Top Ways To Get a Hotel Room Upgrade
One of the biggest hotel aggravations is knowing that while you're
crammed into a closet, luxury suites sit empty. Here are a few tips for
getting luxurious upgrades.
- Book direct
When you book your hotel rooms directly you do the hotel a favor by saving them distribution or commission cost. They often return the favor in terms of upgrades. Hotel companies like Hilton, Starwood, Marriott, Radisson and others offer a "best rate" guarantees. So, by booking direct you can get a great deal. - Build your loyalty
By dealing directly with the hotel you build loyalty. That's important because loyalty can pay off in upgrades. Loyalty can be easily leveraged. If you're in a lobby full of convention attendees who are only in the area for a long weekend, and not likely to return, stress your loyalty to the person helping you. Tell them that you love the hotel and you'd like to come back. You'll be the perfect choice for an upgrade. - Time your arrival
Most hotel guests check out between 12 and 2pm. Business travelers tend to check-in around 5pm and after. Time your check in between 3 and 5pm so the good rooms are still available. If you can’t make it between these times call the hotel and inquire about your room type. Usually you can get the hotel to block a nice room before your arrival. - Think competitively
Call reservations managers at two competing hotels; explain that you’re trying to decide which hotel will offer better value and let a bidding war ensued. This can reap inexpensive rooms and a nice upgrade. - Get on the list
Call ahead and ask the hotel’s manager to place a note in the computer, a request for an upgrade. Requests with the boss's name get results. - Write for results
Tell the desk agent, you would be happy to write a note to management about how helpful they are. Hotel staff members love letters because it becomes a part of their permanent personnel record helping them get raises and promotions. - Tip Wisely
Getting escorted to your room by a bell person? Offer them a $20 tip to help you score a nicer room.
http://travelerstales.com/carpet/002274.shtml
It's a fact, complimentary upgrades to a better standard of
accommodation do happen, but hotels can be pretty choosy about who they
decide to upgrade. Being a celebrity or prominent figure often helps,
but us mere mortals have to work at it to get that sought after upgrade.
So how do you go about upgrading your hotel room? Here's our guide to
the best techniques for getting a room upgrade, hopefully at no extra
cost to you.
Arrive late
The logic with checking in as late as possible (provided you have a reservation already) is that if there are nicer rooms available, the hotel will have been hanging onto them in the hope of selling them. If you arrive later (around 7-8pm), the hotel may be more willing to relinquish these rooms because it's becoming clear that these are likely to remain vacant for the night. Make sure you advise the hotel in advance that you are running late, so that they do not cancel your reservation.
The logic with checking in as late as possible (provided you have a reservation already) is that if there are nicer rooms available, the hotel will have been hanging onto them in the hope of selling them. If you arrive later (around 7-8pm), the hotel may be more willing to relinquish these rooms because it's becoming clear that these are likely to remain vacant for the night. Make sure you advise the hotel in advance that you are running late, so that they do not cancel your reservation.
Arrive early
This might sound crazy after what we've just said, but getting this upgrade business right isn't an exact science. By early, we mean arrive at the hotel mid-afternoon (around 3pm) and you may secure a better room. This is because around this time, many of the previous night's guests will have checked out, while the majority of the next lot of visitors will not have arrived yet. This means the person on reception may be less hurried and have more time to accommodate your request for that south-facing room with en-suite.
This might sound crazy after what we've just said, but getting this upgrade business right isn't an exact science. By early, we mean arrive at the hotel mid-afternoon (around 3pm) and you may secure a better room. This is because around this time, many of the previous night's guests will have checked out, while the majority of the next lot of visitors will not have arrived yet. This means the person on reception may be less hurried and have more time to accommodate your request for that south-facing room with en-suite.
Mind your manners
It might seem like stating the obvious, but being polite can go a long way. Hotel reception staff have to put up with some unbelievably ill-mannered customers at times, so you can stand out like a beacon of politeness in a sea of crazy customers full of their own self-importance. Just remember not to overdo it so that you come across as over-friendly or insincere. One option is to time your request for when the receptionist has just dealt with someone rude, that way your good manners will stand out even more. Genius.
It might seem like stating the obvious, but being polite can go a long way. Hotel reception staff have to put up with some unbelievably ill-mannered customers at times, so you can stand out like a beacon of politeness in a sea of crazy customers full of their own self-importance. Just remember not to overdo it so that you come across as over-friendly or insincere. One option is to time your request for when the receptionist has just dealt with someone rude, that way your good manners will stand out even more. Genius.
Provide a reason why you 'deserve' an upgrade
Think up some good reasons why you deserve it. Tell them you're here to celebrate a special occasion such as an anniversary or birthday, or even that you visited the same place decades before. Alternatively, lie through your teeth and tell them what a nightmare journey you've had or some other sob story - they may just take pity on you and give you what you think you 'deserve'.
Think up some good reasons why you deserve it. Tell them you're here to celebrate a special occasion such as an anniversary or birthday, or even that you visited the same place decades before. Alternatively, lie through your teeth and tell them what a nightmare journey you've had or some other sob story - they may just take pity on you and give you what you think you 'deserve'.
Drop a hint that you intend coming every year
Also mention that you are thinking of making your visit a yearly tradition and perhaps this time is your first stay at the hotel. Repeat guests make up the bulk of visitors to hotels, so they'll want you to come back time and again, so what better way of doing that than making your stay more memorable by providing you with that chandeliered room on the top floor.
Also mention that you are thinking of making your visit a yearly tradition and perhaps this time is your first stay at the hotel. Repeat guests make up the bulk of visitors to hotels, so they'll want you to come back time and again, so what better way of doing that than making your stay more memorable by providing you with that chandeliered room on the top floor.
Be known
If you are frequent traveller and stay at the same hotel regularly, make sure that everyone knows that fact. Make yourself known to everyone from the bellboy upwards, but most importantly to the staff who are booking you in each time. It's likely that if you get an upgrade on one occasion, the front desk staff will provide you with the same swanky room on each subsequent visit.
If you are frequent traveller and stay at the same hotel regularly, make sure that everyone knows that fact. Make yourself known to everyone from the bellboy upwards, but most importantly to the staff who are booking you in each time. It's likely that if you get an upgrade on one occasion, the front desk staff will provide you with the same swanky room on each subsequent visit.
Be prepared to haggle
You don't have to go to the extremes of haggling as if in a Monty Python sketch, but if you are offered the room with a balcony and great views for a little more than you paid for your standard room, then you could potentially haggle down the price of the upgrade. Alternatively, if you politely turn down the upgrade and tell them you are on a budget and have to stick with the standard room, they may take pity and let you have it anyway.
You don't have to go to the extremes of haggling as if in a Monty Python sketch, but if you are offered the room with a balcony and great views for a little more than you paid for your standard room, then you could potentially haggle down the price of the upgrade. Alternatively, if you politely turn down the upgrade and tell them you are on a budget and have to stick with the standard room, they may take pity and let you have it anyway.
Join the hotel loyalty scheme
Many of the major hotel chains have loyalty schemes that reward you for multiple visits. Often these are free and give you access to loads of extra benefits, often including free room upgrades. Even if you don't use their hotel chain frequently or don't intend using them again, they won't know that, and just flashing that loyalty card can be enough to get those ever helpful staff to give you a better room.
Many of the major hotel chains have loyalty schemes that reward you for multiple visits. Often these are free and give you access to loads of extra benefits, often including free room upgrades. Even if you don't use their hotel chain frequently or don't intend using them again, they won't know that, and just flashing that loyalty card can be enough to get those ever helpful staff to give you a better room.
Ask discreetly
When you do ask for an upgrade, do so in a way that won't draw attention in any way. There's little chance of the hotel staff giving you an upgrade if everyone else in earshot is going to try the same ploy. Look for an opportunity when there are very few people around and the staff are far from harassed, and your chances of success will be increased.
When you do ask for an upgrade, do so in a way that won't draw attention in any way. There's little chance of the hotel staff giving you an upgrade if everyone else in earshot is going to try the same ploy. Look for an opportunity when there are very few people around and the staff are far from harassed, and your chances of success will be increased.
Dress smart
Why does it matter what you are wearing you might ask? But how you appear can make a big difference to your chances of success, especially if you are staying in a plush hotel. We're not saying you need to check in wearing your best suit, but don't check in wearing your scruffs either. It's a fact that some hotels can be quite snobby about the whole thing, and they are not going to want you to be rubbing shoulders with their posh customers when you look like someone whose last hotel was a cardboard box under the subway.
Why does it matter what you are wearing you might ask? But how you appear can make a big difference to your chances of success, especially if you are staying in a plush hotel. We're not saying you need to check in wearing your best suit, but don't check in wearing your scruffs either. It's a fact that some hotels can be quite snobby about the whole thing, and they are not going to want you to be rubbing shoulders with their posh customers when you look like someone whose last hotel was a cardboard box under the subway.
Complain
We're not in the business of encouraging you to give hotel staff a hard time, but if you check in and find your room is not how you expected it to be, then complain. Let them know exactly why the room doesn't meet your expectations and enquire if they have anything better. You can complain about anything - the view, noise, even the décor - but if the room does not meet your expectation, then it is reasonable to request an upgrade free of charge. If you offer to pay for an upgrade, it's possible you may get it free of charge anyway. Just remember to ask nicely.
We're not in the business of encouraging you to give hotel staff a hard time, but if you check in and find your room is not how you expected it to be, then complain. Let them know exactly why the room doesn't meet your expectations and enquire if they have anything better. You can complain about anything - the view, noise, even the décor - but if the room does not meet your expectation, then it is reasonable to request an upgrade free of charge. If you offer to pay for an upgrade, it's possible you may get it free of charge anyway. Just remember to ask nicely.
Avoid going through an online booking agent
It's fact that if you have booked through an online websites like Expedia or Lastminute.com, your chances of an upgrade will be minimised. Hotels generally sell to these agents for a fraction of the price, who then bump up the price to you. In effect, the hotel will already feel they have made a 'loss' by selling this place cheaply to the agent, so they are hardly going to want to upgrade you for free when you have, in their eyes, already 'cost them money'. If you like to book online, most of the major hotel chains have their own online booking facility, so book through that instead.
It's fact that if you have booked through an online websites like Expedia or Lastminute.com, your chances of an upgrade will be minimised. Hotels generally sell to these agents for a fraction of the price, who then bump up the price to you. In effect, the hotel will already feel they have made a 'loss' by selling this place cheaply to the agent, so they are hardly going to want to upgrade you for free when you have, in their eyes, already 'cost them money'. If you like to book online, most of the major hotel chains have their own online booking facility, so book through that instead.
Clearly, bagging that upgrade can often be a hit and miss affair. It
can depend on whether the hotel member of staff is having a good or bad
day, whether you get your timing right, how busy the hotel is, or even
whether they like the look of you.
There are so many variables, so what works in one place may not work
in another. Upgrades are available, provided you ask the right person
who actually has the power to grant an upgrade. However, there are times
when upgrades are simply not available, but there's no harm in trying.
If you don't ask, you don't get. Enjoy your upgraded stays or at least
have fun trying.
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I asked around a couple of my friends to see how they would go about getting a hotel room upgrade:
Friend 1: Carry out sexual favours to the receptionist.
Friend 2: Complain about the room allocated to them regardless as to whether it was fine or not until they receptionist has had enough and gives in.
Friend 3: Complain about room allocated and lie that it was not what you were promised you would get online/over the phone.
Friend 4: Flirt with the receptionist, flutter eyelids, play with hair etc.
I asked around a couple of my friends to see how they would go about getting a hotel room upgrade:
Friend 1: Carry out sexual favours to the receptionist.
Friend 2: Complain about the room allocated to them regardless as to whether it was fine or not until they receptionist has had enough and gives in.
Friend 3: Complain about room allocated and lie that it was not what you were promised you would get online/over the phone.
Friend 4: Flirt with the receptionist, flutter eyelids, play with hair etc.
