The $20 dollar trick to get upgrade

Question

I have seen this in a few video tips for a room upgrade (slipping $20 with your credit card). Has this work for anyone and which hotel?

Edited: 2 years ago

Answer

The "$20 trick" for room upgrades in Las Vegas has been mentioned in several travel videos and forums, but results are very inconsistent and highly dependent on the hotel, timing, and the individual front desk staff.

Here’s what is generally known about the trick:

The idea is to leave a $20 bill with your credit card when checking in and politely request a room upgrade. The extra cash is intended as a tip or incentive for the front desk staff to consider your request.
Success is not guaranteed. Many travelers report that some hotels do respond positively, particularly smaller or less busy properties, while major Strip resorts are less likely to honor this due to strict upgrade policies.
Front desk staff discretion varies. Hotels with high occupancy or peak demand (weekends, conventions, or holidays) are unlikely to provide upgrades regardless of tips.

Hotels where people have occasionally reported success include mid-tier or boutique hotels, but even then it is hit-or-miss. The big resorts on the Strip, like Bellagio, Wynn, or Aria, typically do not respond to this method, and some staff may politely decline without comment.

Alternative strategies for increasing your chance of a room upgrade in Las Vegas:

Join the hotel’s loyalty program—members often receive complimentary upgrades or discounts.
Book directly with the hotel rather than through third-party sites, as direct bookings are sometimes eligible for better treatment.
Ask politely at check-in if any complimentary upgrades are available. Being courteous and arriving later in the day when higher-tier rooms are still unassigned can help.
Consider paying for a “preferred room” or “suite upgrade” in advance—sometimes the incremental cost is modest compared to the benefit.

In conclusion, the $20 trick might work occasionally at smaller or off-Strip hotels, but it’s not a reliable or widely endorsed method. Combining polite requests, loyalty membership, and strategic booking is usually a better approach to secure an upgrade.

The $20 dollar trick to get upgrade

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