Having worked as a hotel receptionist for several years after leaving university, I picked up a few skills, whether that was answering an onslaught of calls or knowing every single room layout by memory. I also collected some rather handy tips, including how to bag that desirable free room upgrade.

One of the most sought-after requests from guests was whether they could have their room upgraded. I get it. You're away for a romantic weekend and want to make it extra special, without forking out extra. But asking us two hours after check-in on a Friday night isn't going to cut it.

I worked at aluxury hotel & spa comprising 35 rooms, and upgrades were typically prioritised for those celebrating a special occasion, be it a birthday or anniversary. If a higher category of room were available, we would do our very best to offer it to the lucky guest.

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Another factor to note is that upgrades can be arranged the night before, so if you're hoping to request one at check-in at 3 pm, there's a very slim chance an upgrade will be available. While this can vary from hotel to hotel, we would know our upgraded guests well in advance of check-in time.

Despite this, there's still a nifty way to help secure that free upgrade - by arriving early. Understandably, not everyone will want to arrive before official check-in time and potentially face a wait until their room is ready, but it could be well worth it. I'll explain why.

While the upgrades are often in place for the next batch of arrivals, with key cards already assigned to guests, things can change. If you arrive early and inform us that it's a special occasion, despite not mentioning it when you made the booking, we've got time to jiggle some rooms around - it's surprising how many guests forget to mention the reason for their stay.

And it doesn't need to be a special occasion. Upgrades are offered when and where they are available.

If we're feeling extra nice, and it's busy around the hotel, we might offer you an upgrade there and then, even if that means bumping someone's once-upgraded room down. Our guests weren't told if they had been upgraded until their arrival, so if anything changes, they are none the wiser, and we'd rather get you settled in your room.

Additionally, last-minute cancellations can and do happen, so if we suddenly had an empty room available that morning, you could be the one who joyfully gets to experience a two-storey suite with a roll top bath, because after all, first-come, first-served. Time is everything in the hospitality industry; it's fast-paced and hectic, so arriving early allows us to gracefully offer that benefit before a mad rush of check-ins.

And that's not all. Often, rooms can be ready long before 3pm, not all of them, but a vast number are waiting for their next visitors. At our hotel, if your room was ready, even if it was well before 3 pm, we would take you over. It not only helps you start your stay, but it also helps us deal with one less check-in during peak time on a Friday night.

Another perk of this is that if you arrive early and your room is ready, you have the luxury of time to check that you're happy with your room. All of our rooms were unique with various styles, spaces, layouts and hotel views, so guests would often have a preference for what they desired after seeing photos on the website. (Side note: Photos on a hotel website do not always represent the room you will get, so be prepared).

But, if you check in early and aren't completely satisfied with your room, we'd have the flexibility to easily move you to another one before another guest shows. After 3pm on a Friday, this is incredibly rare for a hotel of our size, but arriving just an hour or two earlier can make all the difference.