and proximity of activities. Maybe the better question is which side of the island is preferable? Neither of us have ever been to Kauai so any input would be very much appreciated!

I'd love to stay at the St. Regis. The views are amazing! And I'd bet you'd probably have good weather on the North shore in September. I stayed in Hanalei last May, and I loved the North Shore.

Yes, it is tough to choose between two separate paradises. You don't have to worry about making a wrong choice though as either one will provide you a fabulous honeymoon. One way to handle it is go to one choice this year and go to the other for your 1 year anniversary.
One more difference to throw into your deliberations is this: the north side tends to be more lush, quiet, less populated and more rainy while the south side tends to be more sunny and has more restaurants and shopping. Which ever side you stay on, the island is small enough to make it an easy drive to see the sights on the other side.
Basically, there is no way you can go wrong in your decision.
Have a great honeymoon.

I agree that it won't really matter - you are in paradise on your honeymoon!! Either will be wonderful. I personally like the North Shore because it is more Hawaiian to me - more tropical and lush. The South is drier and sunnier, but similar to Southern California where I live.

But hey, the entire island is very small and you can drive from the north to south and back again in a very short amt of time.

Regarding drive times, it's about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Princeville to Poipu and about 1 hour 40 minutes from Princeville to Waimea Canyon.

Have stayed twice at the Hyatt and loved it. It is so "old Hawaii" in the atmosphere. Pool area is great, good restaurants, beach, great spa, rooms are lovely. Not sure the St Regis has a beach. In September you shouldn't have to worry about weather - it is really in the winter months that the North Shore is a bit iffy. DH and I have been to Kauai 12 times and have NEVER been stopped by rain. It might rain some during the day but it generally passing showers - it will not stop you from enjoying the beauty of Kauai.

North Shore is less touristy and more open space. Princeville is close to Hanalei which has good beaches, funky town and NaPali hike if you like hiking. It is a haul to get from Priniceville to Poipu and Waimea Canyon and that area but worth the drive but with only 4 days, I'd pretty much stay put somewhere and just enjoy the lushness of Kauai.

I've been to Hawaii's four major islands, and the north shore of Kauai comes the closest to the exotic feel of French Polynesia, which is my measuring stick for South Pacific island vacations. Just my opinion, but I might rather skip Kauai and spend the entire time on Maui than stay at the Hyatt. The scenery and landscape isn't that much different between the two to warrant spending half a day getting from one to the other.

I spent many perfect mornings at the St. Regis during my January visit -- although I couldn't afford to stay there. The views are gorgeous and for me it's no contest. St. Regis and the North Shore wins. Yes, there is a beach and a small swimmable area. It's also less than a 10 minute drive to my favorite beach -- Hanalei Bay.

For me, Poipu and the Hyatt are beautiful -- but "generic." Some people love that.

I spent many perfect mornings at the St. Regis during my January visit -- although I couldn't afford to stay there. The views are gorgeous and for me it's no contest. St. Regis and the North Shore wins. Yes, there is a beach and a small swimmable area. It's also less than a 10 minute drive to my favorite beach -- Hanalei Bay.

For me, Poipu and the Hyatt are beautiful -- but "generic." Some people love that.

I would not characterize the Hyatt as "Old Hawaii"

It is more like "big Hyatt Hotel with an extensive pool complex because the beach is unswimmable"

True the beach is unswimmable hence the sandy area around one of the pools. Several pools to choose from - from adults only to family pools The open feel of the hotel with all the flowers, ferns, palm trees, the trade winds blowing thru the lobby gives me a feel of "Old Hawaii"... and compared to some of the other big Hyatts, I think it is ratherlow key. Their Spa is one of the best.

Wellllll....I've stayed at both places (I prefer St. Regis because I love the lush North side) but I vote that you stay at the Koa Kea, a very small boutique hotel in Poipu. It is MAGNIFICENT. Check out the reviews on TripAdvisor and you'll see what I mean... Happy Honeymooning!

Also, I wrote this list of my fav Kauai restaurants last year but my be useful to you....

POSTCARDS CAFE in Hanalei. When you're on the North shore, absolutely be sure to go here for dinner. They are open 6-9 p.m. and serve outstanding, mostly organic food. The preparations are unique and so, so delicious. If you get there around 6 you'll even see them cutting the herbs and lettuce from the garden. It's in a small, intimate house.

THE BEACH HOUSE in Poipu. Get a reservation as early as you can (I think 6) and get there 15 minutes early to catch the sunset. Absolutely spectacular view. Great food.

ST. REGIS HOTEL in Princeville for lunch. Another spectacular view of the Hanalei Bay and Bali Hai over infinity pools. Delicious food.

MERMAIDS CAFE in Kapaa. This is a hole in the wall cheapie lunch spot that serves the most delicious lunch (coconut curry chicken, burritos, salads)

MERRIMAN'S in Poipu. We only ate there for lunch but it was delish and I hear great things about their dinner. They are in a new outdoor shopping mall upstairs. If you're there for the day, check out an adorable boutique called Bungalow 8. Sweet girl from Dallas just opened the boutique and they have some lovely gifts (for yourself

RED SALT in Poipu at the Koa Kea Hotel. This is a special occasion dinner. Simply mouth watering, deliciousness. Treat yourself to a red sugar rimmed Mango Margarita instead of a Mai Tai and you won't be disappointed.

ROY'S in Poipu. It's a chain but I still love it. Like Merriman's this one is also in an outdoor mall but food so yummy!

Hi, I have stayed at both hotels, both for 4 nights. I liked the Hyatt a little bit better. 1. The beds were the best I have ever sleept in, we bought the same kind when we got home. 2. The restaurant was better valued. 3. The banna tree growing and open sky in the lobby.4. I enjoy watching the sun rise over the ocean. Like everyone else has said, you can't go wrong with either choice. Congrats and enjoy your trip, ziggypop

In Sept you will not have to worry about the weather as much. It rains more in Dec/Jan on the north side of Kauai. It really depends on what you want to do while on your honeymoon. If you are looking to stay planted than the St. Regis might be the best choice. If you want to be close to more acitivities and options for food etc than the Hyatt would better suit your needs. Once you are in Princeville you are limited on what is around that area.

Also, most children are back to school in Sept so that shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Good Luck!!

Thank you all very much! I think we are actually leaning towards the St Regis at this point and we're doing 6 nights instead of 4, followed by 6 nights at the four seasons in Maui. I plan to take a day trip to the south side to do Waimea and dinner at the Beach House.

bm

Congrats Lauren and no doubt you will love your honeymoon in Hawaii, it's one of my favorite places to visit and hope to go with my son and husband this year myself.

My husband & I stayed at the Hyatt last time we were there and honestly I agree with another post that it was just a Hyatt hotel. However, I am not one to do the resort thing, I prefer to rent villas when I go somewhere and small boutique hotels. So, this was just a big hotel with a pretty pool area, but the beach is rocky and you can't swim it and not much walkable space on the beach either.

When there, we decided when we return we will rent a villa next time because it was not worth the money. The service was just ok, and the dining not very good. In fact, the pool service was terrible and the food too. This was a miss for us, just disappointed and would not return. And for a honeymoon, no special feeling at all in my opinion.

HOwever, I did enjoy Kauai and I've been to all the islands. I will suggest that you do a helicopter ride around the island, this was AMAZING to us! We also did a 4 wheeler tour and that was a lot of fun too! We each rode our own 4wheeler. It made us purchase our own when we came home! :)

Have a FABULOUS time! Again, congrats!

We have not stayed at either resort but they are both lovely. I could be wrong, but I was thinking that the St. Regis rooms did not have a lanai--except for the ground floors.

I need a lanai that overlooks the water when I am in Hawaii