Best US Hotels For Hyatt Free Night Certificates

You have been staring at that World of Hyatt category 1-4 free night certificate (FNC) in your account for months now. Maybe it is even nearing the expiration date and you fear that you will panic redeem it at another category 2 airport Hyatt Place. Say it with me, not this year! That is because I am going to share the best US hotels for Hyatt free night certificates, specifically the best ones for your category 1-4 free night certs. People seem to rack these up fairly easily, but then often struggle to use them. Your friends at ToP are here to help you with that.

How To Earn World of Hyatt Free Night Certificates

Before we get into how to use these Hyatt free night certs we should talk about how you can earn them. There are a few different ways, some of which are easier than others:

• Carry the World of Hyatt credit card and you earn a category 1-4 free night certificate each cardmember anniversary.
  • This is a nice perk of paying the card's affordable $95 annual fee each year.
• Spend $15,000 on your World of Hyatt credit card each calendar year earns another category 1-4 free night.
• Earn 30 elite nights in the World of Hyatt program. One of the Milestone Rewards is a category 1-4 FNC.

You can also earn some category 1-7 free night certificates based on elite nights earned, but we'll save those for a future article.

Some Things You Should Know About Hyatt Certs

There are some interesting facts that you should know about your Hyatt free night certificates:

• The category 1-4 free night certificates earned from the World of Hyatt credit card expire after 12 months
• The certs earned from status expire after 180 days per Hyatt's terms
• If you free night cert is expiring you may be able to get points for it, but it depends on how you earned it.
• You can transfer your Hyatt free night cert to any other World of Hyatt member easily online.
• It is not possible to use suite upgrade awards on free night certificates
• The free night certificates work on rooms that cost up to 18,000 points (peak award pricing for a category 4 stay)

RELATED: Hyatt suite upgrade awards can unlock more award space.

Best Category 3 Hyatt Hotels In The United States

Before we dive into almost 20 awesome options for maximizing your category 1-4 World of Hyatt free night certificates we should look at some category 3 locations. It would be a disservice to skip over this category entirely. That is because at peak pricing a category 3 Hyatt hotel can cost 15,000 a night, which is where these awards used to top off. That is why I figured I would give you a few of the better options.

World of Hyatt Category 3 Gems

• Hyatt Centric Buckhead – Atlanta, Georgia
  • Buckhead is one of the more popular areas in the Atlanta area to hang out with tons of dining & shopping.
  • Hyatt Centric brand
  • 4.0 rating on TripAdvisor
• Tempe Missions Palms – Tempe, Arizona
  • Looks like a beautiful place to take in some awesome nature.
  • Destination by Hyatt brand
  • 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor
• Hyatt Place Kent Narrows & Marina – Kent Island, Maryland
  • A favorite of mine, and the rest of the ToP team, is why I put this lowly Hyatt Place on the list. Prices can spike during the summer and it isn't too far from one of my favorite small cities, Annapolis.
  • Hyatt Place brand
  • 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor
• Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk – San Antonio, Texas
  • There is also a category 3 Hyatt Regency near by, but this is the favorite in San Antonio by our team. It is a city that has a lot to offer, and this hotel is a great option.
  • Grand Hyatt brand
  • 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor
• Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay – Tampa, Florida
  • This is a favorite among award travelers for a place to be near the Tampa action, but also offer a nice respite from the hustle and bustle.
  • Grand Hyatt brand
  • 4 rating on TripAdvisor

Here is a list of all of the World of Hyatt category 3 hotels, which can be broken down by area.

Best Category 4 Hyatt Hotels In The United States

Now for the meat and potatoes of the best US hotels for Hyatt free night certificates, the category 4 hotels that made the list. Let's take a look at these great options for using your World of Hyatt free night certs.

East

• Thompson DC – Washington D.C.
  • The Park Hyatt was long the award bookers gem in DC, but it has moved up in cost and has been showing some wear and tear. The Thompson DC (our review) is the newest fancy option, but the location may be a turn off for some.
  • Thompson brand
  • 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor
• Hyatt Regency On The Hudson, Jersey City, New Jersey
  • There was a time you could stay in Manhattan with a category 1-4 Hyatt certificate, but that time has passed. This is a good option with a quick boat or subway ride to Manhattan. We stayed next door at the Hyatt Place and really enjoyed the location. Plus the sunset views are stunning (pictured above).
  • Hyatt Regency brand
  • 4 rating on TripAdvisor
• Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor – Boston, Massachusetts
  • I have stayed here a few times now and have loved it each time. The view of downtown from the bar is stunning. The location may be a deterrent for some, unless you have an early flight, but I think it just gives you a good reason to take a water taxi.
  • Hyatt Regency brand
  • 4 rating on TripAdvisor

Midwest

• Hyatt Centric Magnificent Mile – Chicago, Illinois
  • Chicago used to be the World of Hyatt category 4 hotel mecca. Rest in peace Thompson Chicago and the Chicago Athletic Association hotels. The Hyatt Centric is probably your best option if you want to be in the middle of it all in the city now.
  • Hyatt Centric brand
  • 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor
• Ambassador Chicago – Chicago, Illinois
  • If you want to go to Chicago, but be away from the craziness a bit, then the Ambassador is probably your best bet. It is just a few blocks north of the Thompson location, which is one of my favorite areas of the city.
  • JdV brand
  • 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor

South

• Hyatt Vacation Club at Piñon Pointe – Sedona, Arizona
  • Sedona looks like such a beautiful place, and I need to get there some time soon. This property was enjoyed by Rick because of the grounds and the area, even if the rooms were on the small side.
  • Hyatt Vacation Club brand
  • 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor
• Hyatt Regency Tamaya – Albuquerque, New Mexico (or close enough)
  • After recently staying here, it is definitely now one of my favorite category 4 Hyatt hotel options now. You can read our full review of the property here.
  • Hyatt Regency brand
  • 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor
• Hyatt Centric French Quarter – New Orleans, Louisiana
  • New Orleans used to be another place, like Chicago, that was the land of the category 4 World of Hyatt hotel options. Not so much anymore, and this likely the best option for you now.
  • Hyatt Centric brand
  • 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor
• Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress – Orlando, Florida
  • One of our favorite resort options in the US, and it could be even better if they would heat that big pool! Check out our full review on the property if looking for an options by the theme parks that won't break the bank.
  • Hyatt Regency brand
  • 4.5 rating TripAdvisor
• Hyatt Regency Sarasota – Sarasota, Florida
  • The rooms are a bit dated here, no doubt, but the lobby and pool area are pretty nice. The real gem is being located in downtown Sarasota, which is worth a visit if you have never been.
  • Hyatt Regency brand
  • 4 rating on TripAdvisor
• Andaz Savannah – Savannah, Georgia
  • I have been trying to get to Savannah for a few years now but haven't been able to make it work. I have only heard great things about this property and plan to stay here when visiting.
  • Andaz brand
  • 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor
• Hyatt Regency MCO – Orlando, Florida
  • Is it weird to have a airport hotel on the list? Maybe, but we have always enjoyed our stays here. The location is super convenient for early flights in the morning or if you land really late. Even if you use it as your home base in Orlando I love the food options you get in the terminal before security, and it is hard to beat plane watching from the roof top pool.
  • Hyatt Regency brand
  • 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor

West

• Grand Hyatt Denver – Denver, Colorado
  • While not directly in the middle of everything, the hotel offers more than most. They have a roof top tennis court, outdoor track and workout area. That goes along with a nice indoor pool and a pretty good restaurant set up for breakfast.
  • Grand Hyatt brand
  • 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor
• Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City – Salt Lake City, Utah
  • This looks like a really nice hotel that is pretty new, only opening a few years ago. That is pretty hard to beat in a popular travel destination.
  • Hyatt Regency brand
  • 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor
• Hyatt Regency Seattle – Seattle, Washington
  • This is likely your best option if visiting Seattle after many of the other favorites increased in category over the last few years.
  • Hyatt Regency brand
  • 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor

Alaska & Hawaii

• Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach – Honolulu, HI
  • I get it, it is a Hyatt Place, but it is the only category 4 you are going to find in Hawaii.
  • Hyatt Place brand
  • 4 rating on TripAdvisor
• The Wildbirch Hotel – Anchorage, Alaska
  • This is the newest hotel on the list, not opening until early 2025, but I think this might be the gem of the list. I don't think it is long for this world as a category 4 hotel. No more Hyatt Place and Hyatt House stays in Alaska for us!
  • JdV brand
  • Not yet open for TripAdvisor

Best US Hotels For Hyatt Free Night Certificates: ToP Thoughts

I hope you found this breakdown of the best US hotels for your category 1-4 World of Hyatt free night certificates useful. There are over 20 great options to choose from when looking at some of the best category 3 and 4 hotel options. There are probably a few out there that I missed as well.

The hotel location that excites me most has to be The Wildbirch Hotel in Anchorage. I think that will be a gem that doesn't last at this level for long. I also really love the Hyatt Grand Cypress, Hyatt Regency Tamaya and Grand Hyatt Denver as options I would return to again. My plan is to check out Andaz Savannah and Hyatt Regency Salt Lake city sometime soon. I looks like I will be at the Ambassador Chicago next year for the Christmas Markets, and I hope it comes close to my beloved Thompson Chicago.

Let me know your favorite places in the US to use your World of Hyatt category 1-4 free night certs over in the ToP Facebook Group.