If you don’t ask, you don’t get! Ways to ask for a hotel upgrade.

When you go off for a sneaky weekend away, a city break, or even a full on holiday, of course you want to kick back and relax in the most luxurious and chilled out surroundings, and if you can get it on the cheap, all the better!

There is a saying that has been bandied around a lot, namely ‘if you don’t ask, you don’t get, and in the case of trying to blag yourself a free, or cheap, hotel upgrade, this is certainly the case. What’s the worst that can happen? Well, they simply say no and you end up staying in the room you booked all along; not a bad worst case scenario to be fair.

So, what are the best ways to broach the subject of that cheeky upgrade? Prepare to put on your poker face, and try these strategies out for size.

Blag it

Whether you’re telling the truth or not, and of course we don’t advocate white lies, but sometimes telling the receptionist that it’s your anniversary, job promotion celebration, or some other major celebration, may just get you that upgrade you’re looking for. It’s not the best idea to tell them it’s your birthday if you’re showing your passport or driving licence as a form of ID, as they will find you out, and you most certainly won’t be getting that upgrade then. Awkward!

Be loyal

If this is a hotel or chain that you regularly use, ask if they have loyalty schemes, or mention that you stay here a lot, asking whether there is any chance of a loyalty-based upgrade as a result. The hotel will be quite taken with trying to retain your loyalty for future bookings, so you might just be in luck.

Try “the $20 trick”

Convert this to the currency of your choice, but the $20 trick is quite the rage in the USA. Basically you cheerfully ask the receptionist if there is a complimentary upgrade available, whilst sliding across the desk the $20 note and your credit card. The general rule is that the receptionist will then check, you hold your breath hoping for a good result, and he or she tells you either yes or no. If it’s a no, they should return your $20 note. No harm done, at least you tried.

Paid-for upgrades

Some large hotel chains do have “on the day” upgrades available which you have to pay for, but which are cheaper than if you booked the room at the start. You simply have to ask when you’re checking in to see if this is available on that particular day, and if you’re lucky, you’ll pay a small amount and be led to your new room, smiling all the way.

These tricks may or may not land you your desired upgrade, but asking costs you nothing. Be cheeky, see what extras you can get, you never know, you might just be lucky!