One Tiny Hotel Perk That Made Me Rethink Hyatt Elite Status

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We’ve been trying to stay at more Hyatt properties lately, and thanks to that, I hit a fun milestone: I earned my first Hyatt Brand Explorer award—a free night at a category 1-4 hotel, just for trying five different Hyatt brands.

Making the Most of Two Accounts

Since some of our recent trips were to Hyatt brands I had already stayed at, my wife Sharon and I made a strategic decision at the time to book those stays under her World of Hyatt account instead of mine. That way, she can earn her own Brand Explorer free night. It’s a great way to maximize value as a couple—especially since I had Discoverist status from holding the World of Hyatt Credit Card, and Sharon was still at base “Member” status.

That meant we were toggling between accounts—sometimes staying under mine (with loyalty perks), sometimes under hers (with none). And that got me thinking: I’ve never really paid much attention to the benefits of Discoverist status—the lowest elite tier in the World of Hyatt program.

You get:

• Premium Internet
• Preferred room upgrade (based on availability)
• Elite check-in area
• 2 PM late checkout
• 10% bonus points on eligible charges
• And… one small perk I didn’t realize I’d miss until it was gone: complimentary bottled water

Let me explain.

The $6 Water That Changed My Perspective

We checked into The Grayson in Manhattan around 1 AM after a long day of travel. It was under Sharon’s account, back when she still had Member status. Surprisingly, we got an upgrade anyway—proof that upgrades can happen without status, too. Nice view and a comfortable room. No complaints.

But as I reached for a bottle of water on the nightstand, I noticed a card:

“Bottled water is complimentary for World of Hyatt elite members. For Members or non-members, bottled water is $6 per bottle.”

$6. Per bottle.

Now, it wasn’t a huge deal—we’re happy to drink NYC tap water, and the only annoyance was that the room only had highball glasses, which don’t hold much.

Still, I found myself thinking: I’ve taken this tiny perk for granted. When you have even Discoverist status, it’s easy to overlook little things like bottled water in the room, or not having to awkwardly ask at the front desk.

Why We Both Have Discoverist Now

Fortunately, we won’t be dealing with that again. Sharon recently signed up for the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card, which also comes with Discoverist status. So now we both get those little perks—even on stays booked under her account.

Would I pay for Discoverist status? No. But I’ll tell you what—I won’t roll my eyes at it anymore. These seemingly minor benefits do make a difference in the quality of your stay, especially over multiple trips. And if you have either a personal or business Hyatt credit card, you will get Discoverist automatically.

So sure, I’ll gladly “trade” a couple of $6 water bottles for a free night worth $200+. But next time I’m enjoying a late checkout, streaming on fast Wi-Fi, and sipping free bottled water, I’ll quietly thank Discoverist status for making travel a little bit nicer.

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