How to Get a Hotel Room Upgrade

Co-authored by Angela Rice and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: December 21, 2021 References

If hotels have extra rooms that are empty overnight, they may be willing to upgrade your stay to make it more comfortable for you. When you pick your hotel, somewhere that was recently opened or somewhere you’ve stayed before are the best places to try getting a better room. During check-in, be courteous and use your manners to simply ask for the upgrade. While getting a room upgrade isn’t a guarantee, you can increase your chances of having a nice and relaxing trip.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Booking Your Reservation

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Try a recently opened hotel since they’re more likely to upgrade you. Hotels that have just opened look for new customers and positive reviews to help boost their business against nearby competition, so they may offer room upgrades at no additional charge. If you haven’t traveled to the area you’re staying before, check if there are any new hotels nearby. Visit their website or call them directly to ask about their nightly rates.^{[1]
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- You can check travel sites, like TripAdvisor, to find hotels that recently opened in the area you’re staying.
2
Pick a hotel you’ve been to before to show you’re a loyal customer. If you’re traveling to a city you’ve been to before, look at the availability in hotels where you’ve already stayed. If you’ve been to the hotel multiple times, employees may recognize you and upgrade your room since you’ve been a loyal customer.^{[2]
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- If you haven’t stayed in the city before, choose a branch of a hotel chain you’ve stayed at in the past since your name could be in their computer system.^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  Angela Rice
  Luxury Travel Specialist
  Expert Interview. 18 September 2020.}
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Stay at the hotel during the week instead of on weekends. Peak times for many hotels are during holidays and weekends, and many rooms might already be booked. If you can, choose to stay at hotels during weeknights since they’ll have more rooms available for you. Check the prices of rooms on different nights of the week to find out when they’re the busiest. Rooms will usually be more expensive when the hotel is busy and cheaper when there aren’t as many guests.^{[4]
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- If a hotel is more business-oriented, they may be less busy and cheaper during the weekend instead of during the week.
- You’re more likely to get a room upgrade if you only stay at the hotel for 1-2 nights.
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Book directly through the hotel’s website instead of a third-party travel site. While it may be slightly more expensive, going directly to the hotel’s website can show you’re loyal to a brand and could boost your chances at receiving a room upgrade. Visit the hotel’s website and choose when you’re staying so you can book your reservation with them.^{[5]
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- Try using an incognito web browser when you book your hotel since prices may be cheaper than if you use your regular browser.
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Join the hotel’s loyalty program if they offer one.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Angela Rice
Luxury Travel Specialist
Expert Interview. 18 September 2020.} Many larger chains of hotels have loyalty cards that you can sign up for to earn points toward rewards, such as amenities and room upgrades. When you book your hotel, look for an online sign-up for a rewards programs and fill out the information completely. The more you stay at that hotel chain, the more likely you are to get a room upgrade at little or no cost.^{[7]
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Tip: Some hotel chains also offer credit cards that give you rewards during your stay the more you use them. Check with the hotel chain you want to stay with to see if they have any credit card offers.
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Choose a deluxe room rather than a standard one. Look for mid-level rooms at the hotel you chose rather than the cheapest room you can find. Hotel managers and employees will see that you care about your stay to pay for a nicer room, so they may be more willing to upgrade you when you arrive.^{[8]
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- Avoid making any room requests in advance, such as wanting a fridge or high-speed internet, since they could assign you a room before your stay and make it more difficult to switch later on.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Upgrading during Check-In

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Dress well to show you’re responsible. Wear business casual or business formal clothes when you check in, such as a dress shirt with pants or a nice blouse with a skirt. Hotel employees will see your outfit and think that you’re professional and responsible, so they may be more likely to upgrade your room. Avoid wearing any dirty or baggy clothes since the employees may think you won’t take good care of the room.^{[9]
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Arrive between 3-5 PM for the best chances at an upgrade. Even if you’re able to check in earlier in the day, wait until the late afternoon since receptionists will know which rooms are more likely to be vacant overnight. Try to get to the hotel between 3-5 PM since the employees may bump you into a better room.^{[10]
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- Don’t arrive much later than 6 PM since employees that have the power to give you an upgrade may have left for the day.
3
Let the check-in counter know if you are celebrating a special occasion. If you are staying at the hotel because of a birthday, anniversary, or another important event, let the receptionist or concierge know in conversation. Bring it up casually in conversation when you’re checking in since the employees may be able to upgrade your room to help you celebrate.^{[11]
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- Avoid lying about special events just to get a hotel room upgrade. You might stay at the same hotel again in the future, and keeping up with the lie could become too complicated.
Tip: Even if you don’t get an upgrade on your room, the hotel may provide you with additional perks in your room, like drinks or small freebies.
4
Ask politely if there’s an opportunity for a room upgrade. While you’re checking in, ask the receptionist if there’s any way they can upgrade your room. Smile and be genuine with the staff so you’re more likable and stand out from other guests. Let them know specific things you’d like in your room, such as a different view or more space. If you’re polite, they may be willing to meet your requests so you have the best stay.^{[12]
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- For example, you may ask directly by saying, “Are there any rooms available to upgrade to?” or you can ask indirectly by saying something like, “Do you have something on a higher floor?”
- Try asking how much it would be to upgrade your room. If you show that you’re willing to pay extra, the hotel may upgrade you at no charge if it’s a simple fix.
5
Complain about your room if you’re genuinely not satisfied with it. If you get to your room and there’s a problem, like the shower isn’t working or the blinds don’t close properly, talk to the receptionist or concierge to let them know about the problem. Tell them why the room doesn’t meet your expectations as politely as you can so the staff is more likely to fix the problem. Many times, the hotel wants you to feel comfortable during your stay and will switch your room.^{[13]
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- Avoid making up complaints about your room just to get an upgrade. You could end up getting an employee at the hotel in trouble.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How am I more likely to get an upgrade at a hotel?

Angela Rice
Luxury Travel Specialist
Angela Rice is a Luxury Travel Specialist and Co-Founder of Boutique Travel Advisors, a luxury travel advising business in Phoenix, Arizona. Angela specializes in consulting and curating highly customized and unique travel itineraries for clients seeking luxury, group, and multi-generational family travel. Angela studied at Arizona State University and The University of Iowa Tippie College of Business. She has prior consulting experience in accounting and business, which helps her run her business behind the scenes. Angela has been featured in The Washington Post, Reader's Digest, Travel Weekly, USA Today, Travel Market Report, Phoenix Magazine, and MSN. She is also a frequent guest on WBBM News Radio 105.9 FM's Travel Tuesday show.

Angela Rice

Luxury Travel Specialist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Hotels favor repeat customers, so stay at a hotel chain you've been at before or have a rewards program with.

Warnings

Don’t be rude during your stay, or else you won’t be considered for a room upgrade.

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Avoid making up complaints or special occasions just to get an upgraded room.

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Make sure you keep the room clean as possible.

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