When to use points?
 

Was looking to take family to california before school starts in September. Hyatt Huntington Beach looks like a very nice resort but rates are starting at 368.00. I was looking at 4 days with hyatt free time (1 free nite)it was 425.00 a night and then I would use a suite upgrade. I think with all fees and taxes I think I would be at 1600 for the 4 nights with free full breakfast and suite.A 4 night reward stay is 88000 points. I think I'm getting good value on my points but wondering what rooms they give on reward stay?

If your "paid" stay is in a regular room, I would say that the value of the points is decent (at 1.8 cents per point). But if you can confirm a suite at the paid rate, that's the way I'd go (unless I'm really trying to save cash). On the regular award stay, you'll get RC access (as a Diamond) but rather unlikely to get a suite. For a suite award stay for 4 nights, it's 132,000 points (33,000 points per night with a 3 night minimum).

"A daily Resort Fee of $25 plus tax will be added to your rate and includes Internet, surfboard / golf bag storage, Pacific Waters Spa sauna and steam room access and more."

Not that $25/night extra is a deal breaker, but if you redeem points you won't have to pay the resort fee. Just think about how much sweeter your sleep will be, knowing that you aren't paying extra to store your surfboard, and more.

Not necessarily, as I recall the official rule is that waiving the resort fee is at the discretion of each individual hotel.

The suites at the Huntingon Beach property are nice, but nothing spectacular (unless you get lucky an upgraded beyond the basic suite). Certainly, they do offer more room for a family.

As a Diamond, they did waive the resort fee for me last year (after asking).

Each of the last three FFN promos, I have used some of my earned free nights at HB resort. Great stays and they always gave me some sort of a free suite upgrade at check-in (as diamond). Being award stays, the resort fees were waved and after the 2nd time I had also received a post-card in the mail for free valet parking on my next visit. I remember the card was just one night free, but for my third stay the front desk just took my two nights of parking fees all off.

They were so good to me on my promo stays that I resolved come back for a getaway weekend every year, but, well, no more free night promos. I do burn HGP points, but that is for my much more pricier international stays.

So that last stay was what, March 2010...

Back to OP-- of course I'm just one sample point on 3 different stays, but they used to treat Diamonds real good here. Hopefully they still do, and if so, your points (as a diamond) feel like they go further.... Good luck, have fun, and do look into getting a fire pit one night if you do go!