I took my very first solo trip to Europe last year. After some debate, I settled on Germany as my destination, since I speak some German and have always been intrigued by the country’s history and culture.
After securing my first long-haul lie-flat business-class seat on United Polaris for 60,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points plus $58.95 in taxes and fees, I began planning my hotel strategy.
As a big Hyatt fan who had tons of Chase Ultimate Rewards points at the time of booking, I knew the brand’s portfolio would be my go-to for each of my stays. I knew I wanted to cover multiple cities during my 10-day trip, so I focused on locations with at least one Hyatt property.
Thanks to my points stash, I managed to book stays for my entire time in Germany without paying a single cent out of pocket. In fact, with 87,500 points, I covered 10 nights in some convenient, enjoyable Hyatt properties. Here’s how I did it.
Frankfurt — Hyatt House Frankfurt Eschborn
Points cost: 12,000 points for a three-night stay
My first stop was Frankfurt. Frankfurt has two Hyatt properties, and while the Hyatt House Frankfurt Eschborn is not very conveniently placed relative to the city center, Frankfurt’s fantastic public transportation system makes it easy enough to get around.
I was able to walk from the transit station to the hotel, but it took me about fifteen minutes. If you have the budget, I’d strongly suggest using a ride-hailing service, especially if you have a train or plane to catch after your hotel stay.
The hotel itself was nice, but for a brand with “house” in the name, my room felt a bit cold and dark. It was sort of a jarring transition to move from the bright, comfortable lobby area to my accommodations.
The hotel was very clean and spacious, however, so I can overlook the bland design choices.
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Breakfast was offered buffet-style. I don’t have any dietary restrictions, so I easily found plenty of options. Vegans and those with a gluten allergy may struggle, though.
Given the overall cost for a three-night stay, I recommend this property as long as you’re okay with its location.
Cologne — Lindner Hotel Cologne City Plaza
Points cost: 16,000 points for a two-night stay
The Lindner Hotel Cologne City Plaza was the complete opposite of the Hyatt House Frankfurt Eschborn as far as location; it was extremely conveniently placed, being just a short walk from transit.
The biggest standout for me at this hotel, which I enjoyed overall, was the shower. While it had the typical, sort of odd half-door setup that European hotels seem obsessed with, I loved the shower itself. It was very spacious with excellent, fine-tuned temperature.
Breakfast on-site was very nice; I especially appreciated the smoothies they had on offer.
Since I had a late train out to my next city after this hotel stay, I was grateful for the spacious lobby, where I spent time relaxing as I waited for departure time.
The points cost for this hotel can definitely get a little pricey if you’re staying for several days, but I felt two nights were sufficient for Cologne. It’s enough time to see the Cologne Cathedral (which feels like stepping into a throne room from a fantasy book, by the way) and to do a brewery tour. I only recommend staying longer if you want to dive deep into Cologne’s beer scene.
Related: How I booked a Hyatt hotel for just 2,000 points per night this summer
Ulm — Me and All Hotel Ulm
Points cost: 19,500 points for a three-night stay
Out of all the cities I visited in Germany, Ulm surprised me the most. I wasn’t expecting to have much to do, but the city is very walkable and charming. If you’re interested in architecture, there’s plenty to look at around Ulm.
The biggest attraction here is the Ulm Minster, the second-tallest church in the world. I visited Germany at the time of the Christmas markets, so the Ulm Christmas Market was on full display right in front of the church.
Me and All Hotel Ulm is the only Hyatt property in Ulm, and it’s located right across the street from the train station. This made it incredibly convenient for me, since I traveled between each city on the Deutsche Bahn. My room was very comfortable, and I appreciated the amount of equipment available in the gym.
There’s also a great view of the Ulm Minster from the rooftop lounge where breakfast is served. Breakfast options were similar to those at the Hyatt House Frankfurt Eschborn. The food was great — especially the tiny donuts.
Related: I didn’t expect to love World of Hyatt, but here’s why I do
Munich — Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor
Points cost: 40,000 points for a two-night stay
This was my splurge hotel to wrap up my trip. This is not only my favorite hotel I stayed in during my trip, but my favorite Hyatt property overall so far. The corner room I received definitely helped.
The bed was the most comfortable out of all the properties I stayed at, the breakfast was extensive and delicious, the bathroom was huge and the location was great. Transit was a stone’s throw away from the hotel.
If I returned to only one city in Germany, it’d be Munich. I didn’t get to explore as much as I wanted to, since most of my time there consisted of day trips to the surrounding area. You could easily make a day trip out of Ulm if you’d prefer to stay in Munich.
The downside is that this is an expensive points hotel, but the welcome bonuses on Chase cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) can easily cover the cost of a three- or four-night stay.
How I earned my points
As I mentioned before, all of the points I used for these bookings came from my Chase Ultimate Rewards account. I earned those points through a combination of spending and welcome offers on these cards:
To learn more, check out our reviews of the Chase Freedom Flex, Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Sapphire Preferred.
A reminder before you book
Remember that Hyatt is overhauling its award chart this month. While it’s maintaining its award chart, award nights at many properties could get a lot more expensive. That may include the properties I’ve mentioned here.
If you’re planning a trip to Germany, I strongly recommend booking now. That’s especially true for a property like the Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor, which is already fairly expensive before these changes.
Bottom line
Without points and miles, I wouldn’t have been able to even dream of spending 10 days in Germany. I even earned a free night thanks to Hyatt’s Brand Explorer perk, which awards one free night for every five brands you stay at. I’d previously stayed at a Hyatt Regency, so the four different brands I covered in Germany got me to that five-brand mark.
The money I saved from my hotel stays went to food, transit and activities instead, which I personally would much rather spend my money on. (Traveling across the world just to wind up stuck in a hotel because I blew my budget on accommodations isn’t my idea of fun.)
You don’t need to have hundreds of thousands of points to make meaningful redemptions — with just 87,500 points, I was able to book 10 nights worth of Hyatt properties.
Related: World of Hyatt wish list: 2 TPG Globalists on their dream program changes
