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. My sister was headed to Maui with her husband and toddler. My family decided to join them, so 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.
Booking the Hyatt Regency Maui
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.
However, I was upgraded to the Deluxe Oceanview rooms. These rooms were going for over $450 per night at the time, so it was a great value.
The Hyatt Regency Maui is a Category 7 Hyatt hotel. It’s possibly the best hotel in Kaanapali and bookable for 25,000-35,000 points per night.
Checking in
We arrived at the hotel three hours before check-in, not expecting 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.
Since the club lounge would be closed for breakfast due to construction, we received 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.
Hyatt Regency Maui atrium
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’ll see 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.
Hyatt Regency Maui diamond amenity
At check-in I was offered my choice of Diamond amenities. Even though I normally choose points, the check-in agent talked up the cupcakes. 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.
Hyatt Regency Maui Lahaina Tower room
We stayed in the Lahaina Tower, which I believe has not yet undergone renovations. Thus, the rooms were a bit dated, 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.
The rooms were spacious and nice overall, and I certainly can’t complain about the view.
Hyatt Regency Maui amenities
The Hyatt Regency Maui has numerous amenities worth noting. Here’s a break-down of what you can expect in terms of service and amenities:
Hyatt Regency Maui amenities parking
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.
Hyatt Regency Maui beach chairs and cabanas
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.
You can rent beachside canvas chairs for just $10 per day. The chairs on the lawn cost $60, oceanview cabanas are $150, and the ocean hale (which the concierge described as a “grassy tent”) rents for $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.
Hyatt Regency Maui service
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, she addressed me 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.
Is the Hyatt Regency Maui worth it?
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.
The Hyatt Regency stands out because it’s not sandwiched between resorts like all the other properties in the area. If you’re going to stay in Kaanapali, the Hyatt Regency is a good choice.
