Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa [In-depth Review]

After months (years if we really go back to before the start of the pandemic) of planning, I was finally able to book a true bucket-list trip for my family.

Originally, we had flights booked to Tokyo on ANA, but with Japan still closed to most foreigners, we opted for somewhere somewhat closer. We were already in the U.S. to spend Christmas with my family, so we decided to stay domestic to avoid ever-changing COVID-19 rules and testing requirements.

Since neither my wife nor I had ever been to Hawaii, and it was near the top of our family-travel bucket list, I put all of my travel-hacking energy into getting us to The Aloha State as affordably as possible.

After plenty of research, our first stop was 5 nights at the beautiful Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa on the island of Maui in Hawaii.

Being a Hyatt loyalist and having 2 young kids, this property had been on my radar for a while. And after almost a week in paradise, I can say without a doubt, that we cannot wait to go back — because it was as close to perfect as we could have wanted.

Let’s take an in-depth look at how our stay went and what you can expect if you visit the Hyatt Regency Maui on your next vacation.

Hotel Location

The 810-room Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa is located on 40 acres in front of Kaanapali Beach in the town of Lahaina.

This is a popular part of the island for tourists thanks to the big hotel chains having properties here as well as the beautiful golf courses nearby.

The property is located about 27 miles from Kahului Airport (OGG), which normally takes about 40 minutes, but our journey took longer. We had to pull over as soon as we saw whales breaching just off the beaches we drove by. It was a magical start to our trip, especially after coming from snowy Boston.

There is also a private regional airport, Kapalua Airport (JHM), which is only 4 miles from the resort.

Booking

It’s probably no big surprise, but I wanted to book this stay using my World of Hyatt points.

Fortunately, The World of Hyatt Credit Card has earned me a nice stash of points, which I had been saving for a nice redemption like this.

World of Hyatt Points

The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa is a Category 6 World of Hyatt property, which means that standard rooms start at 25,000 points per night but can also go for either 21,000 or 29,000 during off-peak and peak dates.

Hot Tip: In March 2023, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa moved up to a Category 7, requiring 25,000 to 35,000 points per night.

After searching nonstop for a few weeks, I was finally able to find a 5-night stretch for 25,000 points per night. Originally, there were a few nights that were charging 33,000 per night with Regency Club access, but since I am a Globalist member and club access is included, I really didn’t want to pay the extra 8,000 points per night.

For the nights that we stayed, the reward night options were:

• 2 Queen Beds — 25,000 points (what I booked)
• 1 King Bed — 25,000 points
• 2 Queen Beds with Regency Club Access — 33,000 points
• 1 King Bed with Regency Club Access — 33,000 points
• 2 Queen Beds with Regency Club Access — $799 + 3,000 points (cash + points)
• 1 King Bed with Regency Club Access — $799 + 3,000 points (cash + points)

With cash rates starting around $650 plus parking and resort fees, a 5-night stay would easily surpass a few thousand dollars — before factoring in food, drinks, and activities.

Cashing in 125,000 WOH points was a solid redemption in my book.

Checking In

The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa is located in the town of Lahaina, an area that makes up about 80% of the tourism in Maui.

We pulled off the main road towards the golf courses and resort area and the Hyatt was the first property on the left, which was visible from the main road.

To reach the resort, we passed part of the golf course and then pulled in the long driveway. We passed some Marriott properties, the Hyatt Vacation Club Maui, and then finally the road ends at the resort.

The driveway was busy, but the valet quickly waved us into a spot and welcomed us to the resort. He mentioned that at the moment (early January 2022) valet parking was the same price as self-parking, so we could choose whichever we wanted.

Since I was a Globalist staying on an award stay, parking charges were waived, so it didn’t matter for us. I left the car with the valet. Otherwise, it would have been $25 per night. Not unreasonable, especially after learning that the valet parking at our next hotel was $65!

The staff took care of the car and unloaded our bags as we made our way into the lobby.

The lobby itself was big and beautiful, completely open with views of the ocean and pool. But what makes the lobby unique are the residents.

Throughout the lobby were animals, including beautiful parrots, koi fish, and even penguins! Penguins in a lobby was a first for me, and the kids loved it.

Getting back to the check-in experience, there was a small line when we arrived at 6 p.m., but there was a separate desk for World of Hyatt elite where we were quickly attended to.

The agent was very friendly and thorough as there was a lot to get through. She first thanked me for my Hyatt loyalty and explained all of the benefits that we would have during our stay. I was informed that we had received an upgrade to an oceanfront room — this turned out to be a spectacular upgrade since we were visiting during the whale migration season!

Then she requested our COVID-19 vaccination and Hawaii Safe Travels travel form (which will conclude March 25, 2022) and went on to give an overview of the property — which was admittedly quite overwhelming at first.

Once all of the paperwork was taken care of, the agent came around the desk, presented each one of us with beautiful flower leis, handed us a property map, and showed us where the elevators were.

Our bags met us in the room shortly after, completing a seamless and pleasant check-in experience.

Elite Benefits

Having World of Hyatt Globalist status paid off big time at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa.

The benefits included:

• Waived resort fee
• Free parking
• Room upgrade (we received an oceanfront room)
• Regency Club access
• Happy hour menu available all day at ‘Ūmalu and Grotto Bar
• Late checkout (we only needed until noon)
• Complimentary club rental with the purchase of multiple rounds of golf
• 25% discount on retail items at the Recreation Desk or pool
• $30 off full-day cabana rental

I have been loving having Hyatt Globalist status lately, but having it at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa saved my family a lot of money.

Since we were able to have breakfast and dinner at the Regency Club, that easily saved us $200 per day in food costs. Add in the parking and resort fees, and we are looking at over $1,300 in savings — and I’m not evening going to mention the happy hour prices!

One final, yet seemingly trivial, perk of Globalist status was the color of the wristband. At check-in, all guests receive a wristband that acts as a room key, but also as a way for staff to identify guests with different perks.

In our case, a gray, rubber bracelet let staff know that we were eligible for happy hour prices no matter the time of day. Also, the Globalist bracelet appeared to be more comfortable compared to the fabric wristbands that other guests received — which could get itchy after a couple of days.

Hot Tip: Learn how to earn Globalist status with World of Hyatt card spend in our detailed guide!

Room Upgrade

As I mentioned, we received an upgrade from a standard room with 2 queen beds (no view mentioned in the description) to an oceanfront room with 2 queen beds.

We were obviously excited to receive an upgrade, but we didn’t realize how spectacular the views were going to be every single morning.

Thanks to jet lag, we were often up right around sunrise, which was its own show each morning. However, we were also visiting Hawaii during peak whale watching season, when thousands of humpback whales migrate to the Hawaiian Islands.

Throughout the day, from almost anywhere on the property, we could look out to the ocean and see whales jumping and playing.

One morning, while we were eating leftover banana bread on the balcony, we counted more than 100 whales before heading down to breakfast. A truly magical experience that we would not have had if we weren’t upgraded.

Welcome Amenity

Since we had arrived just a couple of days past my birthday, there was a little surprise waiting for me in our room. One that I had never received before…

For my birthday, I received a towel cake from the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa!

To be honest, I didn’t know what it was at first. Having 2 kids, I thought it was a diaper cake for a baby shower at first. It came with a handwritten card, which was nice.

But the “cake” itself seemed a bit pointless. There were plenty of towels in the room, so I wasn’t going to take it apart to use the towels. It just sat on the desk for our entire stay because I felt bad leaving it in the hallway. Overall, it was nice, but I don’t know if I missed something.

In addition to the towel cake were 2 reusable bottles, which all guests receive. This was a common theme we saw at hotels in Hawaii: reuseable bottles and water refill stations throughout the resort — which was awesome.

We drink a lot of water, so when staying at hotels, we need to plan ahead or get stuck drinking from the minibar. At the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, that wasn’t an issue as there were refill stations easily accessible no matter where we were on the property.

Resort Fee

As expected, the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa has a resort fee. However, World of Hyatt members staying on award stays do not pay the resort fee.

The daily resort fee was $40 plus tax and included:

• 2 reusable keepsake water bottles, per room, per stay, upon arrival
• Filtered water and ice machines located on every guestroom floor and throughout the resort
• 24-hour access to the oceanfront Stay Fit Gym
• Cultural programs, including lei making, hula lessons, wildlife tours, and koi feedings
• Local and 1-800/1-888 phone calls
• In-room coffee and tea
• In-room safe
• Concierge services
• Daily yoga/fitness classes
• Resort shuttle service in Kaanapali
• Unlimited daily tennis or basketball court time with tennis balls, racquets, and basketballs included
• Fresh flower lei greeting upon arrival
• Inkl app: Access to current full-content newspapers and magazines viewable on your tablet or smartphone
• Beach portrait session and 5×7 print from Grins2Go
• Personalized guest request texting service
• 25% off non-discounted green fees at Kaanapali Golf Courses
• 10% discount on all non-sale apparel items at the Kaanapali Golf Courses Pro Shop
• 24-hour access to pool towels throughout the resort
• Backpack beach chair usage for all guestroom occupants

While that list is long, there aren’t many items that come as a surprise. The cultural programs and water bottles were a nice touch, but 1 item was sneakily my favorite — and I didn’t even realize until after we checked out.

The 24-hour pool towel dispenser. Yes, I know all resorts provide pool towels, but none as efficiently and conveniently as the towel caddies at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa.

Scattered throughout the resort are essentially towel vending machines. Just tap your wristband and the door will open. Take as many towels as you want and return them when you are done. The towels have chips in them, so they can be tracked when returned. No need to find an attendant or provide your room number, just grab and go.

With a 24-hour pool and guests arriving at all times throughout the day, this feature made enjoying the property just a little more seamless.

I didn’t appreciate this perk very much at the time, but our next hotel had a kids pool and towel shack that closed at 4 p.m. So guests arriving after that had a really difficult time getting a towel. More on that in a future review.

Hot Tip: The tracking chips in the towels work. On our final day, we had 4 towels in our room that we hadn’t returned yet and a charge showed up on our account. Just be sure to return your towels and check your bill carefully! 

Late Checkout

As a Hyatt Globalist, receiving a 4 p.m. checkout is one of the more valuable perks.

However, it is not always available — especially at resort properties.

Fortunately, we didn’t need a 4 p.m. checkout as we were heading to the Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort on the other side of Maui. But we did ask for a 12 p.m. checkout to give the kids some more time at the beach before moving on.

Amenities

No matter what you are looking to do at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, you will likely find it.

Pools, beach, ocean, golf, spa, dining… the list goes on, and they are all excellent.

My family and I keep talking about how close to perfect this hotel was. Let’s take a look at the amenities, shall we?

Pools

Throughout the property, including the Hyatt Vacation Club next door (which guests have access to), there were 6 pools, 3 hot tubs, a couple of waterslides, and a bunch of waterfalls.

There was an adults-only infinity pool, 2 kids pools, and the rest were just really nice, fun pools for everyone to enjoy.

Main Pool

The main pool is what you will see in most pictures and is what we looked out over from our balcony.

There was plenty of seating around the pool and it was easy to get both the Grotto Bar and ‘Ūmalu for drinks. If you prefer to just lounge, there was staff constantly passing by taking food and drink orders.

This was the largest pool on property and it connected through the Grotto Bar to the other side where the kid’s pool is.

When you make it through the Grotto Bar, you can also access the 150-foot lava tube waterslide — which was one of my favorite waterslides in recent hotel stays.

Guests need to be 48 inches or taller to ride the lava tube. But don’t worry, there was a smaller waterslide for the younger kids!

Keiki Lagoon

If you are visiting the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa and have kids, you will likely be spending a lot of time at the kid’s pool, Keiki Lagoon.

Complete with a 25-foot water slide, ride-on dolphins and turtles, splash pad, and floating beach, the lagoon was easily the highlight for my children.

Parents could wade in the knee-deep water, hop onto the other side of rocks where it was deeper, or simply grab one of the many lounge chairs available nearby and relax while the little ones splashed around and made mini friendships.

With a stunning backdrop, the option to go for a quick drop down the big lava tube, and drinks from the Grotto Bar nearby, hanging at the kids’ pool really wasn’t the worst thing as an adult. And watching my 3-year-old play ALL DAY, non-stop, and then sleep for 16 hours straight was pretty nice, too!

That being said, we were able to convince our kids to try out the other pools, too…

Residence Club Pools

Right next to the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa was the Hyatt Vacation Club, a timeshare property that you can tour during your stay. This property is mostly apartment-style accommodations with kitchens and multiple bedrooms, which is nice for families.

This property is a bit smaller and quieter than the resort but has its own set of amenities, including pools, a bar, a store, and grills that guests of the Hyatt Regency can use.

Despite the guest use being public knowledge (we were told multiple times), these pools were often much less crowded and had a more intimate vibe to them.

There was an adults-only infinity pool which was really nice and had uninterrupted views of the ocean — except for a few swaying palm trees.

There was also a kids pool and waterslide, but due to the location and angle of the buildings, there was always shade and a strong breeze pushing through the area, which made it less than ideal.

There were also 2 pools that we really enjoyed as they were warm and had multiple levels, so the kids could walk around without having to be too deep.

Hot Tip: At the Residence Club, the pools were more relaxing, and the food and drinks were cheaper at the bar and store compared to the Hyatt Regency. 

Hot Tubs

Across the entire property, there were 3 hot tubs.

The biggest one was located at the Hyatt Regency near the kid’s pool. It was nice and had a cool waterfall.

However, being so close to the kid’s pool meant that there were often a lot of kids jumping in, which wasn’t very relaxing for most guests.

The other 2 hot tubs were located at the Residence Club, and were quieter and tucked into the landscape of the pools, so they were harder to find — probably by design!

Cabanas

Stretching along the grass overlooking the ocean were cabanas for rent.

There were a few different styles, with the fancier-looking ones at the Residence Club.

Cabanas start at $175 per day and could be booked online.

Beach Activities

As beautiful as the resort is, it can be easy to forget to enjoy the Hawaiian beach that is just steps away.

Kaanapali Beach is 3 miles of white sand that stretches from the Hyatt Regency all the way down past Whalers Village. Kaanapali Beach has been voted one of the best beaches in Maui and in the U.S., but the section immediately in front of the resort isn’t it’s the best because it is so narrow.  For a little bit more space, walk north for about 10 minutes.

But for a quick dip, some snorkeling, or just playing in the sand, it’s perfect.

If you need some gear, there is a Beach Activities Center that sells and rents pretty much everything you might need, including:

Chairs and umbrellas are complimentary for guests, but this stand was available to the public, as well.

The Beach Activities Center is open daily from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Camp Hyatt

Unfortunately, due to local COVID-19 protocols, Camp Hyatt was closed.

Camp Hyatt is a kids’ club full of activities. While I’m sure our kids would have tried it out, they certainly had fun without it.

Kamaha’o, a Marilyn Monroe Spa

As you will find at other Hyatt Regency properties, there was a Marilyn Monroe Spa. However, this one had a Hawaiian twist.

Kamaha’o means wonderful, astonishing, remarkable… so the Kamaha’o, a Marilyn Monroe Spa was a good fit.

Guests can book massages, hair treatments, facials, manicures, pedicures, and more.

Kamaha’o, a Marilyn Monroe Spa is open daily from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., and reservations can be made online.

Moana Athletic Club

Located a short walk from the main building, next to the spa, was the Moana Athletic Club.

The fitness center was open 24-hours a day, but only with a special key — not the wristband that works for everything else, which was confusing and led to a 20-minute back and forth journey to the front desk on my first day.

During our stay, the gym had recently reopened after being hit with a big wave during a storm. The gym itself sits on the bottom floor and seems to be quite prone to flooding.

Despite showing a bit of age and rust in some spots, most of the equipment was new and in good condition.

Guests will be happy to know that there were 3 Peloton bikes, seemingly unaffected by the flood.

There were also plenty of treadmills and elliptical equipment.

As well as a large room for free weights and stretching.

There was a solid lineup for LifeFitness equipment as well.

And finally, there were plenty of towels, cleaning wipes, and a water refill station to fill up bottles — no unnecessary tiny plastic bottles here.

Cultural Activities

Despite still being in the U.S., there was so much about the culture and history of Hawaii that we learned throughout our trip.

I love how hotels in Hawaii make educating guests a central part of the experience.

My daughter really enjoyed the cultural activities offered by the hotel and tried to participate in at least 1 every day.

From hula dancing lessons to lei making, and even kukui nut bracelet making, these free activities were memorable and educational.

Activities change daily and can be reserved online.

Hot Tip: During our drives around Maui (Road to Hana) and Oahu (North Shore), we used a self-guided audio app called GyPSy Guide which was a great history and tour guide. 

Tour of the Stars

Maui is known as one of the world’s top stargazing locations thanks to its crystal clear skies.

So to take advantage of that, the hotel hosts a rooftop astronomy program for guests. Unfortunately, we were always too tired to attend.

Tour of the Stars is available Thursdays through Mondays on the hour from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Reservations can be made at the concierge desk.

Penguin Presentation

Some of the more unique residents of the hotel (alongside the dozens of other bird species) were the African black-footed penguins.

Right in the atrium lobby area, there was an open-air penguin sanctuary where the cute little penguins could waddle and swim around, just feet from guests passing by.

Each morning there was a feeding and educational presentation so that guests could learn more about these penguins.

In addition to the Penguin Presentation, there were also guides that took guests around the property to see the swans, ducks, parrots, fish, and other animals that called the Hyatt Regency home.

The Mindful Mermaid Academy

Kids visiting Hawaii certainly can’t miss meeting a real-life mermaid! Or at least that is what my daughter told me!

Guests can meet a real mermaid and even take classes to learn how to swim like one.

We didn’t have time for any lessons, but we were able to squeeze in some storytime by the pool.

If your little one wants to meet or learn how to swim like a mermaid, you can make reservations online.

Whale Talk

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning from January through March, the Wildlife Team gathers in the atrium to view and teach about the famous humpback whales that visit Maui each year.

We never made it down for the meetings, but we loved our mini whale-watching tours from our guestroom balcony!

Ka’anapali Golf Courses

Hawaii and golf go hand in hand. And Maui does not disappoint.

The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa is just steps from 2 18-hole golf courses that have spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and the majestic Mauna Kahalawai (also known as the West Maui Mountains).

Guests can take the free shuttle to the courses. If you aren’t a golfer, perhaps try some footgolf! You can make reservations online.

Tennis Courts

Tennis fans, there are options for you as well.

With 3 courts, and even a basketball court, staying active is easy to do at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa.

Rackets and balls are complimentary, as are court times. Simply reserve them with the concierge.

Whalers Village

Just a 10-minute walk down the charming boardwalk that passes through the hotel is Whalers Village.

Here you will find a cute outdoor shopping mall, some nice dining options, and a nice beach near Black Rock.

This is also where guests often pick up boat or whale watching tours.

Pet Policy

Pets are welcome at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa.

There is a $150 charge per stay for up to 6 nights. An additional $150 charge will apply from day 7 through 30.

There is a limit of 50 pounds per dog or 75 pounds total for up to 2 dogs per room.

Wireless Internet

The internet at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa was strong and easy to connect to.

No matter where I was on the resort, I consistently had a strong signal.

While the speed was nothing crazy, I consistently received around 15 Mbps in the room.

Business Center

If you need to borrow a computer to get some work done or print something out, there was a small business center in one of the hallways off the lobby.

It wasn’t much, but hopefully, you don’t need to work too much in Maui.

Laundry Room

I’ve mentioned this before, but an underrated perk of hotels (especially hotels popular with families) is an on-site laundry facility.

There were about 8 (what appeared to be) new washer and dryer machines that accepted ApplePay.

The only negative was that the laundry detergent needed to be purchased with quarters, which required an additional machine to make change. I feel like there could be improvements in that respect!

Besides that, the machines had timers and worked properly, so we were able to head to our next stop with fresh clothes.

Valet Parking

Normally, valet parking is $40 per night.

As I mentioned, for some reason, the hotel was charging $25 for either self-parking or valet when we arrived.

I obviously valeted our rental car and service was quick and efficient whenever we needed it.

Hertz Rental Car Desk

Inside the lobby near the front desk was a Hertz car rental desk.

This was a nice option to have since driving the Road to Hana and visiting Haleakalā National Park are popular day trips from the hotel.

However, since we were doing some hotel hopping and I knew that parking fees were waived, I opted to rent a car at the airport and keep it for the week.

COVID-19 Protocols

Hawaii in general was pretty strict when it came to COVID-19 protocols at the time of our visit.

Any visitor over the age of 5 had to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to avoid a mandatory 5-day quarantine. These rules are changing constantly, so be sure to visit the official Hawaii travel website before your trip.

The hotel asked guests to use face masks while indoors and hand sanitizer was widely available.

Besides that, the stay was relatively normal. We even had daily housekeeping!

The Room

I booked a standard room with 2 queen beds but we were (extremely) fortunate to be upgraded to an oceanfront room overlooking the pool and beach.

I was assigned room 1923, which was actually on the seventh floor, but as long as we pressed “19” in the elevator it wasn’t as confusing as it sounds.

The room was opposite the elevator, so due to the open atrium, it was a bit of a walk around the hall.

The room is listed on the website as 451 square feet (42 square meters), which felt about right as it was a normal room, but quite spacious.

When walking into the room, we were essentially inside the open closet and bathroom area.

There were some drawers, hangers, a safe, and some flat space for storage immediately on the left, with an extremely narrow miniature closet.

Just past that was the bathroom sink and some shelves that housed the minifridge and coffee maker.

Bedroom

The bedroom area was quite nice and had a modern and clean vibe to it.

The 2 queen beds and sheets were extremely comfortable and the air conditioning worked flawlessly — another underrated feature when done properly.

Next to the bed was a small sofa with a lamp and side table.

Across from the bed was a 55-inch television above some storage cabinets, a bench, and work desk.

Balcony

But we all know by now that the real star of the room was the balcony.

With 2 chairs and a table, regardless of the time of day, sitting out there was incredibly enjoyable.

In the morning we would sit out and do some whale watching. And in the evening, my wife and I would enjoy a glass of wine while the kids rested up for the next day.

Bathroom

The bathroom was nothing special, but it did make good use of space.

The double sinks were open to the rest of the room, so getting ready as a family was relatively easy.

The toilet and shower were behind a door opposite the sink, so some privacy could be had without occupying the entire bathroom — unlike the hybrid toilet option at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress.

One other thing that I liked was the individual soap and shampoos, as I am not a fan of shared amenities.

Hot Tip: There are only 31 suites in the 810-room Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, so upgrades to a suite will be hard to come by.

Food and Beverage

There was no shortage of dining options at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa.

From fancy sushi and high-end steaks to grab-and-go delis and açai bowls, there was plenty to choose from. Plus, Whalers Village is just a 10-minute walk away!

‘Ūmalu

‘Ūmalu is the poolside bar and grill that felt like it never closed because it was right next to the main pool and was always busy.

With big TVs surrounding the bar and sports on 6 hours earlier than the East Coast, there was always a crowd grabbing a drink.

This is also a good place to grab some sandwiches and burgers for lunch as well as wood-fired pizza on the weekends. We ate here a couple of times during our stay and were always satisfied.

‘Ūmalu is open daily from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. and digital menus are available.

Grotto Bar

The Grotto Bar is another spot that we visited a few times during our stay.

Obviously, the semi-swim-up bar and waterfalls were an attraction for my kids, but you can’t argue with a good virgin frozen daiquiri!

We ordered lunch from the Grotto Bar, and the kids loved the chicken fingers.

I was more of a fan of the all-day happy hour prices on mai tais.

The Grotto Bar is open daily from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Japengo

Japengo is an open-air, high-end sushi restaurant located just off the atrium, overlooking the pool and ocean.

It was truly a beautiful-looking restaurant. We knew that reservations were needed, but when we realized we finally had time to visit, no tables were available.

If you like sushi, be sure to book a reservation.

Japengo is open nightly from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. and digital menus are available.

Drums of the Pacific Lu’au

Experiencing a luau is a quintessential Hawaiian experience. Fortunately, you can experience a highly-rated one without leaving the property.

However, after realizing how expensive it is, we opted to simply listen from our balcony — as you can hear the drums throughout the resort!

At $200 per adult and $100 per child for standard seating, we decided to put that $600 towards a future trip.

Drums of the Pacific Lu’au performs nightly at 5:30 p.m., and all of the show information is available online.

Son’z Steakhouse

Guests looking for a big steak and some good wine will be happy to find Son’z Steakhouse.

Located just off the main atrium lobby, down a set of stairs, this award-winning steakhouse has a beautiful view of the pond and skyline.

Son’z Steakhouse is open nightly from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. and digital menus are available.

Swan Court Breakfast

Located in the same space as Son’z Steakhouse is Swan Court where guests can have a traditional sit-down breakfast.

The open-air breakfast buffet has views of the waterfalls and resident swans, so it’s a nice spot to start your day.

Swan Court Breakfast is open daily from 6:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. and digital menus are available.

Honolulu Coffee

Guests who don’t want to sit down for breakfast and just want a cup of (good) coffee and a snack will love to know that there is a Honolulu Coffee shop in the atrium lobby.

This award-winning coffee is a great way to start a Maui morning. Plus, they sell pastries, smoothies, snacks, and even açai bowls!

This was a popular spot as there was always a line out the door each morning.

Honolulu Coffee is open daily from 6 a.m. until 12 p.m.

Room Service

If you are a little too tired and don’t feel like heading down to the restaurants, don’t worry. Room service has got you covered.

From pancakes for breakfast to Maui street tacos for dinner, the menu was surprisingly solid.

Room service is open daily for breakfast from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. and again for dinner from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m., and digital menus are available.

Lahaina Provision Company

One of the best tips I can give to families visiting the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa (who want to save a few bucks) is to visit the Lahaina Provision Company market over at the Residence Club.

Unfortunately, I only discovered this spot on our second-to-last day, but I am glad I did.

Besides having quite reasonable prices (especially for a resort in Hawaii), they also had some pretty good deals. For $45, I bought a gorgeous reusable souvenir cup that came with unlimited refills of coffee, soda, or frozen drinks every 15 minutes!

As we sat by the pool, my kids constantly enjoyed a nice frozen daiquiri or piña colada. Even only using it for 2 days, we got our money’s worth. For guests that don’t have breakfast included in their rate, coming here for your morning coffee is a great idea.

Plus they serve sandwiches, beer, and other snacks.

Lahaina Provision Company is open daily from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. and digital menus are available.

Pau Huaka‘i

Pau Huaka‘i continues the trend with good value. This little tiki hut at the Residence Club serves up drinks and snacks all day at a fraction of the price of the pool bars next door.

For example, they were selling High Noons for $6, which is almost what they sell for in the supermarket.

Add in the fact that the pools were calm, and you can see why we enjoyed our time at the Residence Club.

Pau Huaka‘i is open daily from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. and digital menus are available.

Lobby Shops

Throughout the lobby area and hallways on the lobby level were a few shops, stores, and mini-markets.

Whether you are looking for a pair of sunglasses, a new dress, some snacks, or just a souvenir, you will likely find it in one of the shops on the property.

Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice

If you read any “must-do” lists when visiting Hawaii, having some shave ice is always on them.

Since this was our first visit to Hawaii, we knew we had to try this local delicacy! Fortunately, one of the higher-rated shave ice shops was right on property — Uluani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice.

We grabbed a couple of different concoctions and made our way to the beach to enjoy. And enjoy we did — they were delicious!

Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice is open daily from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Regency Club

One of the most valuable perks of having Hyatt Globalist status during this trip was having access to the Regency Club.

The Regency Club was open almost all day long serving breakfast, snacks, and drinks. Although alcohol wasn’t complimentary, it was discounted to about half of what the bars charged.

Breakfast

We started each day at the Regency Club where the breakfast lineup was pretty good, but nothing special.

Due to COVID-19, it was a cafeteria-style service. The staff would serve from the 3 to 4 options behind the glass.

The selection varied each day, but there was always a standard fare item such as scrambled eggs, pancakes, waffles, or fruit that would satisfy the kids.

The staff was always incredibly friendly and being able to eat outside on the patio during sunrise or sunset was really special.

Dinner

Although this was advertised as “appetizers,” we often found the offerings to be satisfying enough to make it a light dinner and early bedtime — especially since we were still on East Coast time.

There tended to be a nice selection of snacks and appetizers but with 1 heartier option each night that was enough to fill the kids. One night it was spaghetti with meatballs, the other was poke, another was coconut shrimp and fried rice. And since we could repeat, if the kids liked something, we would just grab them another plate.

Not having to buy dinner each night ended up being nice savings that we weren’t expecting.

The Regency Club is open daily for breakfast from 6:30 a.m. until 10 a.m., grab and go snacks from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., appetizers from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., and desserts from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Service

My wife and I have been looking back at our stay and honestly couldn’t find a major flaw. We tried. It’s kinda my job. The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa is really good. And the staff gets a lot of that credit.

It’s not perfect, it’s not the most luxurious, it’s not the fanciest or the cheapest, but they know what they are doing and they do it well.

We went in with pretty high expectations (this was a bucket list trip after all) and we left wanting more.

You may think that perhaps it’s because it was our first time in Hawaii so everything seemed perfect… well, after you read my next review about the Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort you will realize that isn’t the case.

All of the staff we dealt with was fantastic and genuinely expressed the aloha spirit, which means mutual regard and affection and extending warmth in caring with no obligation in return. We felt that.

Final Thoughts

Overall, my family and I had an impeccable time at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa.

The property is incredibly gorgeous, the oceanfront room provided stunning views, the pool area is nonstop fun for both kids and adults, and the dining options are excellent.

Hyatt Globalist benefits were some of the best I have received, and being able to redeem World of Hyatt points here feels like one of the best bargains in the world.

Everything from check-in to checkout met or exceeded our expectations and we are already looking at flights so that we can return.

If you are debating about staying at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, you can book with confidence. If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments.

Aloha!