Time’s running out to lock in reservations at more than 200 World of Hyatt properties.
Starting Tuesday, March 24, 214 hotels in the World of Hyatt portfolio will require more points.
Across the properties going up, there will be an average price increase of more than 5,000 World of Hyatt points … per night. That’s not great news, but there is still time to lock in redemptions at some of our favorite hotels before prices increase.
Related: Suddenly, my Hyatt free night certificates feel worthless
Our advice is to book now or forever hold your peace. You can lock in stays 13 months out (through April 2024) at the current award rates, and the vast majority allow free cancellations if your plans ultimately change.
To get you started, here are a few of our favorite hotels to consider before award prices increase.
Hotels going from Category 4 to 5
Unfortunately, there are many top properties that will soon be out of reach via free night certificates. These awards are given out in several ways, including via the World of Hyatt Credit Card or by reaching certain qualifying night thresholds during the year.
Here’s a partial list of those properties that will no longer be eligible.
- Andaz San Diego.
- Chicago Athletic Association.
- The Eliza Jane.
- Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico.
- Grand Hyatt Jeju.
- Grand Hyatt Seoul.
- Park Hyatt Saigon.
- Hyatt Regency Amsterdam.
- Thompson Madrid.
- Hyatt Place Moab.
- Hyatt House Naples/5th Avenue.
- Lahaina Shores Beach Resort, a Destination by Hyatt Residence.
Let’s take a closer look at three of these properties that represent particularly great value.
Andaz San Diego
Why you should stay there
Andaz San Diego is a nice property in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego, close to popular restaurants and a ton of nightlife. The rooms are contemporary, and the service is friendly and efficient from the front desk to the restaurant staff. There is a hopping rooftop bar with great views of the city.
What it’s going to cost
- The Andaz San Diego is going from Category 4 to Category 5. When these changes take effect, it will go out of range of a Category 4 award certificate.
- Award nights for standard rooms increase from 12,000-18,000 points per night to 17,000-23,000 points per night.
Chicago Athletic Association
Why you should stay there
Chicago Athletic Association is housed in a classic building — formerly an 1893-era private athletic club. The building may date to the late 19th century, but the rooms are refreshed and midcentury modern.
The central Chicago location is also a selling point, as the property sits near Millennium Park and the Art Institute of Chicago. It even has an on-site Shake Shack and a bocce ball court.
What it’s going to cost
- Chicago Athletic Association is going from Category 4 to Category 5. When these changes take effect, it will go out of range of a Category 4 award certificate.
- Award nights for standard rooms increase from 12,000-18,000 points per night to 17,000-23,000 points per night.
Related: Book this, not that in Chicago
The Eliza Jane
Why you should stay there
The Eliza Jane was a sweet spot for many looking to visit New Orleans as it was new, trendy, well-located, and still eligible for the Hyatt Category 1-4 award nights.
What it’s going to cost
- Eliza Jane is going from Category 4 to Category 5. When these changes take effect, it will go out of range of a Category 4 award certificate.
- Award nights for standard rooms increase from 12,000-18,000 points per night to 17,000-23,000 points per night.
Related: Here’s how to quickly stock up on Hyatt points for your next vacation
Hotels going from Category 7 to 8
Unfortunately, Hyatt is also making some properties out of reach for even its more exclusive free night certificates. Category 1-7 free night certificates are provided when you pass 60 elite nights and qualify for World of Hyatt Globalist status.
These properties are moving out of range of that valuable certificate:
- Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas.
- Carmel Valley Ranch.
- Hyatt Carmel Highlands, Overlooking Big Sur Coast & Highlands Inn, A Hyatt Residence Club.
- Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa.
- Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & Spa.
- Wentworth Mansion.
- The Lodge at Spruce Creek.
- Ksar Char-Bagh.
- Viceroy Bali.
- Hotel Gajoen Tokyo.
- Keemala.
- Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik.
- Hotel Martinez.
- Le Narcisse Blanc Hotel & Spa.
- Boheme Hotel.
- Mykonos Riviera Hotel & Spa.
- 7Pines Resort Sardinia.
- Ca’Sagredo Hotel.
- Grand Hotel Cocumella.
- La Villa del Re.
- Margutta 19.
- Villa Spalletti Trivelli.
- Boutique Hotel Villa Geba.
- El Lodge Ski and Spa.
- Nobu Hotel Marbella.
- Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola.
- Park Hyatt Zurich.
- Villa Orselina.
Park Hyatt Zurich
Why you should stay there
The Park Hyatt Zurich is a sleek and modern midrise in the heart of the financial capital of Zurich. The modern artwork hanging on nearly every hotel wall is worth a visit alone.
What it’s going to cost
- The Park Hyatt Zurich is going from Category 7 to Category 8. When these changes take effect, it will go out of range of Category 1-7 award certificates.
- Award nights for standard rooms increase from 25,000-35,000 points per night to 35,000-45,000 points per night.
Park Hyatt Beaver Creek
Why you should stay there
Park Hyatt Beaver Creek is a five-star option in essentially every way if you want a ski-out Colorado mountain vacation.
Standard rooms routinely cost over $1,000 per night during the peak ski season, so staying on points is a way to have a ski vacation that is as easy as stepping out onto the snow and being right next to the gondola without spending thousands of dollars on lodging.
Booking with points also means you get to skip the nightly resort fee, and those with Hyatt Globalist status luck out with saving on mountain prices for breakfast each day.
What it’s going to cost
- The Park Hyatt Beaver Creek is going from Category 7 to Category 8. When these changes take effect, it will go out of range of a Category 7 award certificate.
- Award nights for standard rooms increase from 25,000-35,000 points per night to 35,000-45,000 points per night.
- Expect ski season nights to be at the high end of that range.
Related: Review of the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek
Popular leisure and big-city destinations increasing
In addition to the painful number of properties climbing from Category 4 to 5 and Category 7 to 8, plenty of hotels are moving up other levels on the award chart. Many popular leisure resorts and busy city destinations will inch up from Category 6 to 7, meaning extra points for stays booked as of March 28, 2023.
Here’s a breakdown of some popular spots that you should strongly consider booking now before prices increase.
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa
Why you should stay there
Grand Hyatt Kauai is a large, lush Hawaiian resort in sunny Poipu. It has one of the best pool complexes you’ll find anywhere, with a 1 1/2-acre saltwater lagoon, 150-foot waterslide and multiple layers of pools for playing, sunning and swimming.
This hotel also has an above-average club lounge, so those who have or purchase access can save on some food costs by indulging there.
Standard rooms can cost close to $1,000 per night during peak times, making this a popular award redemption location.
What it’s going to cost
- The Grand Hyatt Kauai is going from Category 6 to Category 7.
- Award nights for standard rooms increase from 21,000-29,000 points per night to 25,000-35,000 points per night.
Related: Review of the Grand Hyatt Kauai
Andaz 5th Avenue
Why you should stay there
It’s hard to beat the location of the Andaz 5th Avenue, given its proximity not only to 5th Avenue but the New York Public Library, Bryant Park, Broadway and more. It’s close to almost everything without being too frantic of a location.
What it’s going to cost
- Andaz 5th Avenue is going from Category 6 to Category 7.
- Award nights for standard rooms increase from 21,000-29,000 points per night to 25,000-35,000 points per night.
Related: Review of the Andaz 5th Avenue
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa
Why you should stay there
The Hyatt Regency Maui offers an excellent location near Lahaina on Maui. It’s set on 40 acres on Kaanapali Beach and has a giant feature-filled swimming pool with a grotto bar, waterslide and bridge right next to the beach.
There are a total of 806 guest rooms and 31 suites, many with dramatic views of the ocean. This has traditionally been a great way to redeem World of Hyatt points (when available). However, cash prices have soared since the pandemic.
What it’s going to cost
- The Hyatt Regency Maui goes from Category 6 to Category 7.
- Award nights for standard rooms increase from 21,000-29,000 points per night to 25,000-35,000 points per night.
Related: A review of the Hyatt Regency Maui
Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino
Why you should stay there
The Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino has many amenities in a central location on the beach. On top of that, it has a large pool complex with a waterslide, activity pool and adults pool. Rooms are recently renovated, and as the name implies, there’s an on-site casino.
What it’s going to cost
- The Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino goes from Category 6 to Category 7.
- Award nights for standard rooms increase from 21,000-29,000 points per night to 25,000-35,000 points per night.
Grand Hyatt Vail
Why you should stay there
Grand Hyatt Vail is a full-service ski hotel without quite as high a price tag as the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek. That will still be true, but both are going up in award cost.
Right now, the maximum you’ll pay for mountain-adjacent lodging at the Grand Hyatt is just 29,000 Hyatt points per night, which is a great deal while you can lock it up.
This is not as ski-out as the Park Hyatt. However, during the heart of the season, an on-site ski lift will take you up the mountain, though you need to be an advanced beginner to an intermediate skier to traverse that terrain. In other words, you’ll still need to take the shuttle to ski school for new skiers.
What it’s going to cost
- The Grand Hyatt Vail is going from Category 6 to Category 7.
- Award nights for standard rooms increase from 21,000-29,000 points per night to 25,000-35,000 points per night.
- Expect standard rooms to fall at the top end of those ranges during much of the ski season.
Related: Guide to visiting Vail
All-inclusive resorts are going up
The all-inclusive resorts in the World of Hyatt program also took a hit. Some will go from costing 25,000 points per night for double occupancy to 40,000 points per night. Hyatt uses a letter system for all-inclusives instead of a numeric category.
Lots of properties are increasing one category (for example, from C to D), and some are going up two categories (C to E). Some of the popular all-inclusive resorts changing categories are:
- Zoetry Agua Punta Cana.
- Zoetry Casa del Mar Los Cabos.
- Zoetry Montego Bay Jamaica.
- Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana.
- Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana.
- Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall.
- Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall.
- Hyatt Ziva Cancun.
- Hyatt Zilara Cancun.
- Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos.
- Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta.
- Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica.
- Secrets Wild Orchid Montego Bay.
- Secrets St. James Montego Bay.
- Breathless Montego Bay Resort & Spa.
However, before locking in your stays, carefully review the cancellation policy. Many of these properties impose a $50 fee if you need to cancel — and most require this at least four days prior to arrival.
Related: These are the most luxurious all-inclusive resorts
Zoetry Agua Punta Cana
Why you should stay there
The Zoetry brand has multiple properties going up in award cost, including the Zoetry Agua Punta Cana, which is next to the water with multiple on-site restaurants and standard rooms that start at over 700 square feet.
What it’s going to cost
- Zoetry Agua Punta Cana is going from Category C to Category E (moving up two categories).
- Award nights for standard rooms increase from 25,000 to 40,000 World of Hyatt points per night.
Hyatt Ziva and Zilara Cap Cana
Why you should stay there
The Hyatt Ziva and Zilara Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic are side-by-side resorts, one dedicated to adults and the other for family travelers. There’s an on-site beach, pool and even a water park, making for a fun one-stop-shop resort.
What it’s going to cost
- The Hyatt Ziva and Zilara in Cap Cana are going from Category C to Category E (increasing two categories).
- Award nights for standard rooms increase from 25,000 to 40,000 World of Hyatt points per night.
Hyatt Zilara and Ziva Rose Hall
Why you should stay there
The Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall and the Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall are two of the best all-inclusives in Jamaica. They have been favorite redemptions for folks at TPG over the years, offering good value in a setting where food and drinks are included.
Between the two neighboring resorts (one is adults-only, one family-friendly), you’ll find multiple pools, beaches and lounge areas.
What it’s going to cost
- The Hyatt Zilara and Ziva Rose Hall in Montego Bay, Jamaica, are going from Category C to Category D.
- Award nights for standard rooms increase from 25,000 per night to 30,000 World of Hyatt points per night.
Bottom line
If you want to maximize your free night awards and World of Hyatt points at any of the 214 properties going up in price (view the full list), you should do it as soon as possible.
As mentioned, you can book future stays as far out as the calendar allows, typically 13 months. These changes go into effect for bookings made or modified on or after Tuesday, March 28.
Related reading:
- Everything you need to know about World of Hyatt
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- What is World of Hyatt elite status worth?
- Which credit cards offer the most lucrative rewards for hotel stays?
- The best hotel rewards programs in the world
- Best hotel credit cards
Additional reporting by Kyle Olsen.
