Why Hotel Room Upgrades Are Usually a Waste of Money
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You’ll see it every time you book a hotel…
“Upgrade to a Deluxe Room for £120”
“Treat yourself to a Pool View”
“Go Premium for the full experience”
It sounds tempting, and you’re getting into thinking all things FOMO and starting to make excuses. “Well, it’s a special occasion”
But most of the time.. it’s just not worth it.
They might have some fancy features,
But you’re barely in them.
TLDR: You’re much better off putting the money towards a more swanky hotel with a basic bitch room and enjoying a better overall experience. Better food, vibes, entertainment. Things that make the holiday.
You Don’t Go on Holiday for the Room
You don’t book a trip to:
- sit in your room
- admire the furniture
- rate the bathroom lighting
You’re there for:
- the pool
- the food
- the drinks
- the exploring
- the “we’ll just have one more” moments
👉 The room is just where you sleep, or escape to get 15 mins of AC on your bits.
Most days you’ll be getting ready, hitting the buffet for breakfast and popping back for a nap in the late afternoon after a few too many sherbets.
That “upgrade”?
You’ll barely notice it. Or use it.
Ironically, every time we’ve upgraded… the coffee machine gets older. These should be a staple in upgrades. Not hot tubs that take two hours to fill.
What You’re Actually Paying For
A lot of upgrades sound great on paper… but in reality:
- “Deluxe Room” → same room, slightly nicer decor
- “Superior Room” → a bit more space you don’t use
- “Pool View” → you’ll look at it once, then go down to it
- “High Floor” → same experience, longer lift ride
It’s an upgrade you use the least.
All-Inclusive Resorts Are the Worst for This
This is where upgrades fall apart completely.
At most resorts, upgrading your room doesn’t change your holiday.
You’re still:
- eating at the same restaurants
- drinking at the same bars
- using the same pools
- watching the same entertainment
So what did you actually upgrade?
👉 The place you sleep. You might get a special concierge that you don’t need either.
That’s it.
Here’s the bit people don’t think about…
That £200–£1000 per person upgrade?
You could use that for:
- a proper excursion
- a treat restaurant outside the resort
- tipping (which will probably improve your pours 👀)
- a spa day
- towards another holiday or a break in Spain
All the things you’ll actually remember.
Or better yet. Just put the money towards a better hotel with a basic bitch room.
Want a Better Holiday? Upgrade the Hotel, Not the Room
Most people umm and err over price differences when booking their holiday.
“It’s a little out of our budget”
Then, after booking, don’t think twice about upgrading to a snazzy room you won’t use.
Don’t upgrade the room.
Upgrade the hotel itself.
Instead of:
- a basic hotel + “premium room”
Go for:
- a better hotel + standard room
Because that’s where the real differences are:
- better food
- better drinks
- better service
- better atmosphere
- better overall experience
You feel that all day, every day — not just when you’re in bed.
When Upgrades Might Be Worth It
To be fair… there are a few exceptions:
- Swim-up rooms (still on the fence for the money). If you’re an unsociable git, might be worth it.
- Private pools. Meh. Holidays are about the people you meet, stories and conversations.
- Big suites with a separate space
- Special occasions (again, probably best spent elsewhere for an experience/fancy restaurant, not a room)
- If the price difference is tiny (it can happen)
But those are the minority, not the norm. They’ve also got a lot of cons to them. Part of the AI experience and going to resorts is socialising. You meet incredible people that have some amazing stories and backgrounds. You don’t want to be stowed away in a ‘private pool’.
💬 Final Thoughts
Hotel room upgrades sound like a treat…
But most of the time, they’re just a clever way to get you to spend more money on something you barely use.
Upgrade your experience, not your room.
Spend your money where it actually makes a difference —
and you’ll have a much better holiday because of it.
More Travel Guides & Tips
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- Fee-Free Spending Abroad: Avoid The Fees & Faff
- 12 Riviera Maya & Cancun Travel Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
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¡Adiós amigos!
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