1 Hotel Hanalei Bay Review: Best Resort in Hawaii?
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Right away when I saw pictures of the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, I knew we had to stay there. My family and I were still dreaming of our days in Bali, wishing more places would incorporate the effortless cool and coastal charm that exudes from the little beach cafes and boutiques of the Indonesian island. The 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, Kauai delivers on all the vibes, with what has to be one of the most stunning locations on the planet.
Check In & Arrival at the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay
Upon arriving, the valet took care our items, gave us all kukui nut leis, and a staff member guided us to the check in area. They explained the massive multi-million dollar renovation the property just underwent to transform it from a marble clad St.Regis into to an earthy mission-driven resort that fits perfectly into the landscape.
A coconut rum welcome drink was freshly mixed for all in our party, as someone came over to our couch to check us in. Now this is luxury right from the start. No waiting in line with masses of families and receptionists coldly demanding documents. Right away we felt relaxed and on vacation as the attentive staff took care of everything.
We received various benefits during our stay, thanks to booking through American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts. The best FHR benefits were definitely free breakfast for the four of us, a room upgrade, as well as a substantial resort credit. We used our resort credit toward food and beverage, but were definitely tempted to try their world-class spa.
The calendar of activities is posted by the reception area and available online as well. Activities range from fitness classes, to hula dancing, to tequila tasting. There is a kids club, a hotel car available at select hours, and hiking three times a week in the area. We quickly realized that one night here was not going to be nearly enough time to do everything in the area or even on property.
The reception area flows right past the bar, as you are drawn to the huge glass windows and look down into the 1 Kitchen. The 1 Kitchen serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner as the principal restaurant at the 1 Hotel.
Descend a floor and step out onto the massive patio to take in the views of the mountains, adult infinity pool, and lush landscape.
There was a wait for our room to be ready (4 pm is check in) so we spent some time their poolside bar. We were disappointed that the text alert system didn’t notify us when the room was ready, and so we spent more time hanging by the pool rather than in the pool like we would have liked. So I suggest coming already in your swimsuits or keeping them accessible in case your room is not ready.
Ocean View Room 2 Queen Review
Our room was upgraded from the mountain view two queen to the ocean view two queen. We loved that the ocean view still had the mountains and we were able to see the sun set on the ocean in the evening from our room.
However, if you prefer convenience over views, I would definitely go with a poolside terrace room. The pool and beach otherwise requires two elevator rides and some long hallways to trek down as outlined on the map
The room is well laid out with a long desk/credenza to place plenty of your personal belongings and a bench seat along the window to lounge at . The windows can be opened, so you can really wake up to the sea breeze.
The bathroom had a moody feel with dark lava rock walls and the slate clad shower. The shower featured a full picture window, that thankfully had a shade to cover it if you are sharing the room with family. The toilet was closed off in its own room by the sink area, and the entire bathroom area could be closed with sliding doors.
We were celebrating my parent’s 30th anniversary so they left a nice handwritten card and some truffles in the room as a welcome amenity. There were also robes available in the room.
Pools & Beach at the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay
Once we settled in, we threw on our bathing suits and headed down to the main pool. There’s picture perfect views everywhere along the way and I thought the sand in the hallway as you get closer to the beach is a nice touch and lets you know you’re going in the right direction.
The main pool is immense, yet perfectly placed in the landscape. There is a hot tub and plenty of loungers both in and out of the pools. The pool attendants were super friendly and helpful in getting us set up in a lounge chair with chair covers and towels.
Beach Activities
The next morning we really took advantage of all the water activities. First taking a dip in the adult pool. Then heading down to the beach for some snorkeling.
Afterwards, my parents retreated to the main pool, while I paddle boarded toward the river and my brother got a surfboard to hit the waves. The equipment rental stand down by the beach has everything you might need and the man there can let you know the best spots to go for each respective sport.
Food & Beverage
The Sandbox (Poolside)
We tried the poolside bar, The Sandbox, several times during our visit. The bar staff and servers were always happy and quick, no matter if we were on the beach, in the pool, or right at the bar. The quality of the food was quite good and they make an effort to incorporate local ingredients.
During the day The Sandbox serves pizza, salads, and other casual bites. Around sunset though they were grilling steaks, which we would have loved to have tried. I made a reservation in Hanalei town at a restaurant, so we had to drag ourselves away to get ready. The restaurant (Bar Acuda) we thought was a bit overhyped and we had to wait for a long time to get seated despite having a reservation.
When we returned in the evening to the 1 Hotel, we walked down to the beach, amazed. The stars were so clear we could see the Milky Way!
Breakfast at the 1 Kitchen
Breakfast the next morning was at the 1 Kitchen. I would recommend getting here on the early side. There was limited seating and we got in just before a large crowd of guests, who had to wait quite some time. The staff was overwhelmed here, but it was not a big problem since it was a buffet breakfast.
The self serve options were plentiful, with many artisan baked goods and some hot items. Get in line right away at the omelet station as it was very popular. At $53 per person, the breakfast buffet is certainly not cheap, but on par with other resorts.
Is it Worth Staying at the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay?
Absolutely! The 1 Hotel’s ambiance, activities, and service, put it way above any place we have stayed at in Hawaii. For comparison, review our experience at the Ritz Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay.
We loved being able to do a variety of water sports right from the beach, so that suited our family of various interests and ages. There were a great deal more of organized activities I would have loved to have joined if the timing had worked, like the hiking. The service was super friendly and everyone made an effort to connect with you. The check in was very thoughtful.
Every moment here felt relaxed and luxurious, we did not want to leave! We would definitely stay here again, and thanks to points it can be really affordable to get back to Kauai. If you want to know the best sweet spots to use to get to Hawaii on points then check out my complete guide. If you are still figuring out what a good award redemption should cost, then skip the guesswork and grab my free cheatsheet below.
