Craig

Bill - been there, done that with Chase. Believe me, I know all the tricks. We are planning on traveling within the year of course, but on OUR terms. Life is too short to have less than perfection when you have limited vacation time and we prefer the personalized service and perks that you get on an executive floor. That is probably because we are not crazy about big tourist/business hotels (which most Hyatts are) anyway...

DonTopaz

Craig asked: <i>how many credit cards is Chase going to allow me to have?</i>

Reports that I've read say that Chase will let you have up to 4 cards. They will apparently not let you apply for more than 2 cards in 6 months (or possibly 60 days; reports have varied).

Chase and United no longer allow you to churn the United cards for bonuses -- that is, cancel your card then get a new one a few weeks/months later to collect the 25000-mile or 50000-mile bonus.

I mostly agree with Craig about not just traveling, but also traveling well. Certainly in some hotels -- even top-notch hotels -- the "standard" rooms are awful.

The Hyatt card sounds appealing, but for me it need a bit more investigation into the Hyatt properties where I'd potentially use it.

BillT

Ok - I just checked out the Park Hyatt in Paris and that standard room runs about 500 Euros- so I think getting it for $37.50/night is a pretty good deal!

Craig

And if I am in Paris any time soon (not likely), I'll get the card (maybe, it's still a huge hotel and as I said, we prefer smaller, more intimate places). But for some, it will be a VERY good deal.

Gpanda

I also note that the editors of this forum were thoughtful enough to put this thread back on the Asia forum after initially banishing it to the basement, i.e., Lounge. I sent them an E-mail, as did Bob, and it popped back here. Dracos is spinning in his grave.

Kathie

Craig, I'd use the two free nights at a Park Hyatt. No, they don't have a club floor, but all of the Park Hyatts I've stayed at are a couple of steps above a Grand Hyatt. Alas! I won't be in Paris any time soon, but I can find other Park Hyatts!

Kathie

PS, I don't care about the conversion to miles, as I would use the Hyatt points. I've had my full stays in Europe for free several times by using Hyatt points!

Craig

Kathie - I think the bottom line is we just don't do big city hotels and haven't been to Europe in years.

NeoPatrick

To answer a question about benefits of Platinum. One of my favorites is free internet -- a savings of about $12 a day at most Hyatts.

Being Platinum though does not automatically get you an upgrade to executive floors and lounges. I've hoped for that on my last two Hyatt stays as a Platinum member and it didn't happen either time.

hawaiiantraveler

But being a Platinum member will get you the best room in that room category so a standard will become a deluxe and even better a suite if you ask for an upgrade at check in and they have it available. Read through some of my trip reports, I always do this. Now I have Diamond membership so I get an upgrade to Regency Club with my cheapest room in the house reservations.

Someone mentioned earlier up-thread about Hyatt not making it easy to get points outside of a Hyatt and I agree, but if you play their game and are aware of all the specials they run every year its pretty easy to get status and earn lots of points. For example, last Sept they ran a one stay equaled two stays special. They ran this from Mid or late Sept 2009 to Jan 31, 2010. We were traveling in Sept, Oct and Dec so got lots of stays and another year of Diamond.

The drawbacks we find in Hyatt's are the lack of them worldwide so I have to keep up our gold status in SPG which I slightly loathe but they do have a better rewards program than the difficult Marriott chain.....

I know Craig you still can't stand hyatt,lol

Aloha!

NeoPatrick

I might also mention that Hyatt Place has become my "road hotel" of choice recently. Compared to similarly priced Marriott Courtyards, etc., they are way better and always (I think) seem to come with free parking, free high speed internet, and all rooms are mini suites with great facilities and really nice free breakfasts.

And I've also been surprised that they count as stays even when I've won them on Priceline.

ekscrunchy

Ok..next question from a novice (novice=person with no hotel award cards who is mystified by the minutae one must learn to master the ins and outs of "membership")

I have no plans to go to any of the places with Hyatts in the foreseeable future. (Would be most interested in Park Hyatt)

But who knows, maybe a year from now I will plan a return to Tokyo. So--do you think this offer will be good in 6 months or so, or is this just something that they are likely to be offering only upon the debut of the card and will soon withdraw?

LoriNY1

the other thing to keep an eye on with Hyatt is 'bonus point' codes. on the website you can find bonus codes - G1, G2 which if you give the code at checkin you get an extra 1000 or so points. also as platinum members, you sometimes get coupons in the mail such as if you purchase food or beverage in our restaurant you'll get 2500 points. if you really work it, the points add up quick. DH and I both applied for the card so we are getting 4 nights...and yes, we are hoping to use them again at the Park Hyatt in Paris.

Kathie

As I understand it, the free nights are good for one year.

Do you do any domestic travel? I like to stay at the Park Hyatt in San Francisco and the one in Washington, DC. I haven't stayed yet at the Park Hyatt in Chicago.

Craig, I do know what you mean about not going places with Hyatts... For many years, I was a Plat Hyatt member, back when I did lots of domestic business travel. If I do opt for this card (and I think I will), I'll have to plan a specific trip to use my free nights.

ekscrunchy

No, I never do any domestic travel.

I know they are good for a year, but my question is that if I do not plan to use the free hotel deal in the upcoming year, do you think I could apply for the card, let's say in 6 months, and then be able to use the hotel deal in, for example 18 months from now. These numbers are just to give the general idea..the issue is that in the next 12 months I would be unlikely to travel to any of the destinations that the hotel deal would apply...

Also, how do you get Hyatt Platinum? This card looks like it is gold....

Sorry to be so dense...I just never had any of these cards and have actually stayed at one Hyatt in my lifetime that I can remember and that was the great Park Hyatt in Saigon...

hawaiiantraveler

There is also a good points promo going on right now at Hyatt from Sept 15 to Dec 15. You stay five nights in any Hyatt and get 10K bonus points. I guess my 5 nights in BOS just got me 10K more Hyatt points,lol. You can stay at Hyatt's in Asia starting about 7K for one night so I just got another free night somewhere in Asia. We will be staying a few more nights in Nov-Dec on our Asia jaunt this year so will now earn ten of thousands of points I didn't even count on. You have to register to qualify, real easy.

Eks, Platinum is a membership level in the Hyatt Gold Passport program. The VISA card is a gold one. Yes the one year to use your days is from the date you use your card from what I understand because you don't get the reward until you use the cc for the first time. You have to join their rewards program first. Then apply for the card. Then spend one time on the card. In 10 days or so check your account online. Your initial Gold status will have been upgraded to Platinum status and in your awards box will be your hotel awards to be used within one year.

A bonus with this promo being offered now is that if you do it now, you will qualify for Platinum membership till 1/31/2012. So you one year of plat membership is good for 16 months or so.

Aloha!

rhkkmk

i think her question is will the same program be available in 6 months....my answer is who knows?? probably not

sassy_cat

Eks, as I understand it you can apply for the card today but the 2 free nights are credited AFTER your first purchase so you would have a year to use them after they are credited.

I'd call Chase/Hyatt to confirm this!

Patrick, we like Hyatt Place too and have found them to be a step up from the average Marriott Courtyard. The ones we have stayed in have also had swimming pools we've enjoyed (in Florida and NM).

ekscrunchy

Oh, good point! So I could apply for, and receive, the card, but not make a purchase for a few months.....

That will give me some time too figure out how/where to best use those two nights!

Maybe a return to Tokyo??

ekscrunchy

I hope everyone contemplating this is aware of the terms:


https://www.firstusa.com/cgi-bin/web..._type=appterms