Each year I never know when or where I’ll use it, but I always end up extracting maximum value from it. I’m talking about the free anniversary night benefit on the World of Hyatt co-branded credit card from Chase.
The card carries a $95 annual fee but comes with a free night each year deposited into your account on the anniversary of the day you opened your card. This free night is limited to a Category 1-4 property, but that doesn’t mean, when used strategically, you cannot recognize outsized value in the redemption of your free night.
Earlier this week my business partner and I spent a night in Frankfurt. As usual, we wanted to stay at the Hyatt Regency Mainz, my favorite hotel in the Frankfurt region. Unfortunately, it was a Thursday night, there was a conference at the hotel, and rates were about double what we normally pay. Standard rooms were going for 299EUR:
Instead of paying, though, I used my Hyatt free night anniversary certificate. Thus, my $95 annual fee scored $335 in value.
And it’s like this every year. Not always at the Hyatt Regency Mainz, the hotel I stay at more than other Hyatt, but I’ve always been able to redeem it at a hotel in which I am at least doubling my money. This is the first time I have tripled my money, though…
CONCLUSION
I’m still not putting on much spending on this card (only Hyatt stays), but I certainly appreciate the value of this card in the anniversary night each year. When you strategically use this free night, the annual fee becomes one of the best deals of the year.
I still have the old version of the card with the $75 fee, figuring I’d upgrade if I need the extra elite nights. Haven’t so far. I also have gotten great value out of it, with way more than $75 each time I’ve used the certificate.
I put basically no spending on it, since at 3 points per dollar, I get the same with CSR, and they are more flexible. I guess with the new card you are getting 4X Hyatt points, so that is enough to justify spend on it?
Indeed, but only at Hyatt properties. Otherwise I also stick to my AMEX or CSR.
Excellent, I used my free night for a stay with 6 pm late check out at the Andaz Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi on RTW19 2.0 earlier this month. Good value to stay at this Great hotel!
Nice! I was going to visit that hotel on my last trip to the UAE, but just opted to stay in Dubai.
The ‘no additional cost’ night pays off as well as the periodic cashback offers on Whole Foods and everyday purchases, which make this card a keeper.
Got 4 cat 4 certs this year so far. One from card renewal, then upgraded to the WOH card and put $15,000 spend for a second cert. Also got one for 30 nights and one for 5 brands.
Got them all booked for Gaya island in Kota Kinabalu in September.
Will pick up a cat 7 when I get 60 nights.
If you value Hyatt points at 2 cents (might be generous) and get $300 value from cat 4 cert, then $15,000 spend offers a respectable 4 cent per dollar return. Even at 3 that’s pretty good.
2 cents is a good valuation. I’ve got an average of 2.11 cents/point this year (range is 1.75 to 2.79 over 7 stays)
I used one of my 1-4 certs (from the 5 brand benefit) for a night at the Ocean, $399 plus tax on weekends