Hi Reader,
A hotel upgrade can make a memorable trip even better. We’ve stayed in London several times, and two of our favorite Hyatt stays came with upgrades that improved our rooms in very different ways.
Two London Hyatt Upgrades We Appreciated
As World of Hyatt Globalists, we’ve received upgrades at both the Great Scotland Yard Hotel and Hyatt Regency London Albert Embankment. Neither upgrade was guaranteed, which made each one a welcome surprise.
Great Scotland Yard Hotel
We booked our two-night stay at the Great Scotland Yard Hotel with Hyatt points. The hotel recognized my Globalist status as soon as we arrived and upgraded us to a larger room overlooking an interior courtyard.
The courtyard view may not sound as exciting as a London street view, but it gave us a much quieter room. After a busy day exploring London, that peaceful setting was exactly what we needed.
Our Globalist benefits also included a wonderful complimentary breakfast, late checkout, and a personalized welcome amenity. The well-stocked minibar was complimentary during our stay, and the room included a Nespresso machine and smart TV.
The hotel’s historic character and convenient location near many of London’s major attractions made this one of our most memorable London stays.
Hyatt Regency London Albert Embankment
The Hyatt Regency London Albert Embankment offers a more modern London hotel experience.
The lobby felt welcoming from the moment we arrived, and check-in was friendly and efficient. We received an upgraded room with a king-size bed on a higher floor overlooking the River Thames.
The river view was the real highlight. We could see the Thames, Houses of Parliament, and Big Ben from our room.
The hotel staff also stored our luggage after checkout, giving us more time to explore before our evening flight. Little conveniences like this can make a big difference on a travel day.
If you’re deciding between these two hotels, Great Scotland Yard offers history and a central location. Hyatt Regency London Albert Embankment delivers modern rooms and impressive river views. We’d gladly stay at either one again.
How Hotel Upgrades Really Work
I have Hyatt Globalist and Hilton Diamond status, and upgrades generally work similarly with both programs. Status can improve your chances, but an upgrade is never something I count on receiving.
Here are a few things I’ve learned through our hotel stays.
- Upgrades depend on availability. Even top-tier status doesn’t guarantee that a better room or suite will be open when you arrive.
- Short stays may have better odds. We receive upgrades more often during one- or two-night stays. It’s easier for a hotel to offer an upgraded room when it only needs to be available briefly.
- International hotels seem more generous. In our experience, upgrades happen more frequently at international properties than at hotels within the U.S.
- It’s OK to ask politely. You can ask whether an upgraded room is available, but always be gracious if the answer is no.
- The suggested upgrade may not work for you. A hotel may offer two beds when you reserved one or give you a different room configuration. We’ll keep our original room if it better meets our needs.
- Accessible rooms aren’t automatically an upgrade for every traveler. These rooms provide essential features for guests who need them. For us, reduced bathroom counter space or a roll-in shower may make the room less convenient.
Before accepting an upgrade, I ask about the bed, view, floor, bathroom, and room location. A quieter room or better view can be more valuable than a slightly larger room.
World of Hyatt currently describes Globalist upgrades as based on availability at check-in and potentially including standard suites. That’s why we appreciate an upgrade when it happens, but never plan our trip around receiving one.
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Have you ever received a hotel upgrade that made your stay more enjoyable? Hit reply and tell me about it.
Until next time,
Melodie
Travel Must Do's
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