So many people have commented that they've been upgraded on check in...OK, stupid question, but do they ask to be upgraded for free or are they all just luckier than I am?
How about for rental cars?

I always ask when I check in if there is an upgrade room available. Sometimes they say no, sometimes they say "yes, for $xx.00" and sometimes they say "yes, let us help you there!". I think it just depends on who is checking you in, the hotel group and the fullness of the hotel at that time.
I always ask because the worst they can say is no!

Thanks, Wendy! We're getting ready to go to Hawaii for 10 nights with a partial ocean view, I'll keep my fingers crossed for an upgrade.

Happy New Year!!

The front desk person has a lot more authority than most people realize.

Firstly, be as polite as you possibly can and make a little small talk. Ask if the room you've been assigned is a nice room. Ask if it has a nice view. Chances are, if it doesn't, the front desk person will see if anything else is available. It also helps to mention that this is your first visit to _______ or you are a frequent visitor to this hotel and have stayed there _____ times.

Remember, even if they cannot upgrade you, there are standard rooms that are far superior to other standard rooms just because of building layout and geography.

Above all, be polite and it doesn't hurt to ask.

stillbrowns
I agree with being very polite and having no expectations. I've been upgraded at the same price for hotel rooms and I've paid a bit more for an upgrade. Both are acceptable. Also on our last car rental I reserved an economy car, ran into a snow storm, asked to be upgraded to a 4 wheel drive, pleassse, and they gave it to me for an extra 25.00 per day.

regarding Auto rental upgrades ...

I find that usually they'll *ASK* if I'd like an upgrade ("only $5 more") and when I decline politely it ends up that I get the upgrade anyway. I think often it's because they are out of the smaller car and hope to get you to pay first, before they give it away. I can say that the loyalty club membership seems to help a little to

My rule #1 for check in is to ask to see the room first, unless an immediate upgrade is offered. It's amazing that all over the world and for years many hotels will try hand hand off the worst rooms (view, size, noisy street,smoke when no smoking is requested)and how many folks don't complain. If you luck out from the start, you might not even want an upgrade~!

I always ask for an upgrade, and it works frequently, and for free. I find being a member of frequent stay programs helps - I show the card when I'm checking in and ask if any upgrades are available. This, as others have mentioned, along with some friendly small talk will definitely help!

We were "upgraded" to a larger rental car in Las Vegas - we were driving to San Diego via Grand Canyon. turns out the "upgrade" had a very sick transmission and they were robably looking for some sucker to take it to California for them - good thing we discovered it before we tried to drive it over the mountains. I would imagine that the equivalent could happen with hotel rooms.

Delores, most hotels are on a computer system that automatically assigns hotel rooms so unless the computer knows which room is which, they are assigned randomly. Hotels don't make an effort to assign "bad" rooms.

Unless of course someone is rude at the front desk then they are likely to get a bad room.

Hotels try not to have bad rooms as they are hard to sell and bad for word of mouth.

Thanks for everyone's input. I'll definitely put on my happy face at check in and keep my fingers crossed!

On our yearly stay at Bally's LV we asked upon check-in for a room on a higher floor. The clerk said she'd see what she could do and a room with a view came up-I'm not sure if it was random or not-but it was just a standard room just that it overlooked Paris' Eiffel Tower and the Bellagio fountains. I am not sure if the rooms with those views usually cost more than viewless rooms. If there were a price differential we probably wouldn't have taken it.

This question pops up alot so you may want to do a "search" above. If you book a hotel room with a virtuoso travel agent you will very likely get room upgrades at many 5* hotels including Four Seasons Maui in Hawaii. Have been upgraded to double room suites. www.virtuoso.com. And being super nice always helps. Did you book your Hawaii trip with a travel agent? Virtouso agents have agreements with many companies for complimentary upgrades upon availibility. Have received car upgrades a few times, when car rental companies are very busy in Hawaii (much of the time) they sell out of car categories than upgrade. You may want to be further back in line but you are still taking a chance that all cars may get sold out. Hope this helps.

Another option would be to get a Gold Amex card. A card benefit is an upgrade to Gold Status with Starwood's hotel membership plan. Gold Starwood preffered guest = free room upgrade upon availibility.

I'm not sure if our room at Bally's was considered to be an upgrade. We've been staying there for the last 3 years and I'm a Hilton Honors member. This past Dec. I just requested a room on a high floor and the clerk said she'd see what she could do. She gave us a "room with a view" (of the Eiffel Tower, the Paris pool, and the Bellagio fountains). The room was outdated as it was in the south tower but clean enough. We didn't pay extra for the view room.