Why I aim to spend $15K on my World of Hyatt Credit Card each year
Editor's Note
Earning World of Hyatt's top-tier Globalist status takes a lot of base points, nights or meetings each year. But there's a lot to love about World of Hyatt Globalist status — from waived resort fees on all nights and free parking on award stays to suite upgrades and complimentary breakfast (or lounge access). After I first earned the status in 2021, I've prioritized requalifying each year since.
Unlike Marriott's Platinum Elite status and Hilton's Diamond status, you can't get Hyatt Globalist status just by holding a premium hotel credit card. But, although the World of Hyatt Credit Card (see rates and fees) only offers low-tier Discoverist status as a cardholder perk, you can earn tier-qualifying elite night credits and even an additional Category 1-4 free night award when you make purchases on your card that meet specific spending thresholds.
In this post, I'll discuss why the sweet spot for spending on the World of Hyatt Credit Card is $15,000 each calendar year. I'll also describe how the card helps me maintain top-tier Globalist status and why I think most Hyatt loyalists should consider getting (and keeping) the card.
Card perks for Hyatt loyalists
Even if you aren't striving to earn World of Hyatt elite status, the World of Hyatt Credit Card may still provide plenty of value, even if you only stay with Hyatt occasionally.
After all, you'll earn 4 points per dollar on purchases made at Hyatt hotels and resorts and on Find experiences. Based on TPG's August 2024 valuations of Hyatt points, you'll get a return of 6.8% when you use the World of Hyatt Credit Card to pay for eligible Hyatt stays.
In addition, you'll get a free night award valid at any Category 1-4 Hyatt property for a stay in a standard room on each cardmember anniversary. If you use your free night award for an expensive night or to stay at one of the best Category 4 Hyatt hotels, you're almost guaranteed to get more than the card's $95 annual fee in value.
Plus, you'll get automatic Discoverist status once you have the card. Even if you only stay with Hyatt a few nights each year, this status will provide some perks like preferred rooms of the same type booked and 2 p.m. late checkout upon request at most Hyatt properties. This automatic status can also be helpful if you're new to World of Hyatt and looking to get some perks as you work to earn higher elite status tiers, such as Explorist and Globalist.
Related: Is the World of Hyatt Credit Card worth the annual fee?
Spending on the Hyatt card
If you want to earn and then keep Hyatt Globalist status, you must accrue 60 nights, 100,000 base points or 20 meetings and events each calendar year — or have World of Hyatt lifetime status.
One hundred thousand base points require about $10,000 in eligible spending. So, many travelers find it easier to earn Globalist status through nights. But 60 elite-qualifying nights each year is still a lot for many travelers — after all, 60 nights per year means you'd spend about 17% of each year sleeping in Hyatt properties.
Luckily, if you have the World of Hyatt Credit Card, you'll get five tier-qualifying night credits each calendar year just for having the card. So, the number of nights you need to stay with Hyatt to earn or maintain Globalist status effectively drops to 55 per calendar year.
And you'll also earn two World of Hyatt tier-qualifying night credits for every $5,000 you spend on your World of Hyatt Credit Card each calendar year. You can earn as many tier-qualifying night credits as you want through spending on your card; it's even possible to spend $140,000 on your card in a calendar year and snag Globalist status without any other activity with Hyatt.
However, the sweet spot is $15,000 each calendar year. Not only will that get you six additional tier-qualifying nights, but it's also the threshold for earning a second Category 1-4 free night award.
That's right: Another perk of the World of Hyatt Credit Card is the ability to earn a Category 1-4 free night award after you spend $15,000 on purchases each calendar year with your card. And if you can time your spending to hit that threshold around the time your card renews, you can wind up with two free nights with largely overlapping validity periods.
I've redeemed Hyatt Category 1-4 free night awards for solid value on multiple stays. For example, I used one of these free night awards to stay at the Grand Hyatt Washington. And I used two more free night awards for a stay at the epic Alila Fort Bishangarh in India.
Related: The 23 best Hyatt hotels in the world
Bottom line
The World of Hyatt Credit Card is my default everyday spending card until I reach the $15,000 spending threshold each calendar year. Unless I'm working on the minimum spending requirements for another card's sign-up bonus, I use my Hyatt card for most purchases that won't earn bonus rewards on other cards. Earning 1 Hyatt point per dollar on most purchases is decent (a 1.7% return based on TPG's August 2024 valuations), and the card has no foreign transaction fees.
Of course, there's an opportunity cost in using the World of Hyatt Credit Card for purchases that aren't likely to earn bonus rewards with any card. After all, I could earn 2 miles per dollar spent (for a 3.7% return based on TPG's August 2024 valuations) on most purchases if I used my other everyday spending card, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. That said, I know I'll get good value when redeeming World of Hyatt points, and since the card helps ensure I'll requalify for Globalist status and allows me to pick up another free night award, spending $15,000 each calendar year is a no-brainer in my book.
Apply here: World of Hyatt Credit Card
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
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 $6,000 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.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
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 $6,000 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.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.