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-   -   Upgraded hotel room in Vegas? (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/upgraded-hotel-room-in-vegas-755847/)

augusta2 Dec 31st, 2007 05:56 PM

Upgraded hotel room in Vegas?
 
Is there anyway to get upgraded for free? I've heard of some people checking in and getting upgraded.

Scarlett Jan 1st, 2008 06:22 AM

Just ask when you check in.
If you have been to the hotel before or have some sort of points, belong to one of the "clubs" ( we do) then your chances are better.
But you can ask, no one will smack you for asking :D

Good luck!!

SiteC_er Jan 1st, 2008 11:13 AM

It also doesn't hurt to show a cpl 20's when asking. Just remember, drinks included, nothing is free in Vegas.

J62 Jan 1st, 2008 11:21 AM

What specifically are you looking to get in an upgraded room? It could be a view of ths strip, a quieter room, one that has recently been upgraded, has a bathroom you can play football in or a hot tub big enough for 10+1, etc.

At checkin, if you state a desire for __________, rather than just asking for a random 'upgrade' to a 'nicer'room they may be better able to accommodate you.

Scarlett Jan 1st, 2008 01:12 PM

I have to say that all the upgrades we have ever gotten, we have never given anyone money for it.

SiteC_er Jan 1st, 2008 04:39 PM

J62 brings up many good points. As for tipping the host/hostess, it never hurts. FYI - Tipping is a fact of life in Vegas. Enjoy!

lifelist Jan 1st, 2008 09:26 PM

Well, I've been upgraded a number of different ways, but surprisingly, never with the $20 trick.

As noted, you could just ask. Sometimes, the hotel fills up their lower tier rooms, and you find yourself bumped up to a nicer room. I imagine that they do it sometimes just to be nice - say it's your anniversary or something, but people lie about that all the time, so I think it's probably pretty rare nowadays.

Now, bear in mind that what you consider an "upgrade" may not be what the hotel considers an upgrade. Most of the time, it's a bit bigger room. Some hotels, like the Bellagio, consider a room with a particularly nice view to be an "upgrade". For example, fountain view rooms at the Bellagio are no different than the regular rooms, but do have a view of the Bellagio fountains, which is very nice.

Upgrades to rooms like suites (i.e. rooms with separate living and sleeping areas) can also happen, but are rarer for free.

I've checked in for single nights when hotels were oversold and got upgraded to nicer rooms - happened at the Venetian, Mandalay Bay, and Monte Carlo. I didn't even ask - they just upgraded me. I've gotten upgraded rooms through promotions - fountain view room at the Bellagio - usually $25 a night extra.

I've also gotten upgraded as a Gold Starwood Preferred Guest member at the Planet Hollywood (was Aladdin). The owner of the Planet Hollywood also owns the Sheraton chain, so the Planet Hollywood participates in that hotel's rewards program.

As noted, another way to attempt to get an upgrade is to unobtrusively flash a $20 bill to the check-in person and ask for an upgrade. One method is to have a folded up $20 bill under your credit card when you slide it across to the clerk and flash it when you ask for an upgrade. Some hotels are really strict about this, and won't let the clerks just upgrade people. They'll usually just tell you that you can upgrade for a per night fee. Your mileage will definitely vary with this approach.

MikeT Jan 2nd, 2008 06:09 AM

No credible hotel--even in Vegas--will give you an upgrade based on a bribe.

BoulderCO Jan 2nd, 2008 02:23 PM

Gave the check-in clerk at Paris a $20 bill and she acted like it was $1000. She upgraded me to a very large corner room with a view of the Eiffel Tower. I only paid $99 for the room and she said the room she gave me was a $50 a night upgrade. She apologized that there were no jacuzzi suites available or she would have given me one. I would consider Paris a credible hotel. We have also gotten an upgrade to a waterview room at Bellagio for a $20 tip although in that case I can't say for sure that I would not have gotten without the tip. I wouldn't try this anywhere other than Vegas.

SiteC_er Jan 2nd, 2008 05:51 PM

I've been upgraded numerous times (3 weeks ago in fact). Only once or twice did I bribe my way. Regardless of what Mike T might think, money talks in Vegas. However, as noted above, an upgrade usually does not mean a suite or jacuzzi room. Traditionally an upgrade is a better / strip view.

MelissaHI Jan 2nd, 2008 06:44 PM

I've never had to pay for an upgrade, and a couple of times I got it without even asking....for example, I once arrived at 11 or 1130 at night, so by that time the hotel could see what nice rooms were left, and suggested I take one. How nice!!! This last time, I got upgraded to a suite, but I didn't know it was a smoking floor. oh well.

Jed Jan 3rd, 2008 06:53 AM

Has anyone gotten an upgrade for Wynn's in LV with their Visa card?

http://tinyurl.com/yunhh5 ((*))

SaraWOO Jan 16th, 2008 04:06 PM

Use promotion codes, you can get alot more then just a free upgrade...
try www.smartervegas.com

dandj Jan 17th, 2008 02:52 PM

miket,
i have read on many websites where the $20.00 have worked for a upgraded room at many hotels on the strip.

dandj Jan 17th, 2008 02:59 PM

imagine this one !!!!

http://www.slashfood.com/2006/10/29/a-bacon-martini/

dandj Jan 17th, 2008 03:03 PM

sorry posted on wrong thread.

ggoosey Jan 20th, 2008 07:36 PM

A lot of the time you can book a deal that gives you a free room upgrade. Many of these deals are offered directly by hotels themselves. Try browsing through the deals at http://www.vegashotelhunt.com as you could probably find a free room upgrade on some of the deals listed there. Other than that, the $20 tip trick usually works well. Don't be bashful about doing it either :) As someone in another forum said, "worst that can happen is that you don't get a room upgrade -- consider it your first losing bet in Vegas!"


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