| | Avoid low-value redemptions | | by Katie Genter, Lead writer |
|  | On a recent stay, I passed up redeeming points for a Category 1 Hyatt hotel. Category 1 hotels are usually a good way to redeem Hyatt points since award nights cost just 3,500 to 6,500 points. But for this stay in Dubai, paid nights were $69, and award nights were 5,000 points, so I would have gotten just 1.38 cents per point.
Compared to TPG's September 2025 valuation of Hyatt points at 1.7 cents each, this is a poor redemption. But this doesn't mean Hyatt points aren't valuable or that redeeming points at this specific property will always provide low value. Instead, it's a reminder that some redemptions provide low value.
TPG's monthly points and miles valuations provide a guide to the value you may want to get when redeeming popular rewards currencies. So, to avoid low-value redemptions, check both paid and award rates, and then calculate your redemption rate.
However, some other factors may come into play that make paid rates more appealing. For example, you may have a credit card statement credit that can save you money on a stay (such as the Delta Stays credit I recently used in the Maldives).
Or, the paid option may simply be better due to departure time, duration or other factors. For example, this spring, I booked a nonstop Ryanair flight from Dublin to Prague for $127 instead of a connecting Star Alliance itinerary for $17,500 plus $20 in taxes and fees. Similarly, I booked modestly priced independent hotels in Niseko, Japan, and Corfu, Greece, when all the award options were overly expensive.
For more tips on maximizing your points and miles, check out the following stories:
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