Disclosure: We get a commission for links on the blog. You don’t have to use our links, but we’re very grateful when you do. American Express, Barclaycard, Chase, and US Bank are Million Mile Secrets advertising partners. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or endorsed by our partners. Here’s our Advertiser Disclosure.Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook or Twitter! Emily: As you approach the hotel, there are several resorts in the same area. I left like I was in Orlando with all of the high rise resorts! Our hotel was nearer to the end of the resort laden driveway. The hotel looks a little older, but still has its rustic, island charm. The hotel has over 800 rooms, so it seemed a little rushed and crowded. I think I prefer the more relaxed hotels, such as the Park Hyatt in Goa and the InterContinental Thelasso in Bora Bora. The check-in area had a modern design and did not seem to fit with the tropical & older feel of the rest of the hotel.
The open atrium lobby made the hotel seem bigger. There were beautiful flowers and palms trees planted right in the lobby. I didn’t get the name of this beautiful purple flowering plant, but it was so pretty! I expected to see wildlife, but not these animals in Hawaii! I wonder if they were comfortable in the heat. The poor penguins’ home looks like this: I was surprised to see so many different animal species at the hotel. It reminded me of the movie, “We Bought a Zoo.” There were also African birds roaming around. The hotel had a very large swimming pool area that was well landscaped. Another view of the hotel pool.and neon green beach chairs. There were lots of beach chairs, and I could always find one – even in the afternoons. There were outdoor private cabanas that were on a roped off portion of the beach. You had to pay extra to access these cabanas. There were lots of cabanas along the beach. The grounds were very well maintained.
In the swimming pool area, there was a kids’ play area with shallow water and toys. There was a jacuzzi nearby too! The water was very warm, perfect for a foot massage. There was a man-made cave at the pool. With a Grotto Bar as well. And a waterfall that came out on the other side. You could even play basketball from the pool! There’s an outdoor bar and restaurant called Umalu. Daraius was anxious to try them out! But there were no reservations left. There was easy entry into the beach via a little path. I was anxious to get in the waters! As we kept walking, we found a peaceful garden area with swans. There were a few swans and flamingoes in the distance. The swan was very beautiful! This garden served as the view from the hotel’s Sonz at Swan Lake restaurant. The hotel also had an outdoor activities center. …inner tubes, as well as snorkeling equipment, paddle boards, and boogie boards. Next, we came to the hotel’s spa, Spa Moana.
The spa was nothing too special. It was only one room with a sauna, a dry steam room, and a Jacuzzi. There was water available at all times. The waiting room was underwhelming. The best part was the view from outside the spa! The beach outside the spa is even more deserted. And if you walk a little further you will soon be mostly by yourself. Inside the huge resort, there were lots of shops, including a small Macy’s which had a large selection of swimwear. The parking lot was somewhat small, though. Daraius self-parked in the lot next to the hotel. It was $14 per day and the fee isn’t waived for award stays. * If you liked this post, why don’t you join the 10,000+ readers who have signed-up to receive free blog posts via email (only 1 email per day!) or in a RSS reader …because then you’ll never miss another trip report! * If you liked this post, why don’t you join the 25,000+ readers who have signed-up to receive free blog posts via email (only 1 email per day!) or in an RSS reader …because then you’ll never miss another update!
After plans for an Asia trip fell apart this summer, I booked a last-minute trip to Maui. I wanted to go some place warm, peaceful, and serene. Since my sister was headed to Maui with her husband and toddler, my family decided to join them and I booked two rooms at the Hyatt Regency Maui. At the time, the hotel was undergoing renovations in its Atrium tower, with significant noise throughout the property. I had a corporate upgrade from an issue at a previous hotel, which I decided to put to use. Because of the construction and the large number of Obstructed View rooms, the hotel was sold out of suites. I was offered an upgrade to the Deluxe Oceanview rooms. These rooms were going for over $450 per night at the time, so it was a great value. We arrived at the hotel three hours before check-in, not expecting to be given a room immediately. However, the agent was able to get us adjacent rooms on the 9th floor of the Lahaina tower. The check-in process at this hotel was painfully slow.
The lines were always long and while I appreciated that the agents were giving each guest individual attention, I think the process can be sped up slightly. Even though there were two guests ahead of me, the wait was 15-20 minutes long. This isn’t really the staff’s fault. The way to solve this problem is to have more agents manning the front desk. I was informed that since the club lounge would be closed for breakfast due to construction, we would receive complimentary breakfast at Swan Court for the duration of our stay. The Swan Court breakfast buffet was $30 per person, saving us over $120 per day. Since this was a working trip, I needed to be connected to wifi at all times. With my Diamond status, I received complimentary wifi. While I definitely wouldn’t have shelled out the $20 or so daily rate, this benefit saved me from having to trek next door to the Starbucks at the Marriott. Wifi was exceptional throughout the property – even on the beach. Getting to the rooms required a long walk past the shops, up the elevator, then to the end of the hallway.
This was a bit inconvenient, but the views were really amazing. I don’t think the photos I’ve seen of the atrium really do it justice. Walking past the check-in area, you’re met with the most amazing ocean views. That, along with the many flowers and plants make this a stunning sight. During the day, there was a lot of noise in the Atrium tower. I could hear it loud and clear sitting on the balcony, so I was glad our rooms weren’t in the actual building where the noise was coming from. At check-in I was offered my choice of Diamond amenities. Even though I would normally choose points, the check-in agent talked up the cupcakes and since my sister is obsessed with cupcakes, I had to pick them. They were delivered with two bottles of mineral water. I can honestly say those cupcakes were worth the 1,000 points I gave up and then some. Two days later I found myself craving them and called the front desk to inquire about where I could purchase them. The agent informed me they were not available at any of the onsite restaurants.
Twenty minutes later I heard a knock on the door and a staff member presented me with a tray full of cupcakes with a note and business card from the agent. We stayed in the Lahaina Tower, which I believe has not yet undergone renovations. Thus, the rooms showed their age slightly, but I still think they were very well maintained. This hotel is not very photogenic – the rooms and the property as a whole looks much nicer and less dingy in person. I expected the balcony to be in bad shape (as it is outdoors and hotels generally don’t pay much attention to it), but it was well maintained and the staff always made it a point to clean it. I sat on the balcony a few times while housekeeping did their work, and I was impressed with how thoroughly the room was cleaned. Even when I was away at breakfast and walked in while the room was being cleaned, I saw the housekeeper scrubbing the tubs thoroughly and moping the floors. The rooms were spacious and nice overall, and I certainly can’t complain about the view.
Valet parking costs $20 per day, while self-parking is just $14 at a lot behind the Lahaina tower. It’s the best option if you’re staying in the Lahaina tower, and you won’t have to wait for your car every time you want to leave the resort. All of the staff we encountered at this property were amazing. The service was friendly, professional and welcoming, without being intrusive. Anytime we ran into them (on the elevator, in the hallway, lounge, etc.) they would greet us, strike up a conversation, and make a genuine effort to get to know us. Any time I called the hotel operator from my room, I was addressed by name. This was very impressive not just because it showed the operator’s attention to detail, but because my last name isn’t the easiest to pronounce. The hotel pool can get very crowded, and isn’t the most relaxing place to be. If you want to get away from the crowds, there are chairs and cabanas for rent on the lawn and beach. The beachside canvas chairs are just $10 per day, the chairs on the lawn are $60, oceanview cabanas are $150, and the ocean hale (which the concierge described as a “grassy tent”) are $200 per day.
I find it comical that someone would pay $400+ per night for an oceanview room, then another $200 per day for an oceanside “grassy tent.” I did spend a day renting a chair to work on the beach. It was nice until the waves got angry and chased me away. On a sunny day, though, it’s a great place to relax. Overall, I think the Hyatt Regency Maui is the best property on Kaanapali Beach. It’s certainly overpriced both in terms of the cash rate and the 22,000 points rate. The service is exceptional and the views are great, but it can sometimes feel like you’re on a cruise ship surrounded by people all the time. It certainly wasn’t serene as I had expected, but that has more to do with Kaanapali as a whole. While the area consists of a long stretch of beach littered with resorts, the Hyatt Regency stands out because it’s not sandwiched by resorts like all the other properties. There is a Marriott next door, followed by all the other resorts, but there are no properties on the other side of the hotel.