July 3, 2025
Travel Mom Squad Ranks Four Hawaiian Hotels
Pam
I just completed staying at three well-known Maui hotels this year: the Hyatt Regency Maui, Andaz Maui, and the Marriott Wailea Beach Resort. Jess, Alex, and I have surprisingly different takes on each one. And you all know we love the Grand Hyatt Kauai, but maybe not exactly why we love it, so we added that one to the mix, too. So we’re going to share how Travel Mom Squad ranks four Hawaiian hotels.
First, here are the redemption costs for each hotel, so you can consider those in the evaluations:
- Hyatt Regency Maui – Category 6, 25K points for a standard night
- Andaz Maui – Category 8, 40K points for a standard night
- Grand Hyatt Kauai – Category 8, 40K points for a standard night
- Marriott Wailea Beach Resort – Dynamic pricing, expect to pay 70-80K as a low-priced option
Jess’s Take
Number One
My favorite hotel is the Grand Hyatt Kauai. I am in love with the island of Kauai, so it’s no shock that the Grand Hyatt is my favorite. Known as “the Garden Isle,” it’s truly breathtaking. The Grand Hyatt is located in Poipu on the south, “sunny” side of the island. The Nāpali Coast and Hanalei Bay are on the north side of the island, but are doable as day trips because Kauai is so small.
Grand Hyatt Kauai is spread out, so even at capacity, it never feels crowded. (There’s no need to wake up at 6 am to save seats by the pool!) If you’re on a couples’ getaway, you can relax at the adults-only pool. And if you’re with family, there are endless options between the saltwater lagoon, water slide, lazy river, and hot tubs spread throughout the pool area.
The beach outside the Grand Hyatt Kauai is not swimmable, but the saltwater lagoon that looks out over the ocean is great for kids (and Poipu beach is just a five-minute drive away). Kauai is pretty sleepy once the sun goes down, so if you’re looking for nightlife, this probably isn’t the resort (or island!) for you.
The Grand Hyatt is a Category 8 property, so standard award nights will cost you 35,000 to 45,000 Hyatt points per night. My family of six stayed in two rooms earlier this year, so we spent a lot of points for our week at the Grand Hyatt Kauai, but it was totally worth it!
Number Two
Number two for me is the Andaz Maui. The location on Maui cannot be beat. Combine that with the luxury of the Andaz brand, and it comes in solidly in second place for me.
The Andaz is located in Wailea on the south side of Maui. Wailea is a more upscale area and is much quieter and relaxed than the west side (where the Hyatt Regency is located). It is oceanfront with a great beach—it’s calm and great for snorkeling in the mornings, and as the wind picks up in the afternoon, it becomes a good spot for boogie boarding or kite surfing.
The Andaz also has a complimentary shuttle that will take you anywhere in the Wailea area. The Andaz has only 320 rooms, so overall, it is a much smaller (and quieter) property than the Regency. The rooms at the Andaz are smaller and more dated than the Regency (for example, the king room at the Andaz does not have a sleeper sofa, but the king room at the Regency does have a nice, large sleeper sofa).
The Andaz has five pools—an adults-only pool, three infinity pools (one has a large hot tub), and a lagoon pool on the bottom level (which was our favorite and the most family-friendly). We never had an issue finding seats. There are no slides or splash pads at this property, but they did have floats, pool noodles, and sand toys for kids to use. They also had bingo by the pool and came around with mochi ice cream, which we really enjoyed! No wristbands are required, and towel kiosks are not available. You simply collect your towels from stands located near each pool.
There’s no club lounge at the Andaz, but if you have Globalist status, you can take advantage of the delicious buffet breakfast in their restaurant (by far my favorite breakfast of the three properties I’m ranking). They have a grass hill where you can watch the sunset (Molly and I did this each evening).
This property is so peaceful and will be my go-to when I’m on Maui! The Andaz is a category 8 property, so standard award nights will cost you 35,000 to 45,000 Hyatt points per night (much more than the 21,000 to 29,000 Hyatt points per night required for the Hyatt Regency Maui). Nonetheless, the location, breakfast, beach, and relaxing atmosphere mean it outranks the Hyatt Regency for me.
Andaz Maui sunset from the balcony.
Number Three
Coming in at number three is the Hyatt Regency Maui. Hyatt Regency Maui is a family-friendly option situated on Ka‘anapali Beach on Maui’s west side. The beach in front of the Hyatt is swimmable, though there seems to be some erosion/restoration going on, so while swimming in the ocean in front of the Regency is an option, we preferred Airport Beach (located a short drive from the Regency).
The Regency is also within walking distance of Whalers Village, offering a variety of shopping and dining options. With over 800 rooms, the Regency definitely feels more crowded than the Andaz. (Molly and I did have to wake up early to reserve seats by the pool, but you can also use the pool at the Hyatt Vacation Club next door as well.)
As mentioned, the Regency king room features a queen sleeper sofa, which is ideal for extra seating (the Regency rooms, in general, were more updated than the Andaz rooms). The Regency has a ton of animals on-site, which was a huge hit with Molly—penguins, fish, parrots, swans, ducks, and more! The Regency features two pools: a main pool and a separate kids’ pool area. It has a kids’ area that is great for younger children, featuring a splash pad, a small slide, and a dolphin or sea turtle to climb on. There is also a larger slide near the kids’ pool area. Note that there is no adults-only area at the Regency (and the pool area tends to get crowded), so this would definitely be my last choice of the three for an adults-only trip.
Like the Grand Hyatt Kauai, the Regency offers a Club Lounge that is accessible to those with Globalist status or a Club Access award. The Regency Club offered breakfast, grab-and-go snacks, appetizers, and desserts. The Regency Club food is better than the Grand Club food at the resort in Kauai, in my opinion (but overall not as good as the food at the Andaz).
Hyatt Regency Maui
Alex’s Take
Number One
Marriott Wailea Beach Resort is my favorite Hawaiian hotel. Are you surprised that my favorite hotel in Hawaii isn’t a Hyatt? There’s just something special about the Marriott Wailea Beach Resort that keeps me coming back! I’ve stayed here three times already, and I’m seriously thinking it’s time to plan a fourth trip, this time with the whole family. This resort is ideal for a romantic getaway or a family vacation.
What I love most about this resort is its peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. With four pools spread out across the property, each one feels intimate and quiet, nothing like the typical crowded resort vibe. There’s also a super-fun kids’ pool featuring two water slides, which I’ve heard are the tallest on the island!
And the beach access? Amazing. Wailea Beach is just steps away, making it incredibly easy to soak up the sun and enjoy the ocean whenever you like.
Number Two
The Grand Hyatt Kauai is a stunning resort, which is why it is my second-favorite property. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, perfect for families. I really appreciate that we’re not all crammed together; it makes a big difference when traveling with kids! The pools are beautiful and a lot of fun, with plenty of seating available so you’re not scrambling to find a spot.
The resort is quite large, so be prepared to get your steps in, but despite its size, it never feels overly crowded. The beach on the property is somewhat rocky, making it less ideal for swimming, which is a notable downside. But luckily, Poipu Beach is just a short drive away and makes up for it—it’s a fantastic spot for swimming and relaxing.
Number Three
The Hyatt Regency Maui is another fantastic option for families and my third favorite. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, perfect for spreading out. I especially like the king room, which includes a queen sofa sleeper, which is super-convenient when traveling with kids.
Beach access here is great. My kids love snorkeling in the mornings and boogie boarding in the afternoons. We also enjoy walking over to Whalers Village for acai bowls and some shopping.
That said, the pool area can feel crowded, and finding a seat can be a bit frustrating—it definitely has more of that busy resort vibe, especially compared to the Grand Hyatt Kauai. However, a great perk is that guests can also use the pools at the neighboring Hyatt Vacation Club, where we’ve never had any trouble finding seats.
The ability to create wonderful family memories together is the best part of using points and miles.
Number Four
Just because the Andaz Maui comes in at number four doesn’t mean it’s not a great resort. It’s a beautiful property and I love the location. I’d absolutely stay here again! That said, I probably wouldn’t book more than a couple of nights here with the kids.
The biggest drawback for me is the size of the room and bathroom—they’re pretty small. It’s fine if you’re traveling as a couple or even with one child, but with a family or a group of four adults, it starts to feel cramped.
The resort is located near the Marriott Wailea Beach Resort, and after staying at both, I personally prefer the Marriott. While the Andaz is kid-friendly (my kids loved the sunglasses at check-in, bingo by the pool, and the lagoon-style pool), it lacks the extra kid-focused features, such as water slides or splash zones, that other hotels on this list offer.
And then there’s the value. The Andaz is a Category 8 property, so you’re looking at around 40,000 points per night. For that price, I’d rather stay at the Hyatt Regency Maui, which offers more space and costs about 25,000 points per night and is a better fit when traveling with young kids.
These boys enjoyed their beads and sunglasses.
Pam’s Take
Number One
Even though it is higher in points cost, the Marriott Wailea Beach Resort is my favorite. I also have to pay resort fees to stay there, even with an award redemption. But I love the location; it’s just steps from a good beach and a walking path. I love the pools and the spacious rooms. The last time I was there, I was successful using the Nightly Upgrade Award, so I booked a suite, which also helps with the love. I regularly use my Marriott free-night certificates (85K) from my husband’s or my Ritz-Carlton cards (no longer available) or our Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card to stay here.
Living area of our suite.
Number Two
The Grand Hyatt Kauai is my second choice, as I love the island of Kauai, and Poipu is typically sunny and warm. Once they finish renovating the rooms, it will be even better, as the rooms are a little outdated for my style right now. However, the amazing pools and lagoon make up for that right now.
I used Chase Ultimate Rewards® and transferred them to Hyatt to book the Grand Hyatt Kauai.
Number Three
Jess is cringing that I picked the Hyatt Regency Maui over the Andaz Maui, but they have treated us better, and it’s a great place for a family stay. Ka’anapali Beach is also a lot of fun. We usually go there with Alex’s family, so it’s our most favorite destination. I’m not sure I’d pick it for a couples-only destination, but for a family resort, it is hard to beat!
Last But Not Least
I am writing this because I am staying here at the Andaz Maui, and I thought it would rise to the top, but it hasn’t. Our welcome amenities were minimal, and late checkout at 4:00 for Globalists was not freely given. Additionally, the food (except for breakfast) was average. I just couldn’t feel the vibe. I may have over-hyped it in my mind, but a Category 8 just seems elevated in my mind. The rooms were narrow, and the bathrooms were even narrower (and I didn’t get a beachfront view, which didn’t help). Having said all this, I would definitely return if it were a lower category and the cost of staying here were lower.
The bathroom area, while beautiful, was too narrow for me!
Bottom Line
The three of us agree on many things. However, Travel Mom Squad ranks four Hawaiian hotels differently. That’s okay! You may be completely different in your rankings, too. Each is a great experience, and getting to stay at them for pennies on the dollar is still a dream come true. Which one is YOUR favorite?
Related Posts
Podcast 23. The Hawaiian Hyatt Showdown: Grand Hyatt Kauai vs. Hyatt Regency Maui
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