Upgrading to a better hotel room with special perks can turn a normal trip into a VIP luxury getaway. This could mean going from a basic king or queen room to a corner room or a higher floor. You may even get the ultimate in upgrades — a suite with a cozy living area and a separate sleeping area for privacy.
From earning hotel elite status to simply asking the concierge, there are several ways to snag a hotel room upgrade and add some extra comfort to your trip. We’ll share some expert tips and hotel secrets that can help you get a complimentary hotel room upgrade — even if you’re not a seasoned traveler.
To maximize your chances of upgrading your room, you can:
A hotel room upgrade is a change from a basic or standard room to a room or suite with better amenities or qualities.
Room upgrades vary widely depending on the brand of hotel and the types of rooms available. Examples of upgrades include moving to:
If you’re a light sleeper, a room upgrade could mean a large corner room away from the elevator and ice machines. If you’re traveling with your family, a room upgrade might mean moving from a standard room with two queens to a suite that offers a bonus room with an extra TV.
Keep in mind that the staff knows the hotel best, and many hotel rewards programs give them the discretion to decide what constitutes an upgrade. So while you may be dreaming of a spacious suite, you could just end up getting a similar room on a slightly higher floor. Asking specifically (and nicely) for what you want makes it much more likely that you’ll be happy with your complimentary upgrade.
Getting a free upgrade is often a matter of luck, but there are a few strategies you can use to improve your chances.
When the type of room you booked is unavailable or there’s an issue with your particular room, it’s common for hotel staff to go out of their way to make things right, often by offering an upgrade. If you don’t luck into an upgrade this way, you may be able to sweet-talk your way into one.
You have a better chance of getting an upgrade if:
It’s also a good idea to join all the major hotel rewards programs to increase your chances of getting an upgrade. As a hotel rewards program member, you are more likely to get upgraded and can even purchase an upgrade using points you earned from previous stays.
The easiest way to get a guaranteed room upgrade is to reach elite status with a hotel rewards program.
This is easier said than done if you don’t travel frequently. But there’s a workaround: With some hotel brands, you can get elite status and room upgrades by getting a co-branded hotel credit card.
Joining a hotel rewards program and achieving elite status is one of the best ways to score an upgrade. Hotel programs offer multiple elite status tiers that you can earn based on how frequently you stay and how much you spend. Most hotel programs require you to reach the middle level of elite status before you get free upgrades as a perk.
Don’t travel enough to earn mid-level elite status?
You may be able to get elite status by paying to join a special program with the hotel or by getting and using a co-branded hotel credit card.
A few cards automatically grant you a level of elite status that comes with free upgrades. Other cards offer status at a lower tier with the opportunity to move to a higher tier when you spend a certain amount per year on the card.
The Hilton Honors program is a rewards program offered by Hilton hotels that includes 18 brands and over 6,800 properties around the world. The Hilton Honors program offers three elite tiers. You need to reach Gold elite status — the mid-level tier — to begin getting free upgrades.
| Status levels | Requirements to earn | Potential for upgrades |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Honors member | Join the program | No upgrades at this level |
| Hilton Honors Silver Elite | 10 nights, 4 stays or 25,000 base points | No upgrades at this level |
| Hilton Honors Gold Elite | 40 nights, 20 stays or 75,000 base points | Space-available upgrades |
| Hilton Honors Diamond Elite | 60 nights, 30 stays or 120,000 base points | Space-available upgrades |
You will need to earn Gold or Diamond elite status to qualify for free room upgrades with Hilton. If you don’t stay in hotels frequently enough, you can achieve status by getting a credit card.
You can also purchase room upgrades using your rewards points. You can use your points to book premium rather than standard rooms when they are available. When you book online, the Hilton rewards site shows you which options are available and the number of points required for the stay.
One of the best things about the World of Hyatt rewards program is that elite members of all levels can get free upgrades when rooms are available. The higher your membership level, the nicer the upgrade.
With World of Hyatt, you can also use points to upgrade your room in one of two ways:
| Upgrade | Points needed per night |
|---|---|
| Regency Club or Grand Club upgrade | 3,000 |
| Suite upgrade | 6,000 |
| Premium suite upgrade | 9,000 |
IHG offers the IHG One Rewards Club loyalty program and has 6,000+ properties in more than 100 countries. The program has three elite status tiers. You need to reach Gold elite status to begin getting free upgrades. If you don’t want to wait, you can pay $200 a year to buy into the InterContinental Ambassador program, which comes with automatic Platinum status and a one-category room upgrade.
| Status levels | Requirements to earn | Potential for upgrades |
|---|---|---|
| Member | Join the program | No upgrades at this level |
| Silver Elite | 10 nights | No upgrades at this level |
| Gold Elite | 20 nights or 40,000 points | No upgrades at this level |
| Platinum Elite | 40 nights or 60,000 points | Complimentary upgrades when available |
| Diamond Elite | 70 nights or 120,000 points | Complimentary upgrades when available |
You can also get a room upgrade with IHG by choosing an upgraded room when booking rewards nights with points. The more luxurious the hotel and the nicer the room, the more it will cost you in points.
The Marriott Bonvoy rewards program allows you to earn points by staying at one of 8,000+ Marriott properties across the world. There are five elite membership tiers. You need to reach the third elite Marriott Bonvoy tier, Gold Elite, in order to start getting free room upgrades.
| Status levels | Requirements to earn | Potential for upgrades |
|---|---|---|
| Club member | Join the program | No upgrades at this level |
| Silver Elite | 10 nights | No upgrades at this level |
| Gold Elite | 25 nights | Enhanced room upgrade when available |
| Platinum Elite | 50 nights | Enhanced room upgrade (including select suites) when available |
| Titanium Elite | 75 nights | Enhanced room upgrade (including select suites) when available |
You can also purchase room upgrades using your rewards points. There are two ways to do this:
Getting a co-branded hotel credit card can get you to elite status quickly and may even automatically give you a high enough status to begin getting free upgrades immediately.
If you want more flexibility than a co-branded card offers, you can transfer points to hotel rewards programs from credit card rewards programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards® and Amex Membership Rewards. You can then use your points to get room upgrades.
If you’re getting a credit card specifically for hotel upgrades, consider applying for a card that grants you automatic elite status at a tier high enough to start getting complimentary upgrades immediately. With most hotels, that means you want status at the middle elite tier or higher.
Some cards that grant automatic high-level status also charge hefty annual fees, so you’ll have to weigh the cost against the value of the upgrades, other perks and your ability to earn status in another less costly way.
If you spend enough, getting a card that offers a higher level of elite status could be your most economical path to free upgrades.
We looked at cards on LendingTree and top issuer sites to come up with the following list of recommended cards for hotel upgrades:
| Card | Annual fee | Elite status benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Honors American Express Card | $0 | Automatic Hilton Honors Silver elite status and the ability to earn Gold status, which comes with free room upgrades (enrollment required) |
| Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express | $550 | Automatic Hilton Honors Diamond status, which offers free room upgrades (enrollment required) |
| Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card | $150 | Automatic Hilton Honors Gold status, which comes with free room upgrades (enrollment required) |
| IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card | $99 | Automatic IHG Platinum elite status which comes with free room upgrades |
| World of Hyatt Credit Card | $95 | Automatic World of Hyatt Discoverist status, which offers free room upgrades |
| Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card | $95 | Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver elite status and the ability to earn Gold status, which comes with free upgrades |
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card | $650 | Automatic Platinum elite status, which offers free room upgrades (enrollment required) |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | $695 | Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status and Hilton Honors Gold status (enrollment required) — both of which offer free room upgrades |
What if you’re working on getting elite status but you want upgrades now? Can a tip get you a better room? It’s always helpful to tip the front desk receptionist when you’re seeking special treatment, but it’s best to do it to be nice and not to view it as a scenario in which you’re “owed” an upgrade.
Tipping may not even be necessary.
Simply asking for an upgrade in a friendly manner can go a long way. But keep in mind that hotel staff often are bound by the rules of their supervisors, and an upgrade may not be available.
Now that you know the guaranteed ways to score a complimentary room upgrade at various hotel brands, here are five tips that may help you snag a free upgrade even without elite status:
Becoming an elite member gives you automatic upgrades when you reach a certain level, but just getting a hotel credit card can provide a great shortcut. Otherwise, be nice to the hotel staff and simply ask. Now that you know how to maximize your chances of getting a hotel room upgrade, you can rest easy knowing you may be enjoying great views or a sweet suite on your next vacation.
Be sure to ask for an upgrade politely and discreetly. Go in with no assumptions, and be happily surprised if they are able to upgrade you.
The best time to book a hotel room to increase your chances of being upgraded is during the off-season in your destination. When a hotel is booked at a lesser capacity, there are more rooms available for an upgrade.
Early check-in depends on availability, so it’s best to call the hotel in advance to see if you’ll be able to access your room before your check-in time.
If you don’t have elite status with a hotel, the best way to get a honeymoon upgrade is simply to ask the concierge and mention you’re celebrating your honeymoon or another special occasion. Upgrades are typically based on availability, so don’t assume you’ll automatically be upgraded simply because it’s your honeymoon — but it can’t hurt to ask.
If you want to extend your stay at a hotel, simply go online and see if you can modify your reservation. If you’re already staying at the hotel, ask the front desk staff if they can extend your stay.
To see rates & fees for American Express cards mentioned on this page, visit the links provided below:
The information related to the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express, IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, World of Hyatt Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
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