Has anyone ever asked and got a hotel upgrade?

[OrchidRosetta]

We’re all ff for the weekend in a couple of weeks. There are a few fabulous looking swim up rooms etc but they were out of budget and as it’s only a weekend I happily booked a normal double room. I’m wondering if I get there, could I simply ask if there was a chance of an upgrade if the hotel wasn’t full. Anyone ever successfully been upgraded? It isn’t a special occasion. Any tips? TOTALLY fine if we don’t get one, I didn’t pay for it, just wondering if like flying there’s always a chance??? Never asked before, never been upgraded either so just a cheeky question.

I've never asked but have been given one a few times without asking. If they are quiet it's more likely. Or they may try to put everyone on the same floor to save time when cleaning.

I have been upgraded twice but both times in the U.K. and without asking. Once it was to the £1,000 a night ( this was a few years ago ) penthouse suite of an exclusive Edinburgh hotel. It was amazing . Sadly it was only for 1 night and we arrived late as we had both had problems at work.
But it does happen - and they can only say no if you ask

Not requested but have been a couple of times in Italy. Once on a package holiday where booked 3star accommodation was unavailable so we were moved to related 5star nearby, admittedly to un renovated, car park view interconnected rooms but with benefit of 5* breakfast and facilities. More recently upgraded to a suite on reception/restaurant level (dh has mobility issues) having booked a basic room direct with hotel.

Did you book direct with the hotel? If so have a look and see if they have a loyalty scheme. If they do join it and make sure your reservation is linked. You might get un upgrade that way.

Git upgraded to 2 bedroom suite because the lift servicing original room was going to be out of order on day we were leaving.

My husband emailed a hotel we were going to be staying at, ordered a bottle of champers and asked for a upgrade. We got there and ended up with a suite lol

Yes this is what I thought, it would happen just by chance or if there was an issue. Do I have the courage to ask????

I think it's more likely if you're only there for one night as less likely they can sell it last minute.

Had a few random upgrades, like others have said, always when booked directly. Best one was for about 5 nights whilst abroad. After the first night I asked if we could move to a room without a connecting door to another room as it was noisy (happy with the same grade room). They moved us to a huge suite. Very unexpected, and very grateful.

Good luck.

You can only ask. When you arrive you could find something lacking in your room (real or imagined) and ask for a replacement. Say you're happy to upgrade if it means you will have whatever it is the other room doesn't. My husband booked a special hotel package for my big birthday and when we got there they had obviously given the package guests the grottiest rooms. My husband tried to hide his disappointment but I could see he felt he had let me down. I asked at reception, said it was a big birthday and we couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed as this was such a big deal for us. They only had limited rooms left but still managed to put us in the new wing of the hotel which was much nicer.

So you wouldn’t just ask them at check in? Only there for two nights. Might see if I can give them an email before hand. It’s not a special birthday but could just ask. Maaaayyyybee?

I have been upgraded a few times but never from asking.

I've been upgraded a few times but never from asking. I asked once when a room was noisy initially and got told could upgrade for x cost. Always free when you don't ask.

I'd email in advance, with a "we are celebrating our anniversary/birthday etx, if there is anything you can do to make our stay extra special it would be massively appreciated. We cannot wait to visit and are so looking forward to celebrating at your lovely hotel". At the very least you'll be quids in for some chocolates or sparkling wine.

At check in, they've likely already allocated and prepped rooms.
Having said that, the only times I've been upgraded have been when it was random (suspect because they'd over booked the hotel and we arrived last!)

Oh yes I sometimes ask at check-in. Start casually with: “So is the hotel busy at the moment?” And then with a friendly smile: “Any chance of an upgrade?” It’s not a big deal, they’re used to people asking.

Yep. Always ask.

Years ago, when we hadn’t much money, for my 40th we’d saved and exchanged points from some retailer for a weekend in Edinburgh. We were of course put up in a grotty attic room. I said to the hotel manager we were really disappointed and he not only very kindly upgraded us to a very decent room but 10 minutes later there was a knock at the door and he’d sent up a bottle of champagne for us to help celebrate my big birthday!

I've never asked outright but I have been upgraded plenty of times.

I tend to specify what I'm looking for though (having researched it first). So if I want the highest floor and I know there are 5 floors, I will just say at check-in "I'd like a room on the 5th floor" - the same applies if I want a specific 'view'.

In the past I've even checked-in, didn't like the room I'd been allocated; so went back to Reception to ask to change.

I travel a lot for work and leisure and am almost always offered an upgrade. My tips: be a member of whatever loyalty scheme the hotel chain belongs to, be presentable - clean, tidy, professional, and be super nice to the check in staff. Not fake and OTT, but chat, ask them if they have had a long day, empathise a bit. And be very grateful when it’s offered, and thank them again when you check out.

I am Hilton Diamond and often get upgraded. But that is part of the deal of being one and staying in their hotels all of the time. My tips are: 1) Definitely do your research in advance - you are wasting your time in some places if they don't have better rooms (for example, Hampton hotels, Hilton brand, are all the same) 2) Fabulous upgrades are, in my experience, better suited to one large bed, I often travel with my sister or my daughter, and we definitely do not want to share a bed, however large and luxurious the room is 3) join their loyalty club if they have one, usually free, probably helps 4) Email them or add notes on booking. Once you are there, unless there is a real issue, they will have pre-assigned a room, reversing it isn't an issue for them if they have plenty of rooms, but they are less likely to do it if busy and on a whim, also they generally go "one room grade up, not suddenly a suite" 5) If you have a reason, mention it, may work, may not, but worth a go. Chancers saying it is a special birthday watch out (esp abroad) as they get your passport. It actually was mine when in Thailand (and no, we did not ask for upgrade, nor pointed it out) but they knew and made a "lovely fuss" at breakfast time cake, fruit and sparklers, all staff singing, Excruciating, if nice. 6) complaining about non-real-issues in your room will get attention, and even a room swap, but sometimes lesser room than you had. I have had some very odd but excellent upgrades in my time including a two bedroom penthouse suite, lounge, full kitchen, full dining room / drawing room, 3 TVs, two terraces, and glassware to suit a party of 12. Fridge full of drinks. Mood lighting. I was there for work and literally went from the desk to my bed, and used the bathroom twice and had a bottle of water. I might have well as been in a single room in a crap hotel ! You never get them when you want them 😂 good luck though, shy bairns get nowt x

We once got upgraded from an ordinary room to a huge suite with two bathrooms at a hotel in Germany. We didn’t ask - when we arrived, they just said we’ve put you in an upgraded room. It was fabulous!

Make sure you are alone at the desk when you ask. They won’t upgrade around others because then everyone expects it.

I don’t ask directly but often end up chatting to whoever is checking us in, might mention the fact that I have stayed before (at that or a sister hotel) and say something complimentary about the place/staff, and am just generally polite and friendly. I have found that I often get a nicer room than I was expecting. It’s amazing how many people you hear being demanding and rude to reception staff.

Been upgraded many times without asking. Have been offered a paid upgrade at ai type hotels too, though I didn’t bite (they generally ask for about half what it would have costed you originally)

It’s ok to ask nicely but don’t be disappointed if you don’t get an upgrade.
It probably depends on the hotel and its policy. Lots of receptionists probably aren’t allowed to give upgrades without a managers permission.
When guests used to ask me for upgrades, if it was quiet I’d offer them at a heavily discounted rate.
Guests inventing problems to try and get free upgrades was a pet hate of mine, I just told them that switching rooms wouldn’t solve the problem because the rest of the hotel was the same which was true.
However, I did used to upgrade guests with genuine problems to compensate for the inconvenience of having to move rooms.

Some time ago, I read a book by a man who had worked in the hotel industry in the States for some time, and he mentioned that reception staff will take tips, which had never occurred to me (although perhaps it should have considering we tend to tip any and all here in the US). I decided to try it for an upgrade and it worked. I just slipped a $20 bill to the woman checking me in (I didn't mention upgrade; I think I said something like "thanks so much for your help"), and lo and behold, I got a "studio suite," one large room with a separate full sitting area and a mini-kitchen with a lovely view, instead of the standard room I had booked. Also it was on the "concierge" floor, which had restricted access and a lounge with complimentary coffee/pastries, etc. in the morning and wine/beer/snacks service in the evening.

I don't know how that would work in other countries that don't have the tipping culture we have in the US, but I would definitely ask for an upgrade, OP. As others have said, they can only say no.

I have been offered upgrades in other instances as members of hotels' loyalty plans, but that is often using loyalty points, but not always.