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Hyatt Visa Cardholders Now Get a Free Category 1-4 Night Upon Card Renewal

Aug. 05, 2011
•
3 min read
Hyatt Visa Cardholders Now Get a Free Category 1-4 Night Upon Card Renewal
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The Chase Hyatt Visa card has a pretty incredible sign-up bonus: Two free nights at any Hyatt property in the world after $1,000 spend within the first 3 months- including showstoppers like the Park Hyatt Maldives ($1000+ a night) and the Park Hyatt Paris Vendome (which, as I write this post in the wee hours of August 5, has rooms available using points or credit card nights and the rate for a basic room is 600 euros/ $847).

The Honeymoon Phase

I've helped many people book out-of-this-world honeymoons using a combination of these free nights (just think - 2 for the groom/bride, 2 for the bride/groom and even more if you have generous parents/siblings/friends who would get the card and give you their free nights), and either purchased or earned Hyatt points.

Better yet, if you are a Hyatt Diamond and you get the card, your two free nights are in a suite. The lowest-priced suite I could find online (Prestige Suite) at the Park Hyatt Paris is going for 1,840 Euros/ $2,597 a night.

Then What?

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So when it comes to aspirational uses of credit card sign-up bonuses, the Hyatt card can deliver if you know how to use those free nights. However, the question was always "So what do I get after the first year and I still have to pay the $75 annual fee for the card?"

Turns out Hyatt didn't want to lose those loyal customers, and just answered: a free night at a category 1-4 hotel (their top tier is 6). So while it's a little disappointing you can't redeem for another bonanza room for a night, it will be very easy to get at least your annual fee back in value just from the yearly renewal free night.

Hyatt Categories 1-4 Ain't Bad!

While I think some hotel chains really load their lower/mid categories with undesirable hotels, Hyatt has a number of category 4 propertiesthat I go to frequently or would like to stay at. For example:

-Park Hyatt Melbourne

-Park Hyatt Seoul

-Park Hyatt Saigon

-Park Hyatt Hamburg

-Grand Hyatt Beijing

-Grand Hyatt Shanghai

-Grand Hyatt Doha

-Grand Hyatt Berlin

-Andaz West Hollywood (one of my go-to LA hotels)

-Hyatt Regency San Francisco

-Hyatt Regency Washington

-Hyatt Regency Boston

-Hyatt at the Bellevue (Philadelphia)

-Hyatt at Olive 8 (Seattle)

So overall, I think this is a really good enhancement to one of the top hotel credit cards and one of only a handful of credit cards out there that doesn't assess foreign transaction fees. (If you want a full rundown of my picks for the top hotel cards, check out this past Sunday's reader question post on the topic.)

Hat tip View from the Wing.

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  • $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.
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  • $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.
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  • 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.
Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

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TPG Editor‘s Rating
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Rewards Rate

4XEarn 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.
4XEarn 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.
3XEarn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
2XEarn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    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. (Partner offer)

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.