Has anyone hear of the $20 trick?? and if so... has anybody heard if it works at the Sahara???

In case other people reading this don't know about the "trick" ... It is a way to get an upgraded room for $20. I'm sure Sahara has no "official" policy on this, but I don't see why it would be different at this hotel compared to others. You can always just try and see what happens. I would not just hand over the $20 in the hopes of getting an upgraded room, since you may getting nothing more than a smile. You can ask if a complimentary upgrade is available while letting them see you have a $20 tucked in back of the credit card. If they say no, hand them the card without the tip. If they say yes, give them the card with tip included. If you are staying for more than a few days, a bigger tip might be more appropriate.

VegasGuy

I have tried the $20 trick a half dozen times and I'm not sure if it works or not...how do you know if you can get an upgrade for being nice? or being at the right place at the right time? Once while we were checking in at MGM, (Wife and I had won a free trip to Vegas), was asked by the clerk if we wanted a room upgrade, I gave him the $20 (trick) and proceeded to the room, all happy and giddy, which was a suite with two toilets, bar, hot tub and great view. TaDa...Score!!! All was fine till we checked out and the "free room" was $189. They upgraded us but charged us. After an hour of hassling with the manager they took the charge off. So much for my $20 that didn't work.

Anyway I found a post on the Travel2Vegas Message board that is a worthwhile read. I've posted it below. I tried to link to the page, but it would not work. It has some valid points and is humorous.

Enjoy, TK


travel2vegas
{moderator's note: I think this post does an excellent job addressing a very-frequently-asked-question, so I've buffed out a few punctuation dings and brought in pimp's followup. - dr al}


by Pimp_N_M

"The $20 trick" is just plain stupid. There is so much majesty behind this subject, all of it unwarranted. You stand just as much chance getting an upgrade as not. However, here is a guide from beginning to end.


(Know your upgrade)

It is important for you and the clerk to know what you consider to be an "upgrade". For instance, if you are at the Bellagio, you might be interested in the Salone suite. Either way, check out the Internet site for your hotel and find out what the "step up" from your hotel room would be. Refer to that room by name. A higher floor is NOT an upgrade.

(Better upgrades are easier to get when you already have a suite)

Take the Bellagio again. They probably have about 2500 "deluxe" rooms. But maybe only 200 Salone suites. If you are already paying for a Salone suite, there is a much better chance that a comparable room will not be available. That is the easiest way to get an upgrade: if you are booked into a lower tier suite. Know what the next tier available is. Yet again, knowing the name is important.

(Using $50 is not better than using $20)

Whoever came up with this idea is a complete moron. Why not $100? Why not a million? Why not a new car? Fact is, reception clerks generally make zero dollars and zero cents in tips off of most customers. Twenty bucks is quite a bit better than nothing. They want that $20. Sure, they want a $50 bill more, but it will not talk them into the upgrade anymore. If they can do it, it will get done. Using a $50 instead of a $20 gives you absolutely no more of an advantage with the clerk.

(Pick the right clerk)

These days, 9 times out of 10, clerks have to ask for permission from supervisors to upgrade customers. If you hit them at the right circumstances, they will generally give it up. Most of the times when you are checking in, you look for the shortest line. PERIOD. Try looking at the clerks instead and see A.) Who seems cheerful today B.) Seems to be a person you would probably get along with, right off the bat. C.) Preferably, somebody not from Europe. Tipping is a very perplexing custom to most Europeans. I tried the twenty dollar trick at a hotel in Apia, and I got a lecture from the woman "tipping is a purely American custom, we don't appreciate it", as it was explained to me later. People in Europe (and quite a few other countries) feel they earn a wage, and they don't need your "charity". It is a feeling of pride. You should look at every clerk before deciding on which one you have the best shot with.

(Have a script)

I always plan out exactly what I will say to the clerk before I get there. It just makes me more confident. You can make your own script. You can make it long or short, whatever. Most of the time the clerk doesn’t care anyways. BE POLITE, twenty bucks is nothing in exchange for good old-fashioned politeness. Call them sir/ma-am, say please, thank you. Make stupid jokes that wouldn’t even offend Ned Flanders. Be the bright point in an otherwise dreary, long, underpaid 8-hour shift.

(Be slick with the money but not too slick)

There is a reason that I use green chips. Any idiot on their first day working in a casino knows exactly what a green chip is. A $10/$20/$50 or whatever requires some form of paying attention by the clerk. Green chips are quite a bit easier to spot than a bill. I usually go into my spiel and then start playing with the greenie. This gets the point across just fine. People who slide bills under credit cards and wink and nudge. This will get you nowhere extra with the clerk. This is not slick. You are not James Bond. The clerk knows you are not James Bond. If you were James Bond, the British consulate would have already booked you a suite with Steve Wynn himself. Instead you are waiting in line with the rest of the schmoes.

(Do not be dismayed)

There is a good chance that they will return your offer with a counter-offer. Such as “normally this suite is an extra $100 a night, but I can get it for you for $50”. If you turn the clerk down, take away the money. If you accept, cough it up. If your tip is for a Salone and the clerk turns you down, counter with a “fountain view”. This is not worth green but I usually give a couple of reds for the clerk’s time and consideration. Either way, understand, it is the clerk’s job to give you a room, any room. If that clerk can’t help you, it doesn’t mean that a different hotel will turn you down. Nor does it mean that a different clerk will turn you down.

If you honestly think all of this is worth not coughing up an extra $50 or so a night: Go for it! I have done it at every hotel I have checked into for the past 5 years. Most of the time it doesn’t work. I don’t really care. It’s a little like a game. If you win, it is fun. Either way, a room is just a room.

{pimp's followup post belongs here, so I added it. - dr al}

This is just an addendum... There is a reason "does the twenty dollar trick work at _______?" is a bad question. Illustrated in my little essay are the reasons. There are just too many variables. For instance "does the twenty dollar trick work at Bellagio?" One person could answer "yes", because they checked in the day after Labor Day (one of the deadest times of the year) spoke with the right person, and had the right attitude. BAM, they got the upgrade. Now, let's take the same hotel, only this time, it's SHOWest, or M.A.G.I.C. or some other reason the hotel is very busy and short on suites. Even the nicest person will get shut down, because there is a need to have suites on hand. Especially at SHOWest when mega-rich people make "surprise" appearances. If Ben Affleck doesn't get a suite, because some employee gave it to Elc'monthatwasfunnyBo. That employee will be immediately fired.

Not to mention, like I said before, just because one employee says "no". Doesn't mean a different one wont say "yes". The questions should be phrased more like "Does the twenty dollar trick work on Elaine at the Luxor on Monday June 24th at 10 o'clock at night?" This will ensure that your question is absolutely true, and you will get no responses.

THE $20 Trick did not work at the Sahara in June of 2006

Went to check in....I had the Twenty folded under the credit card visible to the front desk guy.... I asked if he had any complementary upgrades available.....
his respond was...... "There's no such thing at this place buddy!"

took the twenty back and carried on......

so a little unsure if its him saying that or if in fact.... "there no such thing at that place".... hmmmmmm... Any body else going to Sahara... let me know how you make out..... Have a great day!

Tried the $20 trick at Aladdin in end of November, WORKED LIKE A CHARM. Upgraded to a suite. it was usually was a $50 per night upgrade, we got 3 nights upgrade for a simple $20 tip. So, I won my first bet in Vegas.

came across this website - explains in detail the science of the twenty dollar trick!! great little site! http://www.frontdesktip.com

I ARRIVED AT LAS VEGAS AIRPORT AND CHECKED IN AT AIRPORT. I GAVE THE CLERK A TWENTY IN BETWEEN MY VISA AND MY DRIVERS LICENCE AND POLITELY ASKED FOR AN UPGRADE AND AN UN HEARD OF EARLY CHECK IN.THE GUEST BEFORE ME WAS TOLD ABSOLUTLY NO ROOMS READY BEFORE FOUR PM. NOT ONLY WAS I ABLE TO CHECK IN , I GOT AN UPGRADE AS WELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT WASNT A SUITE BUT IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL ROOM THANKS FOR THE TIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WILL USE THE TWENTY TRICK AGAIN IN THE FUTURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have used the twenty dollar trick several times and it has worked everytime. We have been upgraded to very nice suiets at the Rio ,the Palms and the Bellagio. We have been upgraded to very nice and larger rooms at the other hotels we stayed. It is a chance you take just like pulling a slot machine arm or placing a bet. It all depends on the mood of the person behind the desk and how you approach them. I have also used the website mentioned above to get information and odds at each hotel.
Remember you are in Vegas and everytime you wager in the casino it is a gamble right ?



sivled