My husband and I are planning a 3 island trip to Hawaii in June for our 16th wedding anniversary. We have reservations at the Hyatt Kauai. Recently, we've noticed that the rants and raves for the hyatt have been terrible lately. (scores of 1.0)Has anyone stayed there since JANUARY 2002 and what was your experience? How was the service? Were the rooms dirty and run down? We are considering changing our reservations and wanted some of your suggestions to help us make our decision. We know that princeville is an option but really want to stay somewhere that we're reasonablely sure it won't rain alot.

Thank you, Cindy

One of my business partners returned from the Hyatt 2 weeks ago thought it was outstanding on every count. Including rooms.
They stayed at Kea Lani on Maui just before the Hyatt also, so they had that as a reference point.
That said, the grounds, public areas and surroundings are the best part of the Hyatt, though.

Cindy I would not cancel but I would spend some time on the North Shore you will be sorry once you see the incredible view at the Princeville Sheraton. Grounds are great at Hyatt but surrounding area is bone dry and that is reflected in the very dry landscape. Stars at night are incredible, Waimea canyon, Kokee National Park, Kalalau look out are wonderful. Nevertheless much of this is a 30 minute drive from poipu. North Shore you wake up in this landscape. I would not go all that way and skip a stay here. You are going end of June rainy season ends in May. If it rains than you can drive out.

I can't comment on Hyatt rooms but the grounds are great. I have some concerns about crowds but I go in August and that is a tough time. The hotel is booked solid for the time I have booked, already!!! June 16 many schools will be in last week of sessions I am guessing. You should be fine.

Think many are put off by the price of Hyatt and that is where some of the sour grapes come from.

topping

ttt

Is there anyone else who has stayed here recently? We would appreciate any other opinions about the hyatt(service, etc).

Thanks, Cindy

Cindy this question has been discussed lots recently. If you type in "Hyatt Kauai" in the text search you should find lots of helpful info

I stayed at both the Princeville (5 nights) and Hyatt (4 nights) during the same vacation (6 mos ago)beacuse of free points. I had a great Hyatt view room (they're are'nt many) and it smelled kind of musty. But it was a nicely appointed large room with a very large bathroom area. Typcial nicer Hyatt hotel room. The grounds are awesome though and the buffets aren't bad either. A bunch of small pools all on upper levles leading to a big pool and water slide on the lower level. A nice saltwater lagoon too in between the pool area and the beach. The beach off the Hyatt is a body board beach not too friendly for the unexperienced. It was a great visit and we had a lot of fun. The Princeville though was a notch higher in terms of decor and service. I'd say 95% of the rooms have a great view, the rooms are luxuriously appointed and bigger than the Hyatt. The Hyatt service is typical for a Hyatt but the Princeville service is more like a Ritz or Four Seasons. The buffet breakfast is much better here and the top end restaurants are about the same. Great snorkeling off the beach to the left heading towards Hanalei bay - it's too shallow immediately next to the resort. The disadvantage is that it rains more often but we were lucky and it rained only once for about 3 hours- we just drove down south where it was sunny (45 minutes). No problem. BTW when it rains it only rains for a few hours or minutes. in June you will have no problem with rain. Also you have less restaurant choices. Princeville and the surrounding area are way high on the romantic scale while the Hyatt is more on the family fun side because of the pool/lagoon thing. If you're honey mooning without the kids, I'd recommend the Princeville - you'll never forget it. One of the most beautiful sights in the world is that of Hanalei Bay and the Princeville is right there. My wife is not very picky and often shuns luxury but this is one of those places I noticed that she always talks about to her friends.

I stayed at both the Princeville (5 nights) and Hyatt (4 nights) during the same vacation (6 mos ago)because of free points. I had a great Hyatt view room (they're are'nt many) and it smelled kind of musty. But it was a nicely appointed large room with a very large bathroom area. Typcial nicer Hyatt hotel room. The grounds are awesome though and the buffets aren't bad either. A bunch of small pools all on upper levles leading to a big pool and water slide on the lower level. A nice saltwater lagoon too in between the pool area and the beach. The beach off the Hyatt is a body board beach not too friendly for the unexperienced. It was a great visit and we had a lot of fun. The Princeville though was a notch higher in terms of decor and service. I'd say 95% of the rooms have a great view, the rooms are luxuriously appointed and bigger than the Hyatt. The Hyatt service is typical for a Hyatt but the Princeville service is more like a Ritz or Four Seasons. The buffet breakfast is much better here and the top end restaurants are about the same. Great snorkeling off the beach to the left heading towards Hanalei bay - it's too shallow immediately next to the resort. The disadvantage is that it rains more often but we were lucky and it rained only once for about 3 hours- we just drove down south where it was sunny (45 minutes). No problem. BTW when it rains it only rains for a few hours or minutes. in June you will have no problem with rain. Also you have less restaurant choices. Princeville and the surrounding area are way high on the romantic scale while the Hyatt is more on the family fun side because of the pool/lagoon thing. If you're honey mooning without the kids, I'd recommend the Princeville - you'll never forget it. One of the most beautiful sights in the world is that of Hanalei Bay and the Princeville is right there. My wife is not very picky and often shuns luxury but this is one of those places I noticed that she always talks about to her friends.

I stayed there over Thanksgiving 2001. I thought it was a very beautiful resort. Our room was very clean and not run-down at all. The service was excellent. We requested a mini-fridge for our room and they gave us one. My boyfriend called ahead for a bouquet of flowers to be in our room upon arrival and they were beuatiful and lasted the whole week. Conceirge was very helpful with dinner reservations and suggestions. We had a ground room with a sliding glass door which led directly to the grounds. A beautiful hotel.

Thank you to all who replied to my request about the hyatt. After much thought and your help, we decided to split our stay and spend four nights at the Hyatt and three nights at the Princeville Resort(Jr suite). We can hardly wait!!

Thanks Again,

Cindy

Cindy

Congrats on the bookings and the anniv.!

We spent our 10th anniv on Kauai in '89 and have been back 9x since.

Splitting your time between both will be fine for you. Less time in the car. More time relaxin'!
The view of the Hanalei Valley full of ocean spray at sunset from the P'ville lobby is beautiful!

Mucho Mahalos,
Kal
246 mo' days!

Dear Cindy,

Please do not change your reservations to the Princeville. First, it always rains there. The atmosphere is not at all "Hawaiian," and the clientele are rich golfer types (maybe that's what you like). The best thing about the Princeville is Monday night sushi in the golf club. Other than that, I see no reason to stay there. The bathrooms are elegant, I must say, but so are those at the Hyatt.

I am writing a guidebook on Kauai, and my favorite hotel by far is the Hyatt. The rooms are lovely, the pool and hot tubs are delightful, the restaurants are excellent, it's a short walk to Poipu Beach, a lovely swimming beach (the beach directly in front of the Hyatt is a bit rough). Service at the Hyatt is excellent, and the rooms are not at all run down. I can't imagine how anyone could have gotten that idea. The last time I was there was this past January. Architecturally, the Poipu Hyatt is one of the most interesting hotels in Hawaii. Add to that the Anara Spa, and you have a world-class hotel. (At the Princeville, the spa is a great distance from the hotel, and you have to use a minibus to get there.)

My recently published guidebook on Maui has won an award from the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, in case you doubt my credentials.

I hope you have a great vacation. Kauai is wonderful.

With best wishes,

Virginia Wageman

2015C Round Top Drive
Honolulu, HI 96822
[email protected]
[email protected]

Cindy no guide book but after that last endorsement to stay away from Pville I think I am due to write one. Hyatt is lovely but Princeville is the most scenic location on Kauai. Not going to bash Hyatt I am staying there this summer. The views from Princeville are most of what you see in printed travel brochures. There are a tremendous amount of scenic locations to seek out on the Western side so don’t rule out Hyatt. You are closer with that location, only a half hour drive away.

Absolutely do not exclude Princeville from your travel itinerary. Here you are 15 minutes from the most incredible beaches on the island. They are predicting increased chance of tropical showers and hurricanes this summer but Poipu will not protect you against that. I thought Iniki did the most damage on that side of the island. June -Early September is normally the dry season on the North Shore with only occasional morning showers.

Wanted to pass this info on to anyone who is thinking about Kauai this year (through December 15th that is).

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The travel needs be booked through a certified travel agent (click on
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and mention the offer. Be sure to read the qualifications.

We just stayed at The Hyatt Kauai last January, and it was perfection. The rooms are very large and the grounds are spectacular. I can't imagine anyone saying that the area around it is anything but gorgeous. The hotel has a great feel to it, casual but elegant. I felt the sheraton princeville was very cold and didn't seem to fit the environment. The rooms are lovely and the views are great, but the beach is a problem. I just love the Hyatt Kauai, it is my 4th time there. I guess that's why there are different resorts, everyone has something different they are looking for. Congrats on your anniversary.

We just returned from a May '02 weekend at the Hyatt on Kauai and were quite disappointed. Perhaps our expectations were too high. It is a nice property but doesn't measure up to the hype given it. We've been to other resorts that are as nice or nicer for lower cost. Disappointments included the food and the room and the snooty attitude of the staff. Not at all the "ho'okipa" you find at many Hawaiian properties.