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The $20 Trick thread

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Sonya

Sonya

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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.
 
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I have never used the $20.00 trick but know many who have. They usually put the bill discretely in site or with the cc when asking. Some have had amazing rooms some have been told sorry their is nothing avail. They go by the rule nothing ventured nothing gained.

I have asked nicely if there was a nice room avail or a room with a view.
Texas Lynn and I were checking into the Planet Ho and I asked the man nicely if there was a room with a view of the fountains. He was very nice and joking with us and said he could do that. When a tip was offered he would not take it. He did say a beer would be nice and I laughed as I had some in my carry on and showed him. Unfortunately he couldn't accept them.
 
I have yet to try/bother with this tipping thing. I have very few needs and my requests are simple enough (I'd like a room with a safe, please.) and I don't think they require an extra nudge to the front desk person other than a "please" and a "thank you". I don't feel I'm entitled to the moon and the stars and get a free suite when I only paid for a standard. I'm a simple girl who's easy to please. I really don't care what the window view looks like. I'm not standing in my room staring outside during my vacation. I'm out having fun and living it up. My room is just a bed, toilet, shower, and place to hold my luggage.
 
Think I read something that said the optimal check-in employee for the $20 trick would be a male between 25-34. More crooked/desperate than the others behind the desk? Perhaps I should have my wife check-in if we get a male employee and me check-in if it's a gal.....? :confused:
 
Slowroller: Just fold up a twenty dollar bill and stick it between your credit card and ID. Ask for a complementary upgrade when checking in.

Mom: I can't do that.

Slowroller: Why not?

Mom: I'd feel uncomfortable. Plus, it's a "free" room.

Slowroller: So what if it's a free room. The person checking you in doesn't care.

Mom: I just can't. I'd feel funny. I'm just going to ask for one of those balcony rooms.

This was a week ago before a family trip to Reno. My parents were staying at Harrahs with a comped room for Fri/Sat night. They usually go midweek and request a certain balcony room so my mother can have her morning coffee and smoke outside. We met up for dinner Friday evening and continued out conversation.

Mom: Our room is so small you wouldn't believe it.

Slowroller: Oh yea?

Mom: It's like half the size of a normal room and still has two queen beds in it. No balcony. The bathroom is tiny. There's just no room to move around. It reminds me of some of the rooms we had in Europe.

Slowroller: Oh yea?

Mom: I should have tried that twenty dollar thing you were talking about.

Slowroller: Probably. :evillaugh
 
First, let me say it was the allure of the "$20 trick" that got me reading this board nearly three years ago...

I take the same approach as most mentioned, discreetly displaying the $20 while asking for "any kind of special upgrade" or "anything you can do to make this trip a special one." I've had about 50/50 success with the trick, getting upgraded to an Imperial suite at Paris on my first try and a "P" room on another to name the highlights.

I'll also try to look a little more presentable than my normal dressed down attire when I check in... usually just a button down collar and khakis will do. The first time I tried the trick, I was 23 and thought I needed to distinguish myself a bit, but now I think I continue to dress nicely as more of a confidence boost. Silly, I know.

Also, on the "airport vs. front desk" check-in, I've got a funny story about that. My buddy tried the $20 trick at the airport for our stay at Paris and got shot down. We checked in to our normal room, and then I went down to the lobby to try once more. I stood in line and approached the clerk under the guise that I needed to put down a different credit card for incidentals (which was partially true) but also displayed the $20 and asked about an upgrade. He asked if we were already checked in, which we had, but I told him that we just got in and I doubted that anyone had even started to unpack. He frantically typed away and found us the Imperial suite, but said we'd have to vacate our standard room immediately. I gave him the $20, grabbed the new room keys, and made a mad dash to the room, where the girls we were with were putting on their makeup in preparation for a night out. I literally had to throw them out, but they weren't too upset after they saw the suite!

So, one could try again at the front desk after a denial at the airport... though I doubt my scenario was typical.
 
I'd like to add that a comped guest is easier for them to upgrade. Most hotel/casinos have rooms blocked for casino players. There are times when they tell you that they are sold out that they still have casino rooms. In these cases, they will sell these rooms at the last minute if they have not been taken by players.
 
So I should just ask for "an upgrade to make this a special stay?"
 
I have been in the hotel business for over 10 years and hospitality for over 25 years.

"Each situation is different"

Upgrades are normally dependant upon the hotel's "inventory availability" at that particular time you are asking. Changes in inventory can happen in a matter of a second. Not all hotels "always have extra rooms set aside". Each hotel around the world is different.

From experience, I would give upgrades to people who are nice and don't push me for upgrades. Imagine having to hear a pushy saleman's pitch throughout the entire day, everyday.

If the hotel has "upgraded type rooms", just ask politely with the grat under the credit card. If the upgrade is that important to you then book it in advance.

I'm considered a "low maintenance guest" when I stay in hotels and usually get upgraded without asking. I usually tell them give me whatever, I don't care (because to me, it's just a room) then tip them a few bucks for the upgrade.

Hope that helps.
 
I'll definitely give it a shot. Some people on FrontDeskTip.com said they were also successful in getting buffet line passes which would be nice. Beats standing in line for an hour.
 
$20 trick

How can the check-in clerks give "free" upgrades? Doesn't that anger hotel management? You are getting something that you didn't pay for (without it being comped from casino play). In which case you have paid for it many times over and the hotel is still getting their money.
 
Check-in clerks will only give out "free" upgrades if they believe the rooms will likely end up unoccupied if not given out as comps. It's makes for a win-win situation. You get a nicer room and they figure that their generosity will pay off in future business.

The later you check in, the more likely the clerk will know if they have extra rooms available. Also, don't underestimate the power of being polite and friendly when checking in.
 
On several occasions I've received complimentary suite upgrades just for the asking. So you don't always need to tip in advance!
 
So let me get this right....all you people are doing is slipping the desk clerk a $20 tip for a "free" upgrade?

No addition $$ per night for doing this???

:nworthy:
 
Basically yes. It does not always work but that is the basic premise. Clerks evidently have some measure of leeway when handing out rooms. i was upgraded last trip to a north tower room last time without even asking so they have some ability to upgrade you. Im just always to scared to ask lol. Read the entire thread for more info - and good luck!
 
Interesting post on the $20 Trick web site. It (allegedly) is written by a front desk clerk at the Golden Nugget:

"I am a FD agent at this hotel. Because of websites like this one the hotel management has forbidden FD agents from accepting any gratuities. I know for a fact that some agents will/do accept tips. Most do not. Termination. Will you get an upgrade? Don't even think about a North Tower room on weekends, they're always oversold. A suite? No Way! If you're in for one or two nights, midweek, it may happen. Many floors and rooms are now closed because this hotel is so slow. $20 is NOT worth losing my job over!!!"

Hmmmm....
 
Leeza14 said:
Interesting post on the $20 Trick web site. It (allegedly) is written by a front desk clerk at the Golden Nugget:

"I am a FD agent at this hotel. Because of websites like this one the hotel management has forbidden FD agents from accepting any gratuities. I know for a fact that some agents will/do accept tips. Most do not. Termination. Will you get an upgrade? Don't even think about a North Tower room on weekends, they're always oversold. A suite? No Way! If you're in for one or two nights, midweek, it may happen. Many floors and rooms are now closed because this hotel is so slow. $20 is NOT worth losing my job over!!!"

Hmmmm....
Click to expand...

So one minute the rooms are always oversold on weekends, then he's saying many floors and rooms are now closed because the hotel is so slow. Did I miss something?

There have been a bunch of suspicious posts on that website by "employees". It's possible I guess but I can't even follow the logic of this one. What hotel that oversells rooms also closes down floors because it's slow?
 
jetz said:
Do you think a $20 tip will work for two rooms? or should it be a $40 dollar bill?
Click to expand...

I'm thinking it has to be real currency. ;)

Look folks there's no math to it - you're not going to get twice as much by offering twice as much. You're just trying to influence the desk clerk positively. Money is just "a" factor, it's not the only factor. There's also charm, room availability, desk clerk's personality... If a twenty doesn't do it, it's unlikely a fifty is going to do it. Maybe a wad of hundreds would be different but at that point - just pay for the upgrade.

Also - we can't tell you if it's going to work. Not that we don't want to - there's just no way of knowing for sure. Take your best shot - be nice, ask, and if you're so inclined, have the twenty or green chip handy.
 
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