Contrary to popular belief you don’t need to command a five-star budget to receive a five-star service. With a little foresight, some clever planning and a few tricks-of-the-trade you can enjoy hotel service like a king, on the budget of a pauper.
Read our five top tips from PromoCodes.com to getting the hotel service you want – at the price you can afford.
Plan ahead to secure that upgrade
Availability is the deciding factor between the price you pay and service you receive. Hotels attracting leisure guests will be busy during the weekends, so be on the lookout for a mid-week bargain. There are some fabulous luxury hotels within the financial districts that are frequented by business travellers during the week, so check out the weekends here, when the hotels will be quieter and the deluxe rooms or suites will be unoccupied.
Providing you’re pleasant on check-in, hotels love to upgrade their guests should a superior room be available, so make sure you’ve chosen a quiet time with less competition.
Make friends with the front-desk
The hotel front-desk team is your access to free upgrades and services. Be sure to smile, keeping direct eye-contact and start a friendly conversation when you check-in. If an upgrade is not offered, don’t be afraid to ask about one or if you can be placed on a reserve list should a superior room become available. (Yes these do exist!)
Take advantage of the in-house services
Make sure you ask about any in-house services on check-in and discounts available to you as a guest. These often include restaurants, bars, gyms, spas, free Wi-Fi and business services. Hotels regularly provide great discounts to their guests to encourage them to stay on-site during their stay but don’t always communicate this to you.
Share your special occasions
Be it a birthday, wedding, or anniversary be sure to include a note when making your hotel booking and mention this on arrival. Hotels will always go above and beyond to mark a special occasion. I make a habit of celebrating my birthday in hotels and I’ve received free room-upgrades, access to the VIP lounge, personalised truffles, champagne, private dining area, late check-out and spa services just to name a few…
Put the royalty into loyalty
Don’t underestimate the powers of a hotel loyalty programme. Many global hotels run a free-to-join loyalty programme, the largest being IHG Rewards Club. As a member you’ll collect points, which you can redeem against future stays or products but more importantly you’ll gain access to a whole host of free VIP benefits. These can include priority check-in, late check-out, room upgrades, Wi-Fi, priority restaurant bookings and newspapers on arrival, all just one click away.
So that’s how you enjoy service like a king of the budget of a pauper. Be sure to come back and visit PromoCodes.com to find out how you can be Savings Smart!