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Editor’s note: We’ve updated this post with new information.

Although its growing footprint still pales compared with Marriott and Hilton, Hyatt has earned a phenomenal reputation among value-seeking award travelers. It is easy to earn World of Hyatt points, and the Hyatt portfolio contains some of the most luxurious properties around the globe.

In this guide, we’ll look at how to maximize your redemptions with the World of Hyatt program.

Start at the top or the bottom

One appealing part of the World of Hyatt program is that you can find high-value redemptions throughout its award chart. But you’ll usually find the best redemptions at high-category and low-category properties.

Here’s a look at the current World of Hyatt award chart for standard rooms at most hotels (Hyatt’s all-inclusive properties use a different award chart):

You can easily earn World of Hyatt points by opening the World of Hyatt Credit Card. This card is currently offering a sign-up bonus of up to 60,000 points:

• 30,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening.
• Plus, up to 30,000 more bonus points by earning 2 bonus points total per dollar spent in the first six months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 bonus point per dollar spent (on up to $15,000 spent).

As you can see in the award chart, Category 1 awards on off-peak dates cost 3,500 points per night. So, you could redeem 60,000 points for an impressive 17 award nights at Category 1 Hyatt hotels like the Park Hyatt Chennai and the Hyatt Regency Kuantan Resort on off-peak dates.

Getting upward of two weeks of lodging out of a single credit card bonus is nice. But if you have your eyes set on a more luxurious getaway, Hyatt has you covered here as well.

Rooms at some of Hyatt’s top properties, like the Park Hyatt Sydney and Park Hyatt New York, can climb well over $1,000 during peak season. So, redeeming for a stay at a high-end property can be a surefire way to get high value from your points.

Related: The ultimate guide to redeeming Hyatt points

Upgrade paid stays

While we generally consider room upgrades as perks reserved for travelers with hotel elite status, World of Hyatt allows its members to upgrade eligible paid stays using points. Best of all, the upgrade cost is reasonable:

• Club room upgrade award: 3,000 points per night.
• Suite room upgrade award: 6,000 points per night.
• Premium suite room upgrade award: 9,000 points per night.

TPG values Hyatt points at 1.7 cents each, which makes 3,000 points worth about $51. There are plenty of Hyatt properties with club-level lounges where breakfast and other lounge benefits will provide more than $51 in value per night. So, this is an option you should consider if you don’t have Hyatt Globalist status or club lounge access awards to use.

Unfortunately, you must call Hyatt to begin the upgrade process if you’ve already booked an eligible paid rate. And you can’t upgrade with points at every Hyatt hotel. So, you may find it easier to upgrade your Hyatt stay with points online when booking.

While only certain paid rates are eligible to be upgraded, this can be a great strategy if suites and premium rooms are much more expensive than standard rooms.

Related: How to redeem Hyatt points for upgraded rooms and suites

Enjoy all-inclusive resorts

Another way to get more value out of your points is to use them at an all-inclusive resort. The Hyatt portfolio now includes 10 all-inclusive brands you can book using Hyatt points.

Award nights at Hyatt’s Miraval resorts include a $175 resort credit per person, gourmet dining, snacks, beverages, wellness activities, lectures and fitness classes. However, award nights at Miraval resorts follow a unique award chart that depends on the room type and the number of guests who will occupy the room. For a standard room with single occupancy, you’d need to redeem 40,000 points on off-peak dates, 45,000 points on standard dates and 50,000 points on peak dates.

Meanwhile, Hyatt’s other all-inclusive brands — including Hyatt Zilara, Hyatt Ziva, Secrets Resorts & Spas and Dreams Resorts & Spas — are part of Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection, which has yet another award chart. Here’s the award chart for standard rooms in the Inclusive Collection:

If you fret about breaking the vacation budget on dining, an all-inclusive Hyatt resort might be a great option to consider for your next getaway.

Related: TPG’s guide to the best all-inclusive resorts you can book with points

Transfer from Chase Ultimate Rewards

The World of Hyatt program has an undeniable mathematical advantage. As you can see above, Hyatt uses a relatively inexpensive award chart.

Hyatt hotels often cost fewer points than an equivalent Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors property would. As a result, TPG’s valuations peg the value of Hyatt points higher than Marriott and Hilton points. And this difference in value can give you a leg up on the transferable currency side.

Chase Ultimate Rewards allows you to transfer points to three hotel programs: World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy and IHG One Rewards. The transfer ratios are all the same (1:1). However, free nights at Hyatt properties frequently cost comparatively less than ones booked using Marriott or IHG points. As a result, transferring to Hyatt is one of the best ways to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for solid value.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers a lucrative sign-up bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. You could, for example, transfer these points to Hyatt and then use your newly minted Hyatt points for two off-peak or standard nights at a Category 7 hotel. Or, as previously discussed, you could spend more time in a city by leveraging the bargain Hyatt Category 1 award rates.

Related: Hyatt Prive: The little-known program that can score you upgrades, breakfast and other perks

Use Hyatt points to dodge resort fees

Unfortunately, resort fees are increasingly widespread, particularly in Hawaii and major U.S. cities. Luckily, Hyatt members receive waived resort fees when redeeming points (while still getting the resort fee’s benefits).

At hotels with resort fees of more than $50 per night (like the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort), waived resort fees can save you serious money. We recommend comparing the total cash rate with the total points rate when deciding whether to redeem Hyatt points.

Related: How I’m spending 1 million World of Hyatt points

Bottom line

The World of Hyatt program is easy to love thanks to its valuable and easy-to-earn points. Whether you’re a longtime Hyatt loyalist or a hotel free agent, you can find plenty of value in the World of Hyatt program. Make sure to leverage the extreme ends of the award chart, consider using your points to upgrade to a premium room and don’t overlook the value Hyatt’s all-inclusive hotels can offer.

And if you hold elite status with American Airlines or Hyatt, link your accounts to automatically earn extra rewards.

Additional reporting by Kyle Olsen.