World of Hyatt is my favorite hotel chain right now. It offers the best benefits for families and earning Globalist status is a very obtainable strategy. They also offer a ton of ways to earn Hyatt free night certificates where you do not have to even use your hard earn points for a free night stay. A free night stay plus saving points equals a win in my book.
You can actually earn up to 8 free night certificates within the World of Hyatt program. And fortunately, four of them you can earn annually! (The other four are a one time opportunity). You can check all of the awards you’ve received in your Hyatt account.
Earning Hyatt Free Night Certificates
Hyatt Credit Card
Both the relatively new World of Hyatt Credit Card and the old Hyatt Credit Card offer a category 1-4 night certificate annually on your account anniversary year. The certificate will be deposited into your account every single year around the same time your annual fee is due. The certificate alone pays for the annual fee, plus so much more. These certificates are capped at a category 4 property, which typically require 15,000 World of Hyatt points. Since I value Hyatt points to be around 2 cents per point, I value this certificate at a conservative $250 value.
Additionally, if you spend $15,000 the World of Hyatt Credit Card during your cardmember year, you’ll receive another free night certificate. (The old Hyatt Credit Card doesn’t come with this benefit). You are eligible for this certificate immediately upon being approved for the card. This means you do not need to wait until your second year to receive this certificate. Again, I put another $250 valuation on this certificate.
Both of these certificates expire 1 year from when they are deposited into your account. This means your stay must complete by this date, not just booked by the expiration date.
Milestone Benefits
Hyatt introduced Milestone Benefits last year and I must admit, I am very pleased with them. With these benefits, you can earn a free night stay after you complete 30 qualifying nights (or 50,000 base points). You can then earn another free night after 60 qualifying nights (or 100,000 base points).
The certificate earned after completing 30 nights is capped at a category 4 property, while the certificate earned after completing 60 nights is capped at a category 7 property. Both certificates expire 180 days from the date it is deposited into your account.
Typically, a category 7 property requires 30,000 points for a free night stay. Most likely for me, I’ll redeem this certificate anywhere between a category 5 through 7 property. Of course the best value is a category 7 property, but if you find yourself staying in a lower category, do not be afraid to use. I value this certificate at a minimum of $400.
One thing to note is that these certificates expire 180 days after they are deposited to your account (not one year like the other certificates).
Related: American & Hyatt Partnership Allows you to Earn Bonus Points and Status
Brand Explorer
With their Brand Explorer award, after you stay at 5 different brands, you’ll receive a free night certificate. Since there are currently 17 brands in total in the World of Hyatt program, you can earn up to four free night certificates in total. This promotion launched in March 2017 so it is based on cumulative stays since that date. This is a one-time opportunity and not a certificate you can earn annually.
Both these certificates are capped at a category 4 property and expire 1 year from the date it is deposited into your account. Again, I value these Hyatt free night certificates at $250 each.
Overall…
Being able to earn up to a ton of free night certificates within the World of Hyatt program is pretty awesome. The ones that come with the Hyatt credit card, the 30 stay milestone benefit and the brand explorers are capped at a category 4 property, which typically requires 15,000 World of Hyatt points for a free night stay. Then there is one certificate which is capped at a category 7 property, which equates to 30,000 World of Hyatt points. This means if you can earn three category 4 and one category 7 certificates annually, they are worth up to those seven certificates are worth up to 75,000 World of Hyatt points. If you value your points at around 2 cents per point, that is a $1,500!
I personally have also been able to exchange my Hyatt free night certificates into points in the past, although your experience will vary. What is your favorite way to earn Hyatt free night certificates?
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Featured image courtesy of Hyatt.com
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“if you spend $15,000 the World of Hyatt Credit Card during your cardmember year, you’ll receive another free night certificate.” “Cardmember Year” is important. When I card-changed, my cardmember year reset to the day I was approved for the new card. I had a year from then to spend $15k. It also restarted the clock on my annual free night. In my case, the annual free night was pushed back several months — not a huge deal for me, but be aware. I immediately received 5 qualifying nights credit.
@Enjoy Fine Food – Great tip.
I agree that Hyatt is really the best Hotel Awards program right now. The ability to “spend” your way to Globalist is also great. I made Globalist earlier this year with the help of spend and I got all of those free nights you’re referring to in your blog. The value on some of them are tremendous. If you play your cards right you can earn almost $1,000 just on the free Category 7 award.
@Mike – That is great! Enjoy your free nights.
Hyatt is my favorite hotel chain also. What they lack in quantity (of properties), they make up for in quality.
My only suggestion/request is for Hyatt to have a premium rewards card along the lines of the Hilton Amex Aspire.
@Luke – I agree. Another higher end card would be great!
I agree as well that Hyatt is the best hotel program going into 2020. I just wish the expiration of the certificates were a bit longer.
But can you get some REAL brewed coffee and toast/jelly on your way out the door?
IHG and Marriott are notoriously stingy in this area.