This is yet another card that we have and currently use. This is an excellent card, especially for a runner looking to enjoy a great destination marathon! This card’s bonus offer allows you to stay for two nights at some of the highest priced hotels in the Hyatt system. Here are some of the particulars about this card:
- Annual Fee – $75 (not waived the first year)
- 2 Free Nights AFTER $1000 in the first 3 months
- No foreign transaction fees
- Hyatt Gold Platinum Membership for as long as you hold the card
- One Free Night at a category 1-4 hotel every year on the card anniversary
- Card is issued through Chase Bank
This card’s offer used to be the initial 2 Free Nights after the 1st purchase. That is a negative about the card – it is now 2 Free Nights after spending $1,000 in three months. That is not a big deal because that breaks down to a little over $300 a month. That is pretty easy – the negative comes in with regard to how fast you need those nights. If you are just looking to get them to use eventually, then that is not a big deal. Another negative is that unlike many other company-branded credit cards, this one does not waive the fee for the first year. How big of a negative is that? Not too big when you consider that you can use these bonus nights for a hotel stay totaling up to $2,500!
The positives about this card that you get 2 Free Nights at any Hyatt hotel. There are many hotel brands under the Hyatt header and you can basically pick from any of them (providing there is availability). I used these 2 Free Nights in October for my wife and I to stay at the Andaz 5th Avenue in Manhattan. The room that we reserved was going for $600 a night! Upon checking in, we were informed that, due to the Hyatt Platinum status (that comes free with the card), we were upgraded to a suite that brought the actual value up to $1,000 a night! There are no taxes with the Free Nights, so you pay nothing!
Another positive is the no foreign transaction fee. This is something that Chase seems to be trending more towards with their lower fee consumer cards. It is nice and can really be a cost saver for you on international trips. Yet another great thing about this is the fact that you receive Hyatt Gold Platinum membership. This is earned after 5 stays or 15 nights – you get this without ever spending a night in a Hyatt! Some of the perks of this level include: 15% bonus on each stay, complimentary in-room internet access (can be up to $12.95 a day), guaranteed 72-hour room availability, and special rewards after every third stay. These are great perks that work even if you only stay there on your free nights.
This is one card that gives you benefits to keep you spending the $75 annual fee – the Platinum membership is one and the free night in a category 1-4 is another. We used this free night at a hotel that was going to cost $150. Great value!
Here are some links to further information:
Credit card application (I do not receive a commission for this)
Information about the Hyatt Gold membership program
Listing of hotels by award category (starting with category 6 – change the drop down box to look at further hotels)
Reviews of one of the most expensive Hyatt hotels (Park Hyatt Tokyo)
Reviews of another luxury Hyatt property (Park Hyatt Paris – Vendome)
This is an excellent card and one which I highly recommend. However, keep in mind that this is from Chase, so space your applications out accordingly.
