New Hyatt credit card: lucrative 2 free unrestricted nights, no FX fee

Hyatt Hotels has just launched its first credit card through Chase. The Hyatt Gold Passport Visa is the only credit card which lets you earn points directly in Hyatt’s Gold Passport program.

Decent program, but Starwood still better for credit card earning

A typical Hyatt hotel reward requires between 8,000 and 15,000 points per night – and can be valued at $250 or more — a decent return on your spending. However the Starwood Preferred Guest program and its American Express offer similar hotels for 3,000-10,000 points per night, about 50% more value for your points.

If you travel internationally, this is a good secondary card to keep on file. It charges no fee on foreign transactions, compared to the 3% typically imposed by credit cards. That said, you’ll need to travel abroad enough to offset the $75 annual fee of the card. We generally think this card is best suited long term to loyal Hyatt travelers who finally have a good way to top up their points.

Great intro bonus — 2 nights at any Hyatt property any time

For the rest of us, the 2 free night introductory offer is tempting — you can use it at anytime a standard room is available for even their most exclusive hotels like the Park Hyatt in Tokyo or Paris, which often go for $400 per night or more. That makes this introductory bonus worth $800 or more if you use it properly.

Features

• Earn 1 Gold Passport point per dollar spent
• Earn 3 Gold Passport points per dollar spent at Hyatt properties
• No foreign transaction fee for international purposes
• $75 annual fee

Complimentary Platinum status:

• 15% bonus points on each stay
• Best available room within category booked
• Special check-in line

Click here for a secure link to the free night offer from Chase.