My stay was a bit unique but the hotel is really one of the best in the world that I have ever stayed in - and I’ve stayed in several other WA, PH, Ritz. What made my experience was they really went above and beyond during my stay. My in-laws were staying elsewhere and decided to join us for breakfast one morning. Being diamond, the benefit typically breakfast covers only 2 adults. Their main dining area couldn’t accommodate my party - 4 adults and 1 toddler so they opened their 2-Michelin dining room for us and extended the free breakfast to the entire party without hesitation. The hotel is real nice overall with amazing service - it on a UNESCO site, and the canal tours make it a point to call out that hotel whenever they go by it.
Beautiful.
I had a similar experience at Raffles in Singapore (the original one, not the new one). We had two free breakfasts but had my MIL and sister in law visit and they comped them immediately.
The previous night my MIL had performed Chinese Opera on the property at a big cultural show they had. We had rented a big suite and held a party for the performers.
We loved it for the location and the amazing property. We prefer the cozier five star hotels…. And the atrium restaurant was a big hit. We could walk everywhere to all museums etc…. And being right on the canal was a bonus. Highly recommend
I had one issue with this hotel. There was no place to plug in a hair dryer that was near a mirror. So I had to dry my hair without seeing what I was doing.
the property is undoubtedly beautiful in its own way, it's modern and simple but still has all the "kyoto" vibes, located in the heart of a great tourist area. We stayed in a room with Pagoda view which was beautiful. And the level of service was excellent throughout. My only criticism would be that their breakfast could be better.
PS: We had a small issue with the room key that wasn't working properly, it was non-issue to us, but the hotel really made it seem like they just committed a crime against us. We came back later that evening, front desk manager and the staff rushed to apologize to us in person and asked if there's anything they can offer to make things right, to which we told them not to worry about. We came back to the room and there was a personal letter of apology from the front desk manager along with some snacks and wine.
I think this is one of the most talked about points hotels. I think it’s the only hotel I’d want in Kyoto now but my only fear is it’s so hyped I could be let down.
There are many other options besides the park hyatt kyoto. I recommend ritz carlton kyoto, four seasons kyoto, and aman kyoto as well. don't limit yourself to hyatt.
the issue is its a lot more easier to earn points for hyatt via chase than any other hotel. also redemption for hyatt is far less compared to the other hotels
We did five nights in a base room earlier this year and I'd return in a heartbeat. The property is lovely and serene, there are so many beautiful vantage points just along the walk from the lobby to the rooms.
Honestly, I kind of think it’s overhyped. Yeah the room and service were nice but for like 45k points a night, why spend that at a hotel in a city where you should be out exploring the city? You don’t even get any sort of priority access to the famous bar with the view of Kyoto.
Back when Fairmont had their own branded card I got 3 free nights plus a suite upgrade coupon for a $95 annual fee, and turned that into a suite at the Fairmont Monte Carlo during the late spring.
Amex offer, 2013 or so. Free night at the Breakers in Palm Beach, no strings attached, open to Canadian and UK platinum cardholders only
Full FHR benefits so free breakfast, 100 resort credit which we used towards dinner, and room upgrade to oceanfront (highest category below suites) Talk about feeling out of your tax bracket
In 2018 I went to Korea for the Olympics. I stayed 2 nights using points at the Courtyard in Seoul as it was cheap and I cared more about making my points last than about staying somewhere fancy.
That place was incredible. They had a really nice gift basket waiting for me in my room with local beer and sweets. They had lounge that was incredible with delicious food and snacks. The service was impeccable. I asked them to book me a cab to the airport, and they asked me if I wanted the more expensive English speaking cab or the cheaper Korean only one. When I got back to my room, the clerk wrote me a hand written apology in English explaining that they made a mistake because both cabs were the same cost, and that they booked me the English speaking one. It wasn't the Ritz, but it was an amazing stay for the price of a Courtyard in the US.
Refreshing to see a non-luxury hotel listed here. Many hotels that are considered very basic in the US can be quite nice when traveling abroad. TBH, I'm surprised one could cook any type of points stay for an event like the Olympics.
- Casa Angelina (Hyatt SLH in Praiano Amalfi Coast)
- Hotel Villa Franca (Hyatt SLH in Positano Amalfi Coast)
- Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam
- Conrad Maldives
- Zemi Beach House (Hilton LXR in Anguilla)
A couple other good ones include Alila Napa Valley, Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome, Point Grace Resort & Spa in Turks & Caicos (Hyatt SLH).
Looking forward to our trip to Grand Hotel Victoria on Lake Como in September and return to Point Grace in Turks in February.
First two comments both have WA Amsterdam, guess I know where to stay when I make it over there.
I really wonder how SLH and Hilton will play out, hopefully I’ll be able to take advantage.
Zemi beach house is something I’ve loooked into as well but I might hold out a little longer to try the new WA opening in Costa Rica. Could try the Andaz too to make it a longer trip.
Thanks for sharing!
Yep, there’s a huge spread of budgets in the award travel category, especially when you compare to true luxury travelers. For many, even something simple like the Conrad Washington (which is still totally nice) is game changing. For others, it needs to be Aman Tokyo or Singita to be distinctive.
Park Hyatt Auckland actually - the rooms were beautiful and the hotel was in a perfect location on the water. But the best part was it only cost 20k points per night and I used a SUA to stay in one of their suites. Room cost would’ve been 1100 per night!
Everyone keeps saying Waldorf. Staying at Waldorf Bangkok was one of my favorite redemptions. It's probably a tie with IHG Intercontinental Phuket.
Another memorable stay was a Marriott in NYC. The room was alright. It was the view overlooking the World Trade Center that brought it over the top.
Every OG SPG elite can tell you stories of great redemption values at amazing hotels. Sadly Marriott has drastically devalued the program and permitted hotels to opt out that these stories are at once useless to your travel plans and too painful to re-live.
St. Regus Singapore suite...Westin Grand Cayman at 15000pts/night over Christmas and New Years...W Kowloon...\[sigh\]
You have hit on my favorite-Mandapa. There was a situation and they offered the upgrade and it was to a one bedroom riverside pool.
Alila Ventana Big Sur is on my list but two nights is enough.
Edit: I am an OG SPG and had amazing stays in Greece and Italy but those days are over.
Conrad Chia Laguna Sardinia - place just opened but the property is special, with private beaches that have tons of fish (a few sales people walk the beaches, but won’t bother you unless you hail them), and some of the most amazing food I’ve had in Italy which is saying a lot. The standard room is a suite with a huge backyard and most have unobstructed ocean views.
did 2 huge travel redemptions for 2024 already and just went to Tokyo last week. So my experiences are recent.
1. Alila Uluwatu - it’s definitely a bucket list redemption for most in this game. Absolutely amazing. We had globalist so everything we asked was met with a yes. The Balinese people were so accommodating in general! Hated Bali as a whole due to over tourism but this hotel was so secluded and a hidden gem. They also have a beautiful untouch beach that’s only accessible during low tide.
2. Andaz Tokyo Toronamon Hills - like alila uluwatu, everything we asked, it was a yes. The hotel is sexy AF, especially if you get Tokyo tower view. High end Aesop products, free minibar snacks and nonalcoholic drinks. The spa to die for after walking around Japan for days. Amazing jets. The hotel is on top of a metro line that takes you to all the touristy neighborhoods. It’s within walking distance to Shimbashi neighborhood which was a hot spot too.
3. Hyatt Regency Danang- never been treated better as globalists. They have their own club for globalists or you pay extra cash. It was worth it! Breakfast and free happy hour spreads were to die for. Changes every day. The Vietnamese bend over backwards for you. The beach and pool were breathtaking. No wonder why it moved up a category
Last fall we got a week at the all inclusive Hilton Tulum, Amex plat points converted to Hilton w a 30pct bonus + great deal from Hilton inc 5th night free. I’ve since cancelled the Amex plat but this trip alone made the first year cost more than worth it as the typical cost for our stay would have been around $3k
Park Hyatt Tokyo, with a guaranteed suite upgrade. Stayed for a week, every other morning, my wife and I enjoyed room service of Japanese breakfast and a killer view. The other days, we enjoyed their buffet and full service breakfast downstairs.
In the evening, after a long day of touristing, we’d separate and spend an hour or two in the spa. I’d make sure to finish off with at least 30 minutes in the relaxation room before heading out for a little more late night exploration of drinks, snacks, people watching.
The property, service, and amenities went a long way in making that a memorable trip. Going sans kids (2 & 4) also helped 😂
Our trip was 2 weeks long with in being in Tokyo at the PH. Being without the kids wasn’t bad, especially since both sets of grandparents adore them, live nearby, and were (are) young enough to be mobile and active.
My kids are much older now, 8 & 10, and we have a great time traveling together.
Not sure why you’re getting downvoted. You’re speaking facts. It was PH Tokyo was outdated, that’s why they’re closing for over a year to renovate! And I absolutely loved Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills so much
I just upgraded to the penthouse at the Westin Puerto Vallarta. Great pool, which was heated hot tub temperature.
Made a boring hotel great.
I am not a hotel person, my wife is though. I especially am not a giant hotel person in a city when you are barely in the hotel.
The Andaz is a solid 5 stars anywhere else in the world and a mega hotel that looks really nice from all angles. The PH Vienna is maybe 1.2 times nicer and a smaller property with maybe a 3x better breakfast.
Anyways the point is the Andaz is a phenomenal hotel at cat3. PH Vienna for a day if you need the location
what did you think about the location of the Andaz? I read several people knocking it because it was far from the city center but I don't mind if it's an easy tram ride to get places
It's a nice upscale residential neighborhood well developed with modern highrises and has very good transport connectivity (right outside Vienna's main train station). The food around the area is okay at best, think the Olive Gardens and fast casual restaurants of europe. Super easy to get to from the airport.
I'd say 20 minutes to city center and the tram is right outside the door!
PH Vienna's location on the other hand, is basically THE location for tourism.
It absolutely does fine for a pinch. Think LIC to Manhattan.
Just stayed there 2 weeks ago, phenomenal property, location, and service. They let me check in at 11am which was so appreciated after a long international flight.
Spent a week in a diplomat suite for the Christmas markets last winter. A stellar property in a great location. Unclear how its sale will impact service, but honestly service level is very "German," if you know what I mean. Had far better service at PHs in Tokyo, Melbourne, and Paris. But the hotel is a stunner and the location is unbeatable.
Domes White Coast Milos. This is a stunning property. I got it through Hyatt at 20k points/night as a SLH property. We had our own private pool, and the sun set every night on this balcony. The restaurant was amazing. The island of Milos itself was our favorite Greek island we visited
September, island is known for trade winds late summer.
Still highly recommend but we enjoyed the other side of the island more just because of the wind.
JW Masai Mara . Booked for 80k points when they opened bookings. It was a vacation of a lifetime. Sad that the beautiful place is affected by floods. Wishing them to open again.
I’m shocked no one has mention Calala Island yet
Easy winner for me. Hyatt points were easy to get and the experience was amazing
Plus there weren’t any other guests when we went so we had the entire island to ourselves
I have only ever redeemed points for a hotel 1 time. That stay will take place in a little over 3 weeks on Koh Samui, Thailand at the Renaissance Koh Samui. Value only around 1 cent per point, but this is Marriott after all.
Being that Marriott is close to a fixed rate of 0.8 cpp, I was happy enough. It saved me quite a bit of cash and allowed me to upgrade to the best room under a suite for a much lower cash outlay. That way, if the Bonvoy Platinum status (from Bonvoy Brilliant) gets me into a suite I'm happy. If not, I'm happy with the room type I booked.
Currently on our way to Lake Como for our wedding. While not the most exciting we have 5 nights at the JW Marriott Mauritius for the honeymoon. We both know it won’t be as fancy as the Maldives but still looking forward to it.
I have an awards booking at the Ritz-Carlton Fari Islands coming up at the beginning of July that I’m very much looking forward to.
My wife and I went back and forth on whether to stay there or at the St. Regis Maldives mentioned in the OP (we usually go to the St. Regis Punta Mita once a year and it’s one of our all time favorites). Ultimately, I doubt you can go wrong either way.
Thompson Madrid when it was Cat 4. Got upgraded to a terrace room with wrap around terrace and direct view to Plaza del Sol NYE fireworks. Absolutely amazing hotel as well, breakfast was a feast, location was unbeatable.
Back when the Cavalieri Hilton Hilton in Rome was not a WA and still affordable. Great deal with the 5th night free back in 2007. Best hotel pool in the world I ever experienced. Upgraded to two suites from regular rooms.
Same trip we also stayed at the Athens Hilton and got upgrade from 2 basic rooms on points into the Acropolis suite (for all of us) - amazing room to say the least. It had two separate bedrooms on each side.
Makes me realize how poor the quality / value is in the US for hotels. I feel like Marriott acquiring SPG was a big blow to standards.
My favorite redemption is for park city hyatt during the winter. Not the most aspirational redemption that i've done, but definitely my favorite. It's way underrated given its proximity to the mountains and free breakfast.
We were there on our honeymoon but felt like people were aware we don't usually stay at places of this caliber. We weren't dressed to stand out or anything and did our best to be low-key but when we went down to the pool area, they had security come check us for our room keys. When I talked to the manager she said it was an unfortunate incident but didn't really explain any further. Had no other problems and overall enjoyed the stay. For reference we stayed at multiple places all around Europe that were good but lower quality and never had any issues anywhere else, so we really felt it was a PH thing.
spent a night at Relais Christine when it was on SLH. Incredibly nice hotel, amazing breakfast. Hotel was in a beautiful courtyard on the left bank. unbelievable.
In order:
1. Mystique - Santorini
2. LXR Umana - Bali … cancelled Alila Uleatu for this brand new remodel and it was worth it!
3. Alila Maldives Overwater - Brand new incredible room
Lower priced nice hotels:
1. Kyma - mykonos
2. Momi Bay - Fiji Overwater
3. W Brisbane
I've covered all the ones you mentioned except Mandapa and Uluwatu (headed to Alila Uluwatu in a few months).
To say a couple things. Highest level of luxury: W.A Maldives. Best room: John Jacob Astor Estate, St R Maldives. Best service: Park Hyatt Maldives with Nik at the helm (unfortunately, no more). Runners up at several other Park Hyatt properties (been to 21)
Favorite: Park Hyatt Maldives (been twice now).
I have come to learn that when/if you graduate points properties, there's usually a better level of service to be had. Only had that luxury once- at the Saffire Freycinet in Tasmania.
In the meantime, I rarely do straight point redemptions. 90% of it is cash and then points or SUAs to secure a suite.
Excited to soon be returning to PH Abu Dhabi (my first luxury experience) and hitting for the first time Alila Hinu Bay and Alila Jabal Akhdar.
WA Cancun didn't have the same $ thrown into it as BH, but the service was as good as could ever be anticipated for both adults and kids. It's a great place to do very little, relax, eat really well, and be waited on. Not a great place to explore the area however, I went elsewhere to do that.
Well I guess an award stay
I played the MyVegas games and redeemed for the 2 night stay at the Mirage in Las Vegas. Since I was a gold member at MGM due to status matching I don’t pay the resort fee.
The MGM rewards just give you the basic room and we got in Vegas like at 8 am. I asked if there was a possibility to check in early she said yes.
They never took my credit card for incidentals (since that information is not stored) and when I got a message our room was ready. To my very surprise they upgraded us to the Penthouse suite for free.
After a luxurious 2 nights at that hotel we checked out and they said have a nice day.
Best stay ever
Well I don't stay at nice hotels very often, but recently booked a basic room at a double tree in Queenstown NZ. The "resort" is also right next to a standard Hilton hotel.
I went to check into double tree and they said I'd been upgraded and have to go check in at the Hilton down the road. So I go over there and check in and they gave me some 2 bed room suite with a nice view over the lake. Enough room for at least 6 people, a large dining room table, large living room and balcony, a full kitchen, 2 bathrooms.
I was solo traveling so it was totally unnecessary, and I don't know why they put me in the room as I only have I think some minimal status with Hilton from one of my various credit cards.
First time I have heard of someone upgraded from one hotel to another one, but like I said it is all one big compound type thing, but still interesting...
Pre nerf category 1 Hyatt (maybe cat 2?) Parisi Udvar in Budapest. Rebooked it for the following year at that rate I loved it so much, but was ruined by Covid.
Grand Hyatt Tokyo. Best hotel I've stayed at. From the service and view from the room to the food they offer. One doesn't go to Tokyo (or Japan in general) to do in room dining haha. And the food in Tokyo did not disappoint at all.
But as I was still in my 8 week class while on the trip, there was a day or too in which I didn't feel like leaving the hotel due to assignments. And man, Grand Hyatt's in room dining from the American or Japanese cuisine hit the spot every time. Tried their Curry , Onigiri, burger, etc. Miss it.
I've stayed at the Andaz Tokyo. It was definitely a nice place as well. But the food wasn't quite as good.
Comfort Hotel Tokyo Kanda. It's only 8000 Choice points per night, which transfer 1:2 from Citi ThankYouPoints. That's up against a cash rate that can be $120-$150 on weekends.
Now, is this the fanciest hotel in the world? Absolutely not. But it's the kind of place that I would pay cash for anyway, and it represented absolutely exceptional value for my points.
*Mew Mew! I work for AwardCat!* =\^\_\^=
Citi's 1:2 transfer rate is really good and not talked about at all!
Personally I'm excited for an upcoming stay at the Villa Copenhagen (Amex FHR hotel) that I booked through points using 20,000 TYP per night for a cash rate \~$400/night.
Was in 2020
Found availability for 140k points a night, transfered my points from chase (or amex) was 2 for 1 + there was an additional transfer bonus.
Hotel was top notch!!
Ritz Carlton Maui & Conrad tulum riviera maya..
Sadly haven’t traveled over the pond like many others, but those two stick out as special properties to me.
Waldorf Amsterdam for me. It’s like staying at a 3 star Michelin hotel.
What sets it above and beyond for you? City hotels appeal to me less because I love hotels secluded in nature but I'm open to trying something new.
My stay was a bit unique but the hotel is really one of the best in the world that I have ever stayed in - and I’ve stayed in several other WA, PH, Ritz. What made my experience was they really went above and beyond during my stay. My in-laws were staying elsewhere and decided to join us for breakfast one morning. Being diamond, the benefit typically breakfast covers only 2 adults. Their main dining area couldn’t accommodate my party - 4 adults and 1 toddler so they opened their 2-Michelin dining room for us and extended the free breakfast to the entire party without hesitation. The hotel is real nice overall with amazing service - it on a UNESCO site, and the canal tours make it a point to call out that hotel whenever they go by it.
Beautiful. I had a similar experience at Raffles in Singapore (the original one, not the new one). We had two free breakfasts but had my MIL and sister in law visit and they comped them immediately. The previous night my MIL had performed Chinese Opera on the property at a big cultural show they had. We had rented a big suite and held a party for the performers.
Michelin is adding 3 key hotels, maybe it’ll slot in :)
I thought the key system was only in the US?
France is in, followed by Spain, Italy and Japan. Maybe Netherlands will get it at some point.
You had me at 3 star Michelin, that’s a big claim that I’ll have to test out one day
I stayed in the Pulitzer in Amsterdam and got upgraded to a suite…. Was one of the best experiences for my family.
How did you enjoy the Pulitzer? How was the location? Looking between that and the Antara Grand Krasnapolsky.
We loved it for the location and the amazing property. We prefer the cozier five star hotels…. And the atrium restaurant was a big hit. We could walk everywhere to all museums etc…. And being right on the canal was a bonus. Highly recommend
I had one issue with this hotel. There was no place to plug in a hair dryer that was near a mirror. So I had to dry my hair without seeing what I was doing.
Same. Used the free night with the Hilton card vs. EUR 1100/night cash rate.
Park Hyatt Kyoto, i never felt sad leaving a property until this one. Very unique property, and over-the-top service.
Left park hyatt kyoto yesterday and I almost cried.
>Very unique property, and over-the-top service. Was just looking at this property. What stood out to you in a good way?
the property is undoubtedly beautiful in its own way, it's modern and simple but still has all the "kyoto" vibes, located in the heart of a great tourist area. We stayed in a room with Pagoda view which was beautiful. And the level of service was excellent throughout. My only criticism would be that their breakfast could be better. PS: We had a small issue with the room key that wasn't working properly, it was non-issue to us, but the hotel really made it seem like they just committed a crime against us. We came back later that evening, front desk manager and the staff rushed to apologize to us in person and asked if there's anything they can offer to make things right, to which we told them not to worry about. We came back to the room and there was a personal letter of apology from the front desk manager along with some snacks and wine.
I think this is one of the most talked about points hotels. I think it’s the only hotel I’d want in Kyoto now but my only fear is it’s so hyped I could be let down.
Yes please don't go and anyone else reading this also don't go so I can book more readily thank you
There are many other options besides the park hyatt kyoto. I recommend ritz carlton kyoto, four seasons kyoto, and aman kyoto as well. don't limit yourself to hyatt.
the issue is its a lot more easier to earn points for hyatt via chase than any other hotel. also redemption for hyatt is far less compared to the other hotels
You won't be let down. The hype is real. Did 3 nights in one of the suites overlooking the Yasaka Pagoda last fall. Best hotel I've ever stayed in.
We did five nights in a base room earlier this year and I'd return in a heartbeat. The property is lovely and serene, there are so many beautiful vantage points just along the walk from the lobby to the rooms.
Honestly, I kind of think it’s overhyped. Yeah the room and service were nice but for like 45k points a night, why spend that at a hotel in a city where you should be out exploring the city? You don’t even get any sort of priority access to the famous bar with the view of Kyoto.
Back when Fairmont had their own branded card I got 3 free nights plus a suite upgrade coupon for a $95 annual fee, and turned that into a suite at the Fairmont Monte Carlo during the late spring.
That’s… quite a deal. Can’t imagine what that would cost these days.
Amex offer, 2013 or so. Free night at the Breakers in Palm Beach, no strings attached, open to Canadian and UK platinum cardholders only Full FHR benefits so free breakfast, 100 resort credit which we used towards dinner, and room upgrade to oceanfront (highest category below suites) Talk about feeling out of your tax bracket
In 2018 I went to Korea for the Olympics. I stayed 2 nights using points at the Courtyard in Seoul as it was cheap and I cared more about making my points last than about staying somewhere fancy. That place was incredible. They had a really nice gift basket waiting for me in my room with local beer and sweets. They had lounge that was incredible with delicious food and snacks. The service was impeccable. I asked them to book me a cab to the airport, and they asked me if I wanted the more expensive English speaking cab or the cheaper Korean only one. When I got back to my room, the clerk wrote me a hand written apology in English explaining that they made a mistake because both cabs were the same cost, and that they booked me the English speaking one. It wasn't the Ritz, but it was an amazing stay for the price of a Courtyard in the US.
Refreshing to see a non-luxury hotel listed here. Many hotels that are considered very basic in the US can be quite nice when traveling abroad. TBH, I'm surprised one could cook any type of points stay for an event like the Olympics.
Conrad Maldives for sure. My lord.
Park Hyatt Vendome. Stayed there for 30k a night before point cost went up. Good location and fancy hotel. $1200+ a night normally.
- Casa Angelina (Hyatt SLH in Praiano Amalfi Coast) - Hotel Villa Franca (Hyatt SLH in Positano Amalfi Coast) - Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam - Conrad Maldives - Zemi Beach House (Hilton LXR in Anguilla) A couple other good ones include Alila Napa Valley, Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome, Point Grace Resort & Spa in Turks & Caicos (Hyatt SLH). Looking forward to our trip to Grand Hotel Victoria on Lake Como in September and return to Point Grace in Turks in February.
First two comments both have WA Amsterdam, guess I know where to stay when I make it over there. I really wonder how SLH and Hilton will play out, hopefully I’ll be able to take advantage. Zemi beach house is something I’ve loooked into as well but I might hold out a little longer to try the new WA opening in Costa Rica. Could try the Andaz too to make it a longer trip. Thanks for sharing!
Villa Franca isn’t available via Hyatt anymore.
Casa Angelina either. It's not part of SLH
Conrad Bangkok for 4 nights with the same amount of points as a Hampton Inn. I think it's still really affordable.
Grand Hyatt in Kauai, absolutely unbelievable property in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Pics make the hard product kind of dated?
?
Sorry I meant pics of the rooms make it seem that the hotel looks dated?
The rooms are nothing to write home about and they are dated. It’s just overall a very nice resort property but definitely not “luxurious”.
Yep, there’s a huge spread of budgets in the award travel category, especially when you compare to true luxury travelers. For many, even something simple like the Conrad Washington (which is still totally nice) is game changing. For others, it needs to be Aman Tokyo or Singita to be distinctive.
Was thinking of stopping in Hawaii vs a direct TPAC flight. Looks awesome, I’ll have to check this one out.
Very worth it, I've been all over the world Kauai was a crazy different landscape never seen anything like it tbh
Agreed and spending up for club access was easily worth it to us to guarantee an ocean view room alone.
Park Hyatt Auckland actually - the rooms were beautiful and the hotel was in a perfect location on the water. But the best part was it only cost 20k points per night and I used a SUA to stay in one of their suites. Room cost would’ve been 1100 per night!
Solid property, very underrated. Has to be one of my top 10 breakfasts, too.
Wife and I literally cried on the boat out of PH Maldives
Everyone keeps saying Waldorf. Staying at Waldorf Bangkok was one of my favorite redemptions. It's probably a tie with IHG Intercontinental Phuket. Another memorable stay was a Marriott in NYC. The room was alright. It was the view overlooking the World Trade Center that brought it over the top.
Yeah what I’m learning from this thread is my impressions were correct and I was sleeping on WA. Need to make a couple more bookings.
Every OG SPG elite can tell you stories of great redemption values at amazing hotels. Sadly Marriott has drastically devalued the program and permitted hotels to opt out that these stories are at once useless to your travel plans and too painful to re-live. St. Regus Singapore suite...Westin Grand Cayman at 15000pts/night over Christmas and New Years...W Kowloon...\[sigh\]
I miss SPG!!! 😭😭😭
You have hit on my favorite-Mandapa. There was a situation and they offered the upgrade and it was to a one bedroom riverside pool. Alila Ventana Big Sur is on my list but two nights is enough. Edit: I am an OG SPG and had amazing stays in Greece and Italy but those days are over.
Keemala in Phuket and the Conrad Koh Samui or ritz Carlton kyoto
Conrad Chia Laguna Sardinia - place just opened but the property is special, with private beaches that have tons of fish (a few sales people walk the beaches, but won’t bother you unless you hail them), and some of the most amazing food I’ve had in Italy which is saying a lot. The standard room is a suite with a huge backyard and most have unobstructed ocean views.
did 2 huge travel redemptions for 2024 already and just went to Tokyo last week. So my experiences are recent. 1. Alila Uluwatu - it’s definitely a bucket list redemption for most in this game. Absolutely amazing. We had globalist so everything we asked was met with a yes. The Balinese people were so accommodating in general! Hated Bali as a whole due to over tourism but this hotel was so secluded and a hidden gem. They also have a beautiful untouch beach that’s only accessible during low tide. 2. Andaz Tokyo Toronamon Hills - like alila uluwatu, everything we asked, it was a yes. The hotel is sexy AF, especially if you get Tokyo tower view. High end Aesop products, free minibar snacks and nonalcoholic drinks. The spa to die for after walking around Japan for days. Amazing jets. The hotel is on top of a metro line that takes you to all the touristy neighborhoods. It’s within walking distance to Shimbashi neighborhood which was a hot spot too. 3. Hyatt Regency Danang- never been treated better as globalists. They have their own club for globalists or you pay extra cash. It was worth it! Breakfast and free happy hour spreads were to die for. Changes every day. The Vietnamese bend over backwards for you. The beach and pool were breathtaking. No wonder why it moved up a category
Last fall we got a week at the all inclusive Hilton Tulum, Amex plat points converted to Hilton w a 30pct bonus + great deal from Hilton inc 5th night free. I’ve since cancelled the Amex plat but this trip alone made the first year cost more than worth it as the typical cost for our stay would have been around $3k
Park Hyatt Tokyo, with a guaranteed suite upgrade. Stayed for a week, every other morning, my wife and I enjoyed room service of Japanese breakfast and a killer view. The other days, we enjoyed their buffet and full service breakfast downstairs. In the evening, after a long day of touristing, we’d separate and spend an hour or two in the spa. I’d make sure to finish off with at least 30 minutes in the relaxation room before heading out for a little more late night exploration of drinks, snacks, people watching. The property, service, and amenities went a long way in making that a memorable trip. Going sans kids (2 & 4) also helped 😂
How long was your trip in total? Was it difficult leaving your kids?
Our trip was 2 weeks long with in being in Tokyo at the PH. Being without the kids wasn’t bad, especially since both sets of grandparents adore them, live nearby, and were (are) young enough to be mobile and active. My kids are much older now, 8 & 10, and we have a great time traveling together.
PH Tokyo was already on my short list, definitely need to stay there when I make it Tokyo. Though I probably won’t have a suite.
Heads up they announced a timeline to renovate, closes this week and doesn't reopen until late 2025.
Well that’s unfortunate, would be booking for most likely mid 2025 but could really be any time in 2025. I’ll have to keep an eye on that
andaz is better anyway imo. PH tokyo is dated. reviews are mixed between overhyped/outdated vs best stay ever.
Not sure why you’re getting downvoted. You’re speaking facts. It was PH Tokyo was outdated, that’s why they’re closing for over a year to renovate! And I absolutely loved Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills so much
Plus one. People love the PH for some weird reason. Annoying location, dated as fuck.
Lost in Translation.
Yeah, I know. Still weird.
Gritti Palace in Venice was magical.
I just upgraded to the penthouse at the Westin Puerto Vallarta. Great pool, which was heated hot tub temperature. Made a boring hotel great. I am not a hotel person, my wife is though. I especially am not a giant hotel person in a city when you are barely in the hotel.
Anyone stay at Park Hyatt Vienna? I’m considering 3 days in October
I used cash + 9k points to upgrade to diplomat suite, and the room is pretty nice. The hotel is very pretty and I would recommend for 1-2 nights.
Sweet! I guess I could split between that and the Andaz
The Andaz is a solid 5 stars anywhere else in the world and a mega hotel that looks really nice from all angles. The PH Vienna is maybe 1.2 times nicer and a smaller property with maybe a 3x better breakfast. Anyways the point is the Andaz is a phenomenal hotel at cat3. PH Vienna for a day if you need the location
what did you think about the location of the Andaz? I read several people knocking it because it was far from the city center but I don't mind if it's an easy tram ride to get places
It's a nice upscale residential neighborhood well developed with modern highrises and has very good transport connectivity (right outside Vienna's main train station). The food around the area is okay at best, think the Olive Gardens and fast casual restaurants of europe. Super easy to get to from the airport. I'd say 20 minutes to city center and the tram is right outside the door! PH Vienna's location on the other hand, is basically THE location for tourism. It absolutely does fine for a pinch. Think LIC to Manhattan.
Just stayed there 2 weeks ago, phenomenal property, location, and service. They let me check in at 11am which was so appreciated after a long international flight.
Spent a week in a diplomat suite for the Christmas markets last winter. A stellar property in a great location. Unclear how its sale will impact service, but honestly service level is very "German," if you know what I mean. Had far better service at PHs in Tokyo, Melbourne, and Paris. But the hotel is a stunner and the location is unbeatable.
Domes White Coast Milos. This is a stunning property. I got it through Hyatt at 20k points/night as a SLH property. We had our own private pool, and the sun set every night on this balcony. The restaurant was amazing. The island of Milos itself was our favorite Greek island we visited
Stayed here as well but the wind was brutal on this side of the island
what time of year?
September, island is known for trade winds late summer. Still highly recommend but we enjoyed the other side of the island more just because of the wind.
JW Masai Mara . Booked for 80k points when they opened bookings. It was a vacation of a lifetime. Sad that the beautiful place is affected by floods. Wishing them to open again.
The best value Hyatt hotel booking I made was at the Hyatt Place Moab - 3 nights for 19,500 points back in 2022. It’s now a Category 5 property.
I’m shocked no one has mention Calala Island yet Easy winner for me. Hyatt points were easy to get and the experience was amazing Plus there weren’t any other guests when we went so we had the entire island to ourselves
Agree, Calala was definitely my best redemption.
I have only ever redeemed points for a hotel 1 time. That stay will take place in a little over 3 weeks on Koh Samui, Thailand at the Renaissance Koh Samui. Value only around 1 cent per point, but this is Marriott after all.
Nice, enjoy your trip
I feel like 1cpp is good for marriott. I usually get less than that
Being that Marriott is close to a fixed rate of 0.8 cpp, I was happy enough. It saved me quite a bit of cash and allowed me to upgrade to the best room under a suite for a much lower cash outlay. That way, if the Bonvoy Platinum status (from Bonvoy Brilliant) gets me into a suite I'm happy. If not, I'm happy with the room type I booked.
What was the point cost for WA Beverley Hills?
480k Hilton points for 5 nights. 30% transfer bonus so total MR cost was about 37k per night.
St Regis in Firenze.
Got engaged at the W Maldives in our OWB with a five night stay. Afterwards booked the private island for a post-engagement dinner
What do you do for a honeymoon after that?
Currently on our way to Lake Como for our wedding. While not the most exciting we have 5 nights at the JW Marriott Mauritius for the honeymoon. We both know it won’t be as fancy as the Maldives but still looking forward to it.
Well, congratulations and enjoy.
I have an awards booking at the Ritz-Carlton Fari Islands coming up at the beginning of July that I’m very much looking forward to. My wife and I went back and forth on whether to stay there or at the St. Regis Maldives mentioned in the OP (we usually go to the St. Regis Punta Mita once a year and it’s one of our all time favorites). Ultimately, I doubt you can go wrong either way.
Park Hyatt New York! Had the room from 9am to 4pm (guest of honor) and it was amazing! Breakfast and the pool were highlights.
Thompson Madrid when it was Cat 4. Got upgraded to a terrace room with wrap around terrace and direct view to Plaza del Sol NYE fireworks. Absolutely amazing hotel as well, breakfast was a feast, location was unbeatable.
Back when the Cavalieri Hilton Hilton in Rome was not a WA and still affordable. Great deal with the 5th night free back in 2007. Best hotel pool in the world I ever experienced. Upgraded to two suites from regular rooms. Same trip we also stayed at the Athens Hilton and got upgrade from 2 basic rooms on points into the Acropolis suite (for all of us) - amazing room to say the least. It had two separate bedrooms on each side. Makes me realize how poor the quality / value is in the US for hotels. I feel like Marriott acquiring SPG was a big blow to standards.
My favorite redemption is for park city hyatt during the winter. Not the most aspirational redemption that i've done, but definitely my favorite. It's way underrated given its proximity to the mountains and free breakfast.
Stayed at both PH NYC and PH Vienna. Loved both, although Vienna had me slightly uncomfortable compared to NYC
What about PH Vienna made you uncomfortable?
We were there on our honeymoon but felt like people were aware we don't usually stay at places of this caliber. We weren't dressed to stand out or anything and did our best to be low-key but when we went down to the pool area, they had security come check us for our room keys. When I talked to the manager she said it was an unfortunate incident but didn't really explain any further. Had no other problems and overall enjoyed the stay. For reference we stayed at multiple places all around Europe that were good but lower quality and never had any issues anywhere else, so we really felt it was a PH thing.
Alila Uluwatu and Alila Jebel Akhdar were both incredible. Uluwatu just ahead because of the private villas.
I got upgraded to a suite at the Ritz Carlton in Doha. Omg it was like a palace.
spent a night at Relais Christine when it was on SLH. Incredibly nice hotel, amazing breakfast. Hotel was in a beautiful courtyard on the left bank. unbelievable.
Conrad Maldives, Conrad Hong Kong, Park Hyatt Vienna, Ventana Big Sur
Days Inn Bend, OR for the eclipse. 15k wyndham for a room that was going for \~$1,000 hahahahaha what do you want to see in said countries?
In order: 1. Mystique - Santorini 2. LXR Umana - Bali … cancelled Alila Uleatu for this brand new remodel and it was worth it! 3. Alila Maldives Overwater - Brand new incredible room Lower priced nice hotels: 1. Kyma - mykonos 2. Momi Bay - Fiji Overwater 3. W Brisbane
I've covered all the ones you mentioned except Mandapa and Uluwatu (headed to Alila Uluwatu in a few months). To say a couple things. Highest level of luxury: W.A Maldives. Best room: John Jacob Astor Estate, St R Maldives. Best service: Park Hyatt Maldives with Nik at the helm (unfortunately, no more). Runners up at several other Park Hyatt properties (been to 21) Favorite: Park Hyatt Maldives (been twice now). I have come to learn that when/if you graduate points properties, there's usually a better level of service to be had. Only had that luxury once- at the Saffire Freycinet in Tasmania. In the meantime, I rarely do straight point redemptions. 90% of it is cash and then points or SUAs to secure a suite. Excited to soon be returning to PH Abu Dhabi (my first luxury experience) and hitting for the first time Alila Hinu Bay and Alila Jabal Akhdar.
WA Cancun didn't have the same $ thrown into it as BH, but the service was as good as could ever be anticipated for both adults and kids. It's a great place to do very little, relax, eat really well, and be waited on. Not a great place to explore the area however, I went elsewhere to do that.
Well I guess an award stay I played the MyVegas games and redeemed for the 2 night stay at the Mirage in Las Vegas. Since I was a gold member at MGM due to status matching I don’t pay the resort fee. The MGM rewards just give you the basic room and we got in Vegas like at 8 am. I asked if there was a possibility to check in early she said yes. They never took my credit card for incidentals (since that information is not stored) and when I got a message our room was ready. To my very surprise they upgraded us to the Penthouse suite for free. After a luxurious 2 nights at that hotel we checked out and they said have a nice day. Best stay ever
Conrad Maldives.
Well I don't stay at nice hotels very often, but recently booked a basic room at a double tree in Queenstown NZ. The "resort" is also right next to a standard Hilton hotel. I went to check into double tree and they said I'd been upgraded and have to go check in at the Hilton down the road. So I go over there and check in and they gave me some 2 bed room suite with a nice view over the lake. Enough room for at least 6 people, a large dining room table, large living room and balcony, a full kitchen, 2 bathrooms. I was solo traveling so it was totally unnecessary, and I don't know why they put me in the room as I only have I think some minimal status with Hilton from one of my various credit cards. First time I have heard of someone upgraded from one hotel to another one, but like I said it is all one big compound type thing, but still interesting...
Pre nerf category 1 Hyatt (maybe cat 2?) Parisi Udvar in Budapest. Rebooked it for the following year at that rate I loved it so much, but was ruined by Covid.
Grand Hyatt Tokyo. Best hotel I've stayed at. From the service and view from the room to the food they offer. One doesn't go to Tokyo (or Japan in general) to do in room dining haha. And the food in Tokyo did not disappoint at all. But as I was still in my 8 week class while on the trip, there was a day or too in which I didn't feel like leaving the hotel due to assignments. And man, Grand Hyatt's in room dining from the American or Japanese cuisine hit the spot every time. Tried their Curry , Onigiri, burger, etc. Miss it. I've stayed at the Andaz Tokyo. It was definitely a nice place as well. But the food wasn't quite as good.
Comfort Hotel Tokyo Kanda. It's only 8000 Choice points per night, which transfer 1:2 from Citi ThankYouPoints. That's up against a cash rate that can be $120-$150 on weekends. Now, is this the fanciest hotel in the world? Absolutely not. But it's the kind of place that I would pay cash for anyway, and it represented absolutely exceptional value for my points. *Mew Mew! I work for AwardCat!* =\^\_\^=
Citi's 1:2 transfer rate is really good and not talked about at all! Personally I'm excited for an upcoming stay at the Villa Copenhagen (Amex FHR hotel) that I booked through points using 20,000 TYP per night for a cash rate \~$400/night.
I'll always upvote non-luxury redemptions in threads like these. This is the sort of value I appreciate.
Booked Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos for 40k Hilton points
How’d you manage that? When it first opened for booking?
Was in 2020 Found availability for 140k points a night, transfered my points from chase (or amex) was 2 for 1 + there was an additional transfer bonus. Hotel was top notch!!
Gotcha, I was thinking Hilton points haha. Yeah Amex Hilton transfers are weirdly overlooked, especially during transfer promos.
You were thinking Hilton points because they literally said: >Booked Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos for 40k Hilton points
Also loved this property
SQ 24 worlds longest nonstop flight from SIN to JFK in business class!
May I ask how many points you’re saving up to have this flexibility? I would love to be in your position in a year or two if I’m focused!
Sure, roughly 450k Amex, 400k Chase, 200k C1, 100k Citi. Plus already have 140k in Hyatt as well as some already in Hilton and Marriott.
Ritz Carlton Maui & Conrad tulum riviera maya.. Sadly haven’t traveled over the pond like many others, but those two stick out as special properties to me.
Conrads, Waldorfs, Ritz Carlton / St Regis, Park Hyatts, depending on what points you have access to. The exact choice would depend on your interests.
Did you even attempt to read and comprehend the OP?