ADVERTISER DISCLOSURE: The Frugal Tourist is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as MileValue.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Additionally, the content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.
The World of Hyatt’s award chart is popular among frugal travelers and points enthusiasts looking to maximize their hotel points and benefits.
Hyatt offers a competitive award chart, with redemption options starting at just 3,500 points per night for Category 1 properties and going up to 45,000 points per night for Category 8 properties.
Indeed, the World of Hyatt’s award chart is incredibly generous, as they consistently charge far fewer points on average across all of their properties.
Additionally, they offer seasonal promotions and ways to earn bonus points, making it easier to rack up points quickly.
Regarding how it compares to other hotel brands, it’s important to note that each brand has its unique award chart and rewards system.
However, many travel experts agree that Hyatt offers some of the best value for your points, particularly compared to other hotel brands such as Marriott and Hilton.
Despite not having as vast a presence as some of its competitors, I often seek out destinations with Hyatt hotels to take advantage of free stays on Hyatt points.
In this blog article, I’ll walk you through the steps in searching for World of Hyatt free night awards so you can be on your way to your next free bucket-list vacation.
The World of Hyatt’s Award Chart
Before we go over the steps on how to search for World of Hyatt Free Night Awards, let’s check out Hyatt’s current award charts.
As of March 2022, Hyatt will start charging fewer or more points at their properties, depending on the time of your visit.
For example, a standard room redemption for a Category 8 hotel typically costs 40,000 World of Hyatt points.
With Hyatt’s new off-peak/peak award charts, when you book a visit at a Category 8 property on peak dates, you must fork out an extra 5,000 World of Hyatt points (Category 8 peak night awards cost 45,000).
Conversely, if you book your stay at a Category 8 during off-peak days, you can reserve a night for 5,000 World of Hyatt points cheaper, subject to availability.
The off-peak/peak award charts below illustrate the new rates for standard rooms, standard suites, premium suites, etc. Screenshots were obtained from the World of Hyatt website.
Standard Room
Standard Suite
Premium Suite
How to Search for World of Hyatt Free Night Awards (Desktop)
Step 1: Sign Up for a World of Hyatt Account
It is free to register for a World of Hyatt Account. You can not search for free night awards without an account.
Step 2: Fill Out the Necessary Information
- Destination Location (Country, City, Town, or Specific Property)
- Check-In & Check-Out Date
- Number of Rooms and Guests
- Check “Use Points”
Step 3: Select the Specific Hyatt Property You Would Like to Reserve
Certain locations have multiple Hyatt properties.
In our example, Siem Reap in Cambodia has two Hyatt properties that can be booked on points. Both properties are Category 3 and showing off-peak rates for July.
Select the property you wish to reserve and click “View Rates”.
Step 4: Select the Room or Suite You Would Like to Book
When I selected Park Hyatt Siem Reap, it gave me four different options:
- 2 Room Types (1 King or 2 Twin Beds)
- 2 Suite Types (Park Suite King or Park Executive Suite)
In this example, I selected the room type with a 1 King Bed.
Step 5: Select How You Would Want to Pay
Next, Hyatt will provide you with various payment options.
In this example, Hyatt offers two options: “Standard Room Free Night” or “Points & Cash. “
I selected “Standard Room Free Night” since I plan to pay for my stay entirely using World of Hyatt points.
If you don’t have enough Hyatt points, another option is to use “Points + Cash”.
Step 6: Confirm the Booking Details & Check Cancellation Terms
Before completing the reservation, ensure all your details are correct and that you have reviewed the cancellation terms.
Step 7: Book Your World of Hyatt Free Night Award Stay on Hyatt Points
After thoroughly reading the cancellation terms, click “Book My Stay”.
Step 8: Check Your Email for the Booking Confirmation
You’re all set once you have received an email confirmation of your award booking!
And congratulations on your free Hyatt stay on points.
How Much Will I Save When I Use My Hyatt Points?
In our example, I will save almost $300 when I pay using my World of Hyatt Points at Park Hyatt Siem Reap.
How to Search for World of Hyatt Free Night Awards (App)
Step 1: Sign Up for a World of Hyatt Account
It is free to register for a World of Hyatt Account. You can not search for free night awards without an account.
Step 2: Click “Book” & Fill Out the Necessary Information
Navigate to the bottom of the page and click “Book”.
- Destination Location (Country, City, Town, or Specific Property)
- Check-In & Check-Out Date
- Number of Rooms and Guests
- Check “Show World of Hyatt Points & Awards”
Step 3: Select the Specific Hyatt Property You Would Like to Reserve
Certain locations have multiple Hyatt properties.
In our example, the Maldives has two Hyatt properties that can be booked on points.
Both properties are Category 7 and showing standard rates for August.
Select the property you wish to reserve and click “View Rates”.
Step 4: Select the Room or Suite You Would Like to Book
When I selected Park Hyatt Maldives, it gave me one room option: Beach Villa
Step 5: Select How You Would Want to Pay
Next, Hyatt will provide you with various payment options.
In this example, Hyatt gave us several options:
- Standard Room Free Night
- Points & Cash
- Cash
I selected “Standard Room Free Night” since I plan to pay for my stay entirely using World of Hyatt points.
If you don’t have enough Hyatt points, another option is to use “Points + Cash”.
Step 6: Confirm the Booking Details & Check Cancellation Terms
Before completing the reservation, ensure all your details are correct and you have reviewed the cancellation terms.
After verifying all the information is accurate, submit your reservation.
Step 7: Check Your Email for the Booking Confirmation
Once you have received an email confirmation of your award booking, you’re all set!
And, congratulations on your free Hyatt stay on points.
Troubleshooting Issues
“I am unable to find award availability.“
- Try to book one night at a time
- Change the number of guests
- Explore other travel dates
- Consider points & cash
- Consider other properties
- Contact Hyatt directly
“My Points did not appear in my World of Hyatt account.”
- It may take up to 7 days for the transfers to be completed
- Contact Chase if your points do not show up after seven days
“Suites do not show up when I search.”
- They are most likely booked up already – I’d check periodically as it is not uncommon for reservations to be canceled closer to the date of stay.
- Explore other travel dates.
- Try to book one night at a time
- Consider other properties
- Contact Hyatt directly
How To Earn World of Hyatt Points
Step 1: Apply for a Credit Card that Earns Hyatt Points
Even though you can earn World of Hyatt points by staying at Hyatt properties, it will take years and cost an enormous amount of money before you can accumulate enough to stay at their bucket-list properties.
Thankfully, there is a faster way to generate those valuable points, and that is through earning welcome offers from two types of credit cards:
a. The World of Hyatt Credit Cards
b. Chase Credit Cards that Earn Ultimate Rewards Points*
*Chase Ultimate Rewards Points can be transferred to the World of Hyatt program.
Transfer Ratio: 1 Chase Ultimate Rewards Point = 1 World of Hyatt Point
Before You Apply:
- Make sure you have a robust credit score/history before applying.
- You have a sinking fund that you can quickly deploy to pay the entire credit card bill on or before the due date.
- Each card has a minimum spending requirement that you need to meet to earn the welcome sign-up bonus, so ensure that you can meet the minimum spending requirement before applying.
- You should be aware that my recommended credit cards have reasonable annual fees.
Credit Cards that Earn World of Hyatt Points
| Credit Cards | Details |
|---|---|
| Credit Cards that earn Ultimate Rewards (UR) Points | 1 Chase UR : 1 Hyatt Point |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Welcome Offer |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Welcome Offer |
| Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | Welcome Offer |
| Credit Cards that earn World of Hyatt Points | |
| The World of Hyatt Credit Card | Welcome Offer |
| World of Hyatt Business Credit Card | Welcome Offer |
| Credit Cards that can convert into Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) Points* | Steps to Convert |
| Chase Freedom Flex℠ | Welcome Offer |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited® | Welcome Offer |
| Ink Business Cash® Credit Card | Welcome Offer |
| Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card | Welcome Offer |
Step 2: Meet the Credit Card’s Minimum Spending Requirement
Being mindful of your new credit card’s “Minimum Spending Requirement” (MSR) is important for getting closer to free Hyatt hotel stays.
This is the amount of spend you must put on your credit card before a specific due date to earn the welcome offer.
For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred requires a minimum spending requirement of $4,000 and completion within three months.
If, for some reason, you cannot meet this spend, you will forfeit your welcome bonus.
Without a doubt, $4,000 is a substantial amount.
Therefore, an all-too-common dilemma is determining viable methods for meeting this spending requirement as rapidly as possible without impacting your finances.
I certainly do not want you to go into debt. That will defeat the purpose of frugal travel using miles and points.
Here are some of my favorite ways to meet my minimum spending requirement:
- Prepay Utilities
- Health & Dental Bills
- Taxes (Federal, State, Property, etc.)
- Insurance (Health, Home, Auto, Rental, etc.)
- Organic Spending such as groceries, dining, and gas.
If you want to read more about other methods I have used throughout the years to help me meet my minimum spend, feel free to check out the related post below.
Step 3: Pay Off Your Credit Card Bill Completely
Whether you are a novice or a seasoned traveler, I highly recommend dabbling in accumulating World of Hyatt points by using travel credit cards.
It has allowed me to stay at luxurious properties I would never have imagined visiting in this lifetime for a fraction of the price.
However, it is not for everyone.
Although anyone can capitalize on this lucrative hobby of applying for credit cards to earn Hyatt points, it only works with individuals with a particular financial profile.
Since this involves leveraging credit card debt for a specific purpose, banks will naturally only approve applicants they know will be responsible clients.
If you have an excellent credit score and an impeccable financial background, then kudos to you, as you can undoubtedly successfully optimize this strategy.
Here’s a litmus test to determine if you are compatible with using travel credit cards:
Do you pay your credit card in full on or before the due date? If so, then you are ripe for this hobby.
Is paying your credit card promptly not your strongest suit yet?
Then, I suggest holding off on this hobby until you’ve reached a point where you’re ready to apply for credit cards.
Despite their lucrative rewards, credit cards can ruin anyone’s financial future. Those steep bank interest charges quickly add up and can wreak havoc on your fiscal goals.
If you need tips and strategies on which credit cards to apply for next, please join our Travel Miles & Points Facebook group, where members and I answer questions regularly. It’s free to join.
Step 4: Transfer Your Chase Points to Hyatt and Book Your Stay
Once you have earned your new Chase credit card’s welcome offer, it is time to transfer them to the World of Hyatt Program.
If you have the World of Hyatt credit cards, you do not have to do anything, as your points will automatically transfer to your World of Hyatt account.
The related post below has a guide on how to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to the World of Hyatt program.
| Important: Read below if you plan to transfer points from Chase to the World of Hyatt. 1. Check if the room you want to book is available using points. 2. Go to Hyatt.com, plug in your preferred location and dates, and click USE POINTS. 3. Follow the prompts until you reach the payment page. 4. If the room still shows as available using points, you can initiate the transfer from your Chase account to the World of Hyatt to book your free night. 5. Just a reminder, though, that once your Chase points are in your Hyatt account, you can no longer reverse the process. |
Unsure Which Card to Apply For?
It can be overwhelming to figure out which credit card is the right match for you.
If you are uncertain as to which credit card to apply for, you can reach out to us through the following methods:
a. Join Our Free Travel Miles and Points Facebook Group
b. Fill Out This Free Credit Card Consultation Form
Final Thoughts
The World of Hyatt points program is a fantastic way to save money on hotel stays.
Members can use their points for perks like free nights, room upgrades, and exclusive offers.
Moreover, the program’s award chart is incredibly generous, providing several benefits for all its members whenever they use their World of Hyatt points.
Whether redeeming Hyatt points for a family getaway or a business trip, it’s easy to see why many points enthusiasts and frugal travelers enjoy the World of Hyatt program.
EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE – Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. The content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
