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Travel Talk
by Francine Brokaw
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa
With 900-1000 employees, you know you’re going to be well cared for at The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa. This incredible resort is a popular destination for honeymooners and weddings. “You’ll see a lot of honeymooners here in the fall,” says Katy Britzmann, the director of sales and marketing. And, “destination weddings have become huge,” she adds. They average one wedding per day. And why not? This is a gorgeous area. Kauai is the oldest of the Hawaiian Islands and the most tropical. With lush settings and very few people, this place is paradise.
When you first step into the lobby, you’ll be instantly swept up in the romance and beauty of the island. Everything is open, bringing the outside in, or the inside out, depending on your view. Poipu is a beautiful area of the island, and the Grand Hyatt incorporates all the beauty within the resort.
Plenty of activities can keep you busy from morning to night, or you might just want to relax by the pools, take advantage of the spa, or just soak up all the charm of the island.
Speaking of activities, there is golf and tennis on the property. As a matter of fact, they recently hosted a PGA Grand Slam event. This is a first class facility.
The Anara Spa offers some marvelous options, including essential oil therapy, body wraps, masques, hair and nail treatments, facials, and a variety of massages. Try a Lomi Lomi massage if you want to really get all the stress out of your body. It’s fabulous. I was walking on air for days after mine. Trust me, this is sheer heaven. (Ask for Keahe if she’s available). The Lomi Lomi is a Hawaiian style of massage that really gets deep into your body to eliminate the stress that we all have built up in our muscles.
If you’re not into massages, you can take advantage of the classes they offer. There is Aqua Aerobics, Pilates, Tai Chi, Yoga, and sunset and sunrise walks. After my Lomi Lomi massage, I didn’t feel like exercising, so I hung out in the steam room and continued on my road to Nirvana!
The resort doesn’t forget about your stomachs either. They have several wonderful restaurants. There’s something for everyone. Dondero’s Restaurant is the place to go for Italian food. Yum Cha is an Asian eatery with unique culinary delights. Tidepools is a romantic setting overlooking the koi-filled lagoons. Table 42 is a special table because it sits on its own over the lagoon; however this table is reserved well in advance. There are plenty of other places to satisfy your hunger, and thirst as well. If you haven’t tried one, you might want to order a Lava Flow – a heavenly concoction of cream of coconut, pineapple juice, strawberry puree and rum (the rum is optional). Wow!
Auntie Stella, a resident historian, is available to answer all your questions about Hawaiian lore and history, and an expert is there to show off the resident exotic birds that are lucky enough to call this place their home.
The Grand Hyatt Kauai delivers a high level of service and caters to your every need. This place is spectacular. I honestly cannot say enough about its charm, beauty, and hospitality. For a romantic getaway, this should be at the top of your list. Or, if you do decide to bring your kids, they have Camp Hyatt which provides fun activities for kids. Whatever you do, you must put this place on your list for future vacations. It’s beautiful. It’s enjoyable. It’s Grand!
© 2006 Francine Brokaw
All pictures © Roy Brokaw
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