WAYS TO GET A FREE HOTEL UPGRADE

People often wonder how others are able to constantly get free upgrades to stay in first class or penthouse suites in hotels, they may claim it is just good luck, but the chances are that they have had some practice at it and they know the necessary tips and tricks that it takes.  Now, it may take some time before you are able to achieve that free upgrade you have always wanted, but if you think of it as an investment, and follow these steps, you might just be in with a chance.

Book short stays 

Don’t ask for a free upgrade if you’re going to be in the hotel for an extended amount of time.  If you are there for one night, you are far more likely to get an upgrade.  That is because the hotel will be able to sell the room at full price the following day, therefore having not missed out on too much business.

Don’t book the cheapest room

Don’t expect an upgrade if you booked your hotel on a cheap last minute booking website.  Even if you get the second cheapest room in the hotel, you will be in with a better chance of an upgrade.

Offer to pay

If you offer to pay for the upgrade you will be in with a better chance of attracting the front desk clerk’s attention and at which point you will be taken more seriously and they will be more likely to see what they can do to accommodate you.

Call up to make your booking direct

If you call to book your hotel, you will be able to build a rapport with the person at the other end of the line, this way you can gage the clerk and ask to be upgraded in person from the same person that booked you in on the phone.

Be special – though sometimes it might have to be something more special than you birthday.

Sometimes, it may take more than “I’m getting married” or “It’s my wedding anniversary” to get an upgrade; the front desk clerk may have already heard that 20 times today. If you can find a rare occasion, such as “we’re here to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the founding of my company” or something that makes you stand out from the crowd, it is much more likely to get the attention of the hotel staff.

Become a regular to the hotel.

If you travel regularly to the same city, be sure to book with the same hotel, this way you will be able to build a rapport with the hotel staff and they are always much more willing to help keep a regular customer.

Do something in return.  

Let the hotel staff know that you recommended the hotel to a neighbouring business or close friend and that you both rated it high on TripAdvisor, or if you tip the front desk clerk, nothing extortionate, but enough to show how appreciative you are of their help, then they might just be willing to upgrade you.

Let the hotel know if there was something that genuinely wasn’t up to scratch with your room.  

This doesn’t mean ranting to the front desk clerk; this won’t get you a free anything. Ask politely to speak to the hotel manager, let them know what the issue was and how disappointed you were and if they know that you will be returning soon, they may well bump you up from a business class to that pent house suite.

Check in late

Give the clerks the time to book in the majority of the people for that day so they are less stressed when you ask them for a favour, that way, they might be more obliged to do you a favour.   But don’t leave it too late, otherwise the people with the power to help you might not be there, we suggest, book in around 6pm.

Don’t ask don’t get

Sometimes it is as easy as that; all you have to do is ask; if you don’t ask, you will never know. They aren’t going to give suites away to people who do nothing to enquire; it’s always worth a try.