How We’d Use 100,000 World of Hyatt Points

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say The World of Hyatt program is a favorite of many miles and points enthusiasts. With reasonable redemption rates, a co-branded credit card, and a partnership with Chase Ultimate Rewards, this should come as no surprise.

With so many fun ways to use Hyatt points it can almost be overwhelming. With that in mind, the 10xTravel team is going to share how they would use 100,000 Hyatt points to book some fun hotel stays to give you a little inspiration.

Now, let’s get into it!

Matt Brown

Hyatt points are hands down my favorite hotel loyalty currency. The World of Hyatt program has a reasonably priced award chart, and points are easy to earn since Hyatt is a transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards.

With 100,000 Hyatt points just waiting to be spent, I’m thinking a nice long weekend getaway is just what the doctor ordered. And I’ve got one destination in mind – Carmel, California.

Now, I bet I know what you think I’m going to choose – the nearby Alila Ventana Big Sur, the all inclusive Category 7 Hyatt property that costs 30,000 Hyatt Points per night, and regularly has cash rates exceeding $1,000, making it a terrific use of points.

Well, maybe. But I’ve actually got my eye on another property just up the road in Carmel – the Carmel Valley Ranch. This all-suites property in Carmel Valley is part of Hyatt’s Unbound Collection (similar to Marriott’s Luxury Collection). Pricing in as a Category 6 property, it runs 25,000 points per night at the standard rate, meaning I can spend four nights here with my allotment of Hyatt Points.

With cash rates regularly running $600-$700 per night and up, only needing 25,000 points per night for award stays makes this an excellent use of points.

This resort has spectacularly beautiful rooms, its own golf course, pools, three on-site restaurants, a vineyard and farm, and more across its 500-acres. Which sounds like the perfect place to unwind and disconnect for four days, especially when you take a look at the seemingly endless list of activities available. It’s a massive property that offers modern luxury amongst a rustic and idyllic setting, nested amongst big oaks, and rolling vineyards in the valley below.

If you somehow run out of activities to do during your 4 night stay, you’re just a short 10 minute drive from the quaint seaside town of Carmel-by-the-sea, and the famed Pebble Beach Golf Resort.

Carly Helfand

I’ve long had Oman on my bucket list thanks to its beautiful landscapes and architecture, but I tend to prioritize destinations that also have beautiful hotels that can be booked with points. While Muscat has some options in that department, because the destinations I’m interested in within Oman are spread across the northern part of the country, I’ve always thought having multiple bases from which to day trip would be ideal.

Enter Alila Hotels and Resorts, a brand that came under the World of Hyatt umbrella last year. Alila currently has one property in Oman, the Alila Jabal Akhdar, which is a stunning resort in Oman’s mountains that’s in striking distance from castles and forts, incredible stargazing and plenty of panoramic views.

The hotel’s cash rates can top $700, making it easily worth the 25,000 World of Hyatt points per night required to stay for free. With 100,000 World of Hyatt points, I’d definitely set aside at least half for a couple nights here!

What to do with the other half, you might ask? Alila has another resort in the works on the other side of the country, on the southern coast called the Alila Hinu Bay which is slated to open later this year. The resort will boast a private beach and feature two types of accommodation—pool villas and what it calls “ridge retreats.”

Hyatt isn’t currently letting you search for cash or points rates for the hotel on its site. But assuming Alila Hinu Bay will also be in the 25,000-points-per-night range (after all, Hyatt tops out at 30,000 points per night for most properties), I should be able to get a couple nights in using the remainder of my 100,000 points.

Anna Zaks

As soon as I saw the title of this article, two destinations immediately popped into my head: Italy and Turkey. And this, of course, will come as no surprise to anyone who knows me. These are my two absolutely favorite countries, and they are always on my mind. Hotel cash rates in Turkey are quite low, so I probably wouldn’t want to use Hyatt points there, so I immediately pulled a map of Italy on Hyatt’s website.

I haven’t yet been to southern Italy, and I’ve dreamed about visiting the southern region of Puglia for years. So if I had 100,000 Hyatt points suddenly fall in my lap, I’d redeem them for a four-night stay at Il Melograno in a little town of Monopoli (love the name!) on the Adriatic Sea.

The resort is a Category 6 hotel, and I’ll need 25,000 points a night to stay there. Four nights is a perfect amount of time for a first time visit to this part of Italy. Il Melograno is part of Small Luxury Hotels (SLH) collection and Hyatt members get the following benefits when staying at SLH properties:

• Complimentary continental breakfast for two
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Early check-in 12 p.m. (based on availability at check-in)
• Late check-out 2 p.m. (based on availability at check-in)
• One category room upgrade (based on availability at check-in)
• Nights count toward elite tier status

Il Melograno is a historic farmhouse turned luxury hotel nestled among ancient olive trees. I love historic properties that now offer all the modern comforts. I wouldn’t mind having my complimentary breakfast every morning on a beautiful shaded terrace, overlooking the sparkling blue pool.

As soon as we can travel to Europe again, I am definitely booking a trip to Italy!

Anya Kartashova

The World of Hyatt is a lucrative program for loyalty members, and it’s possible to get outstanding value from your points.

Although I’m not one who goes after the most lavish hotels, I’m one who goes after exotic destinations. Besides, a little luxury never hurt anyone. With that said, Park Hyatt Zanzibar provides both comfort and affordability in one. And by affordability, I don’t mean with money—cash rates here often hover in the $300 to $400 range.

Surprisingly, it’s a Category 4 property, and a standard night here goes for just 15,000 World of Hyatt points per night. Yes, a room at a Park Hyatt for just 15,000 points!

This property, originally an Omani-style palace in Stone Town, Zanzibar, hasn’t been on my radar, but now it definitely is. With 100,000 Hyatt points, I can stay there for six nights and have 10,000 left over. In theory, I could transfer another 5,000 Ultimate Rewards points from my Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and stay a whole week at this resort.

Additionally, a free night certificate issued every year with The World of Hyatt Credit Card can be used at this property.

The reason Park Hyatt Zanzibar seems appealing to me is the fact that it’s not your typical beach resort. The beach in front of it is public and attracts many locals. The town is also within walking distance, so a stay here would offer an opportunity to immerse myself in local culture rather than just sit on a beach in a remote area of the island.

Charlie Lewis

During these strange times when certain industries have significantly slowed or taken a break altogether, avid travelers have been offered a rare opportunity to save our points and miles rather than figure out how to spend them right away. While saving points is always an option, these are unprecedented days during which we actually can’t redeem them anywhere we’d like for the foreseeable future.

With that, we’re stuck in the dreaming and planning phase for a while. On the bright side, World of Hyatt members with a stash of points have had the chance to optimize our earning potential by making purchases and paying bills with the World of Hyatt credit card by Chase. Since we haven’t had much of a chance to spend those points this year, many of us have likely seen a decent increase in our respective stashes.

There are plenty of Hyatt properties available to US citizens right now, from the US to Mexico and the Caribbean, as far as southeast Asia, and even a few of the Adriatic states are letting us inside. But if I could do anything with a stash of 100,000 World of Hyatt points, I’d head to Portugal.

Hotel Infante Sagres

With a completely different vibe from the Portuguese capital, Porto is a magical port town – in more ways than one! Where Lisbon is vibrant, Porto is sophisticated; where Lisbon excites and stimulates, Porto relaxes and invites. Any time spent exploring Porto’s back alleys and cozy cafes is time very well stewarded.

If a short stint in Porto sounds like a good idea to you, then you’ll be glad to know that 100,000 World of Hyatt Points can get you a four-night stay at Hotel Infante Sagres. Ornate and luxurious, this stunning property is located in the heart of Porto city center. By comparison to the lobby and on-site restaurants, the rooms are intentionally minimalist and simplistic. Guests are encouraged to get out and explore the surrounding areas; there isn’t much to look at in your room, so you might as well go exploring!

Take a quick stroll south to the Ponte Luis I bridge and enjoy spectacular, colorful views as you cross the Douro River on foot. Cafes, pubs, and galleries are plentiful in the city center as well as famous bookstores, cathedrals, and great places to grab brunch.

For an intimate, quiet spot for delicious tapas and port wine tasting, head up to Arco-da-Velha. The folks at Arco-da-Velha are the friendliest people, offering a laid-back Portuguese family vibe and exper port wine-pairing advice for your evening meal.

If you are an aspiring artist at heart, visit Manuela at the Nu Creative Co-working art space. Under her expert instruction, you’ll paint a ceramic to be fired in her kiln and shipped back to your home, if you wish. The studio is tucked away in a cozy alley and offers a unique insight into Porto’s thriving art scene.

Hotel Infante Sagres is a prime home base for your Porto adventures, and as soon as the Portuguese border is safe to open, four nights at this property would be an excellent way to spend 100,000 World of Hyatt Points.

Final Thoughts

If one thing is clear, it’s that World of Hyatt points can help you book stays around the world. From the U.S. to Asia and everywhere in between, Hyatt has some amazing properties that are more than just a place to rest your head at night.

With Hyatt points so easy to earn via Chase Ultimate Rewards and The World of Hyatt Credit Card, you shouldn’t have any trouble earning the necessary points for your next stay.

You just have to figure out where to go!

How would you use 100,000 Hyatt points?