Recently renovated points hotels that deserve a second look


While new hotels often steal the spotlight (and trust us, we love a brand-new hotel!) renovated hotels are also deserving of our attention — hear us out:

Unlike newly-opened hotels with expected kinks to work out, renovated hotels have been running well-oiled operations for years. And after a major facelift, they look a lot better doing it. They might even be cheaper in a bid to lure guests back after a noisy construction phase.

The best refreshes also do more than just tear out dingy carpeting. They toss worn furnishings and dated decor in favor of bold, contemporary, and design-forward style that’s visible everywhere from the lobby check-in desk to a guest room nightstand. Often, enticing amenities are added, whether a new dining concept, a modern fitness center, or a revamped pool deck.

In the past year, many hotels quietly but thoroughly revived their surroundings, putting forth a new guest experience that begs a second look. Whether you once liked it but wavered on a repeat visit, hesitated to book a stay in the first place, or checked out feeling underwhelmed, these points-friendly hotels feel shiny and new, even though technically they’re not.

Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal

In the fall of 2025, the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal debuted a spectacular remodel to the 24-acre resort perched on the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. All 112 rooms, suites, villas, and casitas were redesigned, trading dark, dated decor for light and bright design accents, curated Mexican art, and tech-forward features (don’t worry, the private plunge pools and free daily in-room happy hour were left intact). Elsewhere across the resort, upgrades extend to common spaces including the spa, gym, and pools, and new dining concepts were also added.

Rates at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal start at $770 or 220,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

The Curtis Denver – a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel

Far from cookie cutter, this playful hotel in downtown Denver has curated a unique guest experience for years with pop culture-themed rooms and spaces. But just this year, The Curtis Denver completed a multimillion-dollar refresh that revealed brand-new themes, fully redone guest rooms and suites, and renewed meeting and event spaces. The new themes include entire floors devoted to animals, summer camp nostalgia, grade-school recess, retro arcade games, and game shows. Pick from standard rooms that pay homage to each theme, or hyper-designed rooms that incorporate whimsy into every inch with immersive and interactive design elements.

Rates at The Curtis start at $115 or 39,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa

Just in time to mark its 125th birthday, Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort fronting a prized stretch of Honolulu’s Waikiki Beach, debuted a major renovation. The 791-room hotel has three distinct towers, including the Banyan Wing, which is the oldest part of the hotel. This area dates back to 1901, and includes a grand, sweeping lobby. While the original structure and much of its Victorian character were preserved, the lobby and check-in area now feature wave-like modern carpeting and bright white walls to exude a contemporary touch. Also renovated were the guest rooms, which differ in decor based on the tower, ranging from cozy and classic to beachy chic.

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Rates at Moana Surfrider start at $350 or 58,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa

A fixture of Beaver Creek for over 35 years, the Park Hyatt is a luxurious ski-in, ski-out property that finished a multi-year transformation in fall of 2025. All 193 guest rooms now boast alpine-inspired artwork, leather furnishings, polished bathroom vanities and quartzite minibars with burled wood accents. However, perhaps most notable are the new bed configurations. There’s the one king bed option, of course, but now also two queen beds. Previously, the second standard bunking choice included double beds, and this welcome change raises the occupancy level from three to four guests.

Rates at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek start at $307 or 35,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

The St. Regis Singapore

Located steps from the glossy designer shops of Singapore’s famed Orchard Road, the St. Regis now matches the glitz and glam of its highend neighbors. A full refresh reimagined guest rooms and suites, as well as dining venues and event spaces. The 299 accommodations now pay homage to the Singapore Botanic Gardens through subtle floral motifs, natural wood and floor-to-ceiling windows that bathe each space in natural light. Rooms also include potable hot and cold water on tap, marble bathrooms with soaking tubs, smart TVs and a bluetooth sound bar. Outside of the rooms, the hotel redesigned the spa, added both an Italian restaurant and a St. Regis Bar, and gave a new look to Yan Ting, the hotel’s Cantonese restaurant.

Rates at St. Regis Singapore start at $375 or 56,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

The Scottsdale Resort & Spa, a Curio Collection by Hilton

Following a $40 million renovation, The Scottsdale Resort & Spa now offers a design-forward stay in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. Changes are visible beginning in the sleekly redone lobby, and extend to the 318 renovated guest rooms, which now feature airy desert-inspired decor and gleaming bathrooms. Families and groups may camp out in the more spacious Stillman Villas, reconfigured to accommodate multiple bedrooms with adaptable layouts that come with access to a secluded, exclusive pool. Also of note are four new dining venues, including an upscale restaurant, a speakeasy-style cocktail bar hidden behind a secret wall, a casual bar with interactive games, and a cafe, wine bar, and market all-in-one. Wellness is also a major hallmark of the redesign, with an upgraded fitness center, a revamped pool, an expanded spa with an outdoor cold plunge and barrel hot tub, and free daily classes that range from mat Pilates to aqua yoga, sound baths and chakra walks.

Rates at The Scottsdale Resort & Spa start at $141 or 46,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

La Quinta Resort & Club

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This glamorous desert resort spanning 45 acres dates back to the 1920s, when it first opened with 20 adobe-style casitas, and earned a reputation as a favored retreat among Hollywood’s brightest stars. The resort has gone through a few iterations since then, most notably in 2025 when it completed a full renovation, just in time to usher its centennial year in 2026.

The lobby was given new life, as was the resort’s signature steakhouse, plus the 718 guest rooms. The latter received new vanities, fixtures, artwork, furniture and carpeting. There are also a whopping 42 pools here including the brand-new Plunge at Renker Pool, which is exclusive to guests ages 21 and up and has dual infinity-edge pools, a hot tub, bar and cabanas.

Rates at La Quinta Resort & Club start at $254 or 78,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

Kimpton Hotel Monaco Seattle

The Kimpton Hotel Monaco Seattle, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, completed its property-wide renovation in the fall of 2025. All 189 guest rooms were revitalized to introduce a more refined design with updated furnishings, finishes and artwork that reflect Seattle’s maritime character. Likewise, the lobby and public spaces were redesigned with Pacific Northwest influences such as curated art, cool tones and sculptural elements, in addition to comfortable seating nooks and a new layout to encourage gathering. Finally, the boutique hotel also added a new dining spit, Marin, which is described by the hotel as a is a modern coastal restaurant.

Rates at Kimpton Hotel Monaco Seattle start at $127 or 26,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.

Wailea Beach Resort

Located directly facing the golden sands of Maui’s Wailea coast, this Marriott resort completed a sweeping refresh in 2025. Updates can be seen across much of the 547 accommodations and public spaces, including several new luxury oceanfront villas, which come with living areas, gourmet kitchens, and may include one to four bedrooms. Standard guest rooms were also improved to add soft, ambient lighting and a soothing color palette reminiscent of Hawaiian sunrises and landscapes.

There’s also Olakino, the resort’s newest infinity pool, which is an adults-only wellness sanctuary accessible via a day pass that features rotating wellness themes, mini spa treatments, healthy bites, and a daily celebratory sabering ritual to mark the end of the day.

Rates at Wailea Beach Resort start at $552 or 77,500 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill

Located 1,287 steps from the U.S. Capitol Building, the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill completed a full renovation last year in time to celebrate its 50th anniversary this spring. Admire changes from the moment you enter the newly refinished sunken lobby and grand atrium, throughout corridors, within the restaurant and bar, and inside meeting and event spaces, which includes the largest ballroom on Capitol Hill. Guest rooms were also elevated with warm wood tones, metal accents, enhanced amenities and modern bathrooms. Double beds were traded for queens, and sleeper sofas are now available in king rooms. World of Hyatt members holding Globalist status will also appreciate the new Regency Club, an elegant space serving light bites and beverages.

Rates at Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill start at $275 or 17,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Villas

TANNER SAUNDERS/THE POINTS GUY

Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Villas invested $100 million to transform the property, which was unveiled to guests at the start of the year along with the debut of a massive 2.2-acre swimming lagoon with white sandy beaches and water sport activities. Located on 300 scenic acres in the Texas Hill Country, the hotel also updated all guest rooms and added standalone luxury villas, bringing the grand accommodation total to 522. The villas, in particular, infuse a strong sense of luxury to the resort, as they come with four private bedrooms, bathrooms with soaking tubs, private patios, a dedicated villa host and access to the amenities at the hotel’s Windflower Spa.

Other new elements include the Rancher Hall event barn, refurbished restaurants (there are eight total), a new Woodbine Bar and the opening of Toptracer Range golf bays at Hill Country Golf Club.

Rates at Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Villas start at $380 or 20,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

Hotel Indigo Nashville – The Countrypolitan

Located in Nashville’s historic Printer’s Alley, the Hotel Indigo Nashville at the Countrypolitan has undergone a multi-year transformation, which included a full renovation of all 134 guest rooms and suites. Accommodations now strongly reflect a contemporary yet classic aesthetic with sophisticated bedding, a spa-inspired shower stocked with Zenology products and small design-forward touches. The hotel, which curates an authentic Nashville experience by offering a cocktail lounge and stage hosting nightly music, also modernized 6,500 square feet of meeting and event space, and added a round-the-clock fitness center.

Rates at Kimpton Hotel Monaco Seattle start at $140 or 31,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.



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The IRS’s historical abuses led Congress to create specific taxpayer rights, including rights stemming from collection due process (“CDP”) hearings. These administrative hearings are intended to pause IRS collection actions while the IRS Office of Appeals considers whether the collection is both lawful and warranted.

One might assume these rights extend to any liability assessed by the IRS. Since the IRS is part of the U.S. Treasury, it would seem logical that these rights would apply to any liability owed to the Treasury, especially when the Treasury delegates assessment authority for the liability from one of its sub-departments to the IRS, which is another one of its sub-departments.

The fact that a liability originated with another sub-department shouldn’t matter if that original sub-department never handles the liability because it has been fully delegated to the IRS, the other sub-department. However, as the Jenner v. Commissioner, 163 T.C. No. 7, case demonstrates, this assumption is incorrect. The case involves Foreign Bank Account Reporting (“FBAR”) penalties assessed by the IRS.

Facts & Procedural History

This case involves a couple who were assessed FBAR penalties for tax years 2005 through 2009. The penalties relate to foreign bank accounts that were not reported to the Treasury Department.

When the couple did not pay the penalties, the Treasury Department’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service (“BFS”) informed the couple that funds would be withheld from their monthly Social Security benefits through the Treasury Offset Program (“TOP”) to pay these penalties.

In response, the couple submitted Form 12153, Request for a Collection Due Process or Equivalent Hearing, with the IRS. The IRS issued a letter to the couple saying that FBAR penalties are not taxes and therefore not subject to CDP requirements.

The taxpayers filed a petition with the U.S. Tax Court under the CDP hearing procedures, which was the subject of the court opinion described in this article.

About FBAR Penalties

FBAR penalties can be imposed on U.S. persons who fail to report certain foreign financial accounts to the government. The reporting requirement generally applies if the aggregate value of all foreign accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year.

This reporting is done on FinCEN Form 114 (formerly TD F 90-22.1). The form is due on April 15th and there is an automatic extension to October 15th.

The amount of the penalties can be severe. Non-willful violations can result in penalties of $10,000 per violation. Willful FBAR violations can result in penalties of the greater of $100,000 or 50% of the account balance at the time of the violation. Criminal penalties can also apply in some situations. Notably, for purposes of this article, these penalties are assessed under Title 31 of the U.S. Code (which is the Bank Secrecy Act) and not under the Internal Revenue Code (which is Title 26 of the U.S. Code).

Assessment of FBAR Penalties

While FBAR penalties are not tax penalties, the IRS has been delegated the authority to assess FBAR penalties through a chain of delegation.

The Secretary of Treasury first delegated authority to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”). FinCEN is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury that works to detect and prosecute financial crimes and money laundering. FinCEN then redelegated this authority to the IRS for FBAR penalties.

The typical assessment process begins when an IRS agent conducts an audit and proposes penalties. The IRS then issues Letter 3709 proposing the penalties, and account holders have 30 days to either pay the penalty, request an appeals conference, or provide additional information.

The taxpayer may also trigger an assessment by voluntarily submitting FBAR forms after the due date. The IRS will review the late filing and determine whether to impose penalties. When FBARs are filed through FinCEN’s BSA E-Filing System, the IRS receives this information through an information-sharing agreement with FinCEN. The IRS can then review these late filings as part of its normal examination process.

If the taxpayer files a timely request for appeals review

If the taxpayer files a timely request for appeals review, the IRS Office of Appeals has the ability to consider the proposed FBAR penalties, including whether the violations occurred, whether they were willful or non-willful, whether reasonable cause exists, and whether the penalty amounts are appropriate. Appeals officers can sustain, reduce, or eliminate the proposed penalties based on their review of the facts and circumstances.

They can also consider hazards of litigation, meaning they can take into account the IRS’s likelihood of success if the case were to proceed to court. This review is particularly important for willful FBAR penalties, where the government must prove willfulness by clear and convincing evidence in any subsequent litigation. Appeals officers may also consider the ability to pay and can help facilitate alternative payment arrangements if the penalties are sustained.

Remedies After Missing or Unsuccessful Appeal

If account holders miss the appeals deadline or receive an unfavorable appeals decision, there are still several options that may provide remedies.

For example, the account holder can challenge the administrative offset through Treasury procedures. When the Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service initiates an offset (such as withholding Social Security benefits), they must provide notice to the account holder. The account holder then has certain due process rights under Title 31, including the right to inspect records, request a review of the debt, and establish a payment schedule. They can also present evidence that the offset would create a financial hardship or that the debt is not valid or legally enforceable.

Account holders can also wait for the government to file suit to collect the penalties and raise their defenses in the collection suit. They do not have to pay the penalty and file a refund claim first with this option. This is different from tax assessments, where taxpayers typically must “pay first, litigate later.” When the government files suit to collect FBAR penalties under 31 U.S.C. § 5321(b)(2), the account holder can raise defenses such as reasonable cause, lack of willfulness, statute of limitations, or constitutional challenges. The government bears the burden of proving its case, including proving willfulness by clear and convincing evidence for willful FBAR penalties.

Collection Due Process Not Allowed

Notably absent from the discussion above are the IRS collection programs and procedures. That is the issue in this Jenner court case.

In Jenner, the tax court answers the question as to whether the traditional CDP hearings and rights are available for FBAR penalties. As noted by the court, FBAR penalties are not “taxes” under the Internal Revenue Code and CDP rights only apply to collection of “taxes.”

The court emphasized that the IRS’s authority to assess FBAR penalties does not convert them into tax liabilities. Instead, Title 31 provides its own separate procedures for assessment and collection. The collection mechanism for FBAR penalties is through civil action or administrative offset, not through IRS liens and levies that would give rise to CDP rights.

Thus, while the IRS may assess these penalties, they remain non-tax debts subject to Title 31’s collection procedures rather than the Internal Revenue Code’s collection provisions. The CDP hearing is not a viable option for contesting the assessment or underlying liability for FBAR penalties.

The Takeaway

Unless Congress changes the law, account holders who are assessed FBAR penalties by the IRS do not have fundamental rights, such as CDP rights, that are afforded to taxpayers for tax balances. This is the case even though the same agency whose abuses gave rise to the CDP hearing and CDP rights for taxpayers, the IRS, is involved in assessing FBAR penalties. The remedies outside of the IRS are there, even though they do not afford taxpayers the rights and remedies available for taxes. Account holders have to contend with this when assessed FBAR penalties by the IRS and do not agree with the assessments.

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