Hyatt Category 1 hotels in 2026: the 3,000-point list after the May chart change

The short answer

Hyatt Category 1 hotels cost 3,000 points on the "Lowest" pricing tier, up to 9,000 points on "Top" under the chart that takes effect 8:00 AM CT on May 20, 2026. For context: the old three-tier chart ran 3,500-6,500, so Lowest gets cheaper and Top gets ~38% more expensive. The sweet spot is still the cheapest night in any major hotel loyalty program.

How to book

1. 1
   Sign in at hyatt.com or open the World of Hyatt app.
2. 2
   Search a Category 1 destination (Bangkok, Siem Reap, Mexico City, Oaxaca, Budapest, and several US secondary markets all carry Cat 1 properties).
3. 3
   Toggle "Use points" on the rate page. The grid shows Lowest / Low / Moderate / Upper / Top pricing by date.
4. 4
   Transfer Chase UR or Bilt points to World of Hyatt at 1:1 if you don't have enough. Transfers are instant.
5. 5
   Book. Free cancellation applies per the hotel's cash rate policy (usually 48-72 hrs).

What can go wrong

• Category moves. Hyatt reshuffles the category list once a year, usually in March. A hotel that's Cat 1 today might jump to Cat 2 next spring. Book before you transfer if you're near a category boundary.
• Top-tier dates. Peak weekends in popular markets now price at 9,000 instead of 6,500. The phrase "Cat 1 = 3,500 points" is ~2 years obsolete after the May 20, 2026 cutover.
• Chase UR and Bilt only. Amex MR, Citi TY, and Capital One Miles do not transfer to Hyatt. If your Hyatt stash is low and you're on one of those programs, this sweet spot is closed to you unless you earn direct Hyatt points via a co-brand card.
• No cash + points on transferred balances. You can't split a stay as points + cash if you transferred points in; that feature requires Hyatt elite status and a cash-eligible rate.
• Hyatt's footprint is thin in many Cat 1 cities. Bangkok, Mexico City, and Budapest each have only 1-3 Hyatt properties total. If your dates don't line up with Hyatt's award availability, or you want a boutique alternative outside the chain, comparing paid rates at Hotels.com covers the long tail of independent inventory that Hyatt-brand booking can't reach.

Firsthand note

Captured 2026-05-17, three days before the May 20 chart cutover. Searched hyatt.com for Hyatt Place Bangkok Sukhumvit 24 on 2026-09-15 to 2026-09-17 (2 nights). The property card returned 5,000 Points/Night at the entry tier with the cash rate showing THB 2,873 Avg/Night (~$79 USD). That's ~1.58 cpp at the standard tier (5K points / $79 cash). The "Award Category 1" badge was still on the property card today, confirming hyatt.com is serving the pre-cutover 3-tier chart (3.5K off-peak / 5K standard / 6.5K peak) for any booking made today, regardless of stay date. The post-cutover 5-tier chart (3K-9K) above isn't live yet at the time of capture but will be after 8:00 AM CT on May 19. The floor drops to 3,000 on the cheapest dates, and the ceiling rises 38% to 9,000 on peak.