Hotel breaks are popular among Britons keen to take the hassle out a holiday and enjoy being pampered without chores to complete. Hotel quality can vary hugely but there’s no denying the thrill of bagging a free upgrade. There are various reasons why you might be eligible for one and it’s often at the discretion of hotel managers. Experts have revealed one cunning way you might be able to boost your chances of an upgrade.
Staff are on the lookout for certain things when it comes to dishing out hotel upgrades.
One thing they observe is a shiny wedding ring as it suggests the guests are newly married.
Pav Klair, relations expert at spa website SpaSeekers told The Sun that staff are more likely to want to make newlyweds’ stay at the hotel more special.
What’s more, couples who are just married can be more likely to share their holiday on social media meaning pictures of the hotel will be posted online providing great advertisement for the hotel.
Klair said: “Staff are told to look out for shiny weddings rings and loved up couples who may have recently got married.
“A lot of newlyweds are particularly good at capturing their stays in hotels as it’s such a happy period in their lives.”
For those who already have a wedding ring, it could be well worth giving it a polish before you next head away.
Another top tip to nabbing a free hotel upgrade is to be tactical with when you approach staff.
The optimum time to speak to front desk staff about an upgrade is when they’re not busy and no one else is around.
Guests are much more likely to score an upgrade on their existing room if business is slow.
Furthermore, consider researching into the hotel’s current capacity as an emptier establishment could be more likely to hand one out.
George Hobica, founder of discount airfare site Airfarewatchdog.com, told Business Insider the line: ”I know the hotel is not full today. Do you think you could upgrade me to a suite?” could prove useful.
Another tip could help you save money on hotel stays. “If you’re not concerned about where exactly you stay, using a website which offers ‘secret hotels’ could be a great alternative and can save you hundreds,” Louis Bridger, Head of the UK and Ireland at International Currency Exchange told Express.co.uk.
“Hotels will often cut prices to fill their empty rooms, but many don’t want to advertise these discounts in case it devalues their offering.
“Websites such as Hotwire and Lastminute.com will allow you to find hotels in your chosen location at your desired star rating – the only catch is that you won’t know where you’re staying until after you’ve paid.
“A secret hotel is a great option for travellers that have a destination in mind but aren’t set on a specific hotel.”
Another money-saving hotel hack is to consider hotel switching in a bid to bag good quality hotels and cheap prices and even score upgrades.
Hotels set their prices using nightly rates and charges go up when availability is low.
For example, a holidaymaker who books a 10-night stay in Rome for £2000 assumes the room rate is £200 per night. However, it might be £140 for the first four nights, rising to £240 for the last six nights due to increased local demand.
By being cunning and changing hotels part way through a trip, holidaymakers can avoid paying these extra fees.
