Room Upgrades in Las Vegas
 

Hello everyone,
I'm going to Vegas next week, staying at the Stratosphere. I've got a room in the Premier Tower but would really like an upgrade to a suite. Can anyone give me some advice on the best way to get a free upgrade? Has anyone ever gotten a free room upgrade at the Strat? Or should I just see what it would cost to upgrade to a suite and pay the piper? Any and all advice would be appreciated. Thanks!!

Even if available, the chances of getting a free upgrade to a suite at any hotel are slim. There's a big difference in an upgrade to a better room versus an upgrade to a suite!

I've been upgraded to a suite at MGM Grand but I also used my casino comps to get it (very Nice room). At Caesars in AC, I got upgraded to a suite because I told the front desk lady that my girlfriend and I were recently married and celebrating our honeymoon (a blatant lie).

I suggest paying for the upgrade. You're arm could get really tired waiting for a handout ;)

I guess you folks are right. A free suite upgrade is probably a pipe dream. So to anyone who had a room at the Stratosphere in the premier tower and upgraded to a suite, what did it cost you? Was it cheaper than if you had purchased a suite in the first place?

I don't mean to be out of line here or anything but..

What is causing you to choose the Strat? I would think that if you are contemplating upgrading to a suite, perhaps you could afford a better located property?

Since rooms at the Stratosphere are sometimes in the $40+ dollar range, I'd think the "$20 trick" would end up costing the same as actually paying for a suite upgrade at times when the hotel's not busy.

To placeu2 - I chose the Strat because I stayed there last year for a friends wedding and they sent me a deal for three nights at $25 a night. The other nights were around 52 bucks or so. So even if I upgrade I think I'll still be spending less than anything right on the strip. Plus I enjoyed my time there last year and figure the money I save on a room I can spend on more fun things like gambling and shows. I probably won't upgrade if the cost is too high since I've saved a bundle already on my reservation there. Mostly I want to make sure that my girlfriend has a nice room and doesn't regret us staying there again, since we've read some reviews that were less than favorable. And I don't mind the location, I can get anywhere I need to on the local bus lines or the trolley.

Maybe you can try the $20 trick... I've used it successfully twice, once at the Paris and once at TI.

It just requires a little bit of observation, a little bit of nerves, and a $20 bill folded twice.

When you arrive at the hotel, notice if there are individual lines for checking in. Take a good look at the people behind the desk, and look for the one who's smiling and chatting with customers.

While you are in line, take a $20, and fold it twice. Put it under your credit card or ID so that one of the corners of the bill is visible. When you get to desk, be nice, smile, say hello, and politely ask if you'd really appreciate a nice room with a view, or if at all possible, a suite. At this point, make sure that whoever is checking you in notices the $20 under your card. If they say something along the lines of "Let me see what I can find / do", you will probably get a suite, and they'll be expecting the $20. If they quote a price, you're out of luck.

If it's between sunday and thursday, you may get lucky. On weekends, it just may work, but the odds are against you.

At the Paris, I got a really nice, huge suite. At TI, I didn't get a suite but I got a room with a spectacular view, a fruit basket and a complimentary bottle of champagne. Last weekend at Mandalay Bay, I didn't even ask for it. The hotel was sooo packed that it was just ludicrous to even ask.

Man, you should really be able to edit your posts...

Where it says: <i>When you get to desk, be nice, smile, say hello, and politely ask if you'd really appreciate a nice room with a view, or if at all possible, a suite</i>

It should say <i> ...and politely say you'd really appreciate...</i>

the honeymoon or engagement card is always a good one to use. Or just say that you are trying to plan a really romantic weekend but funds are tight...

The &quot;I've just been promoted&quot; also works very well... you're happy and richer! :D

I just got back and had to post about the ultimate upgrade. A colleague and I arrived at Caesar's Monday evening to find that the room category we had reserved was not available. After speaking with the manager, the desk clerk told us she could upgrade us to a two-bedroom suite provided we were willing to share it. Not having any other apparent options, we said okay.

It turned out to be the &quot;Rainman Suite&quot;, the one in which scenes of the Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise movie were filmed. The suite has two large master bedrooms, each with a king bed, jacuzzi tub, shower, steamroom, walk-in closet, toilet and bidet, two-sink bathroom counter, separate vanity, TV, and marble surfaces wherever they make sense. A spiral staircase leads down to the shared space, which includes an entertainment area with three plasma-screen TV's, stereo, VCR/DVD players, a living room, dining area, kitchen, and bathroom. The two-story floor to ceiling bay windows of the living room looked out over the north end of the strip, directly facing the Venetian and the Wynn. Altogether, I'm guessing it's 2500 square feet. According to the desk clerk, the rack rate is $5,000/night. Between me and my colleague, we paid $280/night. It felt quite odd late Monday evening when Sylvester Stallone and his entourage got off the elevator before I did as we were returning to our rooms.

I wish we had planned to stay longer than two nights!

Gee beachbum--too bad you were w/a work colleague and not a sweety!! But what a great anecdote.