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Why the Chase Hyatt Credit card should be a top consideration
Hyatt has some of the best opportunities for high value point redemptions of any hotel brand in the world ( check out our Alila Uluwatu $1k a night villa review as a great example). We’re always looking for ways to organically get the best value out of our point stash, but also extract maximum value from credit cards we hold. Let’s walk through 5 reasons why the Chase Hyatt Credit card is worth signing up for, but also holding long term.
The nuts and bolts of the sign up offer:
- 25k Bonus after you spend $3k in 3 months of account opening
- Another 25k Bonus after you spend $6k total within the first 6 months of account opening
- 4x bonus points on every dollar spent at Hyatt hotels
- On top of 5x a base member earns
- 2x points at:
- restaurants
- airline tickets purchased direct from airlines
- local transit and commuting
- fitness clubs and gym memberships
- Every Account Anniversary you’ll get a Free Night at category 1-4 hotels
- Bonus Free Night at category 1-4 hotels when you spend $15k a year
- Get Discovery Elite status as along as your card is open
- 5 qualifying Elite night credits for holding the card
- 2 Elite night credits for every $5k you put on your card.
- Annual fee of $95
Reason 1: Using points for the entire hotel stay.
World of Hyatt has 7 categories of hotels available for redemption, ranging from just 5k points to 30k points a night. ( There are Miraval redemptions as well, but for all intents and purposes let’s focus on the main Hyatt stead of properties). With 40k points you could stay 8 nights at a Tier 1 property, 2 nights at a Tier 5 property ( 20k a night), or combine your points with friends to lock down a mega redemption. You can also apply Elite upgrades to score suites and club levels benefits on a full point redemption. I did this in Tokyo last year at the Grand Hyatt.
Hyatt’s hotel categories:
Here’s a tier 5 property, the Hyatt Regency Maui. 20k a night. This card could give you 2 nights, free of charge, to relax in the sun. What’s even better, when you pay fully with points…the resort fee is waived!
Or, I just stayed at the the Hyatt Place August when I traveled to see the Masters. Just 12k points a night when rates were a $1000. An insane redemption and offered a mini-suite style setup with free breakfast.
Reason 2: Using points for Cash + Points redemptions
One of the absolute best ways to use that sign up bonus is with Cash + Points redemptions. This is one of the major advantages of the new sign up bonus compared to what was offered for years. You can stretch your points in many stays, and stretch them out longer than a year. The biggest catch is the hotel must be offering Cash + Points as an option. Most times it depends on the load of the hotel, time of year, etc.
Here’s Hyatt’s chart for Cash + Point redemptions.
I’ve been extremely luck to use Points + Cash on many hotels around the world. One of my favorite was at the Park Hyatt Washington D.C.
A great thing about Points + Cash is that they count towards your elite status, and you can apply your Elite upgrades to it. We did this when I was diamond and upgraded to a suite.
Reason 3: Upgrade to CLUB LEVEL for just 3k a night
Sometimes you’ll find a base rate that is just too good to be true. Using points for the base rate just doesn’t make sense because you’ll get better value using points on another redemption. However, if you’re at one of Hyatt’s properties that offer club levels, you could use your points to access those sweet, sweet club level bennies like breakfast, canapes, and free drinks. At just 3k points a night, you can extract hundreds of dollars of value.
Club levels like those at the Grand Hyatt Taipei or Grand Hyatt Tokyo, are pure luxury. I would highly recommend using your points for the experience.
Reason 4: Upgrading to Suites for 6k a night – after min spend, that’s 7 nights!
Look, staying in a room is great and all…but a SUITE?! Now you’re living the good life. What’s even better than a suite? The fact that many suites come with club level. I know, the gifts just keep on giving. For 6k points a night, you could have space to stretch out and entertain, or if you have kids, a pull out couch that saves you tons of money on a second room.
I just got back from Hong Kong where I did just this. I used 6k points a night to put us in an incredible suite, worth $850 a night, and included Club Level. IT WAS INSANE!
Reason 5: That annual night cert makes this a no brainer long term hold
Every single year you keep this card in your wallet and pay the $75 annual fee, you’ll be rewarded with a category 4 annual night certificate. There are some amazing category 4 hotels around the world. What this means is if the hotel is priced at 15k points a night or less, and there is award availability, you can use it. I’ve saved HUNDREDS using free night certificates.
What are some great uses of the annual night cert?
- Park Hyatt Saigon
- Park Hyatt Siem Reap
- Grand Hyatt Taipei
- Hyatt Regency Hong Kong
- Grand Hyatt DC
- Hyatt Regency Paris ( Etoile )
- Grand Hyatt Berlin
- Grand Hyatt Rio
Bonus Perks! 10% and Status runs? Yes, please.
In the past Hyatt has been known to offer exclusive deals like
- 10% back on award stays to Hyatt Credit Card holders.
- They also allowed status runs at the end of last year, exclusive to those holding this card.
- Refer your friends to earn bonus points as well!
And, don’t forget about Discoverist status. If you didn’t hold the card, you wouldn’t be eligible for those exclusive offers. For just $75 – the card adds a lot of value to your wallet.
Chase Freedom Unlimited
A Monkey Miles favorite for beginners and point pros alike because it earns unlimited 1.5x Ultimate Rewards with no annual fee.
♥ Earn 20k Bonus Points or $200 after $500 Spend in 3 months
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FTA: “They also allowed status runs at the end of last year, exclusive to those holding this card.”
I don’t understand. What do you mean by “Allowed Status Runs” in this snippet? Could you elaborate on this?
Technically, my whole 2018 is going to have 55 status runs, here and there. I’m just wondering if I’m missing out on something.
Thanks!
VX – sure – last year, sept-dec, I’m assuming in response to the high bar for Globalist status, they allowed Hyatt Credit cardholders to achieve globalist status by completing just 20 nights. Presented an interesting opportunity to run for status with a much lower threshold of nights, but exclusive to those who held the card