Over the years, I’ve developed a system to get an upgraded room at hotels every time. It’s so easy that I’m hesitant to share it with you. But I figure that, as our readers, you deserve it.
To get an upgraded room every time, all you have to do is… pay for it. 😉
What, were you expecting some magic system? Maybe a code word or secret handshake that only internet bloggers know about? Honestly, that would be pretty cool.
What People Say Works (And Sometimes Does)
And don’t get me wrong — according to the internet, there are a million different ways to score a “free” upgrade. Here are some of the most commonly shared “secrets”:
- Get there early… or get there late.
- Email the hotel. Call the hotel.
- Send a message on social media (yes, even on X, formerly known as Twitter).
- Be extra nice when you arrive.
- Look like a business traveler. Look like you’ve had a rough travel day.
- Drop a hint that it’s a special occasion (even if it’s not).
- Try the “$20 sandwich” trick at check-in (popular in Vegas, but people swear it works elsewhere too).
- Or be “that guy” and blatantly say you want one of their good rooms, not the one they give to people who don’t know any better.
You know what? I bet every one of these tricks has worked for someone at some time. I mean, even I’ve occasionally scored an upgraded room for free… usually when I didn’t need one.
Most of the time, I don’t need a better room than what I booked. I’m sure I’ve also gotten upgrades and never realized it. Maybe I’ve received a larger “executive” room or a room on a higher floor. If the staff didn’t mention it, I probably wouldn’t even notice.
One time, I was told I’d been upgraded — and it was underwhelming, to say the least. This was our executive room they made a huge deal out of upgrading us into:
I know. WOW! How lucky we were. I can’t begin to tell you how excited we were when we opened the door and thought, “Yeah, this is… a Holiday Inn room.”
So how can you get an upgraded room?
All kidding aside, the only way to be sure you’ll get an upgraded room is my foolproof method above. If you truly need the larger room (more space, separate bedroom, better layout, specific view, whatever), then you should book it.
Hotels are getting smarter all the time. They don’t just “hold” nicer rooms for people who ask politely anymore — especially when they can sell that upgrade. If an upgraded room can be sold, you’d better believe that’s what they’re going to try to do.
The Strategies That Actually Improve Your Odds
That said, if an upgrade is more of a want than a need, you might be able to get what you want for less than the full price difference. Here are the upgrade methods that actually tend to work:
- Pre-arrival paid offers (email/app): Some hotels will send upgrade offers weeks to days before arrival. These are often “if available” offers — you agree to pay if they can confirm it, but it’s not always guaranteed. This was how I scored an upgrade at the Park Hyatt in Washington D.C. Wouldn’t you want this bathroom for an extra $30 a night?
- Direct “guaranteed” upgrade offers: Sometimes, the hotel offers a specific upgraded room at a set price. If you accept, it’s a guarantee — you’re buying the better room at a discount versus booking it outright.
- Email the hotel a few days before arrival (and offer to pay): I’ve occasionally had success emailing the hotel shortly before check-in. By then, they often have a clearer idea of occupancy and may be willing to sell an upgrade for a smaller fee.
- Use points (or points + cash) to upgrade: Some programs let you book a base room and then use points or a points + cash option to move up to a better category (including suites), if available. When it works, it can be a much cheaper path than booking the suite outright.
- Use confirmable upgrade “perks” (limited quantity): Some loyalty programs offer upgrades you can confirm in advance — Hyatt is the classic example with its suite-upgrade-style awards, and other programs offer similar certificates. The catch is that those perks are limited. You only get a small number per year based on your elite status/nights (often just a handful — sometimes around five, depending on the program and how much you stay). So if you have them and you actually need the bigger room, this is exactly what they’re for.
- The last chance: check-in (and be willing to pay): If you wait until you arrive, your odds depend on how full the hotel is. But this is still a great time to ask what’s available for a price. I used this method to get an upgrade at the Hilton Grand Vacation Club in Las Vegas. I was hoping to score a free upgrade, but I was willing to pay for a one-bedroom suite.
One more practical note: if upgrades matter to you, booking direct is often the safest move. Some hotels are far less generous (or not allowed) to upgrade third-party bookings. Even when it’s possible, the best rooms tend to go first to guests who booked direct and/or have status.
Where Status Helps (And Where It Doesn’t)
I’ve spent much of my life trying to get upgrades without having any status (to speak of) with hotels because I don’t have loyalty to any particular chain. If you, unfortunately, have to spend many nights a year in a hotel and have top-level status, then yes — you might be higher on the list to get an upgrade than I am.
But remember: hotels would still rather sell an upgrade for a few dollars than give one away for free, no matter how many nights you stay. And that’s even if you’re a Diamond guest and are guaranteed the best available suite (for your giraffe and helicopter). <– Please note, the video link is NSFW.
Final Thoughts
I’m sorry to say that I don’t have a secret to getting a free upgraded hotel room. I never promised that. I just said I had a way to get an upgraded room 100% of the time.
Even that’s not perfectly true because there might not be any better rooms available if the hotel is booked up. But the core point stands:
If you need that suite, make sure it’s confirmed when you book — whether by paying for it outright, using points, or using a limited upgrade perk you can lock in ahead of time. Don’t depend on the hotel to hand it to you for free at check-in.
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