Rewarding Routes

The Hyatt Devaluation: What's Changing, What It Costs and What to Do Now

#31 This week on Rewarding Routes, we're breaking down the biggest Hyatt news in years the World of Hyatt award chart overhaul. In this episode, we're talking about what's changing in May 2026 and what it means for anyone using Hyatt points for Japan travel. We'll break down the new five-tier pricing system, discuss how the changes hit peak travel seasons like cherry blossom and Golden Week the hardest, and share a real example using our upcoming Hyatt Place Kyoto stay to show exactly what these changes cost in points. Tune in to learn how to protect your points value before May, identify when the new chart actually works in your favor, and make smarter booking decisions for your Japan trips going forward. What You'll Learn from This Episode * How Hyatt's new five-tier award chart (Lowest, Low, Moderate, Upper, Top) compares to the current Off-Peak, Standard, and Peak system and why it feels like a step toward dynamic pricing * Why the "Top" tier is the biggest hit, with some categories seeing 50–67% point increases over current peak pricing * A real breakdown using Hyatt Place Kyoto (Category 2) how a 7-night stay goes from 56,000 points at standard to 70,000 at Moderate, and from 84,000 to 126,000 points during cherry blossom season * Why booking before May could save you tens of thousands of points and what happens to your booking if a hotel's category changes * How to get one month of early access to award availability through the World of Hyatt card or Explorist status, and why that matters more than ever with the new lowest tier Featured on the Show * 📰 Full Hyatt Award Chart Breakdown — The Points Guy: https://thepointsguy.com/news/world-of-hyatt-award-chart-major-changes/ [https://thepointsguy.com/news/world-of-hyatt-award-chart-major-changes/] * 📸 Follow John on Instagram for category change updates: @itsjohndiaz * 🎙️ Enjoyed this episode? Leave a 5 Star Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Rewarding Routes Stan Store  → https://stan.store/rewardingroutes [https://stan.store/rewardingroutes] Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rewardingroutes/ [https://www.instagram.com/rewardingroutes/] Email → RewardingRoutesPodcast@gmail.com

How I Actually Start Planning Every Japan Trip

#30 This week on Rewarding Routes, we're getting into one of my favorite parts of the whole travel process, the early stages of planning a trip to Japan. In this episode, we're talking about how to start planning your trip to Japan before you even think about building an itinerary. We'll break down how I use Google Maps to save locations and visually spot the neighborhoods that have my interest, discuss how learning about Japan's different regions and prefectures completely changes the way you experience a trip, and I share how I build a simple budget sheet early on so I'm never caught off guard by costs. Tune in to learn how to plan smarter, go deeper, and start building your dream Japan trip one saved pin at a time. What You'll Learn from This Episode * How I use Google Maps to save every location that interests me and how over time it helps me see exactly which neighborhoods I should be staying in * Why learning about Japan's regions and prefectures is one of the most exciting parts of the planning process and how it shapes everything from your route to what you eat * How the season you travel in completely changes your experience, whether that's navigating cherry blossom crowds in spring or catching incredible festivals in the summer * Why I start a simple budget sheet early on and how it helps me plan for activities, ryokans, transportation, and more without any last minute stress * How thinking about travel through points and miles allows me to slow down, enjoy the trip, and keep coming back to Japan year after year Featured on the Show * The Navigatio [https://thenavigatio.com/] – A great Japan travel blog worth following * Only in Japan [https://www.youtube.com/@onlyinjapan] – John Daub has lived in Japan for nearly 30 years and his passion for the country comes through in every single video * Only in Japan Go [https://www.youtube.com/@onlyinjapanGO] – John's live channel, a great companion to the main channel * TDR Explorer [https://www.youtube.com/@tdrexplorer] * Abroad in Japan [https://www.youtube.com/@AbroadinJapan] – Chris Broad's channel is one of my favorites for Japan content * Sam and Victor [https://www.youtube.com/@SamandVictor] * Currently Hannah [https://www.youtube.com/@CurrentlyHannah] * Tabi Eats [https://www.youtube.com/@TabiEats] – If you love food content from Japan, this one is a must follow If you have questions or want to share how you plan your own trips, reach out to me on Instagram at @itsjohndiaz or shoot me an email at rewardingroutespodcast@gmail.com [rewardingroutespodcast@gmail.com]. I genuinely want to hear how you do things because I'm always learning too. If you got value from this episode, a five star review would mean the world to me. I'll catch you on the next one! Rewarding Routes Stan Store  → https://stan.store/rewardingroutes [https://stan.store/rewardingroutes] Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rewardingroutes/ [https://www.instagram.com/rewardingroutes/] Email → RewardingRoutesPodcast@gmail.com

What to Book in Advance for Japan (And How Far Out)

#29 This week on Rewarding Routes, we're diving deep into trip planning for Japan. In this episode, we're talking about what to book in advance for your Japan trip. We'll break down the most popular experiences that require early reservations, discuss how far ahead you actually need to book each one, and share the exact activities I'm planning to book for my 2027 Kyoto and Osaka trip including the Nintendo Museum lottery, TeamLab Kyoto, and the Pokémon Cafe. Tune in to learn how to plan your Japan itinerary with confidence, avoid missing out on bucket-list experiences, and build a booking timeline that sets your trip up for success before you ever board the plane. What You'll Learn from This Episode * Why booking local tours and cultural experiences early sets the tone for your entire trip  * The exact booking windows for Japan's most competitive attractions * How I'm building out my 2027 Kyoto and Osaka itinerary * Theme parks, baseball games, and Shibuya Sky — what actually needs advance booking and what doesn't  * Pro tips for practice runs, JST time conversions, and using apps like Klook Featured on the Show * Klook App — Third-party booking platform for activities, theme park tickets, and transportation across Japan: klook.com [https://www.klook.com] * Airbnb Experiences — Great source for local guides, photo shoots, cooking classes, and cultural workshops: airbnb.com/experiences [https://www.airbnb.com/experiences] * Fly Photographer — Photographers available in 350+ cities worldwide including Japan: flyphotographer.com [https://www.flyphotographer.com] * TDR Explorer (YouTube) — Chris's channel is my go-to resource for Tokyo Disney Resort and Universal Studios Japan guides, express passes, and app tips: youtube.com/@tdrexplorer [https://www.youtube.com/@tdrexplorer] * Buy Sumo Tickets — Official source for Grand Sumo Tournament tickets: buysumotickets.com [https://www.buysumotickets.com] * Pokémon Cafe Reservations — Official site for Osaka and Tokyo locations: https://www.pokemon-cafe.jp/en/cafe/reservation.html [https://www.pokemoncafe.net] * Nintendo Museum Lottery — Check the official Nintendo Museum site starting 3 months in advance on the 1st of the month https://museum.nintendo.com/en/index.html Rewarding Routes Stan Store  → https://stan.store/rewardingroutes [https://stan.store/rewardingroutes] Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rewardingroutes/ [https://www.instagram.com/rewardingroutes/] Email → RewardingRoutesPodcast@gmail.com

Spring in Japan: Sakura Season, Golden Week & What to Really Expect

#28 This week on Rewarding Routes, we're diving into everything you need to know about visiting Japan in spring. In this episode, we're talking about spring travel in Japan. We'll break down cherry blossom season and how to chase the bloom, discuss Golden Week and what to expect from crowds and costs and share personal insights from my two spring trips to Japan. Tune in to learn how to plan a spring Japan trip with realistic expectations so you can make the most of the season without the stress. What You'll Learn from This Episode * What cherry blossom season actually looks like — crowds, timing, and how to track the bloom forecast * How to still see sakura even if you miss peak bloom in the major cities * What Golden Week is and why it matters for your itinerary, bookings, and budget * What the weather feels like across March, April, and May — and how to pack for it * How spring affects points availability and pricing for flights and hotels Featured on the Show * Episodes on flights to Japan — Episode 7 * Tokyo neighborhoods and where to stay — Episode 15 * Hyatt hotels in Tokyo and across Japan — Episode 16 * Reach out to John: rewardingroutespodcast@gmail.com [rewardingroutespodcast@gmail.com] * Instagram: @itsjohndiaz Rewarding Routes Stan Store  → https://stan.store/rewardingroutes [https://stan.store/rewardingroutes] Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rewardingroutes/ [https://www.instagram.com/rewardingroutes/] Email → RewardingRoutesPodcast@gmail.com

Starting Small: How I Booked My Family a Weekend Trip to Chicago for $22.40

#27 This week on Rewarding Routes, we're keeping it close to home...literally. In this episode, we're talking about starting small with points and miles. We'll break down how I booked a Chicago weekend trip for my family using two cards most beginners can actually get, discuss how Companion Pass works and why it's one of the best deals in travel, and share why a $22.40 domestic trip might be the most important booking I make all year. Tune in to learn how to build real confidence with points and miles so when Japan is finally on the calendar, you're ready. What You'll Learn from This Episode * How to earn and use Southwest Companion Pass to fly your partner for free * Why signup bonuses are the fastest way to accumulate points and miles * How to book hotel nights through Chase Ultimate Rewards and transfer to Hyatt * What to know about flying with a lap infant before your first family trip * Why starting with a simple domestic trip is the smartest first step toward Japan Featured on the Show * Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card * Chase Sapphire Preferred * Follow John on Instagram — @itsjohndiaz * Email the show — rewardingroutespodcast@gmail.com [rewardingroutespodcast@gmail.com] Rewarding Routes Stan Store  → https://stan.store/rewardingroutes [https://stan.store/rewardingroutes] Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rewardingroutes/ [https://www.instagram.com/rewardingroutes/] Email → RewardingRoutesPodcast@gmail.com