Yesterday I wrote about an offer where Hyatt was seemingly matching anyone with any kind of status to Hyatt Diamond status, which is their top-tier status, and Hyatt Diamond status is probably what I would rank as the best hotel status out there
Looking for a new loyalty program? DM us and let’s talk. pic.twitter.com/cgfkZwxBcL
— Hyatt Concierge (@HyattConcierge) November 19, 2015
That set off a maelstrom of activity as the entire Internet spent the day DMing and emailing Hyatt Gold Passport, trying to get comped to Hyatt Diamond status. I sent off my information, but I have not heard back, and honestly, am not really expecting much. I saw that Mike over at One Mile at a Time did already get confirmation of his Diamond status, but others seemed to report that now people were only getting matched to Hyatt Platinum status.
What I’ll do with my new Hyatt Diamond status
So even though I haven’t heard anything back and aren’t really expecting much, that shouldn’t stop me from dreaming up ways that I can use my Hyatt Diamond status, right? 😀 I tried to think of things realistically, rather than just sharing a list of the top Category 7 hotels. I need to find either places that I thought my wife and I could get away to, or places we might realistically take the whole family.
Here are a few thoughts I’ve had – feel free to share your ideas in the comments!
1. Amsterdam
As I look to save enough miles to take my family of 8 to Europe, Amsterdam was the one place that seemed like it might be a good fit. Going to Europe costs us 320,000 AAdvantage miles roundtrip, even on off-peak, and that’s only if we book before the impending American Airlines AAdvantage devaluation.
There is a Category 3 hotel but it is only a Hyatt Place, and it’s by the airport, rather than near the city center. Still, that was the first Hyatt related thought that came into my mind.
San Juan, Puerto Rico as viewed from the fort in Old San Juan
2. Puerto Rico
We went to Puerto Rico last winter, and stayed at the Hyatt House San Juan, which is a Category 2 hotel
(SEE ALSO: Hyatt House San Juan: Pretty good for only 8000 points / night!)
(SEE ALSO: San Juan expenses: How much did my “free” trip cost?)
Part of the allure of Puerto Rico is that because it’s part of the US, you only pay the $5.60 TSA tax, instead of the hundreds of dollars (per ticket!) that you’ll pay going to other Caribbean destinations.
3. Hawaii
Just like Puerto Rico, Hawaii is part of the US (duh), so it’s less expensive tax-wise than many of the Caribbean islands. You do typically have to pay more in miles to visit Hawaii than you would to visit the lower 48
I know Shawn from Miles to Memories got Hyatt Diamond Status with a Diamond challenge and visited Hawaii recently and had a great time at the Hyatt Regency on Maui.
Plus Hawaii is one bare spot on my USA map (currently at 48/50 states; just missing Alaska and Hawaii) – remember, I’m trying to visit all 3,143 counties!
County progress
4. Paris
Well, we know I’m not going to be “Vendoming“, right??!?! 🙂
Park Hyatt Vendome
One of the things on my travel bucket list is to see the fireworks in Paris on Bastille Day, so if I had Hyatt Diamond status, this might be the year to try that? Plus, the Deal Mommy has already let me know that to see the fireworks, it’s not the Vendome that you want – it’s the Hyatt Paris Etoille (a Category 4 hotel – 15,000 points / night)
5. Seattle
I’ve been to Seattle once, in 1985, for a Seattle Mariners game. Has it changed much since then?!!? 🙂
My family and I went on a cross-country Amtrak trip this summer, which had a retail cost of over $6500.
We booked the trip for free with points, and although that Amtrak zone map sweet spot is going away with the new Amtrak Guest Rewards 2.0, we still have a few options. Because our train was so super-delayed, we ended up calling about our Amtrak delay and got $1100 in Amtrak compensation. One thought I had was taking the Empire Builder train out to Seattle – for 2-4 people it has a cash price of about $1200, which would fit right in with our voucher.
6. California
San Diego? Los Angeles? San Francisco? When I asked Carolyn where she wanted to go, she suggested California, which sounds good to me!
7. Hyatt Ziva or Hyatt Zilara
Hyatt Zilara and Hyatt Ziva are five all-inclusive resorts in various resort places in Mexico and the Caribbean. Zilara is adults-only while Ziva is family-friendly, so obviously we’d pick one of those depending on who was coming. If we flew to Mexico, we WOULD need to get passports for everyone
Well, that probably maxes out the realistic possibilities we might be able to go to between now and the end of 2017 – did I miss anything glaring? And, because being a “Diamond Guest” has been on my mind all-day, I leave you with this hilarious Youtube video
Where are you planning on going?
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Dan Miller travels with his wife and 6 (SIX!) children. He loves to help families travel for free / cheap, especially larger families. If you are looking for help, drop him an email at 
The Puerto Rico properties are ok. Did 3 of them this August before heading East to the Hilton resort. If you can hop on a flight to Vieques to do the bioluminescent bay there, it’s worth the trip. There’s another Hyatt Place going in right across the street from the Hyatt House. Don’t do C+P in PR because of the SKY high hotel taxes.
For Hawaii, the HR is nice. We’ve rotated between the Andaz and the Regency for the last couple of Christmases. Regency is probably nicer for kids with the pool system as well as the club for grabbing free sodas all day. For your kids that’ll be a big plus. Andaz of course is more upscale with a far superior breakfast but rooms are smallish. Andaz doesn’t allow DSU with C+P bookings, while the HR does so that’s something else in favor of the Regency. Wailea and Kanaapali are very different areas, so we continue to split time there. Can’t wait to return in a few weeks!
Paris there’s no comparison between the Etoile and Vendome properties. We did the Vendome last year and the Etoile this year. 5 star versus well, you know… I’d have to say however, that the Etoile is a steal at C+P + a DSU. It’s also the only property in Paris that will allow officially 2+2 in a room. It also has a really nice view of the Effiel tower as one of the few tall buildings. Club is ok and it’s located right in a mall with some shopping around. Although location wise I like the Vendome better.
The Ziva and Zilaras are a good use of points to a degree. Hyatt’s policy of doubling the room cost for kids is ridiculous. 25K a night and 12.5K per kid – so that’s 50K a night (Paris Vendome suite is 48K a night). That being said, all-inclusive is nice for budgeting. Ziva Cancun is “brand new” being a refurbishment of the Dreams location that the (now sold) Hyatt Regency overlooked. It’s right in the heart of Cancun surrounded by ocean on 3 sides, and directly linked to the public beach. You can even swim with dolphins on property, we did so last year. We’ve also done the Ziva Jamaica, and it has a free kid’s club that our son really enjoyed. Booked a trip there again for next spring break, though I wish that SouthWest flew here from CVG :/
Hyatt treats its’ Diamonds really well. I’m kind of torn on how easy that they gave it out, but I hope that many will consider requalifying the year after and helping to strengthen the brand further. Welcome to the family! If you have any other questions please yell – we’ve spent 50-75 nights a year at Hyatts the last 3.
Thank you SO much for your detailed reviews! We’ll have to see if I actually GET the Hyatt Diamond status (they haven’t gotten back to me – I’m just dreaming at this point…)
I love that your dream list includes Hyatt House and Hyatt Place locations, way to keep it real! I can comment that the HR San Francisco is wonderful. Stayed there 2 nights last week with the kids, no status for me. Just a great hotel in a great location.
Keeping it real! I am on record as saying that “budget” hotels DESTROY nice ones. It might be different if I were Diamond, but especially if we were with the whole family, when we’re somewhere “fancy” I get nervous that the kids are going to either break all the fancy things and/or disturb all the fancy guests
Personally, I am not a fan of any of the Amsterdam airport hotels. Amsterdam is a “super small” city, it’s sort of a village. It’s perfect for walking and biking; and just exploring in every direction. Walking out of your hotel and walking/biking will make your trip that much better. Constantly taking the train to/from the airport, not so much.
Thanks for the feedback – looks like you’re right. That is one thing I have learned over the past year or so – location really DOES matter a lot. It’s quite annoying to get a cheaper hotel that just isn’t where you want to be, and so you spend the whole time just going back and forth…
The Hyatt Regency on Waikiki is a great place also, reasonable price and eating breakfast in the club is the perfect way to start the day.
I got an interesting email from Hyatt recently, I have now stayed in 50 different properties. It is fun to look at the list and remember the locations.
I have been Diamond for the last 3 years, and I only need another night to get it again. In fact the last 3 years I have been Diamond with both Hyatt and Hilton, I won’t make Hilton again. And I am torn, I presume that I can get Marriott to match my Hyatt status. I might be time to leave Hilton, I have 400k points but they are worth next to nothing.
If you are going to SoCal consider Long Beach. It is one of the oldest Hyatt’s, a nice property in a very nice location. A lot of the staff have been there since it opened and the level of service is wonderful.
3 year Diamond
Best Hyatts in my opinion:
Hyatt Regency Orange County- shuttle to Disneyland
Pool and jacuzzi
Fantastic breakfast at Diamond Status
Close to everything
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Grand Hyatt Kauai – Yes, the bloggers did not lie.
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Hyatt Regency Qingdao
Inside pool, great spa, beautiful restaurants, seaside- awesome view to ocean, and one of the best ever Regency Clubs
Hyatt Regency Hangzhou
I’m headed to both in October 2016 for a week vacation on points.
one of the best ever Regency Clubs
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Hyatt Regency – Huntington Beach – better than Long Beach
This one is across the beach. Great view. Hoped that their Regency Club got better. Not impressed once I hit the ones in China.
Okay – Hyatt Long Beach – located close to Long Beach activities
Parking fee to high. Regency club – so so
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Hyatt Regency SF – for location and Regency Club
rooms not terribly impressive
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Grand Hyatt – Seoul
Above the action, but closer to it than the Park
Great rooms. Watch out for hard beds.