How We Stayed at the Grand Hyatt Kauai for 5 Nights Using Points
A $5,500 trip to Kauai — paid almost entirely with credit card points. Here's exactly how we did it, what it cost in points, and how you can do the same.
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The Trip at a Glance
| Destination | Kauai, Hawaii |
| Hotel | Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa |
| Nights | 5 nights |
| Hotel Cost in Points | 175,000 Hyatt points (35,000/night) |
| Hotel Cash Value | ~$4,500 ($900/night) |
| Flights | Las Vegas (LAS) to Kauai |
| Flight Cost in Points | ~40,000 Southwest points (one person, companion flew free) |
| Flight Cash Value | ~$1,000 (2 people × $500) |
| Total Trip Value | ~$5,500 |
| Cards Used | Chase Sapphire Preferred/Reserve, Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus |
Getting There — Flying on Southwest Points and the Companion Pass
We flew from Las Vegas (LAS) to Kauai on Southwest Airlines using Rapid Rewards points. The flights cost approximately 20,000 Southwest points each way — so 40,000 points round trip for one person. But here's where it gets really good: thanks to the Southwest Companion Pass, my partner flew completely free on the same flights. We only paid points for one person. The other person flew at no cost beyond the small taxes and fees from $5.60 one-way.
In cash terms, both flights round trip would have cost around $1,000. We paid 40,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points for both of us to fly — a redemption value of about 2.5 cents per point, which is excellent for Southwest.
The Companion Pass is earned by accumulating 125,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year. The sign-up bonus from the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card is one of the fastest ways to get there. Once you qualify, your companion flies free on every Southwest flight for the rest of that year and the entire following year.
The Hotel — Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa
We stayed five nights at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa — one of the most celebrated resort properties in Hawaii. The hotel sits right next to Shipwreck Beach, a dramatic stretch of coastline with golden sand and crashing waves that is as beautiful in person as it looks in photos.
We booked a club access room with an ocean view — an upgrade that made the stay feel genuinely luxurious. Club access gives you entry to a private lounge with complimentary food and drinks throughout the day, which is a great perk when you want to relax between beach trips without spending more on meals.
The resort itself has multiple pools to choose from, ranging from a large lagoon-style pool to quieter options depending on your mood. On-site dining is excellent — standouts include Stevenson's Library for creative sushi in a relaxed setting, and Tidepools for a truly memorable upscale dinner experience set over a koi pond surrounded by tropical gardens. Both are worth the visit.
How We Booked It — Chase Ultimate Rewards to Hyatt
The hotel was booked entirely using Chase Ultimate Rewards points transferred to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio. The Grand Hyatt Kauai costs 35,000 Hyatt points per night, so five nights came to 175,000 points total. In cash, the same room would have run approximately $900 per night — a total of $4,500.
Here's how the transfer works:
- Earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points with cards like the Sapphire Reserve or Sapphire Preferred
- Log in to your Chase account and navigate to Ultimate Rewards
- Select "Transfer Points" and choose World of Hyatt as your partner
- Transfer the points — they typically appear in your Hyatt account within minutes
- Book the hotel directly through the Hyatt website using your points
The transfer is instant and the process is straightforward. The key is having enough points accumulated before you book, since Hyatt award nights can require significant points at premium properties like the Grand Hyatt Kauai.
Was It Worth It?
Without question. Here's the honest breakdown:
| Cash value of hotel (5 nights) | ~$4,500 |
| Points paid for hotel | 175,000 Hyatt points |
| Value per point | ~2.6 cents |
| Cash value of flights (2 people) | ~$1,000 |
| Points paid for flights | ~40,000 Southwest points |
| Value per point | ~2.5 cents |
| Total trip cash value | ~$5,500 |
Both redemptions came in at around 2.5 cents per point — well above the standard valuations for both programs. The Companion Pass effectively doubled the value of our Southwest points by letting a second person fly free. And the Hyatt transfer is one of the best uses of Chase Ultimate Rewards points available, especially at a property like the Grand Hyatt Kauai.
How You Can Do the Same
This trip was made possible by two things: Chase Ultimate Rewards points and the Southwest Companion Pass. Here's how to start building toward a similar redemption:
For the hotel: The Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve both earn Ultimate Rewards points that transfer 1:1 to Hyatt. A single sign-up bonus from either card can cover multiple nights at a Category 6 property like the Grand Hyatt Kauai.
For the flights: The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card earns points that can be redeemed for Southwest flights with no blackout dates. More importantly, its sign-up bonus helps accelerate your path to the Companion Pass — which is where the real value lies.
Kauai is one of the most beautiful places on earth. With the right points strategy, it's more accessible than most people think.