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Being polite and not being pushy is what did it for me. Had a free room as part of the Marriott Bonvoy, I'm a basic(Silver) member, reached out to hotel manager (via email) to see if there was anything she could do to make my special day with them 'extra' special. Free room ended up being ocean front, mid property + champagne + dessert(chocolate strawberries) + very late check-out(6pm) the following day. This blew me away, top notch service!
Our best upgrade was during our 5 night stay at the Danieli in Venice and it was not the result of asking for one. I had specifically asked in advance not to have a room overlooking the Grand Canal as I had read about late night noise. However, when we arrived the person checking us in insisted that that was the only type of room available. We were assigned an old cricket room overlooking the Grand Canal that had a temporary aluminum ramp over a small canal right below our window. Every step of every person on that ramp produced a metallic sound that lasted quite late into the night. But the final straw was the joggers who started using the ramp at 4:30 in the morning. I was insistent upon a room change the next morning reminding them that I had specifically asked to to have such a room. I was told to pack our things and go out and enjoy the day. When we came back we were escorted to a two room suite that had a Murano glass chandelier over the king size bed. Within minutes the head of housekeeping came by to make sure everything was in order. They really stepped up.
Great video. One more trick for those that travel lightly and don't mind moving rooms in mid stay. If you aren't upgraded at time of check in, ask the agent if a suite will open up any time during your stay and let them know you don't mind changing rooms. Many times, if a suite isn't available the day you check in, one will be available the next day. If you're staying several days then this is definitely worth the hassle of moving.
Another 2 tips 1) Try and note the front desk staff names and call them by their names or even better full names 2) Dress well in formal clothes and with a smiling face and greet on arrival.
Next level tips, and fully on point. I'll never forget the time I walked into the St. Regis New York looking dishevelled af - the front desk manager was like "sir, your room is NOT ready..."
I was staying at the Belmond Monasterio via Fine Hotels and Resorts and I was entitled to an upgrade if available. Anyways, the hotel was full of Americans (i'm Canadian but mother is from Uruguay) so the initial check in started off in English but I quickly changed to Spanish and I asked if there was an upgrade available and I got upgraded to their best suite. So What was a $300 room turned into a $1200 room lmao. I guess being genuine and being friendly helped a lot. I was so thankful for all the services and the wait staff was delighted to bring me my drinks by the fireplace since I always chatted them up.
Got a great Hilton suite upgrade by calling and asking for a room at the highest floor possible, wasn't even playing the game just wanted a room with a clear view, the hotel day manger said he could see that i was a Gold member and was going to upgrade me to a suite. On the day of arrival I called again to see if they had indeed upgraded me and they said they had already assigned the upgrade, however they only had 2 suite left and the one on the higher floor was still being cleaned, so the manager put me in the room I booked and said he will personally come and show me to my suite when it was ready. He actually did. 👏👏👏 The upgrade was amazing... plus some hotel goodies for the "inconvenience" Amazing!
Thanks for the tips! I stayed at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA and was also polite and made small talk while getting checked in. I felt nervous asking, because I didn't want to come off as "cheap" but I knew I would regret not asking. The woman was really nice and got quiet for a few seconds while she clicked away at her keyboard. Then she says, "I think you'll like this one." When I got to my room, it had amazing views! The room itself wasn't an upgrade but the view was amazing!!! I was above the pool, I had an unobstructed view of downtown LA, and of Century City, and Beverly Hills was in front of me. I was so glad I asked.
I booked a holiday/vacation lately, through Veterans Discount scheme, no problem. Got an email from the provider, saying as a Veteran, I got a hotel change, and I got an upgrade to a 5* hotel! So certainly didn't complain! Great video mate! Got yourself another subscriber! ❤️ From the UK 🇬🇧
I reached out to the Hotel the day before my arrival requesting an upgrade and was informed to reach out to them again upon my arrival in Seattle. I called from the airport and was told the Penthouse was available and I could have it for an addidtional $50 over the cost of my regular room. It made my visit even better!
A few years ago I stayed at the Troubadour Hotel in New Orleans, which is a Tapestry by Hilton property. I recall booking my (basic) room in advance on the app so I could select my preferred view, but on the day of check-in, I checked the app and another room was assigned. Upon arriving at the hotel, I double-checked when checking in to ask if they got my correct room selection, and the front desk staffer said yes with an unusual look on her face that I at first thought was a smirk. Turns out they put me in a mini-suite, which was quite a nice upgrade for a weary traveler who had just gotten off a long train ride! I’m guessing my Hilton Gold status certainly helped and it’s one of the reasons I signed up for the Honors Surpass card.
My approach is much different. During check in I’m courteous and address the staff by name with a smile. I hand over $100 and say, “I want you to have this because I appreciate you”. Works every time and makes someone’s day.
Excellent video as always. Your editing skills are on point. Easy to understand on the topics you talk about. I noticed that you are starting to have consistency with your video uploads. I wouldn't be surprise if you hit 10k subs by summer. Keep it up!
Great tips!!! I do exactly the same things but normally by email, but you made a great point about chat being easier and more personal ... I will try using chat next time! I also 90-95% of the time get the upgrade that I want and lots of times its a nice suite. I think the key is to research the room types very well and always ask for a specific suite or room. Some of my best upgrades were W Miami, W Bangkok, W Taipei, St Regis New York ... all were to gorgeous, huge suites 🙌🏻
Which suite did you get at the StR New York? I had the Madison Suite and it was awesome. I’m really looking forward to trying the Ws in Taipei and Bangkok one day!
@@PrinceofTravel in St Regis NY I got the Dior suite ... It was stunning😍😍😍 the breakfast at the main resto was to die for and I used the Bentley car service, such a nice perk 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻
@@PrinceofTravel in my opinion W Taipei is better than W Bankok ... Just nicer atmosphere in Taipei one and the service was superb ... But both of them gave me an upgrade to the "Fantastic -1 bedroom suite"
Whenever we say your preference has been noted, we really take note of it. There is a prompt that the front desk agent sees once we open your reservation. Please don’t get mad whenever we can’t grant your upg request because we really try our best to accommodate our elite members. 😁 I’d love to assist your soon once I get back to the hotel scene!
Found your channel a couple of months ago, but only saw this video today - just some days after I stayed at one of Marriot's Edition properties. Interesting to see your take on this. I reached out by app to organize a birthday surprise (cake) and several reservations for our stay and was blown away to not only get the higher room upgrade, which was already confirmed prior checkin (booked marriot stars rate), but to find myself in an amazing suite. Hotel did not know I was planning to propose to my gf on her birthday, but in the end they made our stay even better and rememberable. Keep up the good content, like the sober & informative style of yours!
The most amazing upgrade we received was at the JW Marriott in Bucharest. We booked a cheap room on points and we only had recently joined Bonvoy at the Silver level. Expecting a broom closet I paid for street parking and when we registered we were upgraded without asking to an Executive Suite on the Executive Floor. What a fantastic experience as the food and beverages in the Executive Lounge were extensive and seemed to go on all night.
As a Marriott Gold elite, I was upgraded to the largest suite on property- the bi level suite. Reached out a few weeks before and then the morning of. The front desk staff was shocked when she checked me in and saw I was already assigned to the bi-level suite. She boldly asked me how I managed that and if I was some sort of VIP and I simply said, “I just asked :) “
Great pointers! I would add that if you‘re booked on a long stay and the staff initially says they don‘t have an upgrade available when you check in, you could offer to switch rooms during your stay to an upgraded room/suite. That‘s how we got a wonderful suite as gold members in the Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik.
I've done this for many years and had good results. I find it works best if it's only a day or two at most. I've been upgraded to ocean-view suites in Hawaii, a penthouse suite in Florida. A couple years ago I was upgraded to a monster suite at the Butte Marriott. Overall, being a lifetime Titanium member has been awesome. I haven't used the app yet. I will give it a try on my next vacation which is my daughter's wedding at the Kaua'i Marriott Resort.
Getting Upgrades in Asia and Middle East works very good. All Accor Gold / Hilton Gold got me some good upgrades even in an IBIS Hotel, where you are not eligable to any upgrades because its the no-upgrade-brand.
Additional Tips: - It is easier to get upgrades on one or two night stays as opposed to a 7 night stay. Generally, the upgraded room/suite type must be available for the entire duration of the stay. - Do some investigation to see whether the hotel is actually owned by the hotel chain (eg. Marriott) itself (i.e. "Corporate Owned") or owned by a third party (eg. a real estate company/property developer) who then enters into an agreement with the hotel chain to operate the property under a franchise or similar agreement. Upgrades are more likely at Corporate Owned properties as opposed to properties owned by a property developer. Some property developers own multiple hotels of competing brands. - Avoid staying during periods of high demand (Examples: UN General Assembly/Fashion Week in NYC, or Summer in London/Paris when rich Arabs vacation there) if an upgrade is important to you. During these times. people actually pay for suites! - If you are Marriott Bonvoy Gold, you might want to consider booking the highest room type (eg. Grand Deluxe as opposed to Superior or Deluxe), which is one level below a suite. This increases your chance.
To add to this, I can definitely attest to the fact that 7-night stays are hard to get upgraded. This stay in Doha was a 7-night one, and I only got a nicer room at first before finally getting upgraded (by the generosity of the hotel) on the 5th night.
Thank you so much for making this video! I'm a gold Amex Platinum member and I've gotten lucky a couple times. I will definitely utilize your tips going forward. Thank you again!
your referring to a very select group of people. Most folks don't stay in those hotels 35x per year unless your in a traveling job and in that case, your company is footing the bill.
I am average person but Hilton just upgraded me diamond level for 2 yrs. I have beening using basic Hilton/ Amex credit card with no annual fee for 5 yrs, spending less a thousand $ a month and only stay in Hilton less 3 nights a year.
Hey there! Loving your channel so far - just found it and I’ve been binge watching. So quick question - I’m Ambassador status with Marriott this year (due to work stays), and I was wondering how you go about researching specific hotel suite rooms when planning stays. Like, how do you know the names of specific suites to ask for? Also, do you think it’s possible to stake my elite suite upgrade with my annual gift (5 suite night upgrades) in order to get a penthouse? And if so, any particular property you’d recommend trying this at? Thanks, and looking forward to seeing more of your vids!
I asked for an upgrade a couple of times, (with no gold or platinum status in any hotel chain). Always got the answer, yes there is avalible upgrades, Nicer double room will be 40Euro extra per night, suite will be 150 Euros extra per night and we can put it on your checkout bill. Then my reply is always "Oh... No thanks."
Good advice. Def more methods that probably shouldn't be shared so publicly and that are ethically dubious but I will say that I have been upgraded after staff told me a room wasn't available and then I checked the app and they had more than 6 of the type of room I was requesting. Once I did that I was informed they would be upgrading me
Yeah I mentioned how you can pull up the app and cite that, but I don't really like for my hotel stays to begin on a note of accusing them of lying to my face. Well, unless they were being especially rude about it I guess.
This is super great content my man I'm glad I clicked on this video and defs gonna sub. Hey question though bro, how do you directly chat with the actual hotel you're going to stay at and not just a generic like support person? I have hilton btw, just got surpass card Thanks!
Hilton sometimes has the chat function, sometimes they don’t. You can always correspond over email or call the hotel front desk to achieve the same results
I have never tried asking because I never had status before. But let's say you have that Gold Elite, and you ask for an upgraded room (higher category), how do you know you are even getting a better room? They can say to you "Oh yes, sir/ma'am, this is an even better room!" and then when you get there it's not really any more special.
Familiarize yourself with the hotel's list of room categories on the website and make sure the room that you get assigned is better than the one you originally booked. If you find out the hotel lied, then you'd be well within your rights to raise it with the front desk.
Question, Ricky! We're staying in St. John's NL as Gold Elite for our first Bonvoy stay next week, and the hotel we're staying at definitely has suites, but none are available right now for the dates we're staying there, and we booked the highest category regular room anyway because I didn't want to risk not getting a harbour view for our special anniversary, and first vacation anywhere in 18 months. I know we probably wouldn't have gotten a suite upgrade anyway, but with Gold Elite status is there anything worth emailing the hotel about to ask for? Maybe seeing if we can get into Sheraton's Club Lounge while there?
Great video…… Recently discovered your channel, subscribed and working my way through all your videos. The production and editing on some are amazing. Question about this. Before asking for the upgrade you can get based on your status, what room do you initially book? The cheapest one available or one level down from the one you actually want?
Simple question that's not addressed by the video: How do I start chatting with the hotel via the App? I have the Marriott Bonvoy App and I can't find a button to access a chat function with the hotel? Nor can I find an email.
About two days before your stay, the Mobile Check-In page will show up for your stay, and there will be a button on that page to chat with the hotel. Here's how to find the email address: princeoftravel.com/blog/how-to-find-any-marriott-hotel-email-address
Some Hilton hotels have a chat service and some don't. If you don't see the chat function on the app, search for the hotel's email address and send a nicely worded email.
A harsh way of putting it, but accurate. In an ideal world you wouldn't have to explicitly ask the loyalty program for what you're entitled to, but in a #Bonvoy world, alas, we do.
@@PrinceofTravel In February there was a 40k point sign-up bonus in Germany for Amex Gold and 3000€ spent in 6 months with a monthly fee of 12€. Biggest bonus ever , usually you only get 15k-20k points here and 30k-40k for the Amex Platinum which costs a whooping 660€ per year now but at least we get the metal card too. But there were Platinum Card sign up bonuses of 60k or even 75k points. So not really worse then your mighty North American points bonuses.
Yea its definitely not free, and when you do the minimum spend, ($5,000) you may end up paying interest, and the business you used the card is also paying for those points as well. So when they say free upgrade its not free ha ha, but the staff at most of these hotels, will act like it cost them their pay check to upgrade you. I think the hotels should allow an option to upgrade on there app, to minimize bias.
So can I just say that your strategy is not accurate. First of all hotels do upgrades BASED UPON AVAILABLITY not withhold suites because they do not want to give you a suite. AND for the record your STATUS does not ENTITLE you to an upgrade AGAIN it is based upon availability. Please quit making videos that give inaccurate information regarding member benefits.
For sure, it's based on availability. Sometimes, a hotel might choose to make a suite "not available for upgrades" even though it's available for sale though. A bit of gentle chatter can nudge them in the right direction.
Interested in learning all about how to travel the world on points? Join us at The Travel Summit Toronto 2022: The #1 event for elevating your travel! thetravelsummit.com
Wow, you are shameless
Being polite and not being pushy is what did it for me. Had a free room as part of the Marriott Bonvoy, I'm a basic(Silver) member, reached out to hotel manager (via email) to see if there was anything she could do to make my special day with them 'extra' special. Free room ended up being ocean front, mid property + champagne + dessert(chocolate strawberries) + very late check-out(6pm) the following day. This blew me away, top notch service!
How much in advance did you email
How did you even know who to email?
@@anthonystpeter2010 4-5 weeks ahead of time was the first contact and then 1 week prior to finalize.
@@DefSquadFan Reached out directly to the hotel and asked to be put in touch with someone that could assist
Our best upgrade was during our 5 night stay at the Danieli in Venice and it was not the result of asking for one. I had specifically asked in advance not to have a room overlooking the Grand Canal as I had read about late night noise. However, when we arrived the person checking us in insisted that that was the only type of room available. We were assigned an old cricket room overlooking the Grand Canal that had a temporary aluminum ramp over a small canal right below our window. Every step of every person on that ramp produced a metallic sound that lasted quite late into the night. But the final straw was the joggers who started using the ramp at 4:30 in the morning. I was insistent upon a room change the next morning reminding them that I had specifically asked to to have such a room. I was told to pack our things and go out and enjoy the day. When we came back we were escorted to a two room suite that had a Murano glass chandelier over the king size bed. Within minutes the head of housekeeping came by to make sure everything was in order. They really stepped up.
Great video. One more trick for those that travel lightly and don't mind moving rooms in mid stay. If you aren't upgraded at time of check in, ask the agent if a suite will open up any time during your stay and let them know you don't mind changing rooms. Many times, if a suite isn't available the day you check in, one will be available the next day. If you're staying several days then this is definitely worth the hassle of moving.
Another 2 tips
1) Try and note the front desk staff names and call them by their names or even better full names
2) Dress well in formal clothes and with a smiling face and greet on arrival.
Next level tips, and fully on point. I'll never forget the time I walked into the St. Regis New York looking dishevelled af - the front desk manager was like "sir, your room is NOT ready..."
I was staying at the Belmond Monasterio via Fine Hotels and Resorts and I was entitled to an upgrade if available. Anyways, the hotel was full of Americans (i'm Canadian but mother is from Uruguay) so the initial check in started off in English but I quickly changed to Spanish and I asked if there was an upgrade available and I got upgraded to their best suite. So What was a $300 room turned into a $1200 room lmao. I guess being genuine and being friendly helped a lot. I was so thankful for all the services and the wait staff was delighted to bring me my drinks by the fireplace since I always chatted them up.
I once got upgraded to a suite in a 5 star hotel in Dubai because the night manager was from the same country as my parents.
What country are your parents from?
Got a great Hilton suite upgrade by calling and asking for a room at the highest floor possible, wasn't even playing the game just wanted a room with a clear view, the hotel day manger said he could see that i was a Gold member and was going to upgrade me to a suite. On the day of arrival I called again to see if they had indeed upgraded me and they said they had already assigned the upgrade, however they only had 2 suite left and the one on the higher floor was still being cleaned, so the manager put me in the room I booked and said he will personally come and show me to my suite when it was ready. He actually did. 👏👏👏
The upgrade was amazing... plus some hotel goodies for the "inconvenience" Amazing!
Great stuff Wane!
Thanks for the tips! I stayed at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA and was also polite and made small talk while getting checked in. I felt nervous asking, because I didn't want to come off as "cheap" but I knew I would regret not asking. The woman was really nice and got quiet for a few seconds while she clicked away at her keyboard. Then she says, "I think you'll like this one." When I got to my room, it had amazing views! The room itself wasn't an upgrade but the view was amazing!!! I was above the pool, I had an unobstructed view of downtown LA, and of Century City, and Beverly Hills was in front of me. I was so glad I asked.
I booked a holiday/vacation lately, through Veterans Discount scheme, no problem. Got an email from the provider, saying as a Veteran, I got a hotel change, and I got an upgrade to a 5* hotel! So certainly didn't complain!
Great video mate! Got yourself another subscriber!
❤️ From the UK 🇬🇧
I reached out to the Hotel the day before my arrival requesting an upgrade and was informed to reach out to them again upon my arrival in Seattle. I called from the airport and was told the Penthouse was available and I could have it for an addidtional $50 over the cost of my regular room. It made my visit even better!
A few years ago I stayed at the Troubadour Hotel in New Orleans, which is a Tapestry by Hilton property. I recall booking my (basic) room in advance on the app so I could select my preferred view, but on the day of check-in, I checked the app and another room was assigned. Upon arriving at the hotel, I double-checked when checking in to ask if they got my correct room selection, and the front desk staffer said yes with an unusual look on her face that I at first thought was a smirk. Turns out they put me in a mini-suite, which was quite a nice upgrade for a weary traveler who had just gotten off a long train ride! I’m guessing my Hilton Gold status certainly helped and it’s one of the reasons I signed up for the Honors Surpass card.
My approach is much different. During check in I’m courteous and address the staff by name with a smile. I hand over $100 and say, “I want you to have this because I appreciate you”. Works every time and makes someone’s day.
but if you booked a room that was 100 dollars more in price, would you have been able to have that upgrade already?
I love the whole neo-sixties "Groove tech" vibe that's taking place in that hotel.
Excellent video as always. Your editing skills are on point. Easy to understand on the topics you talk about. I noticed that you are starting to have consistency with your video uploads. I wouldn't be surprise if you hit 10k subs by summer. Keep it up!
Wow, thank you for the encouragement Timothy! That would be a huge milestone when it happens :)
pretty good, its almost like an upsell, ask 3 days in advance, ask the night before, ask in the morning before.
Great tips!!! I do exactly the same things but normally by email, but you made a great point about chat being easier and more personal ... I will try using chat next time! I also 90-95% of the time get the upgrade that I want and lots of times its a nice suite. I think the key is to research the room types very well and always ask for a specific suite or room. Some of my best upgrades were W Miami, W Bangkok, W Taipei, St Regis New York ... all were to gorgeous, huge suites 🙌🏻
Which suite did you get at the StR New York? I had the Madison Suite and it was awesome. I’m really looking forward to trying the Ws in Taipei and Bangkok one day!
@@PrinceofTravel in St Regis NY I got the Dior suite ... It was stunning😍😍😍 the breakfast at the main resto was to die for and I used the Bentley car service, such a nice perk 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻
@@PrinceofTravel in my opinion W Taipei is better than W Bankok ... Just nicer atmosphere in Taipei one and the service was superb ... But both of them gave me an upgrade to the "Fantastic -1 bedroom suite"
Whenever we say your preference has been noted, we really take note of it. There is a prompt that the front desk agent sees once we open your reservation. Please don’t get mad whenever we can’t grant your upg request because we really try our best to accommodate our elite members. 😁 I’d love to assist your soon once I get back to the hotel scene!
Which hotel do you work at?
Found your channel a couple of months ago, but only saw this video today - just some days after I stayed at one of Marriot's Edition properties.
Interesting to see your take on this. I reached out by app to organize a birthday surprise (cake) and several reservations for our stay and was blown away to not only get the higher room upgrade, which was already confirmed prior checkin (booked marriot stars rate), but to find myself in an amazing suite.
Hotel did not know I was planning to propose to my gf on her birthday, but in the end they made our stay even better and rememberable.
Keep up the good content, like the sober & informative style of yours!
The most amazing upgrade we received was at the JW Marriott in Bucharest. We booked a cheap room on points and we only had recently joined Bonvoy at the Silver level. Expecting a broom closet I paid for street parking and when we registered we were upgraded without asking to an Executive Suite on the Executive Floor. What a fantastic experience as the food and beverages in the Executive Lounge were extensive and seemed to go on all night.
As a Marriott Gold elite, I was upgraded to the largest suite on property- the bi level suite. Reached out a few weeks before and then the morning of.
The front desk staff was shocked when she checked me in and saw I was already assigned to the bi-level suite. She boldly asked me how I managed that and if I was some sort of VIP and I simply said, “I just asked :) “
Ask and you shall receive :)
NICE 😊😎
Which country’s hotel was this in?
Great pointers! I would add that if you‘re booked on a long stay and the staff initially says they don‘t have an upgrade available when you check in, you could offer to switch rooms during your stay to an upgraded room/suite. That‘s how we got a wonderful suite as gold members in the Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik.
I've done this for many years and had good results. I find it works best if it's only a day or two at most. I've been upgraded to ocean-view suites in Hawaii, a penthouse suite in Florida. A couple years ago I was upgraded to a monster suite at the Butte Marriott. Overall, being a lifetime Titanium member has been awesome. I haven't used the app yet. I will give it a try on my next vacation which is my daughter's wedding at the Kaua'i Marriott Resort.
Glad to hear it Dennis! Good luck in Hawaii - it was one of the few places where my suite-talking didn't work out for me.
I will try your advice, but as a lifetime titanium member it has not seem to ever work for me 😞
@@kimberlycomstock4274 You have never been upgraded ever?
@@DefSquadFan very rarely I should say. We did stay at the Ritz this summer and they did upgrade us to a suite which was lovely.
Great tips! I’ll hit Marriott Platinum in a few weeks. I’ll use this strategy on my next stay.
It works. Also speaking to a manager on the phone they upgraded me right away and have me a king studio suite at the Hampton inn.
Awesome!
If you are Hilton Gold and have never stayed at Hilton Conrad in Macao, they are likely to upgrade you to a suite without having to ask.
Getting Upgrades in Asia and Middle East works very good. All Accor Gold / Hilton Gold got me some good upgrades even in an IBIS Hotel, where you are not eligable to any upgrades because its the no-upgrade-brand.
Another Final Tip if you didnt get upgraded to the room you request is to push them for a late checkout
I was a upgraded to a presidential suite at Hilton in Rio de Janeiro as Gold status
Best upgrade, the presidential/royal suite at Westin Tokyo. Room was so huge, had sauna and jacuzzi in it. Dated but still very nice.
I am traveling a couple days after my birthday. They previously gave me a VIP pass and a $40 upgrade for a room that cost $200 more. I’m optimistic.
Additional Tips:
- It is easier to get upgrades on one or two night stays as opposed to a 7 night stay. Generally, the upgraded room/suite type must be available for the entire duration of the stay.
- Do some investigation to see whether the hotel is actually owned by the hotel chain (eg. Marriott) itself (i.e. "Corporate Owned") or owned by a third party (eg. a real estate company/property developer) who then enters into an agreement with the hotel chain to operate the property under a franchise or similar agreement. Upgrades are more likely at Corporate Owned properties as opposed to properties owned by a property developer. Some property developers own multiple hotels of competing brands.
- Avoid staying during periods of high demand (Examples: UN General Assembly/Fashion Week in NYC, or Summer in London/Paris when rich Arabs vacation there) if an upgrade is important to you. During these times. people actually pay for suites!
- If you are Marriott Bonvoy Gold, you might want to consider booking the highest room type (eg. Grand Deluxe as opposed to Superior or Deluxe), which is one level below a suite. This increases your chance.
Excellent tips. That corporate/third-party owned one is completely new to me, so thanks for the knowledge! 👍🏼
To add to this, I can definitely attest to the fact that 7-night stays are hard to get upgraded. This stay in Doha was a 7-night one, and I only got a nicer room at first before finally getting upgraded (by the generosity of the hotel) on the 5th night.
Thank you so much for making this video! I'm a gold Amex Platinum member and I've gotten lucky a couple times. I will definitely utilize your tips going forward. Thank you again!
I've had a suite upgrade in Vegas and South Padre Island. I'm traveling next week and I'm going to see how many upgrades I can get.
Your advice worked. Thanks for the tips!
I got a penthouse once in San Diego Hyatt. I don't know what exactly I said but I had visited the hotel the year before so maybe that helps.
your referring to a very select group of people. Most folks don't stay in those hotels 35x per year unless your in a traveling job and in that case, your company is footing the bill.
I am average person but Hilton just upgraded me diamond level for 2 yrs. I have beening using basic Hilton/ Amex credit card with no annual fee for 5 yrs, spending less a thousand $ a month and only stay in Hilton less 3 nights a year.
Hey there! Loving your channel so far - just found it and I’ve been binge watching.
So quick question - I’m Ambassador status with Marriott this year (due to work stays), and I was wondering how you go about researching specific hotel suite rooms when planning stays. Like, how do you know the names of specific suites to ask for?
Also, do you think it’s possible to stake my elite suite upgrade with my annual gift (5 suite night upgrades) in order to get a penthouse? And if so, any particular property you’d recommend trying this at?
Thanks, and looking forward to seeing more of your vids!
I asked for an upgrade a couple of times, (with no gold or platinum status in any hotel chain). Always got the answer, yes there is avalible upgrades, Nicer double room will be 40Euro extra per night, suite will be 150 Euros extra per night and we can put it on your checkout bill.
Then my reply is always "Oh... No thanks."
Thanks for the approach! Will try it out for our upcoming honeymoon! We have Platinum but will likely achieve Titanium by end of year/after honeymoon.
I made ambassador status last week with Marriott ❤
How is your experience with upgrades?
Haha! Dont kill me! The "slip a $20" comment. That might have worked in the 90s? 😂
inspiring! loving my journey to more luxurious travel... thanks Ricky!
Well done!! Great video. Keep up the good work. Subscribed!
we love Upgrades and give them out daily
Good advice. Def more methods that probably shouldn't be shared so publicly and that are ethically dubious but I will say that I have been upgraded after staff told me a room wasn't available and then I checked the app and they had more than 6 of the type of room I was requesting. Once I did that I was informed they would be upgrading me
Yeah I mentioned how you can pull up the app and cite that, but I don't really like for my hotel stays to begin on a note of accusing them of lying to my face. Well, unless they were being especially rude about it I guess.
You are the best Ricky. I hope to meet you in South Africa
I dont mind waiting for them to clean the room for suite upgrade :D
That looks like a party room😂Great advice!
I do the same things you mentioned, with alot of success.
Thank you very much brother You are the Best !
This is super great content my man I'm glad I clicked on this video and defs gonna sub. Hey question though bro, how do you directly chat with the actual hotel you're going to stay at and not just a generic like support person? I have hilton btw, just got surpass card
Thanks!
Hilton sometimes has the chat function, sometimes they don’t. You can always correspond over email or call the hotel front desk to achieve the same results
@@PrinceofTravel right on man, thanks for the reply! Will defs use this strategy when I book my first stay
Thank you. Very informative.
I have never tried asking because I never had status before. But let's say you have that Gold Elite, and you ask for an upgraded room (higher category), how do you know you are even getting a better room? They can say to you "Oh yes, sir/ma'am, this is an even better room!" and then when you get there it's not really any more special.
Familiarize yourself with the hotel's list of room categories on the website and make sure the room that you get assigned is better than the one you originally booked. If you find out the hotel lied, then you'd be well within your rights to raise it with the front desk.
Definitely helpful! Thank you for your video!
Very helpful. Thank you very much.
Thank you!
Good video, nice idea to get that upgrade
This guy’s good👍🏻I like it✈️
Does asking for a upgrade matter if I only stay for ONE nights or multiple nights. The chances are worse if I stay for multiple nights??
Does it matter how you book your hotels? Do you have a suggested method, or do you simply just used the Marriott app?
Question, Ricky! We're staying in St. John's NL as Gold Elite for our first Bonvoy stay next week, and the hotel we're staying at definitely has suites, but none are available right now for the dates we're staying there, and we booked the highest category regular room anyway because I didn't want to risk not getting a harbour view for our special anniversary, and first vacation anywhere in 18 months. I know we probably wouldn't have gotten a suite upgrade anyway, but with Gold Elite status is there anything worth emailing the hotel about to ask for? Maybe seeing if we can get into Sheraton's Club Lounge while there?
Great video thanks for the tips
Question: do you get the hotel gold status with the supplementary American Express platinum card? Thank you!
Yes, and Marriot Bonvoy Gold
Hi Prince,
Just wondering what room would you originally book? The lowest one then ask for the upgrade?
Friendship ended with Marriott, now HILTON is my best friend
Will definitely try these tips out. Any tips on asking for flight upgrades? :)
This is much harder by comparison - the best way is to redeem points for business class directly :)
Waa sure!! Got it,, Terbang GRATIS, Salam Miles Manager ✈️✈️✈️
When you live in EU, you can’t apply for American Express Hilton card 😒
The good news is that you live in the EU, though!
Great video…… Recently discovered your channel, subscribed and working my way through all your videos. The production and editing on some are amazing.
Question about this. Before asking for the upgrade you can get based on your status, what room do you initially book? The cheapest one available or one level down from the one you actually want?
Typically I just book the cheapest room available and then play the suite-talking game.
Is there a a room type one should be booking at in order to qualify or get the suite upgrade?
Just booking the base room should entitle you to the upgrade if you have status.
I’m platinum with Marriott
How do you chat with a Hilton hotel staff
how would you go about asking for alcohol drink vouchers?
Bonvoy does not include suite upgrades any longer...
This my sound dumb but it’s this for Hilton hotels only ?
The Marriot Bonvoy app will not let me chat with the Hotel even though we have a room booked next week
Asked for upgrade, the front desk said Sure, I can do that for you, it will be $XXX more for your stay, is that OK? ..............................
Not always true unless you are their member......
Simple question that's not addressed by the video: How do I start chatting with the hotel via the App? I have the Marriott Bonvoy App and I can't find a button to access a chat function with the hotel? Nor can I find an email.
About two days before your stay, the Mobile Check-In page will show up for your stay, and there will be a button on that page to chat with the hotel.
Here's how to find the email address: princeoftravel.com/blog/how-to-find-any-marriott-hotel-email-address
@@PrinceofTravel Thank you!! Will try!!
How do I send a chat with Hilton honors?
Some Hilton hotels have a chat service and some don't. If you don't see the chat function on the app, search for the hotel's email address and send a nicely worded email.
Class III Occlusion
You're Bro. I like you
what if they say yeah we have an upgrade and its $2100 per night? ... how do you say a free upgrade?! lol
Monique Alvarado-Arellano you should mention about your membership status.
Have points, miles, and hotel rewards and you don't seem to figure out how to get the proper dollar value? Ask me I can tell you
Dude you need at least platinum to get to first base at Marriott.
Correct - as outlined in the video
So not sweet talking the hotel but harassing the hotel into giving you an upgrade. Whatever works I guess 😂
Do these methods still work if the hotel stay was booked with their respective rewards points?
Yes!
It works so well because essentially their programs are all scam. You are begging them for stuff you already earned.
The biggest scam of all is Bonvoy. They went from 1:1 straight down to 2:3. If that wasn't a scam - let me know any better scams.
A harsh way of putting it, but accurate. In an ideal world you wouldn't have to explicitly ask the loyalty program for what you're entitled to, but in a #Bonvoy world, alas, we do.
dam , room look nice .. rolling player
This was a mad one.
What was to price of the room
Booked a regular room on points (7 night certificate from the old Marriott Rewards) + upgraded for free of course :)
@Andrew Cossey Yessir it was the WOW Suite. Second-highest suite type behind the Extreme WOW.
That big ol' bed looks awfully lonely for one.
90 to 95% of the time does not equal every time. Change your title before you get sued.
Amex platinum annual fee $550 usd. Let’s do the math.
For a signup bonus of 60-100k MR points? Sounds like pretty favourable math to me.
@@PrinceofTravel In February there was a 40k point sign-up bonus in Germany for Amex Gold and 3000€ spent in 6 months with a monthly fee of 12€. Biggest bonus ever , usually you only get 15k-20k points here and 30k-40k for the Amex Platinum which costs a whooping 660€ per year now but at least we get the metal card too. But there were Platinum Card sign up bonuses of 60k or even 75k points. So not really worse then your mighty North American points bonuses.
Yea its definitely not free, and when you do the minimum spend, ($5,000) you may end up paying interest, and the business you used the card is also paying for those points as well. So when they say free upgrade its not free ha ha, but the staff at most of these hotels, will act like it cost them their pay check to upgrade you. I think the hotels should allow an option to upgrade on there app, to minimize bias.
What a strange dude is that!
Nothing new to learn. Just sensational headlines to attract listeners. Cheap skate’s trick.
So can I just say that your strategy is not accurate. First of all hotels do upgrades BASED UPON AVAILABLITY not withhold suites because they do not want to give you a suite. AND for the record your STATUS does not ENTITLE you to an upgrade AGAIN it is based upon availability. Please quit making videos that give inaccurate information regarding member benefits.
For sure, it's based on availability. Sometimes, a hotel might choose to make a suite "not available for upgrades" even though it's available for sale though. A bit of gentle chatter can nudge them in the right direction.