Top 10 Best Washington, D.C. Hotels to Book With Points [for Max Value]
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There’s just something special about when you hop off the plane at Reagan National Airport (DCA) or the train at Union Station. You can feel that the air is different in the nation’s capital — a feeling similar to when you get off the train at Penn Station in New York.
Washington, D.C. is loaded with attractions and sites to see. It is also home to a growing culinary scene as seen with the flurry of Michelin-rated restaurants in the last few years.
For travelers interested in sightseeing, the National Mall, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Museum of Natural History, the National Air and Space Museum, the White House, and the Korean War Memorial can not be missed.
Here are 10 of the best value hotels in D.C. that you can book with points. We researched 48 hotels across the 4 major hotel brands of Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott.
The value we are using is cents per point to ensure that you are receiving the best return for the points that you earn. It’s important to also consider what value we assign to each program’s points — this helps determine where you might receive the best bang for your hard-earned redemption.
Table of contents
- Best Value Washington, D.C. Hotels
- Grand Hyatt Washington
- Hyatt Place Washington, D.C. / Georgetown / West End
- Hyatt Place Washington, D.C. / White House
- Washington Marriott at Metro Center
- Le Méridien Arlington
- The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
- Washington Hilton
- The Graham Washington, D.C. Georgetown, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
- InterContinental Washington, D.C. – The Wharf
- Conrad Washington, D.C.
- Earn Hotel Points to Redeem in Washington, D.C.
- Final Thoughts
Table of Contents
- Best Value Washington, D.C. Hotels
- Grand Hyatt Washington
- Hyatt Place Washington, D.C. / Georgetown / West End
- Hyatt Place Washington, D.C. / White House
- Washington Marriott at Metro Center
- Le Méridien Arlington
- The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
- Washington Hilton
- The Graham Washington, D.C. Georgetown, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
- InterContinental Washington, D.C. – The Wharf
- Conrad Washington, D.C.
- Earn Hotel Points to Redeem in Washington, D.C.
- Final Thoughts
Best Value Washington, D.C. Hotels
Now that we’ve highlighted our methodology and goals of the article, let’s dive into the best Washington, D.C. hotels that you can book with points.
Grand Hyatt Washington
Downtown D.C. is flooded with hotel options from all major hotel brands. It makes sense — this area of the city is walkable to places like the White House, the National Mall, the Capitol, and the museums.
The Grant Hyatt Washington provides hotel guests with a bistro/bar, a coffee shop, a deli, and a gym.
15,000 points per night are all you will need to book the Grand Hyatt Washington. Cash rates during peak travel dates average $580 per night, which results in you receiving a whopping 3.9 cents per point in value.
Hot Tip: The Grand Hyatt Washington has a destination fee of $20 plus tax applied to each night of your stay (Courtesy cardholders and Globalists excluded). The resort fee includes a discounted car airport transfer, 10% off Old Town trolley tours, and a $10 daily food and beverage credit.
Category: 4
Hyatt Points Required: 15,000
April-September Rate: $580
Points Value: 3.9 cents per point
Hyatt Place Washington, D.C. / Georgetown / West End
West End is a great area to stay in. This area of the city makes it easy to get to Georgetown, Dupont Circle, 14th Street, and all of the downtown sites. It is also a much quieter area than downtown.
Guests staying at this hotel are offered amenities that include complimentary bike rentals, a cafe, a fitness center, a bar, a rooftop terrace, and a heated indoor pool.
The Hyatt Place Washington, D.C. / Georgetown / West End averages $332 per night during peak travel dates. An award night can be booked with 12,000 points per night, netting you 2.8 cents per point in value.
Category: 3
Hyatt Points Required: 12,000
April-September Rate: $332
Points Value: 2.8 cents per point
Hyatt Place Washington, D.C. / White House
Another hotel in downtown D.C. to check out is the Hyatt Place Washington, D.C. / White House. For travelers wanting to see the sites in the downtown area, this hotel is within walking distance of most of the places that you will want to see.
Amenities available to hotel guests include a rooftop bar, a restaurant, and a fitness room.
Guests are likely to receive 2.7 cents per point in value as this hotel averages $408 per night during peak travel dates. An award night can be booked with 15,000 points per night.
Hot Tip: Use your Category 1-4 free night certificate that comes with the World of Hyatt Credit Card at the Hyatt Place Washington, D.C. / White House.
Category: 4
Hyatt Points Required: 15,000
April-September Rate: $408
Points Value: 2.7 cents per point
Washington Marriott at Metro Center
Not far from the U.S. Capitol is where you’ll find the Washington Marriott at Metro Center. For guests who book a stay at this hotel, amenities include a Starbucks, an American restaurant, a gym, and an indoor pool.
The Washington Marriott at Metro Center can be booked using 35,000 points per night. Cash rates average $373 per night during peak travel dates, which means your points are worth 1.1 cents per point.
Category: 5
Marriott Points Required: 35,000
April-September Rate: $373
Points Value: 1.1 cents per point
Le Méridien Arlington
If you’re after views of the Potomac River and easy access to Georgetown, the Le Méridien Arlington just might be your hotel. Amenities include an Italian restaurant, a bar/lounge, and a gym.
Hotel guests can book this hotel with 35,000 points per night or $322 per night during peak travel dates. As a result, 0.9 cents per point is the value you would expect to see with your points.
Category: 3
Marriott Points Required: 35,000
April-September Rate: $322
Points Value: 0.9 cents per point
The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
In the heart of Georgetown is where you’ll find luxury at the Ritz-Carlton Georgetown. If you stay at this hotel, you’ll have access to a restaurant, a lounge bar, a garden terrace, a spa, and a gym.
Cash rates during peak travel dates average $519 per night. For those looking to redeeming points, you will need 60,000 points per night to book a stay. This means your points will be worth 0.9 cents per point.
Category: 7
Marriott Points Required: 60,000
April-September Rate: $519
Points Value: 0.9 cents per point
Washington Hilton
Few D.C. hotels offer ease of access to Dupont as the Washington Hilton. Guests who stay at this hotel have amenities that include an American restaurant, sports and lounge bars, a cafe, a gym (fee required), and a seasonal rooftop pool.
The Washington Hilton can be booked with 50,000 points per night. Guests will receive 0.7 cents per point in value as cash rates average $420 per night during peak travel dates.
Hilton Points Required: 50,000-60,000
April-September Rate: $420
Points Value: 0.7 cents per point
The Graham Washington, D.C. Georgetown, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Another Georgetown points hotel to put on your radar is the Graham Washington, D.C. Georgetown. This hotel offers its guests a rooftop lounge/bar, a cocktail bar, a restaurant, and a gym.
The Graham Washington, D.C. Georgetown averages $534 per night. An award night can be booked using 80,000 points per night, resulting in a points value of 0.7 cents per point.
Hilton Points Required: 80,000
April-September Rate: $534
Points Value: 0.7
InterContinental Washington, D.C. – The Wharf
The Wharf is a new development in D.C. that brought in a couple of new hotels including the InterContinental Washington, D.C. – The Wharf. Amenities available to hotel guests include an African/Caribbean restaurant, a gym, a spa, and a rooftop pool with a bar.
Guests can book the InterContinental Washington, D.C. – The Wharf with 60,000 points per night. Peak travel cash rates average $376 per night making your points worth 0.6 cents per point.
Category: 11
IHG Points Required: 60,000
April-September Rate: $376
Points Value: 0.6 cents per point
Conrad Washington, D.C.
Smack dab in the middle of downtown is where you’ll be staying if you book a room. On property, there is a seafood restaurant, a cocktail bar, a rooftop bar, and a gym.
Cash rates at the Conrad Washington, D.C. average $374 per night. 60,000 points per night books an award stay so your points return will be 0.6 cents per point.
Hilton Points Required: 60,000
April-September Rate: $374
Points Value: 0.6 cents per point
Earn Hotel Points to Redeem in Washington, D.C.
It’s helpful to highlight how to earn the points that you will need to book these D.C. area hotels. Hyatt properties dominated our list, so let’s start by seeing how best to earn World of Hyatt points.
World of Hyatt
World of Hyatt Credit Card
The annual fee of the Hyatt Credit Card is a no-brainer for World of Hyatt elite members and road warriors. When Hyatt revamped this card, it’s changes were widely recognized as positive. Benefits and perks are what travelers are looking for and this card blows it out of the park.
But what if you are not a World of Hyatt elite member or road warrior? Is the Hyatt Credit Card worth it? The short answer is, probably yes!
| World of Hyatt Credit Card - Earn 25,000 Bonus Points after $3,000 in purchases within 3 months of account opening. Plus, earn an additional 25,000 Bonus Points after $6,000 total in purchases within 6 months of account opening. We like how you also get one free night at any Category 1–4 Hyatt hotel (or resort) every year after your cardmember anniversary. See how to best use your free night for maximum value! |
In addition to a sign-up bonus, the Hyatt Credit Card comes with the following benefits and perks:
- 9x points at Hyatt — 4x points per $1 at Hyatt plus 5x base points per $1 as a Hyatt member
- 1 free night at a Category 1-4 property after your cardmember anniversary
- 1 additional free night at a Category 1-4 property after spending $15,000 during your cardmember year
- 5 elite night qualifying credits
- 2 additional elite night credits for every $5,000 spent on the card
- Discoverist status as long as you have the card
The Hyatt Credit Card packs a punch. Just by holding the card, you’ll receive 1 Category 1-4 free night certificate after your cardmember anniversary.
By using this certificate at a hotel that costs at least $95 per night, you can offset the annual fee. In reality, you should be able to receive much more value from this free night.
What makes the Hyatt Credit Card unique is that the card makes sense to put spend on. With every $5,000 that you spend on the card, you will receive 2 elite night credits. This is great for travelers who want to earn higher levels of World of Hyatt elite status, including the coveted Globalist status.
For travelers who can spend $15,000 on the card, you will earn 1 additional Category 1-4 free night certificate. This is in addition to the free night you will earn by being a cardmember. Another way to look at it is that you will earn 2 Category 1-4 free night certificates that you could redeem for a weekend trip. Not bad!
World of Hyatt Award Chart
You will see changes coming to the World of Hyatt program and its award chart in 2021, delayed from March 2020 due to COVID-19. Hyatt expects to introduce off-peak and peak pricing, so it is important to take these program changes into account for your 2021 stays. The current award chart is below.
| World of Hyatt Award Chart | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Category | Standard Room Points per Night | Regency/Grand Club Points per Night | Standard Suite Points per Night | Premium Suite Points per Night |
| 1 | 5,000 | 7,000 | 8,000 | 10,000 |
| 2 | 8,000 | 12,000 | 13,000 | 16,000 |
| 3 | 12,000 | 17,000 | 20,000 | 24,000 |
| 4 | 15,000 | 21,000 | 24,000 | 30,000 |
| 5 | 20,000 | 27,000 | 32,000 | 40,000 |
| 6 | 25,000 | 33,000 | 40,000 | 50,000 |
| 7 | 30,000 | 39,000 | 48,000 | 60,000 |
| 8 | 40,000 | — | — | — |
Other Ways to Earn World of Hyatt Points
With the ability to earn 9x points at Hyatt — 5x points as a member plus 4x points from the Hyatt Credit Card — the Hyatt-branded credit card will be the easiest way to earn Hyatt points.
The World of Hyatt program is also a Chase Ultimate Rewards travel partner. This means that you can transfer Chase points directly to Hyatt. This is great news as several Chase credit cards will help you to earn the Hyatt points that you need.
Chase has 3 Ultimate Rewards cards in the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® card, and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. These cards earn Chase points with your spending that can then be transferred directly to Hyatt.
Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards
Marriott has 4 co-branded cards with each card focused on a different type of traveler.
| Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card - Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Get automatic silver elite status each account anniversary year; and a free night award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary. Plus, earn 6X points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, and 2X points per $1 on all other purchases. |
| Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card - Earn 50,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. Earn 3X points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, earn 2X on other travel purchases, then 1x on all other purchases. A solid card for Marriott loyalists looking for a no-annual-fee card offering Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. |
| Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card - earn 75,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. A solid card for business owners who will get complimentary Marriott Bonvoy silver elite status. Annual fee is $125. Terms Apply. For rates and fees of the Bonvoy Business Card, click here. |
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card - earn 75,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. Earn 6x per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels plus 3x at U.S. restaurants and flights booked directly with airlines. Annual fee is $450. Terms Apply. For rates and fees of the Bonvoy Brilliant card, click here. |
Marriott Bonvoy Award Chart
Mirroring what we are about to see with Hyatt, Marriott also has off-peak, standard, and peak pricing — and that’s where the similarities with Hyatt end.
As you’ll see, Marriott requires substantially more points than Hyatt, particularly at higher-tiered hotels.
| Marriott Bonvoy Award Chart | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Category | Off-Peak Points per Night | Standard Points per Night | Peak Points per Night |
| 1 | 5,000 | 7,500 | 10,000 |
| 2 | 10,000 | 12,500 | 15,000 |
| 3 | 15,000 | 17,500 | 20,000 |
| 4 | 20,000 | 25,000 | 30,000 |
| 5 | 30,000 | 35,000 | 40,000 |
| 6 | 40,000 | 50,000 | 60,000 |
| 7 | 50,000 | 60,000 | 70,000 |
| 8 | 70,000 | 85,000 | 100,000 |
Other Ways to Earn Marriott Points
Marriott credit card spending will likely be the easiest way to earn Marriott points. Another way to earn points is to stay at Marriott hotels. You’ll earn 10 points per $1 spent as a Marriott member and 10-75% bonus points depending upon your Marriott elite member tier.
You can also transfer American Express and Chase points to Marriott. However, we recommend that you transfer American Express and Chase points to their high-value airline (and hotel with Hyatt and Chase) partners instead.
IHG Rewards Club
IHG Rewards Club Credit Cards
IHG credit cards are issued by Chase and are subject to the Chase 5/24 rule. The 2 credit cards that are available to new applications are as follows:
| CREDIT CARD | CARD INFO |
|---|---|
IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card |
|
IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card |
|
IHG Rewards Club Award Chart
IHG doesn’t have an award chart on its website so we’ve created one below to reference. 13 IHG hotel categories range from 10,000-70,000 points per night.
When redeeming IHG points, there will be fixed award pricing similar to what you’ll see with Hyatt and Marriott. Hilton has opted for dynamic pricing with the number of points tied to the cash cost of the room.
| IHG Rewards Club Award Chart | |
| Category | Points per Night |
| 1 | 10,000 |
| 2 | 15,000 |
| 3 | 20,000 |
| 4 | 25,000 |
| 5 | 30,000 |
| 6 | 35,000 |
| 7 | 40,000 |
| 8 | 45,000 |
| 9 | 50,000 |
| 10 | 55,000 |
| 11 | 60,000 |
| 12 | 65,000 |
| 13 | 70,000 |
Other Ways to Earn IHG Rewards Club Points
Spending on IHG credit cards and staying at IHG hotels are the 2 easy ways to earn IHG points. You can also transfer Chase points directly to IHG. However, we do not recommend that you make this transfer. Instead, redeem Chase points with its more valuable airline and hotel partners.
Hilton Honors
Hilton Honors Credit Cards
Similar to Marriott, Hilton has an array of credit cards geared towards every type of traveler.
Hilton’s strategy for new credit card signups is to offer free weekend night certificates for a standard room. The cards that offer these certificates have annual fees, however, it’s easy to offset the fee with the certificate.
| CREDIT CARD | CARD INFO |
|---|---|
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card |
|
Hilton Honors American Express Card |
|
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card |
|
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card |
|
Hot Tip: We have an article comparing Amex Hilton Honors credit cards that’s great to check out if you want to learn more about these cards.
Hilton Honors Award Chart
As previously mentioned, Hilton does not use an award chart. The number of points required is instead tied to the cash cost of the hotel room.
One helpful way to see how many points you’ll need is the Points Explorer tool. Enter your destination in the Where do you want to go? search bar. Then enter the number of points that you have in the How many Points per night are you working with? scroll bar. Last, the search results will show you how many points you will need to book a hotel in that area.
Other Ways to Earn Hilton Honors Points
Earning Hilton points from its credit cards that offer 3x and 14x points in spending categories like airfare, grocery stores, Hilton purchases, and restaurants makes it easy to earn Hilton points.
You can also increase your Hilton balance by paying for cash stays at Hilton properties and taking Lyft rides. You can also transfer American Express points to Hilton.
Final Thoughts
You will not go wrong with using points to book any of the hotels on this list. As you can see, you will receive between 0.6-3.9 cents point per in value.
From a luxury hotel option in the Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, Washington, D.C. to a boutique option in the Graham Washington, D.C. Georgetown to more full-service Hyatt Place properties, you have plenty of hotel options for your next trip to “the District.”
Looking for more cities to book on points? Explore our best hotels to book with points in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, click here.
For rates and fees of Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of Hilton Honors American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, click here.
