45 Hyatt Category 1-4 Hotels For a Fabulous Free Night Award Redemption – Part 2: Europe and Africa

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Tl;dr – This coming Tuesday – March 25, Hyatt will go live with its 2025 changes to its award charts. As such, I wanted to highlight some properties that could be great redemptions with 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. I’ve split the list into four parts, and this second part focuses on Europe and Africa.

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!

17 Category 1-4 Hyatt Hotels in Europe and Africa to Consider

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 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.

Conclusion

Europe and Africa in the books. Next up, North America. And be on the lookout for the master list of all properties at the end of this series. 😀