Best International Category 1-4 Hyatt Hotels
Following up on our post about the best domestic properties for using your Hyatt Category 1-4 free nights, we’ve complied a list of our favorites around the globe. There are a lot of great Hyatt locations, so it was a bit difficult to decide on the top 10. But we feel that in general these represent the best international Category 1-4 Hyatt Hotels, both in terms of desirability and maximizing the value of your free night certificates.
I started looking at a number of SLH properties as potential best international Category 1-4 Hyatt hotels. However, this exercise quickly became overwhelming. I’ve only personally been to one property, and with the great variation among these boutique hotels, it’s simply too difficult to pick. Thus, the list of top 10 best international properties for Hyatt free night certificates are all their primary brands.
Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile
A perennial favorite, the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile has long been a favorite free night certificate candidate. Situated west of the Arc de Triomphe near the Boulevard Périphérique, the hotel is both reasonably close to the central sights and an excellent value.
The best part is how tall the hotel is. Rising above the nearby neighborhood, many rooms have magnificent views of the Eiffel Tower. I wish the hotel wouldn’t have been sold out during our trip to Paris in 2018. It would have been lovely to spend a night here! What a lovely view of Paris!
Park Hyatt Zanzibar
One of the most off the beaten path Park Hyatt locations, this luxury hotel off the coast of Tanzania is a great pick for your certificate use. If you can get here. It’s quite the trek from the U.S. The Park Hyatt Zanzibar offers direct beach access, a pool and dining overlooking the ocean, and absolutely exquisite design. There are many times where I am completely willing to pass up luxury hotels. This is likely one case where I wouldn’t.
This hotel was slated to move to Category 5 this month, but that will not be happening due to the coronavirus. Look to lock it in by early 2021!
Hyatt Centric Hong Kong
With all the turmoil in China and Hong Kong over the past year or more that has caused travel to plummet, I wanted to highlight this relatively new Hyatt option in the city. Well, the hotel itself isn’t new, but it is new to the chain. The Hyatt Centric sits on Hong Kong island, east of Central and roughly across the harbor from Kai Tak airport. It’s not quite as close to the heart of Hong Kong as other hotels, but you do have easy access to the metro.
Until travel to Hong Kong picks up and prices rise, it isn’t necessarily one for the record books in terms of value. But it is a new option and should be in the back of your mind for the future.
Grand Hyatt Shanghai
Maybe not the best use of your certificate in terms of cash value, as rates can drop down to about $150 at times, the Grand Hyatt Shanghai has so much to offer in other ways. I’ve talked with a few friends who have stayed at this hotel, and all of them love it. Occupying the 53rd to the 87th floor of the Jin Mao tower and offering floor-to-ceiling windows, the views are incredible (as long as the air quality is good).
The building used to be the tallest in China. But its glory days are gone, as so many other buildings have been constructed since it opened in 1999. The hotel remains one of the higher in the world, however, and I believe the highest Hyatt hotel.
This hotel will actually be dropping to a Category 3 come 2021. It was supposed to this year, but, again, things are on hold.
Hyatt Regency Seragaki Island
This Hyatt pick on Okinawa looks absolutely lovely. It offers all the amenities you’d expect at an upscale resort, with beautiful pools and views looking out over the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. It’s a whole lot further than say, Hawaii. It’s also quite popular. The island sees similar tourism rates as all of Hawaii.
Rates vary wildly, but you can often get anywhere from $200 to $400 in value, making the Hyatt Regency Seragaki Island a place you’ll likely be able to maximize your Category 1-4 free night certificate.
Park Hyatt Saigon
If there is one Park Hyatt in Asia that I really want to visit, it is the Park Hyatt Saigon. This hotel has been a Category 4 staple for as long as I can remember. For a country as inexpensive as Vietnam, it might seem odd to burn a certificate (or points) when you can find great hotels for much less. But I still put it high on my personal list of best international Category 1-4 Hyatt Hotels.
Sad news: the hotel is also moving up to Category 5. The good news is that this is delayed from a March 22, 2020 change to sometime in 2021.
Grand Hyatt Berlin
This highly rated hotel is an excellent luxury pick in the German capital. The spa pool and fitness center have stunning views overlooking the rooftops of the city. Rates are often over $200 per night, giving you good value for your certificate. Good location, fine dining, excellent Grand Club. This hotel seems to have it all.
Hyatt Centric Las Condes Santiago
It was a sad day when the Grand Hyatt Santiago re-flagged to a Mandarin Oriental. But do not fear! There is now a Hyatt Centric in the Chilean capital. The hotel doesn’t have the same stunning views, but it does have a very interesting exterior and the room design is gorgeous. The hotel is also situated near a metro line, giving you easy access to transportation around the city.
Grand Hyatt Melbourne
You can find both a Grand Hyatt and Park Hyatt in Australia’s second largest city, but only one is (currently) bookable with your Category 1-4 free night certificates. The Park Hyatt will be moving to Category 4 starting in 2021 (was supposed to be 2020), but you can settle for the Grand for now. The Grand Hyatt is in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD, providing easy access to the majority of the sights you’ll likely want to see.
Hyatt Regency Kiev
I’ve been surprised by the rates the Hyatt Regency Kiev can command, but the hotel truly does look amazing. Given that there are Hyatt Regency properties in other parts of Eastern Europe is much lower categories, this one has always stood out. I’d love to visit Ukraine at some point, and this is absolutely the spot I’d stay while in the capital.
Properties to Look Forward To Booking
There are a few properties that were supposed to drop from Category 5 to Category 4 this month. However, Hyatt has punted their announced category changes, as well as their peak and off-peak pricing, presumably because of the coronavirus situation. This is mostly good news. But on the off chance you wanted to lock in a reservation at one of the hotels dropping in category, this could be a bummer.
The two in particular that I want to highlight are the Park Hyatt Melbourne (which will then be priced the same as the Grand Hyatt) and the Hyatt Regency Amsterdam. You read that right. You’ll be able book an excellent Amsterdam hotel with your Hyatt free night. Look for these in 2021!
Conclusion
I’m always looking to get great value out of my free nights, although I’m also not the type to fly halfway around the world for a very specific hotel stay. While I’ve used certificates for a couple nights at a Grand Hyatt in Asia, I’m not against using them for an airport hotel (which I’ve done).
What are the best international Category 1-4 Hyatt hotels you’ve visited?
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[…] Some interesting choices here to use our free Hyatt night awards: Best International Category 1-4 Hyatt Hotels: Make The Most of Your Free Nights! […]
Last year I very much enjoyed staying at the Grand Hyatt Berlin (nice Art Deco feel and in a convenient location) and the Hyatt Regency Amsterdam. The lounge staff in Amsterdam were so nice and helpful with trip planning and I even got upgraded to the Spinoza (Presidential) Suite. Along with cheese, cold cuts and dessert, the lounge had a choice of 4 salads each evening ( one with chicken breast, one with seafood and two that were all vegetarian), all of which were quite tasty. I had no need to go out for dinner in the evening. The hotel even allows Globalists to have breakfast in the restaurant, including anything from the menu as well as the buffet– wonderful croissants. The rooms on the back of the building have nice canal views.
I love nice lounges with good food options. Most Hyatts are good. Some are great, like you mention.
Very nice list. The Park Hyatt Saigon is a wonderful hotel with a truly spectacular breakfast. Prices for ancillary expenses are pretty eye watering though. My favorite hotel overall for category 4 was the Hyatt Regency TST in Hong Kong. Amazing service, top notch club lounge and superb location. Sadly it went up in category last year. Still, thanks for some great ideas. I hadn’t thought about Berlin and I’d frankly forgotten about Amsterdam.
Park Hyatt Saigon looks like such an amazing property. Given that we have a year now to fit it in (due to delayed roll out of the changes), I just might pull it off. At least make a booking for next year sometime at the beginning of 2021.
Park Hyatt Saigon is always a superior experience. Located in District 1, it is walking distance close to many of Ho Chi Minh City’s visitor sites. It is a classic hotel with colonial touches and caring staff. I always look forward to my returns to this property, it is an incredibel deal at category 4 and will remain a value at category 5.
I can’t wait to enjoy it!