Hyatt sent travelers with plans to book their hotels scrambling late last month, unveiling its latest round of award chart changes at nearly 200 properties worldwide: Some will go down in cost when redeeming points, while many are going up.
It's an annual ritual for Hyatt, but that doesn't mean it feels good. In all, 183 hotels are changing award categories: 137 properties are moving up to a higher category and therefore will require more World of Hyatt points (or transferrable Chase points) to book a free night while just 46 properties are moving down – requiring fewer points to book a free night stay.
Time is running out to take advantage before these changes take effect: The new award rates are set to kick in at 8 a.m. CST this Tuesday, March 26. That means you've got just hours remaining to book dozens of Hyatt properties before they'll cost you more points – for a stay as far out as March 2025.
While there are more than 130 Hyatt properties that will soon go up in price, here are some of the most valuable hotels and resorts you might want to book ASAP.
Hyatt's All-Inclusive Resorts
For years, booking all-inclusive resorts has been one of the best ways to get the most bang for your buck – or Hyatt points, that is. Hyatt's Inclusive Collection is better than what you can book with almost any other hotel chain … and the list of properties just keeps growing.
But the rates to book those resorts keep going up and up as well. In all, 13 all-inclusive resorts will be moving up on the award chart – and thus in price – come March 26.
At the top of the list is the brand-new Secrets Tulum Resort and Beach Club, which just opened in the bursting Mexico seaside town in October. Currently, you can book a stay for 20,000 points per night – give or take a few thousand, based on Hyatt's peak- and off-peak pricing. Next week, that same stay will cost you 30,000 points per night.Â
It's one of the biggest jumps on the entire list. But it's just the tip of the iceberg.
The Hyatt Ziva and Zilara Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic is widely regarded as one of Hyatt's best resorts, period. So go figure it's taking a hit: Standard award nights that are currently bookable for 40,000 points per night will soon go up to a whopping 50,000 points per night.Â
Ouch. Consider this: For years, you could book this property for just 25,000 points a night. In the span of just a few years, that cost has doubled.
The family-friendly Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta has long been one of the most budget-friendly options on Hyatt's list, but that's going up, too. Once these increases kick in next week, it'll cost you 30,000 points for a standard award night – up from the current 25,000 rate.
Finally, if a trip to Jamaica is in the cards for the next year or so, you'd be wise to book the Hyatt Ziva and Zilara Rose Hall soon. Its 30,000-point-per-night rate will increase to 40,000 points per night next week as well.
If you're on the hunt for a good all-inclusive resort this year or next but none of these tickle your fancy, here's the entire list. If you're eyeing one of the few properties set to go down in price, there's no need to wait: Hyatt will simply refund the difference once these changes go into effect.
| Property Name | Current Category | Current Points Per Night | New Category | New Points Per Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dreams Calvia Mallorca | B | 20,000 | A | 15,000 |
| AluaSoul Ibiza | A | 15,000 | B | 20,000 |
| Alua Soul Menorca | A | 15,000 | B | 20,000 |
| AluaSoul Mallorca Resort | A | 15,000 | B | 20,000 |
| Secrets St. Martin Resort & Spa | D | 30,000 | C | 25,000 |
| Secrets Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort | C | 25,000 | D | 30,000 |
| Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta | C | 25,000 | D | 30,000 |
| Secrets Tulum Resort and Beach Club | B | 20,000 | D | 30,000 |
| Secrets Mallorca Villamil Resort | C | 25,000 | D | 30,000 |
| Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall | D | 30,000 | E | 40,000 |
| Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall | D | 30,000 | E | 40,000 |
| Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos | D | 30,000 | E | 40,000 |
| Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana | E | 40,000 | F | 50,000 |
| Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana | E | 40,000 | F | 50,000 |
| Hyatt Ziva Cancun | E | 40,000 | F | 50,000 |
Read more: Is There Any Value Left at Hyatt's All-Inclusive Properties?
Park Hyatts Around the Globe
Park Hyatt is the hotel chain's cream of the crop. In cities big and small, near or far, they're often some of the best properties, period.
So when award rates go up at a Park Hyatt, it hurts. And plenty are on the move again this year.
The Park Hyatt Auckland is an incredible hotel in New Zealand's largest city – and it's an absolute bargain at 20,000 points per night. But you'll want to book your stay ASAP before those award rates increase to 25,000 points per night.
The snazzy Park Hyatt Istanbul – with its Saltbae restaurant and all – and the seaside Park Hyatt Zanzibar will both see identical increases. Book now to save 5,000 points per night!
Closer to home, the Park Hyatt Washington, D.C. – with its perfect location in the West End – is set to jump from 20,000 to 25,000 points per night for a standard award stay.
Even some of the cheapest Park Hyatts around the world are taking a hit. That includes the Park Hyatt Siem Reap for a trip to see Angkor Wat in Cambodia and the Park Hyatt Mendoza in Argentinian wine country. Both properties will soon cost 15,000 points per night for a standard award stay, up from the current 12,000-a-night rate.
Hotels You Can Use a Free Night Certificate At … For Now
If you've got a World of Hyatt Credit Card, that means you've got a free night award to use each year upon renewal. Same goes if you've stayed at five-plus different Hyatt brands, earning a free night thanks to Hyatt Brand Explorer.
But those free nights are only eligible to use at a Hyatt Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort each year, so some of these award chart changes really sting. That change also means these properties jump from 15,000 to 20,000 points per night for a standard stay. And the list is long: 19 properties long, to be precise. Take a look:
| Property Name | Current Category | Current Points Per Night | New Category | New Points Per Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego | 4 | 15,000 | 5 | 20,000 |
| Hyatt Regency Washington | 4 | 15,000 | 5 | 20,000 |
| Grand Hyatt Washington | 4 | 15,000 | 5 | 20,000 |
| Hyatt House Washington DC / The Wharf | 4 | 15,000 | 5 | 20,000 |
| Hyatt Place Panama City Beach / Beachfront | 4 | 15,000 | 5 | 20,000 |
| Hyatt House Augusta Downtown | 4 | 15,000 | 5 | 20,000 |
| Hyatt Place Athens Downtown | 4 | 15,000 | 5 | 20,000 |
| Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach | 4 | 15,000 | 5 | 20,000 |
| Thompson Chicago | 4 | 15,000 | 5 | 20,000 |
| Hyatt Regency Boston / Cambridge | 4 | 15,000 | 5 | 20,000 |
| Hyatt Centric The Woodlands | 4 | 15,000 | 5 | 20,000 |
| Hyatt Regency Changbaishan | 4 | 15,000 | 5 | 20,000 |
| Hyatt Regency Dharamshala Resort | 4 | 15,000 | 5 | 20,000 |
| Alila Fort Bishangarh | 4 | 15,000 | 5 | 20,000 |
| Andaz Bali | 4 | 15,000 | 5 | 20,000 |
| Hyatt Regency Dusseldorf | 4 | 15,000 | 5 | 20,000 |
| The Wellem Dusseldorf | 4 | 15,000 | 5 | 20,000 |
| Hyatt Centric Milan Centrale | 4 | 15,000 | 5 | 20,000 |
| The Tribune, part of JdV by Hyatt | 4 | 15,000 | 5 | 20,000 |
A few of these stick out more than others:
- The Thompson Chicago is a great spot to make your HQ for your next trip to the Windy City
- If you're heading to D.C. and have a free night award to burn, a trio of properties will soon move up:Â Hyatt Regency Washington, Grand Hyatt Washington, and Hyatt House Washington D.C. / The Wharf
- Heading for Honolulu? The Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach is in a great location and a great way to use these free night rewards
- Rome this year or next? The Tribune Hotel, a boutique Hyatt property, will also soon be ineligible
- Same goes for the Hyatt Centric Milan Centrale, located just a few blocks from Milan's Central Station
- The Andaz Bali is a relatively new option on Indonesia's hottest island – and in a great location on the beaches of Sanur, too
- Want to do something really cool with your Hyatt free night on a trip to India? Book the Alila Fort Bishangarh in Rajasthan – it's literally a converted warrior fort
Other Standouts to Book ASAP
We did our best to categorize these must-book-soon Hyatt hotels. Here's the rest.
The Andaz Capital Gate Abu Dhabi is one of the best bargains in the Middle East, if you ask me. Why not book now for 8,000 points per night … before it jumps to 12,000 points per night?
If you're heading for the rainforests of Bali, you can't beat the Alila Ubud – especially if you book now, for just 8,000 points per night. That property, too, will soon increase to 12,000 points a night for a standard stay.
In Europe, the Thompson Madrid has been at the top of my list ever since it opened in the fall of 2022. For a hotel that typically costs $500 a night or more, it's a bargain at 20,000 Hyatt points for a standard stay. Soon, though, that increases to 25,000 points a night.
The Andaz Costa Rica Peninsula Papagayo has been a fan-favorite for winter getaways among Hyatt aficionados for years … so much so that it's increasing in price yet again. Today, you can book a standard stay for 25,000 points a night. In a week, it'll cost you 30,000 points nightly.
Finally, I'm still kicking myself for not making the trek up to the Alila Jabal Akhdar on my last trip to Oman. Perched up in the mountains outside of Muscat, it sure looks like the perfect blend of rustic luxury. You can book now for 25,000 Hyatt points a night – soon, that jumps to 30,000 points.
Bottom Line
It's time to get looking and booking, Hyatt fans.
Come Tuesday morning, more than 100 Hyatt properties near and far will cost you more points than they do today. But since Hyatt lets you book its hotels a year or so in advance, you've got a narrow (but critical) window to lock something in for as far out as March 2025 … before it costs you more points for a free night. Don't let this time go to waste!
All photos courtesy of Hyatt