How Should I Spend my Hyatt Points?

Recently, my husband and I both applied for the new World of Hyatt card by Chase to get more Hyatt points. This card is one of the few Chase cards that is not subject to 5/24 restrictions at the moment. Although we’ve converted Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt for award stays in the past, we’ve never actually owned the Hyatt co-branded card.

I had planned on waiting until the end of the year to apply, but insiders think that all Chase cards will soon be subject to 5/24 restrictions. A few years ago when it was rumored that 5/24 would start to apply to some co-branded credit cards, I didn’t listen and I missed out on re-applying for the Southwest Visa. I don’t want to make the same mistake twice! It was time to jump on these Hyatt points.

Details of the New World of Hyatt Co-branded Card

• Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points – 40,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
• Earn an additional 20,000 Bonus Points after you spend a total of $6,000 on purchases within the first 6 months of account opening – free nights start at 5,000 points
• Earn 9 points total per $1 spent at Hyatt – 4 Bonus Points per $1 when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5 Base Points per $1 you can earn as a World of Hyatt member
• Plus, earn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airlines tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships
• Receive 1 free night every year after your cardmember anniversary at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort
• Earn an extra free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort if you spend $15,000 during your cardmember anniversary year
• Get automatic World of Hyatt Discoverist status for as long as your account is open and 5 qualifying night credits toward your next tier status every year
• Earn 2 qualifying night credits towards your next tier status every time you spend $5,000 on your card
• The annual fee of $95 is NOT waived

My husband and I both plan on spending $6000 within the first six months. Between the two of us, we will have over 132,000 World of Hyatt points coming our way (60k bonus points X2 people plus at least 12k points for the spending to earn the tiered bonus.) Plus, we will each have a free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel to use next year as long as we renew the card for the $95 annual fee.

Since we just applied for this card a few weeks ago, we don’t have these 132k points just yet. But of course I’m already dreaming about how and where to spend them. Hyatt has so many good options that it will be hard to decide.

Anniversary Getaway at Miraval

Earlier this year, I wrote a post about potentially using Hyatt points to stay at Miraval Resort in either Tucson or Austin. This all-inclusive spa hotel costs 65,000 points per night for two people and includes a $175 per person per day resort credit.

Once we complete our spending on our Hyatt cards, we would have enough points for two nights at this resort. If we could get our childcare lined up, this is a definite possibility!

Million Mile Secrets recently posted a review of Miraval, and the author said the experience was life-changing. I just hope it’s not too weird for us.

Adult Getaway at All-inclusive Hyatt in Mexico or the Caribbean

Hyatt has several all-inclusive properties in Mexico and the Caribbean that run 20,000-25,000 points per night for two people. Later next year, Hyatt will open two all-inclusive hotels in Punta Cana. If my husband and I could get childcare and flights on miles, this would make a great adult getaway!

If we brought my entire family, we would have to book two rooms and pay for one extra person, so the cost would jump to over 50k per night. Plus, the cost of flights for five people on miles or cash would quickly add up. So, this option is more likely if it’s just two of us traveling.

Luxury Stay at Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome or Park Hyatt Sydney

Every miles and points blogger seems to stay at one or both of these. Should I jump on the bandwagon? I wouldn’t randomly fly to Paris or Sydney. We are on the cusp of booking award tickets to one of these destinations (see my post on Paris vs. New Zealand), so we would be in the area.

I mean, look at the view from the Park Hyatt Sydney!

The trouble is, these hotels cost 30,000 points per night. And we would have to get two (or even three) rooms to fit my entire family, and our points would only cover two nights. Are the views and the luxury worth it?

Of course, both cities have other Hyatt hotels that don’t cost as many points.

Family Trip to Costa Rica

I would love to take my family to Costa Rica and stay for free at the Andaz Peninsula Papagaya Resort. Summer at MommyPoints has written extensively about this resort. At just 15,000 points per night, it seems like a great value.

Extended Stay at Hyatt Regency Coconut Point

Last year over Spring Break, my family spent two nights at Hyatt Regency Coconut Point near Fort Myers. We loved the pool area with the multiple water slides and lazy river! We also enjoyed the boat ride to the resort’s private island beach.

We only spent two nights there, but we would love to return to experience the resort again. I have some Hyatt lounge certificates that don’t expire until early 2020, so we could rely on the lounge for breakfast and a light dinner, making the food portion of our stay more affordable.

Even if we got two rooms, we could use our Hyatt points for four free nights. Sounds heavenly!

Summer Cool-off at Hyatt Regency Lost Pines

My family has stayed at Hyatt Regency Lost Pines near Austin twice. Our first trip was over July 4^th, and our second trip was over New Year’s Eve. Both were very special.

The most practical use of our Hyatt points is another stay at this resort. It’s a 4-hour drive from our house, so flights aren’t required. We are considering sending one of our kids to a camp at University of Texas in Austin next summer, so we could time a trip to Lost Pines with camp drop-off or pick-up.

There are more Hyatt properties on my wish list, including Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach, Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch, Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach and too many others to list.

Hyatt Cardholders Get 10% Points Back in August and September

If you are a World of Hyatt cardholder (or if you have the old Hyatt card), you can get 10% points back when you redeem your points on award nights, Points + Cash stays and room upgrades between August 1 and September 30, 2018. You have to register for the promotion here by August 31. Even if you don’t have any current Hyatt redemption plans for August and September, it can’t hurt to register for the promotion in case your plans change.

Do you have the new World of Hyatt credit card? Where would you spend Hyatt points?

Click here to view various credit cards and available sign-up bonuses