The cheapest path to five star nights on points is World of Hyatt. Its top hotels cost far fewer points than luxury hotels at Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors or IHG One Rewards, and in the US you can move Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt one to one. Marriott Bonvoy is the best second choice, and often the first choice in Canada, because it has the most luxury hotels and more cards feed into it.
Which hotel program gives the most luxury for the fewest points?
World of Hyatt, by a wide margin. Hyatt still uses an award chart, so a night costs a set number of points based on the hotel's category and the date. Its top categories have long sat at roughly 35,000 to 45,000 points a night. The other three programs price most nights based on the cash rate. When the cash rate is high, the points price is high too.
Here is how the four compare at the luxury tier:
- World of Hyatt: Park Hyatt, Alila and Andaz hotels. Top hotels are often around 35,000 to 45,000 points a night, depending on off peak, standard or peak dates.
- Marriott Bonvoy: Ritz Carlton, St. Regis, JW Marriott and Edition. Prices change with demand. Top hotels often run from about 70,000 to well over 100,000 points on busy dates.
- Hilton Honors: Waldorf Astoria, Conrad and LXR. Prices change with demand. Luxury nights often pass 100,000 points.
- IHG One Rewards: InterContinental, Regent, Six Senses and Kimpton. Prices change with demand and swing widely.
The raw numbers are not apples to apples. A Hilton point is worth much less than a Hyatt point, so bigger numbers are normal. The fair test is how much cash each point saves you, which we work out below. Hyatt's weak spot is size. It has far fewer hotels, so check that it has a strong hotel where you actually go.
How do I get Hyatt points if I never stay at Hyatt?
Move them from Chase Ultimate Rewards. Chase business cards, like the Ink Business Preferred, earn Ultimate Rewards points, and those transfer to World of Hyatt one to one. Bilt Rewards also transfers to Hyatt one to one. Transfers to Hyatt usually arrive fast, but confirm the room is open before you move a single point. Points cannot come back.
Here is a worked example with round numbers. Say your card spend earns about 1.5 points per dollar on average. Spend $8,000 a month and you earn 12,000 points a month, or 144,000 a year. At 40,000 points a night, that is three nights at a top Hyatt with points left over.
Other transfers exist, but they are weaker for luxury hotels. American Express Membership Rewards in the US moves to Hilton Honors at one to two and to Marriott Bonvoy at one to one. Chase also moves to Marriott Bonvoy and IHG One Rewards one to one. Those transfers rarely beat Hyatt.
In Canada, no major card program moves points to Hyatt. Canadian owners usually lean on Marriott Bonvoy. American Express Membership Rewards in Canada transfers to Marriott Bonvoy at one to 1.2, and Marriott cards earn Bonvoy points directly.
How do the free night perks work?
Three programs give you a free night on longer award stays, and all four offer cards with a yearly free night. Used well, these perks cut your cost per night by a fifth or more.
Longer stays:
- Marriott Bonvoy: Book five award nights in a row and pay points for only four.
- Hilton Honors: Members with elite status get the fifth award night free. Many Hilton credit cards come with that status.
- IHG One Rewards: Holders of certain IHG credit cards get the fourth award night free.
- World of Hyatt: No free night deal, but its prices already start lower.
Say a Ritz Carlton costs 100,000 points a night. Five nights would cost 500,000 points. With the fifth night free, you pay 400,000, or 80,000 a night.
Yearly free night certificates:
- Marriott Bonvoy cards: A free night each year on the card anniversary, capped at a set number of points that depends on the card. You can add up to 15,000 of your own points to reach a nicer hotel.
- Hilton Honors cards: The higher end cards give a free night with no points cap. It can work at a Waldorf Astoria or Conrad, which makes it one of the best hotel perks out there.
- IHG One Rewards cards: A yearly night up to a points cap, and you can add your own points to go higher.
- World of Hyatt card: A free night at a Category 1 to 4 hotel. It will not reach the top hotels, but it covers a solid city night.
Card fees and perks change, so check the current terms on the issuer's own page before you apply.
Is it better to pay cash or points at a five star hotel?
Divide the cash price by the points price. If the result beats what your points are worth elsewhere, use points. If not, pay cash and keep the points.
Here is a worked example at the Park Hyatt New York. These are round numbers, so check both prices on hyatt.com for your own night.
- Cash rate with tax: $1,200
- Points rate: 45,000
- Value: $1,200 divided by 45,000 is about 2.7 cents per point
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 1 cent each as plain cash back. At 2.7 cents, points win easily. On a slow week, the cash rate might fall to $600. Then the same 45,000 points are worth about 1.3 cents each, and paying cash makes more sense.
Watch the fees too. Hyatt and Hilton waive resort fees on award stays. Marriott Bonvoy still charges them, which can add a real amount to a stay that looks free.
Which hotel program should a business owner pick?
Pick one main program and stick with it. Spreading points across four programs leaves you short everywhere.
- US owners: Earn Chase Ultimate Rewards and send them to World of Hyatt. Add Marriott Bonvoy for places Hyatt does not cover.
- Canadian owners: Build Marriott Bonvoy through American Express Membership Rewards or a Marriott card, and use the fifth night free.
- Anyone who will hold a top Hilton card: Use the uncapped yearly free night at a Waldorf Astoria or Conrad.
- IHG One Rewards: Best as a side program if you often visit places with a strong InterContinental.
Your business may already earn enough for a few five star nights each year. A business owner can see how many business class trips and hotel stays their current spending already buys. see what your spending buys