Tipping at checkin for upgrade
 

Has anyone had any luck at receiving a hotel upgrade by slipping the clerk a few dollars? We're staying at the mgmgrand and was wondering if I should give it a tr?

fatwallet.com has a whole big thread on the "$20 tip." I'd look in their travel forum for details.

I think it boils down to the clerk you get, but I've heard that Vegas is a good city to try. Some hotels are better than others, though.

What kind of upgrade do you want?
We have asked for and gotten upgrades several times in the past, as well as getting them without asking..we have never ( nor would we) offer money ( a bribe)... we stay at the Bellagio..our upgrades have usually been just higher floors..we always book a high floor with a view .. so upgrades are not usually needed.
Good luck~

My husband is good at getting upgrades all the time at many places though not at the mgm. sometimes it is just nice talk, sometimes he gives them a small (souvenier) item, sometimes chocolate works. Many times he just asks if he can get a free upgrade. My husband is very people-friendly and loves to chit chat. He amazes me at how often he gets upgrades. (I couldn't do it and have never done it myself.) He's never offered money. Sometimes these workers just need someone nice to talk to after dealing with difficult people all day. Just a friendly smile and being just plain nice can go a long way.

I got a nice upgrade before Thanksgiving at Caesar's Palace by handing a 20 with my credit card to the clerk. She put it aside, typed for a minute, then said 'I've been able to put you in our Augustus Tower overlooking the Bellagio fountains'. She thanked me for the gratuity and we had a terrific, large room on the 32nd floor. We had booked a "classic" room, which I had read were small and a little dingy. I am not the type to try this kind of thing usually, but I figured I'd give it a shot after looking at thetwentydollartrick.com and frontdesktip.com. These sites give you a run down of how successful people have been. IMO, Vegas is THE place to try this, if you know for a fact that there are markedly better rooms than the one you booked. If you are there during a busy weekend or a convention time, it might not work. Not sure how this would work in other cities, though. Good luck.