Are you wanting to travel to luxurious destinations like Hawaii, Greece, or Italy? Have you ever looked into booking a trip and realized how expensive it is? I have been there too. After I graduated college and began working I was so excited to use my money to travel. But, I didn’t realize how expensive it would be.
In 2021, I learned how to utilize my credit card points to book lavish vacations. Although not all of my trips have been completely free, I have been able to reduce the price significantly by having all of the hotels paid for!
This topic may seem overwhelming and confusing, but I hope to simplify it in this guide. If you are new to traveling using points and miles I am going to show you how I book my Hyatt award stays using Chase Ultimate Rewards Points. If you are new to using points, I would recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred® to get you started! Read more about my favorite travel card here.
Understanding Chase Ultimate Reward Points
Chase Ultimate Rewards points stand out as a versatile currency offering numerous redemption options. One particularly enticing avenue for maximizing the value of these points is booking stays at Hyatt hotels. Renowned for their luxury, comfort, and impeccable service, Hyatt properties offer a dreamy backdrop for memorable getaways. One of my favorite parts about Hyatt is their partnership with Small Luxury Hotels. You can use your Hyatt points to book luxury hotels around the world with this partnership.
Before delving into the specifics of booking Hyatt stays, it’s essential to understand the fundamentals of Chase Ultimate Rewards points. These points are earned through eligible purchases and sign up bonuses from Chase credit cards such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred®, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or Chase Freedom Unlimited®. Each card offers different earning rates and perks, but they all contribute to the same Ultimate Rewards account.
The Flexibility of Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
One of the key advantages of Chase Ultimate Rewards points is their flexibility. Points can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to several travel partners, including Hyatt. This means that you can leverage your points to book award stays at Hyatt hotels worldwide, providing access to a diverse range of destinations and accommodations. I usually save all of my Ultimate Rewards points for free hotel stays, but you can also use them for free flights!
You can use Chase points to book flights too!
Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to a variety of different airlines. You can transfer your Ultimate Rewards Points to British Airways, Iberia, AirFrance/KLM, AirCanada, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines, AerLingus, Emirates, JetBlue, Southwest, and Virgin Atlantic.
There are unlimited ways to use your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points for free travel. I have used my Ultimate Rewards points to book free hotel stays in Hawaii, Greece, Italy, Florida, and more!
Unlocking Value with Hyatt
Hyatt’s loyalty program, World of Hyatt, offers excellent value for points redemption, making it a favorite among travel enthusiasts. With a portfolio spanning luxury resorts, boutique hotels, and upscale properties, Hyatt caters to various travel preferences and budgets.
You signed up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card and have spent the minimum spend to earn the sign on bonus. Now you have a stash of Ultimate Rewards points in your account. Now the fun part! Decide where you want to go. Head over to the World of Hyatt website.
Step 1: Make a World of Hyatt Account
I have used Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to book all of my hotel stays and it is extremely easy to do! The first thing you need to is make a free account with World of Hyatt. Head to the website, make an account and then verify your account with your email address. Done!
Step 2: Decide on your travel destination
After you have made your account, it is time to choose your destination. Search the World of Hyatt website to see which hotels you want to use your points on. I love using the “Explore hotels & resorts” feature to look at all the hotels around the world where you can use your Hyatt points. One of my favorite ways to use Hyatt points is to stay at Small Luxury Hotels. This hotel collection is a partner of Hyatt and you can use your points to stay at these unique luxury hotels! Some of my favorite SLH properties that I redeemed Hyatt points for are at the Grand Hotel Victoria Concept & Spa in Lake Como, Domes White Coast Milos in Milos Greece, and Summer Senses Luxury Resort in Paros, Greece.
The Hyatt brand itself has some beautiful luxury properties as well. I recently booked a trip to the Grand Hyatt Kauai using credit card points. This luxury resort averages about $1,000 A NIGHT! This is a property that I would never have been able to afford to stay at if it wasn’t for points. This is the hotel I am going to show you how to book in this post.
3. Searching for Availability
You know here you want to travel to and where you want to stay. The next step is to make sure that there is availability at this hotel to use points on the dates you want to travel. For some of the popular destinations such as Hawaii, availability can be tricky to find. These resorts are so popular that they often book at least 6 months in advance! I booked my recent trip to the Grand Hyatt Kauai 7 months in advance.
What if the hotel I want isn’t available?
If you are not able to book a hotel that far in advance I would recommend traveling at a non-peak time. Being flexible with your travel dates can allow you to capitalize on lower redemption rates and maximize the value of your Chase Ultimate Rewards points. I was able to find availability at the Grand Hotel Victoria Concept & Spa by booking in April instead of the peak summer months.
If your travel dates are not flexible due to your work schedule (shoutout fellow teachers!) then you may want to explore less popular destinations or tourist spots. When I got married last summer, I knew I could only travel for my honeymoon in July due to my work schedule. The summer is definitely the most popular time to travel to Greece. I knew it was going to be hard to book and very crowded.
When I went to book hotels 6 months in advance, all of the hotels in Santorini and Mykonos were already booked for the dates we wanted. So, I explored some of the less popular islands such as Milos and Paros. Not only were these islands available, but they cost less points and were less crowded! AND they were beautiful resorts in Greece.
Now back to booking your trip!
Confirming availability
For this example, we are going to book a stay at the Grand Hyatt Kauai. Next, input the dates you want to stay and conduct a search. Make sure you click the “Use Points” tab. The search tells you that one room will cost you 35,000 points a night for a total of 70,000 points. Now we know how many points our trip is going to cost us and that there is availability for our dates.
Once you have confirmed that the hotel you want is available for your dates you are ready to go. Time to transfer your points!
Step 4: Transfer your Points
Head over to your Chase account or app. Next, click on “Benefits” and then “Transfer your Points”. From there, you can scroll through all of the transfer partners until you get to “World of Hyatt”. You will need to type in your new WOH member number, type in the amount of points that you would like to transfer, and then transfer! Your points will show up in your new World of Hyatt account instantly or sometimes within a few hours. You will get an email confirmation from chase confirming the transfer. It is as easy as that!
Step 5: Book your hotel with points!
After your points have transferred to your account you are ready to book! You are going to conduct your original search again. Enter the hotel you want to stay at, the dates you want to travel, and click the “use points” box. This time, you will choose the room you want to book and click “Select and Book”.
Here are the options for rooms at the Grand Hyatt Kauai during off-peak months. Next, select the room you would like and book!
After you book, you will find your hotel reservation on your World of Hyatt account!
Booking Hyatt stays with Chase Ultimate Rewards points is an easy way to elevate your travel experiences without draining your wallet. By leveraging the flexibility of Chase Ultimate Rewards points and the exceptional value offered by Hyatt’s loyalty program, you can unlock a world of luxury, comfort, and unforgettable moments.
Whether you’re planning a romantic retreat, family vacation, or solo adventure, strategic redemption of points can transform your travel dreams into reality. Start exploring today and embark on your next Hyatt getaway with confidence, knowing that you’ve optimized every point for maximum value. If you end up booking a Hyatt award stay with Chase Ultimate Reward points comment where you stayed!
