Is Hyatt Still Worth It in 2026?

How One Hotel Loyalty Program Changed the Way Our Family Travels

"Transfer Your Chase Points to Hyatt."

If you've spent any time researching travel rewards, you've probably heard that advice before.

It's one of the first recommendations you'll find in the points and miles world. Ask experienced travelers where they get the most value from their credit card points, and Hyatt almost always enters the conversation. For years, World of Hyatt has built a reputation for generous award pricing, exceptional hotels, and one of the most valuable transfer partnerships with Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Then Hyatt changed the rules.

With the introduction of a new five-tier award chart, travelers immediately began asking the same question:

Is Hyatt still worth it?

After staying at Hyatt hotels across Europe, Asia, and the United States, we've learned that the real value of Hyatt isn't found in its award charts.

It's found in the memories those points made possible.

Some travelers declared Hyatt's changes the end of one of the best loyalty programs in travel. Others insisted nothing had really changed. As with most things in the world of points and miles, we think the truth falls somewhere in between.

This isn't an article about chasing the highest cents-per-point redemption or squeezing every possible dollar from a loyalty program.

It's about how Hyatt quietly changed the way our family experiences the world.

Why Our Perspective Is Different

Before we talk about Hyatt, it's worth telling you a little about us.

We're Tom and Jenny—chefs, restaurant owners, parents, and lifelong travelers. Most of our year is spent inside our restaurant in South Florida, crafting menus, serving guests, and working the kind of hours that make vacations feel incredibly precious.

That reality has shaped the way we travel.

We don't have unlimited vacation time, and we certainly don't have an unlimited travel budget. Every trip has to count. We want to experience as much as possible while being intentional about how we spend our money, because every dollar we save today is another opportunity to say yes to the next adventure.

Like many people, we'd heard about points and miles for years before we seriously looked into them. Friends talked about flying for free and staying in incredible hotels with credit card points, but it always sounded either too complicated or too good to be true.

Eventually, curiosity won.

We started reading articles, watching videos, listening to podcasts, and slowly piecing everything together. As we learned more, one recommendation kept appearing over and over again:

"Transfer your Chase points to Hyatt."

So we did.

Looking back now, that simple decision changed the way we travel.

Travel Isn't About Luxury

One thing you'll notice if you spend much time with us is that we aren't chasing luxury for luxury's sake.

Don't get us wrong—we appreciate a beautiful hotel. After walking fifteen miles through a city, a comfortable bed and a great shower feel pretty wonderful. But the hotel has never been the reason we travel.

We travel to wander neighborhoods we've never seen before. To discover bakeries before the morning crowds arrive. To linger over meals that remind us why we became chefs in the first place. To learn a city's history by walking its streets instead of simply reading about it.

The hotel is simply where the adventure begins each morning and where it ends each night.

That's why value matters so much to us.

Every dollar—or every point—we save on accommodations is money we can spend somewhere else. Sometimes that's another day abroad. Sometimes it's an unforgettable meal. Sometimes it's a museum, a cooking class, or an experience we might have skipped if we'd spent more on our hotel.

That's where Hyatt changed the equation for us.

It didn't just reduce our hotel bill.

It gave us the freedom to travel differently.

How Hyatt Changed the Way We Travel

When people hear "travel on points," they often picture luxury vacations that would otherwise be out of reach. Beautiful resorts, overwater villas, and lavish suites tend to dominate the conversation.

There's nothing wrong with that.

It just isn't how we travel.

Hyatt didn't change where we wanted to go. It changed how we experienced the places we visited.

Before we started collecting points, hotels were one of the biggest expenses we had to plan around. We'd often ask ourselves whether we could afford another night or whether we should stay farther outside the city to save money. Those decisions usually meant spending more time commuting and less time exploring.

Once Hyatt became part of our travel strategy, we found ourselves asking different questions.

Instead of searching for the cheapest hotel we could tolerate, we started looking for the hotel that would help us experience a destination the way we wanted to. Sometimes that meant staying within walking distance of the places we planned to visit. Other times it meant choosing a quieter neighborhood where we could come home after a busy day and feel like we were living there instead of simply passing through.

That shift changed the rhythm of our trips.

As chefs, we're naturally curious. We love neighborhood bakeries, local markets, and restaurants filled with residents rather than tourists. Some of our favorite travel memories have happened because we wandered down the street that wasn't listed in a guidebook.

Having the right hotel made those moments easier to find.

Our hotel became more than a place to sleep. It became part of the experience itself—a place to enjoy a slow morning over coffee while planning the day ahead, and a place to return to each evening to relive everything we'd seen over dinner or a glass of wine.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was realizing that points weren't simply saving us money.

They were buying us freedom.

Freedom to stay another night.

Freedom to choose a better location.

Freedom to spend more of our budget on experiences instead of accommodations.

That's why we've never obsessed over getting the absolute highest cents-per-point redemption.

Of course we appreciate a great deal, but we've learned that the best redemption isn't always the one with the biggest number attached to it.  Sometimes it's the hotel that lets you walk back through quiet streets after the crowds have disappeared.  Sometimes it's the hotel that gives your family enough space to relax after a long day.  Sometimes it's simply another sunrise in a city you're not quite ready to leave.

Those moments never appear on a spreadsheet, but they're the ones we remember. 

When we look back at our travels, we don't talk about how many points we redeemed.

We talk about quiet evenings on Murano.

Morning train rides through Bangkok.

Unexpected discoveries in Bratislava.

Those are the memories Hyatt helped make possible.

And that's why, even after the recent changes, we still believe it's one of the most valuable travel programs available—not because of what it costs, but because of what it makes possible.

Hyatt in the Real World: The Hotels That Shaped Our Opinion

It's easy to talk about Hyatt in theory.

Travel forums are filled with discussions about award charts, elite status, and cents-per-point valuations. Those conversations certainly have their place, but they only tell part of the story.

For us, Hyatt isn't a collection of numbers on a spreadsheet. It's a series of places that became part of our family's travels. Some hotels impressed us because of their location.

Others stood out because they delivered incredible value on points. A few completely changed the way we experienced a destination.

Looking back, we realized something surprising.

We rarely talk about how many points we spent on a hotel.

Instead, we talk about what happened because we stayed there.

Those memories are what convinced us that Hyatt was worth collecting in the first place.

Hyatt Centric Murano Venice: A Different Side of Venice

When we started planning our Thanksgiving trip to Venice, the obvious choice was to stay in the historic center. That's where most visitors base themselves, and it certainly would have made sightseeing a little easier.

Instead, we booked the Hyatt Centric Murano Venice on the island of Murano.

At first, the decision was purely practical. The hotel offered a complimentary airport shuttle, represented excellent value on Hyatt points, and had consistently positive reviews. We expected a comfortable place to stay with easy access to Venice by vaporetto.

What we didn't expect was how much Murano itself would become one of our favorite parts of the trip.

Each morning, we'd board the vaporetto and head into Venice, joining the energy of St. Mark's Square, the Rialto Bridge, and the maze of streets that make the city unforgettable. Each evening, we'd make the short ride back across the lagoon.

That's when everything changed.

As the last of the day-trippers returned to Venice, Murano settled into a different rhythm.

The canals grew quiet. Restaurant tables filled with neighbors instead of tour groups.

Conversations lingered a little longer, and for the first time all day, it felt like we were seeing the island the way the locals did.

As chefs, we're naturally drawn to those moments. We love experiencing a destination after the crowds have gone home, when everyday life quietly takes over again.

Our duplex suite gave our family plenty of room to spread out after long days of exploring, and the airport shuttle made arriving and departing remarkably easy. Before long, the hotel stopped feeling like somewhere we were staying and started feeling like home.

Would we recommend Murano for everyone?

Not necessarily.

If you're visiting Venice for only a night or two and want to maximize every minute in the historic center, staying on Murano probably isn't the best fit. The vaporetto rides become part of the experience, but they do require a little extra time.

If you have several days, however, we think Murano offers something many visitors never experience—a quieter, more authentic side of Venice that's every bit as memorable as the city's famous landmarks.

Looking back, Hyatt Centric Murano didn't just save us money on accommodations.

It changed the rhythm of our trip.

That's the kind of value no points calculator will ever capture.

Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit: When Location Becomes the Luxury

Bangkok is one of those cities where every day feels like it could become an adventure—if you can avoid spending half of it in traffic.

That's exactly why we chose the Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit.

Located just steps from the BTS Skytrain, the hotel gave us something far more valuable than an impressive lobby or oversized suite. It gave us freedom.

Most mornings, we'd walk out the front doors, tap our transit cards, and within minutes be on our way to another corner of the city. We explored Wat Pho, wandered through the famous railway and floating markets, visited Terminal 21, and discovered incredible local restaurants without spending our vacation sitting in traffic.

After long days of sightseeing, returning to the hotel felt effortless.

One of our favorite ways to end the day was at Spectrum, the hotel's rooftop restaurant and bar. Watching the lights of Bangkok stretch across the skyline while reflecting on everything we'd experienced became part of our evening routine.

Could we have stayed somewhere less expensive?

Probably.

But Bangkok taught us that location is often worth more than luxury.

The greatest luxury isn't always a larger room or a grander lobby.

Sometimes it's simply having more time to experience the city you've traveled halfway around the world to see.

Hyatt Centric Kuala Lumpur: The Value of the Unexpected

Before visiting Malaysia, if someone had asked us what there was to see in Kuala Lumpur, we probably would have answered, "The Petronas Towers."

We couldn't have been more wrong.

The Hyatt Centric Kuala Lumpur became our home base for exploring a city that surprised us at every turn. From Batu Caves and the KL Tower to neighborhood cafés, waterfalls, local markets, and some outstanding meals, every day revealed another reason we wished we'd planned more time there.

Our corner suite was spacious, comfortable, and exactly what we needed after full days of exploring.

But the real highlight wasn't the room.

It was the city waiting just outside the front doors.

Kuala Lumpur reminded us that some of the best Hyatt redemptions aren't found on lists of the world's most famous hotels.

Sometimes they're in destinations you almost overlooked.

We arrived expecting a stop along the way.

We left wondering when we'd be back.

Lindner Hotel Bratislava: The Surprise We Never Planned For

If someone had asked us before this trip which city would become one of our favorites, Bratislava probably wouldn't have made the list.

Today, it absolutely does.

Most travelers visit Bratislava as a quick day trip from Vienna.

We did the opposite.

Instead of paying significantly more to stay in Vienna, we booked the Lindner Hotel Bratislava using Hyatt points and made Slovakia's capital our home base while exploring the Christmas markets of Bratislava, Vienna, and Budapest.

Looking back, it was one of the smartest travel decisions we made.

Not only did Hyatt points stretch our budget further, but they also encouraged us to spend more time in a city we otherwise might have rushed through.

Bratislava surprised us with its welcoming atmosphere, walkable Old Town, and relaxed pace. It quickly became much more than a convenient place to sleep between day trips.

It became one of the highlights of the entire journey.

Without Hyatt, we probably would have based ourselves somewhere else.

And we would have missed discovering one of Europe's most underrated cities.

Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay: Sometimes the Best Getaways Are Closer Than You Think

When most people think about redeeming points, they picture overwater bungalows or bucket-list trips halfway around the world.

We used to think that way too.

As restaurant owners, though, disappearing for two weeks isn't always realistic.

Sometimes a long weekend is exactly what we need.

Our stay at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay reminded us that points don't have to take you across an ocean to be worthwhile.

Using Hyatt Free Night Awards, we turned an ordinary Florida getaway into something that felt genuinely restorative. Walking through the nature preserve, watching the sun set over the bay, and simply slowing down for a few days reminded us that travel isn't always measured by the number of miles you fly.

Sometimes it's measured by how refreshed you feel when you return home.

That stay reinforced something we've come to believe over the years.

Points aren't just for once-in-a-lifetime vacations.

They're for creating opportunities to spend meaningful time together, wherever those opportunities happen to be.

As different as these five hotels were, they all had one thing in common.  Each one helped us experience its destination in a way we probably wouldn't have otherwise. 

That's why, when we think about Hyatt, we don't immediately think about categories or award charts.

We think about quiet evenings on Murano after the crowds had gone home.

We think about stepping onto the BTS in Bangkok, knowing the city was right outside our door.

We think about discovering that Kuala Lumpur had far more to offer than we ever imagined.

We think about unexpectedly falling in love with Bratislava.

Those are the memories Hyatt points helped make possible.  And they're the reason our opinion of the program has very little to do with spreadsheets and everything to do with the experiences they've allowed our family to have.

So...What Actually Changed in 2026?

If you've spent any time reading travel blogs or watching YouTube videos lately, you've probably seen headlines claiming that Hyatt "devalued" its loyalty program.

Technically, they're right.

But as with most things in the world of points and miles, the full story is a little more nuanced.

For years, Hyatt used a straightforward award chart with three pricing levels for each hotel: Off-Peak, Standard, and Peak. It wasn't perfect, but it was simple, transparent, and—most importantly—predictable. Before transferring a single Chase Ultimate Rewards® point, you usually had a good idea of what your stay would cost.

Beginning in 2026, Hyatt introduced a new five-level award chart: Lowest, Low, Moderate, Upper, and Top. On paper, it doesn't sound like a dramatic change. In practice, it means some hotels now require more points during periods of high demand, while others may cost fewer points during slower travel periods. Hyatt has also continued adjusting hotel categories, so some properties have become more expensive while others have become better values.

If your favorite hotel moved up a category and you're traveling during a "Top" pricing period, it's understandable why many travelers feel they're getting less for their points. In some cases, they are. There's no reason to pretend otherwise.

Why Many Travelers Call It a Devaluation

One of the reasons Hyatt earned such a loyal following is that it resisted the move toward fully dynamic pricing. Unlike some hotel programs where award prices fluctuate dramatically with little transparency, Hyatt still publishes an award chart. Travelers know the range of points a hotel can cost before they search for availability, making it much easier to plan and budget.

The new five-tier system widens that range. Popular hotels during holidays, festivals, school breaks, and other high-demand periods often require more points than they did in the past. If you're limited to traveling during those times—as many families are—you'll likely notice the difference. That's the part of the change that disappointed many longtime Hyatt members.

Why We're Still Choosing Hyatt

Even with these changes, Hyatt continues to offer something we value: predictability.

When we transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to Hyatt, we still have a good sense of what our stay is likely to cost. Compared to programs that use completely dynamic pricing, that's an advantage we don't take for granted.

More importantly, Hyatt continues to deliver value where it matters most to us. The hotels we've shared throughout this article weren't memorable because they represented record-breaking cents-per-point redemptions. They were memorable because they helped shape the experiences we had.

Murano gave us a quieter side of Venice. Bangkok gave us effortless access to one of the world's most exciting cities. Kuala Lumpur introduced us to a destination we hadn't fully appreciated. Bratislava became one of our favorite surprises in Europe. The Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay reminded us that a weekend away can be just as meaningful as an international adventure.

None of those memories changed because Hyatt updated its award chart.

Has It Changed the Way We Book?

Absolutely.

Today, we're more intentional than we were a few years ago. We compare the cash rate with the points price before every booking. We book popular destinations earlier than ever, and if shifting our travel dates by a day or two results in a significantly better redemption, we're happy to be flexible. Those aren't bad habits—they're probably habits we should have developed from the beginning.

The changes haven't caused us to stop using Hyatt. They've simply encouraged us to become smarter travelers.

So...Is Hyatt Still Worth It?

After everything we've shared, you probably won't be surprised by our answer.

Yes.

We still believe Hyatt is the best hotel loyalty program for the way we travel.

Notice we didn't say it's the best for everyone. Every traveler has different priorities. Some people value the largest hotel footprint, while others prioritize luxury resorts, elite status, or earning points as quickly as possible. For our family, Hyatt continues to strike the right balance.

Its locations have consistently helped us experience destinations more fully. The ability to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® points gives us flexibility when planning trips, and Hyatt properties continue to offer the kind of value that allows us to spend less on accommodations and more on the experiences that make travel meaningful.

Has Hyatt become more expensive? In some cases, yes. We'd be doing you a disservice if we pretended otherwise. The new award chart requires a little more planning than it once did. Popular destinations during peak travel periods may cost more points, and it's worth comparing the cash price against the award price before every booking.

But here's the reality: travel changes. Airlines change. Hotel programs change. Credit card benefits change. The goal isn't to find a loyalty program that never changes. The goal is to find one that continues to help you travel well as those changes happen. For us, Hyatt still does exactly that.

When we look back on the trips we've shared in this article, we don't remember how many points we redeemed. We remember quiet evenings on Murano after the crowds had gone home. We remember hopping on the BTS in Bangkok, knowing another adventure was only a few stops away. We remember arriving in Bratislava expecting a convenient home base and leaving with one of our favorite memories from Europe. We remember discovering that even a weekend away on Florida's Gulf Coast could feel like a true escape.

Those are the moments that matter. Those are the experiences Hyatt points helped make possible. And that's why we'll continue collecting them.

If You're Just Getting Started

If you're new to points and miles, don't let perfect become the enemy of good. You don't need to maximize every redemption, calculate cents per point every time you travel, or stay at the most expensive Hyatt in the world to experience the value of the program.

Start with a destination you've always wanted to visit. Transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards® points when you're ready to book. Compare the cash price with the award price. Then take the trip.

The best way to understand the value of points isn't by reading about them. It's by using them.

Our Hyatt Strategy

Today, our approach is surprisingly simple.

• Transfer Chase or Bilt points only when you're ready to book.

• Compare the cash price and the award price every time.

• Book popular destinations as early as possible.

• Stay flexible with your travel dates whenever you can.

• Choose the hotel that gives you the best overall travel experience—not simply the highest cents-per-point redemption.

• Stay open to destinations you hadn't originally considered. Some of our favorite trips began with a great Hyatt redemption rather than a place at the top of our bucket list.

Travel hacking doesn't have to be complicated. At its best, it's simply another tool that helps you travel more often and worry a little less about the cost.

Final Thoughts

When we first started learning about points and miles, we thought the goal was to travel for less.

Looking back, we realize that was never really the goal.

The goal was to experience more.

More cities. More cultures. More incredible meals. More conversations with people we'd never have met otherwise. More memories with our boys while they're still excited to explore the world with us.

Hyatt has simply been one of the tools that has helped make those moments possible.

Will the program change again? Almost certainly. We'll adapt, just as we always have, because that's what travelers do. Loyalty programs evolve, airlines change their award charts, and hotel categories shift. Those things are largely outside our control.

What hasn't changed is why we travel.

We travel to learn. We travel to reconnect as a family. We travel to experience new cultures through food, history, and the people we meet along the way. If a loyalty program helps us do more of that, it's doing exactly what we need it to do.

For us, Hyatt still checks that box.

Because in the end, the destination was never Hyatt.

The destination has always been the journey.

And that's still worth every point.

We'd Love to Hear From You

Do you collect Hyatt points? Have the recent changes affected the way you book your stays? Or if you're just getting started, where would you use Hyatt points for your very first redemption?

Leave a comment below and let us know. One of our favorite parts of running Culinary Pilgrims is hearing about the places you've discovered, the lessons you've learned, and the adventures you're planning next.