Before becoming a journalist, I worked as a hotel receptionist for several years, during which time I developed the ability to predict guests’ demands. While we were always happy to help with any request, be it the weird or the wonderful, there was one that always annoyed me.

Regardless of the room category a guest had booked, more often or not, they would want a room upgrade. And I totally get that. You want to make your stay extra special without needing to pay out an extra penny.

However, one of the most frustrating questions from guests was, ‘Can our room be upgraded?’ Of course, there’s no harm in asking, but there’s a reason it’s frowned upon. 

There were countless times when I was on the phone with someone to book their reservation of a standard room, and then directly after, they’d ask, ‘Can our room be upgraded?’ The answer was always, ‘We don’t provide upgrades until the day before an arrival’, yet inside I was thinking, ‘If you want a bigger room, book a bigger room’.

I was employed at a luxury hotel and spa with 35 rooms, where upgrades were typically reserved for those marking a special occasion, such as a birthday or anniversary. Additionally, we’d upgrade rooms the night before someone’s arrival, so we knew exactly which rooms were available – we wouldn’t upgrade someone to a superior room before it could have been booked online.

But it’s surprising how many people ask about an upgrade, even when bigger rooms are actually available to book. The second most annoying time to ask for the privilege is after 3pm on a Friday night, during peak check-in time and when all the rooms have already been allocated.

There were so many times when a guest would abruptly ask me on check-in if their room had been upgraded, as if it was expected. However, it doesn’t mean we wouldn’t give you an upgrade.

We’d be more likely to give you an upgrade if you haven’t directly asked for it. After all, we’re human, and we’d much rather give someone an upgraded room who will appreciate it and be surprised at check-in rather than someone who demands it or believes they should be the one to get it.

Telling the hotel that you’re marking a special occasion is the best way to secure an upgrade, just make sure it’s ahead of your arrival. Alternatively, arriving early for your check-in is another nifty trick to help secure an upgraded room, and I’ll explain why.

While upgrades are typically arranged for the next wave of guests the night before, with key cards already allocated, circumstances can shift. If we were feeling particularly generous, and the hotel is bustling, we might offer you an upgrade on the spot, even if that means downgrading someone else’s previously upgraded room.

Our guests weren’t informed of any upgrades until they arrived, so if anything changes, they’re none the wiser, and we’d prefer to get you settled into your room. But from my experience, these were saved for guests who would least expect an upgrade, not those who rudely demanded one.