Link: World of Hyatt Credit Card
The World of Hyatt Credit Card is one of the most lucrative hotel credit cards out there. If you stay at Hyatt properties with any frequency, then it absolutely makes sense to have this card, as the perks more than justify the $95 annual fee. It’s a card I’ve had for years, and one that I spend at least $15,000 on annually.
One of the reasons I consider the World of Hyatt Credit Card to be so well thought out is because Chase and Hyatt created a card that’s not just worth keeping for the perks, but that’s also worth spending money on. In my experience it’s often one or the other. Some cards are worth keeping for the perks but not worth spending on, while other cards are worth spending on but don’t otherwise offer many perks.
In this post:
Is the Hyatt Credit Card Worth It?
Let me answer this simply: if you’re eligible for the card and have any interest in staying at Hyatt properties, then yes, the World of Hyatt Credit Card is absolutely worth it. The card has a reasonable $95 annual fee, and on the most basic level, offers an anniversary free night award plus five elite nights toward status annually with no spending required.
To me, the anniversary free night award alone more than justifies the annual fee. I’ve consistently been able to use this at hotels costing well over $200 per night, and sometimes $250+. That’s a significant return on a $95 annual fee.
That’s only part of the card’s value proposition, though. It can also be worth spending money on the card, so that you can earn a second annual free night award, and so you can earn more elite nights toward status.
Who Should Get the Hyatt Credit Card
- Anyone who stays at Hyatt properties with any frequency, the anniversary free night award alone justifies the $95 annual fee
- Those pursuing World of Hyatt Globalist status, the card helps you earn elite nights through spending
- Travelers who want a card with no foreign transaction fees for international Hyatt stays
- People who spend money on fitness clubs and gyms, this is an industry-leading bonus category
- Those who can spend $15,000 annually on the card, this is the sweet spot for maximizing value
Who Shouldn’t Get the Hyatt Credit Card
- Those who rarely or never stay at Hyatt properties
- People looking to maximize points on dining or airfare, other cards offer 3-5x points in those categories
- Those who prefer flexible points over hotel-specific loyalty, Chase Ultimate Rewards cards may be a better fit
Link: World of Hyatt Credit Card
Hyatt Credit Card Benefits
What makes the World of Hyatt Credit Card so compelling is that it offers valuable perks both for simply having the card and for spending money on it.
Welcome bonus
The World of Hyatt Credit Card is offering a tiered welcome bonus where you can earn up to 5 free nights (Free nights can be redeemed at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort worldwide.) It’s broken down as follows:
- Earn 3 free nights after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
- Plus, 2 free nights after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 6 months.
Personally, I value World of Hyatt points at 1.5 cents each. Each free night can be valued at 12,000, 15,000, or 18,000 points based on when you redeem (off-peak, standard, or peak) — picking the middle ground, I’d value these free night awards at a total of 75,000 points.
Learn More: Hyatt Welcome Offer Eligibility
Benefits Just for Having the Card
The World of Hyatt Card offers several great perks just for being a cardmember, with no spending required:
- Discoverist status for as long as you have the card
- Five elite qualifying nights every year
- A Category 1-4 anniversary free night award
Benefits for Spending on the Card
Beyond the perks for just having the card (which more than justify the annual fee, in my opinion), the World of Hyatt Credit Card offers the following incentives for spending:
- Two elite qualifying nights for every $5,000 spent on the card, which can help you toward earning Globalist status
- A second Category 1-4 free night award when you spend $15,000 on the card in a calendar year
- 4x points for spending at Hyatt properties, and 2x points on dining, airline tickets, fitness clubs and gyms, and local transit including ridesharing
Discoverist Status Benefits
The World of Hyatt Credit Card offers Discoverist status for as long as you have the card. While this is only entry-level status, it still offers some valuable benefits that will enhance your Hyatt stays:
- Upgrade to a preferred room, when available
- 2PM check-out
- Premium internet
- Daily bottled water
- 10% bonus points
Understanding Hyatt Free Night Awards
There are several ways to earn World of Hyatt free night certificates:
- Category 1-4 free night certificate on your account anniversary every year just for having the World of Hyatt Credit Card (expires 12 months after issued)
- Second Category 1-4 free night certificate when you spend $15,000 on the card in a year (expires 12 months after issued)
- Category 1-4 free night certificate after earning 30 elite nights via Milestone Rewards (expires 180 days after issued)
- Category 1-7 free night certificate after earning 60 elite nights via Milestone Rewards (expires 180 days after issued)
- Category 1-7 free night certificate after earning 100 elite nights via Milestone Rewards (expires 180 days after issued)
For context on the value of these certificates: World of Hyatt ordinarily charges 12,000-18,000 points per night for a Category 4 hotel, and 25,000-35,000 points per night for a Category 7 hotel. With peak and off-peak pricing, you can redeem certificates up to the maximum allowed category even in peak season.
You can also transfer your free night awards to other World of Hyatt members, just click the “Gift Your Award” button in your account and enter the recipient’s World of Hyatt number and last name.
The $15,000 Annual Spending Sweet Spot
Personally, my approach is to put $15,000 of spending on the World of Hyatt Card every year, and I think that’s a real sweet spot. By spending $15,000 on the card in a year you receive:
- A second Category 1-4 free night award
- Six additional elite nights toward status, meaning you earn a total of 11 elite nights toward status annually with the card
Even taking the value of the elite nights out of the equation, if you spend $15,000 on the card in categories on which you otherwise wouldn’t earn bonus points, you’re earning a Category 1-4 certificate that could be redeemed at a hotel costing up to 18,000 points. That’s almost like earning over two World of Hyatt points per dollar spent, which is a great return on everyday spending.
This ties in beautifully with the welcome offer, which you can maximize by spending $15,000. For what it’s worth, I picked up the World of Hyatt Credit Card in 2018, and have spent $15,000 on the card every year since.
Link: World of Hyatt Credit Card
Calendar Year vs Anniversary Year Benefits
Some benefits of the card are based on the calendar year, while some are based on the anniversary year. This tends to cause some confusion, so here’s the breakdown:
Calendar Year Benefits (January 1 – December 31)
- Five elite qualifying nights every year (post within eight weeks of January 1, though typically much faster)
- Second Category 1-4 free night award for spending $15,000
Anniversary Year Benefits
- Category 1-4 anniversary free night award (posts shortly after your anniversary statement closes, valid for 12 months)
Ongoing Benefits (Not Tied to Any Year)
- Two elite nights for every $5,000 spent, the spending counter keeps rolling regardless of calendar or anniversary year
Earning Globalist Status with the Hyatt Credit Card
World of Hyatt Globalist is my favorite top tier hotel status, and what I love is that the World of Hyatt Credit Card makes it easier to earn. Let’s look at how much you’d need to spend.
How Much Do You Have to Spend for Globalist Status?
Hyatt Globalist status requires earning 60 qualifying nights in a year. On the World of Hyatt Credit Card, you’d need to spend $140,000 to earn Globalist status from scratch:
- You get five elite nights just for having the card
- $140,000 of spending earns you 56 elite nights (two per $5,000), plus the five for having the card, for a total of 61 elite nights
A More Realistic Approach to Globalist Status
I’d never spend all the way to Globalist status. Rather, I’d use a hybrid approach, earning Globalist status partly through credit card spending and partly through actual stays. After all, if you’re not actually staying a significant number of nights, what’s the point of earning the status?
To be realistic, let’s assume you’re earning 30 elite nights per year through actual stays. If you earned the other 30 elite nights through credit card spending, you’d need to spend $65,000 on the World of Hyatt Card.
Don’t Forget Milestone Rewards
Elite nights earned with credit cards count toward the Milestone Rewards program. If you make it to 60 elite nights, you could select:
- Five confirmed suite upgrade awards
- Four club access awards
- Three Guest of Honor awards
- A Category 1-7 free night award
- A Category 1-4 free night award
The value of all these perks really adds up and can more than justify the credit card spending.
Important Notes About Credit Card Elite Nights
- Credit card spending does NOT count toward lifetime Globalist status (which requires one million base points)
- Credit card elite nights DO count toward Milestone Rewards
- The complimentary Discoverist status doesn’t come with elite nights, you still need to qualify for Explorist or Globalist based on the full criteria
Opportunity Cost of Hyatt Credit Card Spending
When deciding if it makes sense to spend money on the World of Hyatt Credit Card, consider the opportunity cost. The best personal cards offer a return of up to ~3.4% by my valuation, while in non-bonused categories you’re earning one Hyatt point per dollar spent (worth ~1.5 cents by my valuation).
If we theoretically assume you’re spending $60,000 on the card to earn Globalist status, the opportunity cost is up to 1.9% (the spread between 3.4% and 1.5% returns). That’s around ~$1,140.
But that doesn’t factor in the value of all the other perks: up to two Category 1-4 free night awards, a Category 1-7 free night, five confirmed suite upgrades, four club access awards, and three Guest of Honor awards. For many, these perks more than justify the difference in return on spending.
World of Hyatt Card vs Business Card for Elite Nights
Both the World of Hyatt Business Card and the personal card can help you earn elite nights, but they work differently:
World of Hyatt Credit Card (Personal)
- Five elite nights annually just for having the card
- Two elite nights for every $5,000 spent (one per $2,500)
- Spending counter doesn’t reset, rolls over regardless of calendar year
- $140,000 spending required for Globalist from scratch
World of Hyatt Business Credit Card
- No elite nights just for having the card
- Five elite nights for every $10,000 spent (one per $2,000, faster pace)
- Spending counter resets at the beginning of each calendar year
- $120,000 spending required for Globalist from scratch
Long story short, I think it’s much more compelling to spend $15,000 per year on the personal card than the business card due to the free night awards. However, if you’re a bigger spender, the business card earns elite nights at a faster pace.
Read More: Hyatt Business Card vs. Hyatt Card Comparison
Bottom line
The World of Hyatt Credit Card is one of the easiest to justify hotel credit cards. The card has a reasonable $95 annual fee, and on the most basic level, offers an anniversary free night award plus five elite nights toward status annually.
That’s only part of the card’s value proposition, though. It can also be worth spending money on the card, so that you can earn a second annual free night award, and so you can earn more elite nights toward status. This is a card that I’ve had for years, and one that I spend at least $15,000 on annually.
Link: World of Hyatt Credit Card
Discoverist is the sweet spot in the Hyatt system. Globalist is too high to achieve for most, and Explorist has been lackluster in the benefits department.
So if I'm reading this correctly: if you spend $15k and stay 15 nights, you'll get 5 nights from holding the card + 6 nights from the 2x every $5k + 30 nights from the 2x15 nights promo = 41 nights total
Hi Ben. I think it would be great if there was a way we could send you questions, and then maybe once a week you could have a post where you answer the ones you think are interesting.
I second this. Ben is so knowledgeable that having like a “Dear Ben” series of posts would be really fascinating.