Could a two minute email make your next hotel stay that little bit more special? Worth a try, isn’t it?
I’m a firm believer that if you don’t ask, you don’t get. When we’re spending our hard-earned money on a family holiday, I’ll happily take any opportunity to make the stay even better.
Before we travel, I send the hotel a quick, friendly email to let them know we’re looking forward to visiting and ask whether there’s any chance of a room upgrade.
No expectations. Just a polite little ask.
When should you send it?
I’d suggest around a week before you arrive. It’s close enough to your stay that the hotel may have a clearer idea of availability.
What should you say?
Keep it short, friendly and personal. Mention if you’re celebrating something special, whether that’s a birthday, anniversary etc. If there’s a particular room you’d love, you can ask about it – just make it clear you understand upgrades depend on availability.
Don’t feel you have to invent a special occasion. Being excited about your holiday is reason enough to send a friendly message.
Where do you find the right email address?
Start with the hotel’s website or reply to any pre-arrival email they’ve sent you. You can also contact the reservations team and ask them to pass your message to the relevant person.
Does it actually work?
There’s no guarantee but there’s no harm in asking politely. Even if a room upgrade isn’t possible, the hotel may be able to offer another little touch to make your stay special.
And if the answer is no? You’ve lost two minutes of your life. Hardly a holiday disaster.
Copy my free hotel upgrade email
I’ve popped the exact email template I use before our trips below, ready for you to personalise with your hotel details and travel dates.
Dear [Resort Team],
My family and I are really looking forward to our first stay at [Resort Name] from [dates] (booking reference: [confirmation number]).
We’ve heard such wonderful things about the resort and have been looking forward to visiting for a long time. We’re so excited to experience it for ourselves and make some lovely memories together as a family.
We’ll be celebrating [occasion] during our stay, which makes this trip extra special for us.
I just wanted to ask whether there might be any possibility of an upgrade to a [desired room type], should availability allow. We completely understand this might not be possible, but we’d be incredibly grateful if there were any opportunity to make our stay that little bit more special.
Thank you so much for your time. We’re really looking forward to visiting and experiencing everything [Resort Name] has to offer.
Warm regards,
[Your Name]
Happy travels – and may your room have a better view than the car park!
Claudia x
