Why Hyatt Is My Favorite Hotel Program
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are referral or affiliate links. I may earn a commission—at no cost to you—if you choose to sign up for a credit card or make a purchase. I only recommend what I personally use to travel more and spend less
I recently used my Hyatt free night certificate for a stay in Santa Cruz — the room would’ve cost $481 after taxes and fees, but I paid nothing out of pocket.
This redemption was one of the best I've had all year, and it’s a reminder of why the World of Hyatt Credit Card stays in my rotation.
If you value simple redemptions, consistent perks, and real-world value from your hotel card — this is one worth knowing.
Annual Free Night Certificate (That Actually Saves You Money)
Every cardmember year, you get a Category 1–4 free night certificate just for keeping the card open. I used mine in Santa Cruz, but you’ll find solid properties in this range across the country.
There are no blackout dates, and booking the certificate online is just as easy as booking with points.
You can even earn a second free night certificate when you spend $15,000 in a calendar year.
No Resort Fees on Award Nights
This one often gets overlooked, but it matters. When you book a stay using Hyatt points or a free night certificate, resort and destination fees are waived, regardless of your status.
At many hotels, this can save you an extra $30–$50 per night — making your free night actually free.
Elite Status (Without the Work)
Just by holding the card, you get Discoverist status, which comes with:
2 p.m. late checkout (based on availability)
Preferred rooms
10% bonus on points earned during stays
You’ll also get 5 elite night credits each year, plus 2 more for every $5,000 you spend — helpful if you’re working toward higher tiers like Explorist or Globalist.
Solid Earning Categories
Here’s what the card earns on everyday spending:
4x points at Hyatt properties
2x at restaurants, transit, gyms, and airfare
1x on everything else
You also earn 5x points per dollar on Hyatt stays as a World of Hyatt member, so combined with the card’s 4x, that’s 9x total — the highest return you’ll get on Hyatt spending from any card.
Easy Pairing with Chase Ultimate Rewards
Hyatt is a transfer partner of Chase, which means you can top off your Hyatt balance by transferring points from cards like:
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Ink Business Preferred
Transfers are instant and 1:1 — which is how I’ve booked award nights even when my Hyatt balance was low.
👉 [Here’s why I think Chase points are the most flexible rewards currency.]
Travel Protections Built In
Since this is a Chase-issued card, it includes strong built-in protections:
Trip cancellation/interruption (up to $5,000 per person)
Baggage delay reimbursement
Lost luggage reimbursement
Primary rental car coverage
You don’t need a premium card to get solid backup while traveling.
Final Thoughts
For a $95 annual fee, this card pays for itself every year — and then some. If you're looking for a hotel card that doesn’t overcomplicate things and consistently delivers value, the World of Hyatt Credit Card is an easy recommendation.
It helped me book one of my favorite stays in California this year, and I’ll be sharing the full Santa Cruz trip breakdown soon — including photos, tips, and how I picked the hotel.
👉 [Stay tuned — blog post on my Santa Cruz Hyatt redemption is coming next.]