45 Hyatt Category 1-4 Hotels For a Fabulous Free Night Award Redemption – Part 3: North America

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Tl;dr – Tomorrow, 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 third installment focuses on North American properties. 

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!

13 Category 1-4 Hyatt Hotels in North America to Consider

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.

Conclusion

As you can see the power of a FNA 1-4 remains strong. Ok, we’re through North America. The final installment will be the Caribbean, Latin America, and South America. I’ll post the master list of all properties at the end of this series. 😀