Act fast: Less than a week until World of Hyatt devaluation, so you should book now
Editor's Note
It's time to book your future Hyatt stays, before a major devaluation kicks in less than a week from today.
World of Hyatt announced its annual changes to where properties sit on its award chart, and while we're thrilled that the award chart itself remains intact, some of the individual property pricing shifts will still likely sting. That's why it's time to book any hotels you've had your eye on now. Bookings are open as far as April of 2026, and some all-inclusives are even bookable into 2027.
A whopping 118 Hyatt hotels and resorts — including some of our favorites — are moving to higher award categories. Higher-end and popular hotels and resorts in big cities and leisure destinations were especially hard hit: Some of these hotels are increasing in price by as much as 10,000 World of Hyatt points — so it's time to lock in the reduced pricing before the changes hit on March 25.
You'll want to pay especially close attention to properties going from Category 7 to Category 8; if you have a Category 1-7 cert, that means hotels like the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa will no longer be bookable with those valuable certificates.
There is a bit of sweetener in the bitter news, however, as 33 properties are shifting to a lower award category.
Our early calculations show that among the hotels increasing in award category, the average award cost will be more than 2,444 points more per night once these changes take effect March 25. That’s not as bad as the 5,000-point average cost increase in 2023 — but it’s higher than last year’s average cost increase.
To give you an idea of how this year stacks up, here’s a comparison from previous years:
- 2022: 76 properties went down, 70 went up
- 2023: 152 properties went down, 214 went up
- 2024: 46 properties went down, 137 went up
- 2025: 33 properties are going down, 118 are going up
Once these changes occur, those who like free night certificates will have fewer options for using Category 1-7 certificates. In addition to the previously mentioned Grand Hyatt Kauai, the Grand Hyatt Tokyo is moving from Category 7 to Category 8, putting it out of reach for most free night certificates. And another TPG favorite, the Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort, Costa Rica is going up to Category 8 as well. (This property was actually a Category 4 hotel just a few years ago, showing how quickly things can change.)
Unfortunately, changes will also effect properties that fall under Hyatt’s all-inclusive award chart, resulting in several popular resorts becoming significantly more expensive on award stays. This includes Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres, Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun, Breathless Montego Bay Resort & Spa and Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa, which will all increase one level from 30,000 to 40,000 World of Hyatt points per night.
Also bear in mind that the valuable free night awards given to Hyatt members at certain elite night benchmarks or earned via the Hyatt credit cards are becoming less valuable. For example, once these changes take place, you’ll no longer be able to use your Category 1-4 free night certificate at these properties:
- Hyatt Regency Newport Beach
- Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport
- The Bellevue Hotel
- Thompson Atlanta – Buckhead
- Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui
- Hyatt House Tokyo Shibuya
- Hyatt Regency Tokyo
- Hyatt Regency Koh Samui
- Hyatt Regency Vancouver
- Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile
- Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin
I just used a Category 1-4 award at the Hyatt Regency in Tokyo, and I’ve also used my free night awards at the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile, so this is personally painful.
However, the Category 1-4 certificates will become valid at the following hotels that are moving down into Category 4:
- Hotel Figueroa
- Dream South Beach
- Park Hyatt Doha
- Grand Hyatt Sanya Haitang Bay Resort and Spa
- Grand Hyatt Jeju
There are a few other bright spots to highlight. For example, the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa is moving down from Category 7 to Category 6, meaning you can book an award stay starting at 25,000 World of Hyatt points per night. If you book that hotel now, you should get a refund once the changes go into effect. Also, the vast majority of changes are clustered at the lower end of the award chart. Of the 118 properties moving up in category:
- 34.75% are going from Category 1 to 2
- 23.03% are going from Category 2 to 3
- 11.02% are going from Category 3 to 4
All in all — it could always be worse. At least World of Hyatt still has a published award chart, didn’t change per-category prices and didn’t add a higher Category 9 to the program. Additionally, all bookings before the morning of March 25 will follow the current award chart, so it might be a good time to make some speculative bookings into 2026.
Hyatt added that “members who have existing award or Points + Cash bookings as of 8:00 am CDT on Tuesday, March 25 for a night on or after Tuesday, March 25 at a Hyatt hotel that moved down to a lower category, will receive an automatic one-time refund on the point difference. Points will be returned to members’ accounts starting Tuesday, March 25.”
If you plan to use your Hyatt points at any hotels moving to a higher category, you should make reservations before March 25 for stays as far out as the calendar will allow, which is typically 13 months. If you make or modify a reservation after that time, it will fall under the pricing rules that come into effect on March 25.
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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. |
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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.