ONE of the most exciting parts of being on holiday is wondering if you’ll get a coveted upgrade while you are away.
And one mum has revealed she greatly by sending the same simple email before each trip.
Erika Hernandez shared the exact email she uses to get upgrades for her familyCredit: tiktok/@talesofatravelfamily
Erika Hernandez, who posts under @talesofatravelfamily , advised that you ping off the email before you
She told her followers: “Sometimes sending a simple email can give you some cool perks, especially when traveling with kids.
“You can get free room upgrades or early check-in/ late check out.”
Helpfully, she then shared the exact template of what she sends to .
Erika wrote: “Subject: Excited for Our Stay Tomorrow! (Reservation number)
“Dear (Hotel Name) Team,
“I hope this email finds you well! We’re thrilled to be arriving tomorrow and will be traveling with our child.
“If there are any complementary larger rooms/upgrades available or anything else that can make our stay more comfortable, we would truly appreciate it.
“Thank you so much for your help!
“Best,
“(Your Name)
“(Your Contact Information).”
And it’s not just for families that the can be honoured, according to the mum.
She added: “If you’re celebrating a special occasion, don’t forget to add that in!”
You should book direct with the hotel and send the upgrade request email a week before you arrive, according to expertsCredit: Getty
The owner of Mocha Travel and family travel expert Katrina Morrison advised that youto increase your chances, and send the email a week before you check in.
Chris Hutchins, who hosts the podcast All the Hack, added that even if you don’t get an upgrade you may end up with other perks such as a free bottle of champagne, complimentary parking or monogrammed pillowcases.
Social reaction
Her video has racked up over 480,000 views, and people were quick to rush to the comments with their views.
Many people agreed with Erika that you don’t lose anything by trying, with one writing: “I always grew up being told if you don’t ask you won’t get and the worst someone can say is no.”
Erika’s email is simple, yet effective, according to the travel mumCredit: tiktok/@talesofatravelfamily
A second added: “Putting £20 tip in your passport at check-in does the same thing.”
A third commented: “Tried it for my honeymoon. Ended up with a huge room.
“A massive cake in the room on arrival and the bed was full of roses in an heart shape and every time the housekeeping came they left cupcakes and made crazy animals out the towels.”
A fourth joked: “Shy kids don’t get sweets.”
However, it didn’t go well for all .
One said: “I’ve emailed ours for Paris and they sent me a price list for the upgrade.”
And one agreed: “Usually when I try something like this I’m downgraded.”
Where and when to get the best hotel upgrade
Mark Johnson, founder of hotel search engine brand H18YC, revealed that booking a weekend retreat in a district provides the .
Having successfully tried and tested this theory himself, he’s now encouraging others to do the same.
“If your hotel is in a business-centric location, it’s more likely you’ll be upgraded on a Friday or Saturday,” said Mark.
“This is because business travellers are more likely to stay during the working week, meaning better rooms often become available when they’ve all gone home for the weekend.”
With your hotel likely to be quieter, you can expect a more relaxed stay than normal and less inconvenience from other guests.
As a result, it may be worth choosing a cheaper room when initially booking your stay due to the chances of getting a nicer room for no extra cost when you’re there.
However, Mark makes it clear that you must be realistic when asking for an upgrade.
“Ask politely but don’t be unrealistic,” he said. “If you’ve booked an economy room, don’t seek an upgrade to a luxury suite with a private balcony.”
Mark also recommended to join loyalty programs to increase their chances of getting an upgraded stay.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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