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Chris Dong
I travel, ultimately, to experience a destination and its people. But I use points and miles to elevate that travel — in ways I never thought imaginable just a few years ago.
Take, for instance, the first-class flight that I booked using 47,000 Amex points en route to Vietnam. The country finally reopened its borders to tourists on March 15, and I was lucky enough to be one of the first foreigners to enter.
However, getting to Southeast Asia was only part of the fun. The first stop on my mini-tour of the region was Ho Chi Minh City — and the Park Hyatt Saigon there happens to be one of the swankiest hotels in town.
Chris Dong
Instead of paying the $300 nightly rate, I was able to stay entirely for free. That's because I leveraged the free night benefit that comes with some hotel credit cards — in this case,
Here's how I did it — and why this perk remains one of the most valuable credit card benefits, especially as the world reopens.
The one perk of hotel credit cards that can provide incredible outsized value — way more than a card's annual fee — is a free night certificate each year.
I keep my hotel cards open for this very reason. Take
Clearly, the math is simple. If I redeem my annual award for a night that exceeds
Chris Dong
That doesn't even account for the various other Hyatt card perks, such as entry-level Discoverist status which includes priority check-in, 2 p.m. late checkout when available, and 10% bonus points on paid stays.
I can also earn a second Category 1-4 free night award if I spend $15,000 on the card in a calendar year.
Read more: World of Hyatt credit card review
The World of Hyatt program uses a fixed award chart, with each of the 950 hotels in the program designated a category, from Category 1 through Category 8.
In mid-March, the program underwent a not-so-positive change that shifted how certain hotels are categorized. While some hotels went down a category, a number of hotels went up one, too.
Long story short — there are now fewer premium properties where you can use your Category 1-4 free night certificate.
Chris Dong
For instance, in 2021, I used my annual free night award at The Confidante, an oceanfront Hyatt hotel in Miami Beach.
Now, after the recent rejiggering in 2022, that property — along with a handful of others — has moved up a level to Category 5. That means I can't use my Category 1-4 free night certificate there anymore.
Read more: How to earn, redeem, and maximize Hyatt points
Chris Dong
But there's certainly still lots of value to be had.
Take the Park Hyatt Saigon as a prime example. As a Category 4 hotel, the property is a true five-star hotel where I can still use a Category 1-4 free night certificate. And with cash rates hovering around $300 per night, it's a fantastic value.
Chris Dong
The luxurious, colonial-inspired property is in the heart of historic Ho Chi Minh, and I was offered impeccable service during my short (but very sweet) one-night stay.
While Asia is one of the last regions to reopen to tourists, it will soon come back with a vengeance. Besides Vietnam, a handful of other Asian nations have opened their doors — from Thailand to Cambodia to the Philippines.
And since I've been sitting on a stash of points, miles, and free night awards, now was the perfect time to use them.
My long-awaited return to Asia in mid-March was about reconnecting with a continent where I feel at home. Thanks to points and free night certificates, I'm fortunate enough to be able to have this experience in luxury.
