How To Score A Hotel Room Upgrade Or 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 genuinely help
• Booking direct — guests who book with the hotel (not a third-party OTA) 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 is usually findable 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 one 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 a free one isn't on offer, 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.

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.

The Letter Template

This has worked wonders for me:

Subject: Special Stay Request – [Name & Confirmation Number]

Dear [Hotel Name] Team,

My family and I are very much looking forward to our upcoming stay at your beautiful hotel from [dates] (confirmation #). We've heard wonderful things about your property and chose it specifically for its [location/amenities/reputation].

We are especially excited as we will be celebrating a [birthday/anniversary/special family vacation] during this visit — a milestone we are thrilled to mark in such a special place. I wanted to kindly ask if there's any possibility of a room upgrade or any additional check-in amenities to help make this experience even more memorable.

I am a [loyalty program name and member number]. We can't wait to experience the hospitality of [hotel name], and anything you can do to make our stay extra special would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

Warm regards, [Your Name] · [Loyalty status, if any] · [Confirmation number]

The full version — including a real letter I sent and the pre-arrival email it answered — is in the designed PDF:

Download the upgrade guide (PDF)

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