I’ve lived in some bad rooms for years. From small rooms without beds to windowless rooms without natural lighting, some hotel basic room types are not ideal for staying here.
I only book the room type and I will be happy these days because any upgrades I get at that time are rewards. But, even if you don’t need Its upgrade may be good. So, here are seven ways you can upgrade your hotel room.
Have an elite hotel status
Many hotel elite status allowances are upgraded room types. Even though I maintain my senior elite status in all the hotel loyalty programs I actively use, I don’t usually upgrade to the suite. However, I can usually use my identity to get a room on a higher floor with more space or a better view.
Each hotel loyalty program handles room upgrades in a different way. Some, like Hyatt World, offer senior elite members the “best room” when checking in (there may be some exclusion kits, such as suites or club access rooms), while others say they can upgrade to Elite members, but do not provide any guarantee or guidance on the quality of the upgrade.
Therefore, it is important to understand the benefits of hotel elite identities. Then, if you can use the strategy described in this story if your Elite Benefit says yes, must, or must use it: Ask for escalation politely.
Related: The Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World: Which one is right for you?
Use upgrade certificate
Although upgrades due to elite status are often unpredictable, using an upgrade certificate can guarantee the type of room you upgrade. Most importantly, all rewards offer certificates of upgrades for World of Hyatt, Bonvoy Marriott and IHG Rewards. These upgrade certificates work properly in every program.
You can receive Club Access Awards and Suite Upgrade Awards through the Hyatt Milestone Rewards program. These awards, if you don’t want to use them for accommodation, can also be given to other Hyatt members, upgrade to stay up to seven nights at the time of booking. Although some Hyatt brands don’t participate, you can use these awards in most statements.
Hyatt Club Access and Kit Upgrade Awards are now easy to use online. I redeemed the suite upgrade award to receive a 344 square foot family loft at the time of booking, instead of the 193 square foot standard room at Story Hotel SignalFabriken (one of my favorite category 1 Hyatt Regency).
Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with TPG Daily Newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG experts
The Bonvoy Marriott Hotel is not as generous as the Hyatt World’s Upgrade Certificate, as you have to redeem the nightly upgrade award you want to upgrade. Therefore, a five-night stay will require five night upgrade awards. When you reach selected milestones each year, you can choose to upgrade the nightly awards as Marriott’s annual choice advantage. Unfortunately, you will only clearly upgrade the nightly upgrade awards five days before your arrival (up to three days for Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis Properties three days before your arrival version), as well as some Marriott brands and properties do not participate in the nightly upgrade awards.
You can also get a confirmable kit upgrade through the IHG Milestone Rewards Program. If you have upgrade space available when you call IHG within 14 days of arrival (but at least 24 hours before check-in), each upgrade can confirm an entry-level suite (or unavailable suite) for up to five nights. However, remember that only some prices (including the best flexibility, member discounts and reward nights) are eligible for these upgrades.
Related: Breakfast, Upgrades, etc.: 9 TPG Staff Reveals Their Favorite Elite Status Allowance
Book an upgraded room type
Another guaranteed way to get a hotel room upgrade is to upgrade yourself by booking the upgraded room type. I barely included it, but it is worth mentioning that due to some upgraded room types, it may be used at the same price, especially if you redeem hotel points for accommodation.
For example, on some dates at Le Meridien Maldives Resort & Spa, you can book a water villa at sunrise with the same points per night as the beach villa. I did this in my last stay and the hotel upgraded me to a sunset fall villa to become a member of the Marriott Titanium Elite.
Choice privileges are also known for allowing members to book several room types of the same number. For example, earlier this year I lived in F6, the Ascend Hotel Collection in Helsinki and grabbed a luxurious room with the same amount of points, and the standard room lost me. Now you can still book the same amount of superior space as many standard rooms on the same dates.
Therefore, you may not necessarily need to pay more points or cash to ensure the upgraded room type. However, you can also redeem more points to book upgraded room types for certain hotel loyalty programs; here is our guide on how to do this:
Booking by providing upgraded programs
Another way to get a hotel room upgrade is to book through a program that provides guaranteed or available space upgrades. I discussed upgrades due to hotel elite status in an earlier section, but this section will focus on a plan separate from your elite status, which can provide you with upgrades.
InterContinental Ambassador Membership offers many allowances in exchange for an annual fee of $225 or 45,000 IHG points. One of the most valuable allowances for regular guests in InterContinental Property is guaranteeing single-category room upgrades during eligible paid stays.
If you have a selection of premium travel reward cards, you may be eligible for a free room upgrade when booking the following programs:
If you use a travel agency that can be booked through a special program, you can also get additional benefits in certain brands. Here are some of these programs and how they can help you upgrade your hotel room upgrades while your agent bookes through these programs:
- Hilton Luxury: Free room upgrade, available at check-in, most of them are Conrad, LXR or Waldorf Astoria Properties
- Hyatt Prive: A class confirmed within 24 hours of booking at the time of booking (according to availability at the time of booking and confirmed within 24 hours of booking) at Select Alila, Andaz, Andaz, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Centric, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Regency, Joie de Vivre, Miraval, Miraval, Park Hyatt, Unbound Collection, The Unbound Collection and Thompson Properties
- Marriott Hotel Glows: Free room upgrades, depending on check-in availability, at JW Marriott, Le Meridien, Marriott, Renaissance, Tribute Portfolio, W Hotels and Westin Properties
- Marriott Star: Free room upgrades, available at check-in, in Bulgari, Edition, Luxury Collection, Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve and St.Regis Properties
- Player: Free room upgrade, depending on the availability of registration
However, it is important to distinguish between guaranteed room upgrades and upgrades provided only on the basis of space availability. An upgrade that is confirmed or guaranteed is much better than having room for upgrade when you want to arrive.
Related: 12 Really Special Luxury Hotels and Resorts You Can Book with Points
Stay in the low occupation
If you stay in a hotel during a low income period, it is much easier to upgrade your hotel room based on availability. For example, when I lived in Park Hardives Hadahaa, Maldives last year, I was able to upgrade the space from the Hyatt Global Members who got my Hyatt Villas from Hyatt Points to Hyatt Points to Points to Points.
However, if I stayed during the time I booked a water villa, the hotel would not be able to upgrade me. So, especially if you want an upgrade that accommodates space, travel in low seasons, and have top-notch status in plans that offer “best available space” like World of Hyatt, you can make a difference.
Related: Shoulder season becomes mainstream
Payment upgrade
You may also have to pay for certain accommodations. Hilton Honors and IHG One Reward often displays upgrade options during the booking process, but you can also contact the hotel after booking to check for upgrade prices.
I recently spoke to a traveler from a large family who said he usually booked a standard room with points and then contacted the hotel to ask about the cost of upgrading to a room that accommodates his family. If the upgrade rate is reasonable, he will accept the upgrade cost. But if the upgrade cost is not reasonable, he either booked for a second room that accommodates his family, or canceled his reservation and tried again at a nearby property.
I also received many upgrade offers at the Maldives Resort. For example, before I stayed in Alila Kothaifaru, the resort sent me an email with an email to upgrade from the beach villa I booked to my booking to the lagoon water villa for $126 per night. I didn’t accept this offer, hoping to upgrade the space as a Hyatt Globalist who travels in low seasons. However, if you keep a different room type from the different room type you booked, the upgrade cost may be worth paying.
Related: How much should you pay for top-notch upgrades?
Check-in is very good
Finally, it’s good to ask about the upgrade at check-in that it’s never hurt. Especially if you have an elite status and the hotel is still selling at least a few rooms you want, the front desk may give you one.
However, please be prepared not to obtain the required room type. Even for senior elite members, some front-end agents don’t inspire to do anything. In addition, some hotels also have internal policies that can only give certain room types or select guests when needed. So unless you make sure to upgrade based on your elite status or booking method, be prepared to accept the type of room you booked if the hotel does not want to upgrade you.
Related: What to do when a hotel doesn’t want to cash out your elite benefits
Bottom line
I have lived in a hotel as a digital nomad for nearly eight years. Doing so has my husband and I earned and maintained our senior elite status in all the hotel loyalty programs we care about, so I am very familiar with the upgrades of hotel rooms. And I know that even the senior elite members may be, even the senior elite members, it is relatively rare to get considerable space upgrades.
Therefore, I attach great importance to the Hyatt Package Upgrade Award, IHG can confirm the package upgrade and the Intercontinental Ambassador Program. After all, these allow me to confirm a better room well before checking in, in most cases before the cancellation period arrives. Also, it is not necessary to expect that upgrading on arrival can relieve stress, especially if you want or need to upgrade to make your stay comfortable.
