Just last week, Hyatt raised award rates at 118 properties around the globe – meaning they now cost more World of Hyatt points (or transferrable Chase points) than they did just a few days ago.
That alone is unwelcome news, but to make matters worse, many of the properties that moved up went from Category 4 to Category 5, making it much harder to use the annual Category 1-4 free night certificate that comes with the World of Hyatt Credit Card (for full disclosure, this is not an affiliate link). You can also earn these free night certificates by spending $15,000 in a calendar year on your card, staying 30 nights per year with Hyatt, or through Hyatt's novel Brand Explorer program.
It's clear these moves are meant to make it harder for Hyatt loyalists to use this benefit to score a bargain at all but the lowest-tier hotels, with several favorites like the Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin and Hyatt Regency Tokyo now out of reach.
But there are still plenty of worthwhile properties from Europe to Asia, and even right here in the U.S., where you can use your free nights. You just have to know where to look…
Here's the scoop on some of the best properties you can book with a Hyatt free-night certificate.
How to Use Your Hyatt Free Night Certificate
Before we get into our list of best properties, you'll need to know how to book them using one of these free night awards. Once you are logged into your World of Hyatt online account, head to the “My Account” section. From there, you can find any free night award certificates you have available under the “My Awards” tab.
Once you are ready to use your Hyatt free night certificate, click on the “Explore Hotels” button within the “My Awards” section of your account and search for the property you want to use your certificate at.
Once you search your dates, make sure that you toggle the “View Points” option. You won't see the ability to book your free night award if you are looking at cash rates. So long as you plan to checkout before the expiration date of your certificate, you should see it as a booking option.
Unfortunately, there isn't a way to combine your free night award certificate reservation with additional nights. That's true whether you are booking with cash or points. In our experience, the easiest way to handle this is to book it as separate reservations, and message the hotel prior to your arrival, asking if they can merge them into one booking. If you can't find an easy way to contact the hotel directly, you can call Hyatt instead, or ask at check-in.
Best Hyatt Category 1-4 Hotels
Park Hyatt Doha
Park Hyatt is the hotel chain's top brand, known for its luxury finishes, personalized service, and high-end amenities. Having said that, it's probably no surprise that most Park Hyatt's are priced out of reach for all but the most affluent travelers … or those with a large stash of points.
Fortunately, the Park Hyatt Doha is an exception. This hotel is one of just a handful of budget-friendly Park Hyatt's around the world – whether using points or cash. And the good news is, this one actually dropped in price with Hyatt's latest award chart reshuffling, making it possible to use a Category 1-4 free night award.
Although you won't get incredibly outsized value using your certificate here – paid nights typically go for $200 or less – it's still a great way to check out Hyatt's top brand.
Thrifty Tip: Planning to fly Qatar Airways vaunted Qsuites business class? Consider building in a stopover in Doha (DOH) and make use of your free night award in the process! Doha is a great destination for a quick, one-night stopover.
Andaz Mexico City Condesa
Another great option, closer to home, is to use of your free night award at the Andaz Mexico City Condesa. This Category 4 property typically goes for upwards of $300, or even $400 per night, making it great value.
We stayed here last fall and found this property to be both an unbelievable value for your points and a fun, luxurious hotel smack dab in the middle of two of Mexico City's best neighborhoods. Considering Andaz is among one of Hyatt's top brands, you would be remiss not to grab a night here in Mexico City for a bargain on your next trip.
Hyatt Regency Lisbon
Maybe Europe is more of your cup of tea. Consider staying at the Hyatt Regency Lisbon the next time you're in Portugal. The hotel overlooks the Tagus River and is just a short 5-minute drive from downtown Lisbon.
Thrifty Tip: Be sure to grab a pastéis de nata (or two!) at Pastéis de Belém, just a short 15-minute walk from the hotel. Pastéis de Belém is said to use the original recipe for these creamy custard tarts and have been cranking them out by the thousands every day since 1837.
Every one of the 204 rooms at the Hyatt Regency Lisbon is equipped with a balcony, and the property is located near attractions like the Lisbon Congress Centre, Belém Tower, and many other historical landmarks and museums.
Instead of spending upwards of $300 (or from 12,000 points) per night, you could redeem your free night certificates instead. And with that kind of value … you should!
Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere
Or if you're visiting Austria, you could stay at the Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere. This is a Category 3 Hyatt, but it regularly charges $200-plus per night.
Located a just a few blocks away from Belvedere Palace and other attractions, rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the surrounding neighborhood, Arsenal military complex, and Quartier Belvedere railway station.
Andaz Savannah
Located in the city of Savannah, Georgia, the Andaz Savannah is another great use of a Hyatt free night award. With cash rates typically $200 to $400 range, you can save big by using a free night instead.
This hotel is located in the heart of downtown Savannah's historic district on the lively Ellis Square. It gets high marks for blending southern hospitality with modern luxury – and its outdoor pool is a great way to beat the Georgia heat.
Dream South Beach
Another hotel that just got cheaper is Dream South Beach in Miami. If you're in dire need of some Vitamin D, you could use your free night certificate here to lounge under the Florida sun. Nights here typically run $200-plus, making it a solid option for your free night award.
Back in 2023, Hyatt acquired Dream Hotel Group, moving the small, but prominent, hotel chain under the Hyatt umbrella. If you're unfamiliar with Dream properties, they have more of a party-vibe than your typical hotel – just what you'd expect when visiting South Beach.
Thompson Washington D.C.
Planning a trip to our nation's capital? Hotels can be expensive in Washington D.C., but the Thompson Washington D.C. bucks that trend … at least when using points or free night awards. As a Category 4 property, this is one of the best Hyatt's to put your free night to use.
Considering cash prices rarely dip below $200 per night, and sometimes flirt with $500 (or more), using a free night here could make for a great value.
The hotel is located near D.C.'s Navy Yard, right by National's Park baseball stadium. With easy public transit options, you can check off all the must-see sites in D.C. with ease.
Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach
After booking flights, hotels are the next big expense of any trip to Hawaii. Actually, flights might be the cheap part – just ask our Thrifty Traveler Premium members, we regularly find and send deals to Hawaii for less than $400 roundtrip!
One of our favorite places for a reasonably-priced stay in Honolulu is the Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach. But the key is too book with points – or a Hyatt free night award – instead of cash. Considering cash rates regularly run $300 per night, using a free night award here is a great deal.
It's a Hyatt Place, so don't expect luxury finishes and high-end service like you'll find at a Park Hyatt or Andaz, but it's located in the heart of Waikiki and is just a short walk to the beach. All guests get free breakfast at Hyatt Place hotels so that's another nice perk of staying here – and unlike many other hotels in the area, the rooms are quite large.
This hotel is a solid choice for any family heading to Oahu, and makes for a great use of a Hyatt free night award.
Booking cheap flights to Hawaii is only half the battle. Here are our best tips to save on lodging!
Hyatt House at Anaheim Resort/Convention Center
Need an easy place to stay while visiting Disneyland with the family? Hyatt House at Anaheim Resort/Convention Center is a great option for you to redeem your Hyatt free night certificates.
It'll typically run you $200 to $300 a night if paying cash. Ouch! But luckily, it's a Category 4 Hyatt, making it eligible for these free night certificates. Much like the Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach, you shouldn't expect a lot of bells and whistles, but free breakfast and spacious rooms can help make up for it – especially for families heading to Disney!
Hyatt Regency Sydney
While it's not the iconic Park Hyatt Sydney, the Hyatt Regency Sydney is still in a great location and a great option for your Category 1-4 free night certificate.
Hyatt Regency is more of a mid-tier hotel brand with some upscale finishes and most include an onsite bar and restaurant.
The property is located adjacent to Darling Harbour, and is one of the largest hotels in Sydney, with a total of 888 guest rooms. A night here can easily run $300 to $400, making it a great value for your free night award.
Hyatt Regency Tokyo Bay
While it's far from all the action Tokyo is known for, the Hyatt Regency Tokyo Bay is still a decent option to consider on your next trip to Japan. Considering some longtime favorites like the Hyatt Regency and Hyatt House Tokyo Shibuya moved from Category 4 to Category 5, the Hyatt Regency Tokyo Bay is your best bet for a budget stay these days.
Given its location, you might need to do a little more walking than usual, but it's close to public transportation, Tokyo Disney, and even offers a free shuttle bus!
Grand Hyatt Jeju
Seoul is a great city, but it's time to venture out to other parts of South Korea. Booking a stay Grand Hyatt Jeju, located on the country's biggest island, past its southern coast, is the perfect place to start.
Nights here typically cost $200 to $300, but just like a couple others on our list, it actually dropped from Category 5 to Category 4 last week. That makes this property the perfect option for burning your free night award.
The Grand Hyatt Jeju is billed as a five-star luxury hotel and features the city's largest outdoor deck, complete with a rooftop infinity pool.
Bottom Line
Although Hyatt has made it harder to get good value out of its once-valuable Category 1-4 free night awards, there are still plenty of worthy hotels on our list. You just need to know where to look.
All photos courtesy of Hyatt