How to Stay in Chicago Hotels on Points
A Hyatt stronghold
Hyatt is based in Chicago and runs an unusually deep lineup across the city and suburbs, from downtown high-rises to mid-category airport and neighborhood hotels. Because Hyatt still uses a fixed award chart, you know the points cost up front, and Chicago has enough lower-category Hyatts that points stretch a long way against downtown cash rates.
The cards and transfer partners to use
Only two currencies feed Hyatt, so they are the priority: Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt, both 1:1. A Chase Sapphire Preferred, a Freedom card paired with a Sapphire, or the Bilt card all build a Hyatt balance. Chicago also has plenty of Marriott, Hilton, and IHG, which Chase and Bilt reach too, with Amex adding Marriott and Hilton, so a Chase plus Bilt pairing covers nearly the whole city.
Add the Hyatt card for free nights
For a Hyatt-heavy city, the World of Hyatt card earns directly, includes a Category 1 to 4 free night each year that is easy to use in Chicago, and gives a path to Hyatt elite status. Pair it with a Chase or Bilt transferable balance and you can top up to any award. See which cards transfer to hotels.
Stop guessing at point values. Look up the real award price and live availability for a specific trip before you transfer.
Search award flights on seats.aero → · Search award stays on rooms.aero →Frequently asked questions
Related reading
Find this useful? Add Cardocrat as a preferred source on Google to see more of our honest, independent card analysis in Search.
