hah! As we said we very very rarely hear of this, but I guess it does happen, far more often we hear of the clerk returning the $20, or it just being successful. Keep us posted on any success or failure you have on your trip! This is not a Bribe its a tip so the Assistant is in no way obliged to do anything extra for the tip if you present it upfront. Great rooms! We all need to know to keep up with the hotels policies. Or is this still 20? Does the $20 trick work at Aria? We have previously stayed in Bellagio, Wynn, Venetian, etc where it does seem to. The Mirage is one of the best hotels to do the $20 Trick. What do you consider an upgrade? We are reader-supported. I'm not good at things like this unless no one is around. So just tip the $20 if you can easily afford it, you either get a better room and wont forget it, or it will at least make someones day and yes sometimes they have it back. What we dont have is that View, a High Floor at the Paris is a mindblower! Thanks for willing to admit when travel plans go awry and for willing to poke fun at yourself. All you need is a $20 bill, some confidence, and a little bit of luck. I do tip but only once the satisfaction is there and then even more generously then 60 if its an extraordinary accommodation as my last stay which was bigger then my house This only works out well when you know specifically what to ask for ;). Checked in to Aria. Valuables, Nightlife: Bars and lounges- 1. But it was all for nothing. Your feedback is important in helping us keep our community safe. If you haven't attempted the "$20 tip" before, it can be a little nerve wrecking at first. (Well, not that there are long lines at movie theaters anymore, but you get the point.). In Havana Cuba I just slipped the hotel clerk ten covertable pesos, and walla, upgrade to a junior suite with a beautiful tub, and ocean view. These are people, of course, and people always respond better to polite friendly people. How you go about it is pretty irrelevant, at the end of the day, you are offering them a tip to see if they can help you out, they are either willing or they are not (or possibly unable but unlikely mid-week). Let us know if you have tried the trick on your visits? And everytime except once (,when it was a big Been at every single one of the nice and expensive Vegas strip hotels. ; Last minute tickets- Tix4Tonight; Cirque, Sightseeing- the "Fabulous Las Vegas" sign. Micro-Inefficiencies are a common occurrence, either due to imperfect information or situational dependencies. (my husband would NEVER ask, or do this, he didnt want me to) CHALLENGE ACCEPTED LOL. @snic: Considering the sheer number of rooms most of these hotels have, it really costs the hotels very little. I am one of those that doesn't consider room location (upper floor, near elevator, view, etc) an upgrade. If youre interested in food comps, maybe lead with that, or display/give a $20 when inquiring about a room upgrade and then pulling out another $20 and asking if they might be able to provide benefits or discounts on dining. What about touring the Grand Canyon from LV? If you see the same check-in agent and she isn't busy you may want to pay him/her a visit and ask if there are any perks associated with your room. We are going to be staying at the MGM Grand and I am worried that we won't have a great room because we booked with Expedia and I have heard that hotels often downgrade customers that book with websites like Expedia. This isnt a trick anymore. Its just not going to happen. So have things changed? Your exchange just sounds awkward personally. There is nothing wrong with requesting a cleaner, nicer room if you are not satisfied. Monorail, trams, buses and shuttles, Transportation: Uber and Lyft- including discount codes. Live Casino Tournaments playing directly against over 30 players. You think you can just get there with your money! In the past, the Clerk would simply say nothing about the note and check to see if they could bump you up. Assuming you have earned the comps through play, they will be really eager to keep you happy and gambling! This check-in agent can really be in trouble after describing her in detail here. A Credit Cardand some form of ID. We have previously stayed in Bellagio, Wynn, Venetian, etc where it does seem to. Id booked the cheapest room off of Priceline; it was a hell of an upgrade! I could hear some music from their club on top and I called .since I had a morning flight to catch and they told me over the phone that they would call the club to close terrace windows and asked if I need earplugs I repliedI have them already and it's really too late to Just stayed for one night and left this morning. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. To be honest with you, it's probably the best use of $20 you can get in Vegas. Coupons! Are you looking to save some money on your next Vegas trip? PSA: Used to work at MGM. That is definitely the best way to do it, that way if it fails you still have a decent room. Valuables, Nightlife: Bars and lounges- 1. Perhaps the person will feel guilty for having sort of screwed you. I expected the "Las Vegas $20 Trick" to be something else entirely. Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Put the $20 sandwiched between ID as suggested, clerk immediately put $20 back on counter (bad sign). "The 20 dollar trick" or "20 dollar sandwich" is a phrase most people seem to be familiar with when Vegas is brought up. If the hotel has substantial price spread for the nicer suites, only then give me. Does the $20 trick still work in Vegas? - Tracks-movie.com Hooters hotel was like $20 a night. :) You may have heard of the infamous $20 trick a method used to get freebies, upgrades, and other perks at hotels in Las Vegas. @ Barry -- Highly doubt it. Yes, there are plenty of examples of this in the movies, but I doubt it happens that much in reality. Great to hear they waived your resort fees! Great rooms! Cheap Trick - MGM Grand Theater at the Foxwoods in Mashantucket, November 15 Keith Urban and Little Big Town - Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, November 15 & 16 Rick Ross - MGM Grand Theater at . The worst that will happen is they will say sorry there is none available. I have a coworker friend who has done the $20 tip a couple of times. In Havana Cuba I just slipped the hotel clerk ten covertable pesos, and walla, upgrade to a junior suite with a beautiful tub, and ocean view. Cheers, just used the $40 trick and got upgraded to a suite in New Orleans. It worked, big time, Another time, we booked into the Fairmont, I got tanked, drank all the booze in the hotel mini bar, and when we checked out the next day, I innocently assured the hotel clerk, nice lady, that I thought it was complimentary? Does the $20 trick work anymore? : r/LasVegas - Reddit Do they ever upgrade because it is a special occasion? However, there is a line for that amount. You can stay at an awesome hotel for like $20 a night in Las Vegas. I'm simply to selfish and I like to help only those I know personally and or care about in my circles This place is a moral sewer. However, if youre looking for more than MGM Grand has to offer, then take a look at hotels such as Bellagio or Caesars Palace. Amongst all MGM Resorts Casinos, you do not have to offer any money whatsoever. cam9219, May 8, 2015 #2 Casey Kas Tourist Joined: Sounds to me like yet another reason to avoid LV, as if I needed one. Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ). What I will share is that if I were to do what you did I wouldn't compensate until after the upgrade was cinched and I was satisfied with the upgraded accommodations in or out of Vegas Does the $20 trick work at MGM Grand? Honestly, we have only ever tried it for room upgrades! hahaha You have no reason to keep your mouth shut now. Tipping etiquette, customs and suggestions- who do I tip and how much? Occasionally they even waive my resort fees as a regular which more then takes care of any gratuities I have had to dole out. Book the room you want and hope you can get better. When Asked for these items you Sandwich a $20 bill between the two while politely enquiringif there is any chance of a complimentary upgrade? Not that $60 gets you far either, but hopefully it gets you further. The difference between the state or federal minimum wage and what employers are allowed to pay tipped employees is called a tip credit. We have however NEVER had it happen to us. We are sure he is, and we do hope that this is not a case of him being taken advantage of for his good nature! My advice would be at check in to hand your ID and cc and a $20 and say "anything you can do to improve our stay would be greatly appreciated" and you'll be very happy. Until its shut down from the top it will continue. Get answers to your questions about Las Vegas, Happy Hours Las Vegas - Updated March 2023, Disabled access; mobility information; Dialysis services; Hospitals; Scooters. Money saving tips! Parking; Walking tours; Arts District, Leisure: Pools; Pool Parties; which hotel? hahaha You have no reason to keep your mouth shut now. As the old saying goes, you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, and besides, we should just all be nicer to each other. As Gary stated you have to know somewhat in advance what you are after and then the right individual can even exceed your expectations Had it not worked out, I would have still gladly given $20 anyway. I asked him about it a while back ago. It is also a place where everyone wants an upgrade to live like a high roller. This allows savvy travelers to enjoy luxurious amenities without breaking the bank and can make the difference between an average stay and an amazing one. That's why when I went to Mandalay Bay, I slipped $20 and asked for the best view they had vs. the $100 I've slipped before. Grand Canyon West; 3. It depends on your goal. Save your money. This morning upon check out, the sweet desk agent asked me if I had a great stay. However, keep in mind that MGM Grand is also one of the busiest and most crowded hotels in Vegasespecially on weekendsso it might not be worth risking it if youre looking for peace and quiet during your stay. Sometimes, It is not as likely as the offering a tip but people do get upgraded simply for asking if the Check-in agent is in a good mood. We had just returned from LA, after the bus tour. Thanks for suggestions. 20 Dollar Trick in Vegas: Does it Still Work - Vegas Food & Fun IHG Rewards Premier Business Credit Card Review: Worth Will Americans New York To Doha Route Survive? What is the Weather Like in Chicago, Illinois? Throughout the Carribean, I tip often, and with a smile. Yeah, its not really a trick, just seems to have taken on that moniker, you are just, very nicely, asking about free upgrades and offering a nice tip in return for the help! Any idea if this would work on Maui and the Hyatt for getting resort and/or parking fees waived? She aplologised and waived the resort fee and removed my lunch bill in the hotelI didn't even ask for compensation. Gone are the days of expecting a huge suite for $20 but you still can get a nice bump and as you say sometimes they just offer a great rate for a mega upgrade! Which can be an upgrade to a suite, resort fee waived, strip views and much much more! Once, I was checking into the Venetian using the regular line. Yup. $20 is less than a single bet at the table. Often Yes. It is likely the hotel is really full and there is just nothing they can do. more. MGM Grand. How best to visit the Grand Canyon in one day? ;-). Hope you win big bro! FWIW personally the only time I ever tried the "trick" was at MGM. Hopefully this makes you feel a bit better! You could directly ask them to return the bill or say something like Sir/Maam, I believe I may have dropped a bill when handing you my id/credit card, would you please hand it back? The clerk absolutely knows how this works and what you were asking for and is doing you dirty but pocketing the money without an upgrade. Delano LV used to be TheHotel Mandalay Bay, so not really brand new, though I'm sure they did a big refurb. We had some banter back and forth. is it ok to ask specifically what I want, for example Id like a room ABC but if not XYZ would be great as well. Seriously? We do fear one day this practice will be stopped from the top down but for now, its still a valid practice. Were you declined? Hope it works for you and you bag that awesome fountain view roombut have a great trip regardless. Play online games in real MGM Casinos on the Vegas Strip including the MGM Grand, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, Mirage, and Bellagio. Get Social. Instead I just asked politely for a complimentary upgrade and surprisingly the agent upgraded me for free from a 2Q grand premier view to an Exec king suite! You can stay at an awesome hotel for like $20 a night in Las Vegas. ). The weird sound you heard must have been coming from that construction work. I'll preface by saying I'm one of those people too scared of the possible awkwardness in trying the "$20 trick.". And if you score an upgrade, even better. Birthday freebies! Gorgeous suite with a gray view. $20 - Park MGM/Nomad | Vegas Message Board we are hoping to be able to get a higher floor and maybe a fountain view which would be awesome. Clerk tried instead to offer a paid upgrade which I declined. @ Bgriff -- She left it on her side of the counter until I was fully checked in. We love the Mirage and its a real shame to hear you did not have a good experience. It was a VERY busy weekend (I knew that which is why I tried it) and the clerk could not comply, although she did offer a mini-suite for our last couple of nights. Thank you. Does the $20 Trick work at Caesars Palace? Looks like she pulled a trick on you. If you're going to a 5 star hotel and staying in their entry level room, then you need $50. Always important to remember your manners. Does the $20 trick really work?? - Las Vegas Forum - Tripadvisor On check-in discretely put $20 between ID and Credit Card Ask the clerk for any "complimentary upgrades" front desk agents have a lot of leeway in choosing your room (so comparisons to upgrading on a flight don't really work here) - i've given clerks more like 30 euros, and said i would appreciate anything they can do to make my stay more special - sometimes they say with a smile that i've already been upgraded (and make sure i take my money back), sometimes they take the money and i get a front desk agents have a lot of leeway in choosing your room (so comparisons to upgrading on a flight don't really work here) - i've given clerks more like 30 euros, and said i would appreciate anything they can do to make my stay more special - sometimes they say with a smile that i've already been upgraded (and make sure i take my money back), sometimes they take the money and i get a better room than last time, but nothing specific is said - remarks re: management getting pissed off about this don't really obtain here, since again, part of a front desk clerk's job is to assign rooms and they have a lot of discretion. The trick has been around for AGES and $20 is worth less than it used to be. The 20 dollar sandwich trick is a popular way tourists try to get complimentary upgrades or other free comps when checking into their Las Vegas hotel. Hi, is this wise to try 20 usd trick in Vegas during early 2017 trip? I asked the check-in lady if she had any complimentary upgrades available for my wifes birthday. When you check into a hotel you simply slip the front desk clerk a $20 bill with your credit card, while asking "Do you have any complimentary upgrades available?" According to our user reviews, MGM Grand has a 55% success rate. I could hear some music from their club on top and I called .since I had a morning flight to catch and they told me over the phone that they would call the club to close terrace windows and asked if I need earplugs We know the Hotels do not mind these little upgrades as the rooms are sitting empty anyway, Food Credit is more of a cost to the Hotel so maybe they are less inclined to give them away in exchange for tips. Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas is an iconic hotel and casino filled with glitz and glamour, perfect for a celebrity-like vacation on the famous Las Vegas Strip. Also, keep an eye out for cars if youre walking around as many people consider this one of the most dangerous parking garages in Las Vegas! Everything is expensivefrom hotel rooms to foodso if you want to experience all that this hotel has to offer without breaking the bank then the $20 trick might be worth trying out. That said, with all this in mind, I tried the $20 trick at Bellagio not so long ago. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. You can get many other perks from suites to comped resort fees. Offered the $20 sandwich. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. in Vegas, the few hotel interactions I remember, was this nice man who was a waiter at NYNY. High end to budget; Outlet Malls; Liquor stores, Shows: When, where and how to buy tickets? I noticed the check in guy was non hetro, with a huge ego, so I bantered with him a little, complimented him on his clothing selection, and then asked him if he could give us a free upgrade, while assuring my wife, that je could make the magic happen. And we are going Sun-Thur so hopefully that helps.. Question: Even though it is our first time trying this at a pretty nice Hotel is Confidence still key? $20 Dollar Trick 2023. I know, because I speak from Experience. Helpful information: SIM Card and SIM Phones at LAS airport, Helpful information: ESTA visa waiver applications, Online USA Customs form for foreign visitors, Touring the Grand Canyon - West Rim and South Rim - a tour guide's comments - 2017. Buffet recommendations for lobster night? What is the $20 Trick and is it Worth Trying? - Las Vegas Then and Now Of course, as you move up in the quality of the hotel and even the class of room you booked, the more likely it is you may need to bump the tip-up. I was sweating bullets the first time I ever tried it over 20 years ago. Thanks to everyone that replied to my post. My first thought at seeing the headline was that Ben better be careful not to catch anything from a $20 trick. The so-called '$20 dollar trick' or 'credit card sandwich' is common across the US, but in Las Vegas - a city that runs on tips - it's universal. What has been your experience with tipping at check-in for better rooms? When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission. MGM Grand is a great resort for those who want to be in the action. You win some and you lose some. Purchase a meet & greet with one of the city's most famous comedians of all time! Transportation- Car rental: Best deals? How does it work? Does the $20 trick work at Mandalay Bay? - idswater.com $20 got us dessert facing to city facing on 28th floor. I never thought California was such a beautiful state, who was so grateful for the twenty dollar tip I left him, which was genuine on my part, he explained that Vegas was near the end of the dead season, and was hurting, Just being kind, respectful, and genuine, while others act like typical asshole tourist pricks, makes the magic happen. When checking in to Caesars Palace, simply slip the $20 bill to the desk attendant while asking if there are any complimentary upgrades available - such as bigger rooms . Luxor. She worked very hard to find us an upgrade and I was willing to let her keep the tip, but she gave it back and said she didnt feel she helped me and refused the tip. Feel free to report back your success or failure! I am constantly amazed at how slimy people involved in this game are. We also hear of the trick working time and time again. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-37173', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Vegas for my friend's 21st bday. Simply ask politely for a hotel room upgrade. People watching; 3. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-72139246', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Las Vegas hotel, I almost always have specific room requests. Does the $20 Trick work at MGM Grand? Stories like these are a big part of why I enjoy reading your blog. Do you suggest that I should ask directly for a specific upgrade, rather than be vague about it? It may not be a crime, but it is sleazy and dishonest. Invite and play with your friends. So while we didn't get upgraded in the traditional sense we did get upgraded so to speak. Does the $20 trick still work in Vegas? - Worldsrichpeople.com Insurance? In fact, we think we will update the article to advise people to do just this, Hey great article, Thank you for the information as well. All this will usually be tracked. She did get us a great room on a uh floor near the elevator. Its actually sometimes more likely on comped rooms! Theres merit to both ways of doing things, and based on where you are its interesting to observe how results differ. Unfortunately, these luxuries come with a hefty price tag. Best value? Why? should we offer more? Does the 20 trick work at Caesars Palace? I thought the whole situation was hilarious and was laughing about it after the fact. And most desk clerks have the authority to assign these rooms. Traveling and making great decisions is an art form and we all have various strengths but we all learn every day what to do and what not to do! So a happy guest saving $150 on a room will be more likely to spend that in the Casino or bar or on Activities. By not stopping this, the hotels are condoning bribery. Helpful information: Where is a low fee ATM? If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Most of the time if you're just nice, smile, ask them how they are, etc.you know, just be a nice, normal, decent person.that gets you pretty far in life. And in Vegas there is a whole other pecking order to getting the mission accomplished to super premium rooms and VIP suites being a non gambler here. Money saving tips! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-37598', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Vegas, even on a weekend, he got a suite with a nice view of the strip at Harrah's. Anyway, we keep trying it and keep getting great results, There is probably something about confidence in there, we expect it to work and ask for the upgrades with that attitude, the less confidence may not be as lucky. My husband has done it also for one of the shows we watched in Vegas, gave $20 to the usher, and we got great seats.. 5 rows back from the stage and center. Average room rates fall between $69-$349 per night for a standard room. I asked her opinion on which would be better and she said the trade-off was a little more space vs the great view. And if so inclined would provide you with a free room upgrade. If you are polite, humble, and not expectant then it cant hurt to ask for specifics, assuming you are being realistic, you are not going to get several levels of upgrade.