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Best Kauai Luxury Hotels
Top Luxury Hotels on Kauai
On the island of Kauai, there are two leading 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 a top-quality experience but are distinctly different in their ambiance and clientele.
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.
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