How We Get Free Hotel Room Upgrades When We Travel as a Family

I love a good hotel room upgrade the way my toddler loves throwing Goldfish crackers onto the floor—enthusiastically and with zero regrets. The difference is, when I score an upgrade, everyone wins.

Luckily, I have cracked the code on how to get them—without paying a single extra dollar. It all comes down to two things: booking through a Virtuoso agent (hi, that’s me!) or having status with the hotel thanks to a good travel credit card. Let’s dive in.

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The Virtuoso (& Friends) Method: Luxury Upgrades That Don’t Cost Extra

If you’ve ever checked into a hotel, squinted at the room size, and thought, huh, I wonder if they have something… better?, the answer is yes. And the even better answer is: I can help you get it.

When you book through a Virtuoso agent (again, me!), you unlock a secret stash of perks that most people don’t even know exist. We’re talking:

• Complimentary room upgrades (when available, which they often are outside of peak travel times).
• Free breakfast for two (usually the toddler eats for free too).
• Early check-in and late check-out when available (like our glorious 4 PM late check-out at Edgewood Tahoe).
• $100 resort credits.

Best of all? It usually doesn’t cost more than booking directly. Beyond Virtuoso, this magic is available at tons of luxury hotels when you book through a travel agent like Hyatt Prive, Four Seasons, Auberge, Belmond, Hilton, Marriott, and beyond. I mean, if you were going to book the room anyway, why not get the upgrade and free waffles too?

And if you ever see a better price by booking directly, get in touch and we’ll get you the perks for the best available rate, or super close to it.

The Credit Card Status Method: Fancy Perks Just for Existing

With the right credit cards, you can probably get hotel status without ever actually staying at a hotel. Some come with automatic status, which can mean free breakfast, room upgrades, and late check-outs.

Some of my favorite cards for this magic trick:

• American Express Platinum → Marriott and Hilton Gold status (which got us free breakfast at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal—where the breakfast was otherwise $40+)
• World of Hyatt Business Card by Chase → Helped us snag an upgrade at the Alila Ventana Big Sur (on a parents-only getaway)
• IHG One Rewards Card → Got us a 3 PM check-out at the Six Senses Yao Noi in Thailand (which meant more time to soak up the insane view and debate whether we should just never leave). This card also offers a 4th night free when booking with points.
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card.
• Hilton Honors American Express Card.

These perks can turn an already great stay into an epic one. Because at the very least, you’re earning points towards future stays, and get some perks here and there.

That said, unless you have top tier status which is only attainable through loyalty, lots of nights at the hotel chain, and high spend, you’re not likely to get as many perks as you would by booking with travel advisor. Best of all, your booking with travel advisors are treated as direct bookings with the hotels, meaning you earn full loyalty points and free night credits with your hotel branded credit card.

Note that hotel groups like the Four Seasons, Belmond, Auberge, Aman, and more only offer perks and benefits through travel advisors, and do not have loyalty programs. Learn more about how booking through a travel advisor works here.

Final Thoughts: Why Settle for Less?

Look, I’m all about making travel as comfortable (and luxurious) as possible, especially with a toddler in tow. When you can book through me or strategically use a credit card, you can take a regular vacation and turn it into one that feels like Beyoncé’s travel agent planned it. And really, isn’t that what we all deserve?

If you want in on the Virtuoso magic, I’m your girl. And if you need a good travel credit card strategy, I can point you in the right direction too. Either way, here’s to upgrades, free breakfasts, and stretching out in a suite while your toddler takes up the entire king-sized bed. Cheers!