I'm about to lose Globalist status: This is why my future travel plans include Small Luxury Hotels
In 2023, I’ll tumble from the acclaimed rank of Hyatt Globalist to the mid-tier, largely unmemorable Explorist. Unfortunately, I’ve hardly stayed at Hyatt hotels at all this year.
The difference between Hyatt Globalist and Explorist status is vast. Here are some of the privileges I’ll be losing:
- Complimentary suite upgrade at check-in (when available).
- Free breakfast.
- Free parking on award stays.
- Unlimited club lounge access at participating Hyatt hotels.
Related: 7 ways Hyatt Globalist elite status can make your next trip better
Additionally, I won’t earn any Suite Upgrade Awards, which allow you to confirm a standard suite at the time of booking (instead of relying on luck at the check-in counter).
These benefits can amount to thousands of dollars in value. But by shifting my Hyatt points strategy, I won’t even miss Globalist status while I busily re-earn it in 2023. In fact, temporarily losing elite status is one of the best things to happen to my bucket list.
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Turning my Hyatt points toward Small Luxury Hotels of the World
Hyatt partners with the hotel network Small Luxury Hotels of the World. SLH properties don’t participate in Hyatt’s loyalty program beyond the ability to earn and redeem Hyatt points for stays. Whether you’ve got no Hyatt status at all or you’re a top-tier Globalist elite member, you will be treated the same at SLH properties. They won’t even let you apply Suite Upgrade Awards to your reservation.
SLH hotels offer all guests a short list of elite-like benefits, however. Here’s what you’ll get:
- Free continental breakfast for two each day.
- Free Wi-Fi.
- 12 p.m. check-in, based on availability.
- 2 p.m. checkout, based on availability.
- One-category room upgrade, based on availability.
Related: Getting elite-like perks at Small Luxury Hotels of the World
That’s not bad. In fact, it’s significantly more than most other hotel chains will give to non-elite members. It’s enough to keep me from pining for Globalist status, anyway.
These are the SLH hotels I plan to book as an Explorist
Some of the most desirable points hotels are SLH properties. I’ve been putting off my stays at many of them because I’ve felt compelled to use my Hyatt points at hotels where my Globalist benefits will shine (think Andaz Maui, Hana-Maui Resort, Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, etc.). I’ve been so focused on squeezing value from my elite status that I’ve allowed myself to neglect many properties that I really want to visit.
Here are a few great places I’ll burn Hyatt points while I don’t have Globalist status.
Related: What is World of Hyatt elite status worth?
Hotel Schweizerhof Zermatt
Schweizerhof Zermatt is one of the most popular alpine villages in Switzerland. The village doesn’t allow cars (you’ll have to take a taxi or train from the nearby municipality of Tasch), which makes the area extra charming — and extremely walkable.
Hotel Schweizerhof is smack-dab in the middle of Zermatt, and certain rooms offer a glimpse of the imposing Matterhorn. Standard rooms are 25,000 Hyatt points per night, and regularly sell for over $500.
Calala Island
A trip to Calala Island is one of those vacations that will cause your friends to shoot skeptical glances at each other while you tell them about it.
There are only four rooms on this remote Nicaraguan island, all of them Robinson Crusoe-esque suites. A maximum of eight guests can be on the island at once (and oftentimes there are far fewer). The resort is all-inclusive, as well — and the chefs will make anything you want as long as they’ve got the ingredients.
For 40,000 Hyatt points per night, you’ve practically got your own private island. Just note that this property enforces a minimum stay of three nights.
Related: Rustic paradise: A review of Calala Island, a private island bookable with World of Hyatt points
Viceroy Bali
The Viceroy Bali is at the top of my bucket list, as I’ve got a special place in my heart for both jungles and rice fields.
The resort is located in Ubud, a town more inland than many of the pristine beaches many travelers tend to gravitate toward. This property is perched atop an emerald crevasse with a gorgeous river at the base. As an Instagrammable location, the Viceroy Bali is difficult to outshine.
Standard rooms here cost 30,000 points per night (often over $700 otherwise) and come with a private infinity pool.
Related: The ultimate guide to World of Hyatt
How to earn Hyatt points
To quickly earn Hyatt points, Chase offers two cobranded Hyatt credit cards — both of which offer decent sign-up bonuses:
- World of Hyatt Credit Card: Up to 60,000 points:
- 30,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
- Up to 30,000 more points by earning 2 bonus points total per dollar spent in the first six months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 bonus point, on up to $15,000 spent.
- World of Hyatt Business Credit Card: 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening.
An even easier way to rack up Hyatt points is by transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio. You can transfer points to Hyatt if you’ve got any of the following three cards:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: 60,000 bonus Chase points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- Ink Business Preferred Credit Card: 100,000 bonus Chase points after you spend $15,000 in the first three months from account opening.
Additionally, if you have no-annual-fee Ultimate Rewards-earning cards such as the Chase Freedom Flex or Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card, you can convert the rewards you earn with those cards to Hyatt points by first transferring them to one of the above annual fee-incurring Ultimate Rewards cards.
Related: Here’s how to stock up on Hyatt points for your next vacation
Bottom line
It’s true — Hyatt Globalist status is the best hotel elite status by a long shot. But you can have loads of fun without it.
Small Luxury Hotels of the World offers some of the most jaw-dropping properties that can possibly be reserved with hotel points. And because it doesn’t recognize Globalist elite status anyway, I’m going to focus my Hyatt points heavily on SLH properties while I’m an Explorist re-earning my Globalist status.
If you’ve got any SLH recommendations, I’d love to hear them!
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- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
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Rewards Rate
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
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Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus MilesAnnual Fee
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Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees