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Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with the latest information. There are many reasons why Chase Ultimate Rewards points are one of the most popular transferable rewards currencies. With travel costs seemingly always increasing, redeeming points, specifically for hotel stays, can save you serious dough. Best-ever offer: Add 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points plus a $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit to your balance with this offer on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see [termsConditions pid=”221211836″ overridetext=”rates and fees”]). TPG values Chase points at 2.05 cents each as of June 2025, and you can often get at least this much — if not more — out of your points by booking hotels through one of the program’s transfer partners or the Chase Travel℠ portal. Here, we’ll cover tips and tricks to help you maximize your Chase points on a hotel stay. Who are Chase’s hotel Transfer partners? HYATT You can transfer your Ultimate Rewards points on a 1:1 basis to Chase’s three hotel partners, allowing you to redeem points for hotel stays through these programs: World of Hyatt Marriott Bonvoy IHG One Rewards To redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points through these partners, all you have to do is enter your loyalty

Set in the heart of one of the most romantic cities in Europe, W Florence — featured on our list of the most exciting hotel openings for 2025 — officially opened its doors on Tuesday. The historic property, formerly the Grand Hotel Majestic, now boasts 119 guest rooms, including 16 suites and a penthouse, according to Marriott. The highly-anticipated addition to Florence’s hotel scene sits on Piazza dell’Unità Italiana, just a short walk from many of the city’s most famous landmarks, including its Duomo, the Uffizi Galleries and the Ponte Vecchio. The W Florence. MARRIOTT The property is the second W Hotel in Italy, joining the W Rome. The brand plans to open a third property, the W Sardinia – Poltu Quatu, later this summer. Related: The 25 best hotels in Rome to book for your Italian holiday “The opening of W Florence marks another significant milestone in W Hotels journey, deepening our presence in Italy and strengthening our footprint across the region,” George Fleck, the senior vice president and global brand leader for W Hotels, said in a statement. “As we continue to evolve globally, this latest addition to our brand embodies our commitment to delivering bold, immersive experiences

The Emirates Skywards frequent flyer program has taken another hit. American Express Membership Rewards members are seeing a notice on their transfer pages about a change in the transfer ratio to Emirates miles … and it is not for the better. Effective Sept. 16, the Emirates Skywards transfer ratio will drop from 1:1 to 5:4. This means that for every 5 Amex points you transfer, you’ll get only 4 Emirates miles. That represents a 20% loss of value in the transfer. ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY This news comes on the heels of Citi ThankYou Rewards’ similar devaluation of Emirates transfers, from 1:1 to 1,000:800. That change is set to take effect July 27. For Amex, you still have 2 1/2 months to take advantage of the current 1:1 transfer ratio, so now is a great time to consider if any Emirates award flights could fit into your travel plans. For instance, Emirates prices its fifth-freedom routes from New York to Milan and Athens, Greece, at 87,000 miles each way in business class. With the current transfer ratio, you can turn 87,000 Amex points into Emirates miles to book one of these lie-flat seats across the Atlantic — but as of