Why Hotel Room Upgrades Are Usually a Waste of Money
Disclosure: Some of the links on our website are affiliate links, meaning at no extra cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
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.
But here’s the reality — most of the time, it’s just not worth it.
Not because the rooms are bad…
But because you’re barely in them.
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… and occasionally regroup.
Most days you’ll:
- get ready in the morning
- disappear for hours
- come back to shower
- crash at the end of the night
That “upgrade”?
You’ll barely notice it.
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 rarely a proper upgrade…
It’s just a slightly different version of the same thing.
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 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
👉 Things you’ll actually remember.
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)
- Private pools
- 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.
💬 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 trip because of it.
More Travel Guides & Tips
- Are Airport Hotels Worth It? Honest Pros & Cons Before You Book
- TUI Premium: Is It Worth It?
- Fee-Free Spending Abroad: Avoid The Fees & Faff
- 12 Riviera Maya & Cancun Travel Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
If this post saved you or helped you book smarter, that’s a massive win for us.
If you fancy supporting what we do, you can grab us a beer below. It genuinely keeps the site running (and funds the holiday hunting).
No pressure. Just good vibes.
¡Adiós amigos!
Send it to a mate going on holiday
