Bottom Line

Star FUNDSamentally Rating

At a Glance

	World of Hyatt Credit Card
Annual Fee	– $95
Sign up bonus	– Earn up to 65,000 bonus Points. 35,000 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.
Ongoing rewards	– 1x-9x Points
Foreign transaction fee	– None
APR	– 21.49% – 28.49% based on your creditworthiness and other factors. These APRs will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate
Value of points redeemed	– Hyatt points are valued around 1.5 to 2 cents per point
Balance transfer fee	– Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Additional benefits	– One free night each card anniversary year at a Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort. – An additional free night at a Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort after spending $15,000 in an anniversary year.

Detailed overview

Type of Card: Hotel.

Annual Fee: $95.

Welcome Bonus: Earn 35,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in your initial 3 months from opening an account. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that typically earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent. Offer expires 3/6/2024.

Ongoing Rewards:

• 4 bonus points per $1 spent at Hyatt hotels, including participating restaurants and spas.
• 2 points per dollar spent on dining, airline tickets bought directly from the airline, fitness club and gym memberships, and local transit and commuting.
• 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

Hyatt points are valued at 2.3 cents each. This baseline value is drawn from real-world data, not a maximized value. Aim for award redemptions offering 2.3 cents or more in value from your Hyatt points.

Points can be used for hotel stays, room upgrades, and certain purchases at participating Hyatt locations like fitness classes, spa treatments, and dining. Additionally, points can be transferred to select airline partners, though the transfer ratios are not favorable.

Foreign Transaction Fee: None.

APR: The ongoing APR ranges from 21.49% to 28.49% Variable APR.

Other Benefits:

• One complimentary night at a Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort every card anniversary year. (Categories range from 1 to 8.)
• An extra complimentary night at a Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort after spending $15,000 in an anniversary year.
• Automatic Discoverist elite status, providing expedited check-in, room upgrades, and late checkout when available. Additionally, it facilitates reaching the next elite status tier, Explorist, through card spending.

Benefits and perks

ongoing rewards

The World of Hyatt Credit Card offers 4 points per dollar spent at Hyatt properties, in addition to the 5 points per dollar earned as a World of Hyatt member. This totals 9 points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels and resorts, including participating restaurants and spas.

Additionally, you’ll earn bonus rewards in everyday spending categories such as commuting, dining out, and fitness activities. Points hold a higher value compared to the standard 1 cent each. Unlike many existing hotel programs, which offer significantly less than a penny of value per point.

Elite status

The World of Hyatt Credit Card automatically grants you Discoverist status, providing:

• A 10% bonus on points earned on eligible room rates and incidental charges.
• Potential upgrade to a preferred room based on availability.
• Late checkout until 2 p.m., subject to availability.
• Waived resort fees on free night awards.

These privileges could significantly enhance your next stay. Achieving Discoverist status without the World of Hyatt Credit Card would require earning 25,000 base points or staying 10 qualifying nights annually.

Drawbacks and consideration

Limited locations

While Hyatt is a well-known hotel brand, its availability may not align with all travel plans. If Hyatt lacks presence in your desired location, accumulated free nights become irrelevant. Some areas lack Hyatt properties entirely, while others offer limited options inconveniently located from your destination.

If widespread coverage is a priority, the $95-annual-fee Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card could be preferable. It offers a free night award annually after your account anniversary. With over 7,000 properties, Marriott’s extensive network surpasses Hyatt’s, which boasts around 900 locations.

Is this card right for you?

The World of Hyatt Credit Card caters to individuals who frequent the brand several times annually and seek additional benefits and hotel status during their stays. The included annual free night certificate often surpasses the card’s annual fee. Moreover, substantial card spending quickly unlocks coveted elite status perks.