Firsthand hotel review · September 2024
Four nights on Hyatt points with a gifted Guest of Honor award
Sometimes the best trips happen for an unexpected reason, like a wedding in the family! Our nephew’s wedding gave us a reason to spend four nights in New York City, and Thompson Central Park proved to be an excellent base. The location, welcoming service, spacious king room, and breakfast benefit made this a hotel we would happily book again.
- Four nights in September 2024
- 29,000 Hyatt points per night · 116,000 points total
- King room with a higher-floor upgrade
- Complimentary breakfast through a gifted Guest of Honor award
A family wedding became a New York getaway
We received the invitation to our nephew Max’s September 2024 wedding about six months in advance. Max is on my wife Leslie’s side of the family. With her two brothers living in different parts of the country, we try to see them each year, so this was an opportunity to spend time together.
We talked with her brother Michael and his wife Laura from St. Paul and decided to make it a four-night trip. One day would be dedicated to the wedding, leaving the others for sightseeing and a Broadway show together.
I compared flights on American and United and booked American for 25,000 miles per person round trip. We could upgrade the outbound flight from Chicago to first class for $50 each. A morning departure gave us much of our arrival day to explore, while a noon flight home from LaGuardia allowed for a more relaxed final morning.
Why we chose Midtown
Although the Sunday wedding was in DUMBO in Brooklyn, we chose Midtown as our base. The family had enjoyed staying in Midtown East on a previous trip, and we were already familiar with the Rockefeller Center area.
Thompson Central Park checked the location boxes for us. Central Park, Broadway theaters, and Rockefeller Center were within walking distance, with plenty of restaurants nearby. We also wanted to enjoy a drink and the views from the top of Rockefeller Center.
Our plans included Ellis Island and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. Those required trips downtown rather than walks from the hotel; Ellis Island also requires a ferry. Midtown gave us a convenient starting point for exploring by subway or taxi.
Booking with Hyatt points and Guest of Honor
Over the years, I have accumulated and used a lot of Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Transferring them to World of Hyatt has been my preferred way to use those points for hotel stays, and this booking was a good example of why.
I asked a large Hyatt Facebook group about which New York hotel they would recommend booking with points. Thompson Central Park was the clear favorite, with recommendations running roughly five to one in its favor.
I was pleased to find a king room available for 29,000 points per night. Four nights came to 116,000 Hyatt points. Once I booked, Michael and Laura could look for a hotel nearby that suited their budget.
A friend also gifted me a Hyatt Guest of Honor award. Applying the award to our reservation allowed us to enjoy the hotel’s applicable Globalist benefits even though I did not hold that status myself. For our stay, the benefits that mattered most were a room upgrade and breakfast.
Guest of Honor awards can be gifted by eligible Hyatt members. I reached out to friends with Globalist status and received several offers, which I appreciated. For the current rules and benefits, check the World of Hyatt terms linked below.
We did not use a parking benefit on this trip; I am not a fan of driving in Manhattan.
Our reservation allowed cancellation with 24 hours’ notice and the return of our points. Check the cancellation deadline for your own booking, since award reservations can carry penalties when canceled too late.
What our points covered
The cash rate I found for a comparable king room over our dates was $879 per night. Using that figure, four nights would have cost $3,516. Dividing that by our 116,000 points gives a redemption value of approximately 3.03 cents per point.
That was a solid redemption for us, but cents per point was only one part of the decision. We were booking a hotel in a location we wanted, for a trip we were taking, with benefits we used. Those factors mattered just as much as the calculation.
| Comparable quoted cash rate | $879 per night |
|---|---|
| Four-night cash comparison | $3,516 |
| Hyatt points used | 116,000 |
| Room-only redemption value | Approximately 3.03 cents per point |
This comparison uses the cash rate I found when booking. It does not add unconfirmed taxes or fees, or the breakfast benefit. Our Cents Per Point Calculator lets you compare your own cash and award options.
A May 2027 award example
Our 2024 stay is not the only example of finding an award at this hotel. When I checked Hyatt on October 12, 2026, for a sample stay in May 2027, the booking page displayed a 1 King Bed room from 30,000 World of Hyatt points per night.
That search was roughly seven months ahead of the trip. It gives readers a more recent example of the points pricing they may find when planning a New York stay in advance.
I would start checking award availability as soon as I had a likely travel window, then compare the points rate with the cash price for those same dates. A room in the right location, with benefits you will use, can matter just as much as the redemption calculation.
This is a dated search example, not a guaranteed rate for all May dates. The screenshot shows a “from” rate; confirm the nightly pricing, total points, availability, and cancellation terms for your exact stay before transferring points or booking.
Arrival and service
Thompson Central Park met our expectations and then some. From the moment we entered, employees greeted us with smiles and asked whether there was anything we needed.
Check-in went smoothly. The front desk explained our benefits and told us that we had been upgraded to a higher floor with better views than the standard rooms. They also pointed out Parker’s, just off the lobby, and explained the breakfast hours.
Our upgrade was to a higher floor; we did not receive club access. Complimentary breakfast was a benefit of the Guest of Honor award.
Our king room
The standard king room is listed at 300 square feet, which gave the two of us a comfortable amount of space for our New York stay.
Our room had plenty of closet space for two people and a table where we could enjoy breakfast or plan our day. The bathroom was spacious, with quality soap, lotion, shampoo, and conditioner. Plush towels added to the comfortable, upscale feel.
The bed and pillows were extremely comfortable. On our higher floor, we did not notice outside noise, and the room was quiet inside as well. I do not recall any drawbacks to the room during our stay.
Breakfast at Parker’s
Breakfast was one of the most valuable parts of our Guest of Honor award. During our September 2024 stay, we were able to order breakfast to take back to our room from Parker’s in the lobby. Traditional room service delivery was not included in the benefit.
The benefit covered an entrée, a hot drink, and a cold drink for each of us. Our breakfast routine included cappuccinos, orange juice, an All-American breakfast, and a fruit bowl to share later in the room. We enjoyed having breakfast in peace and quiet before showering and heading out for the day.
On two mornings, staff also allowed me to order both a fruit bowl and oatmeal as my breakfast. Breakfast charges appeared on our room bill, including tax and service charges, and we received a credit equal to the full amount. These were the arrangements we experienced in 2024.
At the menu prices checked in October 2026, I estimate that breakfasts like ours would represent more than $100 per day for two people, or more than $400 across four mornings. During our September 2024 stay, the food prices were roughly 15% lower, while coffee and other drink prices were about the same. The October 2026 estimate illustrates the benefit’s value rather than giving an exact total for our 2024 stay.
I would keep that breakfast value separate from the room-only cents-per-point calculation. It helps show the overall value of the stay without suggesting that we would have paid those prices for breakfast every morning.
Would we stay again?
Yes. Thompson Central Park delivered what we wanted: a convenient Midtown location, a comfortable room with space for two people, and consistently welcoming service. Booking with Hyatt points and using a gifted Guest of Honor award made the stay particularly rewarding.
The location felt safe to us, and a great little grocery next to the hotel made it easy to pick up a bottle of Prosecco and sweets for our room.
If we return to Manhattan, perhaps for a theater trip with a granddaughter, this Hyatt would be high on our list. Our experience was positive enough that we would happily return.
This review reflects our September 2024 stay, with a separate award search example checked in October 2026. Award prices, cash rates, and hotel benefit arrangements can change; check the details for your own dates before booking.
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