Wednesday, 09 December 2009

• Upgrade Your Hotel Room in 5 Simple Steps

  
  

  
  Recessionwire (a really neat site, by the way) has an article up listing five tips for upgrading your hotel room for free—a process that's actually easier now than ever, given that less people are able to afford vacations, leaving more deluxe rooms available. These tips might involve a little extra effort and groveling, but it's all worth it once you land a luxury suite for the price of an economy.
  
  1. Use discount travel sites
  
  Recessionwire recommends SideStep, but there are plenty out there. They'll help you find deals, and most legit sites will fully refund your purchases if you cancel within a couple of days, which means you can book and rebook until you find the best bargain. The trick is, as Recessionwire writes: "Book a hotel room one or two price levels down from the actual room you really want."
  
  2. Call first
  
  Once your room is settled, give the front desk a call to make sure your stay is prepaid—and then lay on the charm. Tell the clerk what you're celebrating and be sure to sound excited about staying at the hotel.
  
  3. Be happy and stylish
  
  At check in, show up looking like you can afford the room you want them to give you. Then, win over the clerk with your enthusiasm for the hotel and the rest of your trip—talk about your plans, the beautiful lobby, etc.
  
  4. Actually ask
  
  Nobody's just going to give you an upgrade, but ask and you shall receive. You can try playing it cool, by requesting a room with a nice view or chandelier or something, or be more blunt. The clerk might say no, but you can try pushing for other perks (Recessionwire recommends free breakfast) or suggesting that they upgrade you mid-stay once something opens up.
  
  5. Embrace the comment card
  
  If/when you get an upgrade, reward the relevant parties by filling out a positive comment card or cards. It often goes a long way in helping their careers, and besides: karma.
  
  Have you ever received a free upgrade? How do you plan trips on a budget?
  
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