When people argue about which hotel points are “most valuable,” they usually default to comparing cents per point on aspirational redemptions. But that misses the bigger story.
It’s no exaggeration to say that World of Hyatt points are easily the most valuable hotel currency. Compared to Hilton, Marriott, or IHG, Hyatt points simply get you more — whether that’s a top-tier resort, a stylish city hotel, or a practical overnight stay. Other programs often require 80,000–200,000 points a night for the same kind of property you can book with Hyatt for 15,000–40,000 points. That gap is where Hyatt really shines.
Most experts peg Hyatt points at about 1.5–2 cents each in value, but in our experience, we’ve often gotten much more — sometimes 4 cents per point or higher.
In this post, I’ll show you how our own stays (from New York to Vietnam) illustrate why Hyatt is our top pick for hotel currency versatility.
Aspirational Properties: Dream Stays That Still Feel “Worth It”
One of our most unforgettable stays was at the Grand Hyatt Kauai — lush grounds, incredible service, and that “you’re really somewhere special” feeling. Even now, though it’s one of Hyatt’s top-tier properties, we’d happily spend points to go back.
Hyatt’s luxury brands — Park Hyatt, Alila, and Miraval — compete with the best in the world. Yet, their award ceilings remain lower than those of many comparable redemptions with Marriott or Hilton. Miraval resorts and Hyatt’s all-inclusive properties use their own award charts, which cost more points than standard Hyatt hotels, but they still generally require fewer points than what you’d spend for an equivalent luxury or all-inclusive stay with Hilton, IHG, or Marriott.
Big City Stays: Getting Value Where You Need It
In New York City, we stayed at The Grayson, Hyatt Unbound. Cash rates at similar hotels in the area can be $500 or more, but award nights here cost 25,000 World of Hyatt points. That’s solid value for a prime location one block from Bryant Park with views of the Empire State Building.
Utilitarian / Mid-Tier Redemptions: Points That Work When You Just Need a Bed
We’ve also used Hyatt points for stays that weren’t glamorous but were still exceptional value thanks to Hyatt’s fixed categories. Two of our favorite examples:
- Hyatt Place Buffalo/Amherst — weekend rates were inflated, but using points gave us ~4 cents per point in value.
- Hyatt Place Fort Worth – Stockyards — another ~4 cpp redemption when cash rates spiked.
These examples show that even “everyday” Hyatt Places can sometimes outperform expectations, especially during peak demand periods.
Airport Hotels: Convenience + Comfort in High-Demand Spots
Hyatt also shines with its airport properties, which are often more than just “a bed before a flight.”
- Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport — a resort-like feel inside the terminal.
- Hyatt Regency DFW — great value (compared to the Grand Hyatt DFW) and also located on the airport grounds.
- Grand Hyatt SFO — often considered one of the best airport hotels in the U.S., with luxury touches and direct airport access.
All-Inclusive Options: Stretching Points with Bundled Value
Hyatt’s expansion into Ziva/Zilara, Dreams, and Secrets resorts adds another redemption angle. Using points at an all-inclusive means your stay covers meals, drinks, and activities — all bundled in — making redemptions stretch further than at standard properties.
International Sweet Spots: The Real “Stretch” Value of Hyatt
Outside the U.S. and Western Europe, Hyatt categories often lag behind the real-world value of the properties:
- Hyatt Regency Danang — a beachfront resort that would be 2–3 categories higher if it were in the U.S.
- Park Hyatt Saigon — luxury and elegance at a redemption level that feels like a steal compared to Paris, Tokyo, or New York.
Why Hyatt Points Hold Their Value
Another reason Hyatt points are so valuable is that they’re not particularly easy to earn. Compared to Marriott or Hilton, Hyatt has limited transfer partners (with Chase Ultimate Rewards being the main one), and you’ll only earn moderate amounts from hotel stays or co-branded card spend. Even Hyatt’s own credit cards only provide Discoverist status, with higher elite tiers like Globalist requiring real hotel nights — or a lot of credit card spend. That scarcity keeps Hyatt’s award chart meaningful and prevents the kind of inflation you see in other programs where points are handed out more freely.
Final Thought
Hyatt points don’t win just because of the occasional luxury redemption (though that’s a big draw). They win because they consistently deliver across all use cases:
- Big splurges like Grand Hyatt Kauai
- City stays like The Grayson in NYC
- Mid-tier redemptions in Buffalo or Fort Worth
- Airport convenience + quality in Orlando, DFW, SFO
- Bundled value stays at all-inclusives
- International bargains in places like Danang or Saigon
And because they’re harder to earn, each Hyatt point you do have tends to feel more valuable — and stretch further — than competing currencies.
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1 comment
Couldn’t agree more, so Hyatt has become my go to even though I have other hotel chain status. Hyatt is the only hotel chain to consistently deliver on their promises.