I have noticed that there has been very little discussion at this forum on the Hyatt programme whereas Hilton and Marriott is much more popular. Is it the programme itself or that Hyatt is addressing a different market segment ?

For my part, I have found both the hotels and the programme to be very good (superior to Hilton and Sheraton; I am elite level and stay fairly frequently at all 3). Any comments ?

For my part, my interest in Hyatt is minimal only because it is rare for them to have properties in the locations I am looking at, Hyatt also have no properties in the UK regions, only London & Birmingham.

My only other beef with them is that it can be ages before a credit appears on a statement (hard-copy or on-line).

Hyatt has in Europe less distribution - and in USA I normally achieve better prices at Marriott/Hilton.

At Marriott, prices (AARP rebate at least 50% for people over 50) are very competitive and even on those dicounted rates (example: Marriott-San Francisco Airport, this weekend, $ 85 AARP-rate-21-days-advance-paiement) full mileage credit (500 miles for one night and 2'500 bonus per 5 nights). And (till now) never a mileage-credit problem (one email solves it in 48 hours). Marriott (sometimes but less Hilton) is my choice for one-night-stays (50% of them at airport-locations: SFO, SEA, ORD).

I prefer Hyatt as Resorts and for longer-stays (my favorite: Hyatt at Beaver Creek, CO for skiing) and, as an exeption for one-night-stays at MCO.

I think the Hyatt Gold Passport is probably the best hotel program out there in terms of earning awards for your stays. I've stayed at Hyatts less than 20 times for less than 40 nights or so over the past couple years and for that I've gotten two free two night stays (including a free two night stay in Sarasota over fourth of July) and have enough points for one more and a Nights after Nights certificate for one more.

I especially think that the bonus promotions they run are unbeatable, such as the Nights after Nights promotion and the current Maximum Miles promotion.

In comparison I've stayed ten times for over twenty nights at Marriott properties (Courtyard and Marriotts mostly) and I have enough for maybe one night at a Courtyard, and I'm struggling now to get points for a two night stay next year in Annapolis, which will cost me 35000 Points!!! The equivalent stay at a Hyatt would cost 25000 points.

I have to agree with Rudi about Hyatt rates. Almost without exception, for comparable properties in the same city, Marriott and Hilton will be less expensive - sometimes significantly less expensive.

In terms of earning awards, Hyatt may be good, but nothing beats Sheraton. As a regular member (no elite status) you get 2 points per dollar spent (3 if a gold member). It only takes 3000 points to get a free night at some properties, so for a $100/night room you can get a freebie in 10-15 nights. The only problem with Sheraton is that their standards are not nearly as high as Hyatt, Marriott, & Hilton. In some cases it is really pot luck with the quality of the property.

MileKing ~ At Hyatt if you're spending $100/night (including taxes) it would take only eight nights for a free room, and that's not even including airline bonuses, elite bonuses or promotions.

Also, during their Nights after Nights promotion which they run every year, if you were to stay eight nights in the three or four month period (however long it runs) you'd get your regular free room, *plus* you'd get a bonus certificate for a two night weekend stay.

I signed up for Hyatt Gold Passport just in
case I get to stay there but so far I can
either never get an open room at a Hyatt or
the rates are too high. Like several people
said here, if you check out Marriott or
Hilton, esp. their web sites, you can get a
better bargain for a comparable room.

Hyatt's Nights after nights program is one
of the better ones for the hotels.

I like Sheraton and their Gold CLub program,
even if I have to pay 25 dollars a year. They always manage to find me a room. CATMAN

I agree that Hyatt's are typically pricier than Hilton or Marriott but they are also typically better hotels nad service. I n the same vein, I have the Luxury Collection of Sheraton to be pretty good although I am not convinced of the merits of Sheraton Club - Gold or otherwise.

Any comments on the Four Seasons/Regent chain and Ritz Carlton, particularly their resorts ? Why don't these guys have frequent stay programmes ?

I have stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Atlanta
and dined at the Four Seasons in NYC and have
told them every time I go by there to start
frequent flyer programs. OR they could become a partner with one of the majors (like
SOME of Ritz's partners do with Marriott,
would be better if ALL do.)

Maybe the hotels feel they quality and service speak for themselves. The customers
that go there keep coming back.

Still, if either had a ff program I may make
either One of my primary hotels (or my primary hotel.)

With the changes at Westin or Sheraton and
the cuts at Hilton -- Four Seasons and Ritz
might consider starting a program. Or they
can both combine with their own program.
CATMAN

Beckles, eight nights for a freebie room is exceptional! I didn't realize it was quite this good - yes it sounds better than Sheraton! And even though I agree with freqflyer that Hyatt properties are usually a cut above others, they are still too pricey and there are too few of them.

Hyatt properties tend to be a bit pricey, but in places I travel to, such as San Diego and Washington, DC, they are competitive with the Marriotts and Hiltons.

Also, Hyatt does have some great weekend deals at a lot of their hotels. Whenever I travel to Chicago to visit family for instance I stay at the Hyatt Oak Brook for about $80/night. That is a very nice hotel with a nice little sports bar, a good little restraunt in the lobby for breakfast, a great restraunt for when you want a fancy dinner, its across the street from the Oak Brook mall if you want to do a little shopping, and its only 15 minutes or so drive from O'Hare.

You can complain about the prices, and they do have some high ones, but still dollar for dollar and stay for stay I think the Hyatt Gold Passport program beats all the other hotel programs out there!

I think mileage King is wrong.3pts to a 4 is bad.Hyatt is 5 6.5 or 8 depending what level.Marriott is 10 pts.Hilton is 10 pts.plus if you are a Diamond member is a 50% bonus.Hiton #1 for most pts to earn in a stay.Marriott and hyatt better properties abd service.

msg53, the award levels are different at all the hotels you mention. While Hilton and Marriott give you 10 points per dollar, it also takes more points at these hotels than at Sheraton to get a free night. The comparison that myself, and others on this forum were trying to make was that free nights at certain hotels (Hyatt and Sheraton) are easier to earn than at Marriott or Hilton. You are correct that the 50% bonus at Hilton for Diamond members effectively gives you 15 points per dollar rather than 10. I'd have to relook at the award charts, but I'm not sure that this makes claiming a free night easier than at Hyatt or Sheraton.

msg53 ~ Points at hotels *can not* be compared to each other, they have different values!

For instance, two free hotel stays I will be doing in the next year:

two free weekend nights at Hyatt ~ 15,000 points. That stay will take $3000 (including taxes, food, everything you charge to your room in my experience) in stays, not including airline bonuses and such, which are typically at least 300 more points per stay.

two free weekend nights at Marriott ~ 35,000 points, which will take at least $3500 in stays, and does not include taxes, though I think that at Marriotts food might count.

Just going by points alone, the Hyatt is a better deal, especially for folks like me who are not elite in a hotel program. This doesn't even include the bonus offers that Hyatt offers about half of the time.

There is no question what Beckles and Mileking are saying are true.Award levels are different at all chains.Hyatt had a great summer promotion called maximum miles.Marriott doesn't promote that much.Hilton also double dips.Lots of bonuses and mileage for every paid stay.