My husband and I have always liked to do it up when we go on vacation - fancy resorts with romantic rooms and that sort of thing. Enter child...and that scenario just wasn't realistic anymore! So for our first family vacation we chose The Point at Poipu after getting a great deal on Expedia. It was hands-down the perfect place to stay. We were in a two-bedroom, partial ocean view room, so our year-and-half-old daughter had her own room, and Mommy & Daddy had a more-than-partial view of the ocean from theirs. Here are some of the important details:
The Property: Please be aware that this is a timeshare property so you will get asked to attend a sales presentation when you check in. We signed up for one and then decided to cancel. When we called to cancel, they didn't give us a hard time at all and they never bothered us again about it. Just be polite and you won't be hassled.
There's a beautiful heated lagoon pool where one side is a faux beach. I wasn't a fan of the faux sand since it hurt my feet, but the pool itself is fantastic.
There's also an activity center next to the pool that hosts a variety of activities throughout the day. We went on an early-morning coastal hike that was gorgeous and our guide, Pua, took care to point out all the native flora along the way, as well as all the landmarks and sights. I highly recommend doing this! We also did an ukulele lesson that was so fun my husband bought an ukulele that afternoon and has been playing it every day since.
There's a poolside grill that has the typical fare - burgers, salads, fried appetizers, and cocktails. That's the only food available on-site. One of my only criticisms of the property is that I wish there was a general store to buy a quick snack or sundries.
**Traveler's Tip: The Grand Hyatt is right next to The Point at Poipu (a 5-10 minute walk along the coast). Treat yourself to a massage at the Anara Spa there. It's absolutely fantastic!
The Rooms: Our room was absolutely the perfect situation for us, traveling with a toddler. The bed was super comfortable, they provided a crib for our child, and having a full kitchen and laundry was essential. Plus, the rooms were comfortable; really like a home away from home. They do not have wi-fi, which in one way is bad, but in another it's good because you can really disconnect! However, I did overhear one of the managers telling another guest that they'll be installing wi-fi and high-def televisions in the rooms starting in March.
The room did have some wear and tear - the door from our bedroom to the balcony was broken, and there was a big rip in the curtain in our daughter's room. But otherwise everything was clean and in great condition. We really felt at home.
The Area: I think the South Shore is the perfect place for a family. Poipu Beach Park is a great beach (lots of families) and it's a good base for day trips up to Waimea Canyon and the North Shore. Plus, it's almost always sunny, even during the rainy season. And in the winter you can see whales migrating off the coast. (*Tip: go out to Building Six early one morning and look for whales. You're almost guaranteed to see a couple!)
We loved the Kukui'ula Shopping Center which is just a few minutes away - lots of art galleries and restaurants. Both the Tortilla Republic Margarita Bar (downstairs) and The Downstairs Cafe were delicious and child-friendly. (*Tip: Get the banana doughnuts for dessert at The Downstairs Cafe. YUM!)
The Big Save in Koloa is probably the best place to get groceries nearby. Please note that prices are far more expensive that what you're used to paying at home. A gallon of milk cost twice as much here as on the mainland!
In all, the location is great, the rooms are comfortable, the property is lovely, and the staff is welcoming and friendly. I would highly recommend staying at The Point at Poipu, especially if you have young children. We would not hesitate to stay here again and hope to again soon! Because really, there are two states of being...in Hawaii, and plotting how to get back!

Our first Diamond resort experience, and we're ready for a re-do! All amenities were top drawer, from linens, towels & pillows, mattresses, furniture, kitchen... everything was great. We were lucky enough to get a corner unit right by the water, great view and left the door open for surf sound at night. It is a treat to return to such a luxurious unit after a hard day of vacationing.

We have been owners for over 10 years. This use to be one of the highlights of our vacation time, to get back to the islands. Unfortunetly Diamond Resorts has completely destroyed what we once considered a worthwhile expense to own. If you go now you can rent for a fraction of what we owners have to pay to maintain our good credit. Poipu and Kauai is a wonderful place but don't ever buy anything from Diamond Resorts, they are crooks.

This was my third trip back to Kauai and The Point at Poipu. My family and I love this resort because it is a huge room, with lots of space and is very family friendly. The staff did a great job at keeping my family's two rooms next to each other when we booked and were very helpful with other needs of ours. The Point was very clean and the Mai Tai's were excellent, albeit very sugary sweet! Our room was pretty close to the pool, it had a "garden view" which was fine with us. The food on site was just ok, didn't expect much anyways... There is great food around the island, so we didn't mind. The one tough thing was the commute from Poipu to the east shore and north shore was long due to the construction on the highway and of course the backed up traffic. Other than that, we loved The Point and will always consider that our home on Kauai!