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.

anyone ever tried this at planet hollywood?
might give this a try

What's with the "might try it" people? There's no downside. They will not take your money if they can't help you.

People who need a website primer and instructions on how to bribe someone need all the hand-holding they can get

going back to my $20 trick failure, there was a lot of ppl with various lanyards in TI, there must have been a lot of convention ppl staying there.

trying to motivate myself to post a TR, i feel like I have a LV hangover, all i do is sleep now!

No need to "might give it a try". It works pretty well at PH but the check in people are not allowed to take a tip in exchange for a free upgrade, but they are allowed to take a tip for great service. At check in just tell them you would like a better room or a nice view and tell them you have a nice tip for their "great service". Also $10 is usually plenty at PH since they aren't technically allowed to take the bribe.

Anybody try this in Reno?? Staying at the Grand Sierra, I would imagine its worth a try there too. Just wondering if anybody has experience trying this at the GS. Thanks..

after my stay at GSR for PoG a few months back, all I can do is say "oh, I'm sorry" to the fact you have to stay there...

Got the tip to work at Flamingo about 2 hours ago. I had a 5 night comp stay booked in a deluxe smoking king room that I sold to a friend of mine. 2 check in clerks working, a guy and a cute petite chick wearing a Cowboys jersey.

I approached the chick obv, said hello and handed over my ID. Seemed like she had a cold, I made small talk with her about what usually makes me feel better when I'm sick. She asked me if 2 queens would work. I told her I would much rather have a king bed room, then I said "If you can put me in a GO room i'd much rather tip you then pay the hotel for the upgrade." She smiled, made a quick phone call and said I got you a Neapolitan suite GO room for the 5 nights. After I signed the 2 papers I handed her a $10 bill back with the papers and thanked her. She seemed pretty thrilled to get the ten spot.

The room is in the lobby tower 26th floor so no long walk.

We got in to the room and I have to say, pretty sweet. Dead center strip view! The room had a really nice plasma, sitting area, really big bathroom with a TV embedded in the vanity mirror, a fridge, and an IPod docking station with surround sound speakers in the room. There were also switches next to the bed for the drapes and the sheer window covering.

So I am proud to announce that I have finally cracked the never getting an upgrade at the Flamingo! Seems part of the trick there is to check in late, find a cute chick that is feeling under the weather and butter her up, and hope that they don't have the exact type of room available that you booked.

I just looked the room up on the flamingo site, usually goes for $270+ a night.
HTH.

Flying out tomorrow and staying at the venetian Wed, Thur and Friday. We got the standard luxury suite with no view. Would the 20 dollar trick possibly get us and upgrade to the piazza or rialto suite? Should I mention that an upgrade to he piazza would be nice or just keep my mouth shut?

Our flight doesnt get in until aroune 10:30pm so we will be checking in late. Would that help in us getting a nice upgrade?

That's a go luxury. Known in their computers as go executive. Neopolitan suite is bigger and diff. Been in both since this aug.

Seriously - no bait and switch!

anyone?

the twenty dollar trick site Venetian results

Does the checkin clerks have complimentary buffet passes? I would tip more if they have complimentary buffet passes

another site www.frontdesktip.com