Get free award nights at luxurious Ritz-Carlton hotels and experience city sights, ocean views, and outdoor adventures all over the US!
The sign-up bonus on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is 50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after completing the minimum spending requirements. You can transfer those points directly to Ritz-Carlton and create life-long memories with award stays at top hotels.
You can also earn more Ritz-Carlton award stays with other cards like the Chase Marriott Rewards Premier and Chase Ritz-Carlton Rewards card.
I’ll explain! And show you 5 great hotels in the US you can book with Ritz-Carlton points!
5 Top Ritz-Carlton Hotels in the US for Award Stays
Ritz-Carlton recently made positive changes to their loyalty program, including:- Points Advance – Book an award stay before you have the points, as long as you earn (or buy) the points to cover the full cost 14 days before check-in.
- Points Sharing – Share your Ritz-Carlton points with ANY Ritz-Carlton or Marriott member (up to 50,000 points per year). Once per year you can go over the 50,000 point limit right before a specific redemption, only up to the amount needed for a specific stay, rounded to the nearest 1,000 points.
- Elite Credit for Award Nights – Redeem points for award nights and you’ll earn stay credits towards Ritz-Carlton elite status.
- Cash + Points – Use a combination of points and cash to book each night of your stay.
I like using Hotel Hustle to find hotels for award stays because it shows you how many points you’ll need for your specific travel dates. And it’ll show you if award nights are actually available.
Another option is AwardMapper. It shows similar information. But it’s not specific to travel dates and won’t search for available award rooms.
I haven’t personally stayed at all these hotels, but they look fantastic! Let me know if you’ve stayed in any of them!
Note: The prices in these examples are based on travel in May 2016.I prefer using my Chase Ultimate Rewards points for award stays Hyatt hotels. Or for international flights on United Airlines and their partners. That’s how I make the most of my points, but the best use of your Chase Ultimate Rewards points is for travel that’s important to YOU!
Note: Some Ritz-Carlton hotels (especially resorts) add pricey resort fees to paid and award nights. Before you book, check the hotel policy to decide if it’s worth it for you.1. The Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common
The Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common is a Tier 4 Ritz-Carlton hotel located in downtown Boston. It’s walking distance to shopping, important sites of American history, and the Theatre District. Folks on TripAdvisor love the service and comfortable beds. And gave it lots of 5-star reviews!
Rates here start at ~$715 or 60,000 Ritz-Carlton points per night.
Remember, you’ll earn at least 4,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points from meeting the minimum spending requirements on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. And you can earn 5,000 more Chase Ultimate Rewards points if you add an authorized user who makes a purchase within the 1st 3 months.
That adds up to 59,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which is nearly enough to splurge on a memorable getaway in Boston!
2. The Miami Beach EDITION
If you want to be near the beach, consider The Miami Beach EDITION. It’s located on Collins Avenue and has access to the largest private beach in Miami.
Unwind and enjoy the people-watching. In the evenings, you’ll be walking distance to restaurants and bars if you want to stay out.
Folks on TripAdvisor love the beach and pool scene here!When I checked, nights here cost ~$722, or 50,000 Ritz-Carlton points.
And if you want to extend your stay in Miami, you can mix-and-match paid and award nights with Airbnb.
I found lots of great options walking distance to the Atlantic Ocean for ~$100 a night! Here are my tips on how to find a good and safe Airbnb.
3. The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago
Nights at The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago cost ~$681 or 50,000 Ritz-Carlton points per night. It’s located off the Magnificent Mile near the upscale Gold Coast neighborhood, and close to shopping and restaurants.
You’ll also be walking distance to the Museum of Contemporary Art or Navy Pier, which is fun for the little ones!
Here, the sign-up bonus of 50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is worth nearly $700! This hotel and neighborhood are perfect for a weekend of good memories.
4. The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay
The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay is a short drive from San Francisco along the Pacific Ocean. It’s a fantastic choice for a romantic getaway because of the beautiful coastline and secluded location.
This hotel costs ~$873 or 60,000 Ritz-Carlton points per night.
Remember, you’ll have at least 54,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after meeting the minimum spending requirements on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. That’s almost enough for a free night here, and you’ll save a lot of money!
There’s so much to do in the area. If you love the outdoors, you can go fishing or kayaking. Or book a whale-watching tour!
There’s also horseback riding at nearby ranches, and lots of vineyards to sip local wines.
You can also rent bikes and ride the coastal trail for gorgeous ocean views!
5. The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park
The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park is 1 of the best known hotels in the world. The location is unbeatable because it’s easy walking distance to Central Park, 5th Avenue, and Broadway.
Nights here cost ~$1,260 or 70,000 Ritz-Carlton points.
You’ll need to earn more Chase Ultimate Rewards points for a night here, but you’ll save well over $1,000 once you do! Remember, you’ll earn 2X Chase Ultimate Rewards points on travel and dining purchases.
Be sure to read my tips on how to get Big Travel with Small Money in New York.
Need More Ritz-Carlton Points?
Chase Ultimate Rewards Cards
Link: Chase Sapphire Preferred
Link: Chase Ink Plus
Link: Chase Ink Cash
Link: Chase Freedom
You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Ritz-Carlton instantly at a 1:1 ratio if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Ink Plus, or (no longer offered) Chase Ink Bold cards.
If you have the Chase Freedom or Chase Ink Cash cards you can combine your points and transfer to Ritz-Carlton as long as you have 1 of the other cards!
This is great for folks who want to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. That’s because you’ll earn 50,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the 1st 3 months of opening your account. Then splurge for a special occasion at a Ritz-Carlton hotel!
Remember, Chase has gotten more selective with their approvals if you’ve opened more than ~5 cards within the past 24 months. So if you’re interested, make sure to get this card first!
And the Chase Freedom card has rotating quarterly categories that earn 5X Chase Ultimate Rewards points when you activate the bonus.
The Freedom card also has an increased sign-up bonus of $150 (15,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points) after spending $500 on purchases within the 1st 3 months of opening your account, and NO annual fee!
Now is a good time to open a card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which is my favorite points program and the #1 card I recommend to miles and points beginners.
Marriott and Ritz-Carlton Cards
Link: Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Card – 50,000 Points + $200 Marriott Gift Card Offer
Link: Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Card – 80,000 Points Offer
Link: Chase Ritz-Carlton Rewards Card
Ritz-Carlton and Marriott are essentially the same frequent-guest program (just with different branding and marketing), so you can use your Ritz-Carlton points to stay at Marriott hotels and vice versa.
Marriott Cards
The current sign-up offer for the Chase Marriott Rewards Premier card is 50,000 Marriott points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the 1st 3 months of account opening. The $85 annual fee is waived the 1st year, plus you’ll receive a $200 Marriott gift certificate after meeting the minimum spending requirements. Here’s my review of the card.
There’s another offer on the Chase Marriott Rewards Premier card to earn 80,000 Marriott points, which is enough for 2 nights at a Tier 2 Ritz-Carlton hotel, but the $85 annual fee is NOT waived, though the minimum spending requirements are the same.
Ritz-Carlton Card
You could also pick up the Chase Ritz-Carlton Rewards card. You’ll earn 2 free nights at any Tier 1 to 4 Ritz-Carlton hotel, after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the 1st 3 months of opening your account.
The $395 annual fee is NOT waived, but it comes with perks and benefits that can easily make up for it, like a $300 annual travel credit for seat upgrades, airline fees, or other travel incidentals.
If you like Ritz-Carlton hotels, it’s a great card to have. Here’s my review.
Bottom Line
There are several fantastic Ritz-Carlton hotels here in the US where you can get award stays with Chase Ultimate Rewards points transferred to Ritz-Carlton, like The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago or The Miami Beach EDITION. These hotels are perfect for a splurge, or for a weekend away.
You’ll earn 50,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the 1st 3 months of opening a new Chase Sapphire Preferred card, which you can transfer to Ritz-Carlton.
There are other great offers, too! Because Marriott and Ritz-Carlton have similar loyalty programs, and you can book Ritz-Carlton stays with Marriott points (and vice versa). Earn 50,000 Marriott points and a $200 Marriott gift card with the Chase Marriott Rewards Premier card after spending $3,000 on purchases within the 1st 3 months of account opening.
Or earn 80,000 Marriott points with a different offer on the same card but with the same minimum spending requirements. Think about your travel goals to decide which is best for you!
You can also earn 2 free nights at any Tier 1 to 4 Ritz-Carlton hotel with the Chase Ritz-Carlton Rewards card after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the 1st 3 months of opening your account.
Are there any Ritz-Carlton hotels you’d add to the list?