Mandalay Bay
Mandalay Bay opened in March of 1999, the Hotel has 4,750 rooms and ran a rich price tag at $950 million to develop.
Vegas Junky Hotel Review
| The Twenty Dollar Trick Results | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| By: Travis Busy check in time. Handed lic, twenty, and dl. She took the money put next to her keyboard did some typing and even went back to talk to a manager. She was unable to find an upgrade but did manage to get me a decent strip view and attached a $25.00 room credit. She tried to hand the twenty back to me but I told her to keep it for her efforts. The worst part is my friend who checked in behind teased me for it not working. At check out we found out that he too was given the $25.00 room credit. I don't think it was worth it as I only came out $5.00 ahead. We went mid week too for three nights. | ||||||||||
| By: JR THEhotel - Very nice girl took the twenty sandwich. Did not hide it but put the package next to her. She looked in the computer and offered the only upgrades of higher floor and corner room. Since that came with a king size bed, and there was four of us crashing for Vegas, we opt'd for keeping our own. However, we got a hook up with free spa passes. Hard for this to work in a tower with the same style through-out. Count it as a "yes" though. | ||||||||||
| By: Steve I checked into Mandalay Bay late on a Thursday night. The woman who helped me was in her mid-twenties. I made some small talk and handed her the ID-$20-Credit Card sandwich and asked if she had any complimentary upgrades available. She typed on the computer for a few minutes and told me that she didn't have any suites available. Then she tried to hand the $20 back to me. I told her "I really do appreciate you trying to upgrade me. Please keep the money." She typed for a few minutes and told me that she was able to get me a room with a view. Then she said "It appears that this room has a $75 credit." I thanked her and started my weekend. | ||||||||||
| By: C Was reserved for the base (TheSuite) room at TheHotel. When I got there, I gave the clerk the license/20/credit card sandwich and asked about any complimentary upgrades since it was my first time at the hotel and I was very excited to stay there. She clicked around and moved us up to a strip view suite, which was fantastic. | ||||||||||
| By: Dan Worked like a charm! Only problem was that I didn't expect to be asked for my ID/credit card so quickly, so in my mumbling I forgot to say "complimentary," only asking for an upgrade. But I was offered a suite at THEhotel for an additional $40/nt (which I'm pretty sure is the standard rate)...but I haggled back and forth, and eventually got her down to $20 a night. So still a success...just don't forget to say "complimentary"! | ||||||||||
| By: Shawn The guy at the desk did try to get us an upgrade for about 5 minutes worth of computer work, but said he was sorry, handed the $20 back. Apparently it was a busy weekend and we were checking in too late... | ||||||||||
| By: Jesse Positioned the 20 dollar bill between the two components and asked if there were any upgrades available. SHE discretly fanned out the ID, CC and saw the 20. She discretly dropped it behind her monitor and said, is a 2 person Spa Suite with a Strip View okay? I said, "Sure, thanks" We were quickly given our keys and were on our way. | ||||||||||
| By: Phil No dice on the complimentary upgrade, but she did get us an upgrade to a super view THEHotel suite for only $20 more a night! (She didn't take the 20, either.) THEHotel is my favorite place to stay, fantastic! | ||||||||||
| By: big bet Was checking in with another couple friend. Decided it would be fun and more convient to try and get a SUITE for the 5 nights. Figuring 20 bucks for 5 nights wasn't going to fly, I figured 20 bucks a night x 2 couples for a $200 dollar tip. or $100 each couple which didn't seem bad. Found a clerk who looked like he would really welcome the $200 tip. Handed him the money and asked him politely if there was anything he could do for the 4 of us. He looked shocked at the $200 bucks layed out for him. However he disappeard for 5 minutes and came back and said he can get us a suite for a $100 extra per night. this was in addition to the $200 tip. We stood there at a standoff trying to get him to just take the money and give us the room, but he was insistend on the $100 extra per night charged to the room, plus the $200 tip. Not sure this was worth it but in the moment we took it. Not what we expected, but ended up having a GREAT vacation, and an AWESOME room, even though it took 10 minutes to walk down the hall to the double entry doors! | ||||||||||
| By: J Did the standard $20 sandwich and asked "might you have any complimentary room upgrades available". The girl was a little surprised but knew what was going on. And immediately went to her supervisor for approvals. It being labor day weekend they were only able to upgrade us to the suite for 2 nights out of our 4 night stay, but they also upgraded our standard room to a strip view. Best $20 I ever spent. | ||||||||||
| By: Jeromy Checked in on a saturday immediately after hearing the news disclaim, "it is the busiest weekend of the year in vegas" so i was very doubtful it would work. checked in with the 20 asked about the upgrades, clerk was polite, checked and apologized saying if it were another week it would be easier. got my 20 back so it was worth the effort! | ||||||||||
| By: Libby Checked in on Tuesday around noon, very busy counter, about 10 staff checking people in. Walked up to the window to a really sweet, young guy. Sandwiched my $20 between my ID and credit card, and smiled sweetly and asked if I qualified for any free upgrades? He told me that since I was so patient in the line, I could upgrade to a 1bedroom at THEhotel, but it's third floor so not much of a view. I agreed. He said "let me check" and after a few more clicks, says "I can upgrade you to the 19th floor of THEhotel, 1 bedroom suite." Took about an hour for them to get the room cleaned, but it was WONDERFUL. Strip view, we looked directly at Luxor, but could see the strip from MGM Grand all the way to the Palms. AMAZING! | ||||||||||
| By: Matthew After reading other's advice, waited in line for gentleman (which was a lot longer line). Presented the sandwich and it worked like a charm! Will def try again on future hotel stays! Thanks for the tips! | ||||||||||
| By: Rachelle S. I asked without slipping the money to the lady. She upgraded us to a suite. I was so happy I gave her the tip anyway. | ||||||||||
| By: Mike Checked in EARLY, around 9:30 am. Was a little worried about getting any upgrades at that time. Found a younger woman (I'd give her name but I don't want to get her in trouble) gave her the $20 sandwich and didn't have to say a word. Suite at The Hotel 18th floor w/ strip view, a nice upgrade for such a cheap rate + tip. My advice is to not be pushy and be prepared for your little scheme to fail. Other than that, don't get in line behind some jerk who yells at the clerk for 20 minutes and avoid the always watchful managers. | ||||||||||
| By: Nick Arrived at MB around 4:30 PM. Hotel lobby/check-in was virtually empty, so I scoped-out the friendliest-looking/youngest of the 5-6 clerks working behind the counter and approached him to check in. I handed him my DL and CC with a $20 bill in between and asked if there were any complimentary upgrades available. Without looking up from his computer, he replied that the hotel was "completely booked," and that no complimentary upgrades were available. He also fished out the $20 bill and decided to keep it. I then asked, "What about something with a view?" "I can do that," he replied, and provided me with a strip-view standard room on the 28th floor. Would have liked more for a Monday midday check-in, and was disconcerted by the clerk's willingness to stash away the $20 and lie without offering anything first, but was nonetheless pleased with the view. | ||||||||||
| By: Mega I arrived at the Hotel at 11 AM and while waiting in line I started talking with a lady that worked helping people get in line. She was real nice and said there was going to be fire works the following day and suggested for me to ask for a pool side view. She actually got me in front of the line. I got there and I handed my sandwich of Credit Card, $20 and ID. I asked the hot chick assisting me if they had any complimentary upgrades. She politely said there was with a fee. I failed! | ||||||||||
| By: Nathan The only agent available was an Asian woman. Used the sandwich trick and asked about a complimentary upgrade. "We don't do that here." Asked for a good view. "The only room available is on the fifth floor." Odd for a Tuesday-Thursday stay? We got our $20 back and a beautiful view of an air conditioning condenser. Went back the next morning and paid an extra $60 (on the room rate, not a tip) to upgrade to a 750 sf suite on the 25th floor. | ||||||||||
| By: k IT WORKED!!! i read about this a few nights before we left for vegas and thought "what the heck. it cant hurt to try it". We handed $20 to the young man checking us in, and asked about an upgrade. He said "hold on just a minute" and walked over to talk his manager for a minute. Came back to let us know they were negative on the bigger suites at mandalay but they were trying to find something. We were offered an upgraded suite in "the hotel" and after we checked in, we decided we would rather have the sky view at mandalay. We went back down to front desk and the woman that we spoke to had us cheked in to sky view within 10 minutes. We loved our room!! a $120 upgrade for $20. thanks guys. IT WORKS!! they seem to really want the $20 so they will do it if they can. | ||||||||||
| By: Foodnut.com The lady didn't even want to keep the $20! | ||||||||||
| By: gc Had never done it before and was concerned it wouldn't work so I didn't tell the family about my upcoming attempt just in case. I get in the check in line up and mumble to myself "no male clerks", wife says what are you talking about? So I ask her to show the kids the fountain while I wait. Ended up with a very polite mid twentys asian female. Approached her counter with the $20 sandwich plus our confirmation number paper, laid it out in front of her as she clicked away and asked for any complimentory room and fridge upgrades, she didn't react in any manner which was a litle concerning. I wasn't sure what was happening. She handed me our room key cards and info sheet with a smile and says enjoy your stay sir. I politely ask about my requests and she replies " upgraded from 7th floor mtn view to 31st floor fiji wing 550 dxr with the same room rate as originaly quoted sir". If your not firmiliar with this particular view it's incredible. Looks north from the south end of the strip, right up the middle of las vegas blvrd. I had an idea what was coming up so I walked the family into the dark room (10pm) with their eyes shut, opened the curtains and told them to open their eyes, three simultanious OMG's. The best $20 ever spent. | ||||||||||
| By: Jessica Went up to the front & as soon as she opened her mouth, I knew it wouldn't work. She was in her early 30s, curly brown hair past shoulders, brown eyes. Not even a hello - she wasn't friendly at all. Put $50 inbetween my id & cc, she put it right in front of her keyboard. Asked for a complimentary upgrade and before even typing anything in, told me there was nothing available. Asked for comped buffet passes - she said she didn't have access to those. I asked about a late checkout & she told me they don't do that on Sunday. So on Saturday I called front desk, asked for a later checkout than the 11am, and they extended it until 1pm. Oh, and make sure you spend your players comps before you get a free room - I got an email for a comped room here and they ended up stealing my $100 players credit and using it towards the comp. They never even told me that would happen. | ||||||||||
| By: Dennis Sandwiched the bill between ID and CC. Clerk asked if I left the bill there accidentally and told her that it was for her. Did some more typing away and got us the top floor right next to a suite. Beautiful view! | ||||||||||
| By: Ryan Thought I would give it a shot and figured I had nothing to lose except possibly 20 bux. Looked for the nicest front desk girl, folded the 20 dollar bill and put it on top of my credit card. Asked politely if she could check if she had any complimentary upgrades available, and she upraded us to a suite with a strip view at The Hotel, which is beautiful. Can't wait to try again | ||||||||||
| By: DebLov Was in Vegas a few days before Valentines. Tried the $20 trick at Mandalay Bay and got upgraded to a suite! Had the sweetest hottub with windows. I think Vegas is really empty; I've done this four times - three with success - but never an upgrade like this. | ||||||||||
| By: John Upon Checking: "We don't do that here sir". | ||||||||||
| By: SF Traveler Put the $20 between the credit card and ID, and the check in guy understood immediately. He was very happy and friendly. I had gotten my room via priceline for $165/night + fees via priceline (when it was reserving on theHotel website for $600/night. So the $20 was an easy to way to afford more value--hard to say how much things improved, but our upgraded suite was the corner suite--with two views. 7th floor (no space on upper floors supposedly?) I enjoyed the hotel immensely and would def go back--next time I'll use the wave pool! | ||||||||||
| By: Dustin After reading about it online, I had to try it for myself. I had a total of 5 people in my group with a total of 2 standard rooms booked at Mandalay Bay under my name. I just went up there by myself and had the group stay back. Handed her the two 20's in between my id and cc. While handing them 2 her I asked if there were any complementary upgrades available. She said the only upgraded rooms that were open had 1 king bed. Obviously I needed 2 queens per room with 5 people. I asked her if there were any rooms in the hotel. She typed away for a min or 2 and said it wouldn't be a problem. She was very nice, asked if I have ever stayed in the hotel and said it was very nice. She printed our keys and it was a done deal. Very easy and norm a pretty spendy upgrade if I would have booked it online. Well worth the $40 bucks. We stayed a total of 3 nights with 2 rooms. | ||||||||||
| By: MIke Presented the "sandwich" as instructed between the DL and CC. Clerk noticed and smiled, then I asked if there were any upgrades. Told her we were traveling with a small child and could use the extra room. She said that we would be in a suite on the 32nd floor and I said "perfect". Will do this trick again. | ||||||||||
| By: Scott Followed the protocol. Checked in on Labor Day (when most were probably leaving town). Pleasant 25-30 year old female clerk, responded that she had to check with her manager. Came back and offered to upgrade to a "spa suite" and Mandalay Bay. When I inquired whether she might be able to upgrade to a suite at TheHotel at Mandalay Bay, she checked her computer and said "sure." To top it off, she provided a room with a strip view (24th floor). $20 well spent. | ||||||||||
| By: Mark Worked like a charm, I wasn't sure if it would work as I booked a package with many extras already included. sndwhiched the bill between CC and ID and handed to lady and before I could ask for an upgrade she already said let me see what I can do for you (Placing the bill off to the side to hide it a bit. Upgraded to 750 GR on the end with a fabulous strip view. | ||||||||||
| By: Dave Checked in Labor Day evening (Monday). There were five clerks working. Four of them (all women) were occupied. I got the male in his mid 20s. I had reserved a basic king room on a stay three nights get the third night free plan. Gave my clerk my name but held off on the sandwich. He said they had a two queen room available. I told him I had really been looking forward to a good night's sleep and wanted a king. He banged away on his keyboard and offered two queens on a higher floor with a better view. I told him I played all the time there but had never stayed at Mandolay Bay. Made polite conversation about the crowds over the Labor Day holiday. Then I handed him the license, 20 and credit card. I didn't have to say anything else. He asked if I knew about The Hotel at Mandalay Bay, their all-suite property. Said he'd have to check with his supervisor but he thought he could hook me up there. Ten seconds with the supervisor and we were all set. The suite far exceded what I had paid for and it made for a great three day stay in Las Vegas. | ||||||||||
| By: Robert The trick worked exactly as advertised, stuck the 20 between the credit card and ID and, just like that, BAM, upgraded to a suite in THEhotel. From what I can tell, the front desk clerks can put you, just about, wherever they'd like. | ||||||||||
| By: Jesse Worked great at THE Hotel I actually didn't want a room upgrade because we were three guys crashing in the same room so we wanted as many beds as possible. (Only the "lower end" suites have two full beds, if you can call them "lower end", as the entire hotel is comprised of suites) Anyway, I folded a $20 bill between my credit card and ID while I talked up the woman at the front desk while checking in. All I said was that my guests and I would "love a room with a high floor and a strip view, if possible" It totally worked. We had a fantastic view of the Vegas strip which is exactly what I asked for. The last time I was in Vegas, I did not use "the trick" and I got a room on the thrid floor of my hotel that faced a parking lot....now I know why. | ||||||||||
| By: Rachel My boyfriend and I checked in at around 6:00pm with the sandwich trick and asked for the complimentary upgrade. The female clerk politely told us they are fully booked and couldn't do that and returned the $20. She then stepped aside and we thought she went to get some print out. It took her about 5 mins to come back and told us she will upgrade us to the strip view room on 62nd floor at THEHotel. We were happily accept the upgrade and tipped her back the $20. However, our room was right next to the suite with bunch of people party in their room and our room was located one floor below the Mix Lounge, where we could even hear and feel the music from upstairs. We called to complain about the noise and they said they did not have any extra rooms to relocate us, the manager promised us he will have our room change the next day. We got moved to THESuite on 29th floor the next night and we finally got a peaceful night. THESuite is nicer than the room we got the first night, which was not even a suite in the first place. | ||||||||||
| By: tess This was an amazing upgrade. The fact that i was there on Tues-Fri helped. When I asked for an upgrade I reminded the clerk that I would be leaving before the weekend crowds come in. I wouldn't hold my breathe on getting this suite again, but it was the highlight of my trip. | ||||||||||
| By: Amanda Bengtson My significant other and I checked in on a Wednesday afternoon around 2:00. We originally had reserved a sky view suite which is located on the penthouse levels of the hotel. I passed along two ten dollar bills along with my credit card upon check in. The woman greeted us and asked us if we wanted a free upgrade. I looked at my significant other, and he said he didn't mind, so we went for the upgraded room. I forgot the type of room she upgraded us to, but it isn't advertised on their website. The registration woman told us we would be very pleased with the room. She mentioned how the bathtub and shower were in one. I didn't think that was a big deal, I was thinking it was a standard bathtub that doubled as a shower when you stood in it. She also said the room goes for over $800 a night. After checking in, registration staff was very reluctant in keeping the tip. This room was located on the 61st floor. The whirlpool bathtub and showers were installed behind a glass and marble enclosure. There were two showers with very large showerheads. The shower area also offered steam and heating capabilities. The shower/tub area was at least 100 square feet. This must be why she made a fuss about the room. The experience of the hotel staff was exceptional! | ||||||||||
| By: Liz Upton We'd booked a very cheap internet package for ten days at Mandalay Bay (the average daily price worked out at around $100 - by far the lowest I've ever paid for a standard room at MB, where we stay a couple of times a year). The offer included a $25 dining credit and a suite upgrade 'where available', but we assumed we wouldn't get the upgrade as we were staying for a longer than normal period, and the small print said that no upgrades would be available for stays which went over a weekend. We don't gamble, and don't have a player's card. Our stay also took us over Christmas, when the hotel was absolutely bursting at the seams (the pre-Christmas lull notwithstanding), so I was convinced no upgrade would be forthcoming. We arrived very late, at about 11pm. I tried the $20 trick but the very nice desk clerk didn't take the money - she said there were no upgrades available that night. She did, however, book one into the system for the following day, and told us that we could come down in the morning and move to a suite for the rest of the stay. On going upstairs to the first night's standard room, we found that the previous occupants hadn't checked out. We came back down, got the same lady - and were given a $50 comp on top of our $25 dining credit for our trouble (and a new room). The upgrade she had booked in worked perfectly the next day - the guy we saw in the morning wouldn't take $20 either - and we were given a very lovely spa suite on the 10th (smoking, but this was undetectable) floor. The spa suites are MB's smallest suite and have half a wall of windows rather than the usual whole wall. Clever placement of mirrors makes the smaller window almost unnoticeable, and the spa suite is really very nice indeed - all the rooms have been refurbed this year, so the suite was very fresh, and the jacuzzi tub was wonderful. (MB's new pillow-top beds are absolutely the best result of the refurb - it was like sleeping on a cloud. In the old days, the beds were grotty.) We had a view over the pool area and had a very happy stay, made even better by the $75 comp, which we spent on room service. | ||||||||||
| By: Bruce Bowe When I gave the $20 to the checkin lady, she smiled and said she would check and left the bill in front of her in plain site. She had to get a supervisor to help her and I saw her whisper something to her. After much looking, I got the fab. room. Just a room with 2 queen beds (there are 3 of us) but super linens, incredible toiletries, turn-down service, and an elevator that only goes to the penthouse floors. Best $20 I ever spent. | ||||||||||
| By: Zub Checked in on Sunday- around 10:45am. Wasn't sure which line to get in-- picked one with a male (which supposedly is better than female for upgrades?). The guy's name was Chris and appeared Asian- perhaps Filipino- around 35 years old. Big mistake. The woman in front of me asked for an upgrade (no tip) and he told her they were sold out. I sandwiched the $20- he took it and didn't hide it.. I made small talk, but he was in a grouchy mood. He just placed it on his desk. He said the best he could do was get me on a high floor strip view-- same standard room. I asked for Spa or Buffet passes (which many many others have reported getting here), and he said they don't ever give passes. I took the upgrade, he pocketed the $20. I thought the Mandalay upgrade success rate was going to be higher. Guess not. I would avoid this guy Chris at all costs. But the hotel/pool was great. The Mandalay Beach is amazing. | ||||||||||
| By: EJ Bagdonas I was staying at The Hotel at Mandalay bay and I placed a $20 behind my CC. I already had a suite so I wasnt really expecting too much but we did get a corner room on one of the highest floors with a fantastic view of the strip. | ||||||||||
| By: Kevin | ||||||||||
| Add Mandalay Bay Review | |||||||||||
The official guide to using the $20 trick successfully!