World of Hyatt in Hawaii

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Hawaii hotels can be expensive, but it’s pretty easy to save money by using points to book Hyatt properties. World of Hyatt is currently my favorite hotel loyalty program. Hyatt has several brands ranging from budget-friendly hotels to luxury hotels. World of Hyatt points are easy to earn.  When it comes to redeeming points, Hyatt’s award chart is fair. Award nights at World of Hyatt properties start at just 5,000 points per night.  

My only complaint is that globally, Hyatt has a smaller footprint than some of the other hotel programs. There are over 20 properties in Hawaii for which you can redeem World of Hyatt points, though!

How to earn World of Hyatt points

• World of Hyatt credit card welcome bonus
• WOH credit card spend
• Paid stays at Hyatt properties
• Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio
• Don’t forget about the Chase Ultimate Rewards shopping portal since UR transfer to Hyatt!

The quickest way to earn lots of points or miles for any given award travel goal is to earn a welcome bonus on a new credit card

If you’re a beginner, it is very important to plan your strategy around Chase’s 5/24 rule.  If you have no idea what I’m talking about, stop reading now and read this post first.  Both cards I’ll discuss (Sapphire cards and World of Hyatt card) are Chase 5/24 cards.

While the World of Hyatt credit card from Chase may seem like the obvious choice, there is another card that allows you to earn World of Hyatt points AND other hotel points and airline miles. If you do not already have a transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards earning card, I highly suggest opening one of those first.

Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to 3 different hotel programs and 11 different airlines. One of the hotel transfer partners is Hyatt. That means you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio.

If you only use a World of Hyatt card, you’re only going to earn World of Hyatt points. World of Hyatt points cannot be transferred to other hotel programs. They can be transferred to some airlines, but the ratio is so bad that it is not even worth discussing. By earning Ultimate Rewards, you have the ability to use the points for Hyatt stays, or you can transfer them to other hotels and airlines at a 1:1 ratio.

There are 3 Chase cards that earn transferable Ultimate Rewards points:

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• card_name
• card_name

For the average person, the card_name is going to be my suggestion. The current offer is 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. The annual fee is reasonable at $95.

Bonus categories and benefits have recently been added and/or improved!

• Earn 5 points per dollar on travel purchased via Chase Ultimate Rewards
• Earn 2 points per dollar on other travel purchases
• Instead of the old earn rate of 2, you can now earn 3 points per dollar on dining (including eligible delivery services and takeout)
• 3 points per dollar on online grocery purchases (this excludes Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
• 3 points per dollar on select streaming services
• Earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases

If you own a business, consider the card_name. The current offer is 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months. The annual fee is $95.

If you want a premium card that gives you lounge access, the card_name may suit you better than the Chase Sapphire Preferred. The annual fee is $550, but it can be easily offset by the benefits and statement credits available. The welcome bonus is 50,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 in 3 months.

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The welcome bonus is nice, but this card has a benefit that makes it worth keeping year after year. Starting with your first anniversary, you will receive an annual free night certificate. This is good for any Hyatt property that is category 1-4. The annual fee is $95, but there are so many properties for which you can use the annual free night with rates significantly higher than $95.

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Current offer: bonus_miles_full

The annual fee is $95, but again, the initial bonus offer and then the annual certificate for each anniversary make this card worth opening and keeping. 

This card also comes with Discoverist status, which is mid-tier at best, but Discoverist status will get you free premium internet and late checkout. In our experience, Hyatt is also generous with room upgrades, even for lower status!

The earn rate is 4 World of Hyatt points per dollar at Hyatt, 2 points per dollar at restaurants, 2 points per dollar on airfare purchased directly from airlines, 2 points per dollar on local transit, and 2 points per dollar on gym memberships.

World of Hyatt properties in Hawaii

I’m going to list the World of Hyatt properties in Hawaii by island. These prices are from random dates in June 2022.  Rates at some places can fluctuate pretty drastically, so keep that in mind. Also, these are just the base rates, so remember that you also have taxes and fees on a paid stay.  

When a Hyatt stay is booked entirely on World of Hyatt points, there are no taxes or resort fees! This is not the case with all hotel programs.

There are currently 25 Hyatt properties in Hawaii.  These properties range from World of Hyatt category 3 to WOH category 8.  

Remember that these redemption prices are subject to availability. In order to book a room at the “standard room” points per night rate, a standard room must be available. As with all award travel, I suggest booking as soon as you find dates that work for you.

Hyatt in Maui

There are now 16 properties in Maui.

1. Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort

• Resort fee: ~$55
• Category 8 (40,000 points per night)
• Value: $1072, and this is actually pretty typical.
• Availability can be an issue. Historically, data points suggest that there was a minimum length of stay when using points to book this property. I was able to find some dates available for a 3 night stay, though.

This is going to be your luxury property.  To compare, Marriott’s luxury property in Maui, The Ritz Carlton Kapalua, starts at 70,000 Marriott points per night. Both of these currencies transfer at a 1:1 ratio from Ultimate Rewards.  So you can get 2 nights at the Andaz Maui for less than the amount of UR as one night at the Ritz Carlton Kapalua.  See why I don’t usually suggest transferring UR to Marriott?

2. Wailea Grand Champions Villas, A Destination by Hyatt Residence

• Resort fee: ~$45
• Category 5 (20,000 points per night for a standard room)
• Value (per night): $431

You can also book 2 bedroom condos from 27,000 points per night (value $451).

3. Wailea Ekahi Village, A Destination by Hyatt Residence

• Resort fee: ~$45
• Category 5 (20,000 points per night for a standard room)
• Value (per night): $496

You can also book 2 bedroom condos from 32,000 points per night (value $678).

4. Wailea Ekolu Village, A Destination by Hyatt Residence

• Resort fee: ~$34
• Category 5 (20,000 points per night for a standard room)
• Value (per night): $351

You can also book 2 bedroom condos from 27,000 points per night ($451 value).

5. Wailea Elua Village, A Destination by Hyatt Residence

• Resort fee: ~$50
• Category 7 (30,000 points per night for a standard room)
• Value (per night): $613

You can also book 2 bedroom condos from 48,000 points per night (value $863).

6.Wailea Beach Villas, A Destination by Hyatt Residence

• Resort fee: ~$68
• Category 8 (There are no standard rooms at this property, so redemption pricing starts at the suite rate of 61,000 per night)
• Value (per night): $1190

This is a 2 bedroom penthouse, so while 61,000 is a lot, it’s actually a good value if you have lots of points and you’re trying to accommodate a family or 2 couples.

7. Ho’olei Residences

• Resort fee: none
• Category 8 (these are 3 bedroom villas so the standard price of 40k will not apply. The redemption rate would likely be the suite rates of 61,000 or 80,000 per night, but I was unable to find any available dates.)
• Value (per night): $1862

8. Polo Beach Club, A Destination by Hyatt Residence

• Resort fee: ~$85
• Category 7 (There are no standard rooms at this property, but redemption pricing starts at the grand club rate of 39,000 per night)
• Value (per night): $883

This is a 2 bedroom condo, so it’s a good value, especially if you have lots of points and you’re trying to accommodate a family or 2 couples.

9. Makena Surf, A Destination by Hyatt Residence

• Resort fee: ~$89
• Category 7 (There are no standard rooms at this property, but redemption pricing starts at the suite rate of 48,000 per night)
• Value (per night): $919

This is a 2 bedroom condo, so while 48,000 is a lot, it’s actually a good value if you have lots of points and you’re trying to accommodate a family or 2 couples.

10. Hana-Maui Resort

• Resort fee: ~$43
• Category 7 (30,000 per night for a standard room)
• Value (per night): $572

11. Lahaina Shores Beach Resort

• Resort fee: none
• Category 4 (15,000 per night for a standard room)
• Value (per night): $365

This seems like a great value!

12. Puunoa Beach Estates, A Destination by Hyatt Residence

• Resort fee: none
• Category 7 (There are no standard rooms at this property, so redemption pricing starts at the suite rate of 48,000 per night)
• Value (per night): $1117

This is a 2 bedroom villa, so while 48,000 is a lot, it’s a good value if you have lots of points and you’re trying to accommodate a family or 2 couples.

13. Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa

• Resort fee: ~$45
• Category 6 (25,000 points per night)
• Value: $592

14. Kaanapali Alii

• Resort fee: none but there are guest service fees
• Category 7 (30,000 per night for a standard room)
• Value (per night): $594

You can also book a 2 bedroom condo for 48,000 (value $859)

15. Wailea Point, A Destination by Hyatt Residence

I’m not sure about this one. I was unable to find dates for paid or award stays. The only room type is 2 bedrooms condos.

16. Hyatt Residence Club Maui, Kāʻanapali Beach

I’m also not sure about this one as I was unable to find availability but it’s WOH category 7. The only room types are 2 and 3 bedroom condos.

Hyatt in Oahu

There are 3 Hyatt properties in Oahu. I found availability for all 3 of these properties to be decent at any given time of the year.

1. Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach

• Resort fee: ~$38
• Category 4 (15,000 points per night)
• Value: $270

2. Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa

• Resort fee: ~$48
• Category 5 (20,000 points per night)
• Value: $299

3. Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach

• Destination fee: ~$28
• Category 3 (12,000 points per night)
• Value: $259

Hyatt in Kauai

1. Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa

This is one of our favorite hotels EVER!!! Availability tends to be good any time of the year.

• Resort fee: $45
• Category 6 (25,000 points per night for a standard room)
• Value: $676

2. The Lodge at Kukui’ula

• Resort fee: ~$42
• Category 8 (40,000 per night for a standard room)
• Value (per night): $959

You can also book a 2 bedroom bungalow for 61,000 (value $1272)

3. Kauai Luxury Vacation Villas

This is a 4 bedroom villa, but I was unable to find any dates or info about this property’s participation (or lack thereof) in the World of Hyatt program.

Hyatt in Big Island

1. The Islands at Mauna Lani, A Destination by Hyatt Residence

• Resort fee: none, but there are other fees you would be charged with a paid stay
• Category 6 (There are no standard rooms, but 2 bedrooms condos are available to book at the suite rate of 40,000 points per night)
• Value: $525

You can also book a three bedroom condo at the premium suite rate of 50,000 points per night ($675 value)

2. Mauna Lani Point, A Destination by Hyatt Residence

• Resort fee: none
• Category 6 (standard rooms are 25,000 points per night)
• Value: $529

You can also book a two bedroom condo at the standard suite rate of 40,000 points per night ($653 value)

3. Mauna Lani Luxury Vacation Villas, a Destination by Hyatt Residence

• Resort fee: none
• Category 6 (standard rooms are 25,000 points per night)
• Value: $529

This is a 4 bedroom residence, but I was unable to find any dates or info about this property’s participation (or lack thereof) in the World of Hyatt program.

Final thoughts

The World of Hyatt credit card is great for a welcome bonus and for the benefits.  I definitely suggest opening it, but only after you have opened a Chase Ultimate Rewards earning card such as a card_name.

Even if a Hyatt hotel stay is your goal, I suggest earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points rather than World of Hyatt points. You can transfer Ultimate Rewards to Hyatt when needed, but you also have the option to transfer to other partners.  On the other hand, if you only use a Hyatt card, you only earn Hyatt points.  You would be limited to redeeming those points at Hyatt properties.

Earn your first 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points today!

The current offer on the card_name card is 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.

If you’re short on Hyatt points and you already have a Chase Sapphire Preferred (or other Ultimate Rewards earning card), consider opening a World of Hyatt credit card. But after earning the welcome bonus, do not use the Hyatt credit card for everyday spending. Instead, use the Ultimate Rewards earning card.

The earn rate on Chase Ultimate Rewards earning credit cards and the World of Hyatt credit card for non-category bonus spending is one point per dollar.  So the earn rate is the same.

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