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I used to believe a dream trip to Kauai with our family of six would stay just that…a dream. Between flights, hotels, and food, we were staring at a price tag of around $15,000. Not exactly in the budget for a family of six. Once I discovered how to do a family trip to Kauai using points and miles, everything changed.
In this post, I’m giving you realistic examples of what it can look like to fly during a peak time with a family of six. I’ll walk through what it might cost in points for round-trip flights and two-bedroom stays at beautiful resorts. We pretty much have to plan on two rooms with six people, so we have to make sure we have the points for that. In many cases, you could do even better, especially if you’re flexible. We booked our trip fairly last minute, so this was the reality of the pricing we were looking at.
Sometimes the pressure to find the “perfect” deal can be paralyzing. My goal is to show you how great a family trip to Kauai using points and miles can be, even without chasing unicorn redemptions. Our trip was $1,271 with a combination of points, the Southwest Companion Pass, and some creative travel strategies. Out-of-pocket cost would have been over $15,000. You just can’t say no to that kind of savings!
Need help getting started? Here’s a list of cards I recommend for flexible travel rewards. These made this Kauai trip possible.
Flights to Kauai
We booked our flights on Southwest Airlines because you really can’t beat the value of the Companion Pass.
With the Companion Pass, we only needed the points for four tickets. The other two family members flew completely free (plus taxes and fees), which dramatically lowered the number of points needed.
Breakdown of Southwest Redemptions:
- SLC-LIH: 28,435 points/person for 4 tickets = 113,736 points + 2 Companion Passes
- LIH-SLC: 34,120 points/person for 4 tickets = 136,480 points + 2 Companion Passes
- Taxes & Fees: $28 total
- Additional Points Purchased: $45
About three days before our flight, I checked again and saw that both the outbound and return flights had dropped to 21k and 30k points per ticket. So, in reality, we used fewer points than what I’ve listed here. But for the sake of this example, I’m sticking with the higher numbers to give you a realistic ballpark. If you catch a price drop like we did, especially during a peak time, you could end up using fewer points and have some left over!
Per Account Breakdown:
P1: 85,305 points for 3 tickets SLC-LIH + 1 Companion Pass
P2: 28,435 points for 1 ticket SLC-LIH + 1 Companion Pass
P2: 102,360 points for 3 tickets LIH-SLC + 1 Companion Pass
P1: 34,120 points for 1 ticket LIH-SLC + 1 Companion Pass
Total Points:
P1: 119,425 Southwest points + Companion Pass
P2: 130,795 Southwest points + Companion Pass
Total Cash Value of Flights: $5,119.20
Out-of-Pocket Cost: $73 (Taxes + Points Purchase)
Where We Stayed
Hotel #1: Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas
For our first five nights, we stayed at the Westin Princeville, a stunning Marriott Vacation Club property nestled on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Instead of paying the standard peak rate, we snagged a huge discount by attending a timeshare presentation.
How We Booked:
- Special Offer Rate: $1,198 total (5 nights)
- Standard Peak Rate: $924/night → $4,620 total
Pro Tip: If you’re open to attending a timeshare presentation, you can score major savings on luxury resorts. Here’s a sample script if you want to call Marriott Vacation Club ask:
You: Hi, I was wondering if you have any special offers for a stay at a Marriott Vacation Club property in Kauai in exchange for attending a timeshare presentation?
If they say no, follow up with: “Do you ever offer these, or is there another way to be considered for a discounted stay?”
Always confirm the minimum stay requirements and any fees before you commit.
- Total Cash Value: $4,620
- Out-of-Pocket Cost: $1,198
Hotel #2: Grand Hyatt Kauai
For our final two nights, we wanted to splurge, and by splurge I mean stay at a really fancy hotel. It was a no brainer because it was literally $0 by using points.
The Grand Hyatt Kauai was the perfect ending with lagoon-style pools, lush gardens, and true luxury. We were absolutely blown away by this property. I’ve seen so many videos and pictures of it, but some things you really just can’t do justice. I have it listed in my Best Family Resorts in Hawaii because it was so amazing.
This property sits on over 50 acres. The swimming pools are really hard to capture in a picture because it winds throughout the property while being completely surrounded by greenery. It makes for a really serene environment, even if the hotel is at 100 percent capacity. We also love the saltwater lagoon because we have blonds in our family whose hair does not like extended exposure to chlorine, so it was really nice to be able to give it that natural break. If you want to see videos of both properties and recommendations on food and things to do, make sure you check out my highlight on Instagram.
How We Booked:
- Hyatt Points Used: 158,000
- 35k x 2 and 44k (club access) x 2, over two nights for two rooms. The rates you can expect at this property:
- Off-peak nights: 35,000 points per night
- Standard nights: 40,000 points per night
- Peak nights: 45,000 points per night
The point rates for this property are always affordable thanks to the award chart from Hyatt that we love so much.
- Standard Cash Rate: $2,570.51 per room ($5,141.02 total)
- Out-of-Pocket Cost: $0
Pro Tip: If you have Hyatt points, this is hands-down one of the best redemptions in all of Hawaii.
Upgrade Request to Grand Hyatt Kauai
If you’re staying at a luxury resort like the Grand Hyatt Kauai, it’s always worth reaching out ahead of time to politely ask for an upgrade. Here’s a sample email you can use. Feel free to copy, paste, and personalize it.
When we stayed at the Grand Hyatt Kauai, the hotel was at 100% capacity. While our room technically faced the parking lot, I’m convinced the email we sent ahead of time helped us land a spot with a beautiful view just steps from our door. It never hurts to ask, especially when it comes to making a special trip even more memorable. Here is what it looked like:
Book in Advance
One of the best parts about covering flights and hotels with points is that it opens up room in your budget to say yes to some of the really fun stuff, like tours and activities you might otherwise skip. We were able to do a few things on this trip that felt extra special because the big expenses were taken care of.
Whenever we book tours or activities, we always go through a shopping portal like Rakuten so we’re also earning a bunch of extra points at the same time. It’s such an easy way to stack even more rewards.
If you’re heading to Kauai, here are a few experiences we booked that I’d definitely recommend locking in ahead of time, especially during busy seasons like spring break. These were total highlights for us and made the trip feel even more memorable, without the scramble of trying to find availability last minute.
1. Luau Kalamaku at Kilohana Plantation
This was the luau we booked, and it ended up being such a fun night. It’s set on a historic plantation, and if you arrive early, you can ride the little train around the grounds before dinner. The food was great, the atmosphere was really open and welcoming for families, and the fire dancing finale was everyone’s favorite part.
Book Luau Kalamaku & Buffet Dinner
If this is your first time visiting Kauai, this luau is such a fun way to kick off your trip and give the kids a peek into the local culture.
2. Lydgate Farms Chocolate Tour
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure this was going to be worth it. But it ended up being the biggest surprise of the trip. It’s a working cacao farm, and the tour was what I imagine a wine tasting would be like… if you could bring your kids and swap wine for chocolate and exotic fruit. (We don’t drink, but you get the idea.)
We learned all about how chocolate is grown and made, tried all kinds of flavors from different regions, and tasted a bunch of exotic fruits, including the cacao fruit. It felt special and immersive, while being super family-friendly. We left with full bellies and way more appreciation for what goes into that little square of chocolate.
Book Lydgate Farms Chocolate Tour
I’d absolutely do this one again, and I think our kids would too.
3. Hanakāpī‘ai Beach Hike (Without Doing the Whole Trail)
The Kalalau Trail is one of the most famous hikes in Hawaii, but it’s also 22 miles long and requires a permit beyond the first couple miles. With kids (and limited time), we opted to hike just the first two miles to Hanakāpī‘ai Beach… and it was plenty.
The views were unbelievable. We got to see the Na Pali cliffs, the ocean, and lush valleys all without needing to commit an entire day. It’s not an easy hike: it’s muddy, rocky, and includes some elevation. Our family handled it just fine, and it was totally worth it.
Important: You must reserve a spot in advance for Hā’ena State Park, even if you’re just hiking to the beach. If you’re staying farther away or don’t want to fight for parking, the shuttle is the easiest way to go.
This is a great way to experience the Na Pali Coast on foot, without biting off more than you can chew.
4. Na Pali Coast Snorkel Adventure
We booked this tour, but a large storm blew in and it was cancelled. We were super bummed. But, the number of messages I got from followers saying this exact tour was the best thing they did in Kauai totally convinced me that we’ll be rebooking it next time.
If you’re not doing the hike or just want a different angle, this is the way to see the Na Pali Coast in all its glory. The boat takes you along the cliffs, stops to snorkel, and often sees dolphins along the way.
Check Out the Na Pali Coast Snorkel Adventure
If this is high on your list, book it early and maybe keep a backup day in mind in case the weather doesn’t cooperate.
Final Trip Points Summary
| Expense | Cash Value | Points Used | Out-of-Pocket Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flights | $5,119.20 | 250,220 Southwest points + Companion Pass | $73 |
| Westin Princeville | $4,620 | N/A (Timeshare Rate) | $1,198 |
| Grand Hyatt Kauai | $5,141.02 | 158,000 Hyatt points | $0 |
| Total Trip Value | $14,880.22 | 408,220 points | $1,271 |
If we had used points from one of these Capital One cards, we could have covered all these expenses with rewards instead of cash. Cards like the Capital One Venture Rewards, Venture X, or Capital One Spark Cash Plus all offer flexible ways to earn and redeem rewards for travel, making trips like this completely free instead of highly discounted.
Want to See How We Booked Similar Trips?
- Best Family Resorts in Hawaii (By Island)
- The Smartest Ways to Fly Your Family to Hawaii Using Points
- A $14K Cancun Vacation with Kids—Booked Almost Entirely on Points
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