How to Score a Hotel Room Upgrade (Or At Least a Nice Check-in Amenity)

Hotel room upgrades and check-in amenities are common tools hotels use to elevate the guest experience — and they're not only for loyalty members.

What Actually Gets You Upgraded

• Loyalty status — elite members (Hyatt Globalist, for example) are prioritized for complimentary upgrades
• Special occasions — mentioning a birthday, anniversary, or honeymoon can sometimes help
• Booking direct — guests who book with the hotel (not a third-party site like Expedia) have a better shot
• A polite ask at check-in — a courteous request at the front desk goes a long way, especially off-peak
• Emailing ahead — contacting the hotel's general manager a few days before arrival to share your excitement or note the occasion can prompt goodwill upgrades. The GM's email can usually be found on the hotel's contact page.

Improve Your Odds

• Join the loyalty program even without status.
• Reply to the pre-arrival email. Hotels typically send an email 2–7 days out. It's the perfect moment to mention a celebration or that you're traveling with young children — hotels often go out of their way for families. When one asked us for "special requirements or requests," I used it to ask for a specific item I knew my daughter would enjoy — and got it.
• Stay flexible. If nothing's available at check-in, offer to switch rooms mid-stay if something opens up.
• Ask about a paid upgrade. If the hotel does not offer a free upgrade, ask about paying for one. The paid price at the desk is sometimes surprisingly reasonable. Hotels may also email a paid-upgrade offer before arrival — if the room really matters, locking it in beats rolling the dice.

What To Expect

Upgrade types: better views (high floor, ocean, city), room category (deluxe, suite, specialty rooms), or size and layout — corner rooms, junior suites, connecting rooms for families.

Common amenities: welcome drinks or snacks, local treats, loyalty-member gifts — fruit platters, bottled water, chocolates, the occasional champagne.

Mentioning a birthday got us a fruit and macaron spread, a bear-shaped cake, and a card waiting in the room on a recent stay in Paris:

Kid-friendly touches: coloring kits, plush toys, kid-sized robes and slippers — some upscale properties will even set up an in-room tent for young children.

A recent stay at the Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill came with a kid-sized robe and slippers, a Paddington Bear plush, and a coloring book and pencils:

The Upgrade Template

Download the upgrade template

This has worked wonders for me. Don't forget to send me photos of your upgrade — or tag @familypointspassport so I can celebrate with you. Safe travels!