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The World of Hyatt Credit Card‘s current welcome offer of up to 60,000 Hyatt Points plus its annual free night award is a big reason why we think it is one of the most valuable hotel cards available. And if you spend $15,000 on the card each year, you'll get yet another World of Hyatt free night award. That's a lot of potential free nights and a lot of value packed into a $95 annual fee card.
You also can earn free night awards with World of Hyatt in other ways. You can earn up to five free nights through the Brand Explorer perk. Additionally, earn more through Milestone Rewards, which are earned as you spend more nights at Hyatt properties each year.
World of Hyatt still uses an award chart with categories, and your named-accordingly Hyatt free nights can be redeemed at any property in categories 1–4. There are some incredible options to maximize this perk, which you should absolutely take advantage of if you're an existing cardholder or in the process of meeting the minimum spending requirements to earn your welcome bonus.
In this post, we've included a variety of hotel types and destinations — from family-friendly hot spots to luxury tropical destinations. Here are the best uses of your Category 1–4 Hyatt free night awards.
- Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points. Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 more Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.
- Enjoy complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status for as long as your account is open.
- Get 1 free night each year after your Cardmember anniversary at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort
- Receive 5 tier qualifying night credits towards status after account opening, and each year after that for as long as your account is open
- Earn an extra free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel if you spend $15,000 in a calendar year
- Earn 2 qualifying night credits towards tier status every time you spend $5,000 on your card
- Earn up to 9 points total for Hyatt stays - 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels & up to 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member
- Earn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- Up to 9X points total per $1 spent at Hyatt - 4X points per $1 when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5X points per $1 you can earn as a World of Hyatt member
- 2X points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airlines tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships
- 1X point per $1 everywhere else
Page Contents
Hyatt Categories Overview
In case you're unaware, all Hyatt hotels are assigned a category, and pricing is standardized among the categories. Hyatt adjusts its categories annually. Every once in a while, hotels move down a category, and you'll get to book the same hotel for fewer points. More often, hotels move up a category, requiring more points per night.
For those with the World of Hyatt Card, the most painful moves are when hotels jump from Category 4 to 5 — moving them out of reach of your Category 1–4 Hyatt free night awards.
Additionally, Hyatt changed its pricing a few years ago to include peak and off-peak pricing instead of just one standard price. Hyatt also introduced a points calendar that allows you to easily search for the lowest-priced nights at any given hotel. However, neither of these things affects your free night award since that's based on category, not pricing.
If you want to view a list of all World of Hyatt properties, filtered for Categories 1–4 only, follow this link.
Our Favorite Hotels to Redeem a Hyatt Free Night Certificate
Hyatt Place Park City
Park City is known for its gorgeous mountains, which are full of year-round activities like hiking, skiing, snowboarding, water sports, mountain biking, and more. The Hyatt Place Park City is conveniently located near the largest ski resort in the U.S. – The Big Sky Resort. The hotel has a heated pool and pool deck, plus an on-site ski rental shop. It also offers free breakfast, complimentary s'more kits for children, and a free shuttle to downtown Park City.
- Award category: 4
- World of Hyatt points per night (standard pricing): 15,000
- Average cash rate: AwardWallet users have booked 29 nights at the Hyatt Place Park City with an average savings of $444 per night.
Grand Hyatt Berlin — Germany
A stroll from Berliner Philharmonie and less than a mile from the iconic Brandenburg Gate, the Grand Hyatt Berlin is centrally located in Berlin’s inner city with easy access to public transport that can get you around the city (Berlin is fairly spread out). The hotel features a fantastic indoor pool for year-round use with views over the Berlin cityscape. If you have Globalist status and score a suite upgrade, your suite may even contain a piano to serenade your loved ones.
- Award category: 4
- World of Hyatt points per night (standard pricing): 15,000
- Average cash rate of recent AwardWallet user bookings: $252 per night
Park Hyatt Siem Reap — Cambodia
No list of great Hyatt hotels would be complete without a Park Hyatt property — Hyatt's hallmark luxury brand. The Park Hyatt Siem Reap is centrally located in the city of Siem Reap, Cambodia. While you can explore nearby nature and fantastic markets within walking distance, the main draw to the city is the massive complex of temples at Angkor, the capital of the ancient Khmer empire. It's just a short tuk-tuk ride from the hotel's front door.
- Award category: 4
- World of Hyatt points per night (standard pricing): 15,000
- Average cash rate: AwardWallet users have redeemed 27 nights at the Park Hyatt Siem Reap with an average savings of $781 per night.
Hyatt Regency Tokyo Bay
The Hyatt Regency Tokyo Bay is located near the waters of Tokyo Bay. The hotel offers three restaurants, a rooftop bar, and a Regency Club — offering free food and drinks if you book a club-level room or qualify for an upgrade. It's located just 15 miles from Haneda Airpot and also has easy access to Tokyo Disney and Tokyo DisneySea.
- Award category: 3
- World of Hyatt points per night (standard pricing): 12,000
- Average cash rate: AwardWallet users have redeemed 15 nights at the Hyatt Regency Tokyo Bay with an average savings of $469 per night.
Thompson Washington D.C.
The Thompson Washington D.C. is a gorgeous, modern luxury hotel located near D.C.'s Navy Yard. Nearby activities include the picturesque Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, the famous Smithsonian Museums, and the iconic National Mall. The hotel also offers an American restaurant — The Surveyor — and a rooftop bar with gorgeous views of Washington D.C.
- Award category: 4
- World of Hyatt points per night (standard pricing): 15,000
- Average cash rate: AwardWallet users have redeemed 25 nights at the Thompson Washington D.C. with an average savings of $436 per night.
Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile — France
Oui oui, mon ami! This points enthusiast fan-favorite Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile boasts the highest bar in the city, the Windo Skybar. You can't beat the views of the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. While it's just outside the city center, it's near the metro line, giving you easy access to everything Paris has to offer. Club-level rooms (if you qualify for an upgrade) offer unlimited free food and drinks all day long.
- Award category: 4
- World of Hyatt points per night (standard pricing): 15,000
- Average cash rate: $225 per night
Grand Hyatt Melbourne — Australia
If you’ve never been to Melbourne, you may be curious why the Grand Hyatt Melbourne hotel made the cut, but Melbourne is the premier urban destination in Australia. Where Sydney provides oceanfront glamour, Melbourne has understated sophistication and culture. It offers fantastic nightlife and is home to the best shopping and cafe scene in the world. Spend a weekend cruising Melbourne’s laneways and back alleys, and you will leave a small part of your heart behind when you fly out.
- Award category: 4
- World of Hyatt points per night (standard pricing): 15,000
- Average cash rate of recent AwardWallet user bookings: $196 per night
Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort — Florida, USA
The Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort was ranked ninth in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2021 Reader’s Choice Awards for Top Orlando Resorts. This hotel has a free shuttle to both Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, an award-winning golf course, and a pool with 12 waterfalls, a waterslide, and a lazy river. Orlando is centrally located in Florida and has endless things to do. You're sure to find something that suits you.
- Award category: 4
- World of Hyatt points per night (standard pricing): 15,000
- Average cash rate: $170 per night
Using Hyatt Pay My Way for More Nights
Obviously, your Hyatt free night award is only good for one night. You may have multiple free nights in your World of Hyatt account, but you will likely need to add additional points or cash to your stay if you're spending more than one night at any of these properties. Thankfully, Hyatt makes it easy with its Pay My Way option. You can use a combination of both points and cash to add additional nights to your reservation, and a recent update even allows you to choose which award you want to use.
Why Should You Get the World of Hyatt Card?
The World of Hyatt Card is a nifty little card, and if one thing is for sure, it punches above its weight. This starts with the welcome bonus; new applicants can earn up to 60,000 Hyatt Points — 30,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, plus up to 30,000 more Hyatt points with 2 points earned per dollar on up to $15,000 spent in the first 6 months after opening your account.
As mentioned at the outset, cardholders can also enjoy an annual Category 1-4 free night award, plus an additional free night award after spending $15,000 on the card each year. The best way to maximize these free nights is at properties that would otherwise cost a lot — such as those listed above.
Better yet, you can also earn a healthy amount of Hyatt points on several types of spending, which helps you unlock, you guessed it, even more free nights. Here's a look at the World of Hyatt Card‘s earning categories:
- Up to 9X points total per $1 spent at Hyatt - 4X points per $1 when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5X points per $1 you can earn as a World of Hyatt member
- 2X points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airlines tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships
- 1X point per $1 everywhere else
Cardholders can also enjoy complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status, leverage Visa Signature card benefits, pay no foreign transaction fees, and more. Learn all about the card in our comprehensive review.
Final Thoughts
Hyatt's free nights can provide fantastic value when used at the right property. Whether you're looking for relaxation, to be on the go visiting tourist hotspots, or finding fun activities for your kids, there's something for everyone on this list.
Even though categories have changed and some former favorites are no longer available, there are still plenty of great options to use your free nights.
- Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points. Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 more Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.
- Enjoy complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status for as long as your account is open.
- Get 1 free night each year after your Cardmember anniversary at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort
- Receive 5 tier qualifying night credits towards status after account opening, and each year after that for as long as your account is open
- Earn an extra free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel if you spend $15,000 in a calendar year
- Earn 2 qualifying night credits towards tier status every time you spend $5,000 on your card
- Earn up to 9 points total for Hyatt stays - 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels & up to 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member
- Earn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- Up to 9X points total per $1 spent at Hyatt - 4X points per $1 when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5X points per $1 you can earn as a World of Hyatt member
- 2X points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airlines tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships
- 1X point per $1 everywhere else
Is your favorite hotel for using a Hyatt free night award not on this list? Let us know what it is in the comments below.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: The World of Hyatt Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
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