My husband and I are going to Las Vegas in July for our first anniversary and staying at Mandalay Bay. We have booked a regular room, but I was wondering how easy it is to get a free (or $20 to the concierge) room upgrade (view, room class, etc.). Also, should we spread it around that it is our first anniversary and see what happens at the hotel, restaurants, etc. Or will it be ignored? Has anyone tried this in Vegas (or even elsewhere)?

Lindy,
Do a search on this topic. It has been covered many times.

You could try letting people know but I suspect they hear "its my birthday/honeymoon/anniversary all the time and usually turn a deaf ear to it.

Wouldn't it be cheaper to stay in the trailer and watch TV than try and figure out how the educated world operates? Save yourself the embarassment.

That marriage sure sounds promising. Did you wear shoes at the wedding, Daisy Mae?

Gosh these board have attracted upidy snots. I was simply wondering if the hotels and restaurants attempt to acknowlege special occasions and give a bit back to the patrons. And thanks Ralphf for degrading my marriage simply because I asked an inocent question. We are going away to celebrate our wonderful marriage so yes, I'd say there is great promise for our relationship.

When making the reservations,tell them it is your first anniversary.The hotels make notes of these things.We booked our dinner reservations through the desk at the Bellagio and my husband mentioned that it was for my birthday.The hotel gave me a small birthday gift when we checked into our room.THe restaurant gave me a tiny candle in my dessert.Most hotels(outside of LV also) will do something special.
I do not know about the upgrade though, in July it may be a quiet time, if there is a room available,they might do it.Doesn't hurt to ask, when checking in say to the desk person,Is there any possibility of a room upgrade? All they can say is yes or no
Sometimes when you gamble, they will do this automatically or at the end of your stay they will deduct charges because of money you have spent in the hotel.
Have fun and Happy Anniversary~

Synopsis is as follows:
Desk clerks are not technically allowed to accept bribes/tips whatever you want to call them, but a few will take them. But you must be very discreet or you may get them in trouble and botch any chance of an upgrade.
If you're shrewd you'll be able to read the desk clerk's face and expressions in angling toward your request, then you'll know what to do.
If the hotel's full your chances for an upgrade are poor.
If you check in late your chances are poor.
If there's a really long line and you get a frazzled clerk your chances are poor, so scout around to see who looks friendliest and least stressed.
Women have a better chance of getting an upgrade from a male, and males from a woman, on average.

As for the anniversary thing, it never hurts to let people know. Many won't care, but some will. Free dessert at dinner sometimes. Upgrade sometimes.

The Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons keep track of my wife's birthday and our anniversary and upgrade us on those occasions even though we don't ask! (Just happened again last month. We asked the desk person why the Presidential Suite upgrade without request and she said it was noted in their records and an upgrade had been preassigned before we checked in! Now that's customer service/appreciation!)

If you decide to tip the $20, it goes to the clerk checking you in, NOT the concierge.

I would place $20 on the counter while checking in and ask, "Do you think any upgrades are available, it's our anniversary and we're trying to make this a special trip."

You'll have a better chance of this working if the hotel isn't crowded and if it's mid-week, as on a weekend there may be nothing that the clerk can do to help you out.

The LAST thing you want to do is place a $20 bill on the counter for the clerk where everyone can see. Really bad advice and highly unlikely you'll get the upgrade because you're compromising the clerk. In addition, there is a chance the clerk could take the $20 and not give you the upgrade.

The way I do it, and it often works, is to have a $20 bill discreetly in my hand, but where the clerk can see it, and say "if there is any chance of an upgrade, I would be really grateful". It is best if you specify the type of upgrade you are looking for which may be a suite, room with a view, etc.

If he/she says "yes, I am able to upgrade you to a suite/room with a view/whatever, then hand them your credit card with the $20 folded underneath. The clerk will discreetly slip the $20 into his/her pocket so that the supervisor doesn't see.

A mere $20 might actually offend the person. By the way,a lot of times the rooms w/ a view (Paris Hotel) is only $25 a night more.

$25 is quite a bit percentage wise when you're only paying $69 a night for the room in the first place (my last stay at Paris....when I checked in at the special Park Place Resorts desk at the airport and was immediately upgraded just for the asking)!!!

Do you think this is a bit "low" to try this trick at the Bellagio? I am staying there in June and would love an upgrade but do not want to offend the desk clerk.

Brenda, I stayed at the Bellagio last October and when we checked in we simply asked if any upgrades were available without offering any money (we hadn't visited this board before going so we didn't know about the "hiding the bill behind the credit card" trick). The guy at the desk offered us an upgraded room without hesitation even though we didn't slip him any money up front. It's worth a try to ask. (And yes, we did slip him some money with the signed voucher after he'd assigned us a great room).

My travel agent advised me years ago to always ask for an upgrade and that cash is not necessary. If a better room is available 95% of all hotels will upgrade. So we have taken her advice, always ask for an upgrade, and we have always received one, except once (at that point we offered money and still didn't get the upgrade....we think there were no better rooms available) On 3 different occasions we offered the desk clerk money after the upgrade and they refused it! Twice in Cancun and once in St. Martin. So bottom line...always ask for one, if it's available (cash or no cash), you'll get it.