Is the Grand Hyatt worth it? It has a big price but does it deliver? Are the less expensive rooms - mountain/garden rooms okay or looking at parking lots? Pool and grounds look beautiful - just good photography or the real thing? How swimmable is the beach? If not, how close is a swimmable beach?

P.S. Is the atmosphere relaxed or busy? Is one always bumping into other people or can you find your own "space"? Thanks for the input - I really want to stay here, but don't want to be disappointed!!

Aloha. The Grand Hyatt is a lovely hotel with manicured grounds, landscaping and restaurants and associated fees.
I would recommend Kuhio Shores - Poipu - as a budget friendly alternative. Our experience in Kauai is that our daytime hours were spent outside exploring the beautiful Garden Island and the evenings were for dining and relaxing. With the large oceanfront balconies of Kuhio Shores and the availability of an equipped kitchen, we were in paradise! Did I mention free wireless internet and no resort fees?

another important question to ask would be are the renovations completed? I know that they had closed down a whole wing this fall.

The beach is not swimmable. Too rough.

You can walk through a couple of large condo complexes to a swimming beach. Personally, that really bothered me.

I stayed at the Grand Hyatt for 4 nights in May 2010 and absolutely loved it. The beach is not a swimming beach, but you can boogie board if interested. I was there during renovations and could not notice at all that anything was being done - they closed the entire wing where the renovation was occurring so it did not interfere with the parts of the resort were open. I was really worried you would be able to hear construction at the pool, but I never heard a hammer my entire stay no matter where I was on the property.

The resort is as pretty in person as it is in the pictures. It is big enough that it is easy enough to find a quiet spot to relax. There is also an adults pool which gives a little more quiet if you need it. We rented pool cabanas on two of the days and thought the price was really reasonable for a large resort.

Most garden view rooms really are garden view. It's not the same as the ocean view, but you most likely will not be gazing out over minivans and convertibles. I had reserved a garden view but was upgraded to partial ocean view as a nice surprise.

We ate dinner at Dondero's and thought it was fabulous. We did not try Tidepools but also heard it was lovely. We also enjoyed a nightcap each night in the bar and really enjoyed it.

Overall - top notch resort that we would return to in a heartbeat.

The Grand Hyatt is a wonderful resort. I've walk the property twice now and it is as beautiful as the pictures show it. The public area inside the resort is very nice an a good Hawaiian feel about it. Is it worth it, can't say but I say, I would book there if I wanted a resort in Kauai. Only minor objection can't swim in the ocean at the resort. But heck, it a seven minute drive to Poipu Beach.

Thank you everyone!!! I checked out Kuhio Shores. We are looking for a little more "pampering". We are four sixth grade teachers on spring break and want pure immersion in luxury Our idea is to drink lovely drinks while lying by the pool reading fiction that we never get to during the school year. With a little Waimea hiking and Napali viewing thrown in !! Sounds like the Hyatt will be perfect.

Yes, it does.

Love the Hyatt in Kauai. We have stayed there 2x last was on our 25th anniversary a couple of years ago and even if we don't stay there, we go for drinks. Worth the price just because of the beauty and the atmosphere - very old Hawaii but with modern "pampering" You will enjoy the spa, and sipping your drinks by the pool and dinner on the veranda - wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

Love the way they they treat you so well at the Hyatt. We are people who like special places. This is one of those places. We will never stay anywhere else on Kauai. The grounds are lush, tropical and very beautiful. Nice rooms. You will be very happy there!

I'd take a look at the Ko'a Kea Hotel. It is more of a boutique hotel and is very close to two great swimming beaches. It is a lot smaller and not as over the top as the Hyatt, but there will be fewer people and children and being a teacher myself, I see that as a positive thing when on vacation. We spent 5 nights at the Hyatt and liked it as a place to veg, but ultimately I got bugged by the cheek to cheek pool chairs, the noisy children, and their drunken parents in the beach cabanas. Made for great people watching, but it got old quick. We rarely stay at hotels in Hawaii anymore.

FYI, just read the new issue of Conde Nast. The Grand Hyatt Kauai and the St. Regis both made the list of the top properties. These were the only two on Kauai to make the list.