Hyatt Free Night Certificate: How it Works and 4 Amazing Hotels Where You Can Use It

Avid travelers love to earn and use certificates to stay at hotels for free in locations around the world. Many major hotel chains offer free night certificates, but the paths for earning them and their actual value can vary.

World of Hyatt members have the opportunity to receive a Hyatt free night certificate in a variety of ways. One of the easiest ways is having and using the The World of Hyatt Credit Card. This Chase credit card automatically provides you with a free anniversary night each year and offers plenty of additional benefits as well.

Here, we’ll show you how to earn Hyatt free night certificates, what they can be used for, and how to redeem them.

How Hyatt free night certificates work

The most common method for getting a free night is to take advantage of the fact that it’s one of the World of Hyatt Credit Card benefits, but you don’t actually need the Hyatt credit card to earn free night certificates. You will, however, need to sign up for a free World of Hyatt membership.

Hyatt provides multiple ways for you to earn Hyatt free night certificates:

• The World of Hyatt Credit Card
• Hyatt Brand Explorer
• Hyatt tier status

Let’s look at each of these ways to earn a Hyatt free night certificate in more detail:

The World of Hyatt Credit Card

The most straightforward way for many people to earn a Hyatt free night certificate is by getting the World of Hyatt Credit Card. If you compare credit cards, it’s easy to see why the World of Hyatt card is one of the best hotel credit cards available. By simply having the card and paying the $95 annual fee, you receive a free anniversary night for a stay at any Hyatt hotel within the Category 1-4 range.

You can also earn an additional free night each year if you spend $15,000 or more on your card. So if you renew your card membership and put enough spend on your Hyatt credit card, you’ll end up with two free night certificates every year. That’s enough value to make the World of Hyatt card one of the best travel credit cards for hotel stays.

In addition, this credit card also earns you bonus points for your travel-related spending: up to 9X points at Hyatt (4 bonus points per $1 on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels plus up to 5 base points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member); 2X points on restaurants, airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines, local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships; and 1X points on all other purchases.

Take a look at our The World of Hyatt Credit Card review.

Hyatt Brand Explorer

Hyatt released a promotion a few years ago to allow any World of Hyatt member the opportunity to earn Hyatt free night certificates. Called the Brand Explorer award, this promotion nets you a free hotel stay at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel after you’ve completed stays at five different Hyatt brands.

There’s no expiration date on this promotion and because there are currently more than 15 Hyatt branded hotels, you can earn at least three free nights from this deal. Once you’ve earned these free nights, that’s the end of the promotion.

Here are the current brands within the Hyatt properties portfolio:

• Caption by Hyatt
• Andaz Mayakoba
• Alila Hotels and Resorts
• Thompson Hotels
• Hyatt Centric
• Park Hyatt
• Miraval Resorts & Spas
• Grand Hyatt
• Hyatt Regency
• Hyatt Zilara and Hyatt Ziva
• Hyatt Place
• Hyatt House
• The Unbound Collection by Hyatt
• Destination Hotels
• Joie de Vivre

Hyatt tier status

The World of Hyatt loyalty program has three main tier statuses you can achieve as you stay at Hyatt hotels and/or earn base points. They include, from lowest to highest, Discoverist, Explorist, and Globalist.

Each tier status offers exclusive perks, but these two levels in particular also provide a free night certificate when you reach them:

• Explorist: After 30 qualifying nights or 50,000 base points, you’ll receive Explorist status and a free night certificate for any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel stay.
• Globalist: After 60 qualifying nights or 100,000 base points, you’ll receive Globalist status and a free night certificate for any Category 1-7 Hyatt hotel stay.

How to use a Hyatt free night certificate

Most Hyatt free night certificates are good for one stay, with no blackout dates, at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel. The exception to this is the free night you receive when you earn Globalist status, which can be used at any Category 10-7 Hyatt hotel. A standard room in a Category 4 Hyatt hotel typically costs 15,000 Hyatt points, so it’s safe to say your free night award is potentially worth the same.

Hyatt points are worth about 1.7 cents per point, which would make 15,000 points worth $255 (15,000 x 0.017 = 255). This number could go up or down because the actual value of your points depends on the cash price of your hotel night. For example, if you booked a room for 15,000 points and the cash price was $500, you’re at about 3.3 cents per point ($500 / 15,000 = 0.03333333), which is a great value.

Here’s the breakdown of Hyatt categories and how many points you need for an award stay:

Hyatt free night certificates are good for standard room accommodations. If you want to upgrade your room, you’d need to cover the difference with cash or points. Upgrade availability may vary between different hotels.

How to redeem your Hyatt free night certificate

Hyatt has made the process simple for when you’re ready to book a stay with your free night certificate.

1. Verify you have a free night by logging into your Hyatt online account and checking the “My Awards” section. If your account has a free night, it’ll be listed there.

2. Once you’ve verified you have a free night, go about booking your stay from the main Hyatt homepage as you normally would. Be sure to check the “Use Points” box.

3. Search for hotels that take 15,000 points or less for a stay if you’re using a Category 1-4 free night certificate. Then choose a hotel.

4. If your account has a free night attached to it, you’ll see an option to use a free night once you’ve picked a hotel. Then you just need to book and enjoy your free night.

5. If you want, you can also toggle between the “View Points” and “View Rates” options to check the cash price of your room to see how much it would normally cost. This can give you a good idea of the value you’re getting from your free night. With this booking, you’d save at least $432 by using a free night certificate for your stay.

4 amazing examples of the best use of a Hyatt free night certificate

There are plenty of hotel credit cards with free nights, but the World of Hyatt Credit Card can get you stays in remarkable locations around the world. Check out a few examples of where members of our FBZ Elite - Travel and Points Facebook group have stayed with a Hyatt free night award:

1. Park Hyatt Zanzibar

Relaxing on the beach has never been easier with a stay at the Park Hyatt Zanzibar in Tanzania, East Africa. This Category 4 Hyatt hotel sits on an island in the middle of Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s the perfect place to begin your exploration of the island or to sit and enjoy views of the Indian Ocean.

Award nights at the Park Hyatt Zanzibar start at 15,000 points per night, whereas a cash price might set you back over $300 a night. Free breakfast is available and the hotel is pet-friendly.

2. The Confidante Miami Beach

Miami Beach is always a favorite hotspot destination for locals and tourists alike in Miami, Florida. If you want to experience life along the white sand of one of Florida’s most popular beaches, check out The Confidante Miami Beach. This Category 4 Hyatt hotel is mere steps away from the Miami Beach Boardwalk and, crossing the boardwalk, the beach, and the Atlantic Ocean.

Award nights at The Confidante Miami Beach start at 15,000 points per night, and cash prices during the summer can hit around $300. Don’t forget your pals at this pet-friendly hotel.

3. Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile

A hotel in the middle of Paris? Don’t mind if I do! The Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile provides fantastic views of the City of Lights, including the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe. The location of this Category 4 Hyatt Regency makes it easy to visit any of Paris’ famous landmarks.

Award nights at the Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile start at 15,000 points per night and you’ll often see cash prices for over $300. The hotel includes an on-site restaurant and free internet access.

4. Hyatt Regency Mexico City

For a luxurious experience during your stay in the Mexican capital, try out the Hyatt Regency Mexico City. This Category 3 Hyatt Regency is situated close to shopping areas and art galleries, as well as the picturesque Chapultepec Park. You’re also sure to find plenty of good food choices nearby, though you may not want to skip the culinary staff’s delicious options within the hotel itself.

Award nights at the Hyatt Regency Mexico City start at 12,000 points per night while cash prices can fluctuate around $300. The hotel includes free parking, free internet access, and a pool.

FAQs

Bottom line

Hyatt is a major hotel brand with hundreds of hotels located in countries all over the globe. Its hotels are known for their style, class, and high levels of comfort. If you’re interested in staying at Hyatt hotels, using Hyatt free night certificates is a great way to enjoy high-quality stays without breaking the bank.

There are a lot of credit card offers out there from a variety of credit card issuers. But you still might consider the World of Hyatt Credit Card if you tend to stay at Hyatt properties. With this card, you get an annual free night certificate each year and multiple opportunities to earn more. Whether you travel often, that’s a lot of potential value for a future trip.

Big bonus points on Hyatt stays

The World of Hyatt Credit Card

4.8

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

The World of Hyatt Credit Card

Compare Credit Cards

Current Offer

Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points: earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening, plus up to 30,000 more Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent

Annual Fee

$95

Rewards Rate

up to 9X points at Hyatt (4 bonus points per $1 on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels plus up to 5 base points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member); 2X points on restaurants, airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines, local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships; and 1X points on all other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Annual free night award
• Automatic Discoverist status
• Comprehensive travel and purchase coverage
• No foreign transaction fees

Drawbacks

• Has an annual fee
• Hyatt has a smaller footprint than its competitors

Card Details

• Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points: earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening, plus up to 30,000 more Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent
• up to 9X points at Hyatt (4 bonus points per $1 on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels plus up to 5 base points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member); 2X points on restaurants, airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines, local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships; and 1X points on all other purchases