World of Hyatt Credit Card Review

Checking-In to the World of Hyatt Credit Card

The World of Hyatt Credit Card is a co-branded hotel reward credit card from Chase. The card offers impressive rewards-earning potential, and a great bonus points offer for those who plan to use their card to make at least $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of opening an account.

The World of Hyatt rewards program offers exceptional value for members, and this card gives holders instant access to World of Hyatt Elite status – providing complimentary lounge access, Wi-Fi, and the potential for room upgrades where applicable. The World of Hyatt Credit Card also allows users to transfer their points towards airline frequent flyer programs at a reduced rate, making it a good option for those who are looking to maximize their airline rewards and traveler status.

How it Works

Earning Points:

Earn Points with Hyatt Stays: World of Hyatt cardmembers earn 4 bonus points for every dollar they spend with Hyatt. This impressive earning-potential also extends to participating restaurants and Exhale spa locations.
Earn Base Points with Hyatt Stays: Cardmembers earn 5 base points per every eligible dollar spent with Hyatt. Base points are applicable towards a World of Hyatt membership status, with the lowest tier – Discoverist – starting at 25,000 base points.
Earn Points Getting Around: World of Hyatt cardmembers earn 2 points for every dollar spent on local transit and commuting, including ride-sharing apps, mass-transit, taxis, and more.
Earn Points Flying: Account holders earn 2 points for every dollar spent with purchases directly from airlines.
Earn Points Dining Out: Cardholders also gain points when dining out at restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops.
Earn Points for Staying Heathy: Cardmembers can earn 2 points for every dollar spent on fitness club and gym memberships.
Earn with Everything Else: 1 World of Hyatt point is earned for every other dollar spent with the World of Hyatt Credit Card.

Redeeming Points:

Hotel Stays: The easiest way to redeem World of Hyatt membership points is through stays with Hyatt properties worldwide. Hyatt divides its properties into categories for rewards, with your typical hotel placed in Category 1, while ultra-high-end resorts and luxurious boutiques go all the way up to Category 8. For a Category 1 property, a standard room per night will cost 5,000 points, with premium suites running at 10,000 points. The higher up the scale you go, the more points you can expect to spend. One night at a Category 8 property, for instance, costs 40,000 points.
Cash Bookings: Points are also applicable towards part of a hotel stay. If a World of Hyatt member does not have the points needed for the reward they want, points can be applied towards half of that hotel stay, with the rest payable by cash or card.
Spas and Dining: Reward points earned with the World of Hyatt Credit Card can also be redeemed for dining at Hyatt restaurants, or for spa services at Hyatt spas, such as Exhale.
Transfer Points to Airline Rewards Programs: World of Hyatt members have a great perk in the ability to transfer points towards select Hyatt airline partner frequent flyer programs. Points are transferred at a rate of 2.5 World of Hyatt points to 1 airline mile – which isn’t a spectacular rate, but if you need a few extra miles to get that reward flight, this is a great feature.

Today’s Bonus Offer

New cardholders can earn up to 50,000 bonus points within the first 6 months of opening their account. When a new account holder spends $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months, they receive 25,000 points, plus an additional 25,000 points if they spend a total of $6,000 on the card in the first 6 months of account opening. 50,000 points are enough for 10 Category 1 nights at Hyatt hotels – a very impressive initial offer!

Getting Under the Sheets with the World of Hyatt Credit Card

Annual Fee: The World of Hyatt Credit Card features an annual fee of $95. While there are many hotel rewards credit cards that offer no annual fee, the World of Hyatt rewards program is exceptional – as are the bonus points available with this card. These perks make the $95 annual fee very reasonable.

Hotel Perks:

Automatic Elite Status: World of Hyatt cardholders earn instant World of Hyatt Elite status as long as their account is open. Elite status entails a member to room upgrades, club lounge access, free Wi-Fi, and complimentary extra nights at Category 1-4 properties.
Qualifying Night Credits: Cardholders also receive 5 qualifying night credits towards their World of Hyatt membership status each year.
Free Night Award Every Anniversary: Cardholders receive a complimentary free night for each anniversary year of membership.

Cardholder Protections:

Fraud Protection: Cardholders have complete protection from any fraudulent or unauthorized purchases made on their account.
Account Alerts: Visa account alerts allow cardholders to know – via text message or email -when payments are due or if there is suspicious activity on their account.
Global Assistance: 24/7 access to Visa’s dedicated account services, as well as access to Visa Concierge, which provides travel assistance and coordination for any issues that may arise during travel. Customer service is available in different languages.

Additional Benefits:

Contactless Payments: The World of Hyatt Credit Card features contactless pay technology, allowing users to make simple and fast payments with just a tap of their card.

“Suite” Perks That Make the World of Hyatt Credit Card Worthwhile:

Initial Bonus Offer: The initial bonus offer with the World of Hyatt Credit Card offers exceptional value for those who plan to use their card extensively. With a spend of $6,000 in the first 6 months, new account holders can earn up to 50,000 bonus points – enough for up to 10 free nights at Hyatt properties.
Elite Member Status: The perk of automatic World of Hyatt Elite status is another great feature of the World of Hyatt Credit Card. Elite status entitles members to an impressive array of benefits, including free Wi-Fi, lounge access at select resorts, complimentary upgrades, and more.
One Free Night Every Year: Cardholders receive one complimentary night at Hyatt properties on every anniversary.

“Reservations” About the World of Hyatt Credit Card:

Poor Points Redemption Value in Some Areas: The biggest drawback with the World of Hyatt program is the poor return on points when redeeming. World of Hyatt rewards points typically are valued at $.01 per point, but for spa or dining redemption, points are valued at half that – or $.005 per point – not great.

Time to Check-Out

The World of Hyatt Credit Card from Visa is a solid hotel rewards card for those who frequently use their credit card for purchases and want to get the most bang for their buck. The card earns 9 points for every dollar spent with Hyatt properties, restaurants, and spas (4 points and 5 base points), 2 points for purchases at gyms, with local transportation, on airfare, or when dining out, and 1 point everywhere else. New cardholders can also earn up to 50,000 points when making qualifying purchases within the first 6 months of opening their account.

The World of Hyatt rewards program is one of the best hotel rewards programs out there, and this card makes it easy to take advantage of those rewards. The initial bonus mile offer, for instance, is good for up to 10 free nights at Hyatt Category 1 properties. Reward points can also be transferred to airline frequent flyer programs or for use at select spas and restaurants – although for all 3 of these options points don’t travel nearly as far as they do when using reward points for hotel stays.

Overall, the World of Hyatt Credit Card is an excellent option for those who frequently stay with Hyatt when traveling. The $95 annual fee might not be cheap, but with Elite status instantly, a free night at Hyatt hotels each year, and more – it more than pays for itself in the long run.

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