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Being bold will get your further in life. There’s no question about it. Sometimes you have to ask for what you want. There’s no harm in trying. What’s the worst someone could say? No?

Las Vegas is an excellent place to try your hand at getting a hotel upgrade. There are some amazing hotel suites in Las Vegas. Casinos put in a lot of effort drawing in those high-rolling guests. They cater to them in their hotels. Think stunning views that expand across The Strip into the desert. Suites with enough rooms in them to sleep a small army. Bathrooms bigger than your apartment at home.

What if I told you that you too could have these suites? All you need is a little boldness and an extra $20 in your pocket. Here’s the secret to the $20 Dollar Trick Las Vegas.

 

20 dollar trick las vegas: THE $20 TRICK HOW TO SCORE AMAZING HOTEL UPGRADES IN LAS VEGAS

Here’s how to pull off “The $20 Dollar trick” to score amazing hotel upgrades in Las Vegas.

1. Do your homework.

Before you rock up to the front desk, do your homework before trying the $20 Dollar Trick  in Vegas.

Using the hotel’s website, find out what kind of suites the hotel has to offer. What are the specific names of the suites? Remember them so you can ask for them specifically by name.

Next, make a call to hotel reservations. Find out what suites are available during your dates. The suites have to be free in order for you to get them.

2. Prepare your $20 bill.

Fold your $20 neatly. Put it between your credit card and your driver’s license. You need to pass it discretely across the counter when you’re checking in.

3. Pick the right staff member.

Picking the right staff member is key is key to success when trying the $20 dollar trick in Vegas. Eye up the staff member that you want to approach. Who should you pick? Someone that looks confident, but not in charge. A guy, rather than a woman.

If the man you want is not available when it’s your turn to check in, let someone else go ahead of you.

4. Ask for what you want.

This is it. Be confident. Slide your $20 across when he asks for your credit card and identification. Now is the time to ask for your upgrade:

“Do you have any complimentary upgrades available?”.

The word complimentary is key. Otherwise you could be mistaken for wanting to pay for a room upgrade.

But what you really want to say is:

“I’d love to check out one of your Siena Suites. Do you have any available for a complimentary upgrade?”

Being specific and knowing what you want helps you get the best room for your 20 bucks. This is your chance to get something big and luxurious. You want a suite. Not just a room on a higher floor, with a better view. Though you can settle for this if the suites aren’t available.

5. Keep hitting them up for more.

Now that you’ve got your upgrade, ask for even more. Ask them to waive your resort fee. Ask for restaurant vouchers. Or spa vouchers. Or free show tickets.

6. If you don’t get an upgrade.

Sometimes you just can’t get an upgrade. Not through lack of trying though. These guys want to help you and they want that $20. There might be a supervisor watching or rooms might be full. You’ll most likely have your $20 handed back, along with an apology. It’s up to you whether you accept the money back. You may want to leave it as a tip for them at least trying, especially if it’s taken up some time.

If you haven’t scored an upgrade, ask for the extra perks mentioned above instead. Getting your resort fee waived is worth at least $20. Especially if you’re staying more than one night.

Best Hotels in Vegas for Trying the $20 Dollar Trick

These are the best hotels in Las Vegas to try out the $20 trick. I’ve listed them roughly in order of how well people report the $20 dollar trick working at check in at each hotel. There’s no point overpaying for your accommodation from the get go so find a room at a really good rate by comparing prices on TripAdvisor first. (Click the links below to take you to TripAdvisor and compare prices at each hotel.) You can also read my post on how I’ve worked out how to hack Priceline and get amazing deals on the 5-star hotels in Vegas!


We recommend using Blacklane for private airport transfers when flying into Las Vegas McCarren Airport. Taxi lines at the airport can get very busy. We’ve waited over an hour in a taxi queue when arriving in Las Vegas on a Saturday flight. Booking an airport transfer in advance will definitely save you time! Click here to book your Blacklane Airport Transfer Service.


So, wanna see what kind of upgrade the $20 dollar trick in Las Vegas can get you?

This is the suite we got using the $20 dollar trick at The Palazzo, earlier this year. Pretty nice, right?

 

Siena Suite, The Palazzo, Las Vegas, 20 dollar trick las vegas:

View of The Wynn from, Siena Suite, The Palazzo, Las Vegas

The Bed, Siena Suite, The Palazzo, Las Vegas

Bedroom, Siena Suite, The Palazzo, Las Vegas

Bedroom Seating, Siena Suite, The Palazzo, Las Vegas


Bathroom, Siena Suite, The Palazzo, Las Vegas

Bathroom leading to Private gym, Siena Suite, The Palazzo, Las Vegas

Private Gym, Siena Suite, The Palazzo, 20 dollar trick las vegas:




The $20 Dollar Trick is common practice in Las Vegas so it’s a good place to try it out. Of course you can try it in hotels in other cities.

 

Read more of my posts about Las Vegas:

How to Book Cheap Five-Star Hotels in Las Vegas with This Amazing Priceline Hack

Using Priceline Express Deals to Save Big on Hotels

The Best Hotels in Las Vegas for Families

Visiting the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas (Road Trip Tips)

Best Buffets in Las Vegas

How to Save Money in Las Vegas

Top Ten Things to Do in Las Vegas with Kids

Top Ten FREE Things to Do in Las Vegas with Kids

Recent Posts
Showing 43 comments
  • Amy Trumpeter
    Reply

    Love, love, love this! I’m definitely going to give it a try when I’m in Vegas next April!

    • Bethaney Davies
      Reply

      Absolutely do it! You don’t have anything to lose really as they’ll slide the $20 back if they aren’t able to help you.

  • Reply

    This is invaluable!! We’ve never tried this and frankly, have always been a bit hesitant to try it, but we’ll definitely be working up the courage to do so when we make our way to Vegas! It would be interesting to see where else this my work… 😉

    • Bethaney Davies
      Reply

      We’ve only tried it in Las Vegas but I can see it working in other cities with top notch accommodation.

  • Reply

    Also, a good practice is to wait until they don’t have a line of people to check-in. They are allowed to give upgrades but many not want to admit it with a huge line of people waiting to check-in. Also, if they just had a really annoying customer, they might be more willing to help the nice person who smiles at them.

  • Lesley
    Reply

    I love this. I’ve never done it before but I will try it for sure.

  • Michele TravelwithMrsT
    Reply

    Worth a try! As you say, there’s nothing to lose! I like the tip to have a specific suite in mind when you ask!

  • jen
    Reply

    Wow – being a little bold can really pay off! Nicely done

  • mags
    Reply

    I’m always too scared to do this, though I’ve watched it happen! I will have to work up the courage to try it out sometimes. Can’t hurt to try right?

  • Vanessa
    Reply

    I can vouch for this 100% working in Vegas and being completely accepted practice. We were upgraded to a penthouse one bedroom suite at a hotel by using the $20 trick – and it didn’t help that we were friendly and polite, a nice contrast to the jackass before us who was yelling at the clerk. And in one hotel, where there was no free space, the $20 was slid back to us with an apology for being full.

    I love the tip about doing your homework in advance to know what suites are available and ask for them by name – crafty!

  • Sophie
    Reply

    This is great! I really want to head back to Vegas and would love to do it in style so will definitely follow your tips. Thanks!

  • Vicky and Buddy
    Reply

    Even though it would probably work, I would still hesitate to do this. I don’t think I would keep a straight face and I’d be SO obvious lol

  • Christa
    Reply

    Seriously, this works?! I thought it was just something that actors did in movies about Vegas LOL I’ll have to try this when we go back. We got married in Vegas so maybe for our 10th anniversary we’ll go back and renew our wedding vows 🙂

  • Esther JuLee
    Reply

    we lived in Vegas so we never tested this out, but my friends who visited got upgrades all the time by doing this.

  • Alice Teacake
    Reply

    Well I never! Although I love being travel savvy, I still find it hard sometimes to be be a little ‘cheeky’ and slip someone extra money. It clearly pays off though!

  • Justine
    Reply

    Tried this trick at the Stratosphere and it DID NOT WORK! The girl that checked us in stated there were no complimentary upgrades but I could pay to upgrade to any room. She did not give back the $20 bill so I had to ask her to put it towards the resort fee which she also would not waive. Maybe she was new but it still didn’t work for us. They were busy also. Multiple factors that could go against getting the complimentary upgrade as per the above list but she looked confused. I say it definitely is worth it to ask anytime you use any hotel in Vegas just to see if it works.

  • Reply

    Ooh.. I’ve never been brave enough to try this one but tip my hat to you for pulling it off! I love the pre-research tips, and the back up plan as to how to make it worthwhile even if the upgrade doesn’t come on through.

    I’ll keep it in mind next time I’m in Vegas, though can’t guarantee I’ll be brave enough to go through with it 🙂

  • Leah
    Reply

    How do you go about asking for the resort fee waived?

  • Leah
    Reply

    Awesome! Going next week so I’ll try it out!

  • Will C
    Reply

    Question; I am a Diamond member for CET, and my room in January is comped for all 4 nights, and of course, my resort fees are waived. Considering I do not need a CC to check in at Harrahs, how do I go about using the $20 trick to get an Executive Suite?

    • Bethaney Davies
      Reply

      Do you have a card for your Diamond membership? Pass your $20 over with that then!

  • Ami
    Reply

    I’d love it if you would edit this piece to not only suggest asking for upgrades from a man. For goodness’ sake!

    • Bethaney Davies
      Reply

      No I won’t edit it because in our experience asking from a man works better than asking from a woman.

    • Michelle
      Reply

      One of the comments above noted that the $20 trick did not work for them, and that they tried it with a woman clerk. I would say that reinforces that it doesn’t work well with woman. Instead of being insulted, see it as a compliment. It means women are less prone to accepting bribes.

  • Karla
    Reply

    I’d love to try this, we’re staying at the Venetian next week…but we’re going with another couple with different reservations, and will of course be checking in at the same time. Would you highly advise against trying it for both rooms? What would be the best strategy for that situation?
    Also, would you recommend the man or the woman asking? I could see benefits to both..

    • Bethaney Davies
      Reply

      I think it would be fine to try it when checking in together. I don’t see the problem with it. I recommend trying a man, not to be sexist, but just based on our experience personally. It worked better when my husband asked a man.

  • Candice
    Reply

    And the upgrades would be free for the whole trip? Going in may for the first time….for 3 days…

    • Bethaney Davies
      Reply

      Yes! 🙂

      • Candice
        Reply

        Wow!!! That’s awesome thanks!!!

        • Bethaney Davies
          Reply

          Let me know how you get on! What hotel are you staying at? It depends on who you get to check you in, the availability of the hotel rooms etc.

          • Candice

            Staying at Caesars Palace…

          • Bethaney Davies

            We’ve not tried doing the $20 dollar trick at Caesar’s Palace so let me know how it works out Candice!

  • Candice
    Reply

    Update so I forgot to get cash before arriving to caeser’s but I did ask for a complimentary upgrade and she did ? Didn’t get a suite but upgraded to octavius tower ?

  • Tiffany
    Reply

    We are headed to Vegas for the first time in a couple weeks. We are going to try this trick and see if it works! Thanks for the advice!

  • Theresa
    Reply

    Would the hotel still be able to do this if I booked a room through Hotels.com? Or is the room/price locked in?

  • Flo
    Reply

    This worked for us at Treasure Island (TI) and got as an upgrade to a bigger room, nicer view and bottle of half decent sparkling wine. Thanks so much for sharing this!
    We have mentioned you on our recent blog post about Vegas – could not take credit for this great tip 🙂

    • Bethaney Davies
      Reply

      That is brilliant Flo! So glad it worked for you at TI. Did they waive the resort fee too? Or just the upgrade?

  • Kelli
    Reply

    I was planning on having my husband ask at check-in, he’s great with people. However after reading how it went with the lady at the stratosphere, I’m hesitant now as that is where we are staying in April for my birthday. Do you think that tipping a little more might up our chances?

    Tia,
    Kelli ?

  • Tanisha
    Reply

    I’ll be staying a the Flamingo the end of July…have you heard anyone having success there with the tip, Im willing to give it a try.

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