Food, Home and Style

Upgrade Economics: 5 Steps to Getting a Better Hotel Room

The Great Recession is changing the established principles of economics. Fortunately for the budget traveler, the laws of the hotel room upgrade are now working in our favor.

It comes down to the basic principles of price discrimination—the practice of charging different prices for the same goods or services to different consumer groups. For the budget traveler in a recession, this translates to “You can stay at a Ritz for Motel 6 prices.”

When luxury hotels can’t fill their rooms, they sell their cheapest to discount travel websites. But with the junior suites empty, sometimes all it takes is a friendly smile and some nice feedback for a frugal traveler get the upgrade of a lifetime. So throw out the Rick Steves book and live in luxury while the recession is still going strong, with these five rules:

1. Book Through a Discount Site

Sidestep.com should become your travel homepage. Spend time on travel meta-search engines and read the reviews.  Keep in mind that many hotels have incorrect star ratings, so examine pictures and maps carefully. And this is key: Book a hotel room one or two price levels down from the actual room you really want.

If booking abroad, always pay in advance with U.S. dollars.  Most legitimate sites allow you to cancel your hotel room within a few days for a full refund, so keep looking for deals even after you book. Sometimes you’ll find the same room $50 cheaper on a rival site, so book early and rebook as needed.

2. Call Ahead

Make sure your reservation is pre-paid and confirmed with the hotel. Then begin the art of the upgrade. Tell the reception what you’re celebrating. (Note that on vacation you are always celebrating something.)  Make your enthusiasm for your hotel stay known in advance and continue celebrating with step three.

3. Arrive Happy and Dressed for Upgrade Success

The old job adage applies to travel, too: dress for the room you want. If you arrive at the Waldorf dressed like a backpacker, you don’t belong in the honeymoon suite.

Then remember to smile.  Don’t be cranky that the cab driver ripped you off.  Was your flight to Paris miserable? Europeans don’t sympathize—the entire 20^th century was pretty miserable for them. So stop whining and start smiling. Constantly. That well-dressed person lighting up the room is about to get an upgrade. Gush about the lobby decor and how it was your lifelong dream to stay at X.  Tell the receptionist the museums you plan to visit, or how you can’t wait to brunch at the hotel restaurant. Being over the top about your fantasy stay doesn’t hurt your case for a better room. The embarrassment doesn’t last long and pays off in the end.

4. Ask

Professional fundraisers know the only trick to raising money is to ask for it. The same goes for upgrades. No service person is going to voluntarily give you something unless you ask politely. So ask for a “room with a view” or “one with a chandelier. ”

Be sure to anticipate a negative response. “No deluxe rooms available? How about free breakfast?”  Or ask about changing rooms when something opens. Build your case from the start. Something always opens up, especially if you’re friendly, persistent and willing to do step number five…

5. Be a Comment Card Person

In a world where everyone is too busy for the little guy, people often overlook the comment card. If you’ve ever worked in the service industry, you know a smile and a compliment can make someone’s day and help someone’s career. If anyone makes your stay pleasant—with or without an upgrade—take two minutes to pay him or her back for the favor. Upgrades only happen when the smiles and gratitude are genuine.

Tags: deals, spending, Spending and Saving, travel