The 3 Best Uses of Hyatt Points (And a Few Okay Ones, Too)

The World of Hyatt program is a favorite of frequent travelers for its published award chart (despite some recent award chart changes), rewarding top-tier elite status, and high points-earning (yet low annual fee) World of Hyatt Credit Card.

And sure, the World of Hyatt program has fewer hotels than other big brands like Marriott and Hilton, but there are lots of ways to get great value from World of Hyatt’s generous loyalty program. As long as you're staying in a place with a Hyatt hotel, you'll likely get veritable value from your Hyatt points.

So whether you’re looking for suite upgrades, club lounge access or a free night at a resort, here are a few ways to get the most value from Hyatt points:

Nerdwallet values Hyatt points at 2.2 cents each, and using those points on hotel stays can be of great value. Hyatt currently has an eight-category system that determines the point value for your room. A standard room ranges from 3,500 points for a Category 1 hotel to 45,000 points per night at a Category 8.

While not a fully dynamic pricing model, this system is much better than other programs because it provides a chart that shows members the range of points needed for a redemption night. This allows points collectors to budget for stays in advance and be less at the whims of fluctuating prices.

» Learn more: The best hotel credit cards right now

Here’s how many points you’ll now need to book various rooms at a World of Hyatt hotel:

While prices may vary, Hyatt’s peak and off-peak pricing also applies to:

• Club level rooms.

• Suites.

• All-inclusive resorts.

• Miraval.

• Points and cash rates.

» Learn more: The guide to World of Hyatt

If you want to treat yourself to a nicer room or a suite upgrade (especially at aspirational Hyatt resorts), your points can come in handy.

You can use them to upgrade a cash reservation instead of using points to pay in full for the higher-priced room. For example, if you paid cash for a standard room, you could upgrade to a:

• Club level room for 3,000 points per night.

• Standard Suite for 6,000 points per night.

• Premium suite for 9,000 points per night.

In the example above at Andaz 5th Avenue in New York, the Wellness Suite requires an additional 9,000 points per night on top of the cash rate. Unlike the standard club room or suite points redemption, these are flat rates that are not subject to off-peak or peak dates since they are in addition to the paid nightly rate at the hotel.

Keep in mind that if you have top elite status with Hyatt, you may already receive a free upgrade. For example, a Globalist member would receive access to a club lounge or free breakfast as part of their regular elite benefits, and might also be eligible for a suite upgrade.

While it is nice to guarantee a suite in advance using points, it might be wiser to take advantage of elite status perks, especially if you’re a Globalist member.

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

The all-inclusive properties in the World of Hyatt program are eligible for points redemption. This can represent outstanding value if you’re looking to get food, drinks and activities packed into the deal.

World of Hyatt ranks all-inclusive properties differently than other properties, using a separate award chart. Like traditional award redemption, these properties are now subject to off-peak and peak pricing. Standard rooms range from 12,000 to 58,000 points for up to two people. Adding an extra person to the reservation costs 6,500 to 29,000 additional points per person per night.

In the one-night example above at Hyatt Zilara Cancun (all-inclusive, adults only) travelers can book a standard room (labeled Junior Suite) for 25,000 points or a standard Suite for 40,000 points. Guests can also pay the cash rate and choose to upgrade using points.

Miraval Resorts have a similar off-peak, standard and peak pricing system with points redemption rates based on occupancy. For example, one person staying in a standard room on an off-peak night would pay 40,000 points for a stay.

On the plus side, this redemption includes a $175-per-person resort credit for food and activities. On the other end of the spectrum, a double-occupancy stay in a premium suite on a peak night tops out at 137,000 points per night. Each person would still receive the $175 resort credit.

All of these points can really add up, but if you're staying at an all-inclusive resort or have earned a resort credit, you're still saving a ton of cash on your family vacation.

» Learn more: Amazing suites you can book at Hyatt hotels with points

World of Hyatt offers some other redemption options for your points. While the best value always comes from finding off-peak hotel stays, it can sometimes be worth transferring your Hyatt points to other airlines if you're a few miles shy of a great flight redemption. Or, if you'll never stay in a Hyatt again (maybe your family used to live in a Hyatt that you stayed in during the holidays, but they've since moved), then it can also make sense to use your points for other non-hotel redemptions. Here are some of them:

Flights on partner airlines

If you’re close to achieving a big flight award redemption and need to top-up your account with more points, you can transfer Hyatt points to several airlines including:

• Air France.

• American Airlines.

• British Airways.

• Delta Air Lines.

• United Airlines.

The transfer ratio is 5,000 Hyatt points to 2,000 airline miles. (Generally, for every 2.5 points you convert, you’ll receive one frequent flyer mile.) This is a pretty bad value. For example, 5,000 Hyatt points are worth $115, but 2,000 United MileagePlus miles are worth a measly $24.

Perhaps "pretty bad" is an understatement. Then again it might make sense if you’re close to an airline redemption.

FIND Experiences

World of Hyatt members can also redeem points for more than 200 special experiences in more than 50 destinations as part of the FIND Experiences program.

These include activities centered around your mind and body, honing in on areas to improve our well-being themed to 'feel,' 'fuel' and 'function.'

You don't have to stay at a Hyatt hotel just to participate in a FIND experience (and many aren't even tied to Hyatt properties). Some FIND experiences cost as little as $15 per person, though most are well-above that. Among the FIND experiences you can book include:

• Learning to roll sushi.

• Learning to trim Bonsai trees.

• Practicing yoga.

• Practicing Muay Thai boxing with an expert.

These experiences can be personal and lavish, but they can also be expensive. You might book a $424 private half day tour of San Francisco with a cable car ride through Find, or you can pay 30,285 points. Yet NerdWallet values that many points at about $697, which is probably a bad use of points. A really frugal traveler might simply take a self-guided tour and pay for the cable car ride themselves, which is just $8 per ride.

No matter how you choose to redeem your Hyatt points, you can extract tremendous value from them. If a Hyatt-branded credit card is in your pocket, you can earn them even faster.

What you choose to use your points on will depend on your personal needs, but the best value usually comes from redeeming points for an off-peak hotel stay. The bottom line is that Hyatt points can get you far if you know how to use them to your own maximum benefit.

Featured photo courtesy of Hyatt.