Is the World of Hyatt credit card worth the annual fee?

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Hotel credit cards are interesting. They tend to offer many benefits at the hotel brand associated with the card but aren’t typically strong cards for your everyday spending.

The World of Hyatt Credit Card has many fans and comes with a modest $95 annual fee, but does that mean it’s worth it? Just because a card is popular among some doesn’t automatically make it a good fit for your wallet.

Here’s a look at what you get from the World of Hyatt card each year so you can make up your own mind.

Welcome offer

New applicants for the World of Hyatt card can earn up to 65,000 bonus points: 35,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months, plus up to an additional 30,000 bonus points by earning 2 bonus points total per $1 spent in the first six months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 bonus point, on up to $15,000 spent. This offer ends on March 6.

The welcome bonus is worth up to $1,105, based on TPG’s February 2025 valuations.

The most obvious way to redeem Hyatt points is for hotel stays with World of Hyatt. This includes not just hotels with “Hyatt” in the name, but other Hyatt-owned brands like Small Luxury Hotels of the World as well. Hotel redemptions can include free night awards and Points + Cash payments.

You also can redeem points for dining, spa or meeting credits, Find Experiences, rental cars and room upgrades.

World of Hyatt uses a peak and off-peak award chart, meaning you’ll pay more points for hotel stays around holidays and during busy travel seasons. Conversely, if you can travel at less-popular times, you can shell out fewer points.

Off-peak pricing at Category 1 properties starts at just 3,500 points per night. Hyatt properties are listed in eight different categories, with peak pricing at Category 8 properties topping out at 45,000 points per night.

You also can top up your World of Hyatt account with 1:1 transfers from Chase Ultimate Rewards. These points should transfer instantly.

Related: Best Hyatt Category 4 hotels, according to Globalists

Annual Free Night award

Each year on your cardholder anniversary, you’ll receive a free night award. It can be used at Category 1-4 hotels worldwide for one free night. It’s also worth pointing out that you won’t pay resort fees on award stays with Hyatt.

This benefit alone can justify the Hyatt card’s $95 annual fee since you can redeem your free night for $200 or more in value with minimal effort.

Related: Best Hyatt hotels

Earn another free night award

In addition to the complimentary free night award received each year, you can earn a second free night award (valid at Category 1-4 properties) by spending $15,000 on purchases within a calendar year on the World of Hyatt card.

Related: Why I aim to spend $15K on my World of Hyatt Credit Card each year

Elite status and related benefits

As a cardholder, you’ll receive complimentary Discoverist status each year. This is the entry-level status tier in World of Hyatt, but it offers solid value and perks.

It offers complimentary bottled water during your stay, late checkout (when available) and preferred room upgrades within the same room category. Discoverists can also benefit from the Hyatt-American Airlines partnership.

Furthermore, you’ll also earn 10% bonus points on cash stays (5.5 points per dollar spent instead of 5 points).

Earning Discoverist status typically requires staying at Hyatt properties for a minimum of 10 nights per year. Hyatt loyalists can likely attain Discoverist status on their own each year, but those who travel infrequently or are not loyal to one brand may not be able to do so. That can make this card’s complimentary Discoverist status very appealing.

With the personal World of Hyatt card, you’ll earn two tier-qualifying night credits toward status for each $5,000 spent on the card. Thus, spending the $15,000 on purchases to unlock the free night award (detailed above) would also yield an additional six tier-qualifying nights each year. There is no limit to the number of tier-qualifying nights earned through credit card spending.

Related: World of Hyatt card vs. World of Hyatt Business card

Other cardmember perks

In addition to the above, you’ll enjoy multiple travel protections. These include trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, lost luggage reimbursement and trip interruption and cancellation insurance.

You’ll earn World of Hyatt points on each purchase with your card, which TPG’s February 2025 valuations peg at 1.7 cents each. At Hyatt hotels, you’ll earn 4 points per dollar. This is on top of the points you’ll earn by being a part of Hyatt’s loyalty program.

You’ll earn 2 points per dollar spent at restaurants, on transit, commuting, fitness club and gym memberships and on flights purchased directly from airlines, plus 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases.

These rates represent a 6.8%, 3.4% and 1.7% return on spending, respectively.

You can do much better than a 1.7% return on everyday spending with other credit cards, but it’s worth considering how these purchases can be more valuable when helping you earn a bonus Category 1-4 free night award and tier-qualifying nights toward status each year.

Related: Which credit card should you use for Hyatt stays?

Bottom line

The complimentary free night you receive each year as a World of Hyatt cardholder should easily offset the $95 annual fee. Other benefits — such as the points-earning structure and complimentary elite status — vary in value depending on how you use them.

If you can use these benefits, the annual fee is easily worth it each year. If not, another card — perhaps one that offers simple cash back — may be better suited to your wallet.

To learn more, see our full review of the World of Hyatt card.

Apply here: World of Hyatt Credit Card