How to book hotel stays with Chase points (Ultimate Rewards)

When you’re planning a trip with your family, hotel costs can add up fast. But if you have Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you’ve got one of the most flexible tools for saving on travel, especially hotel stays. Whether you’re booking a beachfront resort for spring break or a city hotel for a quick weekend getaway, Chase points can make it happen for less.

We’ve used Chase points to book everything from luxury resorts to boutique hotels in Europe, and in this post, I’m walking you through exactly how to do it, step by step. I’ll cover the main ways how to book hotels with Chase points, which hotel partners offer the best value, and what strategy we use as a family to stretch our points even further. If you’re new to booking with points or looking to make your Chase points go further for your next trip, here’s everything you need to know.

Why use Chase Points to book hotel stays?

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are popular because they’re flexible and valuable. You can:

• Book hotels directly through the Chase Travel portal
• Transfer points to hotel partners like Hyatt, Marriott, or IHG
• Choose from thousands of properties around the world
• Use points to reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket costs

Best of all, you’re not locked into one loyalty program. You can compare options and decide what works best for your itinerary and travel style.

Option 1: Book hotels through the Chase Travel Portal

This is the most straightforward way to use Chase points.

How to book hotels through the Chase Travel Portal

While transferring Chase points to hotel partners usually gives you the best value, the Chase Travel Portal can still be an option, especially if you’re booking a boutique hotel, a non-chain property, or you just want something quick and easy.

To book hotels using Chase Ultimate Rewards points, log into chase.com or use the Chase mobile app, access the Chase Travel Portal, and search your destination. Choose your hotel, select “Pay with Points” at checkout, and your points will be deducted from your balance.

• Chase Sapphire Reserve: 1.5 cents per point
• Chase Sapphire Preferred / Ink Business Preferred: 1.25 cents per point
• Freedom / Ink Cash / Ink Unlimited: 1 cent per point

Tips for using the Chase Travel Portal:

• Compare prices with hotel websites and third-party platforms before booking.
• You will not receive elite perks (like free breakfast or upgrades) when booking through the portal.
• If you’re loyal to a specific brand like Hyatt, Marriott, or IHG, check if a points transfer gives you better value.

We don’t usually recommend redeeming your Chase points through the Chase Travel Portal since you can often get way more value by transferring to partners (like Hyatt), but it’s still a good backup when award nights aren’t available or you’re booking a hotel that’s not part of a big chain.

Option 2: Transfer Chase ultimate rewards to hotel partners

Transferring Chase points can offer outsized savings for travelers who want to maximize value, especially those booking longer stays or luxury hotels.

Chase hotel transfer partners are:

• World of Hyatt
• Marriott Bonvoy
• IHG One Rewards

Transfers are 1:1 and typically must be made in 1,000-point increments.

How to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards:

1. Go to the “Transfer to Travel Partners” section in your Ultimate Rewards dashboard.
2. Select your hotel program (e.g., World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, IHG One).
3. Link your loyalty account (if not already linked).
4. Transfer the number of points you need.
5. Confirm award availability with the hotel before transferring (transfers are usually final).

Best value: transfer Chase Points to World of Hyatt

Of all Chase hotel partners, World of Hyatt consistently offers the best value, and is is the most often used by our family.

Why is transferring Chase Ultimate to Hyatt is our favorite way to use those points:

1. Better redemption rates compared to Marriott and IHG
2. No resort fees on award stays
3. Great family-friendly properties at beach, city, and national park destinations
4. Suite redemptions and upgrade options for fewer points than you’d expect

Please be aware that to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt, you need one of the premium Chase cards: Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, or Ink Preferred.

We used Chase Ultimate Rewards transferred to Hyatt to book dozens of stays, from Hawaii to Japan, and Europe. For example, we transferred Chase points to Hyatt to book our stays at luxury properties like the Andaz Maui, Park Hyatt Kyoto, Alila Ventana Big Sur, Thompson Madrid, and got 2, 3, and even 4 cents per point.

For example, booking the Andaz Maui at Wailea through the Chase Travel Portal typically costs between 80,000 and 120,000 Chase points per night, depending on which card you have and its redemption rate.

In contrast, transferring points to World of Hyatt offers better value, with award nights at this Category 8 property ranging from 35,000 to 45,000 points per night, depending on the season. This option can save points and unlock added perks like waived resort fees and elite member benefits.

Here you can read about some of our stays at these Hyatt properties booked with Chase Ultimate Rewards, transferred to Hyatt:

1. Andaz Maui, Hawaii
2. Park Hyatt Kyoto, Japan
3. Hyatt Regency Lisbon
4. Alila Ventana Big Sur
5. Thompson Zihuatanejo by Hyatt, Mexico

Marriott Bonvoy: a solid option when there’s a transfer bonus

While Marriott usually requires more points per night than Hyatt, there are situations where a Chase points to Marriott transfer can offer good value, especially with a transfer bonus. 

Earlier this year, Chase offered a 50% transfer bonus to Marriott Bonvoy, which meant 1,000 Chase points became 1,500 Marriott points. That kind of bonus can make a big difference, especially when booking expensive properties where Hyatt or other partners aren’t an option.

Combine that with Marriott’s 5th night free on award stays, and this can become a great strategy for longer family vacations. For example, using Chase points (with the transfer bonus) to book an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora at Westin Bora Bora could cost around 232,000 points instead of $8,000 for a 5-night stay, a pretty incredible deal.

Why this makes sense to tranfer Chase points to Marriott:

• Marriott has hotels in nearly every destination
• Suite upgrades can be booked with extra points
• 5th night free on award stays
• When transfer bonuses are active, it’s a great way to stretch your Chase points

IHG hotels booked with Chase Ultimate Rewards

Now, IHG doesn’t usually offer great redemption value; you’ll almost always get better value transferring your Chase points to Hyatt, even when there’s a transfer bonus to IHG. But it’s still an option. Sometimes you just need to top off your IHG account, or you’re booking in a place where there aren’t any good Hyatt or Marriott options.

What to know about booking IGH hotels with points:

• Redemptions vary widely; some hotels cost 20,000 points, others 70,000+
• Elite members can sometimes access 4th-night-free award stays (if booked using an IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card)
• Some family-friendly Holiday Inn Resorts offer good value, especially in places like Orlando, Mexico, or Asia

Use IHG transfers when:

• You’re looking for a quick overnight or one-night airport stay
• You want to redeem points in a location with limited hotel chains
• You’ve confirmed good value by comparing cash vs. points cost

Chase Portal vs. Transfer Partners: which is better?

It depends on your goals, flexibility, and where you’re traveling.

Use the Chase Travel portal if:

• You want to book a hotel that’s not part of a major brand
• You’re not finding award availability through partners
• You want a simple booking process with fixed point value

Transfer points if:

• You’re booking a high-end and want to get more value out of your points
• You’ve confirmed award availability and value
• There’s a transfer bonus that improves your redemption rate

Bottom line

Whether you’re booking a beachfront resort in Maui, a cozy mountain stop on a road trip, or a family-friendly hotel in Europe, Chase Ultimate Rewards points can unlock serious travel savings. Before transferring points, always search award availability and compare the cash price to make sure you’re getting great value. Book early, especially with Hyatt and Marriott, where award nights go fast, and take advantage of transfer bonuses when they pop up. Just remember: once you transfer your points, there’s no going back. With the right strategy, you can turn Chase points into unforgettable hotel stays, without blowing your budget.