{"id":7231,"date":"2014-11-14T15:13:38","date_gmt":"2014-11-14T14:13:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/?p=7231"},"modified":"2017-05-12T14:30:58","modified_gmt":"2017-05-12T13:30:58","slug":"how-to-get-a-hotel-room-upgrade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/how-to-get-a-hotel-room-upgrade\/","title":{"rendered":"How to get a room upgrade WITHOUT paying for it?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Friday newsletters<\/a>\u00a0always feature luxury travel contests<\/a>,\u00a0tips<\/a>,\u00a0series<\/a>, or\u00a0news<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Today (November 14, 2014):\u00a0Travel Tips for getting a hotel room upgrade WITHOUT paying for it.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u00a0previously\u00a0explained how to get the best deal at a luxury hotel<\/a>.\u00a0In addition, there are numerous ways to score a premium room without having to pay for the upgrade. It often requires a mix of skill, emotional intelligence and a considerable amount of luck.<\/p>\n

Here are the 10 best travel tricks to get a hotel room upgrade. And keep in mind that I can always arrange for you a confirmed upgrade at the time of booking at the world’s most luxurious resort, Soneva Kiri<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"SONEVA
PHENOMENAL\u00a0SUITE AT SONEVA KIRI, THAILAND<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
1. Stay during the low season<\/b><\/h5>\n

Being smart about the date you purchase a room can entitle you to an upgrade, without doing any extra work. Book a room during the off-peak season when rooms are likely to be available. Leisure hotels are often fully booked over weekends; especially when there\u2019s a big event or concert in town. On the contrary, hotels that cater to business clients have more availability during the weekend.<\/p>\n

\n
2. Arrive late in the afternoon<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Arrive late in the afternoon \u2014 between 3pm and 5pm is ideal \u2014 when reception has a better idea of what rooms are likely to stay empty overnight (and the next days). As a result, you may just be bumped up to a more superior room.<\/p>\n

\n
3<\/strong>. Join a hotel loyalty program<\/b><\/h5>\n

Most hotel chains offer benefits for loyal customers. Joining a hotel’s loyalty program<\/a>, such as Starwood Preferred Guest<\/a>\u00a0or World of Hyatt<\/a>,\u00a0may entitle you to a room upgrade, depending on the status you have attained.<\/p>\n

\n
4.\u00a0Advocate your special occasion<\/b><\/h5>\n

Drop a special occasion such as an engagement or a birthday into the conversation. But don\u2019t just blurt it out of nowhere and be honest about it; casually talk about it mid-chat. This way hotel teams will feel you are a genuine customer and be more inclined to go above and beyond to make sure you have a special stay.<\/p>\n

\n
5. Be a frequent visitor<\/b><\/h5>\n

Sometimes it\u2019s simply a case of who you know. The more times you stay at a hotel, the more familiar you will become to hotel receptionists. Your details are often stored in the system too \u2014 so they can tell when you last visited.\u00a0To make sure you are acknowledged as a frequent stayer, be friendly and get to know one or two receptionists or better yet the hotel manager, so you are recognised on your return.<\/p>\n

\n
6. Review your stay<\/b><\/h5>\n

Leaving a happy guest review on the likes of Trip Advisor, is one of the best ways to ensure you become known to a hotel team and it also spreads positive feedback to other potential guests. You scratch their back and they\u2019ll scratch yours, when you return.<\/p>\n

\n
7. Use your manners<\/b><\/h5>\n

Manners accompanied with a smile can go a long way to make someone feel happy to help. Greet hotel team members as soon as you arrive and use your discrete charm to stand out from other guests.\u00a0Hotel receptionists deal with travellers on a day-to-day basis so being that one person who made their day, with a compliment or witty line, could earn you some brownie points.<\/p>\n

\n
8. Try out the new kids on the block<\/b><\/h5>\n

Because so many travelers are brand loyal (cf tip no. 3), it can negatively affect recently opened hotels trying to lure new and repeat guests. When guests book at new properties that want to grow a dedicated fan base, those hotels may be more willing to offer upgrades to get people talking about their property and to get\u00a0some repeat business in the future.<\/p>\n

\n
9. Book through Virtuoso<\/strong><\/h5>\n

A\u00a0Virtuoso<\/a>\u00a0travel advisor will not only help you to create unique journeys and explorations\u00a0in every corner of the globe, but, more importantly, Virtuoso bookings come with\u00a0special amenities and extra perks, such as complimentary upgrades. This is particularly true for Aman and Four Seasons resorts. All hotels were you can enjoy the Virtuoso extra perks are listed on their website.<\/p>\n

\n
10. Use your credit card to get a complimentary room upgrade<\/strong><\/h5>\n

It doesn\u2019t take a rocket scientist to figure out that a hotel-branded credit card will probably have some sort of built-in upgrade benefit. But other credit cards\u00a0do the trick as well.\u00a0Visa Signature cardmembership\u00a0gives you access\u00a0to the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection, a network of 800+ high-end hotels around the world. Whenever you stay at these hotels and book thru Visa Signature you will get an automatic room upgrade at check-in (when available). Same is true for the more expensive American Express credit cards.<\/p>\n

\n

*** Follow me on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0and Facebook<\/a>\u00a0for a daily moment of travel inspiration ***<\/em><\/p>\n

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