Imagine waking up in a spacious and elegant suite with a stunning view of your destination. You enjoy a complimentary breakfast, access to exclusive amenities, and personalized service. Sounds like a dream, right? Luxury suite upgrades are not just for celebrities and VIPs. They are possible for anyone who knows how to play their cards right. In this post, we will share with you some insider tips and tricks on how to score luxury suite upgrades when you travel.
Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, a hotel upgrade can make a huge difference in your experience. You can get more value for your money, more comfort, and more memories. But how do you get a free room upgrade, a hotel-branded credit card, or a loyalty program? Read on to find out.
Travel During the Low Season
One of the best ways to increase your chances of getting luxury suite upgrades is to travel during the low season. This is when the demand for rooms is lower, and the supply is higher. Hotels are more likely to offer you an upgrade to fill their empty rooms and make you happy.
Traveling during the low season also has other benefits, such as lower prices, fewer crowds, and more availability. You can enjoy your destination without the hassle and save some money along the way.
Some examples of low season destinations are Europe in winter, Asia in monsoon season, or the Caribbean in hurricane season. You can find great deals and discounts on flights, hotels, and activities during these periods.
Join a Loyalty Program
Another way to get a hotel upgrade is to join a loyalty program. Loyalty programs are schemes that reward you for being a loyal customer. You can earn points, free nights, status, and benefits every time you stay at a hotel that belongs to the program.
Some of the perks of being a loyal customer are priority check-in, late check-out, free Wi-Fi, and of course, upgrades. The higher your status, the more likely you are to get an upgrade. Some hotels even guarantee you an upgrade if you have a certain level of status.
Some examples of loyalty programs from different hotel chains are Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, or IHG Rewards. You can sign up for free and start earning points and benefits right away.
Apply for a Hotel-Branded Credit Card
A hotel-branded credit card is a credit card that is co-branded with a hotel chain. It allows you to earn points and benefits every time you use the card, especially at the hotel. It also gives you access to exclusive offers and promotions.
Some of the advantages of having a hotel-branded credit card are bonus points, free nights, elite status, and upgrades. You can get a welcome bonus of points when you sign up, enough to redeem for a free night or two. You can also get automatic elite status, which comes with perks such as upgrades. Some cards even offer you a free annual upgrade certificate, which you can use to book a suite at any hotel in the chain.
Some examples of hotel-branded credit cards from different hotel chains are Hyatt Credit Card, Hilton Honors American Express Card, or Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Visa Card. You can apply online and start enjoying the benefits as soon as you get approved.
Book a Cheaper Room
This might sound counterintuitive, but booking a cheaper room can actually increase your chances of getting a hotel upgrade. This is because hotels might offer you an upgrade for various reasons, such as overbooking, availability, or upselling.
If the hotel is overbooked, they might need to move you to a higher category room to accommodate other guests. Also if the hotel has a lot of availability, they might want to impress you with a better room and hope that you will return or recommend them. If the hotel wants to upsell you, they might offer you an upgrade for a small fee, which is still cheaper than booking the higher category room in the first place.
Some tips on how to book a cheaper room are to use third-party platforms, compare prices, or look for deals. You can find some great bargains and discounts on sites like Booking.com, Expedia, or Priceline. And, you can also use tools like Google Hotel Finder or Trivago to compare prices across different platforms and find the best deal. You can also look for special offers and promotions on the hotel’s website or social media.
Check-In Late
Checking in late can also help you get a hotel upgrade. This is because the availability of rooms changes throughout the day, depending on cancellations, no-shows, or early check-outs. By checking in late, you might have a better chance of getting a room that was previously occupied or reserved by someone else.
Some advice on how to check in late are to call ahead, arrive after 6 pm, or be flexible. You can call the hotel and let them know that you will be arriving late, and ask if they have any upgrades available. Then, you can also arrive after 6 pm, when most guests have already checked in, and hope that there are some rooms left. You can also be flexible and willing to accept any upgrade that they offer you, even if it is not exactly what you wanted.
Book Directly
Booking directly with the hotel can also improve your chances of getting a hotel upgrade. This is because booking directly gives you more benefits, more flexibility, and more recognition. Hotels prefer direct bookings because they don’t have to pay commissions to third-party platforms, and they can have more control over their inventory and pricing.
Some of the benefits of booking directly are better rates, more flexibility, and more recognition. You can get better rates by using the hotel’s best rate guarantee, which promises to match or beat any lower price that you find elsewhere. Also, you can get more flexibility by having the option to cancel or modify your reservation without any fees or penalties. You can also get more recognition by being treated as a valued guest, and not just a number.
Some options on how to book directly are to use the hotel’s website, call the hotel, or email the hotel. You can use the hotel’s website to find the best deals and offers, and to make your reservation online. Then, you can also call the hotel and speak to a reservation agent, who might be able to give you a better rate or an upgrade. You can also email the hotel and request a specific room or an upgrade, and see if they can accommodate you.
Travel for a Special Occasion
Traveling for a special occasion can also increase your chances of getting a hotel upgrade. This is because hotels might want to acknowledge your special occasion and make it more memorable for you. Hotels are in the business of hospitality, and they want to create loyal and happy customers.
Some of the special occasions that hotels might acknowledge are birthday, honeymoon, anniversary, or milestone event. You can let the hotel know about your special occasion in various ways, such as mentioning it in the booking, sending an email, or bringing a proof. You can also drop hints or casually mention it to the front desk staff or the concierge.
Try Newer Hotels
Trying newer hotels can also help you get a hotel upgrade. This is because newer hotels might offer you an upgrade for various reasons, such as low occupancy rate, positive word of mouth, or marketing strategy.
Newer hotels might have a low occupancy rate because they are not well-known or established yet. They might want to fill their rooms and generate some revenue, so they might offer you an upgrade to entice you. Newer hotels might also want to create a positive word of mouth and a good reputation, so they might offer you an upgrade to impress you and hope that you will spread the word. Newer hotels might also have a marketing strategy that involves offering upgrades to attract more customers and create a buzz.
Some examples of newer hotels that you can try are The Hoxton, The Standard, or The Ace. These are trendy and hip hotels that offer a unique and stylish experience. They are also known for their generous upgrades and perks.
Stay for Shorter Periods
Staying for shorter periods can also increase your chances of getting a hotel upgrade. This is because staying for shorter periods might cost the hotel less, create more demand, or make a better impression.
Staying for shorter periods might cost the hotel less because they don’t have to provide you with housekeeping, laundry, or other services for a long time. They might be willing to offer you an upgrade to save some money and resources. Staying for shorter periods might also create more demand because the hotel can sell your room to another guest after you leave. They might be willing to offer you an upgrade to increase their occupancy and revenue. Staying for shorter periods might also make a better impression because the hotel might want to wow you in a short time and hope that you will come back or recommend them.
Some tips on how to stay for shorter periods are to book one night at a time, change hotels, or extend your stay. You can book one night at a time and see if you can get an upgrade for each night. Also change hotels and try different ones, and see which one offers you the best upgrade. You can also extend your stay if you like the hotel and the upgrade, and see if they can keep you in the same room.
Have a Social Media Presence
Having a social media presence can also help with getting luxury suite upgrades. This is because social media can influence hotels in various ways, such as online recognition, positive word of mouth, or potential exposure.
Social media can give you online recognition, which can make you stand out from other guests. Hotels might want to reward you for your online presence and offer you an upgrade. Social media can also create a positive word of mouth, which can boost the hotel’s reputation and popularity. Hotels might want to impress you with an upgrade and hope that you will share your experience online. Social media can also offer potential exposure, which can attract more customers and partners. Hotels might want to collaborate with you and offer you an upgrade in exchange for your promotion.
Some examples of how to use social media to your advantage are to follow the hotel, post about your stay, or tag the hotel. You can follow the hotel on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, and see their latest news and offers. Post about your stay and show your appreciation and satisfaction. You can also tag the hotel and give them a shout-out or a review.
Ask for an Upgrade
The simplest and most effective way to get luxury suite upgrades is to ask for them. Sometimes, all you need to do is to ask nicely and politely, and you might get what you want. Hotels are more likely to grant your request if they have the availability and the capacity to do so.
Some of the best practices for asking for an upgrade are to be polite, specific, and willing to pay. You can be polite and courteous to the front desk staff or the concierge, and establish a friendly relationship. Be specific and ask for a certain type of upgrade, such as a bigger room, a better view, or a balcony. You can also be willing to pay a small fee or a tip, which might still be cheaper than booking the higher category room.
Some examples of how to ask for an upgrade are to ask at the check-in, during your stay, or at the check-out. You can ask at the check-in and see if they have any upgrades available for you. Also, you can ask during your stay and see if they can move you to a better room. You can also ask at the check-out and see if they can waive the upgrade fee or give you a discount.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many ways to score luxury suite upgrades when you travel. You can travel during the low season, join a loyalty program, apply for a hotel-branded credit card, book a cheaper room, check-in late, book directly, travel for a special occasion, try newer hotels, stay for shorter periods, have a social media presence, or ask for an upgrade. All these tips and tricks can help you get more value, comfort, and memories from your hotel stay.
What do you think of these tips and tricks on how to score luxury suite upgrades when you travel? Have you tried any of them? Do you have any other suggestions? Let us know in the comments below. And don’t forget to share this post with your friends and family who love to travel. Happy travels!
