Staying at a nice feels like such an indulgence, but even the most basic accommodations can be quite pricey. To upgrade to a larger room or one with a scenic view, for example, may be desirable but does not always fit into your travel budget. Fortunately, there are some ways to potentially score a room upgrade for free.
There are no guarantees, of course, but these expert-backed tips will better your chances. Here’s what you should know, according to travel experts: To increase your odds of getting a free upgrade, reserve directly with the hotel rather than using a third-party site. , host of the podcast also said “you’re way better off” if you book with the hotel directly.
“When hotels see reservations come in from their reservation system, they think, ’Oh wow, here’s a customer we have a chance to build a really great relationship with,” he told HuffPost. “If they see it come in through Expedia or Hotel Tonight or some channel like that, often times they think, ‘This is a person who was just trying to book the cheapest room.’” Most people ask the front desk for an upgrade when they check into the hotel.
But you can increase your chances of getting one by making a special request when you book your stay, said family travel expert Katrina Morrison. “The hotel staff who assign rooms often review these requests, and you might get lucky due to room shortages or because they want to enhance your stay,” Morrison, owner of , told HuffPost. Another option.