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What are the best Hyatt resorts for winter or spring break travel? Given the current Coronavirus situation, it’s unclear when international travel will be something we’ll once again do. Even if we believe it’s safe, international destinations may not allow visitors from the United States or they may require a 14 day quarantine upon arrival. And so, more than ever before, most of us (I suspect) are looking forward to domestic travel.
I previously covered summer destinations within the continental United States in my “best resorts for domestic US summer travel” series:
- Best Hyatt resorts for domestic US summer travel
- Best Hilton resorts for domestic US summer travel
- Best Marriott resorts for domestic US summer travel
In the above series, I skipped resorts in locations that may be uncomfortably hot in the summertime. In other words, I previously skipped resorts in places like Florida and Las Vegas. Now, I’m filling in those blanks…
I chose Hyatt to start with because, among the hotel chains, Hyatt is the one that most often offers great point value for award stays. And I know that many readers have plenty of Hyatt points since they can transfer 1 to 1 from Chase points if they have the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Sapphire Preferred, Ink Plus, or Ink Business Preferred card.
Before, you ask, yes I will follow up with similar posts for Hilton and Marriott. Look for these posts soon:
- Best Hilton resorts for winter and spring break in the continental United States
- Best Marriott resorts for winter and spring break in the continental United States
In this post I’ve looked exclusively at Hyatt and aimed to answer this question:
What are the Best Hyatt resorts for winter or spring break in the continental United States?
I used Hyatt’s website to find their properties within the US and I filtered to resorts:
Next, I limited my search to two categories of resorts:
- Resorts that offer snow-skiing
- Resorts located in warm weather destinations
With each resort that met the above criteria, I looked at room rates and award availability for the five nights between Christmas and New Years Eve (December 26 – 31). This is traditionally a very popular time of year to travel and so I was interested to see if the current COVID-19 situation has made it easier to snag these usually hard-to-get awards.
I also looked at each resort for a common spring break period: March 7 – 12. Incidentally, the reason for looking specifically at 5 night spans is so that when I produce similar posts for Marriott and Hilton, I can use the same dates. Both of the latter programs offer 5 night awards for the price of 4 and so 5 night stays are the sweet-spots for those programs.
Here’s what I found….
Northeast
Vermont
The Lodge at Spruce Peak (Stowe). A Destination Hotel.
- Award Category 8 (40,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $42.40/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $1,999 (no standard rooms are available — only suites)
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? No*
- * Suite night awards may be available but they’re not viewable online.
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $300
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 0.9 cents per point (very poor value)
Southeast
Florida
Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & Spa
- Award Category 6 (25,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $45/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $917
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 3.8 cents per point (great value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $460
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 2.0 cents per point (very good value)
Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa
- Award Category 6 (25,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $30/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $352
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.5 cents per point (fair value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: Not Available
- Resort fee: $42.75/night (waived for award stays)
Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress (Orlando Area)
I’ve stayed at this resort with my family and friends many times. In addition to being close to Disney World, it offers lots of fun things to do such as pitch and putt golf, a climbing wall, tennis, basketball, boating, water slides, etc. It also has a decent Regency Club lounge with a great outdoor seating area where you can watch the theme park fireworks in the distance each evening.
- Award Category 3 (12,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $42.75/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $329
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 3.1 cents per point (great value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $284
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 2.7 cents per point (great value)
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa
- Award Category 5 (20,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $35/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $564
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 3.0 cents per point (great value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $432
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 2.3 cents per point (very good value)
Hyatt Residence Club Bonita Springs, Coconut Plantation
- Award Category 5 (20,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $25/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $561
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 2.9 cents per point (great value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $442
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 2.3 cents per point (very good value)
The Confidante Miami Beach
- Resort fee: $35/night (waived for award stays)
- Award Category 4 (15,000 points per night)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: Not Available
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? No
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $279
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 2.1 cents per point (very good value)
The Plymouth South Beach (Miami)
- Award Category 5 (20,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $30/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $519
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 2.7 cents per point (great value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $283
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.6 cents per point (fair value)
South Carolina
Wild Dunes Resort, Isle of Palms, Charleston
- Resort fee: 16% (waived for award stays)
- Award Category 5 (20,000 points per night)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $127
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 0.7 cents per point (very poor value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $216
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.3 cents per point (poor value)
Tennessee
Grand Hyatt Nashville
- Resort fee: None
- Award Category 5 (20,000 points per night)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $336
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.7 cents per point (good value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $500
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 2.5 cents per point (very good value)
Central States
Colorado
Grand Hyatt Vail
- Award Category 7 (30,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $35/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $1,099
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 3.8 cents per point (great value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $578
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 2.0 cents per point (very good value)
Hyatt Residence Club Beaver Creek
- Award Category 6 (25,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $25/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 NOT AVAILABLE
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 NOT AVAILABLE
Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa
- Award Category 7 (30,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $35/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $1,799
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 6.1 cents per point (great value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $873
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 3.0 cents per point (great value)
Vail Residences at Cascade Village. A Destination Residence
- Award Category 8 (40,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: approx 10% of nightly rate (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $756
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 2.1 cents per point (very good value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $531
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.5 cents per point (fair value)
Villas at Snowmass Club, A Destination Residence
- Award Category 7 (30,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: Approx 10% of nightly rate (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $759 (no standard rooms available, only suites)
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? No
- * Suite night awards may be available but they’re not viewable online.
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $225
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 0.8 cents per point (very poor value)
Texas
Miraval Austin Resort and Spa
- Award Category Miraval: 65,000 points per night for two. Includes meals, activities and $175/night resort credit.
- Resort fee: 23% (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate for two: $934. Includes meals, activities and $175/night resort credit.
- Award value: 1.8 cents per point (good value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate for two: $658. Includes meals, activities and $175/night resort credit.
- Award value: 1.2 cents per point (poor value)
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa (San Antonio Area)
- Award Category 4 (15,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $35/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $158
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.3 cents per point (poor value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $211
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.6 cents per point (fair value)
Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa (Austin Area)
- Award Category 5 (20,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $37/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $444
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? No
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $294
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.7 cents per point (good value)
Utah
Hyatt Centric Park City
- Award Category 7 (30,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $35 (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $899
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? No
- Award value: 3.1 cents per point (great value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $599
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 2.1 cents per point (very good value)
Stein Eriksen Residences (a SLH resort)
This isn’t technically a Hyatt, but Hyatt has partnered with SLH (Small Luxury Hotels of the World) so that you can earn points or use points at many SLH properties like this one. When you book through Hyatt, you get complimentary wifi, daily complimentary continental breakfast, room upgrade (based upon availability), early check-in (based upon availability), and 2pm late check-out (based upon availability).
- Award Category 8 (40,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: No
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: Not Available
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? No
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: Not Available
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? No
Southwest
Arizona
Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows
- Award Category 5 (20,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $39/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $324
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.8 cents per point (good value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $498
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? No
Castle Hot Springs (a SLH resort)
This isn’t technically a Hyatt, but Hyatt has partnered with SLH (Small Luxury Hotels of the World) so that you can earn points or use points at many SLH properties like this one. When you book through Hyatt, you get complimentary wifi, daily complimentary continental breakfast, room upgrade (based upon availability), early check-in (based upon availability), and 2pm late check-out (based upon availability). The daily breakfast benefit is irrelevant for this property since all rates here include all meals.
- Award Category 8 (40,000 points per night). Includes all meals at this property.
- Resort fee: None
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $630 for two (includes all meals)
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.6 cents per point (fair value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $630 for two (includes all meals)
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.6 cents per point (fair value)
Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch
- Award Category 5 (20,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $40/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $485
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 2.6 cents per point (great value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $485
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 2.6 cents per point (great value)
Miraval Arizona Resort and Spa Tucson
- Award Category Miraval: 65,000 points per night for two. Includes meals, activities and $175/night resort credit.
- Resort fee: 23% (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate for two: $1,090. Includes meals, activities and $175/night resort credit.
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 2.1 cents per point (very good value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate for two: $1,042. Includes meals, activities and $175/night resort credit.
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 2.0 cents per point (very good value)
Royal Palms Resort and Spa Phoenix
- Award Category 6 (25,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $35/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $368
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.6 cents per point (fair value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $630
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 2.7 cents per point (great value)
The Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch (A Destination Hotel)
- Award Category 3 (12,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $15/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $151
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.4 cents per point (fair value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $336
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 2.9 cents per point (great value)
California
Andaz Palm Springs
This hotel is scheduled to open in late 2020.
Carmel Valley Ranch Unbound Collection
My wife an I stayed here in late February and really enjoyed it. You can read my review here. While we liked our stay at the adults-only Ventana Big Sur even more, Carmel Valley Ranch is better suited to families.
- Award Category 6 (25,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $49.73/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $539
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 2.4 cents per point (very good value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $360
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.6 cents per point (fair value)
Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa
I stayed here with my wife and son quite a few years ago and remember liking the resort a lot. It is across the street from the beach, but a pedestrian bridge makes it safe and easy to access the beach from the resort.
- Award Category 5 (20,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $35/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $195
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.2 cents per point (poor value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $226
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.3 cents per point (poor value)
Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa
- Award Category 5 (20,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $30/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $216
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.2 cents per point (poor value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $405
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 2.2 cents per point (very good value)
Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina
I’ve stayed at this one a few times in the past. It’s a stretch to put it on any “best of” list, but it’s not a terrible choice if you want to stay near, but not in downtown San Diego. And at category 3, it’s cheap to book with points (12,000 points per night).
- Award Category 3 (12,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $35 (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $160
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.6 cents per point (fair value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $136
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.4 cents per point (fair value)
Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Carlsbad
The Park Hyatt Aviara’s website says that the resort will “undergo an exciting transformation” through June 1, 2020. This shouldn’t matter for winter or spring break travel, but if you want to book for this summer be warned. Renovations often take longer than expected and it’s probably safe to expect that COVID-19 has slowed things down even more. If you book this one for summer travel, I recommend having a backup plan in case they’re not done with renovations before your stay. Cancel 24 hours before check-in to avoid a fee.
- Award Category 5 (20,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $40 (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $396
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 2.2 cents per point (very good value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $414
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 2.3 cents per point (very good value)
Ventana Big Sur Alila Resort
My wife and I stayed at this resort in early March and we loved everything about it. You can read my review here. Unfortunately, finding available award nights can be tough. If you have enough points though, one trick is to book a suite or premium suite by contacting Hyatt directly. Since suite awards aren’t usually available to book online they’re often available when regular awards are not. Recently, though, this hotel has made their premium suites available to book online with points. I haven’t decided yet whether that’s a good thing or bad thing…
- Award Category 7 (30,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $66.42/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $782
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 2.8 cents per point (great value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $553
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 2.1 cents per point (very good value)
Lake Tahoe
Resort at Squaw Creek Lake Tahoe. A Destination Hotel
- Award Category 6 (25,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $40/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: Not Available
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? No
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $218
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.0 cents per point (poor value)
Las Vegas
Thanks to their partnership with MGM Resorts, Hyatt offers 13 resorts in Las Vegas alone. In order to narrow the field, I chose only the resorts that had better than 4.0 average TripAdvisor score.
Aria
- Award Category 6 (25,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $50/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $225
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.1 cents per point (poor value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $221
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.1 cents per point (poor value)
NoMad Las Vegas
- Award Category 5 (20,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $40/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $217
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.3 cents per point (poor value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $189
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.1 cents per point (poor value)
The Signature at MGM Grand
- Award Category 5 (20,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $40/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $163
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.0 cents per point (poor value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $135
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 0.9 cents per point (very poor value)
Vdara
- Award Category 5 (20,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $50/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $203
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.3 cents per point (poor value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $135
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 0.9 cents per point (very poor value)
New Mexico
Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa
- Award Category 3 (12,000 points per night)
- Resort fee: $32/night (waived for award stays)
Winter Break
- Dec 26 – 31 average room rate: $127
- Dec 26 – 31 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 1.3 cents per point (poor value)
Spring Break
- Mar 7 – 12 average room rate: $289
- Mar 7 – 12 points rate available? Yes
- Award value: 2.7 cents per point (great value)
Methodology
Using Hyatt’s website, I filtered to properties in the lower 48 United States which were identified as resorts. I then removed from consideration any resorts that failed to meet one of these two criteria:
- Resorts that offer snow-skiing
- Resorts located in warm weather destinations
With each resort that met the above criteria, I looked at room rates and award availability for the following dates:
- December 26-31 2020 (AKA Winter Break)
- March 7-12 2021 (AKA Spring Break)
I always recorded the best available cash rate even if the rate was prepaid. That said, I did not look for special rates such as AAA, senior, or government rates.
When a points booking was available for the dates of interest, I calculated the point value as ([the daily rate] + resort fee) / (# points required for the stay). The reason the resort fee is added to the daily rate is that Hyatt doesn’t charge resort fees on award stays.
Finally, I described point values as poor to good based on this chart (which I made up for this purpose):
- Point value <1.0: very poor value
- Point value 1.0 to 1.3: poor value
- Point value 1.4 to 1.6: fair value
- Point value 1.7 to 1.9: good value
- Point value 2.0 to 2.5: very good value
- Point value > 2.5: great value
Key Findings
Point values vary between winter and spring break
Many of the resorts in this roundup offer great point value for one time period or the other, but not both. This happens when the resort charges much more for either winter break or spring break. For now, award prices are the same either way. So, with fixed award prices, the value of your points increases with increased paid prices. This will change a bit in 2021 when Hyatt introduces peak and off-peak award pricing. Until then, there are some fantastic bargains to be had.
Great uses for free night certificates
Hyatt offers several ways to earn free night certificates good for any category 1-4 Hyatt. The best use for these certificates is with category 1-4 hotels that have high paid prices. Here were the best options in this roundup (I’ve listed also the resort fees since you won’t have to pay those fees when using a free night certificate):
- Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, Florida (Cat 3)
- Winter Break: $329 + $42.75 resort fee
- Spring Break: $284 + $42.75 resort fee
- The Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch, Arizona (Cat 3)
- Spring Break: $336 + $15
- Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa, New Mexico (Cat 3)
- Spring Break: $289 + $32 resort fee
- The Confidante Miami Beach (Cat 4)
- Spring Break: $279 + $35 resort fee
- Winter Break is likely a good deal too, but free nights weren’t available for the date ranges I looked at.
Great uses for points
I found quite a few great uses for points! Here are the properties where the point value was better than 2.5 cents per point for either or both time ranges.
Great use for points both winter and spring break
- Park Hyatt Beaver Creek
- 6.1 cents per point value over winter break
- 3.0 cents per point value over spring break
- Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress
- 3.1 cents per point value over winter break
- 2.7 cents per point value over spring break
- Hyatt Regency Scottsdale
- 2.6 cents per point value over winter break
- 2.6 cents per point value over spring break
Great use for points over winter break
- Grand Hyatt Vail: 3.8 cents per point value over winter break
- Hyatt Centric Key West: 3.8 cents per point value over winter break
- Hyatt Centric Park City: 3.1 cents per point value over winter break
- Hyatt Regency Coconut Point: 3.0 cents per point value over winter break
- Hyatt Residence Club Bonita Springs: 2.9 cents per point value over winter break
- Ventana Big Sur Alila Resort: 2.8 cents per point value over winter break
- The Plymouth South Beach: 2.7 cents per point value over winter break
Great use for points over spring break
- The Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch: 2.9 cents per point value over spring break
- Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort: 2.7 cents per point value over spring break
- Royal Palms Resort and Spa Phoenix: 2.7 cents per point value over spring break
Low Cash Prices
Deciding which resorts are offering low cash prices is a bit of an art since I admittedly didn’t do the extra research to see how the prices compare to other times or to other similar properties in the same area. That said, sometimes the winter break prices were markedly cheaper than spring break prices. The ones that stood out to me that were both inexpensive and cheaper than spring break were these:
- Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort. Winter Break: $158 + $35 resort fee
- Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort. Winter Break: $195 + $35 resort fee
- Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa. Winter Break: $216 + $30 resort fee
- Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort. Winter Break: $127 + $32 resort fee
There were resorts that were significantly less expensive for spring break vs. winter, but most of these were still quite expensive so I didn’t include them in the “low cash prices” list. Most of the Vegas properties were also cheaper for spring break, but Vegas is known to often offer extremely low prices so it wasn’t clear to me that these were particularly good.
Conclusion
I was happy, but not surprised, to find that many Hyatt resorts in the continental US offer great point value (or free night certificate value) for winter and spring break destinations. Whether you like to ski, golf, hike, or relax by the beach or pool, there are lots of great options here.
One property that I’m especially intrigued by was neither cheap nor a great point value. Castle Hot Springs is a SLH resort in Arizona. Rates at this resort include all meals. Even though this resort costs an exorbitant 40,000 points per night or $630 per night for 2 adults, it might be a reasonable value for this luxury all-inclusive (except alcohol) property. Plus, the place gets fantastic reviews. If you’ve ever been there, please comment below to let us know what you think!
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[…] my post “Best Hyatt resorts for winter and spring break in the continental United States” I intended to do the same for Marriott. But then I started looking through their resort […]
[…] It’s not too early to look for locations during Winter Break 2020 or Spring Break 2021. His search is for the great U.S. based Hyatt resorts to stay at during winter and spring. Some of the places look really nice, but if you want to visit Key West, I’d stay away from […]
Error: Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina – “I’ve stayed at this one a few times in the past. It’s a stretch to put it on any “best of” list, but it’s not a terrible choice if you want to stay near, but not in San Diego.” Mission Bay is in San Diego, it’s just not in *downtown* San Diego.
Thanks Brent. I’ve updated with the “downtown” bit.
great list and effort, but nashville has no ski resorts, nor is it close to being warm for spring break. not sure how they get away with calling it a resort, either – it’s just expensive-a$$ nashville
I have to believe that the best benefit for Globalist for some time will be the option to get the free breakfast as room service! Buffet line is not something I’m going to frequent!
Love posts like this!
Greg, thanks for putting this together! This is a great resource and provides a lot of great value, … just bookmarked for future reference. Looking forward to the Hilton and Marriott articles also.
Just wacked 2 cards BMO($95) and Prestige ($550) useless now .
#noloungesincave
Your posts and explanations of your logic for inclusion on these lists are very interesting. Do you have a take on how the hotel club lounges will be addressed..will they even still be the same after this is over? If self serve salad bars at grocery stores and Vegas buffets aren’t coming back in their current form, what will hotel club lounges be like?
An article about the lounges would be helpful. There is so much inconsistency even within brand: not all Grand Hyatts, have a club; some Regencys have a better club than a Grand; some clubs offer open bar, others have an honor system, others you can only order from a server.
As a Globalist, the included breakfast in the restaurant at hotels that do not have a club lounge is appreciated but I am wondering if this is the future even for those hotels that do have a club lounge. And will they be adding all day complimentary snacks, beverages, etc, through the restaurant or room service?
I’d love to do a post to answer these questions, but I don’t know the answers. I don’t think anyone knows the answers yet. I’m sure each of the chains are working on new policies for club lounges, and some probably have new policies out already, but I expect that things will change rapidly as things get figured out, as new recommendations are published, and as the pandemic gets better or worse.