Best Hyatt credit cards for 2023
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The World of Hyatt is easily the most valuable hotel loyalty program available today. We say this because World of Hyatt points are worth considerably more than points in other hotel loyalty programs, according to our points and miles valuations guide. For instance, we estimate that World of Hyatt points are worth approximately 2.3 cents each. In comparison, we estimate that Hilton Honors points are worth about 0.6 cents each, IHG One Rewards are worth about 0.7 cents and Marriott Bonvoy points are worth about 0.7 cents each.
With that in mind, you may be looking for ways to boost your Hyatt rewards haul. While you can earn points as a World of Hyatt member through paid stays with the brand’s hotels, many consumers look for a Hyatt credit card that will let them earn points on everything they buy. While some of the best Hyatt credit cards are co-branded with the hotel, other credit cards let users transfer rewards to their World of Hyatt account.
Read on to learn which credit cards we recommend for Hyatt, how the cards work and how to choose the best Hyatt credit card for your spending style.
Best Hyatt credit cards
| Card | Welcome offer | Rewards rate | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| The World of Hyatt Credit Card* | Earn up to 60,000 bonus points —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. |
|
$95 |
| World of Hyatt Business Credit Card* | 60,000 Bonus Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening |
|
$199 |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within 3 months of account opening |
|
$95 |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within 3 months of account opening |
|
$550 |
World of Hyatt Credit Card: Best consumer card for Hyatt enthusiasts
The World of Hyatt Credit Card* is the best consumer card for Hyatt enthusiasts for a few reasons, including its exceptional earning rate on Hyatt purchases and the fact that cardholders will get automatic Discoverist status in the World of Hyatt program. For example, with an earning rate of up to 9X points per dollar (4X points on Hyatt stays with this card plus 5X points as a World of Hyatt member) on paid Hyatt stays and experiences, cardholders can earn 9,000 points for each $1,000 they spend with the brand.
Other notable card perks — in exchange for a $95 annual fee — include one free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort each year after your cardmember anniversary, plus the chance for an extra free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel after you spend $15,000 in a calendar year. Other benefits include baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, purchase protection and Visa Signature concierge services.
Pros
- Generous welcome offer is worth several free nights
- Exceptional earning rate on paid Hyatt stays
- No foreign transaction fees
- Free night each year on your cardmember anniversary (terms apply)
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- Earning the full sign-up bonus requires $15,000 in spending
- Low earning rate for non-bonus spending
- Limited redemption options
World of Hyatt Business Card: Best business card for Hyatt enthusiasts
The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card* is worth considering if you’re a business owner who spends a lot of time at Hyatt properties. This card offers the same rate of up to 9X points on Hyatt purchases (4X points with this card plus 5X points as a World of Hyatt member) as the personal card, yet you’ll get to earn bonus rewards based on which categories you spend the most in. Specifically, you’ll earn 2X points on your top three eligible spending categories through Dec. 31, 2024, then 2X points on your top two spending categories each quarter. Eligible categories include dining; directly-purchased airline tickets; car rentals; local transit and commuting; gas stations; internet, cable and phone services; social media and search engine advertising; and shipping.
In addition to the generous sign-up bonus this card offers — 60,000 points after spending $5,000 within three months from account opening — you’ll also get automatic Discoverist status for you and up to five employees, up to $100 in Hyatt statement credits when you spend $50 or more at any Hyatt property (up to two times each anniversary year) and 10 percent of your redeemed points back for the rest of the year (on up to 200,000 points redeemed) when you spend at least $50,000 in a calendar year.
Pros
- Generous sign-up bonus and earning rate for Hyatt purchases
- Earn bonus rewards in your top spending categories
- Automatic Discoverist status
- Get the chance to earn five annual Qualifying Night credits for every $10,000 spent in a calendar year, which can be used toward earning higher tiers of elite status and Milestone Rewards
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- $199 annual fee
- Low earning rate for non-bonus spending
- Limited redemption options
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: Best for flexibility
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is not actually a Hyatt credit card per se, but it does earn flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards points that transfer to the World of Hyatt program at a 1:1 ratio. Also, note that Ultimate Rewards points transfer to other airline and hotel programs partnered with Chase, too. Additionally, this card comes with more flexible redemption options, including gift cards, statement credits, merchandise and more. Your points will also be worth 25 percent more when you redeem them for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
This card comes with a generous welcome bonus of 60,000 points — worth $750 in travel booked through Chase — when you spend $4,000 on purchases within three months of account opening. You’ll also get the chance to earn points in select bonus categories. However, a $95 annual fee applies.
Pros
- Lucrative sign-up bonus and rewards categories
- Points transfer to Hyatt and other Chase travel partners
- Get 25 percent more value when you redeem points for travel through Chase
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits per year for hotels booked through Chase
- Comes with numerous travel insurance benefits
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- Does not offer any Hyatt-specific benefits
Chase Sapphire Reserve: Best for luxury travel
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® also earns flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards points that transfer to Hyatt and other Chase travel partners at a 1:1 ratio. However, this card is geared more toward luxury travelers since it comes with benefits like a $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership and up to a $100 credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS membership.
Cardholders will also get elevated rewards for travel purchases, plus the chance to earn a generous sign-up bonus (60,000 points after spending $4,000 within the first three months). As a bonus, points are worth 50 percent more when redeemed for travel through the Chase portal, which means the welcome bonus could be worth up to $900. A $550 annual fee applies for this card.
Pros
- Lucrative sign-up bonus and rewards categories
- Points transfer to Hyatt and other partners
- Get 50 percent more value when you redeem points for travel through Chase
- Comes with a $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership and other perks
- Comes with generous travel insurance benefits
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- $550 annual fee
- Does not offer any Hyatt-specific benefits
How to choose a credit card for Hyatt
As you decide on the best Hyatt credit card for your needs, there are several important factors to keep in mind.
- Compare annual fees. Make sure you’re comfortable with the annual fee you’re asked to pay, and that you feel you’ll get enough value in return. If you don’t want to pay an annual fee, you should know that there are some general travel cards and plenty of cash back credit cards that don’t charge one, but they likely won’t offer any Hyatt-specific benefits.
- Assess your spending. Look for a rewards credit card that offers more points in the categories you spend the most in. If you stay at Hyatt properties frequently, you’ll probably want to consider a co-branded card from Hyatt.
- Decide if you want automatic elite status. If you want specific perks that apply to Hyatt hotel stays, you’ll definitely want to go with a co-branded Hyatt credit card since both the consumer and business options give you automatic World of Hyatt Discoverist status.
- Gauge your need for flexibility. Decide if you want to earn Hyatt points, or if you might be better off with flexible travel rewards you can use in more than one way. Also, note that you can get both types of cards if you want to, but you should keep the Chase 5/24 rule in mind before you apply.
The bottom line
The best Hyatt credit card for you depends on the type of rewards you want to earn, your spending style and the benefits you want the most. Compare all the options on this page before you make your decision, and don’t be afraid to consider other travel credit cards, too.
Learn more: Check out Bankrate’s travel toolkit for tips and tricks on how to maximize travel with a credit card.
*The information about The World of Hyatt Credit Card and World of Hyatt Business Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
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