The 12 hotels where you’ll get the most out of your Hyatt reward night certificate
Quick summary
If you've got access to a Hyatt Category 1–4 reward night certificate — like the one that cardholders receive on their anniversary of the World of Hyatt Credit Card — then you are on a quest. A quest for achieving the absolute most value out of your annual reward night to completely offset your Hyatt card's annual fee. You can offset it many times over if you're strategic with your hotel choice.
Value is probably even more important to you now in light of the big World of Hyatt changes, including charging up to 45,000 points per night for Hyatt-branded hotels and bumping a bunch of Category 4 hotels to Category 5 and above— thereby making Hyatt credit card free nights less valuable.
Category 1–4 award certificates are valid at any Category 1, 2, 3 or 4 property in the World of Hyatt program. That means you can use the certificate for a night's stay in a Hyatt Place, a Grand Hyatt, a Park Hyatt, at a Small Luxury Hotels of the World property or any other hotel that's part of World of Hyatt — as long as it's within that category range.
Of course, you'll get the most value out of booking a Category 4 hotel or one where the cash price may be especially high. You can book a Category 4 for 15,000 points. TPG values World of Hyatt points at 1.7 cents, so a "free" night at a Category 4 hotel is worth $255. If the cash rate for the hotel in question is less than $255, it might not be the best use of your reward night certificate.
Related: Why the World of Hyatt Credit Card is great for families
So, where should you use your reward night? We're glad you asked! There are so many incredible World of Hyatt properties, but here are a dozen that we think are special for a variety of reasons. There are options right here in the United States — from Colorado ski country to Hawaii to New York City. We'll also recommend a hotel in Paris, an all-inclusive in Africa and a fort-turned-into-resort in India. Read on to learn more about each hotel.
Andaz Bali
Luxury hotels aren't the best ways to immerse yourself in culture during your vacation. They're usually located in the best areas of a destination — distant from the locals.
Andaz is a brand that is hyper-focused on highlighting the virtues and the allure of each specific destination. The Andaz Bali is a luxury beachfront hotel that was built to emulate a modern Balinese village. It harnesses the natural landscape instead of trampling it to match a cookie-cutter hotel layout.
There are five dining venues around the resort. It's got three pools, a fitness center, and an excellent spa. The hotel is only one year old, and it's already won a handful of awards, including the #3 best hotel in Indonesia from the DestinAsian Reader's Choice Awards.
The Andaz Bali is surrounded by lush greenery — while maintaining its beachfront appeal. (Photo courtesy of the Andaz Bali)
Related: 10 ways to see the island of Bali beyond the beach
Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor
This Hyatt property promises an intimate experience not far from Boston's Logan Airport. The 270 soundproof rooms at Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor allow for quiet reflection while taking in the breathtaking view of the City of Notions.
Guests can take a private car or use one of Boston's many public transportation options including the MBTA Train and Water Taxi to get to the historic and cultural sites within the city.
Hyatt Residence Club Sedona, Piñon Pointe
This picturesque resort is still largely under the radar, but it's an ideal location to take in the red rock formations that rise dramatically across the landscape. The Hyatt Residence Club Sedona Piñon Pointe is in the heart of Sedona, meaning there are shops, restaurants, and no shortage of spiritual experiences within walking distance. Adventurers will appreciate the chance to hike the red mountains, buttes, and canyons surrounding the city and guests willing to drive a little further can see petrified forests, a meteor crater, and the crown jewel of northern Arizona's natural beauty — the Grand Canyon.
Andaz Savannah
The Andaz Savannah is centrally located in Savannah's Ellis Square near City Market, which means there are plenty of shopping and dining nearby. All 151 rooms, including 37 suites, have nice views (either of Ellis Square, downtown Savannah, or the pool). The pool deck features luxury cabanas and a fire pit for lounging. Founded in 1733, Savannah is Georgia's oldest city and offers historic homes, history museums, award-winning restaurants, and nearby beaches and barrier islands.
Lahaina Shores Beach Resort
There is a lot to like about the 199-room Lahaina Shores Beach Resort in Maui. It's fronted by a golden sand beach and it's not unusual to see whales frolicking offshore between December and May. Located on Front Street, the main drag in Lahaina's old town, the property is right next door to the Feast of Lele, which some say is the best luau on the island. It's also within walking distance of plenty of shops and restaurants — and that's a good thing, since there is no restaurant or lounge on-site. There is a freshwater pool and hot tub.
Accommodations face either the West Maui Mountains or the Pacific Ocean with the islands of Molokai and Lanai in the distance. This condo-style resort offers studio, one-bedroom and one-bedroom penthouse accommodations, each with oversized private lanais, air-conditioning and a fully-equipped kitchen. (Note that the reward night certificate is valid for the entry-level studio.) Wi-Fi and parking are also complimentary.
Related: The best ways to get to Hawaii using points and miles
The Eliza Jane
Headed to New Orleans and yearning to stay near the French Quarter? Look no further than The Eliza Jane on Magazine Street, part of The Unbound Collection By Hyatt. It's two blocks from the French Quarter and is a neat option for anyone that wants a story behind the hotels they frequent. Poet-heiress Eliza Jane Nicholson worked out of one of the warehouses that is now part of the hotel to turn a local penny paper into a communication medium with lasting power — the Daily Picayune newspaper.
The trendy Eliza Jane offers 196 rooms, including 50 suites. If you use your reward night certificate, you'll book into either a 250-square-foot king room or a 275-square-foot room with two queen beds. There is a French brasserie, Couvant, and a lobby bar on site. And, don't miss the 2,000-square-foot garden courtyard that's especially lovely in the spring and summer.
Related: The first-timers guide to New Orleans
Park Hyatt Saigon
Park Hyatt is the brand that with the best hotels Hyatt has to offer. It's the equivalent of Marriott's Ritz-Carlton or Hilton's Waldorf Astoria.
Because of this, you won't find many Park Hyatt hotels in such a low award category that you can redeem an annual Category 1-4 certificate for a free night. One exception is the Park Hyatt Saigon in Vietnam.
This five-star hotel is an extremely short walk to iconic locations such as the Ho Chi Minh City Opera House and the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon. The property has four dining venues and a martini bar, meaning there's no reason to leave if you don't want to. One restaurant, Park Lounge, hosts live music every evening, and also offers French-inspired Afternoon Tea from Friday to Sunday.
The stunning Park Hyatt Saigon is located in southeast of downtown Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo courtesy of the Park Hyatt Saigon)
Related: 7 things to know before you go to Ho Chi Minh City
Hyatt House at Anaheim Resort/Convention Center
If you've been wanting to visit Disneyland to check out the new Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge land, you're probably already worried about the total price tag for the vacation, especially with Disney's recent announcement concerning ticket price increases.
Related: How much does a Disneyland vacation cost?
This is where your Category 1–4 reward night certificate can come in handy. Use it at the new Hyatt House at Anaheim Resort/Convention Center, which is just one block from Disneyland. It's also an easy drive from the hotel to Knott's Berry Farm and Angel Stadium.
This can be a great deal for families since the room rate includes free hot breakfast with an omelet bar. And since you're so close to Disneyland, you really don't need a rental car and can instead walk or rely on Uber to get around.
The hotel also has a pool, bar with a snack menu and a grab-and-go market.
Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile
Paris is one of the priciest cities when it comes to booking hotels, and that's true whether you're booking a paid stay or using points. World of Hyatt offers a number of incredible properties in the City of Light and the least expensive is the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile.
Related: 15 things to do on your first trip to Paris
Located in the city's only skyscraper, the 995-room hotel is in the 17th arrondissement, so not as well-located as the much more expensive Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome near the Opera Garnier in the 2nd arrondissement. But, that being said, it's got distant Eiffel Tower views, and if you're looking for a fantastic value in Paris, the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile punches that ticket.
This full-service hotel has everything you could possibly need, from on-site restaurants to a concierge, fitness center, room service and laundry. Globalist elites get access to the Regency Club (as do Explorists that use one of their four club lounge access awards), or you can upgrade to a Club-level room with cash and/or points.
Use your reward night for a king bed room or one with two twins. Note that these rooms can only accommodate two adults (ages 13 and older) and the hotel does not offer roll-away beds.
Related: Paris on points is possible — here's where to stay
Diamonds Dream of Africa
Diamonds Dream of Africa in Malindi, Kenya — a Small Luxury Hotels of the World property — is the only all-inclusive resort on this list where you can use your Category 1–4 reward night certificate. The rate includes a welcome cocktail, accommodations, free Wi-Fi, a mini-bar that's stocked daily, meals (including breakfast room service), beverages (soda, fruit juices, tea and coffee, local beer, house wine, select local spirits and cocktails), access to the gym and daily entrance to the saltwater thalassotherapy pools at the Mvua Africa Rain Spa.
Paired with a few nights on points, you can put together an exotic vacation that's packed with value.
Related: A guide to planning your family's African vacation
Management likes to say that the resort has bembeleza, a Swahili word that roughly translates to "hypnotic charm." The architecture and design have Indo-Arabic influences and you definitely won't feel like you're at a cookie-cutter resort that could be anywhere in the world.
One of the best things about Diamonds Dream of Africa is that the boutique nature of this resort means you'll get a nicer entry-level room. In fact, of the 35 accommodations, 33 of them are junior suites and the remaining two are Dream of Africa Suites. Junior Suites have a garden view and private terrace with Balinese sun loungers. Furnishings are Italian-designed and the bathroom features a hydromassage Jacuzzi bath.
Just watch the cash rates at this resort. You can find inexpensive paid rates at certain times of the year, so it can make sense to pay cash and save your free night certificate for a pricier option.
Alila Fort Bishangarh
Here's a resort retreat that is definitely not run of the mill. The Alila Fort Bishangarh is housed in a 230-year-old fort atop a hill in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. It's about an hour's drive from Jaipur Airport (JAI) and three hours from Indira Gandi International Airport (DEL) in New Delhi. The major tourist sight, Amber Fort, is 45 minutes away by car.
Related: The best way to get to India on miles and points
The hotel offers several restaurants, a spa and tours of the local area.
There are just 59 rooms and suites here so the staff is sure to get to know you early in your stay. Book a 559-square-foot Heritage Room with mountain and countryside views and either a king bed or two twins.
Hyatt Regency Sydney
There are few waterfront scenes as jaw-dropping as Sydney Harbour.
The Hyatt Regency Sydney is a five-star hotel that offers great views of Darling Harbor, a stunning limb of the expansive Sydney Harbour. It's located less than 1.5 miles from the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Observatory and the Museum of Contemporary Art. The Sydney Aquarium requires only a five-minute walk.
The Hyatt Regency Sydney houses five restaurants, as well as a Regency Club Lounge which serves light snacks intermittently throughout the day (though note that this is currently still closed due to Covid restrictions).
Related: Australia is reopening: How to book a trip to Sydney with points and miles
Bottom line
While no one enjoys hearing about award chart changes, there is still plenty of value in World of Hyatt's program — especially if you have a Category 1–4 reward night certificate to redeem. Where do you plan to spend your reward night? The above options are all on my radar — and Hyatt is continually debuting new hotels and striking deals with other hospitality providers to open up more properties for those of us who love to redeem Hyatt points.
Additional reporting by Christina Garofalo and Sarah Hostetler.