Did You Know? Hyatt Points Are Some of the Most Valuable Hotel Points, Here’s Why

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Among all the major hotel brands, Hyatt points are arguably the most valuable hotel points currency. Though they don’t have as large of a portfolio as Marriott or Hilton, Hyatt still has a sizable collection of hotels across the world and some of their high-end properties are truly amazing. Best of all, the Hyatt reward chart has some incredible sweet spots that allow you to stay at expensive properties for a small number of points.

Hyatt Award Chart

The Hyatt award chart is by far the best award chart of major hotel brands in terms of price. The chart ranges from 5,000 points for a Category 1 standard room to 40,000 points for a Category 8 standard room. Currently, the only hotels in Category 8 are Hyatt’s “Small Luxury Hotels of the World” properties, primarily located in Europe. All of the Hyatt-branded hotels, such as Park Hyatt and Hyatt Regency, max out at Category 7 for 30,000 points for a standard room.

Here are a few examples showing the tremendous value of Hyatt points.

High-End Hotels – Categories 6-7

It’s no secret that Hyatt has some breathtaking luxury hotels in its portfolio. One of the main draws of the Word of Hyatt program is that you can book many of these hotels for either 25,000 or 30,000 points per night for a standard room. Take the Park Hyatt Sydney (pictured above) for example. With its draw-dropping views of the harbor and Sydney Opera House, rooms at the Park Hyatt can easily go for $800 or more per night. At only 30,000 Hyatt points per night, you are getting a value of 2.67 cents per point ($800/30,000 points), a tremendous value.

Another example is the stunning Park Hyatt New York, a Category 7 hotel where standard rooms also cost 30,000 points per night. During the summer, cash rates start at $745 per night, so if you redeem points, you are getting a value of at least 2.48 cents per point ($745/30,000 points).

Comparing that to a similar property at another hotel chain, the super luxurious St. Regis New York is a Marriott Category 8 hotel, which goes for 85,000 points per night for a standard room. During the summer, cash rates start at $730 per night – very similar to the Park Hyatt New York. But at 85,000 points per night, you are only getting 0.85 cents per point ($730/80,000 points), less than 1/3 the value you can get with Hyatt points.

Budget-Friendly Hotels – Categories 1-2

While you can find tremendous value in award redemptions at Hyatt’s luxury properties, you can actually find great value in their cheaper hotels as well.

For example, the Hyatt Place Baltimore/BWI Airport is a Category 1 hotel, where a standard room costs 5,000 points per night. Summer rates are currently showing rooms at $102 per night, meaning you are still getting over 2 cents per point ($102/5,000 points). Comparing that to a similar property, the Hilton BWI Airport Linthicum Heights currently costs 37,000 points per night for a standard room. With cash rates starting at $147, you get a points value of just 0.4 cents per point ($147/37,000 points), less than 20% of the value of Hyatt points.

Even at cheaper hotels, its easy to get 2 cents per point or more on a Hyatt award night — a much higher value than you will find at other brands like Marriott or Hilton.

All-Inclusive Properties

In addition to regular hotels, Hyatt has a series of of all-inclusive properties in the Caribbean through their Ziva and Zilara brands. These hotels have a separate award chart based on both the type of room and the number of guests (two guests are included in the standard room price).

Looking at the Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos, summer rates for a standard room appear to be around $350. At just 20,000 Hyatt points per night, you are getting 1.75 cents per point — a very good value. While that’s not quite as good as some redemptions, this is still a great use of points, as an award stay at the Hyatt Ziva includes the room, unlimited food and drinks and many resort activities.

Other Items to Consider

While Hyatt points are generally the most valuable of all major hotel brands, there are certainly times where you may be able to redeem other brands for a better value. For example, IHG hotels offer occasional discounts with IHG PointsBreaks.

In certain seasons, the cash cost for a Hyatt room also might be lower, meaning you get less value per point. You should always do the math to figure out if you are getting a good deal with your points redemption.

Aiming for 1.5-2 cents per point is a good target, but keep in mind that you should spend your hotel points to suit your travel goals and schedule, not solely to maximize point value. That said, if there is a Hyatt hotel at your preferred destination, you will probably find more value there than at other hotel chains.

Bottom Line

Hyatt points are extremely valuable because it takes a relatively small number of points to book an award stay compared to other brands. At their high-end properties, where rooms can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars per night, Hyatt only charges 30,000 points for a standard room. At more budget-friendly properties, award nights start at just 5,000 Hyatt points for a standard room. It’s fairly easy to redeem Hyatt points for a value of 1.5-2 cents per point or more — but remember, the best award redemption is the one that fits your schedule and travel plans.

For more information on Hyatt’s loyalty program check out these posts:

• Hyatt Status
• Best Use of Hyatt Points
• How to Create a Hyatt Account
• Hyatt Award Chart
• Do Hyatt Points Expire?