Staying at a nice hotel feels like such an indulgence, but even the most basic accommodations can be quite pricey. To upgrade to a larger room or one with a scenic view, for example, may be desirable but does not always fit into your travel budget.
Fortunately, there are some ways to potentially score a room upgrade for free. There are no guarantees, of course, but these expert-backed tips will better your chances. Here’s what you should know, according to travel experts:
1. Book with the hotel directly.
To increase your odds of getting a free upgrade, reserve directly with the hotel rather than using a third-party site.
“A third-party site may restrict you to the specific room you booked,” travel journalist and content creator La Carmina told HuffPost.
Chris Hutchins, host of the podcast “All the Hacks,” also said “you’re way better off” if you book with the hotel directly.
“When hotels see reservations come in from their reservation system, they think, ’Oh wow, here’s a customer we have a chance to build a really great relationship with,” he told HuffPost. “If they see it come in through Expedia or Hotel Tonight or some channel like that, often times they think, ‘This is a person who was just trying to book the cheapest room.’”
2. Make a request prior to your stay.
Most people ask the front desk for an upgrade when they check into the hotel. But you can increase your chances of getting one by making a special request when you book your stay, said family travel expert Katrina Morrison.
“The hotel staff who assign rooms often review these requests, and you might get lucky due to room shortages or because they want to enhance your stay,” Morrison, owner of Mocha Travel, told HuffPost.
Another option is to email the general manager or front desk about a week before your reservation, said La Carmina. Typically you can find their contact information on the hotel’s website or you can call and ask for it over the phone.
“In the email, kindly express if you’ve been to the hotel before and loved it, are celebrating a special occasion, belong to the loyalty program or have featured the hotel in some way, such as in a post on social media,” she advised.
“Then, politely ask if it may be possible to have a room upgrade, and how much you’ll appreciate it. You can also try to request a specific suite by looking up what’s available for your dates of stay. Chances are that the staff will do their best to provide you with an upgrade.”
Even if you don’t get a room upgrade, you may end up with another perk like a free bottle of champagne, comped parking or monogrammed pillowcases, Hutchins said.
3. Or ask the front desk when you check in.
Upon your arrival, ask the front desk staff if they have any complimentary upgrades available, said travel content creator Jen Ruiz, author of “12 Trips In 12 Months.” Mention any special occasion you might be celebrating like a birthday, anniversary or graduation, she said.
Cameron Sperance, senior hotels reporter for The Points Guy, said it never hurts to ask the front desk for an upgrade, “as sometimes certain room categories oversell and they have no option but to park you in an upgraded room category,” he said. “I had this happen to me recently in Munich during the Taylor Swift concert!”
4. Sign up for the hotel’s loyalty program.
Want a better shot at a room upgrade? Sign up for a hotel’s loyalty program.
“If an upgrade is available, it’s likely offered to loyal members first,” Morrison said. “In fact, some membership levels may include complimentary upgrades upon checking in.”
Hotel upgrades these days are a lot like first-class flight upgrades: “few and far between.” said Sperance. Many of the better rooms and suites are set aside for loyalty members, so “it’s worth sticking to a loyalty program and working your way up the loyalty tier food chain,” he said
Choose the hotel group — Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton or IHG, for example — that works the best for your travel needs and preferences and commit to booking within that group.
“You can start scoring upgrades just by staying at hotels you’d normally book for work or leisure,” Sperance said.
Thomas Barwick via Getty Images
5. Get a travel credit card.
Ruiz recommends getting a travel credit card as it’s “a fast track to hotel status and free upgrades.” As an example, Ruiz said her personal travel card also gives her perks like late checkout and free annual award nights.
Sperance also highlighted the travel perks that come with travel credit cards, including higher-tier loyalty status with a hotel group. Do research on which card works best for what you’re looking for.
6. Work with a travel agent.
A travel agent, also known as a travel adviser, can be the key to scoring free hotel room upgrades, said Morrison.
“We have access to special promotions, including upgrades that aren’t available to the public, and we’ve built strong relationships with hotels and resorts,” she said.
When you work with a travel adviser who has a partnership with the hotel, they can have you prioritized for upgrades upon check-in, said Amina Dearmon, founder and luxury travel adviser at Perspectives Travel.
“If the adviser works with a particular property frequently and is also a preferred partner, they may be able to confirm an upgrade within a week or so of check in,” she told HuffPost. “Some hotels will offer an upgrade-at-the-time-of-booking promotion, and this is a great way to guarantee a complimentary upgrade well in advance of your stay.”
If you’re hoping to upgrade to a suite, Dearmon recommends having your travel adviser book accommodations in the highest room category, as this will increase your odds.
7. Plan your trip during a slower time of year.
“Shoulder season” is defined as the time between a destination’s peak season and offseason. The timing depends on the region, but autumn is generally a shoulder season in Europe, for example. A hotel may have more vacant rooms available during these times of year, Dearmon said.
“If you are traveling during the shoulder season and are a part of the brand’s loyalty program, then you may have a better chance of being upgraded,” she explained.
If the hotel is only able to offer upgrades for a fee, Dearmon recommends asking for the best room in the category you are already booked in.
“While this may not be the equivalent of an upgrade, it can often have you placed on a higher floor, in a corner room or away from an elevator,” she said.
If you’re traveling during high season in your destination, don’t count on getting an upgrade for free.
“During peak travel seasons, book the hotel room that you will be comfortable with because during these times, if a hotel is at high occupancy or sold out, then an upgrade will be harder to get,” Dearmon said.
And remember to always be kind to hotel staff at check-in and throughout your stay. Not only because it’s the right thing to do, but it can also improve your travel experience.
“Smiling and being patient and polite goes a long way in getting you upgraded,” La Carmina said.