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Six ways to get a hotel room upgrade anywhere in the world

International Traveller
Who says you have to pay for the ocean view suite? Arming yourself with these hacks will help get you the hotel upgrade you want – but don’t want to pay for…

It worked for me the first time in Las Vegas.

I didn’t even mean for it to happen, but before I could stop it, I was being wheeled into the top floor penthouse suite of the Cosmopolitan hotel – and as I felt the spray of the Bellagio fountains on my face from our balcony, the water soaring up to the beat of Big Spender – I knew I couldn’t tell them that we hadn’t really just become engaged. I mean, she assumed – and I just didn’t correct her.

The thing is, the ring was only on my left hand because I’d been hot travelling from LAX and had to move it from its usual home on my middle finger. But when the lady at reception caught sight of it, her whooping ‘congratulations!’ and a corresponding upgrade showed me that special occasions should never be hidden – especially at the check-in desk.

If fibbing about an anniversary or special occasion goes against your conscience, never fear – there are other ways to help score a room upgrade at any hotel. Many, in fact…

1. Go with a brand you’ve gone with before

If you’ve stayed in a certain brand of hotel a few times, continuing your loyalty in other destinations by staying with the same hotel brand could prove fruitful. Hotels are more likely to upgrade returning guests than they are first-timers – especially if you’re part of the brand’s loyalty scheme. So let them know how much you love their hotels during check-in.

2. During check-in, talk about the ‘review of the last place you just posted on TripAdvisor’

If you’re with a travel buddy, tell them so the desk can overhear; if you’re alone, talk to the attendant at the check-in desk directly about how awful your last hotel experience was and how ‘glad you are to be at their hotel now’. Odds are they’ll want to make your experience at their hotel much better – and won’t want to risk a bad review on their own listing.

3. Check-in timing is everything

Hotel rooms generally don’t get turned over until around 2-3pm and then from 5-7pm it’s check-in chaos. Aim to arrive at your hotel at around 4-4.30pm so that they have time to check you in – and by then they’ll know whether they will need to upgrade people due to space or not. Also, if you’re prompt, you’re the one likely to be rewarded if overcrowding has occurred – and it’s more common than you think!

4. Use your travel agent’s connections

Travel agents have special relationships with many hotels, so when you’re booking ask what they can do to help you out with an upgrade. If you don’t ask, you don’t get!

Handy hint: Virtuoso in particular has incredible relationships with the most luxurious hotels in the world and gets auto upgrades and perks when you use its services to book your trip.

5. Utilise social media effectively

There’s no harm in letting a hotel know you’re coming. You may not realise it, but using social media to let them know you’re en route – by tagging them into a Facebook post about your impending arrival and how you’re looking forward to it – can actually work. They see you as someone promoting their brand – and may just want to make sure you have the best time ever so that you tell your friends about it!

6. Pretend you’re on your honeymoon or have just become engaged

This only works if you’re travelling in a couple – obviously. It might seem slightly wrong… but hey, if you’re in a relationship, it may not be too far from the truth anyway, right? I mean, some people have a ‘honeymoon’ every time they check into a hotel! Just make sure you have a ring to slip on handy…

I was just upgraded at the Hilton at Port Denarau in Fiji – good thing too, because it actually was my honeymoon!

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5 things every hotel needs for a more restorative stay

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
    Continue
    Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

    The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

    1. Easy access to good food

    meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20
    Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

    One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

    In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

    In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

    Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

    At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

    While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

    It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

    2. Better sleep options

    Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room
    Sleep deeply with Novotel.

    There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

    For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

    The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

    3. More ways to move

    woman hiking around queenstown new zealand
    Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

    Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

    At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

    Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

    4. Better connections

    Novotel Sharm El Sheikh
    Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

    One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

    Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

    A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

    5. Location is everything

    Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld
    Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

    Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

    All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

    Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.