Once you start using points and miles to save money on flights and hotels, you don’t want to go back to spending cash. But sometimes, you have to use cash. When that happens, I always book direct to make sure I get my status benefits. The hotel’s own website doesn’t always have the best price. Sometimes the best price is through a 3^rd party site. But most hotel programs allow you to submit a price match like the Hyatt Best Rate Guarantee program.

What is the Hyatt Best Rate Guarantee Program?

This allows you to price match a different website to Hyatt’s online price. This is much like going to Wal-Mart and price matching Kroger’s sale on a box of oatmeal. Hyatt wants to reward their customers by booking direct and not giving commissions to a 3^rd party site. All claims must be submitted within 24 hours of booking with Hyatt.

If you have a successful claim, you can choose either 5,000 WOH points or 20% off the lower price. Let’s say after the claim, your total is $1,000. If you choose the $20 off, your total will come down to $1,800. If you choose the bonus points, those will be rewarded after completing your stay.

To have a successful claim the third-party rate must be for the same hotel, same type of room, same number of guests, same dates of stay, same length of stay, same guarantee and cancellation policy. You also cannot use a site that requires you to login as it’s not a public rate.

How to Submit a Hyatt Best Rate Guarantee

There are two different ways to submit a claim. You can call Hyatt at 1-877-247-3909 and a representative will verify your claim with you. You can also submit a claim online via this link. I’ve found the online form to be more convenient.

The first part of the form will ask for basic contact information including your name, World of Hyatt member number, phone number and email address.

The next part of the form will ask for the Hyatt rate information. This includes room rate before taxes, confirmation number, hotel name and room type, stay dates and number of people.

Next, you’ll enter the third-party booking rate. You must provide a link to the competing website. While completely optional, I always upload a screenshot.

Lastly, you’ll select which award you’d like if successful. By default, the points are selected. I normally choose the points unless the percent off is a decent amount.

Then submit.

Within 24 hours, you’ll receive an email if your claim was successful or not. If you submit a claim on the weekend there might be a delay.

Bottom Line

If paying cash for a Hyatt stay, you should always check the third-party sites for their prices. Even if the price is a couple dollars less, you should try submitting a claim. At most, this takes about 30 minutes of your time. I’ve been successful about 50% of the time. Most recently at the Hyatt Regency Zurich Airport The Circle.

Have you submitted a Hyatt Best Rate Guarantee? Let me know how you did in the comments.