The 10 Best Hyatt Luxury Hotels To Book With Points for Maximum Value

With Hyatt luxury hotels, one thing is apparent: the value you get by booking expensive hotels with a relatively small number of points. That’s simply not the case with other luxury hotel brands.

Trust us, we know. This article is part of our series on the best ways to book luxury hotels. This time it’s Hyatt’s turn, but we’ve also evaluated the Hilton Honors, IHG Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy programs.

We determined peak travel months for the city or area the hotel is in by looking up the busiest booking times on Google Travel. We noted the highest rate and lowest rates for a standard room for the hotel during that period.

The goal here is to evaluate the value a traveler would receive booking luxury Hyatt hotels. We value Hyatt points at 1.5 cents per point and used a floor of 2.4 cents per point in value for hotels to make this list.

Cash rates fluctuate throughout the year, so the value you receive will likely be different than what’s shown here. This guide is merely meant to provide ideas of hotels that could present value for your hard-earned Hyatt points.

With that out of the way, let’s start with one of the best ways to unlock value in the Hyatt program: by holding one of its co-branded credit cards. We’ll then dive into the luxury Hyatt hotels that made our list. From there, you’ll learn about how to earn Hyatt points via point transfers from Chase Ultimate Rewards.

World of Hyatt Co-Branded Credit Cards

Most major hotel chains offer credit cards that entice you to spend on their cards.

For travelers loyal to Hyatt, the great news is that Hyatt offers a fantastic duo of co-branded credit cards in The World of Hyatt Credit Card and World of Hyatt Business Credit Card. These cards allow you to spend your way to elite status and earn points on everyday purchases, whether they’re personal or business.

Those who have both cards earn 5x points as a World of Hyatt member and 4x points as a cardholder, resulting in up to 9x points at Hyatt.

Hyatt ranks its hotels (the ones that aren’t all-inclusive) from Category 1 to 8, with 1 being the least expensive properties and 8 the most (and most luxe). The personal card gives you a free night certificate for Categories 1 to 4 every anniversary year. Heavy spenders can earn additional benefits — with every $5,000 spent on the World of Hyatt card, you earn 2 elite night credits. When you spend $15,000 in a cardmember year, you receive a second free night certificate valid for properties in Categories 1 through 4.

Bottom Line: These Chase cards are subject to the Chase 5/24 rule. Factor that into your credit card strategy.

Hyatt Award Chart

Hotel Category	Off-Peak	Standard	Peak	Peak Point Increase
Category 1	3,500	5,000	6,500	1,500
Category 2	6,500	8,000	9,500	1,500
Category 3	9,000	12,000	15,000	3,000
Category 4	12,000	15,000	18,000	3,000
Category 5	17,000	20,000	23,000	3,000
Category 6	21,000	25,000	29,000	4,000
Category 7	25,000	30,000	35,000	5,000
Category 8	35,000	40,000	45,000	5,000

Note that there are also different rates for club rooms, standard suites, and premium suites. Check out our guide to the World of Hyatt loyalty program for more details.

The 10 Best Luxury Hyatt Hotels on Points

1. Alila Ventana Big Sur (Big Sur, California)

The California coast has some of the best ocean views in the world. When you have a minimally developed coastline that’s flanked by beautiful forests, you know you’ve landed in Big Sur.

Alila Ventana Big Sur is south of San Francisco and bookable through Hyatt. It’s an adults-only resort on Highway 1 in Big Sur that offers a perfect getaway for a quiet vacation.

Summer is peak travel time for this area, with cash rates exceeding $2,500 per night. Though this hotel requires 35,000 to 45,000 points per night, you still receive more than 5.5 cents per point in value.

Hot Tip: The Alila Ventana Big Sur is an adults-only property. For those with kids, we recommend using bookable through Hyatt to find kid-friendly options in the area. 

Category: 8

Points Required: 35,000 to 45,000 points per night

Peak Season and Rates: July-August, $1,932 to $2,346 per night

Points Value: Up to 5.6 cents per point

2. Park Hyatt New York (New York City, New York)

There are myriad hotel options from all major brands in New York City. Whether you’re looking for a luxury, boutique, or more affordable property, the World of Hyatt program has you covered for your stay in the city.

In Midtown, there’s the well-known Park Hyatt New York. It’s a couple of blocks from Central Park and within walking distance of Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Lincoln Center, the Great White Way, and many of the city’s usual tourist sights. Madison Square Garden is also fairly close if you want to catch a concert or a Knicks or Rangers game.

As you’d imagine, cash rates for a luxury hotel in New York aren’t cheap, especially during peak travel time. The average cash rate can easily climb to $1,000 or more per night, with 35,000 to 45,000 points per night required for an award night. That said, 3.5 cents per point is a ton of value.

Category: 8

Points Required: 35,000 to 45,000 points per night

Peak Season and Rates: August-September, $638 to $1,580 per night

Points Value: Up to 3.51 cents per point

Hot Tip: Park Hyatt New York is one of the best hotels in the Park Hyatt brand to book with points.

3. Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile (Chicago, Illinois)

Chicago is one of the best U.S. cities to visit during the summer. Not only can you find incredible food and drinks, but there’s plenty to see and do. Places such as Millennium Park are always fun to walk around, and if you’re into sports, it’s hard to beat experiencing a professional game in the city.

As its name would suggest, the Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile is right on the Magnificent Mile and within walking distance of many top-notch restaurants.

Cash rates during peak travel time for this hotel can exceed $1,000 per night, and with only 12,000 to 18,000 points per night required, you’re almost guaranteed a solid value.

Hot Tip: What’s also great about Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile is that you can use your Category 1 to 4 free night certificate that comes with the World of Hyatt card.

Category: 4

Points Required: 12,000 to 18,000 points per night

Peak Season and Rates: June-August, $309 to $1,040 per night

Points Value: Up to 5.77 cents per point

4. Hotel Lincoln (Chicago, Illinois)

There’s another Chicago property that you can book with points for a great value. While not as convenient to downtown Chicago as other hotels, Hotel Lincoln is just off Lincoln Park in the Old Town neighborhood.

Peak travel time for Chicago is over the summer when you’ll see prices here of more than $200 per night. When you consider only needing at most 15,000 points per night, you’re looking at almost up to 2.5 cents per point in value during your stay in the Windy City.

Category: 3

Points Required: 9,000 to 15,000 points per night

Peak Season and Rates: June-August, $258 to $374 per night

Points Value: Up to 2.49 cents per point

5. Carmel Valley Ranch (Carmel, California)

Now we’re heading back to the West Coast, this time to the Carmel Valley in California. If you’ve wanted to see this area of the U.S., why not book Carmel Valley Ranch and Alila Ventana Big Sur on the same trip?

Carmel Valley Ranch is just east of Monterrey and about 45 minutes north of Big Sur. It’s located in central California’s wine country, and you can play championship golf, relax at the spa, and enjoy the on-site creamery.

Like Alila Ventana Big Sur, the cash rates during peak travel at Carmel Valley Ranch aren’t cheap. At more than $1,000 per night on some dates, this property would set you back some serious cash. However, that’s where points come in; 35,000 to 45,000 points per night are what you need to book this property, netting you more than 2.4 cents per point in value.

Category: 8

Points Required: 35,000 to 45,000 points per night

Peak Season and Rates: August-September, $555 to 1,100 per night

Points Value: Up to 2.44 cents per point

6. Great Scotland Yard Hotel (London, United Kingdom)

London has a multitude of sights and highly-rated restaurants to enjoy. It’s also home to some of the top cocktail bars in the world.

Located in the Westminster neighborhood, Great Scotland Yard, part of the Unbound Collection, is in a prime location for London. The hotel is within walking distance of the River Thames, St. James Park, Green Park, and Hyde Park. It’s also convenient if you want to catch an Arsenal or Chelsea match.

You’re looking at more than $500 per night during peak summer travel dates. Yes, that’s a lot of cash to pay, but the good news is that you can use 21,000 to 29,000 points per night to receive more than 2.5 cents per point in value.

Category: 6

Points Required: 21,000 to 29,000 points per night

Peak Season and Rates: August-September and December, £400 ($500) to £500 ($630)

Points Value: Up to 2.54 cents per point

Hot Tip: Looking for an entire trip on points and miles? Couple a London hotel booked with points and a flight to London booked with points and you have yourself a great vacation for minimal cash. 

7. Park Hyatt Sydney (Sydney, Australia)

One of the most popular Hyatt hotels to redeem points at is the Park Hyatt Sydney. This hotel continually receives rave reviews, and when you look at pictures of the property, it makes sense.

Overlooking Sydney Harbour, the Park Hyatt Sydney gives guests the opportunity to book rooms with sweeping views of the harbor, including a view of the Sydney Opera House.

Guests need 35,000 to 45,000 points per night to book the Park Hyatt Sydney. Cash rates can be well over $1,000 per night before taxes and fees, netting you over 3 cents per point in value.

Category: 8

Points Required: 35,000 to 45,000 points per night

Peak Season and Rates: December-January, AU$1,003 ($675) to AU$1,720 ($1,555)

Points Value: Up to 3.45 cents per point

Bottom Line: If you want ultimate luxury in an incredible city, look no further than the Park Hyatt Sydney. 

8. Alila Jabal Akhdar (Al Khutaym, Oman)

Oman is a Middle Eastern country made popular in recent years in no small part by AvGeeks who have flown Oman Air business class. The capital city of Muscat, deserts, and oases are common places to see for travelers who visit this country.

The Alila Jabal Akhdar is a recent addition to the Hyatt portfolio. This beautiful hotel is an Alila property in the Al Hajar Mountains with sweeping views of the surrounding mountain range.

The average peak cash rate starts at $620 per night, and that jumps to over $1,000 on some nights. The good news is that 21,000 to 29,000 points per night will get you a room at this hotel. When you take the cash rate and points per night required, you come out with over 4 cents per point in value.

Category: 6

Points Required: 21,000 to 29,000 points per night

Peak Season and Rates: November-January, 238 rials ($620) to 449 rials ($1,165) per night

Points Value: Up to 4.01 cents per point

9. Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme (Paris, France)

Another international city that receives a ton of love is Paris. Yes, Paris can be touristy, but it is also one of the top food, art, and sightseeing destinations in the world.

The Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme is one of the most popular Hyatt point redemption hotels in the world. This Park Hyatt is in the heart of Paris in the 2nd arrondissement and gives guests easy access to everything the city has to offer.

You need to shell out some serious cash to book this hotel, as it averages more than $1,900 per night during peak dates, including taxes and fees. Spending 35,000 to 45,000 points per night lands you a room at the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme, netting you around 4.5 cents per point in value.

Category: 8

Points Required: 35,000 to 45,000 points per night

Peak Season and Rates: September-October, €1,750 ($1,910) to €1,970 ($2,150) per night

Points Value: Up to 4.48 cents per point

Bottom Line: Luxury plus location is what to expect when you stay at the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme. 

10. Park Hyatt Milan (Milan, Italy)

One of the classiest ways to stay in the fashion capital of Europe is at the Park Hyatt Milan. This high-end property oozes pure elegance, with a fantastic location near the renowned attractions of the city.

Park Hyatt Milan is a 2-minute walk from the Metro station and a 5-minute walk from Duomo di Milano.

Considering the hotel’s average of around $1,200 per night during the peak season, using points is a surefire way to get superb value.

Category: 8

Points Required: 35,000 to 45,000 points per night

Peak Season and Rates: September-October and December, €940 ($1,025) to €1,596 ($1,740) per night

Points Value: Up to 3.87 cents per point

Other Ways To Earn Hyatt Points

The World of Hyatt card offers one of the easiest ways to earn Hyatt points. When you add in the fact that World of Hyatt members earn 5x points per dollar spent, that results in up to 9x points during your stays at Hyatt.

Hyatt is also one of the most valuable travel partners of the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, though it won’t deliver the enormous returns that are possible when transferring to airlines to book expensive business class flights.

However, Hyatt doesn’t require the gargantuan number of points that are required to book the same luxury properties offered by Hilton and Marriott. So while the cash rates are equivalent for luxury properties across Hilton, IHG, and Marriott, the number of Hyatt points required is significantly less, resulting in more value.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve^® are 2 of the best Chase credit cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Each offers high earning rates in select categories and comes with travel benefits that make it worth holding on to the cards.

Business owners may find value in the Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card, which is also a Chase Ultimate Rewards credit card. Like the personal credit cards above, this card has high earning rates in select bonus categories that help you quickly earn Chase points that can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to Hyatt.

Final Thoughts

Now that luxury properties from Hyatt’s more recent acquisitions are bookable online, the World of Hyatt program becomes even more valuable. When you add JdV by Hyatt, Alila, Destination by Hyatt, and Thompson to the Park Hyatt and Unbound Collection, World of Hyatt members have more options than ever before.

With all of these new properties and the overall value of Hyatt, we rank Hyatt No. 1 in our list of hotel programs. Marriott is a close second, followed by Hilton in third and IHG in fourth.

The big knock on Hyatt is its lack of a global footprint. While that’s still true when compared to Hilton and Marriott, the gap is closing. Hyatt is not only expanding its portfolio but is also adding unique luxury and boutique hotels around the world that make for interesting redemptions.