45 Hyatt Category 1-4 Hotels For a Fabulous Free Night Award Redemption – Master List

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Tl;dr – On, March 25, Hyatt went live with its 2025 changes to its award charts. As such, I’ve highlighted some properties that make for snappy redemptions using a category 1-4 Free Night Award Certificate.

Each year, Hyatt shakes up its portfolio and adjusts the redemption costs at some properties, moving some up a category and others down a category. Points and miles fans, Hyatt loyalists in particular, often bemoan these changes, as inevitably, several popular properties shift to higher categories, making them more expensive point redemptions. To me, it’s much ado about nothing – Hyatt’s a fast-growing hotel chain with a thirst for acquisition and on a mission to win the ‘luxury traveler.’ Thus, there’s always going to be new properties coming into the portfolio that represent solid redemptions. Additionally, there’s a lot of skin on the bone, particularly at the lower-level hotels – properties tagged in categories 1-4. If you’re like me and love finding a ‘value gem’ – a hotel that punches above its weight or otherwise presents a unique opportunity – say, for its convenient location, you’ll enjoy the list I’ve set out below. I listed compelling Hyatt category 1-4 properties offering outsized value. Why 1-4, you ask? Well, those are the category ranges you can book with Hyatt’s base-level Free Night Award (FNA). 

Before diving into the list, a few things to keep in mind. Free Night Awards are much easier to come by nowadays, mainly since Hyatt made all of its awards transferable. In the past month alone, I’ve accumulated three FNAs for an upcoming stay by trading other awards that I value less – Club Access Awards and Guest of Honor certificates. Don’t underestimate how a few savvy trades and a winning search on your favorite hotel award tool can result in a few free hotel nights at a fabulous property. 

Of course, you won’t find every category 1-4 hotel here. I’ve cherry-picked these properties for several reasons: some for their location, others for the outsized value they offer compared to the cash rate, still others as they represent a premium option in an otherwise lacking hotel market, and finally, some for the ‘bucket-list’ factor. I’ve grouped them into four regions: Asia and Oceania, Europe and Africa, North America, and South American/Caribbean/Central America.

And, YES! These properties all should still be bookable with a FNA 1-4 after Tuesday. 

Finally, if you’re wondering how to acquire or trade for awards, many social media groups are dedicated to safely exchanging Hyatt awards – I even created one here. Join the group and feel free to start trading awards with your fellow Hyatt members.

Ok, let’s jump into it!

45 Category 1-4 Hyatt Hotels in Asia and Oceania that Warrant Your Attention

Asia and Oceania

Let’s begin with a run of Park Hyatt’s, shall we?

Park Hyatt Hyderabad—Hyderabad, a major city in South-central India, is famed for its restaurants and monuments. If you’re traveling around India or the subcontinent and need some luxury digs, you could do a lot worse. 

Park Hyatt Siem Reap – The gateway to the ruins of Angkor Wat. Enough said. 

Park Hyatt Jakarta – Jakarta is one of those cities where you can throw a rock and hit a luxury hotel. In addition to a Four Seasons, Orient, Raffles, Langham, Shangri-la, Kempinski, Mandarin Oriental, and the new Keraton, you have two Ritz-Carlton’s to choose from and a St. Regis. Your FNA will slide your right into the Park Hyatt Jakarta.

Hyatt Hotel Canberra—A Park Hyatt Hotel—Unlike other popular Australian destinations, Canberra is inland, providing some opportunity for ‘bush time’ nearby. You can use the Park Hyatt as a jumping-off point for a wildlife tour. 

Alila Diwa Club GOA – You get coastal India, beaches, nightlife, scrumptious food, and an evolving culture shaking the last vestiges of former Portuguese colonial rule. Dive into those experiences, then cool off in the Alila’s infinity pool.

Grand Hyatt Fukuoka—Fukuoka flies under the radar, but on a recent trip to Japan, a few Japanese people said it was the best food city in the country. Enough said. Skip the Ritz there and rest easy knowing your FNA has got you. 

Grand Hyatt Melbourne – Melbourne is incredibly underrated. The city has excellent restaurants and nightlife, a vibrant immigrant community, and even a beach. You can drive to see the penguins on Phillips Island or use Melbourne as your launching point for the nearby Yarra Valley. I recently enjoyed a great stay at the Ritz-Carlton Melbourne, though you could do just fine burning a FNA at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne. 

Hyatt Centric Kanazawa – With the upcoming changes to the Hyatt award chart, we’re losing solid redemption options like the Hyatt Regency Tokyo, Japan and the Hyatt House Tokyo Shibuya, Japan. What if you shake things up and spend some time on the opposite coast, in Japan’s Ishikawa Prefecture alongside the Sea of Japan. For the cost of 1 FNA, you can spend time checking out timeless gardens like Kenroku-en and other Edo-era gems. Japan on points, is always a good idea.

Europe 

Hyatt Regency Lisbon—Portugal is seemingly always a hot travel destination, and this Hyatt Regency is right in the thick of it all. The hotel offers views of the 25 April Bridge, is right along the Tagus River, and is nearby the Belém Tower. Rates at this place can go north of $600, so snagging a free night can be a snazzy redemption. Savor the Touriga Nacional, some Chouriço, and Linguiça for me!

Hyatt Place London Paddington – I have a confession. I never f*cked with Paddington Bear. I said it. Paddington is the uppity ‘big city’ cousin to Winnie, that no one asked for. Paddington is no better than number three in the realm of British cartoon bears. Rupert over Paddington everyday of the week. It goes, Pooh, Rupert, then Paddington. (We all know that if we include American cartoon bears, Paddington doesn’t even make the list, and Yogi is packing everybody up). With that said, Paddington station is a central hub you’re likely to go through if you frequent the Underground while in London. It’s where the train from Heathrow stops. If you’re planning to see the sights in London and aren’t looking for the most lavish digs, consider pairing a few FNAs for a stay at this hotel, then roll out to the Langley for a night of indulgence before flying out. Though it’s not open yet, the Hyatt Place London Paddington should be online later this year.

SCHLOSS Roxburghe – A gorgeous Scottish manor 1 hour 20 minutes from Edinburgh in one direction, and 1 hour 20 minutes from Newcastle in the other. See Hadrian’s wall, practice your archery, sleep in your palace, before continuing on to Edinburgh for fun adventures.

Hyatt Regency Cologne – Cologne is a step back in time, and the Hyatt Regency is an excellent seat to the show. Located right along the Rhine, you’ll enjoy this European city’s Gothic architecture and history if you strategically deploy your FNA.

Grand Hyatt Berlin—Fill up on döner kebab and leave your artsy friend at home so you can actually enjoy your trip with the highfalutin lectures. 

Lindner Hotel Oberstaufen Parkhotel – Sleeper alert. All of you who are fans of skiing may want to take a look at this property from December through March. This hotel is located in Southern Germany, close to the border with Austria. Shoutout to Wikipedia for this fun fact: in 2010, Oberstaufen became the first German town to go live with Google Street View. 

Brunfels Hotel – A highly rated Unbound Collection hotel in the German town of Mainz. Why Mainz? As Mainz is Germany’s ‘wine capital,’ good grape juice abounds.

FirstName Bordeaux – Speaking of wine, here’s a JDV entry for your wildest ‘left bank’ dreams. Located only 13 minutes driving from the famed estate, Château Haut-Brion – a Premier Grand Cru Classé, you can use the FirstName Bordeaux as your basecamp for exploring some of the most famous vineyards in the world. A solid point hotel in any prominent wine region should always command your attention.

Hyatt Centric Reims – Don’t @ me, but Champagne is overrated. Champagne is for basics. Do I enjoy it? Of course, but there are many occasions when I’d opt for a Franciacorta or solid Cava instead. Accommodation options in the storied Champagne region can be quirky. You can stay at an old converted French church or villa for top-end coin or cozy up in a simple countryside inn for $70 a night. Thus, when the Hyatt Centric Reims opens in Q3 2025, it will fill a gap in the market as a modern hotel with some trimmings that is bookable on points and right in the heart of Champagne.

Grand Hyatt La Manga Club Golf & Spa – A Spanish golf club near the coast that flies under the radar? Oh, by the way, do you like Roman ruins? This bad boy is 20 minutes away.

Lindner Hotel Mallorca Portals Nous—Hyatt is not in danger of losing hotel coverage on the Balearic island of Mallorca. Last I counted, there were at least 14 properties spread across the Dreams, Alua, Zoetry, and Secrets all-inclusive brands. That said, if you’re looking to skip the bottomless low-quality drinks but still want to enjoy the crisp blue waters, then this Lindner hotel is a great option.

Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere—There’s no shortage of high-end hotels in Vienna, but if you’re looking for elevated comfort and a solid spa, without breaking the bank, this Andaz is bookable with an FNA.

Hyatt Regency Zadar – Croatian wine, beaches, and an ancient Roman town on a quaint peninsula. Sounds like a fun adventure.

Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay—I’m firmly in the anti-gatekeeping camp, but I almost tightened my lip on this one. Montenegro feels like it’s only a step behind its southern neighbor in Albania on the road to being ‘blown up’. Picturesque lakes and a UNESCO-listed old town await you. 

Hyatt Regency Rome Central (Termini) – This hotel hasn’t opened yet (scheduled for Q3 2025) and has hilariously already gone through a name rebrand. Shout out to that Hyatt marketing guru who decided ‘Central’ was much more vibey than “Termini.” Roman hotels can be notoriously expensive (and often overpriced). This hotel takes over the location of an old Radisson (with a serious upgrade) and is right by the train station from which it derived its short-lived former name. Given how the Tiber squiggles through the city, you can also walk quickly to the Coliseum, Diocletian baths, and the underrated National Roman Museum – Palazzo Massimo. Don’t skip the National Museums in Rome – they are dope!

Hyatt Centric Murano Venice – Glass blowing and the best post-dinner ride home. As this hotel is located off the main island of Venice, you can be sure there will be a dramatic boat entry as you arrive (ahem, JW Marriott Venice upcoming review). If you’ve done Venice before and don’t want to fight the crowds day and night, consider staying in Murano for a more laid-back trip.

Africa

There’s just one entry that makes the list for Africa. Why? Much of Hyatt’s footprint in this part of the world focuses on MENA, where you can get a ton of value for your dollar at luxury hotels. Many of Hyatt’s compelling properties for Sub-saharan, Eastern, and Western Africa come from its partnership with Mr. & Mrs. Smith hotels, which have not been great values to date. Thus, you’re better off going slightly upmarket and paying a cash rate for a truly luxurious experience than redeeming points for a 1-4 hotel or burning an FNA. The exception? 

Hyatt Regency Cape Town—I wrote a full review of my visit to this property, which you can check out here. Tl;dr—fun, colorful neighborhood, near wonderful restaurants and bars, and stellar service, and a suitable launching point for a day in South Africa’s wine country. In a city that surprisingly doesn’t have more upmarket hotel options in the city proper, the Hyatt Regency Cape Town plays its role well.

United States

Hyatt Centric New Orleans – I used to live in the French Quarter, and Mrs. Blackbeard taught yoga there. This hotel punches above its weight and has continually evolved to offer more to its guests. Whether you’re popping into New Orleans for a quick weekend trip or attending a wedding – if you want to be right off Bourbon Street in the middle of the action, you could do much worse. 

Hyatt Regency Louisville – Down the street from the University of Louisville and near Churchill Downs. I imagine award nights won’t be available during the Derby, but maybe you’ll get lucky. 

Hyatt Vacation Club at Pinon Pointe—Look at the scenery surrounding this place. There is little else you need to think about. This is an easy book. 

Andaz Savannah – Ah, Savannah – aka the city that has been continually outspent for the last 15 years by Charleston in the race to be featured as ‘the darling U.S. You Just Need to Visit’ in every Conde Nast issue. If you fall victim to the marketing, you can save face by laying your head at the Andaz using one of your FNAs. 

Hyatt Regency Seattle – Seattle slacks when it comes to luxury hotels, and I’m convinced Starbucks is behind it. I have no evidence to prove this, but it feels right to blame Starbucks for this sort of thing. If you’re in the Pacific Northwest for a night or two, the Hyatt Regency offers stunning views of the Puget Sound and is a great redemption option.

The Carolina Inn, a Destination by Hyatt Hotel – You go to this hotel when you want a place to safely retreat to after watching the superior college basketball team wearing a deeper shade of blue defeat its lesser rival on its home court. 

Rizzo Center – You thought I was done? No. You RETURN to Chapel Hill just in time for another beatdown courtesy of the Blue Devils, but this time, you opt for a bit more relaxation and Blue Devil domination. 

The Wildbirch Hotel—This is on the list because it’s a new hotel in Anchorage, Alaska, a city I’ve never been to. It’s across the street from the Biscuitclub, a brunch restaurant named for a fluffy pastry I’m rather well acquainted with. 

Hyatt Vacation Club at Desert Oasis – OMG! Coachella, Joshua Tree. VIBBBBBEEEE!!!

Canada

Hyatt Place Whitehorse – A property in the Yukon Territory? This hotel is scheduled to open later this year, possibly in Q3. Until then, I’m just gonna leave this here…

The Anndore House – An excellent option for a trip to Toronto. If you’re looking to stick to a budget, you can curve the costs at the Ritz, St. Regis, Park Hyatt, BISHA, Four Seasons, and Shangri-La and enjoy a cozier, more boutique experience at The Anndore House.

Spirit Ridge – Only 13 minutes from the US-CA border, Spirit Ridge is nestled within one of the world’s most underrated wine regions – the Okanagan Valley. I visited this hotel in 2023 and loved my stay. There’s a winery, Nk’Mip Cellars, on-site and a host of other activities you can get involved with. Full review incoming!

Mexico

Andaz Mexico City Condesa – Located in a hip neighborhood, this Andaz is the perfect crash pad for a weekend getaway to CDMX.

The Caribbean

Royal Beach Hotel Punta Cana – This hotel will open in Q2 or Q3 of this year but I’m flagging it as it’s bound to be a great redemption. If you’re a fan of Hyatt’s all-inclusive Secrets (adults-only) or Dreams (family friendly) properties, then you should note that this hotel is located on the exact same development as Hyatt’s upcoming Dreams Punta Cana and relatively new Secrets Punta Cana, but is bookable for a 1-4 FNA. I don’t believe the Royal Beach to be all-inclusive, which if you’re like me is actually a good thing. That said, I can imagine there’s an all-inclusive option you can pay for while on property.

Bottom line, you get the same beach, possibly better food (or at least the freedom to eat where you want) without blowing the points you’d need at the Dreams or Secrets next door. You’re ‘Dreaming’ if you think this one will stay a ‘Secret’ for long.

Central America

Hyatt Centric San José Escazú – Everyone writes off San José on their trip to Costa Rica and that’s a mistake. It’s one of the most underrated food cities in the Americas, if not the world, in my opinion, and I’m not just talking about típico. There’s an impressive roster of Michelin-style fine dining restaurants (ahem, Amana – review forthcoming!). I recently stayed at this new Hyatt Centric in the Escazú ‘suburb’ and it boast comfortable rooms, friendly service, a solid elite breakfast and a wonderful location. It’s located right off the highway for easy transit to the airport and into other neighborhoods of San Jose, two blocks from the posh Avenida Escazú shopping district, and near one of Central America’s best hospitals for anyone in need of a check-up. You’re only a short drive from Santa Ana and some solid hiking in the hills. Use this as your post-up spot for actually experiencing Costa Rica’s capital city.

South America

Grand Hyatt São Paulo – If you’re been reading regularly you know that São Paulo, in my opinion, slacks when it comes to luxury hotels for a city of its size and significance. Thus, the Grand Hyatt represents an outsized value as it’s capable of catering both to those looking for an upscale place to lay their head and anyone who might be in town on business as well. You’ll enjoy solid amenities – a great spa, two pools, and a more-than-respectable club lounge. Though fun and new accommodations have recently arrived you’re still getting great value with a 1-4 FNA at this hotel.

Grand Hyatt Bogotá – Near the airport but somehow also really accessible to all of Bogotá’s to-dos. I stayed here as a Globalist a few years back (review forthcoming) and I got upgraded to the Presidential Suite for one night and had to ‘downgrade’ to the second best room in the place the next night which actually had a better view. The hotel has a great club and the property has strong elite recognition.

The Legend Paracas – Peruvian beach town famous for its ceviche, located nearby a sandy national park where you can go see penguins. If you’re in Peru and searching for something different after your journey to the Sacred Valley and following your tour through Lima’s finest eats (with Pisco Sour in hand), then head on down to the coast and relax at The Legend Paracas. A few years back I stayed at a Marriott property in Paracas, Hotel Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort, Paracas. It was decent overall but I have my suspicions that this Hyatt will offer a much better experience overall.

Hyatt Centric Montevideo – Located right next to Uruguay’s Playa Pocitos, you can enjoy both urban adventures and the beach at this hotel. Remember, Montevideo is accessible via ferry from Buenos Aires, Argentina, so consider getting a two-for-one country visit on your journey to deep-south South America. Honestly, don’t sleep on this spot. Look at the photos. This is one of those properties that is a prime of example of my advice to not overlook room types in place of brands. You can find a lot of value in those mid-tier soft-brands or quasi-soft brands. You could end up with a suite overlooking the Atlantic ocean.

Hyatt Centric Las Condes Santiago – Similar to São Paulo, Chile’s capital city, in my opinion, could use more upscale accommodation options. Thus, a mid-tier hotel like this Hyatt Centric could be the move, especially if you plan to spend your days out and about exploring. Skip the ‘Ritz’ and stay here.

Conclusion

Ok, you have my pics for where to deploy those 1-4 FNAs for some solid under the radar values. Enjoy your travels and if you have other 1-4 properties you enjoy, please share them in the comments! 😀