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ICYMI
In Case You Missed It… A ton of Hyatt hotels have changed category, 259 to be exact, and it’s bittersweet one this time around. We lost some good cat 4s this time around, but we also gained some that I’ve been looking to stay at, and some great Asian cat 4s dropped. Hello newly renovated Grand Hyatt Beijing for just 12k a night. Seriously, one of the best city pools I’ve ever seen. Pizza in Motion has a comprehensive list, but I’ve complied the properties that piqued my interest both going up and down.
How does it work?
Properties officially change on March 19th. So you can book up to March 18th and lock in current prices. However…if you have a property locked in at a higher rate on the 18th, you’ll have a nice surprise on Tuesday morning: the difference will get refunded. Thanks Hyatt that’s a solid one and something Marriott announced it wouldn’t do/didn’t do when new rates went active last year.
Dropping:
Chicago landed a couple of fantastic, centrally located hotels with both Hyatt Centrics dropping down to cat 4. The Grand Hyatt Beijing, as mentioned above, is also a fantastic property within walking distance to Forbidden City and underwent a renovation. I stayed at the Park Hyatt Siem Reap a couple years ago and can vouch that its a fabulous property that is a steal at 12k a night. If I were returning to the temples I’d stay here without a doubt.
Andaz Liverpool Street London 6 to 5
Andaz San Diego 5 to 4
Hyatt Centric Mag Mile 5 to 4
Hyatt Centric Loop 5 to 4
Hyatt Centric Waikiki 5 to 4
Grand Hyatt San Diego 5 to 4
Park Hyatt Istanbul 5 to 4
Grand Hyatt Beijing 4 to 3
Grand Hyatt Bangkok 4 to 3
Park Hyatt Siem Reap 4 to 3
Hyatt on the Bund 4 to 3
Bummers, going up in price:
One of the most notable on the list, and has been a cat 4 icon for years, is the Andaz Papagayo in Costa Rica. One positive to it being pulled off cat 4 and bumped to cat 5 is perhaps more nights will be available. It has long been a complaint that the resort played with inventory to avoid having to honor certs. I was lucky this past year to stay at the Park Hyatt Buenos Aires and can atest that it and the Carmelo Resort in Uruguay are worth their new pricing at category 6. They were both steals. Funnily, the Park Hyatt Maldives has jumped again ( it was cat 7 until 2015 when it dropped to 6 )
Hyatt Regency Bali 1 to 2
Andaz Papagayo 4 to 5
Grand Hyatt Seattle 4 to 5
Hyatt at Olive 8 4 to 5
Carmelo Resort Uruguay 5 to 6
Hotel Du Louvre 5 to 6
Park Hyatt Buenos Aires 5 to 6
Park Hyatt Mallorca 5 to 6
Park Hyatt Seoul 5 to 6
Park Hyatt Maldives 6 to 7
Andaz Tokyo 6 to 7
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
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