8 Ways to Earn Hyatt Points

With over 1,150 properties in over 70 countries, there are plenty of ways to redeem Hyatt points. But in order to redeem points for free Hyatt stays, you have to earn Hyatt points through the World of Hyatt loyalty program.

With rewards points worth 2.2 cents apiece, it’s a program worth investing in, regardless of whether you’re a domestic traveler or a globetrotter. If you need a few tips and tricks on how to quickly earn these valuable points, we’ve got you covered.

Here are the nine best ways to earn World of Hyatt points:

» Learn more: The pros and cons of the World of Hyatt program

Every World of Hyatt member earns 5 base points per $1 spent on eligible rates. To earn points on a qualified eligible rate, you must book a room rate published by Hyatt and not one booked through a third-party travel booking agency. You can also earn points on dining, spa experiences and other amenities billed to the hotel.

When you hold Hyatt elite status, you'll earn points at a faster rate than everyone else. Here are the

Discoverist

Bonus point rate: 10% bonus points on paid stays.

You can reach Discoverist status by earning 25,000 base points, staying 10 qualifying nights or hosting three events. Additionally, World of Hyatt Credit Card comes with automatic Discoverist status. Other Hyatt Discoverist perks include:

• Waived resort fees on award stays.

• M life Pearl status.

• Premium internet.

• Preferred room upgrade, based on availability.

• 2 p.m. late checkout.

• AAdvantage bonus (1 Hyatt point per $1 spent with American Airlines).

Explorist

Bonus point rate: 20% bonus points on paid stays.

Explorist status requires staying 30 nights, earning 50,000 base points or booking 10 meetings or events. Other Hyatt Explorist perks include:

• Space-available room upgrades, including suites and rooms with club lounge access.

• 72-hour room availability guarantee.

Globalist

Bonus point rate: 30% bonus points on paid stays.

Globalist is the highest elite status tier. To earn this status level, you need to complete 60 nights, earn 100,000 points or book 20 meetings. Other Hyatt Globalist perks include:

• Waived resort fees on paid and award stays.

• Space-available room upgrades, including standard suites.

• 4 p.m. late checkout.

• 48-hour room availability guarantee.

• Receive priority access on available rooms during check-in.

• Guest of Honors (i.e., share your elite benefits with friends and family when booking award stays).

To quickly gain elite status and earn points even more rapidly, you may want to consider applying for the World of Hyatt Credit Card or the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card.

Both cards provide 4 points per $1 spent at Hyatt properties, automatic Discoverist status, a free night certificate that can be redeemed at a Category 1-4 hotel, and a lot of other perks. If you're hoping to achieve Globalist status, each card provides its own path to earning additional elite night credits.

» Learn more: World of Hyatt Card review: Lavish benefits, reasonable cost

Hyatt offers “experiences” near its hotels through a program called FIND. You earn World of Hyatt points when booking FIND experiences, which means you can rack up free stays while doing things like practicing Muay Thai or riding horses. Note that some FIND experiences allow you to both redeem and earn World of Hyatt points, while others are listed as “redemption only” — so watch the fine print closely.

If you book FIND experiences in the U.S. and Mexico, you'll earn 10 points per $1 spent. FIND opportunities range from private tequila tastings at $59 per person to surfing with a renowned executive chef for $3,500 a person. FIND can be a quick way to earn points for unique travel experiences.

» Learn more: Do Hyatt points expire?

Those with Chase Ultimate Rewards® will appreciate the ability to transfer their points from Chase to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio. Transferring is easy and instant. Just select “Transfer to Travel Partners” in the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal:

Look for World of Hyatt under “Hotels,” and look for “Transfer Points":

You’ll be prompted to connect your World of Hyatt account, then you’ll be able to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® points in 1,000-point increments.

Since we value World of Hyatt points at 2.2 cents each and Chase Ultimate Rewards® points range from 1-1.5 cents in redemption value through the Ultimate Rewards® travel portal, transferring points from Ultimate Rewards® to World of Hyatt could give you more bang for your buck. But that really depends on how you redeem your points and what the paid rate of a particular hotel is.

World of Hyatt and American Airline’s AAdvantage program have teamed up, allowing reciprocal benefits for elite status members. For Hyatt elite members, that means earning 1 Hyatt point per $1 spent on American Airlines flights. These points are earned in addition to the normal miles earned through American, effectively double-dipping your rewards.

To sign up, go to this AAdvantage page, sign in and link your Hyatt account.

World of Hyatt and Avis have a partnership that lets you earn 500 Hyatt points per car rental. To get the points, you have to:

1. Provide your Hyatt membership number when making the rental.

2. Use the AWD (discount) code K817700 when booking.

Of course, you can always buy Hyatt points outright. These purchases can be made through Points.com at a baseline rate of 2.4 cents per point.

Given that we value Hyatt points at 2.2 cents each, this actually isn’t the worst value compared to some other point purchasing options. Still, it probably only makes sense to do it if you have a specific redemption in mind, or if Hyatt runs a promotion that knocks the effects price per point down.