Hyatt Stays on Points: The Best Cards to Use and How to Book
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post..
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Transfer Partners Guide
Complete guide to Chase, American Express, Capital One and Citi transfer partners and how to use them.
I’ll guide you through how these cards help you earn points for free Hyatt stays, how to combine your points, and how to transfer them to Hyatt for booking—with tips tailored for families on a budget.
Why Hyatt Is Great for Families
Hyatt is an excellent choice for families looking for comfort and value when booking stays with points. Key benefits include:
Family-Friendly Accommodations: Many Hyatt properties offer spacious rooms and family suites perfect for traveling with kids.
Free Breakfast and Dining Options: Some properties include complimentary breakfast or kid-friendly dining, saving you money.
Global Reach: Hyatt properties span worldwide, offering family-friendly destinations from theme parks to beach resorts.
Using Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you can book Hyatt stays at a fraction of the cost—saving your family money while enjoying the comfort and amenities Hyatt provides.
Cards for Earning Hyatt Stays
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1. Sapphire Preferred® Card (Annual Fee: $95)
This card is excellent for earning points transferable to Hyatt. Hyatt is one of My Favorite Bank’s transfer partners, allowing you to transfer points directly into your World of Hyatt account.
2. The World of Hyatt Credit Card (Annual Fee: $95)
This card is tailored for Hyatt enthusiasts, offering:
5 Elite Qualifying Nights each year.
Free Night Certificate for a Category 1-4 hotel annually on your card anniversary.
Another Free Night Certificate after spending $15,000 in a calendar year.
3. Sapphire Reserve® Card (Annual Fee: $550)
This premium travel card earns My Favorite Points, which can be transferred to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio. It also offers perks like travel protections, airport lounge access, and higher earning rates on travel purchases.
4. Freedom Flex® Card (Annual Fee: $0)
This card earns My Favorite Points on rotating 5% bonus categories and 3% on dining and drugstores. When paired with a Sapphire or Ink Preferred card, points can be transferred to Hyatt.
5. Freedom Unlimited® Card (Annual Fee: $0)
Earns at least 1.5% back on all purchases in My Favorite Points, which can be transferred to Hyatt when paired with a Sapphire or Ink Preferred card.
6. Ink Business Preferred® Card (Annual Fee: $95)
A great choice for business owners, offering 3x points on travel and business categories, with points transferable to Hyatt.
7. Ink Business Cash® Card (Annual Fee: $0)
Earns My Favorite Points on business purchases. When paired with an Ink Business Preferred or Sapphire card, points can be transferred to Hyatt.
8. Ink Business Unlimited® Card (Annual Fee: $0)
Earns unlimited 1.5% back in My Favorite Points on all purchases, which can be transferred to Hyatt when combined with an Ink Business Preferred or Sapphire card.
9. The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card (Annual Fee: $199)
This card is ideal for business owners who frequently stay at Hyatt properties. Benefits include:
Earning Hyatt points directly on purchases.
5 Elite Qualifying Nights for every $10,000 spent in a calendar year.
Automatic Discoverist status.
Earning Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
With Chase Ultimate Rewards cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Sapphire Reserve®, or Freedom Flex™, you can earn points by:
Making Everyday Purchases: Use your card for travel, dining, groceries, and bonus categories.
Meeting Signup Bonuses: Many cards offer generous bonuses after meeting minimum spend requirements, often enough for free Hyatt stays.
Maximizing Bonus Categories: Focus spending on travel, dining, and other point-boosting categories.
Combining Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
If you hold multiple Ultimate Rewards cards, you can pool points into one account for easier transfer to Hyatt:
Log in to your Chase account and access the Ultimate Rewards section.
Select ‘Combine Points’ and choose the cards to consolidate points from and to.
Confirm the transfer—your points are now ready to transfer to Hyatt.
When you combine your points, you want to click on a card other than your Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, or Ink Business Preferred. You’ll choose a card that earns Ultimate Rewards and send them to any of the three cards above. This will allow you to utilize transfer partners.
Transferring Points to Hyatt
Transferring points from Chase to Hyatt is simple and typically instant:
Log in to your Chase account and go to the Ultimate Rewards section by clicking on the words Ultimate Rewards.
From there, select Transfer to Travel Partners and look for World of Hyatt as an option.
After selecting Hyatt, you will follow the next three steps that are pop up boxes.
Enter you Free World of Hyatt Loyalty number if this is your first time transferring points, you’ll need to link your Hyatt account to your Chase account. Enter your Hyatt membership number when prompted. If you don’t have a Hyatt account, you can sign up for free at World of Hyatt. Once your Hyatt account is linked, select World of Hyatt as the transfer destination.
Enter the number of points you want to transfer. Hyatt transfers must be done in increments of 1,000 points.
Confirm the transfer. Points typically transfer instantly, but in some cases, it may take up to 24 hours.
Confirm the amount of points you want to transfer and you’re all set.
Booking Hyatt Stays with Points
To book a free stay:
Head to Hyatt.com and search for your destination. Be sure to check the Use Points option to see award night availability. Here’s an example of a Hyatt House stay in Dallas for just 5,000 points per night:
Hyatt uses a fixed award chart with properties categorized from 1 (cheapest) to 8 (most expensive). Points required vary based on category, dates, and room type.
Select your hotel, room type, and complete the booking like you do with all hotel booking sites. The best part of booking a stary with Hyatt on points is the taxes and fees are waived.
Tips for finding Award Availability
Use tools like MaxMyPoints to identify award availability.
Search one night at a time if multiple nights aren’t showing.
Adjust occupancy to “1 guest” and call Hyatt to confirm.
Why Transfer My Favorite Points to Hyatt?
Better Value: Hyatt points stretch further than other hotel programs, with free nights starting at just 5,000 points.
Instant Transfers: Unlike some other programs, My Favorite Points transfer to Hyatt almost instantly.
No Blackout Dates: If a standard room is available, you can book it with points.
Earning and Using Hyatt Free Night Certificates
Hyatt free night certificates are a fantastic way to save on stays. Earn them through:
Credit Cards: The World of Hyatt Credit Card offers a Category 1-4 free night annually and another after $15,000 in spending.
Milestone Rewards: Earn free nights by staying 30 nights or earning 50,000 base points in a year.
Elite Benefits with Hyatt Status
Perks of Globalist Status:
Free Breakfast for all guests in your room.
Room Upgrades, including suites (subject to availability).
Waived Resort Fees on all stays, even award bookings.
Club Lounge Access, with complimentary food and beverages.
Late Checkout (up to 4 PM, subject to availability).
Guest of Honor Perk, letting others enjoy your Globalist perks.
Fast-Tracking Globalist Status:
Credit Card Spending: Earn 5 elite nights annually with the World of Hyatt Credit Card and 2 elite nights for every $5,000 spent.
Double Elite Night Promotions: Watch for promotions offering double credit.
Hosting Events: Earn 10 elite nights per event booked at Hyatt properties.
Partner Stays: Book stays via Hyatt’s partners (e.g., Small Luxury Hotels) for elite credits.
Final Thoughts
Using Chase Ultimate Rewards and Hyatt together is one of the most rewarding strategies for family travel on a budget. Whether you’re a busy parent looking to maximize every dollar or planning your next getaway, these tips make traveling more affordable and accessible.
Key Takeaways:
Earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points with cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® and World of Hyatt Credit Card.
Combine points across cards to maximize value.
Transfer points to Hyatt for free stays at family-friendly hotels.
Use World of Hyatt benefits, like free night certificates and elite status perks, to elevate your travel experience.
Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
I was researching index funds and happened upon the points and miles community through creators who also post about budgets, financial independence, and investing.
Points and miles allowed those people to travel and work toward financial independence simultaneously.
Thank goodness I got started when I did. The past almost two years of travel have been something we will never forget.
Earning points and miles through credit cards is only a good choice if you have the financial discipline to use them, like cash/debit cards.
Since we started traveling with points and miles, we have had more money going into our investment and savings accounts than ever.