Vegas - $20 hotel trick......
Discussion
Afternoon
Travelling to USA in October - last part of trip will be 3 nights in Vegas. Have seen a room (small suite) at New York, New York.
Have seen people mention the $20 trick - where, when booking in you add $20 to the booking details and passport at reception and ask if there are any upgrades.
Does this actually work - has anyone on here tried it? Does $50 work better!!? Should I try it in San Francisco!?
Cheers
Travelling to USA in October - last part of trip will be 3 nights in Vegas. Have seen a room (small suite) at New York, New York.
Have seen people mention the $20 trick - where, when booking in you add $20 to the booking details and passport at reception and ask if there are any upgrades.
Does this actually work - has anyone on here tried it? Does $50 work better!!? Should I try it in San Francisco!?
Cheers
It usually works, if they can upgrade you they will. $20 is enough, $50 instead of $20 will not make them find an upgrade.
Just ask if they have any complimentary upgrades when checking in, if they upgrade you tip them $20. This way has always worked for me.
Don't try it in San Fran, if you want an upgrade then ask by all means.
Just ask if they have any complimentary upgrades when checking in, if they upgrade you tip them $20. This way has always worked for me.
Don't try it in San Fran, if you want an upgrade then ask by all means.
Here is a website that gives you a list of hotels and how successful the trick is.
http://www.thetwentydollartrick.com/
It failed for me last June in the Bellagio.
http://www.thetwentydollartrick.com/
It failed for me last June in the Bellagio.
Worked in Planet Hollywood for me a few weeks ago. Went about it completely cack-handedly awkwardly but the guy realised what I was up to.
Me: (passing over the CC, passport and $20) "Any upgrades available?"
Him: "Yes. A suite for $30 extra per night"
Awkward silence. Then he realises theres a $20 which had slipped into the pages of my passport.
Him: "...Actually, looks like it's a complimentary upgrade sir."
Me: "Much obliged"
Him: (quietly) "Next time make sure there's a corner of the bill sticking out so we can see it straight away. We're very helpful here in Las Vegas."
This led to a quick conversation about the trick. Here's what I learnt
(a) $50 gets you no advantage over $20
(b) The top end hotels - Bellagio, Wynn, et al - are less fond of staff accepting tips for this purpose
(c) In other US cities don't tip upfront - ask for a complimentary upgrade and tip if you get it. In Vegas it's accepted that they'll return the tip if they can't oblige, but won't bother looking if the grease isn't there upfront.
(d) Very few Brits seem to try the trick. It's mostly Americans, especially conference delegates/regulars who are well versed with the technique
Me: (passing over the CC, passport and $20) "Any upgrades available?"
Him: "Yes. A suite for $30 extra per night"
Awkward silence. Then he realises theres a $20 which had slipped into the pages of my passport.
Him: "...Actually, looks like it's a complimentary upgrade sir."
Me: "Much obliged"
Him: (quietly) "Next time make sure there's a corner of the bill sticking out so we can see it straight away. We're very helpful here in Las Vegas."
This led to a quick conversation about the trick. Here's what I learnt
(a) $50 gets you no advantage over $20
(b) The top end hotels - Bellagio, Wynn, et al - are less fond of staff accepting tips for this purpose
(c) In other US cities don't tip upfront - ask for a complimentary upgrade and tip if you get it. In Vegas it's accepted that they'll return the tip if they can't oblige, but won't bother looking if the grease isn't there upfront.
(d) Very few Brits seem to try the trick. It's mostly Americans, especially conference delegates/regulars who are well versed with the technique
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