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World of Hyatt Credit Card review
Although Hyatt has a much smaller footprint than some competitors—around 1,300 hotels compared to Marriott’s 8,700—having a co-branded credit card in your wallet can still be worthwhile. The World of Hyatt Credit Card, issued by Chase, is one of the best hotel credit cards on the market.
For those who frequently stay at Hyatt properties, the perks are endless—automatic Discoverist status, an annual award night for a category 1-4 hotel, a bonus award night after spending $15,000, and a sky-high earning potential on Hyatt purchases. For a card with an annual fee of just $95, these benefits are on par with more premium credit cards with a much higher price tag.
Even though Hyatt’s footprint might be smaller, you won’t be lacking in the number of brands you can access. Hyatt has 29 distinct brands across four collections, including the luxury Park Hyatt and all-inclusive Hyatt Zilara. If you’re a traveler who likes options when searching for a place to stay, Hyatt has you covered. Although I’m a Marriott loyalist, I have stayed at the Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana and was pleasantly surprised at the magnitude of the resort.
Plus, you’ll receive some fantastic travel and purchase coverage, including baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, purchase protection, and an auto rental collision damage waiver. There isn’t anywhere the card falls flat, so if you enjoy staying at Hyatt properties, you’ll want to consider it as a viable option.
World of Hyatt Credit Card overview
| FinanceBuzz value calculation1 <p class="">These values are based on the <a href="https://financebuzz.com/financebuzz-credit-card-valuation">FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model</a>, which takes a look at rewards earned via spending, the welcome offer, and the annual fee. We used a valuation of 1 cent/point unless otherwise stated above. These are estimated values - your actual earnings will depend on how much you spend and in what categories.<br></p> | Year one earnings: $2,133
Year two earnings: $1,173 |
| Annual fee | $95 |
| Welcome 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 |
| Earning 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 |
| Recommended credit score | Excellent, Good |
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
World of Hyatt Credit Card rewards
Earnings
The World of Hyatt credit card offers a tiered earning structure. You’ll earn the most points per dollar on Hyatt purchases.
| Category | Points per dollar |
| Hyatt hotels (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) | up to 9X |
| Restaurants, airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines, local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships | 2X |
| All other purchases | 1X |
Right now, you can 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.
Redemption methods
To get the most value out of your points, you’ll want to use them for free nights at Hyatt properties. Redemptions start at just 3,500 points for Category 1 hotels in the off-peak season, so you can easily get multiple trips from your welcome offer alone. If you don’t have enough points for your reservation, you can use the Points + Cash option, which allows you to use 50% of the points required for a free night and 50% to 70% off the standard rate for the chosen room type.
Luckily, Hyatt still uses an award chart, so you don’t have to worry about dynamic pricing like you do when staying at other hotel chains.
Potential earnings in years one and two
Here's a look at how your points can add up with the World of Hyatt Credit Card. To calculate these values, we used a point valuation of 0.016.
Remember, this is an estimation. The actual value will be determined by how much you spend and in which categories you spend.
First-year earnings: $2,133
Second-year earnings: $1,173
These values are based on the FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model, which takes a look at points earned via spending, the welcome offer, and the annual fee. Note that the value of the award night and other cardholder benefits is not factored into the values above.
World of Hyatt Credit Card benefits
- Award nights: Get one free night award on your cardmember anniversary, which is valid for us at a Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort. Earn an extra free night after spending $15,000 on your card during the year.
- Automatic Discoverist status: Receive automatic Discoverist status, which offers perks like premium internet, preferred rooms, and flexible check-in/check-out.
- Path to Explorist status: Each year, you’ll receive five qualifying nights toward your next tier of status, which puts you halfway to Explorist status. You’ll also receive two additional qualifying nights for every $5,000 spent on your card.
- DoorDash benefits: Receive a complimentary one-year DashPass subscription when you activate by January 31, 2025.
- Travel and purchase coverage: When you use your card, you’ll receive baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, purchase protection, and an auto rental collision damage waiver.
Other cards to consider
The World of Hyatt Credit Card offers superb value for anyone who stays at a Hyatt at least once a year. However, if Hyatt isn’t your go-to property, it may not be the best option.
If you’re after a co-branded credit card, Marriott and Hilton have several options worth considering. I have the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, which comes with a higher annual fee of $250 but offers elite status and a path to a free night award. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is a cheaper option that gives an automatic free night award.
If you don’t want to be loyal to one hotel chain, you might be better off with a general travel rewards card with a transferable point currency. With these cards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you can transfer points to Hyatt while enjoying excellent benefits outside the brand.
Is the World of Hyatt Credit Card worth it?
The World of Hyatt credit card is an excellent choice for Hyatt loyalists. The annual free night is already enough to justify the low annual fee. Assuming you spend at least $1,250 on your card each month, you’ll earn another free night award for even greater value. Factor in the automatic Discoverist status and a path to a higher status and you have a card that punches well above its weight.
The earning potential for hotel purchases is on par with competitor hotel cards, although the base earning rate on non-bonus category spending leaves a little to be desired. Still, the included travel and purchase protections rival some premium credit cards on the market and ensure you’re covered whenever you’re traveling. As a frequent traveler, I can attest to how crucial it is to have baggage delay insurance.
Obviously, this card is only worth it if you plan to stay at a Hyatt property a few times throughout the year. If not, you will want to look for a general travel rewards card.
FAQs
Do you earn automatic elite status with the World of Hyatt Card?
Yes, you receive Discoverist status as a World of Hyatt credit card member. You also receive qualifying nights each year for a path to a higher status.
Does the World of Hyatt Credit Card have foreign transaction fees?
No, the World of Hyatt credit card does not charge foreign transaction fees when you make purchases outside of the U.S.
What credit score do you need for the World of Hyatt Card?
You'll likely need a good to excellent credit score to get approved for this card. According to FICO, a good score starts at around 670.
Do Hyatt members get free breakfast?
Select Hyatt properties offer a complimentary breakfast. To guarantee a free breakfast, you can work your way toward Globalist status, which offers access to a lounge or a daily breakfast for two adults and two children.
Generous Welcome Offer and Gold Elite Status
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Current Offer
Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after spending $5,000 in purchases in the first 6 months
Annual Fee
$250
Rewards Rate
6X points on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; 4X points at worldwide restaurants, including takeout and delivery, and U.S. supermarkets (up to $15,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 2X points); and 2X points on all other eligible purchases with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card
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