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I’ve had some pretty good experiences with Hyatt points, even though the way they handled their recent Hyatt Diamond promo was a disaster. #jaded
Anyway, one can have a finite number of Chase cards, but I choose to renew the Chase Hyatt card year after year.
That’s because you get a free night certificate when you renew the card each year, and it’s good at Category 1 through 4 hotels. So obviously, I try to use them at Category 4 properties to get outsized value.
Last year, I gave my free night away to Jay’s grandparents for a night at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch (which is a Category 2), because the certificate was about to expire and it was their anniversary. Jay and I both have the Chase Hyatt card, so we gave them 2 nights at the hotel. They loved it!
I just renewed the card again and paid the $75 annual fee, so I thought I’d take a spin through the Category 4 hotel list to see where I might use the annual free night in 2016.
I found at least 6 hotels where you’ll recoup the annual fee 4x over… or more. It got me thinking.
Oh, and because these are all Category 4 hotels, you can also redeem 15,000 Hyatt points for a free night. In many cases, you’ll get over 4 cents per point in value!
In This Post
5 Hyatt hotels worth 4x or more than the annual fee on the Chase Hyatt card
- Link: Chase Hyatt card
- Link: Hyatt Category 4 hotels
The annual fee on the Chase Hyatt card is $75. So I aimed to get quadruple the value on that. All these hotels are $300+, with a couple being much more.
This card is worth keeping if only for the annual free night. Use it judiciously – it’s a great way to enhance a trip. Here are a few ideas on how to use it.
1. Grand Hyatt Washington
Maybe it’s time I transfer some Chase Ultimate Rewards points over to Amtrak (tomorrow’s the last day – December 7th!) and hop on a day train down to DC.
Nights at the Grand Hyatt Washington are ~$491 after taxes. It would be fun to go down in April to see the cherry blossoms and visit some of the incredible museums there.
If you paid in points, you’d get over 3 cents per point in value. Or, over 6x the cost of the Chase Hyatt card’s annual fee.
2. Hyatt Centric French Quarter New Orleans
The Hyatt Centric French Quarter New Orleans is seasonal. Really seasonal. Rates here can be either next to nothing, or through the roof.
You’ll obviously want to pull the trigger on the free night during the expensive periods, like when events are in town (Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, Southern Decadence).
I randomly pulled out a date in April 2016, and saw rates for ~$379 a night. Considering the Chase Hyatt card is $75 a year, that’s a great trade-off.
Plus, there are often fare deals to NOLA. If you want to go, it might be worth keeping your free night in case of a deal.
Here’s my review from when I stayed there last year.
FWIW, the Hyatt Regency New Orleans is also a Category 4, but it’s a little further from the Bourbon Street action. The Hyatt French Quarter New Orleans is a block and a half from Bourbon Street, and close to Magazine Street shopping, and the cute trolleys.
Depending on why you’re visiting, either are great option. Oh, here’s my review of the Hyatt Regency New Orleans, too. I loved the in-house bar there – great local craft beers!
3. Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa
I’m not a fan of Florida, really, but holy crap. Nights at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa are ~$604 after taxes!
That’s crazy.
The hotel is spread over 26 acres, and the grounds look gorgeous.
You’ll have a nice strip of beach and a few pools to choose from. Even I like a good pool.
It’s near Naples, so you can fly into Fort Myers and drive down.
Could be fun if you want to stop over on a road trip to see the Everglades, Fort Lauderdale/Miami, and the Keys. In any case, points, Points + cash, or the annual free night, you stand to have an excellent deal on your hands.
Hmmm… I’m kinda talkin’ myself into it!
4. Hyatt Regency Chicago
My heart is in Chicago. Man, I love that freaking city. I actually looked into buying a house there, but with all the taxes (income, property, and sales), I simply couldn’t justify it (I chose Dallas instead). But I am way overdue for a visit to the Windy City.
Rates at the Hyatt Regency Chicago are about $350 a night, and you’ll be walking distance to the Mag Mile, Red Line trains, buses, “The Bean,” and The Loop.
Writing about Chicago makes me superbly sentimental. But suffice it to say I won’t be there for the next few months. They can have the winter!
The dates I pulled are in May 2016. Chicago summers are resplendent. Go go go if you’ve never been.
5. Andaz Savannah
Ah, Savannah. You bewitching and mystical little city nestled on the Georgia coast. I’ve never know really what to think of Savannah, other than something great is definitely going on there.
Nights at the Andaz Savannah are almost $500. Because it’s an Andaz, and because it’s Savannah, I’d expect this property to be dripping with Southern hospitality with a funky twist.
I sometimes see cheap flights to Savannah on jetBlue on The Flight Deal (worth following them!), and one of these days I swear I’ll bit the bullet and visit again.
When I was there last, I loved the shops, food, and the layout of the city. It definitely has a certain feeling to it.
Combine this with a trip to Charleston further up the coast for a gastronomic tour of the “New South.”
Don’t expect beaches on the Georgia coast though – it’s surprisingly swampy. You’ll find more snakes and alligators than beaches, although you can find them if you look hard enough.
The willow trees are a testament to the moist climate. Try to visit in Spring or Fall if you can – summers there are hot hot hot.
Honorable mentions
- Park Hyatt Toronto
- Hyatt Regency Boston
- Grand Hyatt Melbourne (Here’s my review.)
- Grand Hyatt Berlin
- Hyatt at The Bellevue in Philadelphia
Can be good values, depending on time of year and your travel plans.
Bottom line
- Link: Chase Hyatt card
Wow, all of these hotels are in the US – didn’t plan on that!
I wasn’t sure where to add this in, but you still get 2 free nights at ANY Hyatt hotel when you open the Chase Hyatt card.
Other bloggers just love to dote on the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome, but I had a less-than-stellar experience there and wish I’d saved my 2 nights for somewhere else!
My favorite perk of the Chase Hyatt card is definitely the annual free night cert you can use at a Category 1 through Category 4 property.
I just renewed the card and am excited about the possibilities. Each hotel on this list is worth quadruple the card’s annual fee, or more.
Now I’m thinking about a day trip to DC in April…
Do you have a favorite Hyatt hotel to redeem your annual free night? Or does a hotel on the list stand out as being the #1 pick?
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The Andaz Papagayo should definitely be up there. I stayed there recently, and the location and service were incredible.
Ah, nice! Costa Rica FTW! Thank you!
You made a very good case of Hyatt visa benefits. For me free breakfast is one of the most important benefits as I am usually traveling with 4 people and that can make a big difference. Since I do not have a diamond status, I will not renew my card. I am one of the very few and extremely rare people who still see some juice in Hilton Hhonors despite massive devaluation. It is so easy to earn Gold status, free breakfast and earning points is not that difficult as is widely considered.
I love Hilton, too! Agreed – Hilton Gold elite status is great!
I still hang on to the Chase Hyatt card because the value can be so great. IMO, it’s worth keeping even if you only use the free night each year (same for the Chase IHG card). Even if you paid for breakfast for 4, you’d still come out way ahead. But of course, always do what’s best for you!
You missed the most expensive and nicest of all the cat 4 properties. Park City Utah especially during xmas when rates can be 700-800 a night some years.
Wow, awesome! Thanks for adding it to the list!
Thank you for the very helpful post!
You’re very welcome. Checking out your blog now!
I used it at MGM Grand in Las Vegas this year during the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight weekend . The night was going for over 1k . Not sure if anything can top that.
Holy crap, that’s awesome!
Hyatt Regency Tokyo is another option.
I love the Grand Hyatt Erawan in middle of Bangkok shopping district. Great new lounge for Diamonds and great property overall and the best staff. Stayed there for 1 week and felt awesome it was only a Category 4. Suites were 24,000 pts a night.
Wow, that’s awesome! Great tip!
We were able to use my 2 free nights (the sign-up bonus) at the Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall in Montego Bay, Jamaica for my 40th birthday– we stayed on the adults only side, and it’s all-inclusive! Incredible experience!!!
I wanna go there too! Glad you were able to stay there for free! 🙂
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There three good ones in Boston:
Hyatt Regency Boston (Downtown)
Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor (Next to airport but the other side (and restaurant) has a great view of skyline across the harbor)
Hyatt Regency Cambridge (also has a view of skyline across the Charles river)