Can You Upgrade a Hotel Room by Slipping $20 to the Desk Clerk?

What is your opinion about trying to upgrade a hotel room on the Strip or downtown by giving $20 to the clerk at check-in?

We answered this question four years ago and our opinion hasn't changed, except for the fact that in more and more hotels, you no longer check in at the front desk with a clerk. Instead, it's all automated kiosks. And kiosks aren't, in our experience, susceptible to a $20 bill.

Another point made by commenters on the last answer is that you should know in advance what, for you, constitutes an upgrade. At some hotels, especially the more expensive ones, all the standard rooms are the same, so the accommodations themselves are no longer the issue. Then it becomes a Strip view, a pool view, a corner room, a higher or lower floor, closer or farther away from the elevators, those kinds of things. And for some people at some hotels, those are less an upgrade than a simple request that wouldn't, or at least shouldn't, require a gratuity.

Otherwise, we've heard countless variations on this story: Put a $20 bill between your ID and your credit card when you check in and ask if there are any "complimentary" upgrades available. It often turns out well.

But we've also heard of clerks who simply push the twenty back and indicate that they can't help -- possibly because there's nothing available, they have concerns over propriety, or house rules prohibit it.

There's another factor involved in these days of inflation everywhere: $20 might no longer be enough. It might get a clerk's attention, but perhaps not his or her undivided attention. Of course, a $50 probably would, but then you're in a place where, for that much money, you could've just booked the upgrade and avoided the hassle.

Also, for that kind of money, you can reserve a fully refundable rate directly from the hotel, rather than an OTA (online travel agency). Hotels like guests to book from them, since they get their money immediately and don't have to wait for the OTA to pay up. You often get much more attentive service by doing so.

It helps if you don't flaunt the tip and request. The last thing a front-desk employee wants is to have to try to upgrade a parade of guests, even if it means a bunch of twenties in his or her pocket.

Similarly, if you can time your arrival, the best time to check in is from 5 to 6 p.m. Front desks start getting crowded after 6, when clerks can become a little harried. Before 5, especially if check-in time starts at 4, too many rooms will be unavailable (still being cleaned), so you'll have to take what you can get. After around 8 p.m., too few rooms will be available and you'll have to take what you can get (i.e., no upgrades).

You can also ask to see your room in advance. This is sometimes dicey in Vegas hotels with thousands of rooms, especially if there's a line out the front door waiting to check in. Even if you don't ask to see your room upfront, if you can come up with a good enough reason that you'd like to change rooms, you can call the front desk, or show back up, and ask for a different room. You'll often be upgraded for your trouble.

If you're a frequent guest of the property and/or in a higher players club tier, you can go through the players club/host system without having to do any business with the front desk at all.

Are you there for a special occasion? We don't recommend making one up, but if it's your anniversary, second honeymoon, birthday, etc., you can mention it with your $20; the two combined often hit home with check-in agents.

It ultimately boils down to your chutzpah level and whether or not it will bother you to be declined. If it won't, then you have little to lose by trying.

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Comments

Kevin Lewis Jun-17-2023

Uh huh

I've always felt that "the $20 trick" is just like the "lady tried to dry off her poodle in the microwave"--an internet-fueled meme/urban legend.
Think about it. You want some upgrade/amenity--a gold-plated toilet, access to The Pervert Channel, a robot that gives complimentary Swedish massages--that presumably you couldn't get just by asking for it. That means if it's available at all, you would have to pay for it--and you would be able to induce the desk clerk to rip off his employer by slipping him a $20? HA! Maybe back in the good old days, when they didn't pay those people anything and they could just walk down the street and get another job anyway, but now...if you're fired for stealing from a casino, they'll make sure that you can't get a job at the circus shoveling elephant shit. And their jobs pay pretty decently.
I think we're all also, sadly, all too used to the bland smile and "I'm afraid I can't do that," which means, "I don't want to do that." So we think: +$20, maybe?

[email protected] Jun-17-2023

Success with $20 trick

I've successfully used the $20 trick numerous times but haven't tried in the last 10 years or so for reasons mentioned in the excellent answer. I would fold the 20, place it between my index and middle fingers, rest my hand on the checkin desk and ask for an upgrade. Worked well at Luxor and Tropicana. Never worked anywhere but vegas. I'll never forget being declined by a lovely native Hawaiian lady on Maui: "We don't do that here".

David Miller Jun-17-2023

Never Tried It

 All the years, 30+, I have never tried this "trick". I have found that being courteous has gone a long way with the people checking me in and have been upgraded many times without asking. Treating others with respect does go a long way, at least for me.

pivoss Jun-17-2023

If you are going to do it

via the $20 bill *oh so casually* sandwiched between license and credit card, please promise me that you will also lean in with an exaggerated wink while doing so, to maximize cheese-factor.

Lotel Jun-17-2023

short answer  maybe.

just say it may work or may not . it is a bribe.

David Jun-17-2023

Never happened

It’s never worked. Further, it very rare when I get the opposite, i.e., the front desk asking me if I’d like to pay for an upgrade.

Llew Jun-17-2023

4:00 checkout!?!

Where the heck is 4:00 checkout?  Maybe for high rollers?  
Used to be noon in most places.  Now it’s 11:00 everywhere that I stay.

Charles Wonch Jun-17-2023

Just Worked for me!

Hey, I always ask, put the $20 on the counter and ask nicely. We as the Park MGM on a comped room, she waved the resort fee and the parking and uograded us to a Staywell room. Does it always work, No. But in my experience it is about 60-70% of the time. Even if you dont get much, say just a better view, you have made someone remember you. This has come back to help me when I have had issues with the room. I go to that check in person and often they will help or get the manager to help with an issue quicker. Besides, its $20 bucks. I can blow that in a slot machine in 5 min. But again, you have to ask nicely and not expect it. I have done this at hotels outside Las Vegas and get pretty much the same results. Did this in DC a few years back and every time I saw the check in person she said hello Mr. Wonch and we mysteriously had free stuff show up in our room.

[email protected] Jun-17-2023

Never needed it

My hosts almost always seem to get me high floors with strip views automatically.  On a few occasions I’ve asked for one or the other and it’s been given to me, no questions asked.  As an invited guest, resort fees are always waived in my experience - I haven’t paid one in Vegas or AC yet, although I routinely have to at other resort destinations (contrary to many readers on this site, resort fees are hardly a Las Vegas only pheomenon).  So I just don’t see the need for it.  As David Miller noted, just asking nicely usually does the job.

I’m assuming, of course, that readers of this site are highly likely to ever be paying for rooms, anyway.

[email protected] Jun-17-2023

Edit

Obviously I meant “highly unlikely” - darn typos!

Doc H Jun-17-2023

room pay

lschulz, might want to try another edit as don't gamblers who get a 'free' room pay some of the highest rates in the end for that 'free' room?, lol.

CLIFFORD Jun-17-2023

$50

always worked for me. Got a suite at Cosmo and  Bell fountain view at next door timeshare.  Boyd  was  "user friendly" so no bribe was needed to get a room near the lift.  FUN DAYS.

[email protected] Jun-17-2023

"David Miller"

100% agree with what he said. I'm courteous and polite to everybody, especially front desk folks (that I never tip) and housekeeping staff (that I always tip) and they remember me and my room preference. It also helps if your hotel is the smallest one in town and has little to no staff turnover...

kafka45 Jun-17-2023

then ...but now?

I have used this....and its worked a couple of times. But now I'd be doubtful. One time tried this... got up to the room and it was already occupied!  went back down and the clerk was real embarrassed and I got a REAL good room. But $20 ain't what it used to be..  so probably not worth it.

O2bnVegas Jun-17-2023

My favorite "upgrade"

Ice machine!  Get me close to the ice machine, so I can dash to it in my jammies if I forget before I get undressed. 

My best advice:  Unless you MUST have a suite or something, ask for a room "overlooking the pool."  That is an easy request for them to honor (because there are lots of pool view rooms), no tip expected, and guarantees you won't be staring at the parking deck or concrete AC system outside your window. 

Candy

Hoppy Jun-17-2023

Re:Just Worked for Me!

My goal, this July, is a complementary upgrade to NoMad.

asaidi Jun-17-2023

Is the upgrade available

I've found that it helps to check the hotel website on the day I'm checking in to see if any upgraded rooms or suites are available.  If there's nothing available then there's no way to get an upgrade.  If there is something available I sometimes mention it like "I stayed in a suite here once - is one of those available" when I check in.  

Also, how long you're staying at the hotel is a factor.  If you're staying for a few days, they probably don't want to give you a free upgrade for several nights.

AL Jun-17-2023

No cameras?

I would've thought that any major hotel would have security cameras covering the front desk because it's a place where monetary transactions are made and shifty maneuvers could be done.  If I were a hotel front-desk clerk, I would be afraid to do this because I'd be afraid of being caught & fired.  Are there, in fact, no security cameras at front desks?

[email protected] Jun-18-2023

kiosksmeeosk

My last three trips to LV had thesame

Question of the Day - 17 June 2023

Comments