You Might Want to Book This Kauai Marriott Now -- But Don't Stay Until 2020
Hawaii is a massively popular destination for people traveling on points and miles. Unfortunately, because of the high demand and remote location, hotel rates in Hawaii can be high, both in dollars and points. For example, on Kauai most points hotels in the Marriott family go from 50,000 to 60,000 points per night. That can still be a better deal than spending cash, but it's a lot of points, since you probably aren't in Hawaii for just a night or two.
There is, however, one Marriott option on Kauai that is just 25,000 points per night, the Courtyard Kauai at Coconut Beach. This Category 4 Marriott property is located about midway down the island, is close to the airport, and is within reasonable driving distance of virtually anything you would want to do on the island.
We tried out the Courtyard Kauai on our June two-week trip to Hawaii, and I walked away with two distinct thoughts:
1. Do not stay here right now, unless all you need is a decent room.
2. Book this hotel with your Marriott points now for 2020 travel.
You see, when we visited, the Courtyard Kauai at Coconut Beach was in the middle of a massive renovation that has left it without a real lobby, pool, restaurant, some of its elevators and just about anything else you might expect from a Marriott-flagged property.
The beach is still there behind the hotel, but don't expect much else from the property other than a room (and construction noise that starts early and can be heard from pretty much anywhere).
Before we talk about the construction mess, here's the renovated room, which was shockingly nice compared to everything else going on around it.
Many hotels in Hawaii are a bit tired. Even the nicest resorts aren't always modern and updated. When you find a nice room for just 25,000 Marriott points per night in Hawaii, you consider booking it, even if only for a night or two in that part of the island.
Things have hopefully improved a bit since our stay, but ultimately, if the rest of the hotel is redone to the standards of the room, the hotel's Kauai location will likely knock it into a higher Marriott award category when the dust literally settles. I hope I'm wrong, but I could easily see Marriott charging 35,000 points per night for this property a year or so from now. The fact that the hotel is rebranding as a Sheraton in the near term only bolsters that belief.
Here's a peek at what the pool area should resemble when complete.
As a Marriott Platinum member, I was given a waived resort fee (though charging anyone a resort fee here right now should be a crime), parking was free, there were some free mai-tai drink coupons and a $20 credit for breakfast served in the makeshift meeting room being used as a restaurant. This was by far our cheapest award or cash stay in Hawaii, other than the night we spent in a cabin without indoor plumbing, internet or air-conditioning.
For an overnight, the hotel was 100% fine as we transitioned from the north side to the south side of the island and enjoyed the Smith Family Luau just a five-minute drive from the Courtyard Kauai.
But if we had booked this property for the duration of our vacation, it would have been a disappointment. There was no shortage of unhappy guests as I overheard at the Courtyard. The potential for a quality but still budget-friendly property is there, but the situation was seriously limited and without sufficient warnings at booking. I knew there wouldn't be a functioning on-site pool when I booked, but didn't realize the full extent of the situation until I walked in.
Bottom Line
Although I've heard the massive renovations might be done sooner, I would personally give the Courtyard Kauai through most of 2019 to complete the work before expecting a full-service stay. You can certainly stay there in the interim if the rate is right and you just need a good-for-the-price room for a night. I have no regrets about doing that. But if you want to stay at a fully functional, budget-friendly property, consider making a refundable 2020 award booking on points now. It's rough at the moment, but spending just 100,000 Marriott points for a five-night stay at an updated Courtyard (soon to be Sheraton) on Kauai could prove to be a solid deal for travel in 2020 and beyond.
Update: The hotel reached out to TPG and said they are on track to complete renovations by Q4, so perhaps a late 2019 stay not be the worst idea.
All photos by the author.
Story updated to state that the hotel is set to become a Sheraton.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.