Rate my redemption: A last-minute weekend in Amsterdam using Avios and Hyatt points

We bring you tips and tricks to earn and redeem your points and miles every week here at TPG so that you can maximize your travel.

Our team loves hearing success stories about how you're using your loyalty points and programs. Unsure if you're getting a great deal from your next redemption? Why not ask the experts?

In this installment, TPG reader Iain shares his most recent redemption:

I had a free weekend recently and decided to spend it visiting one of my favorite European cities, Amsterdam to see some friends. I love flying from London City (LCY) airport where possible because it's quick to get to from home and easy to use because of its small size. While cash fares are never super expensive on this short route I have a big stack of Avios to use so managed to find a return seat in economy from London City to Amsterdam on BA for 9,500 Avios plus $42 in taxes.

Accommodation was pricey with even average hotels well over $300 per night so I checked my hotel points balances and had some World of Hyatt points to redeem. I redeemed 34,000 Hyatt points in total for two nights at the Hyatt Regency Amsterdam which retailed for a whopping $385 per night! Even though Hyatt Regency isn't the most luxurious brand, it was a newish, modern hotel that was really comfortable and in a great location. I would stay there again in a heartbeat.

Overall it was a very affordable and easy weekend away from London (this was before the security queues reached nightmare lengths!).

British Airways Reward Flight Savers are long-standing, excellent redemption deals. They allow you to book flights on BA to European destinations for as low as 4,750 Avios plus $21.05 each way in fees, taxes and surcharges in Euro Traveller economy. The farther the destination, the more Avios you will need to pay but the fees and taxes will remain the same. This remains one of the best flight redemption options of any airline program, anywhere in the world.

Though Amsterdam is a super short flight, this is an option, especially with being able to choose the convenient London City Airport in both directions.

World of Hyatt is the most valuable hotel points program around, as redemptions start from just 5,000 points per night.

Unfortunately, they are hard to earn in the United Kingdom for several reasons — World of Hyatt is not a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, there is no Hyatt-branded credit card and there aren't a large number of U.K. properties belonging to the World of Hyatt loyalty program, unlike Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy.

Related: Your complete guide to the World of Hyatt program

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Still, if you do have Hyatt points, redeeming 17,000 points per night to save $385 per night is a great deal, and well above our (already high) valuation of Hyatt points. Remember there are no fees or taxes to pay for hotel redemptions like this and Hyatt does not add resort fees on redemptions.

This is an excellent use of airline and hotel points. It also shows just how valuable and convenient both are for a spontaneous weekend away.