World of Hyatt award chart changes go into effect next week, here's what we're booking
From generous resort fee and parking waivers to mouthwatering Globalist breakfasts, World of Hyatt has been a longtime favorite for TPG.
Unfortunately, Hyatt's upcoming category changes aren't good news in many cases, as they make it harder to get value from your points at many high-end properties. Category changes usually happen once a year, and they are the time when hotels will move from award one category basis to another.
This year, there are quite a few hotels moving from Category 4 to Category 5, making Category 1-4 certificates less valuable for many. Likewise, many Category 7 hotels are moving to Category 8, which puts some iconic properties like the Park Hyatt Paris outside the reach of the hotel's famous Category 1-7 certificates, which you can earn when you pass 60 elite nights as a World of Hyatt Globalist.
These category changes go into effect March 22, so you should look through the list of changes now and lock in bookings at any hotels you're considering for a stay. If your plans change, you can always cancel in accordance with the hotel's policy and get your points back.
Here's what TPG's points and miles staff members have to say about what places they are booking now in preparation for the upcoming award chart changes:
Andrew Kunesh, points & miles editor
As a longtime Marriott Bonvoy loyalist, the program's impending switch to dynamic pricing has me diversifying my hotel stays and earning with multiple programs. This includes World of Hyatt, where I've amassed a good stash of points over the past few months. I am disappointed in many of these category changes, but I don't think it's the end of the world. After all, there also are lots of Hyatt properties going down in price, especially in Europe.
That said, I am hoping to lock down a booking at the Park Hyatt Milan before March 22. This property is going from Category 7 to Category 8, which will bring it all the way up to 40,000 points for a standard award night.
The rooms look more modern than the Park Hyatt Paris I reviewed last year, though the lobby doesn't look quite as grand. Regardless, Milan is a new city for me, and I'm looking forward to experiencing one of its most luxurious hotels during a holiday visit. I am pushing for Globalist status this year too, so I may be able to enjoy what I've heard is an excellent free breakfast at the hotel. On top of this, the property is centrally located and near iconic monuments like the Sforzesco Castle and the Duomo di Milano.
Related: Planning a trip to Italy? Here’s how to get there on points and miles
Benji Stawski, senior reporter
My World of Hyatt balance is depleted at the time of writing, so I can't make many speculative bookings. That said, I was able to lock in a few nights at the Confidante Miami Beach for 12,000 to 18,000 points per night before it jumps to 17,000 to 23,000 points per night. I travel to Miami often and I typically get outsize value from my points at that property considering that cash rates often exceed $400 per night.
If I had some more points to burn, I'd try to lock in a stay at the Alila Ventana Big Sur as that's long been on my bucket list and will be moving up from a Category 7 to Category 8 property. That said, award space is already extremely tight there, so there's a good chance I wouldn't have even found availability had I had the points.
Related: The best ways to use your hotel points in Miami
Katie Genter, senior writer
I'm personally not all that upset about the upcoming Hyatt award chart changes. After all, I'm typically most interested in redeeming Hyatt points at Category 1 and 2 properties when I can do so at a high cents per point value. Even so, I've snagged a few fully-refundable award night stays for later this year.
I booked two short stays using Hyatt Category 1–4 reward night certificates at Gild Hall, a Thompson Hotel. Once that property increases to Category 5, there won't be any Category 4 or lower World of Hyatt properties in Manhattan. If I had more Category 1–4 certificates to use and plans to visit the region, I'd consider booking some nights at the Park Hyatt Zanzibar before it jumps from Category 4 to 5.
I'm also planning to visit India this April, so I snagged a two-night stay at the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty. This property has excellent reviews and looks like a great place for a centrally-located vacation. Although it's only jumping from Category 1 to Category 2, I opted to lock it down now. I'm still not 100% sure I'll visit Kochi on my trip to India, but it's looking likely now that I'm sitting on back-to-back Marriott and Hyatt reservations at appealing hotels in the city.
Finally, the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando will move from Category 3 to 4. My family stayed at this hotel several times while I was in high school and I had memorable experiences playing golf there. So, I may book a stay in the next few days to see if the property is everything I remember.
Kyle Olsen, points and miles reporter
After Eric Rosen's visit to the Park Hyatt Sydney, I've had my eyes on the property, particularly because it will be moving from a Category 7 to Category 8 listing.
For those interested in viewing the infamous New Year's fireworks in Sydney harbor, the Park Hyatt Sydney is the place to go. You'll get a jaw-dropping redemption on your World of Hyatt points and be right in the middle of the action.
A five-night stay will set you back 175,000 World of Hyatt points.
We value 175,000 World of Hyatt points at $2,975, which is no drop in the bucket. But, as alluded to, you'll be getting a fantastic redemption given the high cash rates.
That same 5-night stay costs over $10,000. This means that you'll be getting 6.1 cents per World of Hyatt point, which is more than 3.5 times our current valuations.
By moving to a Category 8 property, assuming peak pricing for these dates prevails, the same stay will require 10,000 more points per night, bringing the total to 225,000 points for five nights.
Related: Australia is reopening: How to book a trip to Sydney with points and miles
Bottom line
Hyatt's category changes this year make it more difficult to get value from Category 1-4 certificates, and members who like Hyatt's signature Park Hyatt brand will have to fork over more points at seven iconic Park Hyatt properties.
Remember that Tuesday's deadline is the book-by-date, not the travel-by-date. This means you can book travel for later in the year at the current categories, provided you do that by March 22.
You can review the full list of the 146 hotels that are moving categories here. Now is especially the time to book at Hyatt properties moving to higher award categories.
Additional reporting by Benji Stawski and Katie Genter.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.