12 truly special luxury hotels and resorts you can book with points

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. There are many ways to redeem points for hotel stays, and I usually choose to redeem them for good-value properties that I can book for relatively few points. Occasionally, though, I splurge on stays at spectacular properties that I couldn’t — or, at …

Apr 29, 2025 - 20:23

12 truly special luxury hotels and resorts you can book with points

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

There are many ways to redeem points for hotel stays, and I usually choose to redeem them for good-value properties that I can book for relatively few points. Occasionally, though, I splurge on stays at spectacular properties that I couldn’t — or, at least, wouldn’t — have booked without points.

I’ve stayed at many wonderful hotels and resorts on points, but some properties and stays are next-level and truly special. In this article, I’ve mostly included hotels and resorts that have decent award availability and offer good points value on redemptions. However, I’ve also included several that have limited award availability but are too special to leave off this list.

Here’s a look at some of the most amazing luxury hotels you can book with points, including many I (or in some cases, my TPG colleagues) have been lucky enough to visit or hope to visit soon.

Alila Ventana Big Sur

Cost in cash: From $2,167 per night

Cost in points: From 35,000 World of Hyatt points per night

You go to Alila Ventana Big Sur to get away and relax. This rustic forest resort near Monterey, California, has 54 rooms and suites. Each resort booking includes all meals and select activities like yoga, morning meditation and daily hikes.

Alila Ventana Big Sur is a resort where your World of Hyatt points can provide significant value. “Ventana Big Sur is the perfect escape from the real world — all without driving too far. The suites are gorgeous, the food is great, the property is pristine and the amenities are top-notch,” TPG’s Zach Griff wrote in his 2021 review of Alila Ventana Big Sur.

However, standard room award availability is relatively rare at Alila Ventana Big Sur. When updating this story in April 2025, the first dates I could find were in January 2026 — and you’ll only find standard room awards when you search for a stay of at least two nights. If you find standard room award availability, it’s usually at the peak rate of 45,000 points per night. So, be prepared to have flexible dates when booking, and consider using a tool like Awayz to find standard room award availability.

The resort is adult-oriented and only offers double occupancy accommodation. Note, too, that the glamping side of Alila Ventana Big Sur is different from the resort and doesn’t have access to resort amenities unless you purchase a pool pass at $250 per adult.

Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal

Cost in cash: From $1,437 per night

Cost in points: From 140,000 Hilton Honors points per night

Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal pool and exterior — WALDORF ASTORIA LOS CABOS PEDREGAL/BLAKE MARVIN/FACEBOOK

I’ll admit, the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal was where I planned to use the Hilton free night certificates my husband and I accrued during the coronavirus pandemic if Hilton didn’t extend them before we could venture farther abroad. But hearing that it’s one of TPG director Carly Helfand‘s favorite points properties is making me reconsider a visit.

“I just adore the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal. Every room has a private balcony plunge pool, and every day at happy hour, they deliver Coronas and guacamole to your room. The food and drinks are very good quality, and they also have a swim-up bar and a hot tub (IMO, every Mexico hotel needs both),” Carly said.

It is compelling that every room has a private plunge pool and ocean views, including the room type you can book with points as a standard room award. The hotel also offers some excellent dining options, including one that TPG’s Eric Rosen frequents anytime he’s in Los Cabos (as he revealed in his Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal review).

Standard room award availability is plentiful during some seasons and extremely sparse during others. So, if you want to get good value when redeeming Hilton points or free night certificates for your stay, you must be flexible with when you visit Los Cabos.

Calala Island

Cost in cash: From $4,400 per night

Cost in points: From 150,000 Hilton Honors points per night

Calala Island in Nicaragua — SMALL LUXURY HOTELS

Calala Island — a private island resort off the coast of Nicaragua with just five villas and a max of 10 guests on any given night — is by far the most aspirational, truly special stay I’ve experienced.

Most guests relaxed around the pool during the day and then met at the bar after sunset for predinner drinks, and then after dinner, many people returned to the bar to chat and get to know each other. Where else does that happen nightly at a luxury resort?

Calala Island’s all-inclusive nature meant we didn’t have to worry about additional expenses during our stay while we were eating, drinking and partaking in activities. However, this remote resort vibe isn’t for everyone. If you don’t like bugs, need air conditioning, don’t like sand, can’t handle a prop plane or will be miserable on an adventurous boat journey, Calala Island likely isn’t for you. Otherwise, I recommend saving up your Hilton points for a stay at Calala Island if you enjoy rustic beach luxury and getting to know other guests.

Calala Island is part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World program and is one of the SLH properties you can book with Hilton points. Availability is usually limited, and the property has a three-night minimum. However, I found multiple dates during which I could book a five-night stay at standard room award rates. I highly recommend redeeming points for a five-night stay in a standard room, as then you can get your fifth night free if you have Hilton elite status.

Miraval Austin

Cost in cash: From $772 per night for single occupancy (from $1,274 per night for double occupancy)

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

Miraval Austin room — KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY

Miraval is Hyatt’s most luxurious wellness-focused brand, with full-scale resorts and spas in Texas, Arizona and Massachusetts (and another set to open in Saudi Arabia in fall 2025). All meals, snacks, coffee, smoothies and nonalcoholic beverages are included in stays, as are some scheduled wellness activities and a shared shuttle service from a nearby airport — Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) in the case of Miraval Austin.

All three open Miraval resorts are well-loved by travelers. I stayed for an amazing four nights at Miraval Austin in 2024 and can personally recommend it (see my Miraval Austin review for all the details). How much you’ll get out of a stay — or a day visit — is up to you and how much you lean into the experience and its opportunities. But especially if you’re looking to improve your fitness routine, diet or digital mindfulness, a stay at Miraval Austin could be a very memorable and positive experience.

Bowl mediation — KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY

Miraval stays don’t come cheap, though. Although there’s a special higher-than-usual World of Hyatt award chart for Miraval resorts, redeeming Hyatt points still provides good value on most dates. If you earn one or more Miraval extra night awards through Hyatt’s Milestone Rewards program, you can use each award for an extra night (even when redeeming Hyatt points for your stay).

Park Hyatt Kyoto

Cost in cash: From $1,228 per night

Cost in points: From 35,000 World of Hyatt points per night

Ever since the Park Hyatt Kyoto opened in 2019, it has been one of the most favored Park Hyatt properties among travelers. When asked to nominate a property for this article, TPG’s Summer Hull told me, “Park Hyatt Kyoto was otherworldly. Like it felt … magical … different … gorgeous… refined. It was exceptional and the type of points redemption that reminds you why it is (more than) worth it.”

TPG’s Andrea Rotondo loved the property, too. “I honestly felt a bit misty as we made our way through Park Hyatt Kyoto’s lobby to check out. Our stay at this luxury hotel ranks as one of our top travel experiences,” she said in her 2024 Park Hyatt Kyoto review. Andrea especially appreciated the impeccable service, beautiful suites and spectacular on-site teppanyaki restaurant.

As a Hyatt Category 8 hotel, standard room award nights cost 35,000 points on off-peak nights, 40,000 points on standard nights and 45,000 points on peak nights. But standard room award availability can be difficult to find. As such, I recommend remaining flexible with your travel dates and using a tool to set award availability alerts if you have your heart set on a stay at the Park Hyatt Kyoto.

Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Cost in cash: From $2,972 per night during ski season (from $471 per night during other seasons)

Cost in points: From 144,000 Marriott points per night during ski season (from 88,000 points per night during other seasons)

Niseko United ski resort in Japan — Skiing in Niseko, Japan. SERGIO AMITI/GETTY IMAGES

TPG engineering manager Zoe Jablow redeemed Marriott points for a five-night stay at Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, this February. I’ve driven by this property many times on my own Niseko ski trips, so I know how enviable its location is for skiing. And as Zoe wrote to me, “Niseko is a skier’s dream. Like it never stops snowing there.”

Zoe said: “This hotel was worth the points redemption, in my opinion. Every detail in the room was well thought out, including the free minibar! The views of Mount Yotei couldn’t be beat and the ski lockers/ski-in ski-out location was everything we could have ever wanted. The crowds of the ski mountain melted away the second you stepped inside this hotel with only 50 rooms. To the tune of I never saw another person in the onsen even during peak season!”

Skiing at Hilton Niseko Village in Japan — Skiing toward another points option, the Hilton Niseko Village, at the same ski resort as the Ritz-Carlton Reserve. KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY

I was initially surprised when Zoe said she redeemed points for a five-night stay at Higashiyama Niseko Village during ski season, as I assumed award availability would be minimal. But there’s plenty of availability for next winter if you’re willing to redeem 576,000 Marriott points for a five-night stay. I recommend staying at least five nights if you redeem Marriott points due to the program’s stay for five, pay for four perk.

Finally, two tips if you plan to visit Niseko in winter: Consider booking a limousine bus from the airport to your hotel and back (so you can avoid driving in the ice and snow), and remember that you can use your Ikon Pass at Niseko United (which includes Niseko Village, the resort where the Ritz-Carlton Reserve is located).

Related: The best times to visit Japan

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands

Cost in cash: From $1,980 per night

Cost in points: From 112,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night

The Ritz-Carlton, Fari Islands, Maldives — CHRIS DONG/THE POINTS GUY

If you have a lot of Marriott Bonvoy points and want a spectacular stay in the Maldives, then The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands is an excellent option.

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives is just a 45-minute speedboat ride away from Velana International Airport (MLE), where most international flights arrive in the Maldives. However, the mandatory speedboat will cost you an additional $1,018 per person round-trip, regardless of whether you book a paid or award stay.

The standard point redemption gets you a one-bedroom ocean pool villa with an ocean view, though you can redeem more points or pay a cash upgrade fee at booking to secure a different villa type.

Room at the Ritz-Carlton Maldives — CHRIS DONG/THE POINTS GUY

Frankly, I doubt I’ll ever be willing to redeem the amount of Marriott points required to stay at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands. However, especially considering paid rates, you’re getting a steal on most dates — particularly if you redeem points for at least five nights of your stay and benefit from Marriott’s stay for five, pay for four benefit.

Six Senses Laamu

Cost in cash: From $957 per night

Cost in points: From 160,000 IHG One Rewards points per night

Water villas on Jetty C at Six Senses Laamu — KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY

I loved my stay at this Maldives resort, and even years later, it has remained one of my favorite stays.

Six Senses Laamu is a rustic yet luxurious resort focused on environmental sustainability. It employs a team of marine biologists, offers amazing on-site snorkeling opportunities, includes memorable experiential activities, has a cool kids club and features multilevel overwater villas as its base room type.

View of bedroom area when entering Six Senses Laamu room — KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY

The 65-minute seaplane transfer between Velana International Airport and the resort will cost $1,199 round-trip, regardless of whether you book with points or cash.

However, you may get better value on the transfer and your stay if you book a paid rate (which will earn IHG points if you book directly with IHG) instead of redeeming points. Redeeming IHG One Rewards points for a stay at Six Senses Laamu usually won’t make sense if you can book a half-board rate that includes discounted room rates and transfer fees. Six Senses Laamu periodically offers these discounts, so check paid rates before you redeem points.

Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa

Cost in cash: From $869 per night

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

Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa overwater villas — KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY

When it comes to resorts in the Maldives that participate in major hotel loyalty programs, the Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa is one of the best deals you can find. Last year, I stayed at this resort and loved snorkeling the massive house reef and partaking in the daily Hyatt Globalist happy hour.

The Park Hyatt is home to more than 50 beach and overwater villas. A 360-degree reef surrounds the private island resort, so you can enjoy excellent snorkeling from overwater villas, the beach and the two jetties. Amenities at the resort include four dining venues, a poolside bar, multiple pools, a fitness center, a spa and an on-site dive center.

Thanks to World of Hyatt’s generous award chart, this Category 7 property costs only 25,000 to 35,000 points per night, depending on the dates. When you redeem Hyatt points, you’ll book into a beach villa. But the resort usually offers paid upgrade options — including for overwater villas — ahead of your stay.

Park Hyatt Maldives overwater villa — KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY

Whether you book with points or cash, you must pay $610 per adult for mandatory round-trip transfers between Velana International Airport (MLE) and the Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa. These transfers include a Maldivian Airlines flight to a domestic airport near the resort and then a short speedboat ride to the resort.

Arctic Treehouse Hotel

Cost in cash: From $350 per night

Cost in points: From 22,000 World of Hyatt points per night

Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi, Finland — MR AND MRS SMITH/HYATT

Just as you can book some SLH properties with Hilton points, you can book select Mr & Mrs Smith properties with Hyatt points. These two partnerships unlock some epic properties for points travelers, including the 60-key Arctic Treehouse Hotel.

TPG’s Lyndsey Matthews told me she’s “been stalking points availability for the Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Finnish Lapland for a trip I’m taking with my friends this September. Its Arctic Glasshouse cabin fits up to six people, has a wood fire stove, private sauna and massive picture windows to see the northern lights.” Best of all, she said it’s available on her desired dates using Hyatt points.

Hyatt uses dynamic award pricing for Mr & Mrs Smith properties instead of its typical award chart. So, Lyndsey’s points price might change before she books (and rates could be much higher during peak season). But the dynamic award prices do unlock the ability for her to book one of the property’s six Arctic Glasshouse rooms using points.

If you want to book a trip to Finnish Lapland on points, it doesn’t get much more aspirational than the Arctic Treehouse Hotel. But be sure to calculate your redemption rate before you redeem Hyatt points to determine whether booking with points or cash is better. And keep in mind that the Hyatt and Mr & Mrs Smith partnership doesn’t offer many of the standard World of Hyatt elite benefits, such as complimentary breakfast for Hyatt Globalist members.

Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai

Cost in cash: From $1,246 per night

Cost in points: From 98,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night

Al Maha dubai — MARRIOTT AL MAHA/MARRIOTT

I debated whether Marriott’s Al Maha resort near Dubai was worth splurging on. After visiting in the summer of 2022, I’m happy my husband and I decided to try out this aspirational, essentially all-inclusive resort in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. Our two-night stay was certainly memorable, from the meals on our villa’s patio and hours spent in our private pool overlooking the desert to the included activities.

The resort has 42 private villas with swimming pools, and guests redeeming points for their stays can enjoy three meals and two activities per day. Activities include archery, desert nature walks, wildlife drives, falconry demonstrations and camel trekking. I learned a lot during our desert nature walk and enjoyed the sights during our wildlife drive.

I felt a two-night stay was the perfect amount of time to enjoy the resort. But, thanks to Marriott’s “stay for five, pay for four” perk on award stays, you could pay zero points for a night if you redeem Marriott points for at least five nights. However, considering the resort’s remote location, five nights would be a long time to spend unless you’re hoping to unwind.

Conrad Bora Bora Nui

Cost in cash: From $1,438 per night

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

Pool in Bora Bora — SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

Summer Hull loved staying at the Conrad Bora Bora Nui in 2019, saying it was her best Hilton points redemption to date and a stay she’d never forget. TPG’s Cameron Sperance stayed more recently and also gave it good marks in his Conrad Bora Bora Nui review.

You’ll have access to four different beaches at the Conrad Bora Bora Nui. You can also borrow complimentary snorkeling equipment, kayaks and paddleboards to see marine life around the resort. Daily activities — including demonstrations on how to open a coconut and play the ukulele — await.

Standard award nights cost 120,000 Hilton Honors points per night. Standard award night availability can be sparse to nonexistent during some seasons. But it’s possible to find five or more consecutive standard award nights during other seasons. This is great news since Hilton elite members get every fifth night free (up to four free nights per stay) when redeeming points for a stay of five or more nights in a standard room.

However, unless you have more points than you’ll ever be able to redeem, you’ll likely want to avoid the outrageous Hilton premium award night pricing.

Bottom line

This is far from a comprehensive list of luxury hotels you can book with points, and you’d likely include different hotels on your list. For instance, while many travelers would include the Park Hyatt Sydney on their list, I personally think the best hotels are remote and separated from urban life. It’s all about your travel style.

Many travelers would include the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi on their list, and it was a great resort for my husband and me to redeem our Hilton free night certificates last year. However, I couldn’t justify including more than three Maldives resorts in this article. Even if your idea of an amazing hotel differs from mine, I hope this list helps you dream about how you want to spend your hard-earned points.