Hyatt Gold Passport - Chase UR: Best Hyatt redemption options

I'm a longtime lurker, first-time poster. I apologize in advance if I've missed a similar thread.

I've been a novice points/cash-back collector for awhile now, but recently read about the Chase Freedom/Sapphire Preferred/Ink Bold/Checking combination and took the plunge. I signed both myself and my wife up for the CSP card (100k total pts) and as probably all of you know, paired with the Freedom/Checking/Ink Bold we're now racking up points fairly quickly.

From what I've read, depending on the specific trip you take, it sounds like you get the most value by transferring your points to United/Hyatt if possible. I'd like to hear what opinions people have on what the best redemption options are for Hyatt. Referencing the Hyatt Gold Passport Free Night (http://www.hyatt.com/gp/en/awards/hyatt_free_night.jsp) page, I realize 22k points will get me a free night in the Maldives (http://maldives.hadahaa.park.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp?null), Tokyo (http://tokyo.park.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp?null), Paris (http://paris.vendome.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp?null), etc. However, only 12k points will get me a free night in Waikiki, Hawaii (http://waikiki.place.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/place/index.jsp) which sounds far more doable than a trip to the Maldives, regardless of how enticing it sounds. According to some trip reports I've read, food for a single day in the Maldives can be upward of $200-300. Obviously, there will be more food/activity options in Hawaii than in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

With all that said, I'd like to hear what people's favorite redemption options are. I realize there's no one "correct" answer - I'm just looking to get an idea of how people have used their points, or what they see as some potentially high-value redemption options.

Thanks in advance!

Talk to me in about 2 weeks! I just booked a Passport Escapes 5 night trip to the Vendome for next week. Since I'm a mere Plat and would not get breakfast otherwise, with the PE, my wife and I will be getting breakfasts ever day and dinners 3 of the nights. 145K UR points. but I'm estimating the normal stay, with taxes, would bring the value to about 4 cpp. If Waikiki can beat that, have at it!

Talk to me in about 2 weeks! I just booked a Passport Escapes 5 night trip to the Vendome for next week. Since I'm a mere Plat and would not get breakfast otherwise, with the PE, my wife and I will be getting breakfasts ever day and dinners 3 of the nights. 145K UR points. but I'm estimating the normal stay, with taxes, would bring the value to about 4 cpp. If Waikiki can beat that, have at it!

Are all of the Hyatt locations available for these Passport Escapes? Say I did, in fact, want to make the trip to the Maldives...could I purchase a PE and get daily breakfast and 5 dinners for the 145k points, regardless of the typical price of food at that resort?

Are all of the Hyatt locations available for these Passport Escapes? Say I did, in fact, want to make the trip to the Maldives...could I purchase a PE and get daily breakfast and 5 dinners for the 145k points, regardless of the typical price of food at that resort?

I think Gary over at his View From the Wing blog recently blogged about his experience at the PH Maldives, and I think he redeemed a PE (if I remember correctly). It might be helpful to take a look at his blog.

I think Gary over at his View From the Wing blog recently blogged about his experience at the PH Maldives, and I think he redeemed a PE (if I remember correctly). It might be helpful to take a look at his blog.

Yeah, I had actually read those articles...I guess I'd missed the part about it being a Passport Escape. I'll have to go re-read that part. Thanks!

Any more opinions on favorite redemption options for Hyatt locations?

Yeah, I had actually read those articles...I guess I'd missed the part about it being a Passport Escape. I'll have to go re-read that part. Thanks!

Any more opinions on favorite redemption options for Hyatt locations?

PH Buenos Aires (and Mendoza)
PH Saigon

actually PH anything is probably not a bad bet :)

Talk to me in about 2 weeks! I just booked a Passport Escapes 5 night trip to the Vendome for next week. Since I'm a mere Plat and would not get breakfast otherwise, with the PE, my wife and I will be getting breakfasts ever day and dinners 3 of the nights. 145K UR points. but I'm estimating the normal stay, with taxes, would bring the value to about 4 cpp. If Waikiki can beat that, have at it!

PH Vendome was great as a Diamond. Pretty good amenity, nice breakfast. However, as a platinum I would not pay the 50 euros or so a person for breakfast. The bicycle rental option is neat, until the gf and I realized that we don't know how to ride bicycles very well.

That's why I opted for the PE. Most of our meals are getting paid for this way. And they're expensive.

I'm resurrecting my own post from a few months ago, as I have a few more questions:



When looking at the Hyatt Gold Passport Free Night (http://www.hyatt.com/gp/en/awards/hyatt_free_night.jsp) page, there's the option of choosing "Standard Room" or "Regency/Grand Club" - what is the difference between these? Is there a difference in rooms, or is it just the additional access to the Regency/Grand Club lounge?




What is the difference that the Suite option gives you as compared to the standard/regency/grand club option? Is it just bigger/more luxurious rooms, or two bedrooms, or...?




If I wanted to go to the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa (this is just an example), there's about 30 different room options (Ocean Getaway: Deluxe Ocean View, Partial Ocean View, Club Ocean, Respire Partial.Ocn, ADA View King Tub; Aloha Rate: Garden View, Pool View, Partial Ocean View, Respire Partial.Ocn, Deluxe Ocean View, Club Ocean, Garden Suite, Ocean Suite, ADA Double Tub, ADA View King Tub...etc. etc! How do all of these actually correspond to the award categories?




Finally, what room category is included with the Passport Escapes? If it's the standard room, is it possible to somehow include a suite upgrade into the Passport Escape by paying more points?


Sorry for all the questions, but thanks in advance for any help you're willing to give me!

1. RC/GC - rooms are usually the same perhaps with some additional amenities like robes and / or more bath amenities - just access to the RC/GC.

2. Suite option will at least give you a larger room - usually 2 rooms with a door separating the living and bed areas. You'll have to specify property to give you a better answer. Almost definitely not 2 bedrooms though.

3. GH Kauai - regular award room is Garden View - suite award room is Garden Suite - ignore all the rest for award purposes.

4. I would think the base room category - don't know if you can upgrade to suite with more points.

1. RC/GC - rooms are usually the same perhaps with some additional amenities like robes and / or more bath amenities - just access to the RC/GC.

2. Suite option will at least give you a larger room - usually 2 rooms with a door separating the living and bed areas. You'll have to specify property to give you a better answer. Almost definitely not 2 bedrooms though.

3. GH Kauai - regular award room is Garden View - suite award room is Garden Suite - ignore all the rest for award purposes.

4. I would think the base room category - don't know if you can upgrade to suite with more points.

Thank you! How do you know which rooms are the "award rooms"? Is there a list somewhere for different properties, or is this information only from experience?

Thank you! How do you know which rooms are the "award rooms"? Is there a list somewhere for different properties, or is this information only from experience?

Award rooms are the base entry rooms - usually the first room on the listing of room categories on the property's official web page on hyatt.com - same thing for the suites (first suite category listed). Kauai has an extensive Review thread in the forum though so that's an easy one - see the Property Index & Review sticky at the top of the forum for links to both the official web page on hyatt.com and the Review thread here on Flyertalk.

Award rooms are the base entry rooms - usually the first room on the listing of room categories on the property's official web page on hyatt.com - same thing for the suites (first suite category listed). Kauai has an extensive Review thread in the forum though so that's an easy one - see the Property Index & Review sticky at the top of the forum for links to both the official web page on hyatt.com and the Review thread here on Flyertalk.

Yeah, I've gone through a few of the specific property threads, using the Kauai was just an example - I was just curious how to tell what room you'd get for which locations, and I wanted to check the value of several different locations/rooms.

Is there any way to upgrade to better rooms/suites than just the base entry option?

Is there any way to upgrade to better rooms/suites than just the base entry option?

Officially no - but many (most?) properties will allow you to pay (in cash) an upcharge to a higher category room / suite.

3. GH Kauai - regular award room is Garden View - suite award room is Garden Suite - ignore all the rest for award purposes.
They seem to classify both Garden View and Pool View (p.k.a. Royal Garden View) as base categories now, and they're both available at 22K or with Chase Awards.

They seem to classify both Garden View and Pool View (p.k.a. Royal Garden View) as base categories now, and they're both available at 22K or with Chase Awards.

Thanks for the clarification!!!

Thanks for all the info! Does anyone else have any further suggestions for some well-known high-value Hyatt award redemption options? They don't necessarily need to be Category 6 locations, but they'd preferably be in warm/tropical locations. Obviously, the Park Hyatt Maldives, Grand Hyatt Kauai, and Hyatt Regency Maui all make the list, but am I missing other high-value options? We've got over 200k Chase UR points and are looking for the best use for them...

Is there any way to upgrade to better rooms/suites than just the base entry option?

Officially no - but many (most?) properties will allow you to pay (in cash) an upcharge to a higher category room / suite.

Maybe I missed the context for this Q&A, but isn't the suite redemption a pretty standard option? I.e., you don't have to pay $$ to upgrade; instead, for instance, just plunk down 33K points per night (if you have enough) as opposed to 22K.

I hadn't noticed the Passport Escapes option before, but appreciate this thread bringing it to light.

As for the OP's query about good redemption options: I haven't explored the Hyatt system as much as many folks in this forum, but will still share my two cents' worth:

1. I don't know if this option is still available and in any event am sketchy about the details, but in the past Hyatt has permitted folks to participate in a challenge via which they have temporary Diamond memberships during a trial period (for 90 days? 60 days?). To qualify for more permanent Diamond membership they have to accumulate a certain number of nights during that trial period. During the trial period, you can get perks such as free breakfasts and room upgrades on both award and $$ stays and suite upgrades on $$ stays.
2. I imagine that there is a thread in this forum in which people offer there opinions about the best Hyatts. OP, you might want to check that out.
3. OP, since you're looking to explore the Hyatt system using complimentary nights, you and your wife might well want to each get the Hyatt credit card. After signing up and some fairly low initial spending, you each get two free nights at any hotel in the system, redeemable within one year.
4. As for specific hotels, three jewels in the crown of the Hyatt system that my wife and I have stayed in (on points or the aforementioned free nights via the Hyatt credit card) and very highly recommend are the Park Hyatts in Paris, Tokyo and Sydney. They are all superb hotels, ranking among the best in each of those cities.
4. During our recent, wonderful three-night stay in Paris, the hotel gave us complimentary breakfast and a good corner room. We were told that the breakfast was because it was our first stay (and perhaps because we are Hyatt members, though only Platinum). I've read at least one other post here in FT or over at Tripadvisor.com praising the hotel for also giving the breakfast perk because it was the guest's first stay. In fact that post also mentioned a free suite upgrade, but since we were there during a busy time (the French Open), the hotel was pretty full. In any event, I don't think this is a perk you can count on, but wanted to mention it as a possibility.
5. Tokyo is an equally great hotel, even iconic in that it's where Lost in Translation was filmed. I've read good things about the Hyatt in Kyoto as well, but did not stay there so can't comment further.
6. We stayed in Sydney before the complete renovation the hotel recently went through. But even pre-renovation, it was a wonderful hotel with a fantastic location on Sydney Harbor and a view of the famous Opera House from some of the rooms. Be aware, though, that some of the rooms don't have that view at all. I've also read that that hotel might be stingier than some in giving out certain perks...though perhaps that just pertains to things like suite upgrades for Diamond members.
7. There are at least two nice Hyatts in Bali, though I haven't seen them except passing by one on the beach. To get a real feel for Bali it might be best to get to other spots on the island than were the Hyatts are, preferably for a number of nights rather than day trips. Also, be award that many of the beaches in Bali are not that great. Not sure if this applies to the Hyatt properties' specific locations.

Hope this helps!

Personally I think the PH Vendome is a dump, but no matter where you are staying in Paris, why would you want to have your meals in the hotel (unless your hotel has a michelin starred restaurant)? You can find better quality for lower prices literally everywhere out of the hotel.

2. I imagine that there is a thread in this forum in which people offer there opinions about the best Hyatts. OP, you might want to check that out.


I've looked, but I haven't found a thread like this, which is what I was trying to start here - if you know of one, please link it.

3. OP, since you're looking to explore the Hyatt system using complimentary nights, you and your wife might well want to each get the Hyatt credit card. After signing up and some fairly low initial spending, you each get two free nights at any hotel in the system, redeemable within one year.


Are there further benefits to using the 2 free nights/card than what points/award stays allow?

4. As for specific hotels, three jewels in the crown of the Hyatt system that my wife and I have stayed in (on points or the aforementioned free nights via the Hyatt credit card) and very highly recommend are the Park Hyatts in Paris, Tokyo and Sydney. They are all superb hotels, ranking among the best in each of those cities.


I had read about those 3 properties (Paris, Tokyo, & Sydney), but we're looking for somewhere warm and preferably tropical for this vacation. Maybe next time...

Thank you for all the info, very helpful!

Maybe I missed the context for this Q&A, but isn't the suite redemption a pretty standard option? I.e., you don't have to pay $$ to upgrade; instead, for instance, just plunk down 33K points per night (if you have enough) as opposed to 22K.

This Q&A's context was paying more points for a better room / suite.

I've looked, but I haven't found a thread like this, which is what I was trying to start here - if you know of one, please link it.



Are there further benefits to using the 2 free nights/card than what points/award stays allow?



I had read about those 3 properties (Paris, Tokyo, & Sydney), but we're looking for somewhere warm and preferably tropical for this vacation. Maybe next time...

Thank you for all the info, very helpful!

You're welcome!

The credit card gets you Platinum status.

Well, you can definitely get warm in Paris, Tokyo and Sydney, but I realize you are not looking for hot weather per se. For what it's worth, you can do a wonderful warm weather vacation including beaches in Australia, though the beach stays would likely involve non-Hyatt properties.

This Q&A's context was paying more points for a better room / suite.

I see. Thanks.

It's not tropical, but if you consider northern California to be someplace nice, the Hyatt Carmel Highlands (Cat 6) has some very good reviews on this forum. That's where I will be spending my 2 free nights!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hyatt-gold-passport/134039-highlands-inn-hyatt-carmel-review-master-thread.html