On January 22, Hyatt will be increasing the categories for 22 hotels which means you’ll need to redeem more points for a free night. However, until then, you can go ahead and book those hotels at the current rate even if you reservation is post January 22nd. Assuming flexible cancelation policies on the hotel you are looking to stay at and the dates, you can go ahead and speculatively book rooms now and cancel later if need be – assuming you have enough points in your account. These changes apply to points booked on points and cash + points reservations.
Here are the top 5 hotels, in my opinion, you should speculatively book now!
- Park Hyatt Maldives – This hotel is moving up from a category 6 to a category 7 hotel. Currently you only need to use 25,000 points for a free room that could otherwise cost $1,000. Of course even when it goes up to 30,000 points it will still be worth using points, but you might as well grab it now with the lower value. I am by no means surprised that it is going up a category as it is one of the most expensive hotels in the Hyatt portfolio.
- Andaz Amsterdam – This hotel is currently a category 5 which is pretty good for a high end Andaz in Europe. Right now you can redeem 20,000 points for a free night (or 10,000 points + $125). This hotel is going up to a category 6 and will require 25,000 points for a free night (or 12,000 points + $150).
- Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Mediterranee – This hotel is also going from a category 5 to 6 hotel so will require 5,000 more points a night to redeem for a free night. This is a relatively new hotel to the Hyatt chain and definitely worthwhile to redeem a free night as rates are very expensive.
- Grand Hyatt at Baha Mar – This hotel is not even scheduled to open until this June, but is still moving up a category! It was originally released as a category 4 hotel, but will be moving up to a category 5. This means right now you can use a category 1-4 free night certificate for this hotel if you have the Chase Hyatt credit card or 15,000 points. Once the change takes place it will jump to 20,000 points and those free night certificates will no longer be eligible. This hotel is supposed to be top notch and from what I’ve been told is trying to compete with the Atlantis. It is on Cable Beach and from the pictures it looks absolutely beautiful (a friend who used to work there has confirmed this as well!). You can read more about this hotel here.
- Park Hyatt Seoul – Also going from a category 4 to 5 hotel so you can currently book using your category 1-4 free night certificate if you have the Chase Hyatt credit card. This hotel is extremely expensive so while still a great redemption opportunity at a category 5, it is even better at a category 4 hotel!
Remember, you have one more week to make these reservations so do not forget! At Hyatt.com, you are able to make a reservation for 12 months in advance, but if you call reservations they can typically book for you up to 13 months in advance.
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Can one book speculative reservations now and then make date changes later at the old rate?
@Eric – Unfortunately no. The only way is if the specific hotel will do it for you at their level, but slim chances.
Two questions – I have 1 Hyatt Award night (cc sign up) set to expire April 30th – Can I make a reservation now using that award for a November date?
If I make a reservation ow using Hyatt miles, can I change the reservation to use a free certificate when my Credit Car renews?
@Jeremy – I actually do not have the Hyatt credit card, so I cannot speak from personal experience. However, when you go to make the reservation it will either allow it to go through or not. That will tell you if you can book now and redeem later.
Once you make a reservation using Hyatt points, if it is a hotel that is going up a category and no longer a category 1-4, it will be booked as a new reservation and will not allow it to go through. They won’t simply swap it out for you, unfortunately.
Tried making a reseravation at the GH Baha Mar over Christmas or Thanksgiving, no dice…
@Nancy – bummer….
The Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Mediterranee should be going from category 5 straight to category 3. Palais de Mold Galore would be a more appropriate name for it.