Purchasing World of Hyatt points is one of my favorite ways to [sometimes] save money on upcoming Hyatt stays — especially when they are running a promotion! Through Feb. 29, 2020, you can purchase Hyatt points with a 25% discount on all points purchased, up to 55,000 points per year. The only requirement is that you must purchase at least 5,000 points. While I never suggest speculatively purchasing points, if you have an upcoming Hyatt stay, you might actually save money by purchasing points for a “free†night vs. paying the best available rate.
This is different on their past purchasing point promotions, where you’ll receive a discount instead a bonus. The reason why a bonus offer is sometimes better is it allows you to purchase more points in a given year. In the past we’ve seen as high as a 40% bonus on purchasing points, which comes out to 1.7 cents per point. With this particular promotion, you are buying points at 1.8 cents per point.
If you go all in, it will cost you $990 for 55,000 points. A buying points promotion typically happens a few times a year as well, which means if right now isn’t a good time to purchase points, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see the promotion again later this spring. The World of Hyatt Credit Card is also another way to increase your point balance as well.
Let’s take a few scenarios on how purchasing these points can actually be in your benefit:
Example 1: Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort
This is a beautiful resort right on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and is only a category 4 hotel. That means it only costs 15,000 points to redeem for a free night. During peak summer season, this hotel can easily cost a ton of money, well over $400/night. Instead you can purchase 45,000 points for $810. This will get you three “free” nights for $270/night.
Other great value category 4 properties include: Andaz San Diego, Hyatt Centric Santa Barbara, Hyatt Place Keystone, Grand Hyatt Washington and Gild Hall in New York City.
Example 2: Hyatt Ziva Cancun
The Hyatt Ziva Cancun is one of Hyatt’s all-inclusive properties and costs 25,000 points for 2 guests. More guests require more points! So let’s say you purchase 50,000 points for $900, you can redeem your points for two nights. During most of the winter this property costs $600/night for two guests. Purchasing points would cost you just $450/night, saving you about $300 for your two night stay.
This trick can also be used for the brand new Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana and Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic during peak pricing.
Example 3: Grand Hyatt Baha Mar
This new-ish property in the Bahamas is 20,000 points a night and from personal experience is worth every penny. This hotel is usually around $450 a night after taxes and resort fees during peak season. Bahamas has ridiculously high taxes and this property charges a resort fee. So take whatever “base†night you see and add about another $100! This makes purchasing points a great deal during peak season as you do not pay taxes or resort fees when using points. Since you are capped at 55,000 points per account, you can always purchase points from two different accounts and either transfer the points between the two or just book two separate reservations.
Let’s say you are looking to go for 3 nights, you can purchase 60,000 points (between two accounts) for $1,080. That comes out to $360 per night which could potentially save you a good amount of money (depending on the season).
When you use your points you can also use your Hyatt suite upgrades and Hyatt lounge certificates which can be extremely valuable at many properties, especially the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar.
Overall…
If you know of any upcoming plans, I would absolutely look into the option of purchasing points and see if it worth it. However, I would probably steer away from purchasing points without having a redemption destination in mind. The reason for this is, as we all know, categories can change at any times, thus requiring more points.
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