By Editor,Jowena Riley

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Hotel experts reveal the best ways to get free upgrades – and you can try it BEFORE arriving

Seasoned hotel reviewers Mark and Fiona, of The Telegraph, share their top tips

READ MORE: I’m a travel expert – you should always avoid these hotel rooms

By JOWENA RILEY, TRAVEL WRITER

Published: 09:49 BST, 3 October 2025 | Updated: 09:49 BST, 3 October 2025

If you’ve ever dreamed of securing a lavish hotel room with a stunning view – all without paying the high-end price tag – two leading hotel experts say it’s more possible than you might think.

Seasoned reviewers Fiona Duncan and Mark C. O’Flaherty have shared simple and smart ways to boost your chance of getting a free room upgrade – starting with a simple phone call.

Their top tip is to call the hotel directly before booking, with Fiona noting that too many travellers rely solely on online booking systems and miss out on the human touch.

According to Fiona, who has spent decades visiting hotels across Britain and beyond, a friendly conversation with the hotel staff can go a long way.

Politely asking if a better room might be available at check-in – especially if it’s a special occasion – often pays off.

Sharing an example, Fiona enacted: ‘This is really cheeky of me, but if on check-in, you had one of your rooms with that amazing view, that would be so special to me and I would be so grateful if you could upgrade me to it.’

Mark agreed that timing and charm are key to getting a more luxurious room, as he recalled being upgraded to a penthouse suite in New York simply because he arrived late, after the hotel had oversold standard rooms.

He further noted that smaller hotels are also more likely to offer complimentary upgrades if they have availability, especially when they want to leave a good impression.

If you’ve ever dreamed of securing a lavish hotel room with a stunning view – all without paying the high-end price tag – two leading hotel experts say it’s more possible than you might think

Seasoned reviewers Fiona Duncan and Mark C. O’Flaherty (pictured) have shared simple and smart ways to boost your chance of getting a free room upgrade – starting with a phone call

He shared in The Telegraph: ‘They want you to experience the best of the hotel. They’re not going to shove you in the attic if all the other rooms are free.

The pair also shared other insights into the changes UK hotels are now seeing – and what they hope to see more of.

According to Mark, flexible check-in and check-out times are long overdue in Britain.

While some hotel groups, such as Hoxton, have already introduced this, many UK properties stick to traditional time slots, which he believes could be rethought – especially in larger city hotels with adequate staffing.

Fiona, on the other hand, expressed her frustration the decline of family-run hotels.

She believes that the UK has lost a wealth of character and integrity in hospitality as smaller properties are bought up by large investment groups.

When it comes to the debate of service versus facilities, the two experts share differing views.

While Fiona values warmth, comfort and a personal touch, Mark leans more toward facilities – especially when visiting destination hotels where standout spas or high-end bathrooms make a stay especially memorable.

According to the experts, politely asking if a better room might be available at check-in – especially if it’s a special occasion – often pays off (stock image)

Admittedly, both revealed they occasionally wish they could sneak a souvenir or two from rooms into their bags, from bespoke toiletries to glamorous miniatures to unique items like a James Joyce sundial statue once eyed up by Fiona in Dublin.

It comes as travel expert Carmen Roberts has shared her sneaky hack to help guests avoid expensive mini bar costs in hotels.

Many tourists reach for a refreshing drink from the hotel room mini fridge – some without realising it may come with a high price tag.

Most people will pay the bill at the end of their stay, but Carmen has revealed a way to avoid being hit with inflated pricing.

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Hotel experts reveal the best ways to get free upgrades – and you can try it BEFORE arriving

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