Las Vegas Hotel: tipping at check-in for upgrade?

[trieu_thai]

Heard from a friend the other day that a good trick to greatly increase your chance of room upgrade is discretely tipping the check-in person (by putting a $20/$50 note in your passport). He has had high success rate in Vegas particularly...

I'll be doing my yearly trip there in June and am curious if anyone tried this before?

TT

 

[get me outta here]

Nevada is doing it hard, not against the law to keep cash in yr p/p. Def worth a try at the hotel.

 

[lovestotravel]

Depends on the hotel

The cheaper the hotel, the easier the cash upgrade works

Not going to work at Wynn/Encore for example

 

[smit0847]

There are entire websites devoted to this - Room Upgrades in Las Vegas Casino Hotels

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Handing over a $20 note with my passport at Caesars in Feb worked a treat. I booked the cheapest room available using a discount website - the key is to ask for a 'complimentary upgrade' while handing it over - make sure the note is slightly visible. It was a 3 night stay too over a weekend so received at least $150 value for my $20 - I am sure this would work at all Vegas 5 star hotels and under if you do it right. You may need a $50 if checking in to the Wynn/Encore on a Fri/Sat night however $20 is fine for anything else.

Chok Dee!

 

[smit0847]

I initially thought $20 seemed very low considering you may have spent $1000 on accom for a 5 night trip but when you consider the check-in clerk is probably paid less than $10 an hour, if they are tipped $20 once every hour they would triple their wage - they benefit just as much as you do.

 

[trieu_thai]

Thanks all. I'll be staying at either the Aria or Venetian and will give it a shot with $50!

 

[Mrmaxwell]

I initially thought $20 seemed very low considering you may have spent $1000 on accom for a 5 night trip but when you consider the check-in clerk is probably paid less than $10 an hour, if they are tipped $20 once every hour they would triple their wage - they benefit just as much as you do.

My thoughts too - then you understand that maybe 1 in 100 people actually tip them anything so they are more than happy to help when they see a $20. Even if just to give a view of the strip or nice floor plan in same category. $20 in the US still buys you dinner and a movie

 

[lovestotravel]

Thanks all. I'll be staying at either the Aria or Venetian and will give it a shot with $50!

You'd have better luck at the Venetian, but personally I'd rather stay at the Aria

 

[trieu_thai]

You'd have better luck at the Venetian, but personally I'd rather stay at the Aria

Any particular reasons? I've stayed at the Venetian in a few countries, but not Vegas and have never stayed at the Aria before

 

[drewbles]

Depends on the hotel

The cheaper the hotel, the easier the cash upgrade works

Not going to work at Wynn/Encore for example

Encore tends to offer at-check-in upgrades for around $50/night which is well worth the money.

Any hotel in the MGM group will pretty much be pushing the proverbial up-hill as I believe staff have know to have been fired for accepting tips for upgrades. It's getting more difficult (and mid-week Vegas is really very cheap for good rooms).

 

[lovestotravel]

Any particular reasons? I've stayed at the Venetian in a few countries, but not Vegas and have never stayed at the Aria before

Sure, I loved the Aria, one of the nicer casinos to gamble in, and I just like the fit-out of the rooms/casino/area.

Personal choice though really, but given the same price I'd go the Aria

Encore tends to offer at-check-in upgrades for around $50/night which is well worth the money.

Official upgrades though and not cash ?

I have only been there during very heavy bookings though, so have never been offered anything

 

[drewbles]

Sure, I loved the Aria, one of the nicer casinos to gamble in, and I just like the fit-out of the rooms/casino/area.

Personal choice though really, but given the same price I'd go the Aria

Official upgrades though and not cash ?

I have only been there during very heavy bookings though, so have never been offered anything

Official upgrades. Each time i've stayed there i've been asked "Mr drewbles, we have upgrades to our suites available today for $xx/night if you're interested?".

Personally, i'm happy to pay $150 for 3 nights rather than try and get a sneaky one through. The Encore suites are particularly nice too =)

 

[Hvr]

So where else do you bribe people? Just wondering.

And is there anybody/profession you wouldn't try to bribe?

 

[mella2007]

I did it with a $100 note and got a fantastic suite for 5 nights as well as 9am check in

I handed passport and money and said "an early check in and if any other rooms are available would be appreciated"

 

[get me outta here]

I'm sure someone said that everything's negotiable. Bribe is a strong word :shock: .

 

[Hammando]

I'm going at the end of the month to Encore.

Was looking forward to my King Tower Sweet, but would love a Parlour Suite!!

Might slip them a $100 and start the gambling early.

Encore tends to offer at-check-in upgrades for around $50/night which is well worth the money.

Any hotel in the MGM group will pretty much be pushing the proverbial up-hill as I believe staff have know to have been fired for accepting tips for upgrades. It's getting more difficult (and mid-week Vegas is really very cheap for good rooms).

 

[lovestotravel]

Wynn and Encore staff are also banned from accepting cash upgrades

 

[smit0847]

I'm going at the end of the month to Encore.

Was looking forward to my King Tower Sweet, but would love a Parlour Suite!!

Might slip them a $100 and start the gambling early.

I reckon they'd tuck you in and read you a bed-time story for $100...

 

[Cruiser Elite]

So where else do you bribe people? Just wondering.

Chinese customs when trying to ship totally unshippable goods by air or sea - but I would not call it a bribe - facilitation fee or as they call it 'bonus money'.