You've Been Upgraded to Your Downgrade
Is my upgrade a downgrade? This is a key question you should ask yourself when planning your next trip. There are times before we check in, that we are offered to upgrade our stay or even get the upgrade without asking for it. On paper it sounds fabulous, we all want the upgrade right? better view? Yes! higher floor? Well yes! Suite? You had me at hello! Now, I must burst your bubble and ask you to proceed with caution. Not all upgrades are good (insert gasp emoji here). Stay with me a minute and allow me to explain. An upgrade MUST elevate your experience and enhance your stay, if it doesn’t then its simply a Downgrade. (Short story alert) I was once offered an upgrade to a beautiful, insanely spacious top floor suite with wall to wall terrace to “enjoy the sunset while having a glass of wine” (this was literally what the the welcome amenity card said). This sounds dreamy and believe me the room was dreamy! Now add to this picture, a five year old that cannot stand still and wants to go up and down every half hr., a toddler that just started walking and could not stay away from the terrace door, all the gear needed to keep two small children alive and a very cranky husband due to all of the above. Does it sound like a downgrade? It was. On top of it all, I felt horrible because we were given this wonderful opportunity and did not get to enjoy it. We made the best of it and had a wonderful time, but we would’ve been much better off with our small double room on the ground floor with direct access to the pool area (without ever knowing how the other half lives). Keeping some pointers in mind before accepting or requesting an upgrade, will make a big difference in enhancing your stay and overall travel experience.
1. The Real Estate Classic. Location, location, location. Will the upgrade provide a better location for you on this specific trip? A family tends to want to be close to it all, having access to pool, beach, restaurants and amenities at short distance. Lower floors or ground floor with access to terraces/gardens are ideal when traveling with small children. Couples want more privacy, being secluded and on higher floors with less noise and better views. Whatever you envision as the perfect location for your room, always make sure it is added to your reservation profile (hint it is that additional notes/requests box that you never use). Don’t be shy to be specific, I’ve had travelers give me exact room number, because they’ve done their homework and downloaded the resort map, identifying exactly where they want to be, you know what? Good for them! I will always try my best to get it (or as close to as possible) and the great hotels partners I work with, will always try their best to accommodate them.
2. Hail to the King...or double queen.
Bedding.This is another big deal and many times overseen when accepting the upgrade. It is always SWEET to get a SUITE, right? Most likely yes, but Just make sure the bedding arrangement of the suite is equivalent (or better) to what you requested in the first place. If you are moved from a double queen to a king and a sofa bed, does this work for you? Are you ok with roll-aways? Is it a roommate style suite and kids are now at the other end of the room, is this truly a plus for you? These are things to keep in mind that can make a big difference, specially if your trip is longer than 2 or 3 nights.
3. Do you see me or do you don’t.?
Views. Another tricky one, when my kids were little I did not raise my eyes for years, so for me, views were not really an upgrade for a while. Decisions, decisions, decisions…Take the more spacious bottom floor room with garden view? Take the larger room with a limited view? is limited view building view or AC unit view? keep the smaller room on the higher floor with spectacular ocean views? Will I be in the room long enough to enjoy any view at all? There are so many options, just make sure to ask the questions and take the option that works best for you on that specific trip, because every trip is different.
Whatever the case, make sure you are asking the right questions. Some upgrades are available at time of booking and give us a little more chance to ask and prepare for what to expect on arrival, other upgrades happen at time of check-in, don’t feel rushed into the decision. Ask to see both rooms, the one that you booked and the upgrade room and choose on site!
Last, but sooo not least, always keep in mind that upgrades are subject to availability, do not rely on them no matter how high the chances are. Book the room you want, the one where you will be happy and then upgrade from there if having the chance, this will guarantee you a fabulous stay no matter what!
Travelers, travel well and travel often.
Geisel
