Question;

A friend of mine used to be a host at Hard Rock Las Vegas so she would book me through the VIP system. I usually paid the discounted rate, but I was never really comped much besides meals because I mainly play poker, not table games.

She has since left, and I was given a new host even though I'm not a big player. I booked my room through the Twitter Tuesday deal but I still show up in the VIP system for when I book rooms.

If I go to the VIP check-in and try the $20, does anyone think it will work?

Cliff Notes : I check-in at the VIP check-in, but I'm not a VIP. Will $20 trick work at non-standard check-in?

i checked in at TI yesterday and got shot down. The girl didn't even look at the money! Maybe I messed it up. I put the money+CC sandwich on the desk and asked "Do you have any free upgrades available?" She looked at the computer and said "Well you already have an upgrade because you're only paying half price for your room...." She offered a room "But it will cost you an additional $50/night" bahhh

I usually ask if there are any complimentary upgardes available and see how they respond. If I encounter the slightest resistance, I will then say something to the affect of "I am not afraid to tip if you aren't afraid to upgrade". By not showing the money, you stand to lose nothing and you have peaked their curiosity as to how much you are willing to give them. I generally have good luck with this approach. I then tip appropriately based on the level of upgrade and the number of nights.

Lol, I did it on Thursday at TI with 2 rooms and got them both upgraded to "31st" floor (really the 14th or 15th) with pirate ship/strip view. 4 nights. Holiday weekend... only $20 for the upgrade.

Oh, and I raped them with a Priceline rate even before I walked in the hotel.

...But they raped me back with the resort fee I'm only staying at Harrahs properties until everyone has resort fees or nobody does.

free tends not to be the word you want to use...and a little bit of shmoozing (or flirting in some cases) never hurts either. Just avoid the "I basically want something for nothing" approach.

I doubt you messed it up. They probably didn't have anything available to upgrade you to. That's one of the things I like about Vegas hotels is that they're honest enough to take the tip only if they can provide the upgrade.

Wow. This story made me LOL. He actually admitted that he was kicking back the boss? What a dumb-****.

But seriously people, when you offer a bribe have exact change. Don't be a tool. Sorry King.

OK, so what have we learned about the $20 trick?

1) Just offer them $20. Not $40, $50, or $100. They're just frigging desk clerks barely making min wage, even at the higher class hotels. $20 is a lot to them. $100 is ridic.

2) Don't waste the $20 trick on "upgrades" such as higher floors or rooms with a view. Really, how much time do you plan on spending in your room when you'll be sober enough to appreciate these?

3) Know what type of upgrade you want. For example, do you want a special suite with a fireplace and outdoor smoking patio at Palazzo. Or would you like a king sized suite with all the amenities at some other property.

4) Offer them a $20 bill (not 20 x $1 bills please) nicely and ask if they can provide the upgrade you're looking for. There's no need to sandwich it with your credit card or to hide it. It's Vegas man.

5) Offer and ask them this as soon as they start entering your name/reservation number in their computer so that they on't have to back out of a transaction that they've a;ready completed.

6) Vegas clerks are honest. if they can't upgrade you or if they aren't allowed to they won't accept your $20. They're not risking their jobs over this.

7) Be nice to them. Remember, even if they badly want to accept the money there may be nothing available that they have for you. This is especially true at the high end properties even on non busy weekends. They only have a limited number of these special rooms and they tend to be popular.

8) Understand that there's a difference between getting a much better room with some amenities for a few nights than there is for you to receive the same room you booked but to ask for discounted rates or free nights. It's a hotel accounting thing. It's just easier for them to give you that great room if it's available than it is for them to change their rates for an existing reservation.

Didn't work for me at Mirage, MGM, Planet Hollywood and Monte Carlo. At the Planet Hollywood and Mirage I got the upgrade I wanted for free but they couldn't accept the money, at Mirage and Monte Carlo they were sorry and returned the money. Easy game, there is no downside to it

anyone ever try the trick at Borgata in atlantic city ? I used it at caesars in vegas with success, upgraded from classic room to palace tower. Wondering if this is known to work at all in atlantic city ?

I have free room at South Point in Dec, has to be used during week. Anyone ever stay there, and know what specific room to ask for if I want a jacuzzi in our room? Thats all I really care about, no need for huge luxury suite, just a jacuzzi and we will be happy. Will the $20 trick work there? Any input is appreciated.

I'm staying in one of the cheap rooms at Flamengo in Dec, worth trying? Should I ask for anything inpartuicular?

A check in guy at PH told me they are not allowed to accept gratuities for giving an upgraded room but they are allowed to accept a tip for great service. So I told the guy thanks for the great service, here's a $20 and we both laughed as he accepted it.

I have never had success at Monte Carlo.

I have never had success getting an upgrade at Flamingo and I always check in in the diamond check in and already on a comped room. Seems like it's impossible to bribe them there!

A shower designed for a person over 5' tall. I got an 'upgrade' there but it was just a ~double-sized room with the same ****** bathroom and midget shower (not a GO room). Their GO rooms are nicer/newer but I've never stayed in one so I dunno if the showers are for regular-sized people or not.