anyone had success in Las Vegas, "tipping" the front desk clerk $20 to upgrade to a suite? I just read about this on a website and found it intriguing... any help would be great, thanks! here is the article if you would like to read it.... http://rhinonights.blogspot.com/2010...ite-trick.html

If the hotel is busy $20 won;t get you anything but embarrassed. If the hotel is not busy a charming manner and a little story (anniversary etc) and asking how much an upgrade would cost will often get it for you for free. And, if it's not busy they will often sell upgrades for next to nothing.

Why try to bribe a clerk?

If the desk clerk is authorized to give you a free upgrade and there are rooms available, the $20 is not necessary. Policies in most hotels preclude desk clerks from upgrading for tips.

There's an entire web forum devoted to people's experiences with this. Very interesting (if you believe everything you read).

thanks for the feedback.

It has worked for me. I don't want to say where so I don't get the staff in trouble, but...major strip hotel, major upgrade.

There is a thread over in flyertalk.com that has been discussing this forever (well, since 2005).

http://tiny.cc/AIWIk

Some people posted their successful experiences with this at certain hotels, but I haven't read the thread recently to see if it still works.

Ask for an upgrade and if they say yes give him/her $20-$40. If they say it's not possible, it's not a big deal. Trust me, they get asked this question by nearly everyone who checks in.

If you really think that this is a "trick" then you must believe that Las Vegas hotel management is pretty stupid. Especially with cameras watching the front desk.
The fact is that management, as an incentive to keep good clerks working, will set aside a certain number of upgrades whenever the hotel is nowhere near capacity. Each clerk probably has three or four incentives per night to deal with (view room, upgraded room etc) and you can bet that the clerk will not want to give his evening tips away to the lowest bidder...so be sure to have a 20 in clear view when you ask for a possible upgrade. And 40 will probably seal the deal a lot quicker.

and go ahead and get the upgrade to first class on your plane flight out to Vegas as well. lol maybe you'll be lucky with the rental car as well and get an upgrade. if you complain about your meals, you might get a free desert.

Bottom line, you get what you pay for. It doesn't hurt to ask, but I think waving $20 in front of someone is an insult.

Ask for an upgrade. Tip if you get one.

Waving a $20 is a bribe, and awkward to ask for it back if they can't upgrade you!

i'm not sure why everyone is offended by this trick... it freaking works.... i just got back from LV.... stayed at Bally's ...had a regular room booked, did the $20 trick and got a 1,700 square foot suite.... well worth my $20! Its not an insult, those people enjoy getting $20. Grow a pair people!