8 ambitious luxury hotels you can book with points

May 28, 2024Last Updated: May 28, 2024

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8 ambitious luxury hotels you can book with points

There are many ways to redeem points for hotels stay. I usually trade for good value properties that I can book for relatively few points. Having hotel points opens up a world of possibilities and allows me to stay at some spectacular hotels that I couldn’t – or at least wouldn’t – have booked otherwise.

Many major loyalty programs allow travelers to book amazing luxury accommodations with points. Unfortunately, standard award space for a reasonable stay is virtually non-existent at some properties, such as the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi. Other assets such as Hyatt’s new Mr & Mrs Smith collection, have such steep prize prices that they may not be the best use of your points. To set reasonable expectations, I’ve eliminated properties with no points value or the least points value from this list.

Here are some of the best luxury hotels you can book with points, including a few that I was lucky enough to visit and a few others that are still on my wish list.

Alila Ventana Big Sur

Expenses in cash: From $1,606 per night

Cost in points: From 45,000 World of Hyatt points per night

You come to Ventana Big Sur to rest and relax. This rustic jungle resort near Monterey, California has 54 rooms and suites. Each resort booking includes all meals and select activities such as yoga, meditation, tai chi and daily hikes. So Ventana Big Sur is definitely a resort where your points can provide significant value.

by TPG Zach Griff loved his vacation, as evidenced by him Hyatt’s Ventana Big Sur review. But as I found when researching availability — and as Zach noted in his review — the number of awards for off-peak rooms is limited. However, I found some nights with off-peak category 8 rates for standard rooms and many nights with availability of premium and off-peak standard rooms.

The resort is adults only so no guests under 18 years of age can accompany you. Also note that the luxury area of Ventana Big Sur is separate from the resort and does not have access to many of the resort amenities.

In general, this is a resort for people with a lot of money and a lot of money. World of Hyatt point or a special occasion to celebrate. I would probably try to book a short stay with a standard room award rate off-peak and use my points for a longer Pacific Coast Highway trip to get the most value.

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Miraval Arizona

Expenses in cash: From $1,074/night for single room (from $1,933/night for double room)

Cost in points: From 40,000 World of Hyatt points per night for a single room (from 57,500 points per night for a double room)

Hyatt’s most luxurious wellness-focused brand is Miraval, which has large-scale resorts and spas in Texas, Arizona and Massachusetts, along with an international base in Saudi Arabia. TPG staff have stayed at all three local properties and have rave reviews.

So it’s not surprising that at least one Miraval resort makes the list of great luxury hotels around the world that you can book with points. I was most excited to visit Miraval Arizona due to its desert location and status as the original Miraval resort.

There is something special World of Hyatt award rankings for Miraval resorts, but redeeming Hyatt points still offers good value most days. All meals, snacks, coffee, smoothies and non-alcoholic beverages are included in the stay. Additionally, guests receive shared transportation from Tucson International Airport (TUS) and a $175 credit per person per night toward spa services, fee-based activities, and private treatment sessions private.

Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands

Expenses in cash: From $1,504 per night

Cost in points: From 82,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night

If you have many Marriott Bonvoy spots and want to have a spectacular vacation in the Maldives, Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands is a great choice. It’s just a 45-minute speedboat ride from Male airport, where most international flights arrive in the Maldives. A standard points redemption will get you a one-bedroom ocean view pool villa – although you can redeem more points when booking an upgraded room type.

Former TPG reporter Chris Dong summed up her stay perfectly when she wrote: “I enjoyed my time at the Ritz, not because of how charming it was but because I felt truly cared for in a way I had never been before. feel in any other hotel in the world.”

Honestly, I’m not sure I would be willing to redeem the points needed to stay at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives. However, especially considering the prices paid, you’ll get a steal on most days — especially if you redeem points for at least five nights of stays and can get a Thursday night is free.

Six Senses Laamu

Expenses in cash: From $1,049 per night

Cost in points: From 190,000 IHG One Rewards points per night

Mine Six Senses Laamu Review shows how much I loved the resort and it’s still my favorite place to stay many years later. So I had to include it in my list of amazing luxury hotels around the world that you can book with points.

Six Senses Laamu is a rustic luxury resort focused on environmental sustainability. It employs a full team of marine biologists, offers excellent snorkeling opportunities on site, includes a number of memorable experiential activities, has a fun kids’ club and has specials. Multi-storey overwater villa as basic room type.

However, I would probably put a price tag on returning to Six Senses Laamu (which I hope to do). Redeem rewards IHG One Rewards points don’t make sense for most Six Senses stays for two reasons: You’ll get a lower redemption rate than most IHG hotels, and Six Senses typically offers inclusive rates Great breakfast and dinner if you stay at least four nights.

Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa

Expenses in cash: From $800 per night

Cost in points: From 25,000 World of Hyatt points per night

Another luxury option in the Maldives, Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa is home to more than 50 land and overwater villas, all surrounded by a 360-degree private reef offering plenty of snorkeling opportunities . Amenities include four restaurants and a bar, multiple swimming pools, a yoga studio and fitness center, and an on-site spa and diving center.

Thanks to World of Hyatt’s generous awards chart, this category 7 property costs just 25,000 to 35,000 points per night, depending on the day. That’s a solid value for a hotel where cash rates can run more than $1,000 per night.

Al Maha, Luxury Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai

View from a villa at Al Maha, Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai. MARRIOTT AL MAHA/MARRIOTT

Expenses in cash: From $1,176 per night

Cost in points: From 96,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night

I debated whether Al Maha Resort by Marriott in Dubai was worth the splurge a few years ago. After visiting in the summer of 2022, I was happy to decide to try this ambitious, essentially all-inclusive resort in the Dubai Desert Reserve. Our two-night stay was certainly memorable, from meals on the villa terrace and hours spent by the private pool overlooking the desert to the included activities.

The resort has 42 private pool villas, and guests redeeming their stay can enjoy three meals and two activities per day. Activities include archery, desert nature walks, desert drives, wildlife safaris, falconry shows, horseback riding, camel trekking and sunset viewing over sand dunes. We learned a lot on our desert nature walk and enjoyed basking in the gentle sand dunes during our wildlife safari.

Conrad Bora Bora Mountain

Swimming pool at Conrad Bora Bora Nui in French Polynesia. SUMMER/THE POINTS GUY

Expenses in cash: From $1,202 per night

Cost in points: From 120,000 Hilton Honors points per night

I loved my trip to French Polynesia, during which I visited Bora Bora and several other islands. by TPG Summer hull also love Conrad Bora Bora Nui. Describing this as her best Hilton points redemption, her stay at a Hilton hotel is something she will never forget.

At Conrad Bora Bora Nui, you will have access to four different beaches. There is also free snorkeling equipment, kayaks and paddleboards to see the marine life around the resort. Daily activities, including instructions on how to open a coconut workshop and make wreaths, also await you.

A standard awards night usually costs 120,000 Hilton Title points every night. It’s easy to find five or more consecutive standard awards nights in some seasons, although it can be difficult to find standard awards in other seasons. Unless you have more Hilton points than you can redeem, you may want to avoid steep award night rates.

Also remember that Hilton elite designation members can enjoy the fifth night free on a standard night stay.

Necker Island

Expenses in cash: From $5,650 per night

Cost in points: 2,000,000 Virgin points per seven-night stay

Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands is one of the grandest hotels you can book with points. In fact, it would be a stretch to call this private island retreat a hotel.

if you Book an award vacation at Necker Island, your stay includes lodging, breakfast, round-trip transportation from Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS), and use of water sports equipment. The island is also home to many different animals, including lemurs, giant tortoises, and flamingos.

You can book through Virgin Red, our sister program Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, but you’ll have to commit to a seven-night stay, and award stays are only offered during a few “Celebration Weeks” each year, some of which are adults-only. Children can stay for an additional fee on certain “Celebration” days, but the above rates apply to double rooms only.