Just because you purchased cheap vacation packages or cheap discount hotel rooms does not mean that you have to stay in a standard room.
The following are tips on how you can upgrade your hotel room:
Make hotel reservations at hotels that have empty rooms. During the recession certain destinations, particularly those with plenty of hotels (such as Hawaii, Las Vegas, New York, Orlando, and San Francisco) have had lower occupancy rates. Hotels that have empty suites readily upgrade guests so that they can resell standard rooms which are in greater demand. Also, making hotel reservations during less busy times of year is when more suites are available for upgrades.
Often you can get an upgrade by making a reservation using an American Express Centurion or Platinum credit card. Using a hotel affiliated credit card for everyday purchases helps guests qualify for better rooms.
Affiliation memberships sometimes help with hotel upgrades. Lexus and Saks First card holders are at times able to qualify for upgrades at Fairmont hotels. Through select bank (Merrill Lynch, UBS, or HSBC) member benefits programs you can frequently access upgraded Ritz Carlton packages. Sometimes hotels partner with airlines that allow guests to be upgraded for free. For example, business and first class passengers on Singapore Airlines flights qualify for automatic upgrades at Raffles hotels.
The later you check in the greater your chance of snagging an upgrade, particularly if you are only staying one night. Late in the day upgraded rooms are unlikely to be sold.
By being loyal (i.e., a frequent guest enrolled in the hotels frequent guest program) you will likely be given priority in accessing upgraded rooms.
www.cheapfares.com