Kauai is one of our absolute favorite places to travel, and if it wasn’t such a long flight, we would likely vacay there more often. For this recent Kauai vacation, we were originally planning to visit for seven days; however, to avoid a mandatory quarantine upon arrival we elected to utilize the newly implemented “resort bubbles” where visitors could stay for three days at a Kauai vacation resort while awaiting the results of a second COVID-19 test. However, right before we departed, they changed the rules and didn’t require a second test.
We had already rescheduled our trip from the year prior and had made multiple changes as we navigated this pandemic. So, we ultimately decided to still go early and enjoy the extra three days (yay!) at Marriott’s Kauai Beach Club, which was the resort bubble we had selected.
Kauai is a great location for adventure. However, the goal for this trip was to just relax, play in the water, and spend time together as a family. Selecting a place to stay is always cumbersome. So, this post is focused on providing details on the three different Kauai resorts we stayed at, and what we liked most about them.
- Grand Hyatt Kauai: 5-star luxury with an amazing pool area
- Marriott Waiohai Beach Club: Condo-style resort and perfect for families
- Marriott Kauai Beach Club: 4-star resort located on a beautiful cove
Grand Hyatt Kauai, Koloa
Wow! This was our first time at this resort. But won’t be our last. We wanted to wrap up our trip with total luxury and relaxation – and the Grand Hyatt Kauai delivered! From the moment you step into the lobby, you are transported to a luxurious tropical getaway. The resort is the most expensive of the group, but if you can even stay a couple of days, it’s so worth it.
Lazy River, Saltwater Lagoon, and Oceanview Pool…. need I say more?
The pool area at the Grand Hyatt is insane! The chairs are comfortable, there’s tons of shade, and the service is top-notch. Rarely, we don’t rent a cabana – but here it’s not necessary. We played in the lazy river and went on the water slide but spent most of our time at the saltwater lagoon. The lagoon was amazing and huge, and the perfect place for kids to play. The adults enjoyed margaritas while the little one enjoyed the largest shave ice I’ve ever seen!
Tidepools Restaurant: so delicious, we ate here twice!
One of the reasons I wanted to stay here was because of this restaurant. Unfortunately, I don’t have any great photos from our dinners here because we were too busy enjoying the food. We ate something different each time – and everything was amazing. Even if you don’t stay here, I would still recommend making reservations (early) at the Tidepools.
Location, location, location
The beach here is beautiful. The only downside is that the water isn’t swimmable – but the view is incredible! There is a hiking trail right next to the resort, which was a nice workout and provided a great view of the resort.
The resort also has a fabulous photography company onsite: Pacific Dream Photography. So, take advantage of getting family photos in a beautiful setting while you’re at the resort. We are so happy that we have professional photos to document this family vacay.
For more photos and information on our experience at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort, you can read this post which is dedicated to our experience at this destination.
Marriott Waiohai Beach Club, Koloa
This was our second time staying at the Marriott Waiohai Beach Club. It’s a beautiful condo-style resort, with well-appointed 2-bedroom villas which are perfect for a family. We like having a kitchen, washer, and dryer, and space to spread out. They have a small market and bar and grill on site, which is convenient for an evening meal or cocktail by the pool. Additionally, there are two outdoor shopping centers with some great restaurants close by.
The beach here is beautiful and big. Plus, it’s great for swimming, and if you’re lucky enough you’ll see monk seals and sea turtles resting. We spent so much time playing on the beach, taking long walks, and playing games on our balcony. When we didn’t want to cook, we walked to Brennecke’s for a very casual lunch. And we also visited The Dolphin Poipu which is down the street and has great sushi and seafood.
Lastly, we are all about making our vacays as relaxing as possible. So, I used the Safeway app to order all our groceries in advance, and then all we had to do was swing by and pick them up on the way to the resort.
Marriott’s Kauai Beach Club, Lihue
Marriott’s Kauai Beach Club is a great 4-star resort nestled in a quiet cove – so the swimming is fantastic! There are plenty of restaurants within walking distance, and two places we love are Duke’s and Café Portofino.
The swimming pool is one the largest in Hawaii, so it doesn’t feel too crowded, and you can easily find a spot. Additionally, we like this location because it’s so close to the airport – and they offer transportation.
If you are wanting to have some adventure with your family – below are two activities that we have done on previous trips, which would be great for older kids.
- Helicopter tour of the island (amazing!). We used Blue Hawaiian, but there are many others on the island.
- Wailua River and Secret Falls kayak tour. I honestly can’t remember the company that we used, but there are several highly rated tour options and companies to select from.
