Hyatt is about to through a huge change as they switch over to the new World of Hyatt on March 1. While there is a lot changing with the way elite status will work, one of the things that still stays the same is the category structure. Hyatt has 7 categories of award hotels with Category 7 reserved for what they feel are the top-tier properties in their award portfolio.
The Cheapest Category 7 Hyatt in the World!
Hyatt Category 7
Category 7 properties cost 30,000 points per night or a Points+Cash mix of 15,000 points and $300. This is what it will cost you to avoid paying cash for a night at these properties. And those are mostly good deals since some of those rooms can cost well over $600 per night – even up to $1,000 per night!
The Cheapest Category 7 Hyatt – Hotel Levent, Istanbul
Link: Hotel Levent
But, there is one Category 7 hotel that I found is the cheapest Category 7 Hyatt in the world. It is actually not a real Hyatt at all but a Hyatt affiliate located in Istanbul, Turkey. It is called the Hotel Levent Istanbul.
To be honest, I am not quite sure when the Hotel Levent joined as a Hyatt affiliate and was surprised to see it on the list. I had become familiar with the regular Category 7 properties and noticed that new one had been added.
The Prices?
I checked it out quickly as I do make some stops in Turkey and I thought it might be a nice place to use a Globalist free night (good for up to Category 7 hotels). But, when I looked at the prices, I knew that I would never redeem points for this property! I found many nights ringing in at an advanced purchase price of only €128 per night!
The basic room at the Hotel Levent Istanbul
In fact, the basic King Suites were only €40 more per night than the basic room! However, the prices jump very quickly from there to €2,628 per night for the Crown Suite of €5,128 per night for the Penthouse Suite!
With prices that low, I am definitely going to check out this property to see what causes it to ring in at a Category 7 Hyatt redemption. I would have high expectations for a property that is in the same category class as the Park Hyatt Tokyo, the Park Hyatt Vendome, and the Park Hyatt New York!
So, does anyone have any experience with this hotel and know anything about it? I found it a bit surprising that it is in a category above a Park Hyatt in the same city so who knows what it will be like!
Interesting…. looks like the (now former?) Edition in Istanbul?
I think you are right!
I’m guessing room rates at Hotel Levent have been much higher in the past, but softer travel demand plus Turkey’s political crackdown plus increased terror attacks have driven rates lower.
@Luke Vader – agreed and Hyatt hasn’t adjusted the category down yet to reflect the changing situation.
I think you are both right but since it is an affiliate property, I wouldn’t be surprised if there is something in the contract that specified a length of time it stayed as a Category 7.
Someone posted this in the Hyatt forum on FT earlier this morning as well.
Wow, so I wonder if it was a very recent addition since we both had noticed it so recently?! I literally just saw it on Hyatt’s site yesterday!
It’s 128 to check in but how much to check out and survive?
Michael — ur so right – want to die just stay at any hotels in Turkey – many are catg 1-so can die cheaper if need too
[…] (Tip of the hat to Running With Miles) […]
Sirs, this is no longer a 7 Cat. It is now a 3 cat.
The name of the hotel now. is: Hyatt Centric Levent, Istanbul
Has no VIP Lounge.
And I wrote about that in a new post when it changed to a category 3.
Stayed Recently at The Grand Hyatt Istanbul, a world class hotel strict security and nothing but warmth and great family fun there, Mother and sister. Up graded because of my mother 80th Birthday