Hyatt Explorist status is the mid-tier status of the World of Hyatt Program. Unlike the lower tier status, Discoverist, you won’t be granted this level of status with the World of Hyatt Credit Card and will have to do a little bit of work to earn it.
Here’s a look at the benefits of Hyatt Explorist status and whether all that work might be worth it.
Table of Contents
What is Hyatt Explorist status?
Hyatt Explorist is the mid-level elite status in the World of Hyatt program.
Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!
World of Hyatt Card
The World of Hyatt Card is one of the best hotel credit cards available since it comes with a great sign-up bonus, strong bonus category earning, and the opportunity for free nights. It’s also one of the best hotel cards for climbing your way up the elite status tiers for Hyatt. You can read our full detailed review here.
- Welcome Bonus
- 30,000 Bonus Points after $3,000 in purchases within 3 months of account opening
- Plus, 2 points total per $1 spent on purchases that earn 1 point, up to $15,000 in spend in the first 6 months of account opening
- Bonus earning:
- 4X spent with your card at Hyatt hotels, including participating restaurants and spas
- 2X on local transit and commuting, including taxis, mass transit, tolls and ride-share services
- 2X at restaurants, cafes and coffee shops
- 2X on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline
- 2X spent on fitness club and gym memberships
- Free nights:
- Receive one free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort every year after your cardmember anniversary
- Earn an extra free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort if you spend $15,000 during your cardmember anniversary year
- Elite status:
- Comes with Hyatt Discoverist status
- Receive 5 qualifying night credits toward your next tier status every year
- Earn 2 additional qualifying night credits toward your next tier status every time you spend $5,000 on your card
- $95 Annual Fee
How do you earn Hyatt Explorist status?
You can earn Explorist status by:
- Staying at Hyatt properties
- Using credit card elite credits
- Status challenges
Staying at Hyatt properties
You can earn Hyatt Explorist status by getting a minimum of:
- 30 Tier-Qualifying Nights
- 50,000 Base Points
- 10 Meetings/events
Note that Hyatt goes by nights and not stays for elite qualification.
Here’s how Explorist stacks up to the other Hyatt tiers.
| Status | Nights | Base Points | Meetings/events |
| Discoverist | 10 | 25,000 | 3 |
| Explorist | 30 | 50,000 | 10 |
| Globalist | 60 | 100,000 | 20 |
| Lifetime Globalist | N/A | 100,000 | N/A |
Credit cards
Hyatt offers one of the best hotel credit cards with the World of Hyatt Credit Card.
As far as elite status goes, you will get:
- Automatic Discoverist status
- 5 qualifying night credits towards elite status
- 2 qualifying night credits every time you spend $5,000
So you could spend your way to Explorist with $65,000 in spend. More realistically for some people, they might meet somewhere in the middle.
So your journey to earn Explorist status could go something like this:
- Five qualifying nights automatically from the World of Hyatt Credit Card
- 15 notes stayed in a hotel
- 10 nights from $25,000 worth of spend on the World of Hyatt Credit Card
That would be 30 nights and you would have your status met without a super high amount of spend on your credit card needed.
Related: What’s The Best Top Hotel Elite Status?
Status challenge
You can also try to jump on a status challenge when they are available.
For example in late 2017, Hyatt allowed Discoverist members to earn Explorist status by staying 10 nights and could have even earned top-tier Globalist status with 20 nights within the span of 4 months.
This opportunity was only open to Hyatt credit card holders, however, so if you intend on climbing the Hyatt ranks it might be a good idea to get that card.
There have also been some random and unexpected status challenge/upgrades that have gone out as well. So stay on your toes!
What are the Hyatt Explorist status benefits?
Here are the main Explorist benefits:
- 20% bonus on base points
- Upgrades
- Late check-out
- Guaranteed Availability
- M life Rewards Status Tier Match
- Special reservations line
Here are some of the additional perks that other elite levels get:
- Exhale benefits
- Resort fees waived on awards stays
- Small Luxury Hotels of the World Benefits
- Premium Internet
- Bottled Water
- Elite check-in
- American Airlines AAdvantage Bonus
Bonus points
Explorists will receive a 20% point bonus on the base points.
Members earn 5X at Hyatt properties so an additional 20% bonus means that you’ll be earning 6X.
If you value Hyatt points at 1.57 cents per point (which is the WalletFlo valuation) that’s a return of 9.4% back, which is not bad at all for a mid-level elite status.
If you add on the 4X at Hyatt hotels with the World of Hyatt Credit Card, that’s 10X per dollar spent or 15.7% back, which is very nice.
Upgrades to best room available
Explorists will be offered “the best room available” at the time of check-in at Hyatt hotels and resorts
It’s worth noting that this excludes suites and Club lounge-access rooms, though upgrades to suites can happen as an Explorist.
What exactly is the best room?
Well, that’s up to the hotel or resort and may vary from stay to stay. It will often be a room type/category higher than the one you booked.
One important thing to know is that upgrades for Explorists are not limited to rooms within the same type of category.
Note that these upgrades are not valid at Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Destination Residences, or Hyatt Residence Club hotels and resorts.
Late check-out
Upon request, Explorists will receive a 2pm late checkout at Hyatt hotels.
Late checkout is subject to availability at hotels with a casino and Hyatt resorts and late checkout is not offered at Hyatt Residence Club resorts or M life Resorts.
Along with preferred room upgrades, late check out is a pretty solid perk. Being able to relax in your room the final morning of your stay feels great and it’s pretty normal to see restrictions for it at resorts.
Still, other programs like Marriott offer late check out to 4pm for mid-tier status which is more convenient.
For tips on how to maximize the late check out perk, click here.
Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!
72-Hour Room Availability
Hyatt Explorist offers a guaranteed 72-hour room availability but subject to many restrictions, however.
Paid reservations
- Explorists will be guaranteed a room at Hyatt hotels (subject to the exclusions detailed below) for their own personal use when making a paid reservation directly with Hyatt at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to arrival (local time for the applicable hotel) that is guaranteed with a valid credit card. All reservations are subject to hotel policies.
Standard rate rooms
- This guarantee is only applicable when the hotel is otherwise entirely sold out (including all suites), is valid for one (1) standard guest room, and is subject to the applicable hotel’s reservation requirements (e.g., minimum length of stay, special packages, and meal plans).
- Rooms secured under this provision are only available at the Standard Rate. Negotiated rates or other group, promotional, or discounted rates do not apply and Free Night Awards may not be redeemed for a room secured pursuant to this benefit.
Not valid during “extraordinary” demand
- This guarantee is not valid during any period of extraordinary room demand and is subject to blackout periods set out by each hotel. Contracted last-room-available rates do not apply to rooms secured under this provision.
Not valid at certain properties
- Guaranteed availability for Explorists is not valid at Destination Residences or Hyatt Residence Club resorts, any Hyatt hotel with a casino, or any Hyatt resort.
M life Rewards Status Tier Match
Explorists will receive Gold status with M life Rewards, the loyalty program of MGM Resorts International.
Special Reservation Phone Line
Explorists have access to a Hyatt reservation telephone line exclusively for use by Explorists. You can find the phone number for this phone line by logging into your account.
Additional Explorist Benefits
Explorists also receive the same dedicated check-in area, complimentary premium in-room internet access, and daily bottled water benefits afforded to Discoverists below.
- Exhale benefits
- Resort fees waived on awards stays
- Small Luxury Hotels of the World Benefits
- Premium Internet
- Bottled Water
- Elite check-in
- American Airlines AAdvantage Bonus
You can read more about these benefits here.
Milestone Rewards
Hyatt offers special Milestone Rewards that reward you for your stays as you pile up the nights and base points.
Here are the relevant rewards for obtaining Explorist.
- 20 nights or 35K base points: 2 Club Lounge Access Awards
- 30 nights or 50K base points: 1 Category 1-4 Free Night Award and 2 Club Lounge Access Awards
This means that if you obtain Explorist status by nights or base points, by the time you get the status you will have earned four club lounge access awards and a free night at a category 1 through 4 hotel.
Since you don’t get free breakfast as a Hyatt Explorist, these four club lounge access awards could be your ticket to getting one.
Hyatt Explorist FAQ
You can’t get Explorist status instantly with a credit card but you can use the credits that come with the World of Hyatt Credit Card to earn it faster.
You’ll get five qualifying elite night credits every year and for every $5,000 you spend on the card you will receive two additional qualifying nights.
No, Explorist members do not get free breakfast. However, you can use club lounge access awards to receive a free breakfast at some properties.
No, Explorist members do not get club lounge access.
However, you can use the club lounge access awards that you will receive along the way for club lounge access on certain stays.
You will get late check out until 2pm. However, be aware that the late check out is not guaranteed at all properties.
Yes, Explorists will receive Gold status with M life Rewards.
Your status will be good through February of the second calendar year following qualification. So if you finish 30 stays in May of 2021 you will retain Explorist status through February of 2023 (the second calendar year).
Final word
I personally prefer Hilton mid-tier status to Hyatt because I can get lounge access and free breakfasts on a more consistent basis and it’s not restricted to 4 times a year.
Other benefits like late check out are also more convenient with other programs since they are later. And finally, there’s no quick short cut via a premium credit card to Explorist status like there is to Hilton mid-tier status, so for me Hyatt Explorist status leaves some to be desired.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio.
Don’t forget the status match opportunities, e.g., Hyatt Explorist = MGM Mlife Gold = Total Rewards Diamond = Wyndham Diamond = Hard Rock RR = and more…