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As a big fan of luxury travel, most of my hotel stays are focused on getting me the best value for the nicest hotels. However, every now and then I need a perfectly functional hotel and I don't want to break the proverbial bank when redeeming my World of Hyatt points. Enter the best Category 1 Hyatt properties, where we can find a great use for our points and stretch them the furthest.
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Hyatt Category 1 Award Rates
Hyatt prices its Category 1 hotels the lowest on the award redemption tables. The nightly points rate for a standard room is 5,000 World of Hyatt points, but you can find them as cheap as 3,500 off-peak. Splurging for a standard suite can set you back a whopping 8,000 points, or 6,500 points off-peak.
These are all the nightly redemption rates for award stays for Category 1 Hyatt hotels.
| Category 1 Room Type | Off-Peak | Standard | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Room | 3,500 | 5,000 | 6,500 |
| Club Room | 5,500 | 7,000 | 8,500 |
| Standard Suite | 6,500 | 8,000 | 9,500 |
| Premium Suite | 7,000 | 10,000 | 13,000 |
Best Category 1 Hyatt Properties
Hyatt currently offers a total of 310 Category 1 properties. That's a ton of options to choose from! The best property is going to be the one that best aligns with your travel plans. But if you're looking for ideas, let's take a look at the best ones on the basis of points value and popularity.
Best value for your Hyatt points
From data gathered from AwardWallet users, we know that there are a few Category 1 Hyatt hotels that reliably yield some of the best points value redemptions. The four properties listed below all provided an average value of more than 4¢ per World of Hyatt point — a phenomenal redemption considering the average Hyatt point redemption is 2.19¢ apiece.
Just note that not all redemptions are going to yield this much value. However, AwardWallet users have score excellent deals at these properties.
Hyatt Place Waco – South
Located in Waco and a 20-minute drive away from Baylor University, the Hyatt Place Waco – South is a great option when visiting town. The hotel is also near downtown shopping and museums. Hyatt Place as a brand is generally a no-frills experience, but makes for excellent stays where you're planning to spend all day out exploring.
This one in particular offers an indoor pool and the usual fitness center for those who like to stay active. Like all stays at Hyatt Place locations, all guests enjoy breakfast — whether you have World of Hyatt status or not.
Hyatt Regency Dushanbe
If travel to Tajikistan is on your cards, you're in for a treat. The Hyatt Regency Dushanbe, a really modern Category 1 property in the capital is the place to be. Opened in 2009 but beautifully renovated in 2021, the hotel isn't just a great use for your points, but it's also a great 5-star hotel.
Located in the center of City Park by Lake Javonon, many rooms come with stunning lake views. With an indoor pool, a spa, on-site restaurants and free parking, this hotel is a great example of what Category 1 properties look like when traveling abroad.
Hyatt Regency Cape Town
Located in the Bo-Kaap neighborhood of Cape Town, the Hyatt Regency Cape Town is a personal favorite of mine, having stayed there a couple times. The hotel is a stones throw away from everywhere you'd like to visit while in town, including the trendiest restaurants and bars, walking tours and other city must-sees. There are on-site restaurant options, an outdoor pool and a fitness center to burn off all of the Cape Malay delicacies you would have eaten through your visit.
On our last visit, we brought a friend along and splurged for the executive suite, normally priced at 10,000 points per night, which was way more convenient than booking two standard rooms at 5,000 points each.
Hyatt Place Baton Rouge/I-10
While the Hyatt Place Baton Rouge is not centrally located, it is right by the highway that'll take you anywhere you need in town. In close proximity to stadiums, waterparks, museums and the LSU campus and medical centers, it's near everything without being too close.
The hotel has an outdoor pool for those hot Louisiana summer days and a fitness center to work out if the weather is too oppressive to be outdoors. Free breakfast is offered to all guests as is free on-site parking, both of which can save you some serious cash. This hotel is also pet-friendly, but charges a fee if your furry friend is tagging along.
Most popular Category 1 Hyatt redemptions
Going through the data, we were surprised to see how popular some Category 1 Hyatt properties were with AwardWallet users. While the following properties don't offer the best point value, travelers have racked up quite a few nights at a solid rate.
Here are the most popular Category 1 Hyatt hotels that yield a minimum of 2.5 cents per World of Hyatt point.
Hyatt Regency Merida
If your Mexico trips ever include cenote swimming, a visit to Chichén-Itzá, or generally imbibing in a more culturally authentic Yucatan experience than Tulúm or perhaps Cancún, then this property in Merida — the region's capital — might be right up your alley. The Hyatt Regency Merida is right in the center of town, surrounded by the bustling tourist spots and commercial areas.
The outdoor pool is a great place to cool off before going out exploring the peninsula (be brave, rent a car!), and the multiple on-site restaurants give you good options to refuel after a long day out. The main restaurant offers a departure from the well-known American-style Mexican fare, serving Yucatan dishes instead.
Hyatt Place Greenville/Haywood
A short 5 miles from downtown and 8 miles from the airport, the Hyatt Place Greenville/Haywood is perfectly positioned to explore all that the area has to offer. For those visiting the BMW plant in nearby Greer, you'll be able to get there in about 20 minutes, give or take.
Downtown Greenville has a ton to explore including a fabulous Children's Museum, lovely riverwalk and up and coming arts and foodie scene. If you're heading shopping at the nearby Haywood Mall, you can swing back and drop off your haul in the hotel. Once there, enjoy the outdoor pool and, of course, free breakfast.
Hyatt House Sterling/Dulles Airport-North
A great hotel near Dulles Airport provides for excellent stays just before you head out of town. I have booked the Hyatt House Sterling/Dulles Airport-North a few times when I'm positioning for an international flight out of Dulles, and I'm leaving too early in the morning to justify staying in DC itself. This Hyatt House isn't luxurious (are any?), but it's functionally perfect.
Rooms are roomy, breakfast is included like at all Hyatt House properties, and it offers free shuttle service to IAD to catch your flights. As a bonus, there's an outdoor pool and a fitness room, and if you're arriving at night, there's an on-property restaurant where you can grab a bite without driving all over creation.
Hyatt Place Columbus/Dublin
The Ohio State University is the largest in the state of Ohio. With over 60,000 students in any given year, finding a good place to sleep nearby can be a challenge, especially around those times when families are showing up to campus. Enter the Hyatt Place Columbus/Dublin.
You're also close to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. You're only a short twenty minutes drive to campus, and when you're done reliving your college days, you'll come back to an outdoor pool, patio and BBQ area and free breakfast for all your guests when you wake up the next day.
Story Hotel Signalfabriken
This Story Hotel Signalfabriken is perfect for those visiting Stockholm but wanting more of a second city vibe. While the Story Hotel Signalfabriken isn't within the Stockholm city limits, it's in a charming area of Sundbyberg right next to a train station that can zip you into the heart of Stockholm in just 15 minutes.
The hotel is branded under JdV by Hyatt in a 19th-century industrial building turned boutique hotel. The hotel is in a now hip and cool location, and it offers the usual mix of room types, but adds family lofts into the mix. Redeem as few as 7,000 points per night to score a two-story, two-bed, top-floor “Family Duplex” suite:
All guests receive a complimentary breakfast buffet regardless of room type or elite status when staying at this Category 1 Hyatt property.
How to Earn World of Hyatt Points
While there are many ways to earn World of Hyatt points, the most rewarding way is by applying for The World of Hyatt Credit Card (Rates & Fees) or World of Hyatt Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees) and earning the signup bonus.
- Up to 9X points total per $1 spent at Hyatt - 4X points per $1 when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5X points per $1 you can earn as a World of Hyatt member
- 2X 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
- 1X point per $1 everywhere else
- Up to 9X total points per $1 spent at Hyatt – 4X points per $1 on qualifying purchases when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5X points per $1 you can earn as a World of Hyatt member
- 2X points per $1 spent on fitness club and gym memberships
- 1X point per $1 everywhere else
In addition, you'll earn 2X points per $1 spent in your top three spend categories each quarter. Eligible categories include:
- Dining
- Shipping
- Airline tickets when purchased directly with the airline
- Local transit & commuting
- Social media & search engine Advertising
- Car rental agencies
- Gas stations
- Internet, cable & phone services
Alternatively, you can take advantage of Hyatt's short list of transfer partners:
Of the above, Chase Ultimate Rewards is likely the best program for transfers, considering there are several cards that earn these valuable points. Some examples include the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees) and Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees)
- 5X points on Lyft rides through September 2027
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
- 3x points on dining worldwide
- 1x points on all other purchases
Bottom Line
While these hotels are grouped in the lowest tier of World of Hyatt hotel redemptions, they make for perfectly fine stays. They provide a great use for your Hyatt points and help you stretch your points balance further. Some of them — especially those in international markets — might even end up being more than just a functional stay and are a hidden gem because of either location or hotel quality.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: The World of Hyatt Credit Card (Rates & Fees), World of Hyatt Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees), and Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees)
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