Free Champagne, Fake Stories — And the Truth About Real Travel Hacking
Stop ruining travel for the rest of us. Lying for upgrades isn’t travel hacking — it’s just dishonest. Here’s what actually works.
Lately, I’ve been seeing a trend that almost makes me shiver every time it pops up in my feed: Faking honeymoons for hotel perks.
Here’s the “deal”: Couples — and sometimes solo travellers — are telling hotels (and airlines, cruise lines, you name it) they’re celebrating a “special occasion” like a honeymoon or anniversary when they’re not. No wedding rings, no event. Just a story told at check-in to trigger a room upgrade or a bottle of bubbly on the house.
Sometimes it works. One traveler posted a video of being serenaded at dinner with Whitney Houston and rainbow cocktails on a cruise — despite admitting they weren’t actually married. How embarrassing. Some self-proclaimed “travel hackers” share tips on how to “act natural” when the staff comes out with heart-shaped towel art or a banner over the bed. There’s even a growing social media thread of so-called “unethical travel hacks” — where faking a proposal or anniversary is openly encouraged.
I’ve said it myself: hotels and airlines make money by selling the same product at different prices1. And that’s unfair, and you deserve to get ahead of the game. I’ve seen the comments:
“Hotels overcharge anyway.”
“It doesn’t hurt anyone.”
“It’s just part of the game.”
But here’s the thing:
This kind of unethical travel hacking isn’t the game I signed up for.
There has to be a better way…
I Teach Travel Hacking — And This Isn’t It
As someone who’s written a book about travel hacking and created an entire online course around designing a smarter travel lifestyle, these kinds of unethical tactics put me — and other legitimate travel hackers like me — in a pretty harsh spotlight.
It makes travel hacking sound like it's all about sneaky tricks and bending the truth. And that couldn’t be further from what I teach.
I’m not here to help you lie your way to an upgrade. I’m here to show you how to build a system where luxury travel becomes accessible — honestly, ethically, and (most importantly) sustainably.
The travel industry loves me for what I do.
When you fake something like a honeymoon, sure, you might get an upgrade. But you also risk:
Embarrassing moments — like being asked about your wedding rings… or having staff and other guests cheer you on while you improvise a backstory.2
Guilt or anxiety — especially when you meet actual honeymooners and realize they may not get the same treatment anymore, partially thanks to your “white lie”?
Ruining it for everyone — as hotels start to tighten their policies, requiring proof before celebrating your big day.
Some properties have already started asking for wedding certificates, “ring checks” (yes, some hotel staff are even checking for tan lines), or simply removing perks altogether. No win-win there, and I can’t support this practice.
It Doesn’t Have to Be Like This
The irony? You don’t need to fake anything to get incredible upgrades.
Real travel hacking isn’t about pushing your luck. It’s about understanding how the system works and using it a smart way.
It’s about:
Leveraging points and miles. For example, you can fly business class for the price of economy.
Using elite loyalty programs to unlock room upgrades, late checkouts, and lounge access — no fake stories or wedding ring tan lines required.
Timing your travel for lower demand, booking through the right platforms, and building relationships with hotels and travel providers.
I prefer a welcome bottle of champagne for my birthday because the hotel appreciates me, not because of some lie I told on check in.
Most importantly, travel hacking is about creating a travel lifestyle that works long-term. Not just once or twice because you bluffed at check-in.
When you follow the system I teach — everyone wins:
The hotel gets a loyal guest.
You get the upgrade.
Using the strategies from my book and travel hacking program, I do this all the time. And I can sleep well, without wondering if I get caught in a lie or awkward moment while enjoying my well-deserved vacation.
Want to Travel Like That?
If you’ve ever dreamed of flying in comfort, staying in stunning places, or just enjoying the travel experience a little more… without spending a fortune or making up stories to fake your way there, I’ve got you.
Here’s where to begin:
📘 Get my book — The Freedom Project: Travel is your invitation to a better way of traveling.
🎓 Preview the course — The Travel Revolution walks you step-by-step through building a travel hacking lifestyle of your own.
And one last question to think about:
Where would you fly next, if your airfare was free? (I’ve helped hundreds make that happen — maybe it’s your turn next.)
Travel safe 😊
Further reading
Ever realized that hotels make money by selling the same room at multiple price levels to different people? Read that again, and you’ll realize the travel industry has been using their profit maximization schemes against us travelers for years. And they’ll continue to do that. I don’t mind… here’s why.
In my Happiness book, I shared that I’m not necessarily a big believer in marriage anymore, and even dared announcing that sentence might become a topic for a future book. Be careful what you wish for: that dream became a reality when my “Love 2.0” hit the shelves in 2018.