The World of Hyatt Credit Card has been a staple in my wallet for years because it features the 2 perks that I value the most in a hotel credit card: a big sign-up bonus and a free anniversary night.
Note: the World of Hyatt Credit Card falls under Chase’s 5/24 rule so serial churners may not be approved for this credit card.
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| Pros | Cons |
| + Free anniversary night makes up for annual fee | – $95 annual fee |
| + Decent earnings rate means this won’t be a sock drawer card | – Current SUB is not as large as past bonuses and has a high spend requirement |
| + Complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status | – Referral program has been inactive since 2023 |
World of Hyatt Credit Card Sign Up Bonus
As of January 2024, Chase is offering 60,000 points for new cardmembers:
- 30,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days, and
- 30,000 additional points after spending a total of $15,000 in the first 6 months from account opening).
Earning the full bonus requires a hefty amount of spend, but those 60,000 points are worth $1,080 based on Standby With Me’s hotel point valuations.
Unfortunately, this sign-up bonus is not as good as past offers. The second “bonus” of 30,000 is simply a 2x multiplier on non-bonus spend (capped at 15,000 points), so you are actually only netting 45,000 total bonus points after a large minimum spend of $15,000.
- While it’s still a valuable sign-up bonus, it may pay off to wait for a better offer.
World of Hyatt Credit Card Benefits
In addition to the generic purchase protection & delayed/lost baggage insurance protections that you can expect from mid-tier travel credit cards, here are the perks that travelers will benefit from the most:
Free Anniversary Night
- One annual free night at a Category 1-4 Hyatt property after your cardmember anniversary.
- You can earn a second annual Category 1-4 certificate by spending $15,000+ each year.
World of Hyatt Earnings Rate
- 4x points per $1 spent at Hyatt properties
- 2x points per $1 spent on restaurants, airline tickets, transit (including tolls & ridesharing services), and fitness/gym memberships
- 1x points per $1 spent on all other categories
Complimentary Hyatt Discoverist Status
- Cardholders automatically receive 5 nights’ worth of qualifying credit towards the next World of Hyatt status tier, and you can earn an additional 2 qualifying night credits for every $5,000 sent
0% Foreign Transaction Fee
- This should be a given for any credit card that charges an annual fee.
Redeeming Points with the World of Hyatt Credit Card
It is no secret that World of Hyatt is my favorite hotel loyalty brand because the redemption rates can be incredibly strong. Based on my experience & redemption history, I value Hyatt points at 1.8 cents-per-point.
Unlike many other hotel programs, Hyatt properties stick to a tiered category system that makes redeeming points simple. Here is what those categories look like for 2024:
| Off-peak | Standard | Peak | |
| Category 1 | 3,500 | 5,000 | 6,500 |
| Category 2 | 6,500 | 8,000 | 9,500 |
| Category 3 | 9,000 | 12,000 | 15,000 |
| Category 4 | 12,000 | 15,000 | 18,000 |
| Category 5 | 17,000 | 20,000 | 23,000 |
| Category 6 | 21,000 | 25,000 | 29,000 |
| Category 7 | 25,000 | 30,000 | 35,000 |
| Category 8 | 35,000 | 40,000 | 45,000 |
Who should apply for the World of Hyatt Credit Card?
If you are under Chase’s 5/24 threshold, you should consider adding the World of Hyatt Credit Card to your wallet.
While regular travelers may choose to prioritize Chase’s co-branded airline credit cards, airline employees like myself have limited use for collecting airline miles. Instead, non-rev travelers will find much more value with Chase’s Hyatt and Marriott cards.
However, it is worth noting that Hyatt’s global footprint is much smaller than competitors like Hilton or IHG. You will not have a problem finding a Hyatt to redeem points out in major metropolitan areas, but this card may not be for you if you often find yourself traveling off the beaten path.
Final Thoughts
Chase’s World of Hyatt Credit Card provides enough value to justify the $95 annual fee. The free anniversary night alone should easily be worth more than $95/year, and the extra Hyatt points & low-tier Discoverist status are just icing on the cake.
