A Family Points Adventure: Our Trip to Park Hyatt St. Kitts
As a family who loves traveling on points, we are always on the lookout for unique destinations. While many in the points and miles community gravitate toward the more popular point-redemptions resorts, we recently chose the Park Hyatt St. Kitts for our family of four—my husband, our 7-year-old, our 2-year-old, and myself. With a little research and careful planning, we booked an incredible trip almost entirely on points while still indulging once we arrived.
Booking Our Stay
We used 165,000 Hyatt points plus a Category 1-7 free night to cover our stay at the Park Hyatt St. Kitts, bringing our hotel costs to $0—though we certainly spent plenty while we were there! The setup of the hotel reminded us a lot of the Andaz Papagayo, with its spacious layout, beautiful grounds, and golf carts shuttling guests between buildings. With our Globalist Statues, we did receive a Oceanview Upgrade, Free Valet Parking, Free breakfast (no tip included), and a 12:30PM Check-out.
For flights, we found a great deal on American Airlines round-trip from Houston to St. Kitts with a stop in Miami for 22,000 miles plus about $70 per person in taxes. Given how expensive Caribbean flights can be, we were thrilled with this redemption.
First Impressions & Resort Life
The Park Hyatt St. Kitts is undeniably beautiful. The grounds are immaculately maintained, and the beachfront location adds to the resort’s charm. Since we visited in January, the pool could be a little chilly at times, and the beach was sometimes windy, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying both every single day.
There are only two restaurants on-site, which may feel limiting for longer stays. We preferred Fisherman’s Village, both for its food and its stunning overwater setting. A real highlight of our trip was Steelpan Ace, a talented musician who played modern hits on the steel pan. His performances became a family favorite, and our kids were mesmerized every time he played.
Another standout staff member was JJ, the friendly bellman, golf cart driver, and valet. He always had a smile and went above and beyond to make us feel welcome.
Navigating Island Time & Resort Costs
One thing to note about St. Kitts: everything moves on “island time.” Service is friendly but relaxed, so expect to wait a bit longer for food and other requests. Speaking of food, dining at the hotel is pricey, with an 18% service charge plus tax added to every bill—and then an additional tip line on top of that. This can add up quickly for a family of four! However, we were grateful for the “kids under 5 eat free” policy, which helped offset costs.
Kids Club & Family Fun
The resort offers yard games and a kids’ club, which our children absolutely loved. The kids’ club had scheduled crafts throughout the day, and the staff was kind and accommodating. That said, since only one staff member was present at a time, younger kids could be left unsupervised outdoors if parents weren’t around. Because of this, we always stayed with our kids.
Renting a Car & Exploring St. Kitts
We were so glad we decided to rent a car from Hertz! They took care of our St. Kitts driver’s license, making the process seamless. This was our first experience driving on the left, and many of the roads were narrow and winding—so I was especially grateful my husband did the driving!
Renting a car gave us the freedom to explore beyond the resort, and we loved it. Some of our favorite off-site spots included:
- Brimstone Hill Fortress – A historical site with stunning views.
- Shipwreck Beach Bar – A great spot for casual food and drinks.
- Cool Runnings – A tiny, unassuming restaurant near the airport with delicious local food.
- Frigate Bay area – Home to more restaurant options. We often grabbed Pizza Boys for our son and Indian Summer for ourselves.
- Local Liquor Store & Grocery – Perfect for picking up fresh fruit and a few essentials for the kids.
Leaving the resort adds a little extra stress, but it was worth it for the added food variety and savings.
Day Tripping to Nevis
We also took the nearby car Ferry to Nevis (“Nee-vis” from locals) for a few hours. This was a great chance to visit the nearby island. That trip was about $200 for us and the car, but it was a nice boat and a great adventure. I wish we would have gone on the earlier Car Ferry to have more time to explore Nevis. We went to eat at Sunshine’s restaurant and played at the beach then headed back, but I wish we could have driven around more. The Ferry took about an hour each way. The Ferry from the hotel is just for people, and only takes about 10 minutes, but it was more expensive and we wouldn’t have our car.
Final Thoughts
St. Kitts may not be the most talked-about points destination, but we absolutely loved our stay at the Park Hyatt St. Kitts. The stunning resort and beautiful scenery made it an incredible experience. While the high food costs and relaxed service pace are things to be aware of, the kids’ club, beach, and pool kept our whole family entertained. Renting a car made a huge difference in allowing us to explore and find more affordable food options.
Have you visited Park Hyatt St. Kitts or used points for a Caribbean getaway? Let us know in the comments!
