- Upgrades are never guaranteed, but a few habits significantly increase your chances.
- The most effective: book directly, be a loyalty program member, and mention a special occasion.
- Timing matters: aiming for a period of low occupancy and arriving in the late afternoon helps a lot.
- And always: remain courteous and ask kindly, without demanding.
How to get a hotel upgrade? The answer in brief
A free upgrade mainly depends on the hotel’s occupancy on your arrival day and the relationship you build with the reception. No method is magic, but by combining the tips below, you maximize your chances of moving from a standard room to a superior category, or even a suite.
1. Book directly, not via a platform
Hotels prioritize guests who book directly, as they don’t pay intermediary commissions. Booking on the hotel’s website or by phone identifies you as a ‘house’ guest and facilitates commercial gestures, including upgrades.
2. Join the loyalty program
Being a loyalty program member, even for free and even without status, makes you a priority guest to retain. Chains (Accor, Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt) often reserve their best surprises for their members, and registration takes two minutes.
3. Mention a special occasion
Birthday, honeymoon, marriage proposal: mentioning a special occasion, ideally when booking, is one of the most effective levers. Hotels like to mark these moments, with an attention, a superior room, or a small welcome gift.
4. Travel when the hotel is not busy
An upgrade is only possible if superior rooms are available. On weekdays, outside of holidays and events, the hotel has every interest in placing you in a better category that remained empty rather than leaving it unoccupied.
5. Arrive in the late afternoon
By arriving around 4-6 PM, the reception already knows which rooms will remain empty that evening. Too early, they can’t project; too late, the best rooms might be assigned. The late afternoon is often the right time slot.
6. Cultivate your relationship with the reception
A smiling, courteous, and patient guest will always be served before a demanding guest. A simple « if by any chance an upgrade is possible, I’d be happy to take it, otherwise it’s no problem » works much better than an insistent request.
7. Book the category just below your target
Booking the second-to-last category maximizes the probability of being moved up one notch. Upgrades are most often to the immediately superior category: start high enough to aim for a real suite.
8. Capitalize on your loyalty and reviews
A regular guest, or one who leaves good reviews, is a guest the hotel wants to keep. Mentioning that you are returning, or that you enjoyed a previous stay, creates a favorable atmosphere.
9. Ask your travel agent or via VIP programs
Certain luxury agency networks guarantee negotiated benefits: upgrade upon arrival, complimentary breakfast, credit to spend on-site. Going through this type of program transforms an upgrade hope into an often contractual advantage.
Also read: in the charming boutique hotels in Paris, direct contact with the hotel often facilitates an upgrade.
Also read: to pay the right price, see the best time to book a hotel.
