9 Tips For Your Next Hotel Stay
I saw an interesting X / Twitter thread that shared 9 tips for your next hotel stay. These were coming from a former Hyatt hotel front desk agent with over 15,000 check ins over 5 years. Well, at least that is what the post said. Whether or not that is true, I still think it was worth sharing. There is some good info, and I have had a similar talk with a friend who is a front desk agent at a hotel where many things matched up. We also talked about it on a recent MTM Travel Podcast, but I thought it was worth sharing here too in case people missed it.
Breaking Down Every Pointer
The thread was shared by @Kevincreates77 and it went pretty viral.
A former Hyatt front desk agent who processed over 15,000 check-ins across 5 years told me something most hotel guests have never heard from the other side of the counter.
“Every evening, I had suites sitting empty. Rooms on higher floors that nobody booked. Corner rooms with…
— Kevin (@Kevincreates77) July 31, 2026
I wanted to go through them one by one. I’ll share why “the agent” gives advice on, and then I’ll share my own thoughts on the pointers.
Secret 1: She told me to always book direct because third-party bookings are invisible to the upgrade system.Â
I think this one is pretty obvious to use miles & points people. Booking direct offers you the best return, assuming the prices are pretty equal. You will earn loyalty points (if a participating hotel), elite nights, any status perks you are due and sometimes breakfast etc. is only available if you book direct. The point about potential upgrades is another part of it, but if you don’t have status that won’t mean much anyway.
Secret 2: She told me to send an email 72 hours before arrival and exactly what to write.
I have done this several times by responding to the welcome email that many hotels send out. I have even offered to pay for a guaranteed upgrade. It has been fairly successful, and I have even locked up some of the best suites in the hotel for just $50 a night (even as a non top tier elite).
Secret 3: She told me to check in between 5 PM and 7 PM not at 3 PM.
I can see where this sounds good in theory, but I would never do this just because. Sometimes the suites will be gone by then anyway, so I am not sure about the point that is made about that. I am going to try to check in as soon as I get to the hotel no matter the time.
Secret 4: She told me to ask one sentence at the desk and never use the word “upgrade.”
Instead, say something like: “If there happens to be anything available on a higher floor or with a view, we’d really appreciate it. We’re celebrating our anniversary and we’re just happy to be here.”
I could see this being a thing because they likely deal with entitled sounding people all day. How you frame things, and how you ask for things matter. It matters a lot for most people.
Secret 5: She told me to join the loyalty program even if I never plan to earn status.
This kind of goes hand in hand with the first point made.
Secret 6: She told me to use the app for room selection the feature most guests don’t know exists.
I don’t know about this one. Sometimes it does come in handy, especially if you want to just skip the check in line. One time I was able to pick a room on a low floor in NYC and it had a little balcony. Most of the time, at least if you are trying to get a real upgrade, then talking to an agent will be more beneficial. Especially if you have status. If you just want a higher floor, or one side of the building’s view, then the app can be useful.
Secret 7: She told me the things I can ask for that every hotel has but never advertises.
Agreed. A lot of people don’t realize how much stuff they will provide (like toothbrushes and toothpaste etc.) and just go to CVS etc. and spend their money instead.
Secret 8: She told me how to handle a bad room without being the guest front desk agents dread.
She told me something honest. Front desk agents talk about guests. Not maliciously. But the guest who storms down at midnight screaming about noise becomes a story the team shares. The guest who calls calmly and says “I’m hearing quite a bit of noise from the room next door would it be possible to move to something quieter?” gets a new room and a note in their profile that says “guest handled noise issue gracefully prioritize quiet room on future stays.”
This is 100% the case. Individual properties have notes, as well as there are company wide notes on your account. This can be a good thing, listing preferences or that you are a repeat guest and prefer a certain room etc. They can also be a bad thing if you are rude and arrogant.
Secret 9: She told me to mention one thing at checkout that changes every future stay.
She told me to stop at the front desk on the way out and say one sentence: “The stay was wonderful. Could you add a note to my profile that I prefer a high floor, quiet room, away from the elevator?”
I think this is a good tip people don’t realize, but I wouldn’t do it at check out. Do it one of the evenings during your stay when things are less hectic. Then you don’t need to wait in that long check out line and gum up a busy time for personal reasons.
9 Tips For Your Next Hotel Stay: Final Thoughts
Hopefully these tips for your next hotel stay help you have a better experience. Whether it is at the property you are staying at for that trip, or a future stay that becomes a bit easier. You can tackle both things during the same stay if you want to. The most important thing is to just be kind and understanding. It goes further than pretty much anything else.
