Having traveled to far-flung destinations and stayed in some of the world’s most luxurious hotels, Swank Guide knows a thing or two about how to score a free hotel upgrade. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or just starting out, here are ten proven ways to get a little extra pampering on your next trip. (In a hurry? Skip to number 9 and 10 – Swank’s GO-TOs.)

1. Book Directly with the Hotel: Booking directly with the hotel instead of through an online travel agent can increase your chances of getting an upgrade. The hotel may have rooms available that aren’t listed online, and they may be more willing to upgrade you if you book directly with them.
2. Ask at Check-In: Simply asking at check-in if any upgrades are available can sometimes result in a free upgrade. The front desk may have rooms available that they’re looking to fill, and they’ll be happy to upgrade you if they can.
3. Use Your Loyalty Points: If you’re a member of a hotel loyalty program, be sure to use your points for an upgrade. This can be an easy way to score a free upgrade, especially if you have a high-tier status within the program.
4. Be Nice to the Front Desk Staff: A little charm and friendliness can go a long way. If you’re polite and friendly with the front desk staff, they may be more willing to upgrade you to a nicer room.
5. Check in Late: Checking in late can increase your chances of getting an upgrade. If the hotel has had a lot of check-ins earlier in the day, they may be more likely to upgrade you if they have a room available that they’re looking to fill.
6. Mention a Special Occasion: If you’re celebrating a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary, be sure to mention it at check-in. The front desk staff may be able to upgrade you to a nicer room in recognition of your special day.
7. Be a Repeat Guest: If you’re a repeat guest at a hotel, they may be more willing to upgrade you to show their appreciation for your loyalty.
8. Be a Good Tipper: If you’re a good tipper, be sure to tip the front desk staff when you check in. This can increase your chances of getting an upgrade, as the staff will want to reward your generosity.
9. Don’t ask for an upgrade. Combine #4 – be nice – with a request to see other rooms. Explain that you are disappointed with your room (but only if you are, in fact, disappointed!) About half the time there’s a room in the same price category that is a lot better. The key here is don’t be shy about asking. The front desk folks have had enough people asking that it feels normal to them. Pro tip: do this before you unpack and don’t mess up the room. Tell the front desk you haven’t touched a thing so the room will not need to be cleaned again.
10. Here’s the one that’s worked best for me: complain about something in the room and ask to see another room. This one’s tricky because you don’t want to get downgraded, so make sure you ask to see the replacement room first. But: this needs to be legit. Don’t just make up stuff, there needs to be something about that room that’s a slight – or major – issue.

So there you have it: ten proven ways to get a free hotel upgrade. These tips may help you score a little extra luxury on your next trip. So get booking!