I just came back from a two week vacation spent at Maui, Hyatt. My plan was to do a whole lot of scuba diving and some variety of the other activities (golfing, surfing/boarding, tennis, pool, spa). It's all very good, but the tennis center is what really stood out -- for the top quality instruction, the beauty of the hidden courts and, let's see, the tastiness of the off-court fruit "smoothies" (their own secret blend) and the fun playing with the other guests in pick-up games or structured events and group exercises.

I was not expecting it (and did not bring a racket), but the tennis experience is what totally "made" my vacation. It matched my need for relaxation and fun with the physical activity that I also needed. Every morning they do this workshop on different aspects of playing tennis, and the guests can be at any level of experience. It was amazing to me how well the instructor "got to the point" by using a very few exercises, very simply-expressed, that really WORK!! I think it is because he has subtle ways of shifting the same exercise over to what each person really needs individually.

(How does it go in The Matrix? "He only told you what you needed to hear.")

To be more exact about it, the tennis pro at the Hyatt is this awesome force for tennis-improvement in the universe, and he sure elevated my game in short order. His name is Frank Salvadore (and his right-hand man is Pohoku), and if you stay at the Lahaina resorts then here is my advice -- just see Frank!

I had so much fun that I am sticking with a regular tennis schedule now because Frank's lessons are sticking with me.

The Good: Hotel is Beautiful, the Lobby is Beautiful, beds are Comfortable.

The Bad: The theme of this hotel should be, GIVE US ALL YOUR MONEY. The hotel automatically charges you an extra $15 a day 'service fee'. Cha Ching. This above any price you got on any package anywhere (expedia, orbitz, hotels.com or booking direct). So when you compare your rates, Hyatt's rate really isn't what shows up in your search, ADD $15 A DAY!!. You would think over $500 a night is enough, but these greedy Hyatt people need to milk you for a little more of your cash. PARKING IS HORRIBLE. Either pay $20 a day for valet parking or find your own.Cha Ching. There are 2 lots and both have parking spaces that are so tiny, you'll be lucky to squeeze even a tiny car into the spots (if you find one). On the day of arrival you are kind of forced to pull up to the main entrance and use the valet parking. (It's free the first day unless you leave it in valet after 10PM). So you give the guys your keys, the bellman unloads your car while you check in. So now you're in the awkward position of tipping a bellman when he brings your luggage to your room and tipping the valet when you retrieve your car. Cha Ching. When I checked in, they tried to upgrade my room for ONLY $100 a night extra. Cha Ching. Room Service took 1 hour and they charge you a 20% gratuity automatically and when you sign the receipt, there's a place to add 'an additional gratuity'. Cha Ching. After having to wait an hour, I would have preferred a ZERO tip, but that isn't an option. All the ammenities that Hyatt touts in this hotel COST MONEY, A LOT OF MONEY! Don't assume they're included in your rate, they are not. It seemed to me everyone at the hotel walked around with their hands open expecting you to place money in them. Cha Ching. Construction was going on during our stay. I didn't read that warning anywhere, but the jack hammer in the morning kind of ruins your sleep in days. At least they didn't charge extra for the extra noise. The much touted Ka'anapali beach by the hotel is poor. It is the south part of the beach, which is the worse of the entire beach. There's a reef in the water which makes swimming dangerous if not impossible. If you go more that 4 feet from the beach, you're on BIG ROUGH ROCK and BOULDERS. (forget white sandy beaches - this isn't the place to find them). The Beach further north is MUCH better. If you plan to just swim in the pool, you'll be ok. But who goes to Hawaii to swim in a swimming pool instead of the ocean?

I would NOT stay in this hotel again, it is way over priced for what it is. Much better are available on better parts of the beach. And with the hotel staff walking around with their hands out all the time, you'll run out of cash quickly. Cha Ching.

Hyatt Maui is gorgeous hotel situated at the southern end of Ka'anapali right after you drive through Lahaina. Since we booked though a travel agent we ended up with complimentary valet parking and breakfast buffett. Without those it would have been quite an even more costly stay. $20 a day for valet, buffet $28 per adult.

The resort has everything. Water sports, golf, massages, enormous pool, kids area, waterslides, tons of restaurants, shopping (Macy's in the hotel), beach access. Nice 10 minute walk down the the ocean front to Whalers Village shopping and restaurants.

All the staff were very polite.

Rooms were small but had a walk in closet with safe deposit box.

Only complaint would be...I guess all hotels in Maui charge a "Resort Fee'' It is $15 a day. They claim it is for things like in-room coffee, use of the tennis courts, and little other things, none of which we took part in. The in-room coffee is disgusting. Everyone has to pay these fees. If they want to jack up everyone's rates by $15 a night why don't the just do that in the booking? Seems a bit shady.

We'd probably go back. We enjoyed ourselves.

We stayed at the Hyatt for the first 2 nights of our trip to Hawaii. It was a good way to start our vacation and spend a couple days relaxing. The room was very comfortable and what one would expect from a Hyatt. The room was not a huge but the bed was so, so comfy!! And in Hawaii, if you are hanging out in your hotel room all day something i wrong, so a comfy bed was all we needed. The grounds at the hotel are wonderful, the food is fantastic, and the staff very helpful. We loved sitting on the bar above the pool area enjoying a wine and wonderful sushi. I would not spend the money to stay here for an extended period of time since after the first day we started exploring the island, but for 2 nights it was just right!