We were in Bangkok for the first time a year ago, stayed at the HR Bangkok and enjoyed our stay, including our suite upgrade (via SUA). Breakfast spread was amazing, and the lounge was quite nice. Where else would you stay, if not at the HR? The Kimpton looks interesting to me.

Meanwhile, to get this thread a bit back on topic, I am certainly willing to keep staying enough nights to retain Globalist for two years (after achieving Globalist Lite in 2023 via Bilt challenge, and then "getting with the program" every year since then.), although I have already reduced our spend on the Hyatt card. My desire to retain Globalist might dwindle if they do away with benefits we truly enjoy, like apply-SUA-at-time-of-reservation, lounge access to great lounges in SEA, and late checkout. Now that I'm staying fewer nights at US hotels, the free parking on award stays has way less value for me, and I wouldn't care if they dropped it, although I got over a thousand dollars in value from it over the last three years.

In any case, I'm glad to have IHG as my close-second backup, with lifetime Titanium at Marriott as third.

--woodstock

If you mean 5-star chain hotels in the more adult-oriented part of Sukhumvit, the main comparables are the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, the JW Marriott, the Sofitel Sukhumvit, and the HR Bangkok. In my view, the SGS is the best of the four, followed by the JW Marriott. The Sofitel and the HR are both still very good, but a notch below.

If you mean 5-star chain hotels anywhere in Bangkok that are at least as good as the HR Bangkok, then the list is much longer - probably around two dozen properties.

The Kimpton is quite different in character from the HR Bangkok, but better overall in my view. It is a little less convenient for public transport. If you book the Kimpton, it is worth comparing the rates available through IHG Luxury & Lifestyle as well.

SGS is outside of Nana so kind of a different street scene (though there is still some action of the adult variety, particularly across the street in front of the Westin). I'd extend the comparable area farther in both directions on Sukhumvit, from Ratchaprasong on one end to Thong Lo on the other. A dozen or more roughly comparable properties in terms of price and target market. SGS remains our personal favorite.

Was anyone like me using the Chase Sapphire Reserve for all dining to get 3x to then transfer to Hyatt?

Because now I need a new dining charges plan. I guess I could get an Amex Gold and get 4x over there and then use them at 1.5c for bookings since I also have a Biz Plat. So 6c/$ with some hoops and fees.

Or I could just use my 4% US Bank Smartly.

Hyatt's changes are making me rethink a decent portion of my credit card strategy.

Been using Amex 4x for dining for a long time, plus weekend 6x on the Citi SE. Never moved a single UR to Hyatt. Used Hyatt card for Hyatt 4x and other spend to 15k a year. Now, I'll be closing the Hyatt card next year.

Guess I'll join the wound licker's club

With the cost of acquiring UR and difficulty getting >2cpp now, I am definitely reevaluating where my future spend will go as 100% of my UR went to Hyatt.

Our points stays have really diminished the past two years or so as I don't churn CCs enough. Even prior to this upcoming change all the aspirational properties have continued to move out of reach ( Andaz Papagayo, Il Tornabuoni, Tribune, Cape, etc.).
Our stays focus on local favorites with excellent glob treatment and fair cash rates where we generally would get <2cpp anyway.

Looking at upcoming points stays they include peak summer holiday nights and PH AKL, both of which are set to become unattainable with these changes at the rate we generate points.

I find generating airline miles for international to be more rewarding lately as we have to buy 4 RT tickets for our family. Makes it easy to pay cash for our hotel stays when we've saved a ton on airfare upfront and we don't fly enough to justify airline loyalty.

RE: Wound lickers - I'm not feeling sorry for myself. Just trying to adjust my behavior appropriately and dispassionately as the game changes.

Yes, I'll be sad that I won't be staying at many Park Hyatts and Andazs anymore, but there are probably non-chain hotels that are just as nice and that cost 30% less for being non-chain and I'll just pay for those with my cash back. Fine by me. To some extent, I hate staying in a US hotel brand in places like most cities in Asia where I'd rather a heavier dose of local culture, so this just help push me a bit out of my comfort zone.

Further, so many cards are now offering $100-$300 back on hotels through their portals once or twice a year, so I'm starting to take advantage of those deals where they make economic sense.

Glad this Hyatt change came relatively early in the year so I can adjust my aim as to the spend I usually make to top off Globalist on my Hyatt card. I will def consider canceling next time I see that $95 renewal fee. I don't stay in many Cat 1-4s so no big loss there.

Yes, I put all food and travel on CSR and transfer immediately to Hyatt. I always thought I could trust Hyatt more than Chase not to devalue the points too much (boy was I wrong) and worried that trhyd suddenly stop transfers.

Hence I earned about 800,000 points last yr and spent 500,000 Hyatt ones.

I used to be all in on amex spg and moved everything to chase for Hyatt points.

I absolutely zero loyalty to any airlines. So if Hyatt devalues or makes globalist unattainable/not worth it, I'm not sure where to put my spending

I've never had a good use for amex points and too many of their bonuses are us based spending. Not sure about gold and foreign spending.

I really hope Hyatt doesn't put a speech requirements to reach globalist or level above. Or if they add level above, they don't destroy suites upgrades for the second class globalists. That's the one thing and breakfast that'll cause me to leave

Ummm... you don't have to be "loyal" to an airline in order to take advantage of booking airline award tickets

And frankly, though many in this forum seem to be completely blind to it, the fact is you can often get better value booking airline award tickets (particularly for premium cabins) and just paying for the hotel than vice versus.

Regards

Scuba, where are you putting most/all of your spend, these daze, to get points/miles in order to book premium cabin airline award tickets?

I gave up my only airline credit card (an AA one) back in 2017, am happy they retro-ed me into lifetime OWE, yet plan to burn through what few AA miles I have left and go free agent on awards, if I can figure out a reasonable way to do it. Sounds like you've broken the code?

Thanks,
--woodstock

Uh, some of us don't fly premium. I always choose economy so don't have any interest in transferring to airline programs, whether I'm loyal to them or not. I'd rather spend $10,000 USD for 20-30 nights on a park Hyatt in Asia rather than a flight to NY with snarly staff and shoddy food.

Personally, I'm uncomfortable on economy or business so don't see the point in paying for business. I understand why some do but I just don't want to in my personal case. I'd rather save the money for spectacular rooms in spectacular locations

Rather than doing what all the other programmes have done, Hyatt should keep Globalist as the top level but have additional milestone awards based on spend such as more free night certs or premium suite upgrade awards for those hitting 15k, 20k, 25k and 30k spend etc annually. That would be a better approach.

Same. Hyatt card at 4x or CSR at 4x. The choice is obvious.

I think we all value points a little differently. It's true that the points/$'s on published fares favors premium cabin, but I would never pay cash for international first class, so my personal value is less than the published fare value. I'd rather take two trips in economy than one trip in first class.

I completely agree with you that flexibility between programs is best.

There are two main differences between airline and hotel loyalty programs.

Airline programs usually do not let award flights count toward status, while hotel programs generally do. So in hotels, it often makes little difference to your status whether you stay on a paid rate or on points. With airlines, the distinction between paid flights and award flights is far more important. An award-focused flight strategy therefore usually means less status, or lower status, over time.

And hotel programs are, in large part, about saving money. Most perks can ultimately be bought. Top-tier airline status is a different animal altogether. It materially changes the travel experience, and many of its most important benefits are hard to buy with money alone.