Park Hyatt Aviara and Park Hyatt Toronto to be Category 4-Hyatt Visa Annual Free Night

Link: Hyatt Visa – 2 Award Nights at any Hyatt, including Park Hyatts

Hyatt has just announced its 2013 Hyatt Gold Passport Award Chart changes, effective February 7, 2013, and the good news is that there are two Park Hyatts, the Park Hyatt Aviara near San Diego and the Park Hyatt Toronto that will be moving from Category 5 to Category 4, meaning you'll be able to use your Hyatt Visa annual free night there. If you and your spouse or travel partner both have the Hyatt Visa, that's a free weekend stay, assuming standard room availability.

Now, some will pan the Park Hyatt Aviara as not being close to the standards of other Park Hyatts, let alone the Four Seasons that this property used to be, but if you're in the San Diego area or perhaps bringing your kid to Legoland, which is very close to the resort, this is a great use for your anniversary night. Similarly, the Park Hyatt Toronto is not the Trump Toronto or the Ritz-Carlton Toronto (see Best Toronto Luxury Hotels) but I'd rather stay there (provided it's in the South Tower and away from the often noisy rooftop bar) than the Hyatt 48 Lex in NYC. Which brings me to the bad news:

Obviously the Park Hyatts aren't the only two hotels seeing recategorizations, and some will be disappointed that Hyatt 48 Lex in New York, for example, is moving from Category 4 to Category 5 so won't be eligible for the Hyatt Visa annual free night. If you want to stay in Manhattan using your Hyatt Visa annual free night certificate, you'll want to make your reservation well before February 6, 2013. Here's the full list of Hyatt Gold Passport Award Chart Changes:

Tips:

• The award chart changes take effect on February 7, 2013
• For any hotels (such as Hyatt 48 Lex) that are moving to a higher category, you can book them up through February 6, 2013 at the current award price, assuming standard room availability
• If you book through February 6, 2013 a hotel that is moving to a lower category (such as the Park Hyatt Aviara or Park Hyatt Toronto) you will be refunded the points difference (but the points won't be refunded until after February 7, 2013)
• If you book an award prior to February 7 but change it February 7, 2013 or later, the change will follow the new award chart