The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook - St. Regis Princeville

251 rooms, pool with three spas and a keiki pool, 4 restaurants plus a small deli, 2 golf courses, 24-hour room service, cocktail lounge, free 24-hour fitness center, 9 conference rooms, valet-only parking], 24-hour business center with free Wi-Fi, hi-speed Internet or Wi-Fi available in the rooms with Wi-Fi resort-wide, 42-inch hd tvs, children’s program, day spa, coffee makers with free coffee daily, in room wine/drink chillers, free room safes, wedding coordinator, family game room, lanais on a few rooms, 24-hour room service, valet-only laundry, deep soaking tubs, Hawaiian dinner show.

What do you get if you acquire a fabulous resort with a killer view and location, and you have $100 million burning a hole in your pocket? The answer is the St. Regis Princeville. Fabulous location and view, but now with a beating heart that is considerably less Hawaiian, a bit more generic upscale. Arriving at the valet area, the hotel and Hanalei Bay remain hidden from view. A short walk in a wide hallway leads to large wooden pillars in the main lobby area, which continue to obscure the views from arriving guests. Where is check-in? Oh, there it is, around the corner (three desks with two chairs). The Hawaiian artwork featured throughout the hotel is much less visible than other resorts like it on the island. It isn’t until you walk deep into the lobby that Hanalei Bay, in all its glory, is revealed to you.

The hotel is designed in a series of tiers, stepping their way down a mountain. The payoff is great ocean views from most rooms. Rather than gaze upon ugly roofs below you, they’ve thoughtfully planted grass on them. At the bottom is the pool area. The swimming pool is near the beach and is an infinity edge pool with a separate, modest (no waterslide or spouting whales) keiki pool. Take a few steps across the grass to Pu‘u Poa Beach, an easily accessible and relatively user-friendly beach. Most resorts in Hawai‘i aren’t allowed to serve you alcohol on the beach, but some loophole lets them do it at the St. Regis. There are waiters to serve you around the pool (just flip up the flag on your chair) and a restaurant and bar located there with a simple (but pricey) menu. Private dinners on the beach under a cabana are available for $850 per couple plus tax and gratuity. Very expensive, but very romantic. Those cabanas will run you $175 per day by the beach or pool.

Their 11,000-square-foot day spa features local Maile products and a fitness room. It’s located right off the main lobby (could be mistaken for check-in) and doesn’t make use of any of the views the rest of the resort enjoys. The children’s program is $100 per day, and they do get them outside. There is also a night kids program for $70.

The rooms are furnished in a pale, neutral, earth tone palette with hints of orange and light blue on the ceiling. (Oddly, there’s green marble in the bathrooms.) They gave up the lanais on most rooms to leave you more wiggle room inside. They do have a comfy window seat, and you can slide the windows wide open to enjoy the view and fresh air. The bathrooms have a feature unique on Kaua‘i: a liquid crystal windowpane. Flip a switch and the result? Instant opaqueness. In regular rooms, these windows overlook the main hotel room; in junior suites they overlook the outside.

In comparing the Princeville Hotel to the Hyatt in Po‘ipu, the Hyatt has a more exotic, tropical feel, whereas the Princeville has a richer and more expensive feel (and a better beach). The Marriott in Lihu‘e falls someplace between the two. The staff, though helpful, didn’t seem as plentiful as other resorts of this caliber.

Parking is valet only and an offensive $25 per day. Local calls and 800 calls are $2! If you want an empty fridge in your room (there’s a mini bar there now), they are free if they have them available. A microwave, costs $15 per day. Internet access (including the Wi-Fi) will run you $15.

The hotel offers discounts of around 35% on rooms if you join their Starwood Preferred program (which is free) when you reserve, and special rates online. Without these significant discounts, rack rates on rooms (540 sq. ft.) are $1,000–$1,300. Prince Jr. Suites (820 sq. ft.) are $1,800. Other suites (1,200–2,400 sq. ft.) range from $3,300 up to $7,350 for the Royal Suite. 24-hour butler service is available in the suites. Those rack rates are the highest in all of Hawai‘i for a basic room. So why the Real Gem rating? There is no denying that the location of this resort is one of the most breathtaking on Kaua‘i, albeit breathtakingly overpriced. If the rack rates above don’t scare you (our hands were shaking just typing it) then price obviously means nothing to you and we wish you would adopt us.