May 20th is 5 days away. That is the day World of Hyatt reprices 136 hotels. Your points sitting there. Free Night Awards sitting there. Deadline passes. You wish you had done something. So here is what I would do and what I am actually doing now.
First, What Is Happening On May 20th?
Hyatt is changing the category for 136 hotels. 112 of them are going up. That means after May 20, those hotels will cost more points to book. Here is the thing most people do not realize. You do not have to travel and stay before May 20. You just have to book before May 20. Any reservation you lock in before 8 AM US Central Time on that Wednesday follows today’s pricing, even if your stay is in December or next year. The award chart at the time of booking is the one that applies.
So you have a few days to secure some genuinely good stays at prices that are about to go away. That is what this post is about.
The Hotels I Would Book Right Now
I only want to talk about places I have actually been. Because I think that matters. Anyone can copy a list from Hyatt’s website. What I can tell you is what it actually felt like to be there.
Park Hyatt London River Thames
Category 7 going to Category 8: Book before May 20th
My best friend and I did a girls trip here and I think about this hotel more than I probably should. You walk in and there is just this quiet confidence about the place. No fuss, no over-the-top lobby moment, just everything done elegantly.
The suite, the Thames views, the service all of it won my love. But the thing I keep coming back to is the breakfast. As a Globalist I had full breakfast included, and what they do is let you have both the buffet and order a la carte at the same time. The bakery was exceptional, and then there was Hong Kong-style dim sum on the a la carte menu. I just could not ignore that. The hotel is in a newer redeveloped part of London along the river, surrounded by luxury residences and offices.
Why May 20 matters specifically for this one?
It is Category 7 right now, which means it can still be booked with your Category 1-7 Free Night Award (FNA). The moment it moves to Category 8, that award cannot be used here anymore. If you have been holding a 1-7 FNA and wondering where to use it, I would really encourage you to think about this one. It is one of the last great options in that range.
Hotel Figueroa Los Angeles
Category 4 going to Category 5: book before May 20th
We did a staycation here and it was one of those stays where you feel like you discovered something. It is a small boutique-styled hotel. It was really intimate. Built in the 1920s, they have kept so much of the original character. The location is unbeatable in Downtown LA, close to Crypto.com Arena if you have a game or show.
The reason I am flagging this one especially: if you have a Category 1-4 Free Night Award, either your annual one from the Chase World of Hyatt card, or the one you earn when you hit 30 qualifying nights milestone, this is a really beautiful use of it. Once Figueroa becomes Category 5 on May 20, that cert cannot be used there anymore. Now you still have time. Book it.
Hotels in Japan for those of you planning a trip
Asia overall is not getting hit too hard this year, which is actually a relief. But these four Japan properties are moving up. If Japan is on your list for 2026 or 2027, I would book now just to lock in the pricing. You may change by cancelling them but the award chart cannot be un-changed.
Hyatt House Tokyo Shibuya
Category 5 going to Category 6: book before May 20th
Caption Namba Osaka
Category 2 going to Category 3: book before May 20th
Hyatt Place Kyoto
Category 2 going to Category 3: book before May 20th
The Ones To Wait On: They Are Actually Getting Cheaper
Category 5 going to Category 4: Wait after May 20th
I also want to make sure you do not accidentally book too early on properties that are going down in category, because that would mean paying more points than you need to. Two properties worth noting in Asia: Andaz Macau and The Standard Singapore are both dropping from Category 5 to 4.
They are especially interesting if you hold a Category 1-4 Free Night Award (FNA). Right now both are Category 5, so your FNA cannot be used at either of them. After May 20 they become Category 4, which means they are suddenly on the table. If yous is valid past the change, sit on it. You are about to have two new options you do not have today.
How To Get Points Quickly If You Need Them
I get this question a lot so let me just say it directly. The cards I recommend for earning Hyatt points are Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Reserve Business, Chase World of Hyatt and Bilt Rewards credit card. Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards both transfer to Hyatt at 1:1 ratio and the transfer posts within seconds.
Related Reading: How to Shop Smart This Mother’s Day: 6 Gifts That Reward You Too [ 2026]
Related Reading: Bilt × Rakuten: Your New Pathway for Asia-Pacific Travel With Families
If you are short on points for a specific property, figure out the gap today, transfer, and book. You still have time but do not wait until May 19 to start. If you are a Hyatt Globalist, you can leverage points advanced booking to lock in the current category rates.
OK, Last Thing To Know: Act Now
I know some of you are reading this and thinking, I will look into it this weekend. I say this with real warmth because I have been that person too: this weekend is May 17. The deadline is May 20. That is not a lot of cushion.
You do not need to have your travel dates figured out. You just need to pick a hotel you genuinely want to stay at someday, find the most flexible award dates they have, and book it. You can call and move the dates later. Hyatt award bookings are generally very flexible as long as you cancel within the window. What you cannot do is come back after May 20 and get today’s pricing.
If you want to check a property that is not on my list, the full list of all 136 hotels changing categories is on the World of Hyatt website. Which hotels are on your list? I would love to know.
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