luxury hotels

As a value-minded traveler, I love finding and staying at Category 1 Hyatt properties. These hotels usually aren’t on our best Hyatt hotels list. However, you can book the Category 1 Hyatt properties highlighted in this story for a fraction of the points you’d need at higher-category Hyatt hotels.

Based on the Hyatt award chart, travelers can book a standard room at Category 1 Hyatt hotels for 3,500 points on off-peak nights, 5,000 points on standard nights and 6,500 points on peak nights. Plus, you may be able to book club lounge access rooms for 5,500 to 8,500 points per night and standard suites for 6,500 to 9,500 points per night; premium suites may go for 7,000 to 13,000 points per night if the property offers these room types.

Some Hyatt Category 1 properties also offer inexpensive paid rates, so it’s worth considering whether to redeem Hyatt points or book a paid rate. If you opt to book an award stay, you may need to earn more Hyatt points before you can do so. You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio. You can also transfer Bilt Rewards points to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio. The World of Hyatt Credit Card and World of Hyatt Business Credit Card can also help you earn Hyatt points for future redemptions.

The below list only contains a few U.S. hotels, as most of the best Category 1 Hyatt properties are located abroad. However, it’s worth looking for Category 1 Hyatt hotels in the U.S. when you’re on a road trip or need to stay near an airport. For example, there are two Category 1 Hyatt Place hotels near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) with complimentary airport shuttles that I stay at several times a year.

The Park Hyatt Chennai in India may not be the best Park Hyatt, but it is the only Category 1 Park Hyatt in the world. It sits in Chennai’s Little Mount neighborhood, within walking distance of the Little Mount metro station. If you like bats, consider going to the rooftop pool deck in the evening to watch them fly from nearby Guindy National Park.

This hotel has 200 newly renovated guest rooms, including 20 suites. Most rooms are 463 square feet with a city or park view. Standard room award nights cost 3,500 to 6,500 points, while award nights in 936-square-foot park suites cost 6,500 to 9,500 points. Award nights in 990-square-foot park executive suites with complimentary two-way airport transfers cost 7,000 to 13,000 points. However, the Park Hyatt Chennai rarely has off-peak award nights, so don’t expect to find many awards at the lowest rates.

The Park Hyatt Chennai doesn’t have a club lounge, so some World of Hyatt Globalist elite members prefer the Hyatt Regency Chennai (also a Category 1 hotel) for its Regency Club. However, the Park Hyatt Chennai does have a rooftop infinity pool. There’s also a spa with six therapy rooms, a sauna, a steam room, a fitness center, and hot and cold plunge pools.

You’ll find some inexpensive local dining options in the Little Mount neighborhood. However, dining at the Park Hyatt Chennai is on a completely different level. The hotel’s revered restaurant is Mr. Ong, which offers Singaporean hawker-style food for dinner on an outdoor patio. Enjoy breakfast and dinner buffets at The Dining Room. Also, The Flying Elephant offers dinner and Sunday brunch in an informal yet refined setting.

Rates at the Park Hyatt Chennai start at 3,500 points or $106 per night.

Related: The best ways to fly to India with points and miles

The Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta is in northwest Yogyakarta, Indonesia, on 54 acres of land. Yogyakarta (often called Jogja) is popular with tourists for its temples and 18th-century royal complex. It’s also popular with World of Hyatt elite members looking for inexpensive elite nights.

With 269 rooms and suites, the Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta offers various room types with views of the golf course, garden, pool and Mount Merapi. You can redeem 3,500 to 6,500 Hyatt points per night for a 324-square-foot standard room with a king bed or two twin beds. Or, redeem 5,500 to 8,500 points per night for a 388-square-foot room with club lounge access. You can also book a 581-square-foot standard suite for 6,500 to 9,500 points per night. However, booking a paid rate may make sense for some stays, especially if you can take advantage of a lucrative Hyatt promotion during your stay.

The Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta offers an impressive multi-level pool with two waterslides. The hotel also has a nine-hole golf course by Fisette Golf Design, and greens fees start at just $21. You can get a 60-minute massage at the hotel’s spa for as little as $24. Plus, there’s a Regency Club for eligible guests that offers tea in the afternoon and cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and desserts in the evening.

You won’t go hungry at the Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta even if you don’t have Regency Club access. Kemangi Bistro is open all day, offering buffet dining and a la carte options. Bogey’s Teras is also open all day for dining alongside golf course views; it offers live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights. Meanwhile, Angkringan at Hyatt is open for dinner with high-quality meals inspired by Yogyakarta’s street food. If you’re looking for a drink or dessert, Paseban Lobby Lounge is open all day in the lobby.

Rates at the Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta start at 3,500 points or $76 per night.

Related: Which credit card should you use for Hyatt stays?

After the annual Hyatt category changes in March 2023, Alila Manggis is now the only Category 1 Hyatt property in Bali, Indonesia. Alila Manggis is built among a coconut grove along the sea in east Bali, which is popular with divers for its clear water, sharks and coral. This resort is about a 90-minute drive from Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS).

Alila Manggis offers 53 364-square-foot rooms with one king bed or two twin beds and two 1,222-square-foot seaside suites with one king bed. The superior rooms, which you can book for 3,500 to 6,500 Hyatt points per night, are on the ground floor, and each has a patio. The resort’s deluxe rooms are on the first floor, each with a balcony. Otherwise, the superior and deluxe rooms are surprisingly similar. The seaside suites aren’t denoted as standard or premium suites, so you’ll likely need to book a paid rate if you want to secure one of these two suites.

As an Alila Manggis guest, you can enjoy complimentary scheduled yoga and tai chi classes, poolside afternoon tea, bicycles and a scheduled shuttle service to the nearby village of Candidasa. You can also participate in monthly beach and underwater cleanups, book a Balinese cooking class or go on a hiking, snorkeling or diving excursion.

However, the overall vibe of the resort is relaxation. The on-site spa offers seaside treatments in the privacy of outdoor bales; you can book a 90-minute Balinese massage for about $51.

This small resort offers on-site dining options. Enjoy all-day dining at Seasalt, which has a variety of Indonesian and Western cuisines. Or, savor light bites and drinks at the Ocean Bar in the afternoons and evenings.

Rates at the Alila Manggis start at 3,500 points or $137 per night.

Related: Bali on a budget: Booking 6 nights in luxury hotels for just 36,000 points

The Hyatt Regency Kuantan Resort is a beautiful beachfront property outside Kuantan, Malaysia. I love this resort’s location in Teluk Cempedak, its flowering trees by the pool and its good treatment of World of Hyatt elite members.

This resort has 300 rooms, including 12 suites and 19 family-oriented rooms. You can book 366-square-foot standard rooms with one king bed or two twin beds for 3,500 to 6,500 points per night. Book a room with lounge access for 5,500 to 8,500 points per night and enjoy canapes and cocktails in the Regency Club lounge each evening. The 980-square-foot Regency suites are also available on many dates for 6,500 to 9,500 points per night. If you prefer to book a paid rate, you could reserve a sea-view room or a two-room family unit.

The Hyatt Regency Kuantan Resort has two beachfront swimming pools, and one has a swim-up bar. Enjoy a spa treatment at the Bayou Spa, where a 60-minute massage starts at $68. You can also walk on the beach, but the tides are often too strong for swimming. There’s a 24-hour fitness center and a children’s playroom, as well.

You can walk to adjacent Teluk Cempedak for American fast food and local restaurants. Or, you can visit the Hyatt Regency’s multiple restaurants and bars. Kampung is open all day with Western, Malay, Indian and Chinese cuisine, and the Italian Bistro serves gourmet pizzas and pasta for dinner most days of the week. Coals on the Beach is open on the weekends with high tea in the afternoon and barbecue at night.

When it comes to bars, guests have two options. Chukka is open at night with live music, whiskeys, wines and spirits. The beachfront Sampan Bar is open in the afternoons and evenings with signature cocktails and house pours. There’s also a grab-and-go deli with baked goods, tea and coffee.

Rates at the Hyatt Regency Kuantan Resort start at 3,500 points or $86 per night.

Related: What is World of Hyatt elite status worth?

The Alila Bangsar Kuala Lumpur in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is just one stop from the Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station rail in the Brickfields neighborhood.

When you head to the hotel’s 41st floor to check in, you’ll discover a three-story atrium with trees. The Alila Bangsar Kuala Lumpur conducts several sustainability initiatives, ranging from bottling drinking water on-site to encouraging guests to donate lightly used items at checkout.

All the rooms at the Alila Bangsar Kuala Lumpur are on the 35th to 40th floor, so they boast excellent city views. You can book a 410-square-foot studio room with a nice living area by the window for 3,500 to 6,500 points per night. Book the same studio or a standard 1,025-square-foot Bangsar Suite with a points plus cash rate. Or, if you want to book a paid rate, you can select a room with a balcony, a junior suite or even the 2,700-square-foot Alila suite.

There are no coffee machines in the rooms, but there is an espresso machine near the elevators on each floor. Plus, you can enjoy a pool and fitness center on the 40th floor.

The area around Alila Bangsar Kuala Lumpur is well known for its food and drinks. However, if you’d rather eat and drink on-site, Alila Bangsar Kuala Lumpur has you covered. You can enjoy French cuisine for lunch and dinner at Entier. Or, if you’re looking to relax in a leafy environment, Botanica + Co is open all day with Asian and international dishes.

Rates at the Alila Bangsar Kuala Lumpur start at 3,500 points or $77 per night.

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The Hyatt House Johannesburg Rosebank is well-located in Johannesburg’s Rosebank neighborhood. Since opening in February 2022, this has been my go-to Johannesburg hotel due to its low-cost nights and location within walking distance of Rosebank Mall and the Rosebank Gautrain station. The station easily connects to O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB).

This South African Hyatt House has 80 studio suites and one- and two-bedroom apartments. Each suite or apartment has a kitchenette, dining area and desk. The studios, which you can book for 3,500 to 6,500 points per night, are 248 square feet and include a queen bed or two twin beds. The 517-square-foot one-bedroom apartments with one king bed are bookable for 6,500 to 9,500 points per night. The 603-square-foot two-bedroom apartments with one king bed and one queen bed are bookable for 7,000 to 13,000 points per night.

The Hyatt House Johannesburg Rosebank is designed for extended stays, offering amenities that long-term guests will enjoy. For example, there’s a self-serve guest laundry room, a 24-hour fitness center and a rooftop pool.

There are plenty of restaurants at the nearby Rosewood Mall. But if you want to eat at the hotel, the Hyatt House Johannesburg Rosebank has an all-day restaurant named The Collective that serves Indian-inspired dishes. You can also grab to-go snacks and drinks from the lobby H-Market or enjoy snacks and drinks at the pool from the poolside H-Bar.

Rates at the Hyatt House Johannesburg Rosebank start at 3,500 points or $50 per night.

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Hyatt Regency Oryx Doha in Qatar opened in September 2020 after rebranding from Oryx Rotana Hotel. This hotel is in southeast Doha toward Hamad International Airport (DOH), although it doesn’t offer a complimentary airport shuttle. While not in the center of Doha, this hotel is only a short drive or metro ride away from many of the city’s sites.

This hotel offers 388 rooms and 12 suites, each with views of the airport, city or hotel lobby. You can book 378-square-foot standard rooms with one king bed or two twin beds for 3,500 to 6,500 points per night. Or, book rooms of the same size but with Regency Club access for 5,500 to 8,500 points per night. There are also 807-square-foot Regency suites you can book using points and cash on some dates.

The Hyatt Regency Oryx Doha offers Club Olympus Spa & Fitness space on the hotel’s first floor. This center provides a gym, sauna, steam bath, hot tub, outdoor pool and spa. The hotel also operates a Regency Club for eligible guests.

There are many dining venues at the Hyatt Regency Oryx Doha. Choices is open for all-day dining — including breakfast and dinner buffets and a la carte lunch — and The Cellar offers Spanish cuisine and wines for lunch and dinner. Al Nafourah Garden serves Lebanese cuisine for lunch and dinner but also provides a place to watch live sports broadcasts with friends. Jazz Club offers drinks and live music in the evenings, and Sky Lounge is open all day for coffee, tea and light bites.

Rates at the Hyatt Regency Oryx Doha start at 3,500 points or $105 per night.

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The Hyatt Regency Merida in Mexico is just north of Merida’s Centro neighborhood and a few blocks from Yucatan’s International Congress Center.

This hotel features 289 recently renovated rooms and suites. You can book a 344-square-foot standard room with one king bed or two double beds for 3,500 to 6,500 points per night. Or you can book a 377-square-foot Club-access room with the same bed options for 5,500 to 8,500 points per night. Sometimes, you may be able to book a standard or premium suite with points, but this is relatively rare. Off-peak award nights are also rare at this hotel, so you’ll usually need to pay standard or peak award pricing to redeem Hyatt points.

The Hyatt Regency Merida offers guests an outdoor pool and a 24-hour fitness center. Eligible guests can enjoy complimentary breakfast, all-day nonalcoholic drinks, and a selection of wines and canapes in the evening at the 17th-floor Regency Club.

There are plenty of restaurants near the Hyatt Regency Merida. But if you prefer to dine at the hotel, you can have Yucatecan and international food for breakfast and lunch at Peregrina Bistro. And you can try Italian cuisine at Spasso Cucina Italiana for dinner. You can also buy cheese pastry bites and other baked goods all day from Papillon Bakery & Market in the lobby. Salads, snacks and drinks are available for order at the Pool Bar each afternoon.

Rates at the Hyatt Regency Merida start at 3,500 points or $120 per night.

Related: These are the best times to visit Mexico

The Hyatt Place Krakow opened in Krakow, Poland, in November 2022 and is already getting excellent guest reviews. This hotel isn’t in Krakow’s Old Town, but you can take a 10-minute tram for about $1 per ride to reach the Old Town from the hotel. You also might enjoy exploring the Krakowskie Błonia and Jordana parks next to the hotel.

This hotel has 216 rooms. You can book a 258-square-foot standard room with one king bed, two twin beds or a king bed with a sleeper sofa for 3,500 to 6,500 Hyatt points per night. If you prefer to book a paid rate, you can also select a high-floor room, a park-view room or a 344-square-foot, two-room suite.

As a Hyatt Place, this hotel doesn’t have many amenities. Still, you’ll find a 24-hour fitness center, a restaurant and a bar at the Hyatt Place Krakow. The restaurant offers a paid breakfast buffet in the mornings and an a la carte menu in the afternoons and evenings. Meanwhile, the bar offers drinks and snacks from noon onward.

Rates at the Hyatt Place Krakow start at 3,500 points or $99 per night.

Related: The best ways to travel to Europe using points and miles

Story Hotel Signalfabriken — part of the JdV by Hyatt collection — is in Sundbyberg, outside Stockholm, Sweden. If you’re looking for a hotel with a good value that you can book through Hyatt, it may be worth staying at the Story Hotel Signalfabriken. You can take the nearby subway 11 minutes into Stockholm for sightseeing, and if you give it a chance, you may also enjoy the neighborly vibe of Sundbyberg.

This fire station-turned-hotel has 83 rooms with either street or courtyard views. Some guests prefer the courtyard views, as rooms facing the street tend to be louder. You can book four different standard room types for 3,500 to 6,500 points per night: a 129-square-foot room with one double bed, a 161- to 194-square-foot room with one queen bed or one king bed, and a 194-square-foot room with two twin beds. You can also use points and cash on some dates to book two different family room types: a 344-square-foot family loft and a 463-square-foot family duplex.

Daily breakfast on-site at Phil’s Burger is complimentary for hotel guests. Phil’s also serves weekday lunch and daily dinner, offering burgers, fries, milkshakes and beer. There’s also an on-site bar that serves drinks nightly. Although Story Hotel Signalfabriken doesn’t have a gym, you can ask the front desk staff to grant you access to nearby SATS Signalfabriken (which has 32,291 square feet of workout space).

Rates at the Story Hotel Signalfabriken start at 3,500 points or $95 per night.

Related: 5 easy ways to maximize Hyatt award redemptions

The Hyatt Regency Sofia in Bulgaria opened in September 2020, and it receives excellent reviews from most guests. The hotel is in a quiet but central part of the city, within walking distance of most tourist sights. The National Gallery, the National Musical Theater and St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral are within just a few blocks of the hotel.

This hotel offers 183 guest rooms, including 22 suites. If you want to redeem Hyatt points, you can book a 312- to 344-square-foot standard room with one king bed or two twin beds for 3,500 to 6,500 points per night. Book a similarly-sized club room with two twin beds or one king bed for 5,500 to 8,500 points per night. Or, if you want to redeem Hyatt points for a suite, book the 613-square-foot Regency suite with one king bed starting at 6,500 points per night. Reserve garden-view rooms and larger suites if you want to book a paid rate.

The Hyatt Regency Sofia offers a fitness center with Technogym equipment open 24 hours a day. Plus, the hotel has a 5,167-square-foot wellness center with three treatment rooms, a hammam, a steam room, a Finnish sauna, a salt therapy room, an ice fountain, an indoor hydrotherapy pool and a beauty salon. For eligible guests, the hotel has a Regency Club with an outdoor terrace that offers canapes and drinks in the evenings.

There are plenty of restaurants around the hotel. However, you can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner on-site at The Revolutionary Dining Room and Bar, which features modern Italian food. The Scene is a rooftop cocktail lounge open most evenings. Mama Sofia offers Bulgarian products and fresh food all day with a casual cafe vibe.

Rates at the Hyatt Regency Sofia start at 3,500 points or $138 per night.

Related: Your ultimate guide to Hyatt’s hotel brands

Hyatt Regency Wichita sits along the Arkansas River in Kansas. The hotel is connected to the Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center. It’s also a short walk or drive to the Intrust Bank Arena, Riverfront Stadium and Old Town. Guests often enjoy strolling along the riverwalk trail by the hotel after a long day of work.

Many of the rooms at the Hyatt Regency Wichita offer nice river views. Book a 312-square-foot, river-view standard room with two queen beds or one king bed for 3,500 to 6,500 points per night. If you prefer to book a paid rate, you can also select a 309-square-foot corner room with a king bed. The hotel offers three different suite types, but suites are rarely (if ever) bookable with Hyatt points at this hotel.

The Hyatt Regency Wichita offers a 24-hour fitness center, a heated indoor pool and a whirlpool on the level below the lobby. Guests can also benefit from the hotel’s complimentary shuttle to and from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT).

The area around the Hyatt Regency Wichita can be quiet sometimes, so guests may find the on-site dining options useful. Harvest Kitchen|Bar serves seasonally-inspired breakfast, lunch, dinner and bar fare. You can also enjoy a quick drink or meal in the lobby or grab a to-go snack from Perks Market.

Rates at the Hyatt Regency Wichita start at 3,500 points or $131 per night.

Related: How to give (or receive) top-tier Globalist perks with World of Hyatt Guest of Honor

Most guests stay at the Hyatt Regency Dulles in Virginia before or after a flight at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). The hotel is a short walk from the Innovation Center Metro station. The hotel offers a complimentary airport shuttle to and from the airport that runs on a set schedule.

The Hyatt Regency Dulles has 316 rooms and suites. To redeem Hyatt points, book a 374-square-foot standard room with one king bed or two queen beds for 3,500 to 6,500 points per night. Or, if you prefer to book a paid rate, high-floor rooms and several types of suites are also available on some dates.

This hotel offers an indoor lap pool, a full-size hot tub and a 24-hour gym with Life Fitness and Peloton equipment. Plus, you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at Flights Bistro + Bar. Enjoy drinks (including local Virginia beers on tap) and meals at Flights Bar in the lobby each afternoon and evening.

Rates at the Hyatt Regency Dulles start at 3,500 points or $143 per night.

Related: Why all the big hotel chains are battling for budget travelers right now

The Hyatt Regency Tulsa Downtown is next to the Tulsa Performing Arts Center in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma. The hotel enjoys views over the gardens at the One Williams Center complex. It’s connected via a sky bridge to Williams Towers and is just a short walk from the Cox Business Convention Center and the Bank of Oklahoma Center.

This hotel has 444 recently renovated rooms and suites. If you want to redeem World of Hyatt points, book a 360-square-foot standard room with two double beds or one king bed for 3,500 to 6,500 points per night. You can also redeem 5,500 to 8,500 points per night for a similarly sized room with city views, Regency Club access and one king bed. For a 720-square-foot executive suite with one king bed and a sleeper sofa, you can redeem 6,500 to 9,500 points per night. The hotel also offers several room types that you must call to book, including a club-access room with two double beds and various luxury suites.

The Hyatt Regency Tulsa Downtown offers guests a heated outdoor swimming pool and a 24-hour fitness center. The hotel also offers treatments at the Ihloff Salon and Day Spa. Eligible guests can access nonalcoholic beverages and snacks in the Regency Club lounge.

There are ample restaurants and bars around the Hyatt Regency Tulsa Downtown. There’s also the on-site Daily Grill, which overlooks Williams Green and serves daily breakfast, lunch and dinner. Order drinks and snacks from the Daily Grill Lounge in the afternoon and evening. Topeca Coffee serves coffee, tea and breakfast items every morning and afternoon in the hotel lobby.

Rates at the Hyatt Regency Tulsa Downtown start at 3,500 points or $130 per night.

Related: 14 cities where you can book luxury hotels at budget prices

The Hyatt Regency Houston Intercontinental Airport in Texas is about 9 miles from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). It offers guests a complimentary shuttle to and from the airport, making it a popular overnight stop for World of Hyatt members.

This hotel has 335 rooms and suites. If you want to redeem Hyatt points, book a 400-square-foot standard room with one king bed or two double beds on most dates. You can also book a similarly sized deluxe room or a slightly larger one with a king bed and sofa bed if you opt for a paid rate. The hotel also offers two suite types, one of which (the 800- to 1,200-square-foot junior suite) is occasionally bookable with points.

The Hyatt Regency Houston Intercontinental Airport has an outdoor swimming pool with waterfalls, ample lounge chairs and a whirlpool. The hotel also provides guests with a 24-hour fitness center, complimentary parking and a coin laundry facility.

There are several fast-food restaurants around the property, but most hungry guests will likely eat on-site. The hotel offers American cuisine for breakfast and dinner at Sam’s Restaurant. You can order drinks in the evening from Sam’s Bar. The hotel has a 24-hour convenience store with grab-and-go meals.

Rates at the Hyatt Regency Houston Intercontinental Airport start at 3,500 points or $126 per night.

Related: 5 reasons why you may be happier booking a budget hotel

Source: thepointsguy.com