We originally booked this hotel because it was much cheaper than usual because it was undergoing some construction. We were prepared for some construction noise or other issues but we barely noticed anything because they kept the construction well contained. The only thing that was not yet open was the Rum Fire restaurant which looks likes it is going to be awesome. Despite the construction, the resort appeared to be very in good shape. I would not call it pristine but we were very impressed. However, the most impressive aspect of this resort was the genuine friendliness and helpfulness of the staff. We are frequent travelers and have stayed at many of the "fancier" resorts both in Hawaii and elsewhere and we have never been so impressed with an entire staff of resort. Many staff members (including a waiter and the houskeeper) even made it a point to learn our names. This is definitely not a snooty resort but the service is second to none with a comfortable and friendly atmosphere. We were sad to go but we will definitely be back.

The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa was so gorgeous! Not only were the ground pristine, but the building itself was very well maintained and gorgeous. The staff was exceptionally helpful, and made our honeymoon experience great by having everything taken care of. Upon arriving at the resort, we were given leis (my wife was given a flower lei while I was given a black "seed" lei). We went there for our honeymoon and turned out to be the perfect place to go. The resort is very quiet, has a lot to do, and the service is perfect. Kauai is known for having wild chickens (yes, roosters that crow at all hours of the day), but they were somehow kept completely away from the resort and the surrounding area. That was great, because we were able to have our screen door opened all night to fall asleep to the sound of the ocean. The ocean view is spectacular! Though you can't swim in the ocean there due to strong tides, the resort has 3 pools that are very beautiful. If you're looking for something romantic to do while at the resort, I'd recommend the boxed picnic that you can get from room service, and then take it out to the beach at night with a blanket (it comes with one) and a couple of towels. It's great to lay out, look at the stars, have some wine, cheese, and fruit. I highly recommend this resort to newlyweds and anyone looking for a romantic getaway.

The resort is a collection of about 300 one and two bedroom condos spread across a few dozen gorgeous plantation acres on the Kiahuna Beach in Poipu. The condos are all individually owned and so mileage appears to vary greatly based on how recent renovations might have been completed. The building we were in had eight condos on two floors. We had a ground floor end unit and it was recently upgraded with a stone kitchen counter. There is no air conditioning as all the units depend on generous (especially in the end units) louvered windows and a large sliding doors arrangement that opens to the lanai. Our unit was comfortable at all times of day and we enjoy the natural ventilation. This does come with a downside and that is access to the sounds outside the unit. There was excessive groundskeeping noise (e.g., leaf blowers) and loud neighbors could also be a problem. The transmission of noise from the condo above us was often loud too. Having said that the whole place was quiet at night every night. There are barbecues scattered around the grounds and they were always available even when it was very busy. The restaurants associated with the resort are all excellent and there are several more in the small plaza across the road that are also very strong. It only takes 25 minutes to get to the resort from the airport in Lihue. The beach has a shorebreak that can be tough so you need to watch the kids, but ours loved playing in the surf with the turtles and seeing the Monk Seals sleeping right on our beach. Overall, terrific place - we'd return but it isn't without its little peculiarities.