Sonya
Queen of VMB
Let's hear it. How do you do the $20 trick and what is your success rate? Where has it worked best for you and where can you never seem to get any results?
Here's how it works: You fold a $20 bill in quarters (in half lengthwise and again) and put it under your credit card at the check in desk. Leave it sticking out a bit so the clerk can see it. When you present your card for check in, you slide it forward a bit with the twenty and say "Are there any upgrades available?". Theoretically they will see the money, take the card and the bill, say "Certainly Sir/Maam, let me see what I can do for you." and give you the best room in the place.
I find that I have a pretty good rate of success, certainly more often than not I get what I ask for. I am always patient and nice in line. No eye rolling or contstant checking the watch. Certainly no huffing and complaining. If they are very busy, I just walk up and say "Phew! Busy today, you must be frazzled" or something to be friendly. I give them my name and any reservation number or whatever I have.
At that time, with a friendly smile, I ask for what I want. "Do you have any rooms available at the end of the hall, facing south that have been recently remodelled?" Whatever your request is. "Do you have a fountain view room avaliable?" "I'd like a high floor" "Do you have anything with easy access to the pool area?" I never ask for more than I think I deserve and usually end up happy with what I get.
What is your trick for getting the complimentary upgrade?
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10/5/2011 - I just spent some time clearing out this thread. I moved all the old messages to the archives and kept the posts I felt were helpful and still relevant. I also kept all the reports from 2011 to try to keep the info timely.
If you want to narrow down the posts to only see the hotel you're inquiring about, look up at the top of the thread on the right, just below the page numbers. There is an option there to "Search this Thread". Click that and enter the hotel name and it should pull up the posts you are looking for.
Here's how it works: You fold a $20 bill in quarters (in half lengthwise and again) and put it under your credit card at the check in desk. Leave it sticking out a bit so the clerk can see it. When you present your card for check in, you slide it forward a bit with the twenty and say "Are there any upgrades available?". Theoretically they will see the money, take the card and the bill, say "Certainly Sir/Maam, let me see what I can do for you." and give you the best room in the place.

I find that I have a pretty good rate of success, certainly more often than not I get what I ask for. I am always patient and nice in line. No eye rolling or contstant checking the watch. Certainly no huffing and complaining. If they are very busy, I just walk up and say "Phew! Busy today, you must be frazzled" or something to be friendly. I give them my name and any reservation number or whatever I have.
At that time, with a friendly smile, I ask for what I want. "Do you have any rooms available at the end of the hall, facing south that have been recently remodelled?" Whatever your request is. "Do you have a fountain view room avaliable?" "I'd like a high floor" "Do you have anything with easy access to the pool area?" I never ask for more than I think I deserve and usually end up happy with what I get.
What is your trick for getting the complimentary upgrade?
----------------------------------------------------------
10/5/2011 - I just spent some time clearing out this thread. I moved all the old messages to the archives and kept the posts I felt were helpful and still relevant. I also kept all the reports from 2011 to try to keep the info timely.
If you want to narrow down the posts to only see the hotel you're inquiring about, look up at the top of the thread on the right, just below the page numbers. There is an option there to "Search this Thread". Click that and enter the hotel name and it should pull up the posts you are looking for.
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