Should I pay for
a Room Upgrade?

TripandTravelTips.com

(Trip and Travel Tips) So, we're checking into the Gran Melia Resort Hotel in Cancun.  We had booked the room through Priceline a few months earlier and landed a fantastic rate. 

Everything proceeded without a hitch.  About half way through check-in, the woman asks if we would like to upgrade our room to an ocean view for just $28. per night.  We were staying for five nights, and I figured that we already had a killer deal, so why not.  We gave her the go-ahead and were upgraded to the ocean view side of the hotel. 

It was a great view too, all ocean.  In fact, every day it was ocean, nothing but ocean.  Because we were traveling with a 2-year-old, we couldn't use the balcony, but we sure could see that ocean.

Everything seemed great until day three.  We were heading out to dinner right around dusk and were able to see the last half of an absolutely magnificent sunset.  It was then when I realized that we had spent an extra $140. to downgrade our room.

If we had not upgraded, we would have had our original room which had a view of the bay and the mainland of Cancun.   The sunset over the bay and mainland was spectacular.  I can't help but wonder how much travelers must spend each year to give up watching sunsets, one of natures truly incredible gifts.

Plus, once the sun goes down there is absolutely nothing to see.  From a bayside room, you can watch the night fade in upon the bay and Cancun and still have plenty to see when the sun goes down.

Several months later we received the same offer during check-in at the Trump International Hotel near Miami.  This time it was almost $50. per night to upgrade to an ocean view.  We declined and explained why.  The woman checking us in began laughing and told us that she always declines the same upgrade too opting instead for an interior view. 

And the evening view of Sunny Isles was incredible.

The lesson learned here was that upgrades aren't always upgrades.

Good Travelin!