A former secret shopper shared three tricks he used to get free upgrades at hotels.
Dan Shapiro stayed at luxury hotels and reviewed them, under the guise of being a regular guest, and he picked up some tricks to bag a better room along the way.
One of his tips was for guests to pretend to be a secret shopper, to encourage staff to upgrade them in the hopes of securing a good review.
Speaking to Inside Hook he said: "Look at somebody's name tag conspicuously - like if you want to make yourself look like a secret shopper.
"Conspicuously look at their name tag and then write something down. You might get an upgrade out of that."
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But if acting isn't your strong suit, Dan shared that even the way you book your room can help to secure an upgrade.
Booking directly with the hotel, rather than through a third party, shows you're loyal and encourages staff to give you a better deal.
He commented: "You'll get a better experience if you book with the hotel than if you book with Expedia or another third-party site because they'll know if you're a valued customer.
"If you book directly with them they can see how valued of a customer you are - whether you're in the silver tier, the gold tier, how many times you've stayed with them before etc."
His final tip was to mind your manners, as politeness can go far.
He said: "Just be human and speak genuinely. You can always ask for a room upgrade.
If free upgrades are your thing, you can also bag a free night's stay at a UK hotel if you eat at their restaurant, Shapiro claims.
Oakman Inns launched a January deal which lets guests enjoy a free stay at their hotels, as long as they spend £120 on food and drink in their on-site restaurant.
The chain explained on its website: "When you spend £120 on food and drink, you’ll get a relaxing night stay completely free!
"Simply book online, pay upfront… check-in any time from 3pm onwards, and begin eating and drinking your way through that £120 tab!"
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