Hotels.com share hacks on getting the most out of a stay

Bagging an upgrade in a hotel will always make a holiday extra special.

And you’ll be pleased to hear that getting one doesn’t involve breaking and entering.

Just follow these handy tips from the staff at hotels.com – from asking for a corner room to travelling with your dog – to secure upgrades and freebies. 

Hotel experts have been sharing their insider tips on how you can secure an elusive upgrade or bag freebies

Book a stay in January

Hotel rooms are always cheapest when there is a dip in demand. 

And according to hotels.com, January is one of the quietest month to travel due to the post-Christmas slump. 

This means it is the perfect time to grab a bargain hotel room.

Stay on a Sunday

On Sunday nights the weekend travellers have left the city and it’s before the Monday morning rush, so hotels are often cheaper on this night and more likely to offer upgrades and deals – because they have more space available.

Go for the business district

The business districts of cities are usually packed full of hotels for working travellers, especially in places such as Tokyo, Brussels and Sao Paulo. 

But experts say that on a weekend, once the ‘suits’ have left, you can bag a bargain.

According to the site, you can sometimes find a five-star hotel for less than £100 per night.

Holiday with a hound 

Some hotels allow guests to bring their dogs and other pets to stay with them in their rooms. 

And according to hotels.com, sometimes the pet-friendly rooms are actually the biggest. 

Hotel rooms are always cheapest when there is a dip in demand so January is the best month to stay

Hotel rooms are always cheapest when there is a dip in demand so January is the best month to stay

It says to consider taking your pet with you, as you might end up with a more spacious and comfortable room.

Leave it late to book and check in 

The experts say that booking right at the last minute can save you lots of money.

For example, on Hotels.com, you can now book all the way up until 5am, for that night. 

And if you check in late, then there is a chance that the hotel might have run out of standard rooms.

This is generally the room category the everyday traveller books, so an upgrade to a higher room category could be on the cards.

Request a room on a higher floor  

The suites and more premium rooms are usually located on the higher floors of a hotel, so request a room in the sky, say the hotel experts. 

And they add that even if you don’t quite make it into the presidential suite, you’ll be further away from the street noise.

Ask for a corner room 

As with rooms on higher floors, those on the corners can often be bigger due to their structural layout. 

According to hotels.com, these rooms generally have the most square footage and windows, while also offering the lowest noise level. 

It says it will feel like you have a nicer room, without actually paying for one.

Hotels.com says you should definitely ask at check in if there are any special deals for the on-site restaurant, especially for breakfast

Hotels.com says you should definitely ask at check in if there are any special deals for the on-site restaurant, especially for breakfast

Use social media   

Guest reviews and social media exposure are so important to hotels these days. 

So the experts suggest that at check in you should tell them you’ll be writing a review and that you follow them on Instagram and will be tagging and snapping the hotel at every opportunity, which may prompt them to give you a better room.

Make friends with the staff 

According to travel experts, when you arrive at the hotel, if it’s super busy, show the hotel staff that you’re on their side and offer to wait. 

They say you should be friendly and polite with reception staff as this can often lead to a better room and even perks like late checkout, breakfast certificates, a bottle of wine, fruit baskets, or waived minibar charges.

Always ask about breakfast 

Quite often room bookings don’t come with breakfast included. 

So hotels.com says you should definitely ask at check in if there are any special deals for the on-site restaurant, especially for breakfast. 

You could land yourself large discounts on food, an invite to guests-only happy hours or special 2-for-1 deals.  



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