Best Kauai Luxury Hotels

Top Luxury Hotels on Kauai

On the island of Kauai, there are three main luxury hotels:

Each establishment offers something unique and fills a particular niche. The Grand Hyatt and Koa Kea Resorts are located only a few miles apart in the beautifully sunny south-side location of Poipu Beach. Both resorts offer an absolutely top quality experience but are distinctly different from one another in their ambiance and clientele.  The St Regis Hotel, located in Princeville on Kauai’s North Shore, also offers the highest quality resort experience and is unique among hotels on Kauai. No matter which hotel you choose, you are sure to have a fabulous experience.

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Grand Hyatt in Poipu

The Grand Hyatt in Poipu is a truly magnificent hotel.  The grand entrance lobby with views out over the ocean is stunning.  It is a sizeable 50-acre resort with over 600 rooms.  Because of its size and layout, which is spread across the oceanfront, the resort feels quiet and spacious - even at full capacity.  Open-air walkways lead to lovely courtyards and lush gardens, and the overall design of the resort blends beautifully with the natural environment.  The four-story low-rise design slopes gently down to meandering lagoons, a stunning 500-yard white sand beach, and the sea.  Elegantly designed and infused with the essence of romance, yet alive with friendly hospitality, its architecture is reminiscent of a 1930s Hawaii, cultivating a unique ‘sense of place’.  Spacious guestrooms, each with a private lanai, provide the perfect environment to step into another world, relax and enjoy the soft ocean breezes, with views of the sea, gardens or pools.

One of the highlights of the Grand Hyatt is the incredible swimming pool.  They host by far the best water slide on Kauai. The sand-bottomed oceanfront saltwater pool is a highlight and is great for a saltwater dip when the surf is high at Shipwrecks beach in the summer months.  The most beautiful aspect of the Grant Hyatt is the broad range of amenities and services available.  There is plenty of scope for getting adventurous – with a championship 18-hole golf course, tennis, volleyball, mountain biking, surfing, scuba diving, zip-lining or kayaking tours available – or for doing nothing at, all just lounging in the tropical gardens or enjoying the stunning pools.   Relax, refresh, and recharge with a visit to the Anara Spa - the largest, most elegant, and the only open-air spa on Kauai, maximizing the ideal climate in Poipu.  In 2014, Conde Naste Traveler named Anara one of the top 5 spas in Hawaii.  The spa features ancient healing traditions - including massages, facials, and body treatments - to bring balance and rejuvenation to the body and spirit.  Anara Spa boasts a full-service salon, a unique skincare range, a 24-hour StayFit gym as well as yoga and fitness classes. 

As part of their efforts to lessen their environmental footprint, The Grand Hyatt, has been the first on Kauai to implement several energy-saving initiatives such as recycling the hot air from the air conditioning to heat their swimming pool and building a shaded carport with solar panels on top.  All food waste is donated to local livestock farmers.  The Grand Hyatt hosts five high-quality restaurants, including the signature Tidepools Restaurant poised over a koi lagoon, serving fresh fish and steaks with an island flair.  There is also a dedicated children’s camp, which is available seven days a week on demand.   Cultural programs, hula shows, live music and beautiful gardens with resident parrots top it all off. 

If you are looking for a genuinely 5-star resort that has it all, the Grand Hyatt Kauai in Poipu is a sure bet.

Koa Kea Hotel & Resort

Koa Kea Hotel & Resort is built on the exact footprint of the old Poipu Beach Hotel, which was destroyed by Hurricane Iniki in 1991. The owner of that hotel reopened in 2009 with Koa Kea. Many of the staff at Koa Kea had worked for the original hotel more than 20 years ago and were invited to return when the Resort reopened.  Employees at Koa Kea maintain a distinct pride in knowing that they are providing top quality service for their guests; the resort itself is exceptionally plush while retaining some of its histories. 

Many of the rock walls and most of the beautifully crafted lanai railings are from the original resort.  Koa Kea is a tranquil resort that focuses on relaxation and comfort. An excellent feature is the extremely comfortable beds. The majority of guests are honeymooners and couples seeking a quiet, relaxing, and romantic getaway. 

Koa Kea does not cater for families with young children; they are a small resort with only 121 rooms. Koa Kea’s signature restaurant, Red Salt, features contemporary cuisine that celebrates the fresh seafood and diverse produce of Kauai.  The Spa at Koa Kea features five treatment rooms, with one room designed especially for couples.  The comprehensive menu is designed to soothe the body after a day of activity on the island. 

Koa Kea offers all the comfort, amenities, and activities that you would expect from a luxury resort on Kauai.  Services include valet parking, concierge services, business services, wi-fi, swimming pool, whirlpool, fitness center, pool bar, gift shop, boardroom and beach activities hut rentals – snorkel gear, surfboards, boogie boards, beach chairs.  Guests can also choose from a multitude of outdoor adventure activities, including hiking, horseback riding, and golfing.  

If you are looking for a romantic, first-class, luxury getaway on Kauai, Koa Kea is a worthy consideration.

St. Regis Princeville Resort

The St. Regis Princeville Resort offers a unique and unparalleled luxury. Built on the mountain-side overlooking Hanalei Bay, the sunset view towards Mt Makana is one of the best in the entire state. Honoiki reef is the second longest barrier reef on the island of Kauai and is an integral feature of the beach at the St Regis.  Excellent swimming, snorkeling, surfing, and kayaking are a stone's throw from the swimming pool and Jacuzzi.  Beginning the moment you are greeted by your friendly valet, you will discover The St Regis experience to be a gracefully revealed series of unexpected pleasures.   

The St Regis Princeville’s accommodations are second to none, with large, comfortable, tastefully decorated and beautifully appointed guestrooms and suites.  The contemporary Hawaiian design of the rooms reflects the color palette of the surrounding sky, sea, and earth, ensuring a calming and relaxed experience.  The decorative features at the St Regis are impressive in their reflection of the local environment and culture. 

A gigantic chandelier hangs in the main lobby that is a representation of the waterfalls on Mt. Namalokama, which are easily viewed through the large pane glass windows, facing towards Hanalei and Ha’ena.   When the hotel first opened, it was created around the philosophy of the Ahupua’a (Hawaiian Land division). Within the ahupua’a, there was a sense of community and sustainability, which is reflected in the way that St Regis works with local farmers and fishermen.  Taro is utilized in the restaurants so they can support local production, and 70% of food that is served in the five dining venues is produced either on Kauai or within Hawaii, and there is a strong ethic to work as closely with organic farmers as possible. 

Dining options include The Kauai Grill, St Regis Bar, Makana Terrace, Nalu Kai Grill & Bar.

St. Regis Princeville's Halele'a Spa

The Halele'a Spa revitalizes your every sense. A menu of exotic treatments promises blissful diversions, enhanced by essences of local fruit and flora.  The spa features twelve treatment rooms, including a couples room and a VIP room, and a variety of massage and body treatments are available.  The St. Regis Princeville Resort’s superb event facilities provide an ideal venue for celebrations, incentive groups, and corporate meetings.  At the St. Regis Princeville, a dedicated team of wedding specialists is on-hand to guide and support you through every step of the wedding planning process.  The St. Regis Princeville offers a serene and luxurious beachfront wedding destination.  The St. Regis Princeville is unique and unparalleled.  This oceanside enclave provides visitors all the amenities you would expect from an island destination considered by many to be one of the most spectacular in Hawai'i.

Historically, the name Kaua'i has been translated to mean "season of abundance" or "time of plenty".  The three top luxury resorts on Kauai certainly offer second to none luxury that will transform your vacation experience and ensure an ambiance of abundance and plenty.

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