Thompson Playa del Carmen, Joie de Vivre Hotels Join World of Hyatt
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Hyatt added eight Thompson Hotels to its World of Hyatt loyalty program back in March, but two properties were notably absent: Thompson Playa del Carmen and the oceanfront Thompson Beach House just around the corner. As of Wednesday, May 15, both hotels will be part of the program as well, available for points accrual, redemption, elite benefits and more.
Tuesday, Hyatt also detailed the addition of Joie de Vivre Hotels, another Two Roads Hospitality brand with properties throughout the US. 14 of the brand's 18 hotels will be joining Hyatt, including the properties below, with the exception of the faded locations in San Francisco.
These hotels are now bookable on Hyatt's website, and many fall into the lower or mid-tier categories of the Hyatt award chart. Here's a table that summarizes these 14 properties:
| Property | City | Award Category (Rate) |
|---|---|---|
Carmel Valley Ranch | Carmel, CA | Category 6 (25,000 points) |
El Capitan Hotel | Merced, CA | TBA |
Hotel Avante | Mountain View, CA | Category 4 (15,000 points) |
Waterfront Hotel | Oakland, CA | Category 4 (15,000 points) |
Hotel del Sol | San Francisco, CA | Category 4 (15,000 points) |
Hotel Kabuki | San Francisco, CA | Category 5 (20,000 points) |
The Laurel Inn | San Francisco, CA | Category 5 (20,000 points) |
Avatar Hotel | Santa Clara, CA | Category 3 (12,000 points) |
Wild Palms Hotel | Sunnyvale, CA | Category 3 (12,000 points) |
Hotel Lincoln | Chicago, IL | Category 3 (12,000 points) |
The Talbott Hotel | Chicago, IL | Category 3 (12,000 points) |
Hotel Revival | Baltimore, MD | Category 2 (8,000 points) |
Hotel 50 Bowery | New York, NY | Category 5 (20,000 points) |
Park South Hotel | New York, NY | Category 5 (20,000 points) |
What's most notable about this list is the fact that 8 of the 14 new additions fall into Category 4 or lower, making them eligible for the free night certificates that you can earn on the World of Hyatt Credit Card. This includes two properties just north of downtown Chicago as well the Hotel del Sol in San Francisco.
However, even the higher properties have some solid value. Take the Carmel Valley Ranch over Labor Day Weekend. You can book a 650-square-foot studio room for 25,000 points, which would otherwise set you back over $650 per night, giving you a redemption value of 2.6 cents per point.
In addition, as part of Joie de Vivre's partnership, Hyatt is integrating the brand's Joy of Life Club with World of Hyatt. As a result, elite members will be offered a status match, and any outstanding points will be converted at a 1:4 ratio. Members do need to migrate their accounts manually, however, with a deadline of September 27, 2019 to retain points and status.
As for Playa, I actually had a chance to stay at the Thompson Beach House a few weeks ago, in anticipation of the hotel joining World of Hyatt. I ended up being a bit underwhelmed — especially considering that the rate was so much higher than at the far superior Grand Hyatt up the road. With Hyatt now onboard, I imagine the chain will work quickly to improve customer service, though.
The Playa Thompsons couldn't be more different, too. There's the oceanfront Thompson Beach House — now a Hyatt Category 5 — with just 27 rooms and suites located right on a popular (though apparently seaweed-filled) stretch of coastline just off the town's main drag.
And then there's the Thompson Playa del Carmen — a Category 3 hotel — which unfortunately is set back a few blocks from the beach and is far larger, with a total of 92 rooms and suites. The "Main House," as it's called, is where you'll find most of the amenities, including a gym and a huge rooftop pool, but the hotel is positioned just above a shopping mall in the most crowded, touristy section of town.
Cash rates are fairly reasonable, though they're consistently higher at the Beach House than at the Grand Hyatt, which I actually preferred.
During off-peak periods, you won't be getting a great value from redemptions, considering we value Hyatt points at 1.7 cents apiece — the value proposition increases tremendously during holidays, however, when cash rates climb significantly.
Finally, remember that existing World of Hyatt members are being incentivized to try out the new brands, too. Hyatt is offering 2,000 bonus points (worth $34 based on our valuations) after your first qualifying stay at Joie de Vivre Hotels and Thompson Hotels, along with Alila hotels and Destination Hotels once those brands are added in the future. You'll be eligible for a total of 8,000 bonus points — 2,000 for each of the four new brands. Finally, you'll earn 4x bonus points with the World of Hyatt Credit Card, just as you do with other Hyatt hotels.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 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. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
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 $8,000 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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.