Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)
-   United States (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/)
-   -   Kauai - wow, just WOW!!! (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/kauai-wow-just-wow-1043763/)

sf7307 May 29th, 2015 03:27 PM

I might have to think about getting one of their credit cards too but then that means that the air miles on Hawaiian would be lost

What do you mean by this? (We just got a new Hyatt card - tried to book the Andaz Maui but they had no garden view rooms available for our dates, and wouldn't allow an upgrade even if we paid the difference, so instead we booked the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek for a weekend in January - I was NOT going to let two free nights go to waste, and at a great hotel!)

Samsaf May 30th, 2015 07:26 AM

Just found this report -- awesome! My husband and I feel the same way about Kauai and about the views at the Grand Hyatt. I'm going to check out those credit card deals! Thanks for this awesome report!

sf7307 May 30th, 2015 08:29 AM

Samsaf, the first time we got the Hyatt card, we each got one - it costs $75 for the year, but we got FOUR consecutive free nights at the Grand Hyatt. You also get 1 free night per year at a category 4 hotel, which we've used every year, this year for a night at the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco, previously in Manhattan and in DC.

rncheryl May 30th, 2015 10:38 AM

So we are going back to Kauai next April. Since there are 4 couples, we have chosen http://www.vrbo.com/499432?utm_campa...m_medium=email

Can't wait to show the first timers Kauai

sf7307 Jun 2nd, 2015 08:42 AM

rncheryl, that house looks fabulous! Please report back!

bniemand Jun 2nd, 2015 10:05 AM

Hi Buffalo Girl. We are going to Kauai in mid April 2016 and I am debating between staying in Poipu or in Princeville at HBR. Since you stayed in both areas, can you tell me if there was any difference in weather? Specifically humidity. I prefer dryer and cooler temps. I know in the winter there are differences between north and south, but not sure if it matters in mid April?

Kal Jun 2nd, 2015 01:18 PM

Yeah!!!! What SF said! Wowzers.

I just wish we had that many people we like enough to share it with!
:'(

Kauai is usually our "alone time" spent with our Kauai ohana who have adopted us after all these years of going over. :-X

camelotdb Jun 2nd, 2015 05:55 PM

Hi Buffalo Girl! Too funny, I have the same question as bniemand, however we are are arriving on January 30 And departing on February 4 as we then head to Maui. This is our first visit to Kauai but our 10th visit to Maui. I have read all the trip reports and looking forward to exploring this island. We enjoy driving around so that will not be an issue for us to travel to different areas of the island. I look forward to your recommendation. If we stay at the Hyatt, I will request two credit cards to have four free nights. Thanks to all that made comments on this.

Mahalo!

BuffaloGirl Jun 2nd, 2015 06:59 PM

Oh, wow...I didn't realize this post was still going strong!

rncheryl - that house is beautiful!!!

briemand and camelotdb - there are Kauai experts here who can better answer your questions. I know from all my planning that the north side does get a lot of rain. Thus, the lushness. When we were on the north side we had one full day of rain and maybe a 1/2 day of on and off rain. The rest of the time was beautiful. On the south shore we only had a few short rain showers - so short that they maybe lasted 30 seconds to a minute. However, on the day we left for Princeville it was cloudy and looked like Poipu was going to get rain.

We started our vacation on the south side and one day we overheard someone saying they were glad they didn't stay north that week as friends of their's had 3 full days of rain.

It was very warm and dry in Poipu, and very warm and dry in Princeville; however, the last 2 days or so in Princeville it suddenly got really humid! (Basically, I'm no help in this matter). :-(

It's hard for me to encourage one side over the other. We don't like to drive all over, so splitting our vacation between both sides was perfect.

I hope you both have a fabulous time.

BuffaloGirl Jun 2nd, 2015 07:05 PM

I'm back....I have to admit that the north shore is absolutely stunning. The beaches, the views of the mountains. They really are something. But you MIGHT have to deal with a lot of rain.

The south shore was beautiful in it's own right. But the beaches and view are nothing like the north shore. However, the Hyatt was sooooo nice and beautiful that it made up for it (if that makes any sense).

bniemand Jun 2nd, 2015 07:21 PM

You're making sense. I get it, lushness = rain = humidity. The views from the Hanalei Bay Resort lanais of Bali Hai might persuade me to put up with some rain...

BuffaloGirl Jun 2nd, 2015 07:32 PM

It's beautiful even when it rains. If time permits, consider staying on both sides... you can't go wrong.

camelotdb Jun 3rd, 2015 05:30 PM

Thank you Bufflalo Girl. You confirmed exactly what I thought. Unfortunately, since this is a shorter trip(only 4 1/2 days) we need to choose one area to stay. when we go to Maui, we split our time in west Maui and Wailea, except this time we will stay in west Maui for 9 days. They are totally different but we love both of them for different reasons. I am leaning for the north and DH wants the south...ugh! No matter where we decide, we will see all of the sights as we eat our way around the island.

I ejoyed your trip report and I always like reading songdocs as well.

I am appreciative for all that post their information. Perhaps we can get 5 couples on this site to travel together so we can stay in the beautiful house mcheryl has shown us!

Maholo!

cindy2 Apr 24th, 2017 11:47 AM

Buffalo Girl,
I have read a few of your posts about Kauai. My husband and I plan to visit in August. I was focusing on which shore and have become convinced we should stay on the North Shore in August.

We are thinking about staying at the St. Regis, but have heard that it's "tired" and "overpriced" and has mediocre food. You didn't write much about those things.

Also, I understand it's quite a jaunt to get to the pools and beach at the St. Regis, and we definitely want to sit on the beach daily.

Can you or others elaborate more on these topics?
Thank you!

Inakauaidavidababy Apr 24th, 2017 12:18 PM

While I enjoyed my stay at the Starwood Princreville property, I am less enamored by the millions of dollars and layoffs the St Regis brand spent to make it lesser then it's previous self. The same thing happened with Lanai, so I have little faith in the 4S brand taking over and shutting down, laying people off and not improving the space.

The views are breathtaking, although with no lanai. The vista ever-changing with the tide. But I don't love the beach for swimming. It can be quite shallow at low tide. And in the summer, I've found the pool to be hot rather then refreshing.

Inakauaidavidababy Apr 24th, 2017 12:22 PM

Oh I forgot the news story! Dumb dumb . . .

http://thegardenisland.com/news/loca...c12b77ddc.html

BuffaloGirl Apr 25th, 2017 06:07 AM

cindy2 - I stayed next door at the Hanalei Bay Resort. The only thing I did at the St. Regis was use their poolside bathroom and bar!!!

Bettina222 Apr 28th, 2017 08:05 AM

BuffaloGirl,
I loved reading your report.
My husband and I are planning a Hawaii trip for summer of 2018, thinking of 6 nights on Maui and 6 on Kauii.
I've read about the Hyatt credit card perks.
Do you remember how far in advance you had to make your reservation?
If we have our free nights about a year in advance, do you think we'd be able to book 4 nights in the summer?
Thanks for your help!
Bettina

BuffaloGirl Apr 29th, 2017 03:03 AM

Bettina222 - I booked my original trip pretty far in advance - maybe 9 to 12 months ahead (not sure). Then, due to my husband needing surgery, I cancelled the trip and re-scheduled maybe 8 weeks before we ended up going. So they were pretty flexible. But I would call to make sure.

Here's a link that describes the benefits of the credit card:

https://creditcards.chase.com/credit-cards/hyatt

You can both get a card and then you'll have 4 free nights. To me it's worth the annual fee because you get a free night in a category 1-4 hotel every year. I just used my free night in Toronto a few weeks ago.

You mentioned 4 nights at the Hyatt, but you will be on Kauai for 6 nights. Will you be spending 2 nights on the north shore?

BuffaloGirl Apr 29th, 2017 03:05 AM

Oh, and be sure to join "The World of Hyatt" program, as well. There are some nice perks like free upgrades (when available), late check out, etc. Free to join on the Hyatt website.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 09:25 PM.