Get a Hotel Room Upgrade

Traveling on a budget doesn’t have to mean staying in the standard hotel room. Upgrades aren’t just given to VIPs anymore. If you know what questions to ask and when to jump on an upgrade opportunity, you’ll likely find yourself staying in the lap of luxury at rock bottom prices. Look to get a hotel room upgrade whenever possible by using the following tips.

Steps

Start the Process Before You Arrive

  1. Let management know if you’re planning your stay to celebrate a special occasion like a honeymoon, anniversary or birthday. They will be more likely to look for an upgrade for you in hopes that you enjoy your celebration and tell others about their great service.
  2. Book a mid-value room to start with. This will give you a better chance at many hotels of finding a free upgrade.
  3. Reserve your room directly with the hotel. Booking direct saves the hotel money in commissions. You may be more likely to get a hotel room upgrade if the hotel saved the money on reservation fees.
  4. Ask to be put on an upgrade list by calling the hotel before your check in date. Some hotels will upgrade based on a waiting list so that their other less expensive rooms are open for walk-in customers.
  5. Be a loyal friend to hotels you like.
    • Frequent the same hotels if you enjoy them.
    • Make sure the staff and management of the hotel realizes you are a frequent stayer by being friendly and letting them know you’ve been there before or you’ll be back again.

Arrive During Peak Upgrade Times

  1. Plan on getting to the hotel between 3 and 5 p.m. when most of the better rooms are still available.
    • Arriving too early will only give the hotel management a sense of rush to get the room ready, and defeat your chances of upgrading to better digs.
    • Arriving later can also be a benefit if the hotel needs your standard room before you get there. Let the management know you’ll be arriving late so you don’t loose your room. At the same time, tell them you would be happy with an upgraded room if they end up needing your standard room.

Mind Your Manners

  1. Be courteous and respectful to the desk staff. They have the first chance to accept or deny your upgrade request. Manners go a long way towards making someone happy, and everyone knows a happier customer service representative is a lot easier to work with than an angry one.
  2. Think tip. Tip the bellhop, the concierge and possibly even the front desk manager if you think it will help you get the upgrade you’re looking for.
  3. Be respectful of the front desk staff and management by not pushing too strongly for an upgrade. Asking once nicely will go a lot further than repeating your abrupt request for an upgrade.

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Sources and Citations

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