Quick Points: World of Hyatt members don't pay hotel taxes or fees on award stays
World of Hyatt is one of our favorite hotel loyalty programs at TPG.
Obtaining elite status within the program can provide complimentary room upgrades, free breakfast, early check-in, late checkout and even free night awards.
TPG values Hyatt points at an impressive 1.7 cents per point, per our August 2024 valuations, which is among the highest of any hotel points. In addition to many other sweet spots, you can book award nights starting at just 3,500 points for a Category 1 off-peak property — far fewer points than you will need for the cheapest Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy properties.
You might think these valuable Hyatt points are hard to come by unless you are doing a lot of paid stays at Hyatt properties worldwide, but don't fear. Hyatt is a transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards; you can transfer reward points at a generous 1:1 rate.
Related: Your guide to World of Hyatt award charts
And when you use points (or free night awards) for Hyatt stays, you can avoid one of the most frustrating added costs in the travel industry: taxes and fees.
How to save on Hyatt hotel taxes and fees
If you're a regular traveler, you've probably been hit with a daily resort or destination fee for a hotel stay that required you to pay extra for items you might not want or need, like a discount on beauty treatments at the hotel spa, or items you had assumed were included in the room rate, like internet access.
If so, World of Hyatt has you covered.
There are no resort fees, destination fees or other taxes and surcharges on World of Hyatt award redemptions.
I recently booked a four-night stay at the new Grayson Hotel in New York, a Category 5 property that costs 17,000 Hyatt points per night on off-peak dates. As a Discoverist member (the lowest elite status Hyatt tier), I was upgraded to a room with an excellent view of the Empire State Building.
Best of all, my four-night award stay had no cash charges, saving me the $30 per night destination fee plus taxes that this particular hotel charges.
Related: Meet the Grayson Hotel, a new Hyatt sweet spot in New York City
Topping off your World of Hyatt points balance
Transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt remains an excellent way to use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Here's a look at some of the current Chase credit card offers:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees): Earn 75,000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees): Earn 150,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
While we don't typically recommend purchasing Hyatt points, it could make sense if you need to top off your account to save money by booking an award stay. Additionally, Hyatt occasionally offers a discount or bonus points promotion, which could prove valuable if you have a specific redemption in mind.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.