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The Chase Hyatt credit card offers one free anniversary award night each year at any category 1 through category 4 Hyatt hotel. The credit card comes with a $75 annual fee. I plan to keep the credit card, but only if I can find a worthwhile Hyatt to stay at to offset the annual fee. I decided to review the potential options and figure out the best Hyatt hotels to maximize my Hyatt free stay certificate.
Credit Card Anniversary Award Night Exclusions
Each year Chase issues one free award night on the date of your annual fee payment. The certificates expire 12 months after issuance. Hyatt has 7 hotel categories. The free night certificates are only valid for stays in the first 4 Hyatt hotel categories.
The certificates are valid at Mlife resorts as long as those properties are within the first 4 hotel categories. Hyatt Zilara and Hyatt Ziva properties are excluded.
Category Changes
It’s also important to be aware of changes in the hotel category levels. All major hotel loyalty programs make regular changes to the category levels of the hotel properties. Hotels in currently listed in category 4 could potentially become excluded if Hyatt re-classifies any of those properties to a category 5.
In 2016, Hyatt Award Chart Updates included 4 hotels that previously were listed as category 4 properties but were moved to category 5:
- Hyatt Centric Park City – Moved from a category 4 to category 5
- Hyatt Centric the Loop Chicago – Moved from a category 4 to category 5
- Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson – Moved from a category 4 to a category 5
- Hyatt Regency San Francisco – Moved from a category 4 to a category 5
The Hotel category changes weren’t all negative. Hyatt lowered 2 hotels from category 5 to category 4 and 1 hotel from a category 6 to a category 4, making them eligible for the free night award certificates:
- Hyatt Regency Sochi (Russia) – Moved from category 5 to category 4
- Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort – Moved from category 5 to category 4
- Hyatt Centric South Beach Miami – Moved from category 6 to category 4
The 2016 award changes were effective as of August 1, 2016.
Using the Free Night Certificate
I currently hold Hyatt Diamond status until the end of February 2017. Hyatt Diamond status has been excellent over the past year. I received some really good suite upgrades at very nice hotels. Some of the best suite upgrades included Park Hyatt New York City, Grand Hyatt Dubai, Grand Hyatt Singapore, Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi, Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi, and Hyatt Regency Dusseldforf Germany.
Unfortunately I didn’t meet the required stays to renew Hyatt Diamond status for 2017. So I plan to use the free night this year while I still have Diamond status. So what are my best options to maximize the Hyatt free night award?
In most cases, category 4 properties represent the most expensive hotels to use the free anniversary night. Since I plan to use the free night on a weekend night, I created a list of category 4 Hyatt hotels with a sample weekend rate and sorted the list by state. Before I get to the full list, I wanted to consider the possible hotel brands within category 4.
Hyatt category 4 hotels include 38 total options for US based Hyatt hotels:
- Grand Hyatt: 3 hotels
- Hyatt Regency: 17 hotels
- Hyatt Centric: 5 hotels
- Hyatt House: 1 hotel
- Hyatt Place: 6 hotels
- Hyatt / Andaz / Other: 6 hotels
Hyatt classifies the Grand Hyatt and Hyatt Regency brands as premium hotel properties. Andaz and Hyatt Centric are classified as Lifestyle hotel brands. Hyatt Place and Hyatt House are classified as modern essentials brands. In general, the Hyatt Place and Hyatt House brands represent the least expensive properties since they are not considered full service hotels.
Best Category 4 Hotels to Use the Certificate
The following list represents the top ten most expensive Hyatt properties based on a sample night rate for Saturday February 11, 2017.
| State | Hyatt | Points Cost | Weekend Cost 2/11/17 | Weekend Value per point |
| California | Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course | 15,000 | $699 | $0.0466 |
| California | Hyatt Centric Fisherman’s Wharf San Francisco | 15,000 | $484 | $0.0323 |
| Louisiana | Hyatt Centric French Quarter New Orleans | 15,000 | $469 | $0.0313 |
| Texas | Grand Hyatt DFW | 15,000 | $469 | $0.0313 |
| Florida | Hyatt Centric South Beach Miami | 15,000 | $390 | $0.0260 |
| Virginia | Hyatt House Virginia Beach | 15,000 | $389 | $0.0259 |
| Tennessee | Hyatt Place Nashville Downtown | 15,000 | $332 | $0.0221 |
| Texas | Hyatt Regency Austin | 15,000 | $329 | $0.0219 |
| Florida | Hyatt Place Marathon Florida Keys | 15,000 | $319 | $0.0213 |
| Utah | Hyatt Place Park City | 15,000 | $281 | $0.0187 |
It’s worth pointing out that even the least expensive Hyatt category 4 property, which was the Hyatt Regency Chicago and cost $129 per night, exceeds the $75 annual fee of the Chase Hyatt credit card. However, if you really want to maximize the value of the free night certificate, choosing one of the hotels above offers great value on your free night certificate.
All Category 4 Hotels
I’ve included the full list of Hyatt category 4 hotels below with the same sample date and sorted the list by individual state to make it easier to use.
California
| State | Hyatt | Points Cost | Weekend Cost 2/11/17 | Weekend Value per point |
| California | Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course | 15,000 | $699 | $0.0466 |
| California | Hyatt Centric Fisherman’s Wharf San Francisco | 15,000 | $484 | $0.0323 |
| California | Hyatt Centric Santa Barbara | 15,000 | $246 | $0.0164 |
| California | Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina | 15,000 | $216 | $0.0144 |
| California | Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine | 15,000 | $195 | $0.0130 |
Delaware
| State | Hyatt | Points Cost | Weekend Cost 2/11/17 | Weekend Value per point |
| Delaware | Hyatt Place Dewey Beach | 15,000 | $135 | $0.0090 |
Florida
| State | Hyatt | Points Cost | Weekend Cost 2/11/17 | Weekend Value per point |
| Florida | Hyatt Centric South Beach Miami | 15,000 | $390 | $0.0260 |
| Florida | Hyatt Place Marathon Florida Keys | 15,000 | $319 | $0.0213 |
| Florida | Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa | 15,000 | $270 | $0.0180 |
| Florida | Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress | 15,000 | $189 | $0.0126 |
| Florida | Hyatt Regency Orlando | 15,000 | $144 | $0.0096 |
Georgia
| State | Hyatt | Points Cost | Weekend Cost 2/11/17 | Weekend Value per point |
| Georgia | Andaz Savannah | 15,000 | $229 | $0.0153 |
Illinois
| State | Hyatt | Points Cost | Weekend Cost 2/11/17 | Weekend Value per point |
| Illinois | Hyatt Regency McCormick Place | 15,000 | $184 | $0.0123 |
| Illinois | Hyatt Place Chicago River North | 15,000 | $139 | $0.0093 |
| Illinois | Hyatt Regency Chicago | 15,000 | $129 | $0.0086 |
Louisiana
| State | Hyatt | Points Cost | Weekend Cost 2/11/17 | Weekend Value per point |
| Louisiana | Hyatt Centric French Quarter New Orleans | 15,000 | $469 | $0.0313 |
| Louisiana | Hyatt Regency New Orleans | 15,000 | $259 | $0.0173 |
Maryland
| State | Hyatt | Points Cost | Weekend Cost 2/11/17 | Weekend Value per point |
| Maryland | Hyatt Regency Baltimore Inner Harbor | 15,000 | $161 | $0.0107 |
Massachusetts
| State | Hyatt | Points Cost | Weekend Cost 2/11/17 | Weekend Value per point |
| Massachusetts | Hyatt Regency Boston | 15,000 | $225 | $0.0150 |
| Massachusetts | Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor | 15,000 | $144 | $0.0096 |
| Massachusetts | Hyatt Regency Cambridge | 15,000 | $139 | $0.0093 |
Nevada
| State | Hyatt | Points Cost | Weekend Cost 2/11/17 | Weekend Value per point |
| Nevada | Monte Carlo | 15,000 | $179 | $0.0119 |
| Nevada | MGM Grand | 15,000 | $175 | $0.0117 |
| Nevada | New York New York | 15,000 | $175 | $0.0117 |
New Mexico
| State | Hyatt | Points Cost | Weekend Cost 2/11/17 | Weekend Value per point |
| New Mexico | Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa | 15,000 | $153 | $0.0102 |
Pennsylvania
| State | Hyatt | Points Cost | Weekend Cost 2/11/17 | Weekend Value per point |
| Pennsylvania | Hyatt at the Bellevue | 15,000 | $190 | $0.0127 |
Tennessee
| State | Hyatt | Points Cost | Weekend Cost 2/11/17 | Weekend Value per point |
| Tennessee | Hyatt Place Nashville Downtown | 15,000 | $332 | $0.0221 |
Texas
| State | Hyatt | Points Cost | Weekend Cost 2/11/17 | Weekend Value per point |
| Texas | Grand Hyatt DFW | 15,000 | $469 | $0.0313 |
| Texas | Hyatt Regency Austin | 15,000 | $329 | $0.0219 |
| Texas | Hyatt Place Austin Downtown | 15,000 | $247 | $0.0165 |
| Texas | Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa | 15,000 | $221 | $0.0147 |
| Texas | Hyatt Centric the Woodlands | 15,000 | $199 | $0.0133 |
Utah
| State | Hyatt | Points Cost | Weekend Cost 2/11/17 | Weekend Value per point |
| Utah | Hyatt Place Park City | 15,000 | $281 | $0.0187 |
Virginia
| State | Hyatt | Points Cost | Weekend Cost 2/11/17 | Weekend Value per point |
| Virginia | Hyatt House Virginia Beach | 15,000 | $389 | $0.0259 |
*Opens in May 2017, reservation from 7/8/17.
Washington State
| State | Hyatt | Points Cost | Weekend Cost 2/11/17 | Weekend Value per point |
| Washington | Hyatt at Olive 8 | 15,000 | $190 | $0.0127 |
| Washington | Grand Hyatt Seattle | 15,000 | $180 | $0.0120 |
Washington DC
| State | Hyatt | Points Cost | Weekend Cost 2/11/17 | Weekend Value per point |
| Washington DC | Grand Hyatt Washington | 15,000 | $199 | $0.0133 |
| Washington DC | Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill | 15,000 | $189 | $0.0126 |
Thanks for the list exactly what I was looking forward. But just to clarify Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course I ended up paying $179 (plus tax and resort fees) for the weekend of 2/11. I did book the second week of Feb after the ridiculous price in Carmel/Monterey went down. The Pebble Beach Open was that week and weekend and the hotels had exaggerated prices for months.
Fishermans Ward is $599 for a saturday stay in june right now. really depends on what is going on around town for a lot of these prices.
Your exactly right about the price changes. The list is a good guide as to what the best values are, but seasonal and event specific factors can lead to big price changes for short periods of time that can skew the results.