7 Best Hyatt Category 4 Hotels

World of Hyatt continues to provide excellent value to its members because it is one of the few loyalty programs still offering an award chart using categories for its various properties. Each year, the program adjusts the category tiers for certain hotels, with some increasing the number of points needed for a redemption and others decreasing. Having an award chart makes it much easier for members to plan ahead and know how many points they need to make a redemption.

Category 4 hotels are in the middle of the pack on the award chart. A redemption night costs between 12,000 and 18,000 points for a standard room. Those with free night certificates eligible for Category 1-4 hotel redemptions (either through a World of Hyatt award or with the World of Hyatt Credit Card) may want to maximize the value of their award by redeeming it at a Category 4 hotel.

» Learn more: The best hotel credit cards right now

Based on the latest changes from March 2024, these are some of the best World of Hyatt Category 4 redemption hotels around the country.

1. Hyatt Vacation Club at The Lodges at Timber Ridge

In the countryside of Missouri, this Hyatt Vacation Club property offers villas and accommodations with full kitchens and living areas along Table Rock Lake. From this location, travelers can enjoy various outdoor activities like hiking, biking, fishing and swimming in the Ozarks. An indoor-outdoor pool complex and waterpark add to the fun. Families and vacationers looking for some relaxation on the outskirts of Branson will find this to be a great use of their Hyatt points.

» Learn more: Guide to the World of Hyatt award chart

2. Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor

Close to the airport via a complimentary shuttle but with beautiful views of the downtown skyline, this hotel is popular with business travelers who want to avoid fighting city traffic. They can hold meetings here or check in for a quick overnight if they have an early-morning flight. Tourists will also appreciate the ease of access to public transportation. If you're an avgeek, many rooms have great views of the airport terminals and runways providing plenty of aviation activity to enjoy.

» Learn more: The pros and cons of the Hyatt rewards program

3. Hyatt Regency Seattle

This high-rise hotel is filled with art, and its guest rooms have magnificent views of the city’s skyline and distant bay. It is the city’s first and only LEED Gold-certified hotel. All of the city’s main sites and public transportation are within walking distance. The hotel is also large, which helps it attract business travelers, meeting groups and tourists.

» Learn more: The guide to World of Hyatt brands

4. Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country

This Category 4 hotel is near San Francisco and California’s Napa Valley, and it attracts those that want to be out in nature as well as wine lovers who want to be close to Sonoma Valley. It is also an easy walk to Santa Rosa and local shops and cafes. Using points at this hotel is a great way to offset the cash cost of a stay and save money for wine tastings and plenty of wine to take home. After a day of tasting, guests can return to the hotel for a swim or soak in the whirlpool.

» Learn more: 8 ways to earn Hyatt points

5. Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort is near Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort. The 1,500- acre property is also a destination in itself. A lagoon-style swimming pool complete with waterfalls and swim-through cave is great for families. Golfers can take advantage of the 36 hole Jack Nicklaus-designed course. And those who would like to get an outdoor workout in can venture into miles of nature trails via bicycling, walking or jogging.

» Learn more: The 3 best uses of Hyatt points

6. Ambassador Chicago

Along Chicago’s Gold Coast, this property is close to the Magnificent Mile and Water Tower Place, which means tourists are centrally located. Known as the city's original boutique hotel, it deserves attention for its clever artwork and bikes guests can borrow to explore town. It is a pet-friendly and a 10 minute walk from the beach.

» Learn more: What to know about the Hyatt pet policy

7. Thompson Washington D.C.

The nation’s capital has a new swanky hotel that is part of the Thompson brand, which delivers a focus on art, style and upscale design. It is close to D.C.’s Navy Yard, and from here, travelers can explore the city’s top museums and historic sites. It impresses with its upscale amenities and entertaining rooftop bar.

» Learn more: How to travel to D.C. on points and miles

Collect World of Hyatt points quickly

World of Hyatt points can generally be redeemed for a night at a qualifying hotel. But before you start using your Hyatt points, you have to earn them.

Beyond qualifying hotel stays, another way to amass a large number of points is to earn a sign-up bonus for a Hyatt credit card.

If you seek more flexibility in redeeming miles for hotel stays, consider applying for a more general travel credit card instead. A more general travel credit card differs from a hotel card in that you can earn points for booking lodging at multiple hotel chains, rather than reaping the benefits of staying loyal to a single brand.

The more high-end the travel credit card, the more benefits you can enjoy, including airport lounge access or automatic elite status in certain programs. That said, a brand-specific hotel card can net you benefits like late check-out or free breakfast, which can have meaningful dollar value.

» Learn more: The best hotel credit cards

Best domestic World of Hyatt Category 4 hotels recapped

Despite recent changes to the list of Category 4 hotels in the World of Hyatt portfolio, there are plenty of excellent options where travelers can redeem between 12,000 and 18,000 World of Hyatt points for an overnight stay.

These are some of the most interesting hotels within U.S. borders, but there are plenty more Category 4 hotels around the world, too. They all span a mix of business and resort destinations. If you want to rack up more points to redeem or are looking for a free-night certificate, consider the World of Hyatt Credit Card for everyday and travel purchases to boost your balance in a jiffy.

(Top photo courtesy of Hyatt)