Not Enough Hyatt Points for the Whole Stay? Mix and Match Instead
The short version: Hyatt’s Pay My Way feature lets you combine cash, points, and Free Night Awards in a single reservation. If you’re short on points, it can be an easy way to stretch what you have.
What Hyatt Pay My Way Does
Instead of paying for your entire stay one way, Hyatt lets you choose how to pay for each individual night.
For every night of your stay, you can select:
- Cash (Member Rate)
- Points
- Points + Cash
- Free Night Award (if you have an eligible award)
That flexibility can come in handy when you don’t have enough points to cover the entire stay or you want to get the most out of a Free Night Award.
A Four Night Example
Let’s say you’re booking a four night stay and you have:
- One Free Night Award
- Enough points for one award night
- No problem paying cash for the rest
Here’s how you might structure it:
| Night | Cash Rate | Points Rate | How I'd Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $200 | 12,000 | Cash |
| 2 | $200 | 12,000 | Cash |
| 3 | $240 | 15,000 | Points |
| 4 | $370 | 15,000 | Free Night Award |
Example only. Your rates and point costs will vary.
In this scenario, I’d use the Free Night Award on Night 4 because it’s the most expensive night. Then I’d use points on Night 3 and pay cash for the cheaper nights.
That’s not automatically the best strategy, but it’s where I’d start.
One important detail: Free Night Awards only work at eligible hotel categories. Before assigning an award night, make sure your certificate actually covers the property you’re booking.
How to Use Pay My Way
Here’s how to find it:
- Sign in to your World of Hyatt account.
- Search for a stay with the Use Points box unchecked.
- Select your hotel.
- Choose a Member Rate.
- Click Pay My Way.
- Pick a payment method for each night.
Hyatt can change its site, so what you see may look a little different.
Keep in mind that Pay My Way generally appears on Member Rate bookings. You may not see it on Advance Purchase rates.
Watch the Running Totals
As you change payment methods, Hyatt updates three totals as you go:
- Points
- Cash Total
- Free Night Awards
That makes it easy to test different combinations before booking.
Before You Book
Don’t assume Pay My Way is always the cheapest option.
Advance Purchase rates are often lower, but they’re typically prepaid and nonrefundable. Compare both options before you commit.
And always check the cancellation policy before booking.
Heads up: nights paid with points or an award are booked at the standard rate, so they may not include the extra benefits of the cash rate.
My advice: play around with a few different combinations. Sometimes you’ll get the best value by using points or an award on the most expensive night. Other times, paying cash across the board may be the better deal.
The math doesn’t always work the way you’d expect.
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