With some upcoming stays in Dallas I was glad to find that there is a GP1000 code for dallas (only GM codes for DFW); that said it got me thinking and calculating...

The GP2000 code looks to be the single most rewarding code/promotion, especially if you can break your stays into small one-nite type things. Consider this (and I did read this somewhere else recently, at least the general idea, but...)

The Hyatt in Denver TC can be had for $66/nite plus tax - so say $75. IF you were to do 8 stays (one night each...and I am NOT advocating trying back-to-back, but in theory if you did true "1-night stays" where you checked in for a night and had another night later tha week or something...) you could earn:

16,000 points using GP2000
~3000+ points for your revenue, plus Plat/Dia bonuses
4 FFN

for which you could then redeem for 5 nights anywhere; such as Kauai. All for the grand total of $600 including tax. I have read the other postings about checking in/out; but bottom line, if you live in Denver, and want to go to Kauai for 5 nights, this is a darn cheap way to do it.

Is it abusing the FFN as others have suggested? I suppose it depends as many have stated; but while there are threads about cheap rates, this may not be the cheapest, but when adding in the GP2000 it sure is the best IMHO.

FFN has converted me I must say. I guess that's why the promos are there; to get people to convert. FFN, and the GP codes are great ideas. SPG is #2 now...

Anyone care to comment?

If I'm not mistaken, the rate you mention for Hyatt Denver Tech Center is only on weekends, other times it would be $125-160 range per night.

I stayed at this property in April at the full rate and received the 1,500 bonus points. I did not feel that the hotel is modern/up to date for being in the "Tech Center" area. My biggest concerns were the bed linens worn and the bed itself flat and quite uncomfortable. Front desk replied to this feedback as "we're sorry and we're fully aware of this" If you get the $60 rate and you don't mind staying in semi outdated room in a Motel 6 bed, go for it. Grab you bonus and run. If you want to check in and check out each day and possibly get assigned a different room, etc then this would be a great deal for you.

My advise to all would be find the local Hyatt properties in your area and their slow season times and book a few stays to try it out. Here in So Cal you can find super summer rates out in Palm Springs and the Hyatt near Disney on weekdays for $75-90 a night or so. On weekends you can get deals at Hyatt Westlake, Irvine, and Valencia for $69-89 per night. Most of these have the bonus points as well, just check it all out first.

Yes, the FFN promotion is an excellent deal if you work it correctly. In Houston, the airport Hyatt had weekend rates of $60 ($70 after tax) plus a GP1000 (or 1500) bonus. I did reserve several unneeded nights simply to obtain the FFN credit.

However, in order to use the FFN, you need to be able to travel within the promotion timeframe AND there needs to be availability at your hotel of choice. Because I had flexible travel dates and reserved at soon as I had the FFN nights generated, I was able to obtain rooms at the Paris Vendome (a bargain at the $140 "cost" for each night) for most of my stay. I imagine that Hyatt limits the number of rooms, ie only allocates FFN rooms that most likely would otherwise go unused. The free nights at their nicest hotels is probably considered a reward for their return customers. Plus, the hotels profits from any incidental charges, and given how the Hyatt program works, most award stays probably generate significant incidental charges. That said, Hyatt's program is definitely the most generous out there and I now reserve a Hyatt whenever possible!

AFAIK, Hyatt's FFN Award inventory is the same as the GP Points Award inventory, so if the latter is available, so is the former.

Hyatt's GP program is indeed very generous, with top-tier properties only at 15K, even at 24K for the PPP Awards it's still a bargain at many perperties -- Park Milan, Park Paris, Kauai, etc, compared to same-tier SPG properties (likely a Cat. 6 at 20K/24K SPG Points low/high season).

I was a loyal SPG fan until I attained Hyatt Diamond, then I started to feel SPG Plat was nothing special, especially most of the time SPG phone agents are either clueless or simply unhelpful. Most of the Hyatt phone agents I've encountered have been nothing but pleasant, helpful, and eager to go out of their ways to assist me.

As a result, I've found myself failing to qualify for SPG status year after year. With no accident, I should drop to SPG Green this year. Let all the Plats argue/beg/yell/bang/demand/what have you their promised suites at the Sheraton Towers NY.....and pay for $3/bag for luggage storage and deal with the maddening crowd I'll be sipping Krug at the Stanhope or across 5th at the Met.

Why do you think I got the Hyatt Crystal City & Arlington booked for Labor Day weekend... ~$75 per night = 2 FFN and ~8K points for $300 which gets me almost 3 nights at the GH Tokyo which would run you about $450 per night!

What you have posted above is not an "abuse," at all.

That is an entirely legitimate way to earn stays, and points, and FFN's.

Moreover, that is clearly within the terms of the program.

I second the Zipper's comments, because that is sometimes what I do, as well.

There is nothing wrong with hopping from one property to another -- and the DC area and the Chicago area are the best places for this.

FWIW, this also should be done -- for those who are not so frequent travellers and/or spend their own dime to gain status -- with respect to the HHonors program, as well as the SPG program, as they have a two track system -- like Hyatt -- to earn status -- stays or nights.

Regrettably, Marriott only has a nights based elite status program, and a very high threshold for nights, at that!!

I see nothing wrong with this approach at all personally. As stated, those DTC rates are on the weekends so you'd have to be pretty diligent about it to get your dream vacation but it is certainly doable.